Jake Grumbach

My loose info so far is that the Minneapolis General Strike today had about 80 unions sign on, and it might be one of the biggest labor actions in decades depending on your definition

Absolutely was thinking that yes

I think this is right and we could call it something like The Partisan Intimidation Gap. It's very credible that the current GOP will punish you for opposing them, not at all credible that Dems would do that

I think it is, yeah, and that's asymmetric between the parties (Biden not a threat to primary Dems who didn't support him enough). At the same time, it's more amazing how much influence he has outside of the party, like with corporate execs and media elites

Interesting passage arguing for not capitalizing "black," from Kevin K Gates's book Uplifting the Race. I'm finding it reasonably compelling

uncpress.org/978080784543...

via @owasow.bsky.social

Something as simple as media covering the cognitive/health declines of Biden vs. Trump is explained by intimidation. Trump threats--even implicit ones--are taken seriously by other elites. He will actually follow through in punishing you.

The role of intimidation is so underestimated. Elites in media, firms, and politics--they're actually afraid.

Trump has way more power over other elites than you'd expect given his unpopularity. The possible explanations are

ideology (they agree with him)

bad information (they believe Trump is popular or libs/urbanites don't count)

intimidation (threat of institutional punishment or violence)

OK good job gen z :)

"I am Puerto Rican," she says. "I send my kids with their passports to school. I'm having conversations with them about safety: Am I safe at school? A week ago we had an incident where there was a school bus with the STOP sign open and kids were getting on the bus and it was surrounded by ICE agents. And this is 7:20 in the morning and - just - you get that fight-or-flight response." At first her 9-year-old was carrying her passport in her backpack; now it's in her back pocket. "I have to prepare them for it if they get stopped," she says. "I said, Do not engage. This is not the time to be cussing at anyone. But she said, Mom, if I create enough noise, my friends can get away."

Our kids

nymag.com/intelligence...

How One Minnesota Union Is Helping Members Survive the Federal Siege UNITE HERE Local 17 is one of many unions, community organizations and faith groups calling for a work stoppage tomorrow, showing a key way Minnesotans are organizing against ICE.

UNITE HERE Local 17 in the news

inthesetimes.com/article/minn...

Giants outfielder Jung Hoo Lee detained at Los Angeles International Airport San Francisco Giants outfielder Jung Hoo Lee was detained Wednesday evening at Los Angeles International Airport, his agent Scott Boras told the Chronicle.

BREAKING: San Francisco Giants star Jung Hoo Lee has been detained by CBP at LAX. Pelosi's office says she is working to secure his release. www.sfchronicle.com/sports/giant...

218 with 7 Democrats voting for it, the DHS bill passes

The TACO cycle:

Markets want to price in TACO. But TACO only works if Trump sees stocks tank.

So we get a loop: Trump does things → nothing happens (markets already priced in TACO) → that emboldens him to do more → until markets start to think he might not TACO → stocks fall → TACO is restored.

Alt text bsky.app/profile/chba...

Who ICE is "protecting you" from:

Not exaggerating when I say that the collective action in Minnesota will be studied for generations if not centuries to come

Summer Academy | Consortium on the American Political Economy The annual CAPE Summer Academy is designed to introduce the APE framework, facilitate in-depth discussions around several key areas within APE, and create opportunities for participants to share work ...

Applications are open for the 2026 American Political Economy Summer Academy for ABDs, postdocs, and junior faculty from May 31 to June 4. Travel, meals, and lodging all provided!

www.americanpoliticaleconomy.org/events/summe...

the running theme of Trump 2.0:

This law group led by @rickpildes.bsky.social had me write for their 100 Ideas series on US democracy

My idea: the rule of law cannot coexist with this level of wealth concentration. Once Musk, Bezos, Zuck, & a few others bend the knee, the authoritarian consolidates too much power

Orin is probably the preeminent fourth amendment scholar in the United States. He is also extremely professional. This is the way he says "I wish a bitch would try"

The elites and institutions have folded but regular people haven’t

"We were only told to investigate cases that were in blue states, and cases or investigations involving red states or that didn't involve perceived political enemies of the administration never moved forward, said Ejaz Baluch Jr., a former Justice Department lawyer who was investigating the University of California when he quit his post in May. "There was no interest in antisemitism unless it involved protests of Israel or the war in Gaza." Other former Justice Department lawyers interviewed by The Times echoed those sentiments.

From a former DOJ lawyer

And so the circle of @irhottakes.bsky.social's prophecy is complete

The argument against ICE isn't an especially difficult one to make politically in this moment. The issue is that people who substantively disagree with abolishing ICE prefer having a proxy fight about strategy to discussing that stance. Many such cases.

Extreme Wealth Inequality Destroys Constitutions A broad range of views on democracy to help break the stalemate caused by partisan conflict.

Next up in our "100 ideas" series — New by @jakemgrumbach.bsky.social — "Extreme Wealth Inequality Destroys Constitutions"

Part of @nyulaw.bsky.social Democracy Project's "100 Ideas in 100 Days"

Read the full piece here: democracyproject.org/posts/extrem...

I would argue that the case for dismantling ICE has, at this point, virtually nothing to do with larger questions of immigration enforcement and reform, it's just clearly incompatible with a free and democratic society to maintain a secret police force with sweeping and arbitrary authority.

🚨HOLY CRAP. An ICE whistleblower just revealed a secret memo authorizing ICE officers to break into homes without a judicial warrant, which DHS's own legal training materials say is unconstitutional!

ICE then hid the memo from the public, passing it along by word of mouth and private conversation.

Listen to it blend into the even better next song on the album, What’s Happening Brother.

And tell me friend, how in the world have you been? Man I just don’t understand what’s going on across this land.

m.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9KC...

YouTube video by antoine becuwe Tha Dogg Pound - Niggaz Don't Give a Fuck Remix (feat Snoop Dogg & The Lady of Rage)

Rare Dogg Pound track. The version on the Poetic Justice soundtrack is fine but this rare remix has the Bobby Womack (RIP) "Woman Gotta Have It" beat.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEAx...