Ben K.
@benjaminkabak.com
Lawyer.
Transit (@2avesag.as), baseball, politics, Yogi photos. Be loud for America.
Transit (@2avesag.as), baseball, politics, Yogi photos. Be loud for America.
Joyce Carol Oates gonna get all top 5 bangers for November or what?
November 11, 2025 at 5:02 AM
Joyce Carol Oates gonna get all top 5 bangers for November or what?
I personally think it's great (??) that one of the things protecting us all from the full power of the state is that the guy who runs the FBI is coked out of his mind and so in over his head.
this is just like the diplomat
F.B.I. Director Is Said to Have Made a Pledge to Head of MI5, Then Broken It
www.nytimes.com
November 11, 2025 at 4:26 AM
I personally think it's great (??) that one of the things protecting us all from the full power of the state is that the guy who runs the FBI is coked out of his mind and so in over his head.
Reposted by Ben K.
I'll go further and say that if you report the "Senate data" provision as being about Jack Smith you are actively lying to your readers. it is a bipartisan pro-corruption law that more or less confers immunity from corruption prosecutions on all 100 senators whether they want it or not.
this is being reported elsewhere as a sop to Republican senators angry about being investigated by Jack Smith but the language is honestly so much worse and so much broader than that.
November 11, 2025 at 3:45 AM
I'll go further and say that if you report the "Senate data" provision as being about Jack Smith you are actively lying to your readers. it is a bipartisan pro-corruption law that more or less confers immunity from corruption prosecutions on all 100 senators whether they want it or not.
Reposted by Ben K.
I am kind of sitting here mouth agape as I realize that the thing that really got eight Democrats to cave was a provision which provides backdoor criminal and civil immunity to them personally by making it functionally impossible to ever investigate the Senate
read the actual bill text and this is quite literally a provision designed solely to impede civil and criminal investigations into United States Senators and their staff. www.appropriations.senate.gov/imo/media/do...
www.appropriations.senate.gov
November 11, 2025 at 3:19 AM
I am kind of sitting here mouth agape as I realize that the thing that really got eight Democrats to cave was a provision which provides backdoor criminal and civil immunity to them personally by making it functionally impossible to ever investigate the Senate
Reposted by Ben K.
If the outcomes aren't the most important thing, it's not even politics. Politics is literally about the outcomes. What he's describing here is cosplaying.
November 11, 2025 at 12:02 AM
If the outcomes aren't the most important thing, it's not even politics. Politics is literally about the outcomes. What he's describing here is cosplaying.
Reposted by Ben K.
New: The real story is the Democratic leadership collapse: presswatchers.org/2025/11/the-...
The real story is the Democratic leadership collapse | Press Watch
The current crop of Democratic leaders does not constitute an effective opposition to Trump
presswatchers.org
November 10, 2025 at 10:49 PM
New: The real story is the Democratic leadership collapse: presswatchers.org/2025/11/the-...
I think yes but also Trump spent the day stepping on rakes and is still fighting to end SNAP so who really knows at this point.
November 11, 2025 at 2:08 AM
I think yes but also Trump spent the day stepping on rakes and is still fighting to end SNAP so who really knows at this point.
Reposted by Ben K.
November 11, 2025 at 1:23 AM
Buried inside the deal to reopen government is a provision that would give Senators private right of action to sue for millions in damages over their phone records being analyzed by Jack Smith's team.
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
Shutdown Deal Would Let Senators Sue Over Jack Smith Searches
Senators whose phone records were sought by Special Counsel Jack Smith would gain authority to sue for millions in damages under a provision buried in the Senate-advanced deal to reopen the government...
news.bloomberglaw.com
November 10, 2025 at 10:23 PM
The visuals on Schumer’s videos make him look so old. Awful lighting, drab background, dressed like a schlub
November 10, 2025 at 8:13 PM
The visuals on Schumer’s videos make him look so old. Awful lighting, drab background, dressed like a schlub
The strategy of sticking a failed health care vote on Republicans is not a terrible one in a vacuum, but it's a bad one in light of everything else going on. That's the real problem.
November 10, 2025 at 7:52 PM
The strategy of sticking a failed health care vote on Republicans is not a terrible one in a vacuum, but it's a bad one in light of everything else going on. That's the real problem.
I was thinking about King's comments again after he 'accidentally' voted for a bad judge. Maybe having the 81 year old is going senile?
November 10, 2025 at 7:11 PM
I was thinking about King's comments again after he 'accidentally' voted for a bad judge. Maybe having the 81 year old is going senile?
Nate Silver 2025 is what happens when you have 3.2 million social media followers and read every single mention + staying on twitter for the past year. Dude's brain is beyond cooked.
the hipsters, they’re ordering double frufru mocha soy frappuccino. doesn’t anybody order a black coffee anymore
November 10, 2025 at 6:25 PM
Nate Silver 2025 is what happens when you have 3.2 million social media followers and read every single mention + staying on twitter for the past year. Dude's brain is beyond cooked.
