JB stan account
@johnbrownstan.bsky.social
Militant liberal. Aspiring re-education camp counselor. Filibuster abolition enjoyer.
Look down the game tree. What's at the end of all those off-equilibrium paths?
Look down the game tree. What's at the end of all those off-equilibrium paths?
Pinned
Reposted by JB stan account
Reposted by JB stan account
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 JB stan account
Some thoughts on the CR/minibus.
1 The Dems negotiating with Rs were not freelancing. They coordinated with Sen Schumer. A few were ready to give in on day one, others worked to maximize appropriations wins.
Those voting for the 'deal' are the ones furthest away from electoral consequences.
1 The Dems negotiating with Rs were not freelancing. They coordinated with Sen Schumer. A few were ready to give in on day one, others worked to maximize appropriations wins.
Those voting for the 'deal' are the ones furthest away from electoral consequences.
November 10, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Some thoughts on the CR/minibus.
1 The Dems negotiating with Rs were not freelancing. They coordinated with Sen Schumer. A few were ready to give in on day one, others worked to maximize appropriations wins.
Those voting for the 'deal' are the ones furthest away from electoral consequences.
1 The Dems negotiating with Rs were not freelancing. They coordinated with Sen Schumer. A few were ready to give in on day one, others worked to maximize appropriations wins.
Those voting for the 'deal' are the ones furthest away from electoral consequences.
Reposted by JB stan account
My post of Decision Desk's decision to call the Seattle mayor race for Harrell last week didn't hinge on who would ultimately win: The point was that a "call" isn't a race to get a prediction right.
But Wilson now being ahead should at least bring more attention to the importance of not rushing.
But Wilson now being ahead should at least bring more attention to the importance of not rushing.
Calls are about certainty and not risking people's confidence in the final result. Speeding through for competition is not good and irresponsible.
November 11, 2025 at 12:17 AM
My post of Decision Desk's decision to call the Seattle mayor race for Harrell last week didn't hinge on who would ultimately win: The point was that a "call" isn't a race to get a prediction right.
But Wilson now being ahead should at least bring more attention to the importance of not rushing.
But Wilson now being ahead should at least bring more attention to the importance of not rushing.
My FireTV is unbelievably slow and I'm pretty sure it's because it preferentially loads about 800 advertisements before doing anything I want it to do
November 11, 2025 at 12:13 AM
My FireTV is unbelievably slow and I'm pretty sure it's because it preferentially loads about 800 advertisements before doing anything I want it to do
Taking out a 15 year loan to buy an item that typically lasts 10 years
November 10, 2025 at 11:39 PM
Taking out a 15 year loan to buy an item that typically lasts 10 years
This is good. Fuck those assholes
"We’re done waiting for Dems to find their spine. We can’t afford a weak & cowardly Democratic Party while the authoritarians invade our cities, terrorize our communities, & threaten our democracy. We get the party we demand, & we intend to demand a Democratic Party that fights.” — @indivisible.org
Indivisible Launches its Largest Primary Program in Response to Senate Democrats Surrendering on the Shutdown Vote
indivisible.org
November 10, 2025 at 11:14 PM
This is good. Fuck those assholes
Reposted by JB stan account
This is what a bunch of Democrats in the Senate just voted for:
"The provision, tucked into a measure to fund the legislative branch, appears to immediately allow for eight GOP senators to sue over their phone records being seized in the course of the investigation by Jack Smith ... into the riot at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021." www.nytimes.com/2025/11/10/u...
Spending Bill Would Pave Way for Senators to Sue Over Phone Searches
Republicans have voiced outrage that Jack Smith looked at G.O.P. lawmakers’ phone records surrounding the Jan. 6 attack. Legislation to reopen the government would allow them to sue for $500,000 each.
www.nytimes.com
November 10, 2025 at 8:40 PM
This is what a bunch of Democrats in the Senate just voted for:
These figures are in nominal terms, which is absolutely wild. Half the things listed here got cheaper or stayed the same *even without adjusting for inflation*.
Pretty much all affordability discourse could benefit from just posting this chart.
If you're in the better off America, all the luxury goods you want in excess are for the most part much cheaper. If you're in the poorer America, most of the shit you need to live/grow is more expensive.
