Blaine Stum
@bstum.bsky.social
DC Council Staffer 🏛️
Staunchly Pro-Democracy
Former CJ TA Provider/Researcher
Gay Cat Owner 🏳️🌈😸
Movie and Music Nerd 🎥🎶🤓
**All Opinions My Own**
Staunchly Pro-Democracy
Former CJ TA Provider/Researcher
Gay Cat Owner 🏳️🌈😸
Movie and Music Nerd 🎥🎶🤓
**All Opinions My Own**
Doni has been an amazing colleague. Excited to see what she accomplishes as a Councilmember.
Our new DC At-Large Councilmember’s resume: chairmanmendelson.com/2026/01/19/r...
January 19, 2026 at 7:28 PM
Doni has been an amazing colleague. Excited to see what she accomplishes as a Councilmember.
Reposted by Blaine Stum
Looks like the EU-US trade deal is now dead, with all three major groups in the EU Parliament calling at least for suspension. The downward spiral has already begun.
January 17, 2026 at 10:27 PM
Looks like the EU-US trade deal is now dead, with all three major groups in the EU Parliament calling at least for suspension. The downward spiral has already begun.
Reposted by Blaine Stum
US tariffs are taxes on Americans.
The Trump tariffs amount to an average tax increase per US household of $1,500 in 2026.
They are the largest US tax increase as a percent of GDP since 1993.
Impact tracker by @taxfoundation.bsky.social —>
The Trump tariffs amount to an average tax increase per US household of $1,500 in 2026.
They are the largest US tax increase as a percent of GDP since 1993.
Impact tracker by @taxfoundation.bsky.social —>
Tracking the Economic Impact of the Trump Tariffs
The Trump tariffs are the largest US tax increase as a percent of GDP since 1993 and amount to an average tax increase per US household of $1,500 in 2026.
taxfoundation.org
January 14, 2026 at 12:02 PM
US tariffs are taxes on Americans.
The Trump tariffs amount to an average tax increase per US household of $1,500 in 2026.
They are the largest US tax increase as a percent of GDP since 1993.
Impact tracker by @taxfoundation.bsky.social —>
The Trump tariffs amount to an average tax increase per US household of $1,500 in 2026.
They are the largest US tax increase as a percent of GDP since 1993.
Impact tracker by @taxfoundation.bsky.social —>
Reposted by Blaine Stum
1/DOJ OLC's memo on the #Venezuela attack makes clear that that in the Executive's view, there's nothing left of Congress' Art. I power to decide whether the nation goes to war.
Congress needs to push back hard on this.
More to come, but a few initial observations:
www.justice.gov/olc/media/14...
Congress needs to push back hard on this.
More to come, but a few initial observations:
www.justice.gov/olc/media/14...
www.justice.gov
January 13, 2026 at 10:50 PM
1/DOJ OLC's memo on the #Venezuela attack makes clear that that in the Executive's view, there's nothing left of Congress' Art. I power to decide whether the nation goes to war.
Congress needs to push back hard on this.
More to come, but a few initial observations:
www.justice.gov/olc/media/14...
Congress needs to push back hard on this.
More to come, but a few initial observations:
www.justice.gov/olc/media/14...
Reposted by Blaine Stum
A video of ICE agents conducting door-to-door searches today in Minneapolis
The homeowner requests a warrant repeatedly, is told they don't require one, then is told they're getting it, then the agents storm in anyway
They also point a taser at her to try and disrupt filming
The homeowner requests a warrant repeatedly, is told they don't require one, then is told they're getting it, then the agents storm in anyway
They also point a taser at her to try and disrupt filming
January 12, 2026 at 1:42 AM
A video of ICE agents conducting door-to-door searches today in Minneapolis
The homeowner requests a warrant repeatedly, is told they don't require one, then is told they're getting it, then the agents storm in anyway
They also point a taser at her to try and disrupt filming
The homeowner requests a warrant repeatedly, is told they don't require one, then is told they're getting it, then the agents storm in anyway
They also point a taser at her to try and disrupt filming
Reposted by Blaine Stum
Attempting to criminalize the actions of an independent public servant, Fed Chair Jay Powell, for the sin of acting independently is an outrage. It's bad economics, bad politics, bad for the rule of law, bad for the public sector, bad for American credibility and bad for Americans.
