Danny Blinderman
@dannyblinderman.bsky.social
Post-doc at UVA: Program on Constitutionalism and Democracy. Ph.D. @ the University of Michigan. I study APD, constitutional change & democratization. Proud former member of GEO-3550. Semi-retired Jewish organizer. Thaddeus Stevens was right.
Pinned
I think the key source of tension for Trump's coalition, and one Democrats should try to exploit in a variety of ways, is that people voted for Trump to make it 2019 again, but he and his accomplices got elected to do all the evil stuff they couldn't do in 2019.
Reposted by Danny Blinderman
seems to me that those democrats inclined not to fight perceive themselves as living through a somewhat ordinary cycle of presidential overreach and backlash and not something much more significant and dangerous
November 10, 2025 at 12:50 PM
seems to me that those democrats inclined not to fight perceive themselves as living through a somewhat ordinary cycle of presidential overreach and backlash and not something much more significant and dangerous
Reposted by Danny Blinderman
Once you get past the throat-clearing nonsense blaming Democrats, the actual argument is good. Shutdowns are stupid and we shouldn't have them. Appropriations should continue at current levels until they are replaced, not periodically destroy the government.
The American people expect Congress to get the hard work done.
It’s time we end shutdowns once and for all and get back to the real debate over the things that matter. | Sen. Lankford
https://www.nationalreview.com/2025/11/it-is-time-to-be-done-with-shutdowns/
It’s time we end shutdowns once and for all and get back to the real debate over the things that matter. | Sen. Lankford
https://www.nationalreview.com/2025/11/it-is-time-to-be-done-with-shutdowns/
It Is Time to Be Done with Shutdowns | National Review
We’re five weeks into a government shutdown. It should be the last one.
www.nationalreview.com
November 6, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Once you get past the throat-clearing nonsense blaming Democrats, the actual argument is good. Shutdowns are stupid and we shouldn't have them. Appropriations should continue at current levels until they are replaced, not periodically destroy the government.
Reposted by Danny Blinderman
why is this mayoral election different than all other mayoral elections?
in all other mayoral elections, we get to see andrew cuomo lose but once. but in this mayoral elections, we get to see him lose *twice*.
in all other mayoral elections, we get to see andrew cuomo lose but once. but in this mayoral elections, we get to see him lose *twice*.
July 14, 2025 at 10:16 PM
why is this mayoral election different than all other mayoral elections?
in all other mayoral elections, we get to see andrew cuomo lose but once. but in this mayoral elections, we get to see him lose *twice*.
in all other mayoral elections, we get to see andrew cuomo lose but once. but in this mayoral elections, we get to see him lose *twice*.
To add to this, another problem is that neither faction thinks the other one is operating in good faith and they don't trust each other.
The really funny thing about the relationship between leftists and liberals is that they’re each convinced they don’t need the other because they have the secret sauce that will pull over enough right wingers to win
October 22, 2025 at 10:16 PM
To add to this, another problem is that neither faction thinks the other one is operating in good faith and they don't trust each other.
Rarely do we get such an explicit example of how the purpose of a certain kind of reactionary politics is to divide people so as to allow the wealthy and powerful to steal from all of us.
Breaking News: President Trump wants $230 million from the Justice Department for investigating him, people familiar with the matter say. Any settlement might ultimately be approved by senior department officials who defended him or those in his orbit. nyti.ms/4hmIi5X
October 21, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Rarely do we get such an explicit example of how the purpose of a certain kind of reactionary politics is to divide people so as to allow the wealthy and powerful to steal from all of us.
The ubiquity of frog suits at the No Kings protests has me thinking about Passover and (of course) the plague of frogs. Something that has always fascinated me is that in the Torah the word used is צְּפַרְדֵּ֔עַ --which is the singular for "Frog".
October 18, 2025 at 7:06 PM
The ubiquity of frog suits at the No Kings protests has me thinking about Passover and (of course) the plague of frogs. Something that has always fascinated me is that in the Torah the word used is צְּפַרְדֵּ֔עַ --which is the singular for "Frog".
BREAKING: UVA rejects the Trump Administration's Compact.
October 17, 2025 at 9:57 PM
Reposted by Danny Blinderman
This is functionally a robbery of New York City and New York State taxpayers, who contribute billions more to the federal government annually than we get back.
Stealing our money, blocking our bus lanes.
Stealing our money, blocking our bus lanes.
NEW: White House announces it's going to pause, and potentially cancel, $11 billion in infrastructure funding (via the Army Corps of Engineers), specifically citing cities, like New York, represented or led by Democrats. More to come.
