Matt Saler
@mattsaler.bsky.social
Love Wins. No kings. Aurë entuluva! He/him
One of his more "Sir, this is a Wendy's" posts ever
Call in the troops to solve the commercial real estate crisis in our swanky downtown cores
You can’t make this shit up, folks
You can’t make this shit up, folks
November 11, 2025 at 3:05 PM
One of his more "Sir, this is a Wendy's" posts ever
Reposted by Matt Saler
Oh, so he totally stole the money
November 11, 2025 at 5:39 AM
Oh, so he totally stole the money
Reposted by Matt Saler
Heritage is just cartoonishly evil. Just the worst scum on the face of the planet.
1/ The US Government has quietly removed a memorial to Black soldiers who died in World War II from the Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten, South Limburg. The move follows a complaint from the right-wing Heritage Foundation to the American Battle Monuments Commission. ⬇️
November 10, 2025 at 1:20 AM
Heritage is just cartoonishly evil. Just the worst scum on the face of the planet.
Reposted by Matt Saler
Not a political consultant but I’m not sure “standing up to trump doesn’t work” is the best midterm message, even if if accurately represents senate dems position. Not much point in putting you in power then bsky.app/profile/atru...
November 10, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Not a political consultant but I’m not sure “standing up to trump doesn’t work” is the best midterm message, even if if accurately represents senate dems position. Not much point in putting you in power then bsky.app/profile/atru...
Right? Are people expected to sign up at rates without subsidies, that is, enter a contract, in the vague hope that Congress will what? Send Premium Bucks to compensate or force insurance companies to change the contracts? Maybe make them add discounts to each month’s bill? IF anything passes? (lol)
Someone please explain to me how will a vote NEXT month on ACA Subsidies work? Rates are out and up enormously. Will there be a special enrollment period if the subsidies are continued? I mean this is ALL hypothetical anyway, because does anyone really believe that there will be a vote on this? SAD!
November 10, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Right? Are people expected to sign up at rates without subsidies, that is, enter a contract, in the vague hope that Congress will what? Send Premium Bucks to compensate or force insurance companies to change the contracts? Maybe make them add discounts to each month’s bill? IF anything passes? (lol)
How many of those scenarios involved the holdouts being on the side of an issue with popular support?
Can anybody name me a government shutdown in history that ended with the holdouts in the minority getting the things they were demanding?
November 10, 2025 at 12:55 PM
How many of those scenarios involved the holdouts being on the side of an issue with popular support?
Regarding #3, say this agreement becomes law in the next week-ish. Is there zero chance SCOTUS weighs in on SNAP and RIFs in a way that moots it? “The Avatar of the People is not bound to pay SNAP benefits if not his policy or employ unelected federal bureaucrats that do not share his vision”
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.
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 4:40 AM
Regarding #3, say this agreement becomes law in the next week-ish. Is there zero chance SCOTUS weighs in on SNAP and RIFs in a way that moots it? “The Avatar of the People is not bound to pay SNAP benefits if not his policy or employ unelected federal bureaucrats that do not share his vision”
Hmm okay. Interesting. This would actually be a meaningful blow against Trump-Vought in the near term.
I think a lot of people are thinking it's just "none of the RIFs get to stay and no more illegal RIFs", rather than the "no RIFs, even if otherwise permissible by law, and if you try to do it it's a felony criminal offense under the Anti-Deficiency Act" that this actually is.
November 10, 2025 at 4:31 AM
Hmm okay. Interesting. This would actually be a meaningful blow against Trump-Vought in the near term.
Our system is so stupid compared to a parliamentary system.
More specifically: a failure to fund the government is called a lack or failure of "supply" in most parliamentary systems and is always treated as a matter of confidence in the government.
If supply fails—as it did here Sept 30—the govt would have to resign, & there'd be new elections
If supply fails—as it did here Sept 30—the govt would have to resign, & there'd be new elections
In a normal democracy, a total collapse of party leadership would result in an no-confidence vote and immediate snap elections to find leaders who can lead
November 10, 2025 at 4:08 AM
Our system is so stupid compared to a parliamentary system.
Reposted by Matt Saler
I cannot believe they couldn't wait for the first circuit to rule on SNAP
November 10, 2025 at 4:00 AM
I cannot believe they couldn't wait for the first circuit to rule on SNAP
Reposted by Matt Saler
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,
Reposted by Matt Saler
Harm to SNAP recipients, federal workers, and others is real. In a normal democracy it’d make sense to prioritize reducing that harm in the short term.
In a rapidly backsliding democracy, harm is happening no matter what. Preventing authoritarian consolidation is the most harm-reducing move.
In a rapidly backsliding democracy, harm is happening no matter what. Preventing authoritarian consolidation is the most harm-reducing move.
two contradictory ideas that i hold in my head at the same time: 1) i think the threat to both SNAP recipients and federal workers is significant enough now that even bad deals are worth making to prevent further harm, and, 2) everyone who caves now should retire in shame
November 10, 2025 at 2:54 AM
Harm to SNAP recipients, federal workers, and others is real. In a normal democracy it’d make sense to prioritize reducing that harm in the short term.
In a rapidly backsliding democracy, harm is happening no matter what. Preventing authoritarian consolidation is the most harm-reducing move.
In a rapidly backsliding democracy, harm is happening no matter what. Preventing authoritarian consolidation is the most harm-reducing move.
