Sean Casten

ICYMI: I spoke out against ICE’s violation of constitutional rights at Broadview.

Anyway, my heart goes out to the National Guardsmen who we lost. But it was Heller that made it possible to carry guns in DC. And it was politicians - many of whom will offer thoughts and prayers today - who made Heller possible. Know your enemy, as the song says.

We are taught that the Constitution cannot be amended without supermajorities in the House, Senate and states. But in Heller, a 5-4 SCOTUS struck the first 13 words of 2A. Much like in Anderson when they effectively struck section 3 of 14A. Nothing good comes from politics masquerading as justice

Too many people get shot in America. They shouldn’t get shot. But they get shot because of a legacy of bad law and bad court decisions that have bastardized our founders’ bequest to us in the bill of rights. The problem isn’t mental health or Afghanis. It’s the guns.

Today - and every day - is a good day to read Justice Stevens’ dissent in Heller v DC. The bonkers 5-4 decision that not only made it legal to carry firearms in DC but also declared that the first 13 words of 2A were “merely preferatory”. www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/0...

2nd in line to the Presidency, Speaker of the House of Representatives and he thinks the coolest thing about his job is he got to go to a football game.

‘In Triage Every Day’: A Beleaguered Speaker Says He’s Overwhelmed

A Heartbreaking Tale of Staggering Mediocrity. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...

Covfefians.

Drug Arrests and Gun Seizures Fell as Homeland Security Pursued Immigration

Immigrants are less likely to commit crimes. Shifting law enforcement to immigration enforcement causes more law breaking. This isn't complicated. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/u...

Earlier this week, I met with residents and community members at Oak Trace Senior Living in Downers Grove. I heard their concerns and answered questions about the rise of AI, ICE’s harmful presence in our community, and holding the Trump Administration accountable.

They are killing Americans. www.washingtonpost.com/climate-envi...

The overlap between these two maps is fascinating. Almost as if... dare I say it... Clean energy = cheap energy?

Wyoming, Basin Electric Take Step Toward First New Coal Plant In Over A Decade Wyoming and Basin Electric took a step Monday toward building the first new coal-fired power plant in more than a decade. Adding a second unit to the Dry…

Source for that second quote. This isn't energy policy based on lowering prices for consumers. It's energy policy based on pandering to coal producers who can't compete against renewables without government subsidy and market distortion. cowboystatedaily.com/2025/10/27/w...

One of many tragedies here is that the states that are seeing the fastest rate increases are in the central part of the country where historic reliance on coal and a political fear of change have the potential to conspire and make this much worse.

More Americans are getting their power shut off, as unpaid bills pile up Average electricity costs have risen 11 percent since January, more than three times the rate of inflation.

Source: www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...

There are complicated, structural reasons for the recent surge in electric prices (maybe a future thread on that) and beware of simple narratives. But prioritizing the most expensive generation is, quite literally, the dumbest possible solution.

This is the type of talk that Saddam Hussein used to justify invading Kuwait. It is dangerous, irresponsible and an embarrassment to both the United States and the party of George HW Bush.

Trump wanted to extend Obamacare health care subsidies. Some congressional Republicans are upset. It looks like the president may have to go back and tinker with his plan.

ESTRAGON: I can't go on like this.
VLADIMIR: That's what you think.

www.ms.now/news/trump-a...

I see you've been hanging out with Estragon today, Vladmir.

Share holiday greetings with seniors through my office's Holiday Card Drive! This year, my office will be collecting cards to share with local senior facilities in IL-06. Mail or drop off your cards by Monday, December 1.

Once again: the House GOP has not passed a full appropriations package since Kevin McCarthy became speaker (and Biden was POTUS). Their failure to fulfill the basic functions of Congress didn't start with Trump. He just weaponized their inherent meekness.

Public Enemy, opening for Murphy's Law who was opening for the Beastie Boys. Newark NJ, 1987.

Then this today in Punchbowl. Republicans are angry that the White House is "treating them like garbage". You can't act like you aren't worthy of any respect and then complain that you don't get respected. They are reaping what they sowed. (2/2)

A story in two parts. At the start of the Trump administration I heard from Republican Senators that they knew the outlandish people Trump was sending up for confirmation were tests of the "if you roll on this, you'll roll on everything" variety. And they rolled (1/2)

👇👇

Not for the first time, I am reminded that I wouldn't trust anyone in the Trump WH other than Rubio with secure information. Including Trump. And Rubio would still need supervision. Just massive incompetence that will take decades to repair.

If we can get the rights, we can just re-use existing titles.

He's Just Not That Into You
Say Anything
Clueless
I Give It A Year

The majority will often bring "gotcha" votes to the floor and on those votes you'll often see members who vote in the way that creates the least political headache. Not saying right or wrong. But IMO that's different than choosing to write the bill, bring it to the floor and speak in its favor.

The era of managed retreat is underway.

Well yes, there is that too. I do not recall any of our founders referring to the Ottoman Empire as "Israel". Or Lebanon, or Syria, or Yemen, or Iraq, or Turkey or...