Kindler
@kindler.bsky.social
After decades working in public policy on sustainability, gaining advanced degrees in Poli Sci & Environmental Policy, blogging on Virginia politics at Blue Virginia and more, I’ve launched my own journal on Substack (https://kindler.substack.com)
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Kindler
@kindler.bsky.social
· Aug 21
Trump’s “Smash Sparrows” Campaigns
Because Dictatorships are Really, Really Stupid
open.substack.com
"Trump’s 'Smash Sparrows' Campaigns: Because Dictatorships are Really, Really Stupid." My latest on Substack:
Reposted by Kindler
NEWS: The UK is no longer sharing intelligence with the US about suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean because it does not want to be complicit in US military strikes and believes the attacks are illegal, sources familiar with the matter told CNN. edition.cnn.com/2025/11/11/p...
Exclusive: UK suspends some intelligence sharing with US over boat strike concerns in major break | CNN Politics
The United Kingdom is no longer sharing intelligence with the US about suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean because it does not want to be complicit in US military strikes and believes ...
edition.cnn.com
November 11, 2025 at 3:06 PM
NEWS: The UK is no longer sharing intelligence with the US about suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean because it does not want to be complicit in US military strikes and believes the attacks are illegal, sources familiar with the matter told CNN. edition.cnn.com/2025/11/11/p...
Reposted by Kindler
Happy Veterans Day.
One-fourth of federal workers are veterans.
Trump has literally decimated the federal workforce over the last nine months. www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-...
One-fourth of federal workers are veterans.
Trump has literally decimated the federal workforce over the last nine months. www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-...
Trump Has Forced Out An Alarming Number Of Federal Workers — And Now We Have An Exact Number
“The performance of our government across the board is being diminished,” warned Max Stier, CEO of Partnership for Public Service.
www.huffpost.com
November 11, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Happy Veterans Day.
One-fourth of federal workers are veterans.
Trump has literally decimated the federal workforce over the last nine months. www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-...
One-fourth of federal workers are veterans.
Trump has literally decimated the federal workforce over the last nine months. www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-...
Reposted by Kindler
The model of holding individual senators responsible is broken here. The retirees clearly agreed to take the fall. Which is why the nos should get no credit for voting no unless they move to oust Schumer
November 10, 2025 at 3:20 AM
The model of holding individual senators responsible is broken here. The retirees clearly agreed to take the fall. Which is why the nos should get no credit for voting no unless they move to oust Schumer
Reposted by Kindler
The only political issue in America today is whether the President should be allowed to rule as a dictator. Everything else is secondary.
November 10, 2025 at 9:37 PM
The only political issue in America today is whether the President should be allowed to rule as a dictator. Everything else is secondary.
Reposted by Kindler
You might think that, given the Dems' concessions in the Senate last night, the Trump administration would give up on its battle to withhold SNAP funding.
Wait, you didn't think that. Neither did any other sane person.
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Wait, you didn't think that. Neither did any other sane person.
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Trump administration wants Supreme Court to intervene in SNAP fight again
The battle over funding for the nation’s largest anti-hunger program has left millions wondering how they will afford food.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 10, 2025 at 7:16 PM
You might think that, given the Dems' concessions in the Senate last night, the Trump administration would give up on its battle to withhold SNAP funding.
Wait, you didn't think that. Neither did any other sane person.
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Wait, you didn't think that. Neither did any other sane person.
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
There is much of our current hellscape that we need to find ways to psychologically fast forward through — envisioning what getting to the other side will look like — in order to stay even halfway sane.
November 10, 2025 at 7:16 PM
There is much of our current hellscape that we need to find ways to psychologically fast forward through — envisioning what getting to the other side will look like — in order to stay even halfway sane.
Reposted by Kindler
Unfortunately still true bsky.app/profile/adam...
American politics makes a lot more sense when you realize that the GOP is afraid of pissing off the GOP base, and the Dems are afraid of pissing off the GOP base, but neither party is afraid of pissing off the Dem base.
November 10, 2025 at 12:09 PM
Unfortunately still true bsky.app/profile/adam...
Reposted by Kindler
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 Kindler
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.
Reposted by Kindler
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)
Kaine (2030)
Shaheen (Retiring)
Hasan (2028)
Fetterman (2028)
Durbin (Retiring)
CCM (2028)
Rosen (2030)
King (2030)
November 10, 2025 at 2:11 AM
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.
Reposted by Kindler
One of the talking points I keep seeing from Democrats is that part of the deal is that it will "ensure federal workers receive back pay" but that's the existing law!
That's not something you've won in negotiations. That's just the letter of the law. You don't get to claim that as a win.
That's not something you've won in negotiations. That's just the letter of the law. You don't get to claim that as a win.
November 10, 2025 at 1:16 AM
One of the talking points I keep seeing from Democrats is that part of the deal is that it will "ensure federal workers receive back pay" but that's the existing law!
That's not something you've won in negotiations. That's just the letter of the law. You don't get to claim that as a win.
That's not something you've won in negotiations. That's just the letter of the law. You don't get to claim that as a win.
Reposted by Kindler
The only Dem senators voting to cave on the shutdown fight are either retiring or not up for reelection this cycle.
