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.
Reposted by Ben K.
This proposed act is so evil.
Tomorrow I will testify before subcommittee of House Judiciary Committee against the proposed "Preserving a Sharia-Free America Act," which would authorize exclusion/deportation of all or most non-citizen Muslim immigrants. My written testimony posted here: reason.com/wp-content/u...
reason.com
February 10, 2026 at 3:32 AM
This proposed act is so evil.
Reposted by Ben K.
in the light of seeing Lula do to Bolsonaro what we should have done to Trump, and what that's done to the Brazilian right in a country with a significantly worse history of political violence than ours, I am not in the mood to be charitable about John Roberts, Mitch McConnell, and the filibuster
Joe Biden was entrusted with the safety of America and its people in the face of one of the worst crises we've faced since the civil war and failed on every level while also making his supporters complicit in support for a genocide
February 10, 2026 at 2:51 AM
in the light of seeing Lula do to Bolsonaro what we should have done to Trump, and what that's done to the Brazilian right in a country with a significantly worse history of political violence than ours, I am not in the mood to be charitable about John Roberts, Mitch McConnell, and the filibuster
Reposted by Ben K.
If your parents say things like “China is going to eliminate The Stanley Cup” you need to have the hard conversation about elder care solutions
Trump, in the middle of his latest unhinged Truth Social screed, claims that if Canada makes a trade deal with China, "the first thing China will do is terminate ALL Ice Hockey being played in Canada, and permanently eliminate The Stanley Cup."
February 9, 2026 at 11:20 PM
If your parents say things like “China is going to eliminate The Stanley Cup” you need to have the hard conversation about elder care solutions
I have some mixed feelings about the city's ability to clean up after the last storm, but it's just deeply disingenuous to see people blaming Mamdani that temperatures haven't been above freezing since mid-January. The snow isn't going to simply disappear on its own in any meaningful amount.
February 10, 2026 at 1:39 AM
I have some mixed feelings about the city's ability to clean up after the last storm, but it's just deeply disingenuous to see people blaming Mamdani that temperatures haven't been above freezing since mid-January. The snow isn't going to simply disappear on its own in any meaningful amount.
Reposted by Ben K.
I thought about why I’ve been pushing back on stolen midterm fears. What’s the harm of worry, even if it doesn’t materialize?
It’s this. The regime has less capacity than it’d like, and tries to make up the difference with bluster. If people act as if it’s true, that grants the regime more power.
It’s this. The regime has less capacity than it’d like, and tries to make up the difference with bluster. If people act as if it’s true, that grants the regime more power.
don't carry maga's water for them. don't try to work out how there's some secret loophole in the constitution that magically ends democracy. there isn't. that's the whole fucking point you fucking dopes
February 10, 2026 at 12:57 AM
I thought about why I’ve been pushing back on stolen midterm fears. What’s the harm of worry, even if it doesn’t materialize?
It’s this. The regime has less capacity than it’d like, and tries to make up the difference with bluster. If people act as if it’s true, that grants the regime more power.
It’s this. The regime has less capacity than it’d like, and tries to make up the difference with bluster. If people act as if it’s true, that grants the regime more power.
Reposted by Ben K.
this is injurious to moral, social, and all human life
I arrived too late to an abduction yesterday. Ice vehicles boxed in a food delivery driver on the highway. They took him, and when I came on the scene (with a few other neighbors in cars), his keys were still in it. We found his phone, a debit card, his car title and registration.
February 10, 2026 at 1:21 AM
this is injurious to moral, social, and all human life
Pat Smear remains the best member of Nirvana.
I really need people outside of Seattle to know how much Krist Novoselic sucks
![A screenshot of a Facebook post by Krist Novoselić:
A new proposal would prohibit clearing encampments unless local government provides higher levels of accommodation for shelter. Our state's ruling party is attempting to codify what appears to be a lifestyle. There's no longer any expectation of personal accountability.
Quoted post from Cascade Party Washington:
WA legislature proposal out of touch with worsening chronic addiction homelessness - read now in The Summit (independent press of Cascade Party WA).
[Link with a preview image of a person lying face down on the street next to a dumpster]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:yfbs5wymp42eunwvyd57zsem/bafkreiapxbisw52e7xtxafnpnvonviqjfumlmhotqmqsgin7uteiy5qdn4@jpeg)
February 10, 2026 at 12:21 AM
Pat Smear remains the best member of Nirvana.
Can we not as a city be rid of this asshole Timothy Dolan already?
Cardinal Timothy Dolan and Rev. A.R. Bernard to serve as NYPD co-chaplains: officials
Cardinal Timothy Dolan and Rev. A.R. Bernard to serve as NYPD co-chaplains: officials
Dolan, 76, and Bernard, 72, who founded the monumental Christian Cultural Center, will be officially installed later this month as co-chaplains of the country's largest police department.
nypost.com
February 9, 2026 at 9:53 PM
Can we not as a city be rid of this asshole Timothy Dolan already?
Reposted by Ben K.