January 12, 2026 at 1:28 AM
Attempting to criminalize the actions of an independent public servant, Fed Chair Jay Powell, for the sin of acting independently is an outrage. It's bad economics, bad politics, bad for the rule of law, bad for the public sector, bad for American credibility and bad for Americans.
Reposted by Blaine Stum
Pastor: I said to this ICE agent, 'Take me, stop harassing her.' The agent got in my face, pointed a gun at me, and said, 'Are you afraid now?' To which I said, 'I am not afraid.'
January 9, 2026 at 1:40 AM
Pastor: I said to this ICE agent, 'Take me, stop harassing her.' The agent got in my face, pointed a gun at me, and said, 'Are you afraid now?' To which I said, 'I am not afraid.'
Reposted by Blaine Stum
A Minneapolis pastor of an MCC church — a denomination rooted in LGBTQ equality — recounts being detained by ICE.
Says an ICE officer walked up to him as he was chanting “we are not afraid.”
The agent, he says, raised his gun and said “are you afraid now?”
m.youtube.com/watch?v=lcSO...
Says an ICE officer walked up to him as he was chanting “we are not afraid.”
The agent, he says, raised his gun and said “are you afraid now?”
m.youtube.com/watch?v=lcSO...
Minneapolis pastor: ICE 'pointed a gun at me' and 'put me in the back of an SUV'
YouTube video by MS NOW
m.youtube.com
January 9, 2026 at 12:30 AM
A Minneapolis pastor of an MCC church — a denomination rooted in LGBTQ equality — recounts being detained by ICE.
Says an ICE officer walked up to him as he was chanting “we are not afraid.”
The agent, he says, raised his gun and said “are you afraid now?”
m.youtube.com/watch?v=lcSO...
Says an ICE officer walked up to him as he was chanting “we are not afraid.”
The agent, he says, raised his gun and said “are you afraid now?”
m.youtube.com/watch?v=lcSO...
Reposted by Blaine Stum
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Minnesota investigators say they can't access evidence after fatal ICE shooting and FBI won't work jointly on probe.
@reuters.com
@reuters.com
January 8, 2026 at 4:17 PM
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Minnesota investigators say they can't access evidence after fatal ICE shooting and FBI won't work jointly on probe.
@reuters.com
@reuters.com
Reposted by Blaine Stum
Reposted by Blaine Stum
I have a new paper w Andrea Prat & Jake Spitz. We show that Republican appointed Supreme Court Justices vote in favor of the richer party by over 70% today, as compared to D’s at 30%. In the 1950s and both were at 50%. This strong trend may contribute to rising inequality. www.nber.org/papers/w34643
Ruling for the Rich: the Supreme Court over Time
Founded in 1920, the NBER is a private, non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to conducting economic research and to disseminating research findings among academics, public policy makers, an...
www.nber.org
January 5, 2026 at 9:14 AM
I have a new paper w Andrea Prat & Jake Spitz. We show that Republican appointed Supreme Court Justices vote in favor of the richer party by over 70% today, as compared to D’s at 30%. In the 1950s and both were at 50%. This strong trend may contribute to rising inequality. www.nber.org/papers/w34643
Reposted by Blaine Stum
post 4 2morrow www.gelliottmorris.com/p/americans-...
Americans do not want war with Venezuela
Active regime change in Venezuela would be one of Trump's most unpopular acts in office
www.gelliottmorris.com
January 4, 2026 at 2:59 AM
post 4 2morrow www.gelliottmorris.com/p/americans-...
Reposted by Blaine Stum
You can read my take on Trump's illegal invasion of Venezuela here: www.newyorker.com/news/q-and-a...
The Brazen Illegality of Trump’s Venezuela Operation
A scholar of international law on the implications of the U.S. arrest of President Nicolás Maduro.
www.newyorker.com
January 3, 2026 at 11:02 PM
You can read my take on Trump's illegal invasion of Venezuela here: www.newyorker.com/news/q-and-a...