October 17, 2025 at 6:44 PM
This is functionally a robbery of New York City and New York State taxpayers, who contribute billions more to the federal government annually than we get back.
Stealing our money, blocking our bus lanes.
Stealing our money, blocking our bus lanes.
Congress's abdication of its powers is at the source of so much of the rot in our constitutional order. Building a representative, dynamic legislature is going to have to be a keystone of any project to rebuild American democracy.
Taken to the extreme, and taken alongside impoundments, Trump’s ADA violations renders Congress completely irrelevant for spending.
The president is claiming the ability to not spend even if Congress makes him spend, and also the ability to spend even if Congress doesn’t let him spend.
The president is claiming the ability to not spend even if Congress makes him spend, and also the ability to spend even if Congress doesn’t let him spend.
October 15, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Congress's abdication of its powers is at the source of so much of the rot in our constitutional order. Building a representative, dynamic legislature is going to have to be a keystone of any project to rebuild American democracy.
Reposted by Danny Blinderman
“No money shall be drawn from the treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law.”
Well that's not how appropriations work at all
*WHITE HOUSE TO TRANSFER TARIFF REVENUE TO FUND WIC: LEAVITT
*WHITE HOUSE TO TRANSFER TARIFF REVENUE TO FUND WIC: LEAVITT
October 7, 2025 at 8:01 PM
“No money shall be drawn from the treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law.”
Reposted by Danny Blinderman
the idea that you could just pass specific bills on specific areas with simple majorities is just beyond the ability and comprehension of most lawmakers in congress it seems
Its insane that American politics now more or less revolves around infrequently passing a single comically large overstuffed money bill instead of like... normal legislation
September 29, 2025 at 1:20 PM
the idea that you could just pass specific bills on specific areas with simple majorities is just beyond the ability and comprehension of most lawmakers in congress it seems
Reposted by Danny Blinderman
Breaking news from Des Moines: ICE has detained Dr. Ian Roberts, the superintendent of Iowa's largest school district.
The Des Moines Public Schools said "We have no confirmed information as to why Dr. Roberts is being detained or the next potential steps."
www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/09/26/i...
The Des Moines Public Schools said "We have no confirmed information as to why Dr. Roberts is being detained or the next potential steps."
www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/09/26/i...
ICE detains Des Moines Superintendent Dr. Ian Roberts
Iowa's largest school district had "no confirmed information" on why ICE detained Dr. Ian Roberts, the superintendent since 2023.
www.bleedingheartland.com
September 26, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Breaking news from Des Moines: ICE has detained Dr. Ian Roberts, the superintendent of Iowa's largest school district.
The Des Moines Public Schools said "We have no confirmed information as to why Dr. Roberts is being detained or the next potential steps."
www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/09/26/i...
The Des Moines Public Schools said "We have no confirmed information as to why Dr. Roberts is being detained or the next potential steps."
www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/09/26/i...
Napoleon: Conquerer, Statesman, and, according to Goethe, A Pleasure to Have In Class
Via the Age of Napoleon podcast, episode 114 "The Limits of Power".
Via the Age of Napoleon podcast, episode 114 "The Limits of Power".
September 26, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Napoleon: Conquerer, Statesman, and, according to Goethe, A Pleasure to Have In Class
Via the Age of Napoleon podcast, episode 114 "The Limits of Power".
Via the Age of Napoleon podcast, episode 114 "The Limits of Power".
Reposted by Danny Blinderman
Sen. Ruben Gallego: "Ashli Babbitt was a traitor. She was a traitor to this country. She was part of a violent mob that tried to overthrow our democracy...She didn't die protecting our country. She died trying to turn it down...She wasn't a martyr. She was and is a traitor."
September 10, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Sen. Ruben Gallego: "Ashli Babbitt was a traitor. She was a traitor to this country. She was part of a violent mob that tried to overthrow our democracy...She didn't die protecting our country. She died trying to turn it down...She wasn't a martyr. She was and is a traitor."
Personalizing this sort of decision, as Biden and his inner circle tried to do, is a symptom of believing that you own the office, rather than it being a trust borrowed and earned from
The people by a party and movement.
The people by a party and movement.
Kamala Harris in her new book: www.theatlantic.com/politics/arc...
September 10, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Personalizing this sort of decision, as Biden and his inner circle tried to do, is a symptom of believing that you own the office, rather than it being a trust borrowed and earned from
The people by a party and movement.
The people by a party and movement.
Reposted by Danny Blinderman
WE WON!!!! @BOENYC just voted UNANIMOUSLY to approve the 4 housing ballot questions!!!
