Who knew 2025 was the new 2017? Next thing you’ll know they’ll be whipping out huge binders of empty pages claiming that‘s their healthcare plan, saying they’ll repeal ACA first & get around to replacing one day. How crazy would it be if MTG did the famed McCain thumbs down this time around?

but if ppl aren’t buying what you’re selling, your deal sucks. Repubs are stomping around saying, “Our boss says we have to do this or else!“ But their boss isn't boss of American ppl. Dems should channel some good 90s lingo & tell them to show us the money or talk to the hand. 2/2

So, the Repub position seems to be that they need Dems to be able to open govt but are offering no incentives for Dems to do this other than govt will be open (that closed in 1st place b/c Repubs can’t govern even though they completely control govt)? I’m no author of “Art of Deal“ or anything 1/

doesn’t pay the others who were supposed to get paid. Would be illegal & admin would be sued but money already gone. Dems have BTDT. They don’t trust admin. I think the bill just didn’t have the kind of guarantees Dems are going to need to see to know that money is being spent as they vote it to be.

Policy consideration is over my head a little but I think concern is, for example, they pass bill for funding for 30 days of back pay for all government employees who have been working but not getting paid & instead Trump decides to use the money for 60 days of back pay for just some employees & 1/

Ron Johnson bill to pay federal workers rejected twice in Senate Democrats on Friday twice blocked a proposal from Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) to pay federal workers during the shutdown. A motion to advance a bill to pay excepted employees and members of the milit…

Dems were concerned that Repub bill gave Trump too much discretion as to which employees would be paid. Since he’s been trying to fire people during shutdown, I think it’s wise to be suspicious, esp given Trump track record of ignoring Congress on appropriations. Dems had own version of bill.

Actually once I read more about strategy (not something Sen Murphy could really discuss openly) the Dem play here was smart. But you’re right: Repubs are dumb. I wrote a little more about it further up in the thread. bsky.app/profile/giny...

Dems can say they tried but Repubs not interested in working together. Pressure on Repubs will get stronger as T’giving gets closer. Repubs between rock & hard place & Dems could end up with much better deal. 2/2

For those that don‘t know: Relax. Repubs already turned this down. Didn‘t consider it. Thune said was non-starter. Makes sense as strategy when you know you’re working w/unreasonable people: offer something reasonable that would be an easy yes. Repubs not reasonable. They own this completely now. 1/

Repubs already turned it down. Didn‘t even consider it.

Repubs already shot this down, which Schumer already knew would happen b/c Repubs won’t defy admin. This was equivalent of turning in busy work just to say you did it. Now Dems can say they tried to work w/Repubs & they refused to even consider. Repubs totally own it now.

Power once given away is hard to re-claim. Perhaps women understand this better than men. At any rate, whatever MTG’s motivations are, whenever she speaks out, she is making life uncomfortable for Mike Johnson, Trump & other Repubs & that is all I need to know. Hope she keeps talking. 2/2

Actually, GOP elected officials have given away their power as Article I Constitutional officers to Trump willingly & without a peep. It has been astonishing to me, given how power-hungry politicians are. SCOTUS has also ceded Article III power over Trump, making lower courts justifiably angry. 1/

I’m in NC too. Gerrymandering & Repub control over state courts & legislature sucks but agree that saving grace has been having Dem gov & Dem AG & thus ability to be part of these suits. It does make a difference.

Bad week for Virginia, the candidate. In other bad Virginia news, Trump, deciding to do a preemptive strike on inflationary Xmas toy pricing, announces, “I also want all the Virginias out there to know that there is no Santa Claus.”

but I think it’s shameful that we’re in this position as a country. It’s scary to think of what things would be like if blue states didn’t have that ability, or if we didn’t have as many states as we do w/Dem govs and/or AGs. I‘m thankful when resistance somewhere can benefit people everywhere. 2/

Oh no, I’m so sorry - that‘s not how I meant it at all. I’m shaming red state governors & AGs who aren’t willing to fight for their people, not the people who live in those states. I’m just glad we have blue states that can do the fighting on behalf of everyone, 1/

I wish that was true, but I‘m not sure it is. Even among a lot of Bluesky users. Would be interesting poll to find out.

It shouldn't have happened & it’s not enough but no one would be receiving *any* federal SNAP funding w/o blue state action. This is true of many Trump policies - blue state lawsuits have stopped/delayed/reversed many of admin’s worst actions. Should be highlighted a lot more than it has been. 2/2

The whole reason anyone is getting SNAP benefits at all is that blue state governors & AGs & some nonprofits sued. Not one red state joined suit. Blue states sued for their constituents (and blue state tax dollars paid for those suits) but b/c we did so the whole country is benefiting. 1/

Do wins Tuesday by Ohio Democrats say something about the party’s future? Ohio Democrats further consolidated their power in large cities and made inroads in suburban and even some rural communities on Tuesday. Will that translate to victories in statewide contests in 2026?

Going on proposition that politics is local, looks like Dems overperformed in the actual elections which occurred in Ohio on Tuesday. National extrapolations fine but why not look at actual conditions on ground there as well? www.cleveland.com/news/2025/11...

We don’t have to like her or parse her motives to know every time she speaks out, she’s bitch-slapping Mikey J, Stevie Miller & Russia Vought. Trump too, although he’s probably a few ketchup bottles behind the curve. Keep talking, Marge.

Let’s hope that’s on the low end and keeps growing.

on right. There are increasingly more of them speaking out & voices getting louder. Not a groundswell but has been radio silence since beginning of Trump 2.0 so interesting. Best thing Dems can do is observe, don‘t get involved in Repub mess but be ready to exploit. 2/2

No, his overall point is that currently Repubs are acting as though that‘s their job, and in the process they are cutting off their noses to spite their faces. He’s saying not speaking out against tariffs & antisemitism is hurting Repubs. Ron is bringing this up in context of growing # of critics 1/

Seriously. I find it comical that people are griping about Nancy Pelosi when right in front of them they have an example of what a useless, ineffectual Speaker looks like. Whatever people think about Pelosi as a person, it should be crystal clear that Johnson shouldn’t even have same title she had.

Trump hates her for a reason. She stood up to him & unified the Dem caucus. She can rightly be criticized. But should be criticized w/understanding of what her role was & what she accomplished. She was the coach that not everyone likes but knows how to win & brings everyone together to do it. 7/

Trump wanted $ for border wall. Repubs were as useless thdn as now. Didn't end until 2019 after Dems took back House & Pelosi became Speaker. She & completely united Dem House forced Trump & Repub Senate to end shutdown. And Trump got no money for border wall. 6/

then as Speaker when Dems took back House, not a single bill passed in his final 2 years that she & Dems in House didn’t want to pass.

One story showing her power over Trump: longest govt shutdown until now started in late 2018 when Repubs controlled Presidency & Congress (sound familiar?) b/c 5/

Your issues are with Repubs in the Senate who refused to convict. Please place blame where it belongs. As far as Pelosi taking on Trump, she held together a Dem caucus full of disparate voices unified vs Trump his entire 1st term. Provided opposition where they could 2017-2018, 4/