Ellen Bender
@ellenbnyc.bsky.social
Co-Founder, Markers For Democracy, Postcards To Voters Writer, Retired Lawyer, Mom, Reader of Banned Books https://linktr.ee/markersfordemocracy
Reposted by Ellen Bender
Boy, this "feel-good" story lasted all of about 10 seconds. Welcome to 2026
Hilton said Tuesday that it is removing an independently owned Minnesota hotel from its system after a location denied rooms to ICE employees.
Hilton says it is removing a Minnesota hotel from its system over ICE controversy
Hilton said Tuesday that it is removing an independently owned Minnesota hotel from its system after a location denied rooms to ICE employees.
www.businessinsider.com
January 6, 2026 at 4:35 PM
Boy, this "feel-good" story lasted all of about 10 seconds. Welcome to 2026
Reposted by Ellen Bender
District 3 is my home and I would be proud to serve it in City Council. Stay tuned for more.
January 5, 2026 at 7:03 PM
District 3 is my home and I would be proud to serve it in City Council. Stay tuned for more.
Reposted by Ellen Bender
“But another reason is this. Mamdani walks in an older Jewish tradition. Not that of ritzy Upper East Side synagogues, but of so many of our great-grandparents: the socialist sweatshop workers who fought for a better and more beautiful world.” Molly Crabapple
I love this @mollycrabapple.bsky.social article about how Mamdani fits in with NYC's Jewish socialists. I learned about Baruch Charney Vladeck from his great-grandson @stevevladeck.bsky.social Substack, and I would read a book about him if someone wrote it. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
They tried to smear him as an antisemite – but Mayor Zohran Mamdani walks in a rich Jewish tradition | Molly Crabapple
When I look at Mamdani, I don’t see some radical departure. I see him as an heir to the Yiddish socialism that helped build New York
www.theguardian.com
January 4, 2026 at 3:24 AM
“But another reason is this. Mamdani walks in an older Jewish tradition. Not that of ritzy Upper East Side synagogues, but of so many of our great-grandparents: the socialist sweatshop workers who fought for a better and more beautiful world.” Molly Crabapple
Demand your Member of Congress do everything in their power to stop Trump’s escalating attacks against Venezuela. act.indivisible.org/sign/stop-tr...
Take Action: Stop Trump’s War in Venezuela
Demand your Member of Congress do everything in their power to stop Trump’s escalating attacks against Venezuela.
act.indivisible.org
January 5, 2026 at 2:42 AM
Demand your Member of Congress do everything in their power to stop Trump’s escalating attacks against Venezuela. act.indivisible.org/sign/stop-tr...
From Lucian Truscott: "Trump’s plan for Venezuela: A hope, a prayer, and golf" He made me notice he glimpse of the Mar-a-Lago ballroom in this photo. open.substack.com/pub/luciantr...
Trump’s plan for Venezuela: A hope, a prayer, and golf
Boy, are the think tank and media foreign policy poohbahs stumped after Trump’s big kidnapping of Mr.
open.substack.com
January 4, 2026 at 11:29 PM
From Lucian Truscott: "Trump’s plan for Venezuela: A hope, a prayer, and golf" He made me notice he glimpse of the Mar-a-Lago ballroom in this photo. open.substack.com/pub/luciantr...
I love this @mollycrabapple.bsky.social article about how Mamdani fits in with NYC's Jewish socialists. I learned about Baruch Charney Vladeck from his great-grandson @stevevladeck.bsky.social Substack, and I would read a book about him if someone wrote it. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
They tried to smear him as an antisemite – but Mayor Zohran Mamdani walks in a rich Jewish tradition | Molly Crabapple
When I look at Mamdani, I don’t see some radical departure. I see him as an heir to the Yiddish socialism that helped build New York
www.theguardian.com
January 4, 2026 at 1:49 AM
I love this @mollycrabapple.bsky.social article about how Mamdani fits in with NYC's Jewish socialists. I learned about Baruch Charney Vladeck from his great-grandson @stevevladeck.bsky.social Substack, and I would read a book about him if someone wrote it. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Here is a statement by @truahrabbis.bsky.social, one of the Jewish organizations I support, explaining why they are opposed to codifying the IHRA definition of antisemitism (while being committed as I am and as Mayor Mamdani is to fighting antisemitism). truah.org/resources/wh...
Why T’ruah Opposes Codifying the IHRA Definition of Antisemitism | T'ruah
truah.org
January 4, 2026 at 1:21 AM
Here is a statement by @truahrabbis.bsky.social, one of the Jewish organizations I support, explaining why they are opposed to codifying the IHRA definition of antisemitism (while being committed as I am and as Mayor Mamdani is to fighting antisemitism). truah.org/resources/wh...
Reposted by Ellen Bender
Lot happening right now but seems like a critical question for tomorrow will be - why did Trump tell the world he was in charge of Venezuela when it is clear he isn't?
Trump told the world this am he was now in charge of another nation. The current government of that nation, Venezuela, said no f-ing way today.
Is Trump delusional, confabulating, wishcasting? Has Trump lost it? Seriously, what is going on? My latest 👇
www.hopiumchronicles.com/p/is-trump-i...
