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espiegler.bsky.social
eileen
@espiegler.bsky.social
Former journalist who still writes, edits, designs. Geek who loves art, music, words, what you do with them. I'm on Threads too @_eileenie_ for now.
Reposted by eileen
Sen Dems: OK, we'll vote to open the government if all promise to give us a vote on health-care in the future.
Sen Repubs: (to each other "omg this is like taking candy from a baby") Yes deal!!!
Sen Dems: You guys promise? We are trusting you
Sen Repubs: Would we ever lie to you 😉
November 9, 2025 at 10:51 PM
Reposted by eileen
So Democrats get:

1. A CR that will prevent the GOP from facing the wrath of Americans for a shutdown over the holidays

2. A coupon for one (1) meaningless ACA vote that will fail

3. An end to the illegal RIF/SNAP moves that are already before the courts

Those all seem like wins for the GOP.
November 10, 2025 at 12:08 AM
Reposted by eileen
The caucus meeting was just to orchestrate who would fall on the sword but not be up for a vote in 2026.
so currently defectors are:

Kaine (2030)
Shaheen (Retiring)
Hasan (2028)
Fetterman (2028)
Durbin (Retiring)
CCM (2028)
Rosen (2030)
King (2030)
November 10, 2025 at 2:05 AM
Reposted by eileen
Shutting down the government is a big deal. People have been hurt in big ways as a result of the decision. To have that suffering be for nothing—to re-open the government without actually having protected people’s health insurance and economic well-being—is unconscionable.
November 9, 2025 at 11:14 PM
Reposted by eileen
watching my Obamacare premiums go from $422/month to $1455/month on the Senate floor right now.
November 10, 2025 at 1:52 AM
Reposted by eileen
The choreography- @ezralevin.bsky.social - a fellow Hill alum - knows how this kabuki dance works.
John Fetterman, Angus King, Maggie Hassan, Dick Durbin, Jon Ossoff, Jeanne Shaheen, Kirsten Gillibrand, Catherine Cortez Masto, Mark Warner, Cory Booker, and of course Chuck Schumer. Maybe others not top of mind. Not all responsible will publicly vote for the cave - that's not how this works.
November 10, 2025 at 2:04 AM
Reposted by eileen
🚨The second #SchumerSurrender is now pretty much complete.
November 10, 2025 at 1:49 AM
Reposted by eileen
Important to understand this. There's a reasonable chance that your Dem Senator who voted against it and is acting mad now was in on the play. It's the same reason why they scheduled the surrender for AFTER the election this week. They didn't want people pissed at Dems right before an election.
The caucus meeting was just to orchestrate who would fall on the sword but not be up for a vote in 2026.
so currently defectors are:

Kaine (2030)
Shaheen (Retiring)
Hasan (2028)
Fetterman (2028)
Durbin (Retiring)
CCM (2028)
Rosen (2030)
King (2030)
November 10, 2025 at 2:11 AM
"I always say, 'Yeah, I'm kind of a showman. But Patti's a shaman.'"
– Bruce Springsteen
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Patti Smith’s ‘Horses’ Celebrates Its 50th Anniversary
In 1975, she transformed poetry into punk. Neither would ever be the same. More than 20 artists who made and admired the album share their memories.
www.nytimes.com
November 10, 2025 at 2:12 AM
Reposted by eileen
Senate Democrats voting to dismantle the ACA to avoid any problems with their Thanksgiving travel is tragically on brand.
November 9, 2025 at 11:21 PM
Reposted by eileen
They are caving in exchange for the pinky promise of doomed vote in 40 days. They have the political instincts of drywall. This is un-fucking-believable.
November 10, 2025 at 12:22 AM
Reposted by eileen
let’s be clear here

1. its not all Senate Dems

2. The most fucked thing is a lot of them doing this are actually retiring
November 9, 2025 at 11:54 PM
Reposted by eileen
I will support primary challenges against any safe state Dems that support this deal.

They are clearly I’ll-equipped for the moment we are in. They need to go.
November 10, 2025 at 12:23 AM
Reposted by eileen
How do so many democrats still not understand that the ACA *was* the compromise.
November 9, 2025 at 10:14 PM
Reposted by eileen
Jesus Christ, @kaine.senate.gov, getting a pinky promise to hold one single vote on ACA funding is not "a path toward fixing the health care mess" anymore than a lottery ticket is a "path toward fixing my personal finances"
“Um well there aren’t even any Senate Dem Press releases saying they support the deal”

Sen Tim Kaine: Hold my beer
November 10, 2025 at 12:20 AM
Reposted by eileen
Any Democrat in Congress who would accept a promise from a Republican in Congress should undergo a cognitive test.
November 10, 2025 at 12:19 AM
Reposted by eileen
Democrats, you have fully lost your damn minds. You don't give a damn inch to bullies. Period.
Trump: "We'll never agree to give any substantial money or any money to prisoners, illegals. And I think the Democrats understand that. And it looks like we're getting close to the shutdown ending."
November 10, 2025 at 12:24 AM
Reposted by eileen
I will admit that this is the single funniest outcome of us doing a Keep Politics Out Of Sports after a guy kneeled
Government is shut down. Chaos in airports. 42 million going hungry. 24 million face skyrocketing healthcare costs. Economy in turmoil. And the president of the United States is in the Fox broadcast booth calling plays for a football game.
November 10, 2025 at 12:09 AM
Reposted by eileen
I've defended establishment democrats a lot, as a lot of what they do has some justification, but this is my own breaking point. There is literally no good reason to cave now after holding on for so long. Either cave right away so people don't suffer for no reason, or ACTUALLY hold the damn line.
Glad we've taught the Trump administration that starving 42 million people and disrupting air travel is how they get whatever they want, though. Good precedent with 3 years left in this nightmare.
November 10, 2025 at 12:24 AM
Reposted by eileen
Yeah these guys are born losers and are unable to even do basic spin for themselves
This, from Tim Kaine is HILARIOUS:
November 10, 2025 at 12:24 AM
Reposted by eileen
This “deal” would force 370,000 Arizonans to pay more for the same or worse healthcare coverage.

I refuse to make life harder for the people I serve. I’m absolutely a NO.
November 10, 2025 at 12:16 AM
Reposted by eileen
Claiming that getting a vote destined to fail as a win is an insult to everyone’s intelligence
Here's the full text of the deal:
- House CR extended to January 30, no RIFs permitted until then
- Minibus
- Ds get a filibusterable ACA vote in December

Read the text:
hillheat.com/files/467/co...
November 10, 2025 at 12:01 AM
Reposted by eileen
let me just say Harry Reid would NEVER have allowed this
November 10, 2025 at 12:19 AM
Reposted by eileen
So yeah, Schumer is fucking awful. But there’s enough Democrats supporting this debacle that it’s obviously more than a one-guy problem. The party that consistently presents itself as the only bulwark against fascism keeps surrendering to fascism.
November 10, 2025 at 12:23 AM