The media is moving on, but ICE assaults haven't stopped in Minnesota at all. Resistance by everyday people hasn't lessened either. Bars and churches across Minneapolis have collection points like this for those in need, as if we're the home front in WW2. Except the front is our own neighborhoods.
February 9, 2026 at 9:06 PM
The media is moving on, but ICE assaults haven't stopped in Minnesota at all. Resistance by everyday people hasn't lessened either. Bars and churches across Minneapolis have collection points like this for those in need, as if we're the home front in WW2. Except the front is our own neighborhoods.
These numbers are pretty bad actually.
NEW: White evangelical support for Trump
69% approve his job performance
58% support all of most of his policies
https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2026/02/09/white-evangelicals-remain-among-trumps-strongest-supporters-but-theyre-less-supportive-than-a-year-ago/
69% approve his job performance
58% support all of most of his policies
https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2026/02/09/white-evangelicals-remain-among-trumps-strongest-supporters-but-theyre-less-supportive-than-a-year-ago/
White evangelicals remain among Trump’s strongest supporters, but they're less supportive than a year ago
There has been an 8-percentage point drop since early 2025 in the share of White evangelicals who support all or most of Trump’s plans and policies.
www.pewresearch.org
February 9, 2026 at 8:07 PM
These numbers are pretty bad actually.
Reposted by Ben K.
Great explainer from @ericlevitz.bsky.social about whether Trump is trying to rig the midterms (yes) and whether it'll work (almost definitely not, but the fact that we're having this conversation at all is not great, bob) ... gift link
Trump has a plan to steal the midterms. It will probably fail.
The nightmare scenario for American democracy is no longer unthinkable.
www.vox.com
February 9, 2026 at 2:44 PM
Great explainer from @ericlevitz.bsky.social about whether Trump is trying to rig the midterms (yes) and whether it'll work (almost definitely not, but the fact that we're having this conversation at all is not great, bob) ... gift link
Reposted by Ben K.
"Trump voters urge him to tone down the rhetoric and focus more on domestic issues, especially clearer pathways to legal status for law-abiding immigrants", proving they unaccountably had no clue who they were voting for.
As Trump presidency enters second year, his voters share hopes – and concerns reut.rs/3Mc4h4H
As Trump presidency enters second year, his voters share hopes – and concerns
Trump voters urge him to tone down the rhetoric and focus more on domestic issues, especially clearer pathways to legal status for law-abiding immigrants, healthcare reform, curbing waste and fraud, and lowering US debt.
reut.rs
February 9, 2026 at 4:19 PM
"Trump voters urge him to tone down the rhetoric and focus more on domestic issues, especially clearer pathways to legal status for law-abiding immigrants", proving they unaccountably had no clue who they were voting for.
Reposted by Ben K.
Are we validating bigots who said the city did a bad job of making ice melt in freezing temperatures?
There are eight million people in the big city. And 32 million opinions on the Mamdani administration's response to its first snow crisis.
Snow Problem: Can New York City Handle Big Winter Storms Anymore? - Streetsblog New York City
There are eight million people in the big city. And 32 million opinions on the Mamdani administration's response to its first snow crisis.
buff.ly
February 9, 2026 at 4:02 PM
Are we validating bigots who said the city did a bad job of making ice melt in freezing temperatures?
Reposted by Ben K.
i'm baffled by all the people in the replies to posts about the spy doorbells asking for alternatives. like... the alternative is a regualr fucking doorbell with no camera in it. or a door knocker. get you a weird gargoyle guy! you dont need a camera!
February 9, 2026 at 5:18 AM
i'm baffled by all the people in the replies to posts about the spy doorbells asking for alternatives. like... the alternative is a regualr fucking doorbell with no camera in it. or a door knocker. get you a weird gargoyle guy! you dont need a camera!
Another 40 seasons of Mariners futility guaranteed
February 9, 2026 at 2:59 AM
Another 40 seasons of Mariners futility guaranteed
Please this game, something happen
February 9, 2026 at 2:04 AM
Please this game, something happen
Bad Bunny is going to end this performance by punting.
February 9, 2026 at 1:29 AM
Bad Bunny is going to end this performance by punting.
The great American punting competition.
February 9, 2026 at 12:17 AM
The great American punting competition.
Biggest sports news of the day: Knicks beat the Celtics in Boston. May New England teams stay losing this evening.
February 8, 2026 at 8:48 PM
Biggest sports news of the day: Knicks beat the Celtics in Boston. May New England teams stay losing this evening.
Reposted by Ben K.
The idea that an 5-year-old citizen is somehow harmed by a 5-year-old non-citizen being present within our borders makes my blood boil
Gonzales on Liam Ramos and his family: "They're not gonna qualify for asylum. So what do you do with all the people that go through the process and do not qualify for asylum? You deport them. I understand that 5-year-old and it breaks my heart. I also think, what about that 5-year-old US citizen?"
February 8, 2026 at 7:05 PM
The idea that an 5-year-old citizen is somehow harmed by a 5-year-old non-citizen being present within our borders makes my blood boil