Jim Stalnaker 🇺🇸🇺🇦
@jstalnaker1.bsky.social
Burkean small-l liberal. Finance guy. Tampa sports.
I’m not disagreeing with the sentiment, but if there is anything the last 10 years has taught us it should be that primaries are bad. Political parties should be allowed to gatekeep to some degree.
My contention is that *even assuming* Biden is a vastly weaker candidate than Harris, something that is at best contested and exaggerated, the left must be *extremely* careful about opening the door to a veto over candidate by large donors and the NYT editorial board.
February 16, 2026 at 8:49 PM
I’m not disagreeing with the sentiment, but if there is anything the last 10 years has taught us it should be that primaries are bad. Political parties should be allowed to gatekeep to some degree.
If we really are in the middle of another round of new year price bumps that will show up in the data over the next few months that’s basically curtains for the GOP avoiding a wave scenario.
www.wsj.com/business/pri...
www.wsj.com/business/pri...
The Break Is Over. Companies Are Jacking Up Prices Again.
Higher tariffs, labor and health-insurance costs have pushed many businesses to raise prices for consumers.
www.wsj.com
February 16, 2026 at 4:46 PM
If we really are in the middle of another round of new year price bumps that will show up in the data over the next few months that’s basically curtains for the GOP avoiding a wave scenario.
www.wsj.com/business/pri...
www.wsj.com/business/pri...
What Ukraine has done over the past 3+ years is already remarkable. But the fact that the Russians are losing 30K men a month now and are *losing ground* is a 5 alarm fire for Putin.
February 16, 2026 at 3:16 PM
What Ukraine has done over the past 3+ years is already remarkable. But the fact that the Russians are losing 30K men a month now and are *losing ground* is a 5 alarm fire for Putin.
Notable that CBS/Yougov was in the field last week and released some niche stuff earlier but didn’t release the top lines this morning which they usually do.
February 15, 2026 at 4:06 PM
Notable that CBS/Yougov was in the field last week and released some niche stuff earlier but didn’t release the top lines this morning which they usually do.
Reposted by Jim Stalnaker 🇺🇸🇺🇦
white dudes in Callaway hats doing this are a five alarm fire for the GOP
Yesterday morning kids were sent running from their bus stop in panic because ICE showed up. This guy at today’s ICE Out of Lindenwold protest is a must watch 😭. @maddow.bsky.social
February 14, 2026 at 7:08 PM
white dudes in Callaway hats doing this are a five alarm fire for the GOP
Reposted by Jim Stalnaker 🇺🇸🇺🇦
Trying to understand: the Constitution gives Congress the power to impose tariffs. The President imposes tariffs without Congress. Congress passes a law rescinding his tariffs. The President then vetos that law. Seems like something’s wrong here.
February 11, 2026 at 11:38 PM
Trying to understand: the Constitution gives Congress the power to impose tariffs. The President imposes tariffs without Congress. Congress passes a law rescinding his tariffs. The President then vetos that law. Seems like something’s wrong here.
Very cool and very normal timeline.
EL PASO, Texas (AP) — FAA says it has lifted temporary closure of airspace over El Paso, Texas, and all flights to resume.
February 11, 2026 at 2:14 PM
Very cool and very normal timeline.
Seems like most non-partisan pollsters that have released in the last week have Trump in the 30’s.
New NBC News Decision Desk poll: Trump at 39% approval/61% disapproval (-22). A six point drop in net approval from this same poll in November/December 2025.
www.nbcnews.com/politics/tru...
www.nbcnews.com/politics/tru...
Poll: Trump's ratings on immigration tumble as Americans lose confidence in his top issue
Immigration has been one of President Donald Trump’s strong suits, but the new NBC News Decision Desk Poll shows his numbers falling to the same level as his overall approval.
www.nbcnews.com
February 11, 2026 at 1:59 PM
Seems like most non-partisan pollsters that have released in the last week have Trump in the 30’s.
The FAA is closing the airspace around El Paso International Airport in Texas for 10 days, grounding all flights to and from the airport, for “special security reasons."
The FAA's notice did not provide additional details.
The FAA's notice did not provide additional details.
FAA closes airspace around El Paso, Texas, for 10 days, grounding all flights
The Federal Aviation Administration is closing the airspace around El Paso International Airport in Texas for 10 days, grounding all flights to and from the airport.
bit.ly
February 11, 2026 at 11:59 AM
Reposted by Jim Stalnaker 🇺🇸🇺🇦
former prosecutors-turned-defense lawyers with one *hell* of an axe to grind are absolutely going to be a thing in the coming years
The Star Tribune reports that former acting U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson, in one of his first acts since joining private practice, will be representing Don Lemon.
February 11, 2026 at 4:22 AM
former prosecutors-turned-defense lawyers with one *hell* of an axe to grind are absolutely going to be a thing in the coming years
Reposted by Jim Stalnaker 🇺🇸🇺🇦
RULE VOTE FAILS, 217-214.
Three Republicans- Thomas Massie, Kevin Kiley, and Don Bacon - buck the party to allow floor consideration of measures to end Trump's tariffs.
The first such measure, likely on Canada tariffs, could come up as soon as tomorrow
Three Republicans- Thomas Massie, Kevin Kiley, and Don Bacon - buck the party to allow floor consideration of measures to end Trump's tariffs.