Reposted by Blaine Stum
Their messaging is so fucking incoherent. Maduro was an illegitimate leader who lost in 2024, which is why we're replacing him with his VP instead of the person who won in 2024. We did this to stop fentanyl, which is why he's indicted for cocaine.
We're also occupying Venezuela via Zoom call.
We're also occupying Venezuela via Zoom call.
January 3, 2026 at 9:18 PM
Their messaging is so fucking incoherent. Maduro was an illegitimate leader who lost in 2024, which is why we're replacing him with his VP instead of the person who won in 2024. We did this to stop fentanyl, which is why he's indicted for cocaine.
We're also occupying Venezuela via Zoom call.
We're also occupying Venezuela via Zoom call.
Reposted by Blaine Stum
“.. There is no evidence that anyone on the Trump team has thought about what will happen tomorrow, or next week, or next year ..
“.. we’re not even 24 hours into this .. Decades later, we’re still dealing with the aftermath in Afghanistan and Iraq.”
fallows.substack.com/p/blind-into...
“.. we’re not even 24 hours into this .. Decades later, we’re still dealing with the aftermath in Afghanistan and Iraq.”
fallows.substack.com/p/blind-into...
January 3, 2026 at 10:38 PM
“.. There is no evidence that anyone on the Trump team has thought about what will happen tomorrow, or next week, or next year ..
“.. we’re not even 24 hours into this .. Decades later, we’re still dealing with the aftermath in Afghanistan and Iraq.”
fallows.substack.com/p/blind-into...
“.. we’re not even 24 hours into this .. Decades later, we’re still dealing with the aftermath in Afghanistan and Iraq.”
fallows.substack.com/p/blind-into...
Reposted by Blaine Stum
In the Maduro capture operation, the Trump administration relies on Bill Barr’s (discredited) 1989 memo claiming a President can disregard the UN Charter (CNN report).
That is a loaded gun. The legal analysis is utterly flawed.
My assessment just published:
www.justsecurity.org/127962/madur...
That is a loaded gun. The legal analysis is utterly flawed.
My assessment just published:
www.justsecurity.org/127962/madur...
Maduro Capture Operation and the President’s Duty to Faithfully Execute U.N. Charter: Assessment of 1989 OLC Opinion
A decades-old Office of Legal Counsel memorandum claiming the President can disregard the UN Charter does not withstand serious scrutiny.
www.justsecurity.org
January 3, 2026 at 4:39 PM
In the Maduro capture operation, the Trump administration relies on Bill Barr’s (discredited) 1989 memo claiming a President can disregard the UN Charter (CNN report).
That is a loaded gun. The legal analysis is utterly flawed.
My assessment just published:
www.justsecurity.org/127962/madur...
That is a loaded gun. The legal analysis is utterly flawed.
My assessment just published:
www.justsecurity.org/127962/madur...
Reposted by Blaine Stum
it’s all illegal and impeachable
January 3, 2026 at 5:18 PM
it’s all illegal and impeachable
Reposted by Blaine Stum
so we invaded, overthrew and are running a foreign country for no real reason
Trump on Venezuela: "We're going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper, and judicious transition"
January 3, 2026 at 5:03 PM
so we invaded, overthrew and are running a foreign country for no real reason
Reposted by Blaine Stum
Some initial notes on Trump's seizure of Maduro - illegal, destabilizing, and a desperate way to make an ailing, unpopular leader "STRONG" again. My latest 👇
www.hopiumchronicles.com/p/venezuela-...
www.hopiumchronicles.com/p/venezuela-...
Venezuela - Illegal, Destabilizing, A Desperate Way To Make An Ailing And Unpopular Leader "STRONG" Again
Trump will speak to the country at 11am EST
www.hopiumchronicles.com
January 3, 2026 at 4:29 PM
Some initial notes on Trump's seizure of Maduro - illegal, destabilizing, and a desperate way to make an ailing, unpopular leader "STRONG" again. My latest 👇
www.hopiumchronicles.com/p/venezuela-...
www.hopiumchronicles.com/p/venezuela-...
Reposted by Blaine Stum
"With astonishing speed, the administration has toppled the most cherished pillars of a free society." A must-read from @radleybalko.bsky.social , even if you've been following Trump's use of immigration enforcement to terrorize communities. newrepublic.com/article/2042...
Trump’s Immigration Nightmare: It Is Happening Here
With astonishing speed, the administration has toppled the most cherished pillars of a free society. And the experts agree: It’s all going to get much, much worse.
newrepublic.com
December 28, 2025 at 10:39 AM
"With astonishing speed, the administration has toppled the most cherished pillars of a free society." A must-read from @radleybalko.bsky.social , even if you've been following Trump's use of immigration enforcement to terrorize communities. newrepublic.com/article/2042...
The cruelty is the point.
In a profile of Stephen Miller with @swin24.bsky.social, we reported he’s privately laughed off immigrant families’ “sob stories.”
www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...
Speaking last night on Fox about the spiked CECOT story, Miller laughed about how ‘60 Minutes’ is “trying to tell sob stories."
www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...
Speaking last night on Fox about the spiked CECOT story, Miller laughed about how ‘60 Minutes’ is “trying to tell sob stories."
December 24, 2025 at 8:52 PM
The cruelty is the point.
The contingency list the Council approves includes funding for the childcare subsidy ($5.5M), the Early Childhood Educator Pay Equity Fund ($1.5M), the Emergency Rental Assistance Program ($2.95M), and the Alliance ($21.5M).
NEWS: D.C.'s CFO comes bearing gifts today. He's told the D.C. Council that there's $51 million in additional money from the last fiscal year (which ended Sept. 30), and that it will be used to pay for programs and items on the council's contingency list.
December 24, 2025 at 8:01 PM
The contingency list the Council approves includes funding for the childcare subsidy ($5.5M), the Early Childhood Educator Pay Equity Fund ($1.5M), the Emergency Rental Assistance Program ($2.95M), and the Alliance ($21.5M).
Imagine trying to overturn our ban on semi-automatic firearms while claiming to care about the safety of residents and visitors in the District...
BREAKING: The Trump administration is suing D.C. over its ban on semi-automatic (AR-15) weapons.
DOJ's Civil Rights Division under Harmeet Dhillon is seeking a court ruling that D.C.'s law "prohibiting registration of the AR-15 by law-abiding citizens violates the Second Amendment."
DOJ's Civil Rights Division under Harmeet Dhillon is seeking a court ruling that D.C.'s law "prohibiting registration of the AR-15 by law-abiding citizens violates the Second Amendment."
December 22, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Imagine trying to overturn our ban on semi-automatic firearms while claiming to care about the safety of residents and visitors in the District...
Reposted by Blaine Stum
The New York Times investigated 346 people who donated at least $250,000 to Trump and found that more than half of them (197) have received pardons, jobs, government contracts, special treatment, or favors.
Hundreds of Big Post-Election Donors Have Benefited From Trump’s Return to Office
Well into his second term, the president and his allies have continued aggressively raising money. Many donors have interests before his administration, The Times found.
www.nytimes.com
December 22, 2025 at 3:41 PM
The New York Times investigated 346 people who donated at least $250,000 to Trump and found that more than half of them (197) have received pardons, jobs, government contracts, special treatment, or favors.
Reposted by Blaine Stum
🚨 "The Justice Department redacted the names and identifiers of victims. Fox News Digital has learned that the same redaction standards were applied to politically exposed individuals and government officials. "
h/t @kleinmatic.bsky.social
h/t @kleinmatic.bsky.social
Epstein files explode open as DOJ details discovery of powerful figures and more than 1,200 victims
EXCLUSIVE: More than a dozen people and government officials' names appear in the hundreds of thousands of pages of Jeffrey Epstein files made public Friday, sources said.
www.foxnews.com
December 19, 2025 at 9:51 PM
🚨 "The Justice Department redacted the names and identifiers of victims. Fox News Digital has learned that the same redaction standards were applied to politically exposed individuals and government officials. "
h/t @kleinmatic.bsky.social
h/t @kleinmatic.bsky.social