Um and covering “deductibles and other out-of-pocket costs” doesn’t mean covering/offsetting premiums
How much lead do you have to ingest to think you can sell voters on your victory of creating new convoluted HSAs to replace (and, likely, be less than) what used to be a couple button clicks on the ACA marketplace website? Nobody asked for this and nobody will like it.
www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
November 10, 2025 at 2:32 AM
Um and covering “deductibles and other out-of-pocket costs” doesn’t mean covering/offsetting premiums
Reposted by Matt Saler
This is from March but I still think about it and find myself wondering if this is, you know, a viable system of government that can be saved or deserves to be saved.
I love to call my Senators' offices three times per week and try to cajole them into doing the most elementary political messaging and strategy. This is what it means to be an engaged citizen: leaving a strenuously polite voicemail for a 74yo on a more regular cadence than I talk to my parents.
November 10, 2025 at 12:13 AM
This is from March but I still think about it and find myself wondering if this is, you know, a viable system of government that can be saved or deserves to be saved.
If Peters were on the list, this take would be stronger
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 2:24 AM
If Peters were on the list, this take would be stronger
Assuming it doesn’t get stripped out somewhere along the line when all the momentum is downhill on “vote for this to clear the skies,” will absolutely grant this.
fully funding SNAP a year out is what makes this a potential ceasefire not a surrender. it takes starvation off the table as potential stakes.
I would be more enthusiastic about that if I had any confidence that they actually would take another go at it in January.
November 10, 2025 at 2:23 AM
Assuming it doesn’t get stripped out somewhere along the line when all the momentum is downhill on “vote for this to clear the skies,” will absolutely grant this.
Reposted by Matt Saler
look I know being an engaged citizen IS the work of democracy but it is also the work of elected officials not to create situations where everyone has to be mobilized all the time to prevent them from allowing some kind of Dickensian horror on a Sunday night while you're in between loads of laundry
November 9, 2025 at 11:37 PM
look I know being an engaged citizen IS the work of democracy but it is also the work of elected officials not to create situations where everyone has to be mobilized all the time to prevent them from allowing some kind of Dickensian horror on a Sunday night while you're in between loads of laundry
Reposted by Matt Saler
i think this weighing of monstrosities thing kind of sucks, but i also think it's depressing as hell how many monstrosities are out there stalking the earth today
“We're seeing a level of proliferation of bodies & body piles from space that's unlike anything I've ever seen…”
Human rights investigator Nathaniel Raymond explains how more people could be killed within a week in Sudan, compared to the past two years in Gaza.
🔗 zeteo.com/p/sudans-dea...
Human rights investigator Nathaniel Raymond explains how more people could be killed within a week in Sudan, compared to the past two years in Gaza.
🔗 zeteo.com/p/sudans-dea...
November 9, 2025 at 7:37 PM
i think this weighing of monstrosities thing kind of sucks, but i also think it's depressing as hell how many monstrosities are out there stalking the earth today
Reposted by Matt Saler
The real choice, no matter how much Senators wish it weren't:
"Unfortunately, making things better for the American people coming out of this shutdown is probably not an option. Either Trump makes things worse with Democratic affirmation, or Trump makes things worse despite Democratic opposition."
"Unfortunately, making things better for the American people coming out of this shutdown is probably not an option. Either Trump makes things worse with Democratic affirmation, or Trump makes things worse despite Democratic opposition."
Opinion | Democrats shouldn’t bail out Trump as the shutdown drags on
The best time for the opposition to take a stand, rather than settle for untrustworthy promises, is right now.
www.msnbc.com
November 9, 2025 at 8:52 PM
The real choice, no matter how much Senators wish it weren't:
"Unfortunately, making things better for the American people coming out of this shutdown is probably not an option. Either Trump makes things worse with Democratic affirmation, or Trump makes things worse despite Democratic opposition."
"Unfortunately, making things better for the American people coming out of this shutdown is probably not an option. Either Trump makes things worse with Democratic affirmation, or Trump makes things worse despite Democratic opposition."
Huh really?
Peters is a no
November 10, 2025 at 2:07 AM
Huh really?
Reposted by Matt Saler
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 Matt Saler
man when you lose the moderate pastor guy from texas I think you've lost the plot
This moment demands fighters, not folders.
Official statement from @jamestalarico.bsky.social on shutdown negotiations
November 10, 2025 at 12:49 AM
man when you lose the moderate pastor guy from texas I think you've lost the plot
👀
Waiting for the official word that he’s part of this but yeah… extremely shitty.
Waiting for the official word that he’s part of this but yeah… extremely shitty.
Sen Gary Peters is in his own way the biggest embarrassment of the lot. He’s been a leader of Team Cave and he’s retiring. So there’s no politics or risk aversion. He wants to cave as a matter of genuine principle.
November 10, 2025 at 1:43 AM
👀
Waiting for the official word that he’s part of this but yeah… extremely shitty.
Waiting for the official word that he’s part of this but yeah… extremely shitty.
Reversal of RIFs that a triumphant, gloating, emboldened Trump-Vought will simply go for again if not outright ignore
If the Dems blink after all of this, for a deal that all but ensures no ACA subsidies in 2026 anyway, then what was the purpose of letting the shutdown go for 40 days in the first place?
November 10, 2025 at 1:41 AM
Reversal of RIFs that a triumphant, gloating, emboldened Trump-Vought will simply go for again if not outright ignore
Reposted by Matt Saler
The centrists in the Senate Democratic caucus saw that the country was rallying to the party in the 2025 elections and resolved that they would do anything they could to kill that momentum.
November 10, 2025 at 12:52 AM
The centrists in the Senate Democratic caucus saw that the country was rallying to the party in the 2025 elections and resolved that they would do anything they could to kill that momentum.