The first such measure, likely on Canada tariffs, could come up as soon as tomorrow
Republicans have been holding this vote open for 40 minutes or so, but the holdouts- Massie, Kiley, Bacon, reportedly left the Capitol. The absent Republican is Greg Murphy (R-NC), who has missed a lot of time since a mid December surgery.
Not clear why Johnson is still holding this vote open
Not clear why Johnson is still holding this vote open
February 11, 2026 at 2:57 AM
RULE VOTE FAILS, 217-214.
Three Republicans- Thomas Massie, Kevin Kiley, and Don Bacon - buck the party to allow floor consideration of measures to end Trump's tariffs.
The first such measure, likely on Canada tariffs, could come up as soon as tomorrow
Three Republicans- Thomas Massie, Kevin Kiley, and Don Bacon - buck the party to allow floor consideration of measures to end Trump's tariffs.
The first such measure, likely on Canada tariffs, could come up as soon as tomorrow
DOJ when they realize they can’t get a reliable jury.
February 11, 2026 at 2:49 AM
DOJ when they realize they can’t get a reliable jury.
Reposted by Jim Stalnaker 🇺🇸🇺🇦
Democracy and rule of law are being upheld by ordinary Americans, against their betrayal by the elites.
Grand juries keep seeing through the Trump DOJ's naked attempts to intimidate critics and political rivals — this time for accurately stating that illegal orders must be disobeyed. www.nytimes.com/2026/02/10/u...
www.nytimes.com
February 11, 2026 at 2:09 AM
Democracy and rule of law are being upheld by ordinary Americans, against their betrayal by the elites.
Reposted by Jim Stalnaker 🇺🇸🇺🇦
DOJ trying to indict opposition lawmakers for accurately stating the law is an authoritarian weaponization of the justice system.
Grand jurors returning a no bill is patriotism in action.
Grand jurors returning a no bill is patriotism in action.
February 11, 2026 at 2:23 AM
DOJ trying to indict opposition lawmakers for accurately stating the law is an authoritarian weaponization of the justice system.
Grand jurors returning a no bill is patriotism in action.
Grand jurors returning a no bill is patriotism in action.
Live look at NRCC operatives…
February 11, 2026 at 1:45 AM
Live look at NRCC operatives…
Reposted by Jim Stalnaker 🇺🇸🇺🇦
JUDGE DAVIS: “.. There has been an undeniable move by the Government in the past month to defy court orders or at least to stretch the legal process to the breaking point in an attempt to deny noncitizens their due process rights.”
@politico.com
www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
@politico.com
www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
February 10, 2026 at 5:47 PM
JUDGE DAVIS: “.. There has been an undeniable move by the Government in the past month to defy court orders or at least to stretch the legal process to the breaking point in an attempt to deny noncitizens their due process rights.”
@politico.com
www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
@politico.com
www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
Since Seattle’s victory appears imminent….one of the coolest “this country is absurdly beautiful” moments that has to be experienced is flying into or out of SeaTac and getting this view on a clear day…
February 9, 2026 at 3:06 AM
Since Seattle’s victory appears imminent….one of the coolest “this country is absurdly beautiful” moments that has to be experienced is flying into or out of SeaTac and getting this view on a clear day…
That might do it.
February 9, 2026 at 2:48 AM
That might do it.
Wow.
February 9, 2026 at 1:43 AM
Wow.
Anthropic really going for it.
February 9, 2026 at 12:10 AM
Anthropic really going for it.
B-1 flyover>B-2 flyover
February 8, 2026 at 11:32 PM
B-1 flyover>B-2 flyover
Reposted by Jim Stalnaker 🇺🇸🇺🇦
We're all desensitized to Democratic overperformances in special elections, but there does seem to have been a pretty significant shift in the past month
Dems are now overperforming the 2024 lean of red districts by, uh, 30+ points in special elections
I’m not sure “apocalyptic” is sufficient to describe how the environment is starting to look for the GOP in November
I’m not sure “apocalyptic” is sufficient to describe how the environment is starting to look for the GOP in November
RESULT: Democrat Chasity Martinez wins a special election for a legislative seat in Louisiana, 62% to 38%.
This was a district that Trump carried by 13% last year, so a big overperformance by Dems, but the seat was already Dem-held.
This was a district that Trump carried by 13% last year, so a big overperformance by Dems, but the seat was already Dem-held.
February 8, 2026 at 3:25 AM
We're all desensitized to Democratic overperformances in special elections, but there does seem to have been a pretty significant shift in the past month
This was supposed to be a GOP flip opportunity.
Just 10 precincts left to report in the Louisiana #HD60 (Trump+13) special election:
Chasity Martinez (D)- 63.4%
Brad Daigle (R)- 36.6%
Chasity Martinez (D)- 63.4%
Brad Daigle (R)- 36.6%
February 8, 2026 at 3:06 AM
This was supposed to be a GOP flip opportunity.
There is a true lack of appreciation in the media IMO on where the median Democratic voter is. It’s definitely not unilateral disarmament.
It will pass and it won’t be particularly close.
It will pass and it won’t be particularly close.
Surprise, the Washington Trump-Post is opposed to gerrymanders that favor Democrats! www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
Opinion | Brass-knuckled hypocrisy in Virginia
Voters will get a chance to reject anti-democratic gamesmanship in an April referendum.
www.washingtonpost.com
February 8, 2026 at 1:06 AM
There is a true lack of appreciation in the media IMO on where the median Democratic voter is. It’s definitely not unilateral disarmament.
It will pass and it won’t be particularly close.
It will pass and it won’t be particularly close.