Might be Dems' most beautifully synchronized cave yet
Might be Dems' most beautifully synchronized cave yet
EIGHT Senate Democrats have voted to advance the funding measure so far after the deal was reached:
Cortez Masto
Durbin
Fetterman
Hassan
Kaine
King
Rosen
Shaheen
If the existing 52 Republicans hold, that's 60 — enough to advance this agreement. Final vote still to come.
Cortez Masto
Durbin
Fetterman
Hassan
Kaine
King
Rosen
Shaheen
If the existing 52 Republicans hold, that's 60 — enough to advance this agreement. Final vote still to come.
November 10, 2025 at 2:05 AM
The only Dem senators voting to cave on the shutdown fight are either retiring or not up for reelection this cycle.
Might be Dems' most beautifully synchronized cave yet
Might be Dems' most beautifully synchronized cave yet
Reposted by Kindler
Still upset about no power of the purse language. You truly do hate to see it. The Trump admin undertook the most expansive set of illegal budgetary actions of any president in history, and broadcast as loudly as possible they’d keep doing it, and nothing. Budgetary lawlessness.
November 10, 2025 at 2:00 AM
Still upset about no power of the purse language. You truly do hate to see it. The Trump admin undertook the most expansive set of illegal budgetary actions of any president in history, and broadcast as loudly as possible they’d keep doing it, and nothing. Budgetary lawlessness.
Reposted by Kindler
Minority Whip Katherine Clark puts out a stinging statement on the senate deal. "A GOP budget that spikes health care premiums and everyday costs to fund tax cuts for billionaires is a grave betrayal of everyday Americans. That was true in July. It was true in September. And it remains true today."
November 10, 2025 at 1:38 AM
Minority Whip Katherine Clark puts out a stinging statement on the senate deal. "A GOP budget that spikes health care premiums and everyday costs to fund tax cuts for billionaires is a grave betrayal of everyday Americans. That was true in July. It was true in September. And it remains true today."
Reposted by Kindler
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 Kindler
“Voters made it clear: the American people want leadership with a backbone. And at a critical moment when they need leaders to stay strong under pressure, the Senate is on the brink of caving on a bill that the American people can't afford.”
November 10, 2025 at 1:20 AM
“Voters made it clear: the American people want leadership with a backbone. And at a critical moment when they need leaders to stay strong under pressure, the Senate is on the brink of caving on a bill that the American people can't afford.”
Reposted by Kindler
Trump just got massively booed and flipped off by the crowd at the Commanders game.
(Video: Marisa Schultz)
(Video: Marisa Schultz)
November 9, 2025 at 11:30 PM
Trump just got massively booed and flipped off by the crowd at the Commanders game.
(Video: Marisa Schultz)
(Video: Marisa Schultz)
Reposted by Kindler
Official statement from @jamestalarico.bsky.social on shutdown negotiations
November 10, 2025 at 12:17 AM
Official statement from @jamestalarico.bsky.social on shutdown negotiations
Reposted by Kindler
MILLIONS of Americans are about to be priced out of healthcare because of this. I am fucking livid.
November 10, 2025 at 12:45 AM
MILLIONS of Americans are about to be priced out of healthcare because of this. I am fucking livid.
Reposted by Kindler
Dems backed Trump into a corner where he’s advocating for starving Americans and hemorrhaging support. If they vote to let him off the hook in exchange for nothing it’s a cataclysmic failure. I know people are in pain but insulating Republicans from political consequences is not the answer.
November 9, 2025 at 10:58 PM
Dems backed Trump into a corner where he’s advocating for starving Americans and hemorrhaging support. If they vote to let him off the hook in exchange for nothing it’s a cataclysmic failure. I know people are in pain but insulating Republicans from political consequences is not the answer.
Reposted by Kindler
Yeah it seems like the best political move is to give into this guy
November 9, 2025 at 11:08 PM
Yeah it seems like the best political move is to give into this guy
Reposted by Kindler
Reposted by Kindler
What do we want?
To set aside savings we don't have for healthcare we cannot access!
When do we want it?
At the future point that MAGA pinky promises they'll revisit ACA, no really guys.
To set aside savings we don't have for healthcare we cannot access!
When do we want it?
At the future point that MAGA pinky promises they'll revisit ACA, no really guys.
November 9, 2025 at 10:31 PM
What do we want?
To set aside savings we don't have for healthcare we cannot access!
When do we want it?
At the future point that MAGA pinky promises they'll revisit ACA, no really guys.
To set aside savings we don't have for healthcare we cannot access!
When do we want it?
At the future point that MAGA pinky promises they'll revisit ACA, no really guys.
Reposted by Kindler
Unacceptable. There are 189,000 people in my district who will be paying 50–300% more for the same, and in many cases worse, healthcare.
I won’t do that to the people I represent. I’m a NO on this “deal.”
I won’t do that to the people I represent. I’m a NO on this “deal.”
November 9, 2025 at 9:47 PM
Unacceptable. There are 189,000 people in my district who will be paying 50–300% more for the same, and in many cases worse, healthcare.
I won’t do that to the people I represent. I’m a NO on this “deal.”
I won’t do that to the people I represent. I’m a NO on this “deal.”