Reposted by Ben K.
really appreciate Nate Silver giving us a unifying point during what is otherwise a pretty unpleasant couple days of Bluesky
the hipsters, they’re ordering double frufru mocha soy frappuccino. doesn’t anybody order a black coffee anymore
November 10, 2025 at 5:23 PM
really appreciate Nate Silver giving us a unifying point during what is otherwise a pretty unpleasant couple days of Bluesky
At Yankees are you aware you can do this to underperforming coaches?
The Giants are firing coach Brian Daboll, sources say. A promising and frustrating season leads NYG to have an opening.
After another lead evaporated yesterday, Brian Daboll is out.
OC Mike Kafka is interim coach, per me and Mike Garafolo.
After another lead evaporated yesterday, Brian Daboll is out.
OC Mike Kafka is interim coach, per me and Mike Garafolo.
November 10, 2025 at 6:01 PM
At Yankees are you aware you can do this to underperforming coaches?
Reposted by Ben K.
I've said it before, and I will say it again.
We need courageous leaders that put working families at the center of all they do.
8 democrats caving to empty promises is an indefensible leadership failure
For the sake of our country, Schumer needs to resign.
We need courageous leaders that put working families at the center of all they do.
8 democrats caving to empty promises is an indefensible leadership failure
For the sake of our country, Schumer needs to resign.
November 10, 2025 at 5:52 PM
I've said it before, and I will say it again.
We need courageous leaders that put working families at the center of all they do.
8 democrats caving to empty promises is an indefensible leadership failure
For the sake of our country, Schumer needs to resign.
We need courageous leaders that put working families at the center of all they do.
8 democrats caving to empty promises is an indefensible leadership failure
For the sake of our country, Schumer needs to resign.
Reposted by Ben K.
The President pardoned members of his private militia after they failed to overturn an election; they, in turn, pledge their support to him and urge him to use them to police civil society.
New:
On The Gateway Pundit's podcast yesterday, Stewart Rhodes announced he's relaunching the Oath Keepers
He also urged Trump to “call us up as a militia" & "order us all to come together in our counties under his command."
www.mediamatters.org/oath-keepers...
On The Gateway Pundit's podcast yesterday, Stewart Rhodes announced he's relaunching the Oath Keepers
He also urged Trump to “call us up as a militia" & "order us all to come together in our counties under his command."
www.mediamatters.org/oath-keepers...
![STEWART RHODES (FOUNDER, OATH KEEPERS): And one other thing I want to say is that President Trump, as commander in chief, always has absolute authority to call all of us up as the militia because every one of us — in federal statues defining the militia, it's every able-bodied male from age 17-45. And for us veterans, it goes up to age 64 because of our prior training and experience.
Right now, under federal statutes, President Trump can call us up as the militia if he sees it necessary, especially for three purposes: to repel invasions, to suppress insurrections, and to execute the laws of the union. And right now, we see all three of those in play.
...
And the militia is all of us. So the National Guard is part of the militia, which is why it's completely lawful for him to use the National Guard as he has, and he should do more of that, I think, across the country.
...
He could just say given the circumstances of an invasion, insurrection, and resistance against federal law being being enforced, I'm calling up the militia, ordering all the men to come together [in] every county, put the veterans in charge of training and organizing all the other men and just have them stand too and await his orders. He can do that and I think he should do that. And so that's what I'll be advocating for from him. So from the bottom, from down the rank and file, we can let President Trump know that we're ready to serve, encourage him to do that, call us up as a militia, order us all to come together in our counties under his command, which gives you complete legal sanction to do what you're doing.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:af7tqcetuyt352aolf3znlxe/bafkreialm4skuozqobejpd6vx4m6kuwsgtidxmmxvj3ftcff6otiuyohiy@jpeg)
November 10, 2025 at 5:17 PM
The President pardoned members of his private militia after they failed to overturn an election; they, in turn, pledge their support to him and urge him to use them to police civil society.
Reposted by Ben K.
Here's the part that gets me on the shutdown: The section prohibiting Trump from firing workers is great! But it wasn't carried through to stop rescissions & withheld funds.
That Democrats knew how to write a No Kings budget, then only passed a tiny section of it to get Tim Kaine's vote, is galling.
That Democrats knew how to write a No Kings budget, then only passed a tiny section of it to get Tim Kaine's vote, is galling.
The Most Frustrating Thing About the Shutdown Cave - The American Prospect
Senate Democrats actually know how to use their power to counter Donald Trump and ensure that legislative funding gets spent—but this continuing resolution makes it clear they chose not to.
prospect.org
November 10, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Here's the part that gets me on the shutdown: The section prohibiting Trump from firing workers is great! But it wasn't carried through to stop rescissions & withheld funds.