If you're in the better off America, all the luxury goods you want in excess are for the most part much cheaper. If you're in the poorer America, most of the shit you need to live/grow is more expensive.
November 10, 2025 at 8:39 PM
These figures are in nominal terms, which is absolutely wild. Half the things listed here got cheaper or stayed the same *even without adjusting for inflation*.
Everybody talks as if this is impossible, but all Democrats need is the will to power. Which is to say, the will to admit DC as 250 states so we can rewrite the constitution at will
Abolish the Senate. I am absolutely dead serious.
Shaheen: "We've heard from a number of our colleagues on the other side of the aisle that they're willing to come to the table, they're willing to work with us once the govt is open to get this done. We've heard the same thing from the White House. So now we'll see if they're really gonna work w/us"
November 10, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Everybody talks as if this is impossible, but all Democrats need is the will to power. Which is to say, the will to admit DC as 250 states so we can rewrite the constitution at will
Tailgating is always a bad idea. Tailgating when the road is a block of ice is moronic
November 10, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Tailgating is always a bad idea. Tailgating when the road is a block of ice is moronic
Reposted by JB stan account
Dems are very proud of themselves for their “savvy” willingness to tell their base to simmer down and let the experts work. What they don’t seem to understand is the intangible, but very real, damage that does to the enthusiasm of their voters, who feel abandoned. And then the “experts” fail!
The Dem base wants the shutdown to continue because it’s the only time we’ve felt like our electeds were representing us: trying to squeeze the GOP instead of squeezing us to accept concessions; directing their anger at the Republicans instead of at their own voters for wanting them to resist
November 10, 2025 at 4:32 AM
Dems are very proud of themselves for their “savvy” willingness to tell their base to simmer down and let the experts work. What they don’t seem to understand is the intangible, but very real, damage that does to the enthusiasm of their voters, who feel abandoned. And then the “experts” fail!
Reposted by JB stan account
Here’s video of federal agents doing a drive by pepper spraying that hit a father and his one-year old on Saturday when the Feds were hitting Little Village and Cicero
November 9, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Here’s video of federal agents doing a drive by pepper spraying that hit a father and his one-year old on Saturday when the Feds were hitting Little Village and Cicero
Reposted by JB stan account
if you genuinely think Schumer and Democratic leadership opposed this & Republicans coincidentally got exactly the number of votes they needed to avoid a filibuster and none of those votes are from Democratic Senators who are up for reelection in the midterms next year, I have a bridge to sell you.
November 10, 2025 at 3:05 AM
if you genuinely think Schumer and Democratic leadership opposed this & Republicans coincidentally got exactly the number of votes they needed to avoid a filibuster and none of those votes are from Democratic Senators who are up for reelection in the midterms next year, I have a bridge to sell you.
Reposted by JB stan account
The average SNAP benefit per month is $177 a person.
The average ACA benefit per month is up to $550 a person.
People want us to hold the line for a reason. This is not a matter of appealing to a base. It’s about people’s lives.
And working people want leaders whose word means something to them.
The average ACA benefit per month is up to $550 a person.
People want us to hold the line for a reason. This is not a matter of appealing to a base. It’s about people’s lives.
And working people want leaders whose word means something to them.
November 10, 2025 at 1:49 AM
The average SNAP benefit per month is $177 a person.
The average ACA benefit per month is up to $550 a person.
People want us to hold the line for a reason. This is not a matter of appealing to a base. It’s about people’s lives.
And working people want leaders whose word means something to them.
The average ACA benefit per month is up to $550 a person.
People want us to hold the line for a reason. This is not a matter of appealing to a base. It’s about people’s lives.
And working people want leaders whose word means something to them.
Reposted by JB stan account
the message is clear that Republicans are in charge permanently, can kill any D legislation with the filibuster, never need to govern at all, and when pressed, they can threaten the lives of millions any time they want and they will be given whatever it is they demand in exchange for their mercy.
November 10, 2025 at 2:26 AM
the message is clear that Republicans are in charge permanently, can kill any D legislation with the filibuster, never need to govern at all, and when pressed, they can threaten the lives of millions any time they want and they will be given whatever it is they demand in exchange for their mercy.
