Steven Jessen-Howard

Still upset about no power of the purse language. You truly do hate to see it. The Trump admin undertook the most expansive set of illegal budgetary actions of any president in history, and broadcast as loudly as possible they’d keep doing it, and nothing. Budgetary lawlessness.

I'm also confused by Dems' shutdown strategy, but it's not the reason ACA subsidies are expiring. Every Dem wants to extend them & virtually every R wants to end them & would've abolished the filibuster rather than cave. The problem to solve is that they're in the majority

If I were a Republican leader, I would simply compromise on my belief that people should not be able to afford healthcare and work with Democrats to prevent insurance premiums from going up by one gazillion percent in a midterm year.

Unbelievable comeback and finish for the Loons! Cue Wonderwall! #MNUFC

DJT truth social - SNAP benefits .. will be given only when the Radical Left Democrats open up govt

🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨

This is the President openly announcing that he will violate court orders - two courts had concluded that the Trump regime withholding SNAP funding was illegal - and that the government had to pay out (at least reduced) SNAP benefits starting this week

Boooo I feel awful for the Blue Jays

This game is insane

Lots of reporting on SNAP getting the details wrong.

SNAP is not set to run out of money on November 1. There’s money in the contingency fund to pay benefits.

The Trump admin is illegally refusing to deliver benefits on November 1, despite having funding to pay benefits.

New Mexico’s Free-Child-Care Gamble The state has promised universal coverage. Can it deliver?

I applaud NM's vision & implementation efforts to expand free child care to all. But I don't think they'll soon come anywhere close to having free child care slots for everyone who wants them & worry calling this "universal childcare" sets the stage for backlash
www.theatlantic.com/family/2025/...

Hunger and Cold Loom as Shutdown Imperils Funding for Antipoverty Programs

I'd like to see more of a sense of urgency for avoiding this!
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/27/u...

Tomorrow is the day is the day in the Senate, and the House could be just a few days later. Begging you to get everyone you know to call their senators and House reps.

I promise you that someone you know will be harmed. There has never in US history been a law that has cut low-income programs more.

RIP Pope Francis, a true champion for the poor, migrants, the environment, and peace. May we all seek to follow his example 🙏🕊️

Legal Service Models for Kin Caregivers - Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network The goal of this piece is to provide replicable ideas to others wanting to provide supportive legal assistance to kinship families in their communities.

I talked to lawyers & service providers around the country who work with kinship families. Check out the report to hear their insights and learn more about legal service models that go beyond traditional representation!
www.gksnetwork.org/resources/le...

If you accept that non-citizens have no right to due process, you are accepting that citizens have no right to due process. All the government has to do is claim that you are not a citizen; without due process you have no chance to prove the contrary.

What the Department of Education actually does America’s least understood and most efficient agency, explained

This is a very well done and thorough explainer of what the Dept. of Ed actually does and why it was already efficient: www.slowboring.com/p/what-the-d...

I enjoyed & would recommend Abundance. On board with making the effective government & optimistic green future that it imagines into reality

French scientist denied US entry after phone messages critical of Trump found France’s research minister said the scientist was traveling to Houston for a conference when his phone was searched

The policy of enforcing political beliefs upon all foreign visitors is radically anti-American.

It will sever us from international research networks and hobble our capacity to innovate—bedrock of American prosperity.

Americans reject authoritarian rule.

Rubio terminated 5800 USAID contracts – more than 90% of its foreign aid programs – in defiance of the courts.

Here’s a list of just some of the lifesaving awards that were terminated. Nearly all were Congressionally mandated. They’ve saved millions of lives. 🧵

Common Dreams Common Dreams has been providing breaking news & views for the progressive community since 1997. We are independent, non-profit, advertising-free and 100% reader supported. Our Mission: To inform. To ...

Dismantling the Dept. of Ed. would harm students with disabilities, students in foster care, students in low-income districts, and others for whom education is a crucial engine of opportunity

How many child cancer researchers did they fire to pay for this?

The stop-work order on refugee resettlement via the State Department meant she already had to lay off 42 people last month, Peck said. This week, another 26 were furloughed. Peck said the organization’s clients, including Afghans who fought alongside U.S. soldiers, are receiving eviction notices at properties around the region because LSSNCA has been unable to offer its rent assistance.

Elon Musk’s actions are leading Afghan refugees who fought alongside our soldiers and have escaped the Taliban to be evicted from their houses.

Yesterday ~68 people employed in HHS's Administration for Children & Families early childhood offices were terminated. I'm told Office of Head Start lost ~20% of staff; Office of Child Care lost ~25%
These workers process grants for preschools/childcare centers, monitor health/safety issues, etc.

www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/...

A screenshot of an email notifying Spotsylvania parents that funding for a program for youth with disabilities has been canceled

the richest man in the world has decided that your kids don't deserve special education programs

The ABA supports the rule of law. Read full message: www.americanbar.org/news/abanews...

No CTC expansion 🙁

The Department of Education can't be abolished by executive order. We'll see what the EO says, but be careful when talking about what it's actually changing

🤦‍♂️

It really is that simple. If Biden had announced he appointed Selena Gomez to shut down ICE, nobody would doubt that's illegal and unconstitutional.

Appointing Musk to shut down USAID is no different.

I & millions of other Lutherans in the US have sincerely held religious beliefs that include welcoming the stranger & caring for the vulnerable. Lutheran Social Services provides crucial aid to many- we cant let Elon shut them down, which he has no legal power to do
open.substack.com/pub/clintsch...