Andrew Bates

Can the Courts Rein Trump In? Fmr. White House Special Counsel Weighs In John Harwood asks Norm Eisen whether the Supreme Court has enabled Trump’s lawlessness.

Can the Courts Rein Trump In? Fmr. White House Special Counsel Weighs In • John Harwood asks Norm Eisen whether the Supreme Court has enabled Trump’s lawlessness.

Bondi Busted Hiding Trump Goons’ Messages From the Epstein Files Communications from Bondi and other top administration officials were conspicuously absent.

If the Epstein files feel incomplete, it’s because they are.

We still don’t have full transparency ... and absolutely no one deserves protection but the victims.

Missing records from Bondi and Patel draw scrutiny in Epstein release The complaint calls it "deeply troubling" that no communications from Bondi or Patel appear in the ream of documents.

Who does DOJ think they're fooling?

The 3 MILLION Epstein files they're holding back r obviously full of stuff that should be turned over eg internal comms among Trump cronies

We have the receipts & lay them out in our complaint to OIG. @axios.com has the exclusive

www.axios.com/2026/02/06/e...

Trump broke his promise to focus on deporting violent criminals. ICE is harassing innocent people instead.

ICE's billions in new funding came at the expense of health care, like Democrats from @hakeem-jeffries.bsky.social to @aoc.bsky.social are pointing out

BREAKING: huge, gigantic, enormous win

SCOTUS allows our big victory at trial upholding the Prop 50 redistricting to remain in place

Kudos to my @democracydefendersaction.org, @lulacorg.bsky.social, Arnold & Porter & rest of the coalition that countered Trump's attempt to steal Congressional seats

Looks like Affordability will be front & center in the midterms. Two advisors from the Cost Coalition, @andrewbatesnc.bsky.social and Terry Holt on the pod today. I started with the basics. What do people mean when they say, "Affordability?"
bit.ly/Click-2-Listen
YouTu.be/yAHMubn3EE8

A video of Alex Pretti reading out the final salute of an unnamed veteran he cared for until the end of his life in the ICU, posted to Facebook by his son.

Talked with BBC about how it's good that Trump pulled back from what would be the worst real estate deal in U.S. history

But that it's a huge giveaway to our competitors when we tell allies we don't care if you've lost soldiers defending America

Autocracy vs. Democracy in America: The First Year This report evaluates the first year of the Trump administration’s authoritarian surge and the overall resilience of our democracy. The administration has inflicted profound damage, but our battered d...

NEW: Trump wanted to be a dictator

One year in, he has so far FAILED because of the enormous pushback

@DDFund’s new report shows how the democracy movement met his autocratic flood the zone with rule of law shock & awe

www.democracydefendersfund.org/autocracy-v-...

Jim Hunt’s Timeless Lessons Can Revitalize the Democratic Party The story of a farmer whose belief in everyday people made North Carolina an economic powerhouse and defeated bigots has new promise in 2026 and 2028.

-Using our best traditions to build the most inclusive case possible for reform
-Overcoming bigotry with unity
zeteo.com/p/jim-hunts-...

Wrote for @zeteo.com about how the legacy of 4-term NC Governor Jim Hunt, who passed away last month, has new relevance for Democrats in 2026 and 2028.

-Framing investments in working people - especially education - as a measure of community pride

How Trump’s foreign intervention could shake up the midterm elections Democrats immediately argued that U.S. military action in Venezuela was an abandonment of the president’s promise to focus on improving lives at home.

“His biggest problem is that costs are continuing to go up, and he promised people they would go down, and whenever people see him creating some other kind of a problem, rather than buckling down and trying to un-break that key promise, they turn against him more,” says @andrewbatesnc.bsky.social.

Press Release | Democracy Defenders Action Congresswoman Joyce Beatty today sued President Trump and others to stop the unlawful renaming of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The lawsuit was brought on behalf of the Congressw...

BREAKING: We are suing Trump & his cronies to restore the Kennedy Center’s lawful name

We @democracydefendersaction.org are proud to represent Kennedy Center Trustee @repbeatty.bsky.social w/ our friends at Washington Litigation Group

Congress named the Kennedy Center & only they can change it

“Would a lame duck build himself an assisted living ballroom?”: Eleven months into his second term, Donald Trump’s agenda is stalling, fueling questions about whether he has already become a lame duck president. The Weeknight panel weighs in.