Reposted by JB stan account
The coordinated nature of this—none are facing voters in 2026—means that either Schumer approved it or failed in his job as Senate Majority Leader to stop it.
Dems voting "no" get zero credit until they demand a change in leadership. Schumer out as Leader, Durbin out as Whip.
Dems voting "no" get zero credit until they demand a change in leadership. Schumer out as Leader, Durbin out as Whip.
so currently defectors are:
Kaine (2030)
Shaheen (Retiring)
Hasan (2028)
Fetterman (2028)
Durbin (Retiring)
CCM (2028)
Rosen (2030)
King (2030)
Kaine (2030)
Shaheen (Retiring)
Hasan (2028)
Fetterman (2028)
Durbin (Retiring)
CCM (2028)
Rosen (2030)
King (2030)
November 10, 2025 at 2:43 AM
The coordinated nature of this—none are facing voters in 2026—means that either Schumer approved it or failed in his job as Senate Majority Leader to stop it.
Dems voting "no" get zero credit until they demand a change in leadership. Schumer out as Leader, Durbin out as Whip.
Dems voting "no" get zero credit until they demand a change in leadership. Schumer out as Leader, Durbin out as Whip.
One thing today has solidified for me is that I'm voting for Kat Abu, even though in most ways I like Biss better. I just don't feel as certain he will fight
November 10, 2025 at 3:06 AM
One thing today has solidified for me is that I'm voting for Kat Abu, even though in most ways I like Biss better. I just don't feel as certain he will fight
Trump regularly ignores the law. That's why it's important to pass more laws saying "hey, you got to do this". It's called the Pinky Swear Principle
If there was already a law passed in 2019 guaranteeing back pay what exactly did you get?
My statement on the funding deal to reopen government, protect federal employees, and vote to protect health care:
November 10, 2025 at 2:54 AM
Trump regularly ignores the law. That's why it's important to pass more laws saying "hey, you got to do this". It's called the Pinky Swear Principle
Reposted by JB stan account
They caved in March so they could get a better deal now. They’re caving now so they can get a better deal in some indeterminate future. The better deal is always just beyond their reach, but continuing to cave will get them there. And if you don’t agree with that, you don’t understand Politics,
November 10, 2025 at 2:44 AM
They caved in March so they could get a better deal now. They’re caving now so they can get a better deal in some indeterminate future. The better deal is always just beyond their reach, but continuing to cave will get them there. And if you don’t agree with that, you don’t understand Politics,
This is actually encouraging. If they don't have Kelly or Schumer, who are the 7.
Mark Kelly a NO, notable as he was allegedly one of the cavers
November 10, 2025 at 1:13 AM
This is actually encouraging. If they don't have Kelly or Schumer, who are the 7.
Reposted by JB stan account
Mark Kelly a NO, notable as he was allegedly one of the cavers
November 10, 2025 at 1:12 AM
Mark Kelly a NO, notable as he was allegedly one of the cavers
Reposted by JB stan account
We tried to show them after the last surrender. There's no sense in trying to convince them anymore. Primaries are the only path to a fighting opposition party now.
November 10, 2025 at 12:41 AM
We tried to show them after the last surrender. There's no sense in trying to convince them anymore. Primaries are the only path to a fighting opposition party now.
Reposted by JB stan account
Whatever else is in the deal, agreeing to merely have a vote on ACA is a fig leaf. Even if it passes the Senate, it won't in the House, which also makes it an easy yes vote for the Senate Rs who might want to, defusing it as an attack on them.
It is a stupid ask even on Team Schumer's own terms.
It is a stupid ask even on Team Schumer's own terms.
November 10, 2025 at 12:28 AM
Whatever else is in the deal, agreeing to merely have a vote on ACA is a fig leaf. Even if it passes the Senate, it won't in the House, which also makes it an easy yes vote for the Senate Rs who might want to, defusing it as an attack on them.
It is a stupid ask even on Team Schumer's own terms.
It is a stupid ask even on Team Schumer's own terms.
Reposted by JB stan account
Chuck Schumer diving in front of the rake Trump steps on
November 9, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Chuck Schumer diving in front of the rake Trump steps on