Is Trump delusional, confabulating, wishcasting? Has Trump lost it? Seriously, what is going on? My latest 👇
www.hopiumchronicles.com/p/is-trump-i...
Is Trump In Charge Of Venezuela? The Maduro Government Say No. What The F-ck Is Going On?
Did Trump just invent, confabulate, wishcast on global television this morning that he was in charge of Venezuela?
www.hopiumchronicles.com
January 4, 2026 at 1:19 AM
Lot happening right now but seems like a critical question for tomorrow will be - why did Trump tell the world he was in charge of Venezuela when it is clear he isn't?
Trump's Venezuela Attack: It’s All About the Oil, Stupid!
open.substack.com/pub/zeteo/p/...
open.substack.com/pub/zeteo/p/...
Trump's Venezuela Attack: It’s All About the Oil, Stupid!
Here are five times Donald Trump himself admitted that illegally attacking Venezuela and toppling Nicolás Maduro was aimed at seizing the country’s massive oil reserves.
open.substack.com
January 3, 2026 at 11:59 PM
Trump's Venezuela Attack: It’s All About the Oil, Stupid!
open.substack.com/pub/zeteo/p/...
open.substack.com/pub/zeteo/p/...
Thug World
open.substack.com/pub/robertre...
open.substack.com/pub/robertre...
Thug World
A new world order?
open.substack.com
January 3, 2026 at 8:52 PM
Thug World
open.substack.com/pub/robertre...
open.substack.com/pub/robertre...
A lot of Jewish organizations and people, including me, are not fans of codifying the IHRA definition of antisemitism. Read this from @truahrabbis.bsky.social (one of my favorite orgs): truah.org/resources/wh...
Why T’ruah Opposes Codifying the IHRA Definition of Antisemitism | T'ruah
truah.org
January 2, 2026 at 7:01 PM
A lot of Jewish organizations and people, including me, are not fans of codifying the IHRA definition of antisemitism. Read this from @truahrabbis.bsky.social (one of my favorite orgs): truah.org/resources/wh...
Reposted by Ellen Bender
“An iced coffee? In January?”
-me, auditioning for a NYT columnist slot.
-me, auditioning for a NYT columnist slot.
Mayor Mamdani hasn't moved into Gracie Mansion yet and remains in his Astoria apartment for now, his team says. He expects to move at some point before his lease is up Jan. 30.
His team also shares this pic of him taking the W train to City Hall this morning from Astoria.
His team also shares this pic of him taking the W train to City Hall this morning from Astoria.
January 2, 2026 at 5:37 PM
“An iced coffee? In January?”
-me, auditioning for a NYT columnist slot.
-me, auditioning for a NYT columnist slot.
I was thinking about this today and basically agree except Election Night was pretty damn great. More nights like that in 2026. open.substack.com/pub/luciantr...
Fuck this year
Everybody is doing their annual wrap-ups, cataloging the ups and downs of 2025, celebrating the rise of the resistance, predicting success in the midterms in November, trashing Trump and MAGA.
open.substack.com
December 31, 2025 at 2:21 AM
I was thinking about this today and basically agree except Election Night was pretty damn great. More nights like that in 2026. open.substack.com/pub/luciantr...
As a big fan of @charlotteclymer.bsky.social and @zachwahls.bsky.social, this made me happy. We Can Win the Senate With This Democrat open.substack.com/pub/charlott...
We Can Win the Senate With This Democrat
I have never been more confident.
open.substack.com
December 30, 2025 at 5:58 PM
As a big fan of @charlotteclymer.bsky.social and @zachwahls.bsky.social, this made me happy. We Can Win the Senate With This Democrat open.substack.com/pub/charlott...
Reposted by Ellen Bender
I feel like "attention hacking" is most of politics now. The Minnesota aid fraud story is becoming a perfect example.
Recap: In 2022, the Biden DOJ filed the first charges against dozens of fraudsters, many of them Somali-American, who'd fleeced a state food aid program. (1/x)
Recap: In 2022, the Biden DOJ filed the first charges against dozens of fraudsters, many of them Somali-American, who'd fleeced a state food aid program. (1/x)
December 29, 2025 at 1:30 AM
I feel like "attention hacking" is most of politics now. The Minnesota aid fraud story is becoming a perfect example.
Recap: In 2022, the Biden DOJ filed the first charges against dozens of fraudsters, many of them Somali-American, who'd fleeced a state food aid program. (1/x)
Recap: In 2022, the Biden DOJ filed the first charges against dozens of fraudsters, many of them Somali-American, who'd fleeced a state food aid program. (1/x)
Reposted by Ellen Bender
For this week's That's Marvelous newsletter I regrettably wrote a little bit about Bari Weiss (but also I happily wrote a little bit about dogs)! Read it here: www.thatsmarvelousnewsletter.com/163-60-minut...
December 22, 2025 at 3:36 PM
For this week's That's Marvelous newsletter I regrettably wrote a little bit about Bari Weiss (but also I happily wrote a little bit about dogs)! Read it here: www.thatsmarvelousnewsletter.com/163-60-minut...