Thanks to hundreds of calls and emails from Open New York members, these historic housing questions will be put to voters—and they’re going to pass.
Thanks to hundreds of calls and emails from Open New York members, these historic housing questions will be put to voters—and they’re going to pass.
September 9, 2025 at 5:55 PM
WE WON!!!! @BOENYC just voted UNANIMOUSLY to approve the 4 housing ballot questions!!!
Thanks to hundreds of calls and emails from Open New York members, these historic housing questions will be put to voters—and they’re going to pass.
Thanks to hundreds of calls and emails from Open New York members, these historic housing questions will be put to voters—and they’re going to pass.
Reposted by Danny Blinderman
New NYT/Siena poll of the NYC mayoral race has-
*Mamdani: 46%
*Cuomo: 24%
*Sliwa: 15%
*Adams: 9%
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/09/n...
*Mamdani: 46%
*Cuomo: 24%
*Sliwa: 15%
*Adams: 9%
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/09/n...
Mamdani Holds Huge Lead in Mayor’s Race, Times/Siena Poll Finds
www.nytimes.com
September 9, 2025 at 12:02 PM
New NYT/Siena poll of the NYC mayoral race has-
*Mamdani: 46%
*Cuomo: 24%
*Sliwa: 15%
*Adams: 9%
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/09/n...
*Mamdani: 46%
*Cuomo: 24%
*Sliwa: 15%
*Adams: 9%
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/09/n...
Biden opposing reform and/or expansion of the Supreme Court is going to cast a long, long shadow.
September 8, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Biden opposing reform and/or expansion of the Supreme Court is going to cast a long, long shadow.
Reposted by Danny Blinderman
RIP, Humphrey’s Executor.
I didn’t know a single justice, acting alone, could ignore precedent, but I guess I just lack the imaginative gutlessness of John Roberts.
I didn’t know a single justice, acting alone, could ignore precedent, but I guess I just lack the imaginative gutlessness of John Roberts.
But, let’s be clear what John Roberts did this morning:
Roberts effectively overturned the Humphrey’s Executor precedent and both lower courts’ rulings in this case in order to allow Trump to fire Slaughter for now — on the shadow docket and through an “administrative” stay issued by him alone.
Roberts effectively overturned the Humphrey’s Executor precedent and both lower courts’ rulings in this case in order to allow Trump to fire Slaughter for now — on the shadow docket and through an “administrative” stay issued by him alone.
September 8, 2025 at 3:21 PM
RIP, Humphrey’s Executor.
I didn’t know a single justice, acting alone, could ignore precedent, but I guess I just lack the imaginative gutlessness of John Roberts.
I didn’t know a single justice, acting alone, could ignore precedent, but I guess I just lack the imaginative gutlessness of John Roberts.
Incredible. The authors actually tried to empirically test who was right in the debates between Orthodox Marxists and Bernstein's revisionists!
direct.mit.edu/rest/article...
direct.mit.edu/rest/article...
Testing Marx: Capital Accumulation, Income Inequality, and Socialism in Late Nineteenth-Century Germany
Abstract. We study the dynamics of capital accumulation, income inequality, capital concentration, and voting up to 1914. Based on new panel data for Prussian regions, we reevaluate the famous revisio...
direct.mit.edu
September 8, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Incredible. The authors actually tried to empirically test who was right in the debates between Orthodox Marxists and Bernstein's revisionists!
direct.mit.edu/rest/article...
direct.mit.edu/rest/article...
A lot about Zohran's campaign is new and innovative, but plenty of what has made it successful is not losing sight of the tried and true fundamentals. It is the combination of the two that makes the campaign so impressive.
"Leadership is not about clinging to the old playbook. It’s about recognizing when the playbook needs to change."
At @nydailynews.com, retired lieutenant commander Shamsul Haque, a 21-year veteran of the NYPD, endorses our campaign for Mayor.
At @nydailynews.com, retired lieutenant commander Shamsul Haque, a 21-year veteran of the NYPD, endorses our campaign for Mayor.
Why this cop backs Zohran Mamdani
New York City is at a crossroads. For years, we’ve endured recycled leadership and outdated approaches to public safety. We face real challenges — rising costs of living, homelessness, mental healt…
www.nydailynews.com
September 8, 2025 at 1:48 PM
A lot about Zohran's campaign is new and innovative, but plenty of what has made it successful is not losing sight of the tried and true fundamentals. It is the combination of the two that makes the campaign so impressive.
Reposted by Danny Blinderman
Interesting shutdown politics thread by health policy expert and former OMB official Topher Spiro.
September 7, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Interesting shutdown politics thread by health policy expert and former OMB official Topher Spiro.