Ben Epstein
@benepstein55.bsky.social
Dad, Husband, Minnesotan, Poli sci prof at DePaul. I study political behavior, political communication, civic education, media, APD & REP. Fan of MN sports, nice people, podcasts & Twizzlers. He/Him
Pinned
Ben Epstein
@benepstein55.bsky.social
· Jun 18
Evergreen message from our son from back in 2017. True every day.
As far as threats to a representative democracy goes, this is a five alarm fire, and it is entirely in the hands of the Supreme Court. They essentially ruled on this two years ago and are now reconsidering.... democracy I guess.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/15/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/15/u...
October 15, 2025 at 5:37 PM
As far as threats to a representative democracy goes, this is a five alarm fire, and it is entirely in the hands of the Supreme Court. They essentially ruled on this two years ago and are now reconsidering.... democracy I guess.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/15/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/15/u...
Reposted by Ben Epstein
My husband was detained by ICE today
Juan Muñoz, an American citizen, father of 2, and local government official, was peacefully protesting w. other elected officials. He was assaulted and taken away
I have had zero contact or updates since
#SOS
@duckworth.senate.gov @durbin.senate.gov
Juan Muñoz, an American citizen, father of 2, and local government official, was peacefully protesting w. other elected officials. He was assaulted and taken away
I have had zero contact or updates since
#SOS
@duckworth.senate.gov @durbin.senate.gov
October 3, 2025 at 5:12 PM
My husband was detained by ICE today
Juan Muñoz, an American citizen, father of 2, and local government official, was peacefully protesting w. other elected officials. He was assaulted and taken away
I have had zero contact or updates since
#SOS
@duckworth.senate.gov @durbin.senate.gov
Juan Muñoz, an American citizen, father of 2, and local government official, was peacefully protesting w. other elected officials. He was assaulted and taken away
I have had zero contact or updates since
#SOS
@duckworth.senate.gov @durbin.senate.gov
So excited to celebrate my colleague & friend Molly Andolina on her Cortelyou Lowry Award, the most prestigious award offered by the Liberal Arts College at @DePaulU)! Molly is an extraordinary teacher scholar colleague & mentor, & an even better human. Congrats Molly! las.depaul.edu/academics/po...
Molly Andolina | Faculty | Political Science | Academics | College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences | DePaul University, Chicago
las.depaul.edu
October 3, 2025 at 7:00 PM
So excited to celebrate my colleague & friend Molly Andolina on her Cortelyou Lowry Award, the most prestigious award offered by the Liberal Arts College at @DePaulU)! Molly is an extraordinary teacher scholar colleague & mentor, & an even better human. Congrats Molly! las.depaul.edu/academics/po...
Reposted by Ben Epstein
[cont'd, the final 1:26 of the clip Shams reposted]
September 30, 2025 at 6:21 PM
[cont'd, the final 1:26 of the clip Shams reposted]
Reposted by Ben Epstein
RETWEET BY SHAMS:
Napheesa Collier’s full statement today, where she challenged Commissioner Cathy Engelbert and the WNBA with directness and stunning detail we rarely hear from active players. Worth listening to every word.
[First 2:57 of 4:23 clip posted]
x.com/malika_andre...
Napheesa Collier’s full statement today, where she challenged Commissioner Cathy Engelbert and the WNBA with directness and stunning detail we rarely hear from active players. Worth listening to every word.
[First 2:57 of 4:23 clip posted]
x.com/malika_andre...
September 30, 2025 at 6:18 PM
RETWEET BY SHAMS:
Napheesa Collier’s full statement today, where she challenged Commissioner Cathy Engelbert and the WNBA with directness and stunning detail we rarely hear from active players. Worth listening to every word.
[First 2:57 of 4:23 clip posted]
x.com/malika_andre...
Napheesa Collier’s full statement today, where she challenged Commissioner Cathy Engelbert and the WNBA with directness and stunning detail we rarely hear from active players. Worth listening to every word.
[First 2:57 of 4:23 clip posted]
x.com/malika_andre...
A really thoughtful conversation between Ezra Klein and my former professor and one of the smartest people I know Corey Robin. Trump Is Building the Blue Scare www.nytimes.com/2025/09/24/o...
Opinion | Trump Is Building the Blue Scare
www.nytimes.com
September 25, 2025 at 3:05 PM
A really thoughtful conversation between Ezra Klein and my former professor and one of the smartest people I know Corey Robin. Trump Is Building the Blue Scare www.nytimes.com/2025/09/24/o...
Every shooting in this country is tragic. Today’s mass shooting of children just blocks from where I grew up in my favorite place anywhere is off the charts horrific. Nearly 47,000 Americans died from gun related deaths in 2023, including 18,000 murders. 1/3
August 27, 2025 at 10:26 PM
Every shooting in this country is tragic. Today’s mass shooting of children just blocks from where I grew up in my favorite place anywhere is off the charts horrific. Nearly 47,000 Americans died from gun related deaths in 2023, including 18,000 murders. 1/3
For those of you interested in (or concerned about) news media and news bias, there are a few different media bias measurement organizations out there. One of my favorites is Ad Fontes, which updates its ratings constantly. Here is their latest chart. Hope it is useful!
August 14, 2025 at 5:24 PM
For those of you interested in (or concerned about) news media and news bias, there are a few different media bias measurement organizations out there. One of my favorites is Ad Fontes, which updates its ratings constantly. Here is their latest chart. Hope it is useful!
Elections have consequences. The GOP led House followed Trump's lead and created a horrendous bill that rips healthcare, food, & security from poor & working class & gave it to the rich. The GOP led Senate made it worse. Never let them forget it. And remember this every election.
July 1, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Elections have consequences. The GOP led House followed Trump's lead and created a horrendous bill that rips healthcare, food, & security from poor & working class & gave it to the rich. The GOP led Senate made it worse. Never let them forget it. And remember this every election.
Reposted by Ben Epstein
We're going to need to keep taking to the streets. We're going to need a General Strike and maybe many. We need to treat this like the red alarm moment in our history that it is.
June 29, 2025 at 4:02 PM
We're going to need to keep taking to the streets. We're going to need a General Strike and maybe many. We need to treat this like the red alarm moment in our history that it is.
The bill being pushed through Congress will explode the deficit, cause millions of poor & working class to lose healthcare & go hungry. Americans will struggle more & die earlier as a result. It's the most harmful single piece of legislation proposed in decades. www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
What's in the Senate Version of Trump's Big Policy Bill?
The legislation includes tax cuts as well as big cuts to Medicaid, food benefits and other programs, and it would add more than $3 trillion to the national debt.
www.nytimes.com
June 30, 2025 at 4:56 PM
The bill being pushed through Congress will explode the deficit, cause millions of poor & working class to lose healthcare & go hungry. Americans will struggle more & die earlier as a result. It's the most harmful single piece of legislation proposed in decades. www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Every year this Supreme Court seems to set this country back a decade or more in various ways. Today shows this trend continues.
June 27, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Every year this Supreme Court seems to set this country back a decade or more in various ways. Today shows this trend continues.
Evergreen message from our son from back in 2017. True every day.
June 18, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Evergreen message from our son from back in 2017. True every day.
Sotomayor Writes the Court ‘Abandons’ Transgender Children to ‘Political Whims’ www.nytimes.com/2025/06/18/u...
Sotomayor Writes the Court ‘Abandons’ Transgender Children to ‘Political Whims’
www.nytimes.com
June 18, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Sotomayor Writes the Court ‘Abandons’ Transgender Children to ‘Political Whims’ www.nytimes.com/2025/06/18/u...