Reposted by Ellen Bender
This NYT story is almost malpractice. It is as bad a report of facts as one can do. Does not even mention that DeSantis’s own mini-DOGE issued a scathing financial report on the place just 6 weeks ago.
Here is a more accurate story from Washington Monthly. washingtonmonthly.com/2025/11/13/n...
Here is a more accurate story from Washington Monthly. washingtonmonthly.com/2025/11/13/n...
December 28, 2025 at 2:53 PM
This NYT story is almost malpractice. It is as bad a report of facts as one can do. Does not even mention that DeSantis’s own mini-DOGE issued a scathing financial report on the place just 6 weeks ago.
Here is a more accurate story from Washington Monthly. washingtonmonthly.com/2025/11/13/n...
Here is a more accurate story from Washington Monthly. washingtonmonthly.com/2025/11/13/n...
The Bombs of Anti-Christmas
open.substack.com/pub/ourmoral...
open.substack.com/pub/ourmoral...
The Bombs of Anti-Christmas
Military strikes in Nigeria reveal a distorted moral narrative
open.substack.com
December 26, 2025 at 6:27 PM
The Bombs of Anti-Christmas
open.substack.com/pub/ourmoral...
open.substack.com/pub/ourmoral...
Reposted by Ellen Bender
Today’s activist politicians could learn a lot from the unforgettable Bella Abzug. My latest in @nymag.com
We Can Never Forget Bella Abzug
Battling Bella’s remarkable life and tireless activism set an example that more people should follow today.
nymag.com
December 21, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Today’s activist politicians could learn a lot from the unforgettable Bella Abzug. My latest in @nymag.com
Reposted by Ellen Bender
The good dude @lukeoneil47.bsky.social let me write about the 20 best books that I read in 2025. If you're wondering "what should I read?" here's your list www.welcometohellworld.com/20-books-you...
20 books you should read
My friend Aaron thinks he's better than me because he "reads books" and "knows how to read." That's fine. I've looked at so many posts. Today he writes about the 20 best (new and old) he read this yea...
www.welcometohellworld.com
December 21, 2025 at 2:33 PM
The good dude @lukeoneil47.bsky.social let me write about the 20 best books that I read in 2025. If you're wondering "what should I read?" here's your list www.welcometohellworld.com/20-books-you...
Reposted by Ellen Bender
Make the case that I should vote for the crypto shill in my deep blue district, I'll wait.
CNN: DC Democrats irked by surge of left-wing challengers with House majority on the line www.cnn.com/2025/12/21/p...
‘They’re attacking their own’: DC Democrats irked by surge of left-wing challengers with House majority on the line | CNN Politics
When Rep. Dan Goldman first ran for Congress in 2022, he was cheered on the left as the party’s top lawyer during President Donald Trump’s first impeachment.
www.cnn.com
December 22, 2025 at 1:26 AM
Make the case that I should vote for the crypto shill in my deep blue district, I'll wait.
Reposted by Ellen Bender
This Yglesias piece in the NYT is horrifically bad. Almost every "fact" it cites is provably false. At best it is cocktail party banter from a pundit who knows nothing of energy. At worst, it was cut/paste from oil industry talking points. So, a rebuttal: www.nytimes.com/2025/12/18/o...
Opinion | Obama Supported It. The Left in Canada and Norway Does. Why Don’t Democrats?
www.nytimes.com
December 20, 2025 at 2:57 PM
This Yglesias piece in the NYT is horrifically bad. Almost every "fact" it cites is provably false. At best it is cocktail party banter from a pundit who knows nothing of energy. At worst, it was cut/paste from oil industry talking points. So, a rebuttal: www.nytimes.com/2025/12/18/o...
For my fellow haters. Enjoy! "Elise Stefanik Realizes Everyone Hates Her, Drops Out Of Governor's Race, Congress, Life" open.substack.com/pub/wonkette...
Elise Stefanik Realizes Everyone Hates Her, Drops Out Of Governor's Race, Congress, Life
Stefanik out!
open.substack.com
December 20, 2025 at 4:18 PM
For my fellow haters. Enjoy! "Elise Stefanik Realizes Everyone Hates Her, Drops Out Of Governor's Race, Congress, Life" open.substack.com/pub/wonkette...
Reposted by Ellen Bender
You’d need a goddamn microscope to see the size of the violin I’m playing for Stefanik. Sold her soul to the devil and didn’t think she’d burn.
“.. After a series of public humiliations delivered to her by President Trump .. Ms. Stefanik on Friday afternoon announced she’d had enough.” 🤡
@anniekarni.bsky.social #NYgov
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/19/u...
@anniekarni.bsky.social #NYgov
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/19/u...
December 20, 2025 at 3:38 AM
You’d need a goddamn microscope to see the size of the violin I’m playing for Stefanik. Sold her soul to the devil and didn’t think she’d burn.
Reposted by Ellen Bender
The Kennedy Center name is established by federal statute, and therefore may be repealed only by federal statute. www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/...
December 18, 2025 at 6:24 PM
The Kennedy Center name is established by federal statute, and therefore may be repealed only by federal statute. www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/...