Instacart director says she was fired for Democratic congressional campaign Lisa Vedernikova Khanna, a candidate in Virginia, says in a lawsuit that the mobile shopping giant cited concerns her bid could hurt the company with President Donald Trump.

More corrupt knee-bending.

Instacart illegally fired an employee for exercising her right to run for Congress as a Democrat, saying they were worried about how the Trump Administration would respond to her support for reproductive rights and gun reform. www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

In the new Emerson poll in TN 07, 97% of Harris voters support Aftyn Behn (D) and 88% of Trump voters support Matt Van Epps (R). If that pattern holds across races in 2026 and there is a slight Democratic turnout edge, Democrats would be favored in any CD that Trump won by 12 points or less.

BREAKING: We won! 3rd Circuit affirms illegality of Habba appointment

We @democracydefendersfund.org are honored to work on this case with the wonderful folks at Lowell & Associates, Gerald Krovatin & many others 👇

Has Trump’s Power Peaked? Publisher's Roundup 45

From the problems created by his old friend Epstein to those presented by his new friend Zohran....

this was Trump's weakest week.

I explain in my weekly column @contrariannews.org

open.substack.com/pub/contrari...

It’s remarkable how bad right-leaning polling has gotten for Trump. Cygnal and McLaughlin have sent big warnings about 2026. Echelon found him dropping 8 points. TIPP showed him losing 10. Now this - Fox has him dropping 9 points. No illusions now. They know they are in a bad place.

NJ voters: keep on turning out to the Polls today!

Some voter suppression BS going on in with bomb threats to Democratic precincts

The threats have now been officially determined to be NON CREDIBLE. Voting is perfectly safe, it's a beautiful day, make your choices known!

The Trump family's multibillion dollar crypto fortune raises new questions about the prices of Hunter Biden's paintings.

Trump's shutdown is jackpot for billionaires while working Americans pay President Donald Trump faces criticism for breaking campaign promises on healthcare costs while his tariffs and policies drive inflation higher for Americans.

"The bottom line is that Americans cannot afford to have their premiums skyrocket and, politically, Republicans cannot afford another broken economic promise to everyday Americans." www.foxnews.com/opinion/trum...

Wrote for @foxnews.com.web.brid.gy about how 2/3 of Trump voters agree w/ Democrats that he should not take health care from millions.

As polls get even worse for him, Trump should "admit he got this wrong, reach back out to Democrats and his own voters, and end his health care shutdown."

👀 Marjorie Taylor Greene breaks with Republicans on Obamacare funding, saying she’s not a fan of the law but demands action to prevent a premium hike. “I’m absolutely disgusted that health insurance premiums will DOUBLE if the tax credits expire this year.” She says GOP leaders don’t have a plan.

Oregon AG Rayfield: Huge win at this moment in our democracy right now.

This is the president that is normalizing the use of the United States military in our country.

So to get this strong of a ruling out today for the public to see—it’s incredibly important.

YouGov survey results by political party for the question, Which do you think is the more important goal for Congressional Democrats in government shutdown negotiations?

Oct 3 poll of 2,811 U.S. adults (+/-2.4%)
% of U.S. adults saying Democrats' bigger goal in congressional shutdown talks is to:
Preserve Affordable Care Act tax credits & restore Medicaid funds 61%
Expand Medicaid benefits to immigrants in the U.S. illegally 13%
today.yougov.com/topics/polit...

Trump in 2011: A shutdown is "a tremendously negative mark on the President of the United States. He's the one that has to get people together."

We asked 1,000 Americans who is to blame for the shutdown. Here’s what they said. More Americans blame Trump and Republicans than Democrats for shutdown, poll finds.

New WaPo poll:
Extend ACA subsidies 71%-29%
Blame Rs for shutdown 47%
Blame Ds for shutdown 30%

Dems winning the big arguments so far

www.washingtonpost.com/politics/int...

James Comey case jeopardizes Americans' free speech rights, retired judges warn A group of retired judges said Trump "continues to corruptly abuse the power of his office" by directing the Justice Department to target "his critics and his perceived political enemies."

An extraordinary statement from more than 40 former federal judges & state high court ones appointed by both D's & R's

They condemn Trump's abuse of DOJ powers & his prosecution of Comey

We @democracydefendersfund.org were proud to support!

www.nbcnews.com/politics/jus...