Statement from Melissa and Mark Hortman’s children. ❤️🩹
June 17, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Statement from Melissa and Mark Hortman’s children. ❤️🩹
Reposted by Ben Epstein
Really important, and increasingly difficult to focus on what is truly happening and what is misinformation or disinformation in LA and in all events. This NYTimes article suggests some of the concerns here: t.co/8SRtxqzcAO
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/10/technology/la-protests-conspiracy-theories-disinformation.html
t.co
June 11, 2025 at 2:43 AM
Really important, and increasingly difficult to focus on what is truly happening and what is misinformation or disinformation in LA and in all events. This NYTimes article suggests some of the concerns here: t.co/8SRtxqzcAO
The unnecessary escalation of military presence in Los Angeles continues as hundreds of marines have been called in. There is no crisis. There is no insurrection. There are protesters concerned for their neighbors, family, and communities. #LosAngelesProtests via NY Times👇
June 9, 2025 at 9:01 PM
The unnecessary escalation of military presence in Los Angeles continues as hundreds of marines have been called in. There is no crisis. There is no insurrection. There are protesters concerned for their neighbors, family, and communities. #LosAngelesProtests via NY Times👇
Reposted by Ben Epstein
Hello. I live in Los Angeles. The president is lying.
June 8, 2025 at 9:54 PM
Hello. I live in Los Angeles. The president is lying.
Reposted by Ben Epstein
I'm just glad one of these men has the nuclear codes and the other has all our personal data.
June 5, 2025 at 8:24 PM
I'm just glad one of these men has the nuclear codes and the other has all our personal data.
How Underpaid Are W.N.B.A. Players? It’s Embarrassing. www.nytimes.com/2025/06/06/o...
Opinion | How Underpaid Are W.N.B.A. Players? It’s Embarrassing.
www.nytimes.com
June 6, 2025 at 4:15 PM
How Underpaid Are W.N.B.A. Players? It’s Embarrassing. www.nytimes.com/2025/06/06/o...
Reposted by Ben Epstein
Full page ad in back of Strib sports section from Ricky Rubio thanking Minnesota as he retires from playing pro hoops.
June 5, 2025 at 12:23 PM
Full page ad in back of Strib sports section from Ricky Rubio thanking Minnesota as he retires from playing pro hoops.
Today is the last day of classes at DePaul! Good luck on finishing strong, on crushing those finals, and huge congratulations to all the graduating seniors! Celebrate all you have achieved! Onward!
a poster that says we can do it with a woman flexing her arm
ALT: a poster that says we can do it with a woman flexing her arm
media.tenor.com
June 5, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Today is the last day of classes at DePaul! Good luck on finishing strong, on crushing those finals, and huge congratulations to all the graduating seniors! Celebrate all you have achieved! Onward!
Reposted by Ben Epstein
White House derogation of CBO incoming at 10:01am ET
Inbox: CBO says it will release a "final, fully interacted cost estimate for H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act" on Wednesday (tomorrow) around 10 a.m. ET.
June 3, 2025 at 5:03 PM
White House derogation of CBO incoming at 10:01am ET
Reposted by Ben Epstein
CBO is a nonpartisan, neutral org. Its director, Phill Swagel, worked in the GWBush administration and was appointed by Republican lawmakers to his current post. For many reasons, it's laughable that he or his professional colleagues would be cooking the books to help Democrats.
COLLINS: Republicans like Ron Johnson and Rand Paul say the bill will add to the deficit. Is the White House's position that those Republicans are blatantly wrong?
LEAVITT: It is ... there hasn't been a single staffer in the entire CBO that has contributed to a Republican since 2000
LEAVITT: It is ... there hasn't been a single staffer in the entire CBO that has contributed to a Republican since 2000
June 3, 2025 at 6:47 PM
CBO is a nonpartisan, neutral org. Its director, Phill Swagel, worked in the GWBush administration and was appointed by Republican lawmakers to his current post. For many reasons, it's laughable that he or his professional colleagues would be cooking the books to help Democrats.