That Democrats knew how to write a No Kings budget, then only passed a tiny section of it to get Tim Kaine's vote, is galling.
That Democrats knew how to write a No Kings budget, then only passed a tiny section of it to get Tim Kaine's vote, is galling.
Reposted by Ben K.
Eight Senate Democrats saw charts like these and decided "oh yes, now that public opinion is on our side and our opponent is facing electoral consequences for their policy choices, now is a great time to give up all of our leverage in health care negotiations" www.gelliottmorris.com/p/donald-tru...
November 10, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Eight Senate Democrats saw charts like these and decided "oh yes, now that public opinion is on our side and our opponent is facing electoral consequences for their policy choices, now is a great time to give up all of our leverage in health care negotiations" www.gelliottmorris.com/p/donald-tru...
Reposted by Ben K.
Josh phrases this a bit more gently than I would, but I think the core of this is right. We're fighting to change the Democratic Party, and we've still got a long way to go. But the fight is ongoing, and the party's center has already shifted dramatically in our direction.
A Quick Take on Team Cave’s Big Win
I have what I suspect is a somewhat counterintuitive take on the...
talkingpointsmemo.com
November 10, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Josh phrases this a bit more gently than I would, but I think the core of this is right. We're fighting to change the Democratic Party, and we've still got a long way to go. But the fight is ongoing, and the party's center has already shifted dramatically in our direction.
Reposted by Ben K.
If Trump’s going to go full Mad King mode on SNAP like this, the optics of the Democrats caving to try to protect people are significantly better than anyone’s assuming, imo
Wait did...they not get what they wanted last night? What is happening?
*TRUMP OFFICIALS SAY SUPREME COURT SHOULD KEEP FOOD AID ON HOLD
*TRUMP: ALL AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS MUST GET BACK TO WORK, NOW
*TRUMP: AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS NOT WORKING WILL BE 'DOCKED'
*TRUMP OFFICIALS SAY SUPREME COURT SHOULD KEEP FOOD AID ON HOLD
*TRUMP: ALL AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS MUST GET BACK TO WORK, NOW
*TRUMP: AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS NOT WORKING WILL BE 'DOCKED'
November 10, 2025 at 3:34 PM
If Trump’s going to go full Mad King mode on SNAP like this, the optics of the Democrats caving to try to protect people are significantly better than anyone’s assuming, imo
Reposted by Ben K.
Pardoning his accomplices. Pedocon theory is a theory the same way gravity is a theory
BREAKING:
A whistleblower tells House Judiciary Democrats that convicted sex offender Ghislaine Maxwell is in the process of seeking a commutation of her 20-year prison sentence from Donald Trump. tinyurl.com/582addcc
A whistleblower tells House Judiciary Democrats that convicted sex offender Ghislaine Maxwell is in the process of seeking a commutation of her 20-year prison sentence from Donald Trump. tinyurl.com/582addcc
November 10, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Pardoning his accomplices. Pedocon theory is a theory the same way gravity is a theory
Reposted by Ben K.
the angry base has been right and the savvy "calm down" caucus has been wrong every step of the way for the last 10 years
This seems significant
November 9, 2025 at 10:39 PM
the angry base has been right and the savvy "calm down" caucus has been wrong every step of the way for the last 10 years
OSCAR ISAAC, on whether he'd return to "Star Wars":
".. Yeah. I mean, I’d be open to it, although right now I’m not so open to working with Disney. But if they can kinda figure it out and, you know, not succumb to fascism, that would be great."
@variety.com $DIS
variety.com/2025/film/ne...
".. Yeah. I mean, I’d be open to it, although right now I’m not so open to working with Disney. But if they can kinda figure it out and, you know, not succumb to fascism, that would be great."
@variety.com $DIS
variety.com/2025/film/ne...
Oscar Isaac Was ‘Not So Open to Working With Disney’ After Jimmy Kimmel Suspension, Said He’d Return to ‘Star Wars’ if Disney Does ‘Not Succumb to Fascism’
Oscar Isaac was not open to working with Disney after Jimmy Kimmel's suspension and will only return to 'Star Wars' if the studio avoids fascism.
variety.com
November 10, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Reposted by Ben K.
The filibuster is so fundamentally anti-democratic that forcing the authoritarian party to kill it so that they could keep taking health care and food away from Americans was probably the cleanest out from the damn thing, yet this Cones of Duneshire-ass opposition party loves rules more than wins.
November 10, 2025 at 2:01 PM
The filibuster is so fundamentally anti-democratic that forcing the authoritarian party to kill it so that they could keep taking health care and food away from Americans was probably the cleanest out from the damn thing, yet this Cones of Duneshire-ass opposition party loves rules more than wins.