Mark Rickling
@mrickling.bsky.social
The worst, full of passionate intensity. Tweets my own. Formerly Americans for Tax Fairness and SEIU. #DCU and #ADRV
Pinned
Mark Rickling
@mrickling.bsky.social
· Mar 13
There’s been a lot of talk recently about cutting funding and staffing at the IRS. New work from the Budget Lab shows that if the IRS shrinks by 50% we estimate that this would result in 350 billion net forgone revenue over the 10-year budget window. 1/ @budgetlab.bsky.social
Republicans keep innovating new ways to give billionaires billions in additional tax breaks. This time: fire all the revenue police.
Reposted by Mark Rickling
I'm old enough to remember the massive press and Congressional uproar when a former president Clinton met briefly with then AG Lynch.
www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/201...
www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/201...
November 14, 2025 at 10:48 PM
I'm old enough to remember the massive press and Congressional uproar when a former president Clinton met briefly with then AG Lynch.
www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/201...
www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/201...
Reposted by Mark Rickling
Too much is never enough when it comes to rewarding the wealthy and well-connected in Trump’s inner circle.
Trump is now gutting the law that says the largest corporations must pay at least a minimal amount of tax on the profits they report to investors.
Outrageous!
Trump is now gutting the law that says the largest corporations must pay at least a minimal amount of tax on the profits they report to investors.
Outrageous!
How the Trump Administration Is Giving Even More Tax Breaks to the Wealthy
www.nytimes.com
November 10, 2025 at 10:08 PM
Too much is never enough when it comes to rewarding the wealthy and well-connected in Trump’s inner circle.
Trump is now gutting the law that says the largest corporations must pay at least a minimal amount of tax on the profits they report to investors.
Outrageous!
Trump is now gutting the law that says the largest corporations must pay at least a minimal amount of tax on the profits they report to investors.
Outrageous!
Reposted by Mark Rickling
Fox gives Trump a platform during their NFL broadcast to peddle his absurd lies about "prices are coming way down", "we inherited a mess," and "our country has over $17 trillion being invested in it." Absolutely shameful for all involved.
November 9, 2025 at 11:38 PM
Fox gives Trump a platform during their NFL broadcast to peddle his absurd lies about "prices are coming way down", "we inherited a mess," and "our country has over $17 trillion being invested in it." Absolutely shameful for all involved.
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The Premier League is now 5 seconds of open play then 30 seconds of prepping for a set piece.
We can fix this with rule changes:
- Teams only get four set pieces per possession
- If the set pieces are bad, the other team gets the ball
- If they're good, they get four more
- Let's call them "downs"
We can fix this with rule changes:
- Teams only get four set pieces per possession
- If the set pieces are bad, the other team gets the ball
- If they're good, they get four more
- Let's call them "downs"
November 9, 2025 at 4:22 PM
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Reposted by Mark Rickling
This is BIG -- Rep Doggett and 100+ reps demand full elimination of the ISDS provisions in the USMCA.
ISDS empowers corporations to sue governments and get taxpayer money over health, environmental, and other laws they don't like. It's a total scam, and it's on it's way OUT!
ISDS empowers corporations to sue governments and get taxpayer money over health, environmental, and other laws they don't like. It's a total scam, and it's on it's way OUT!
As Americans struggle with Trump’s unstable economy and some corporations exploit lax rules to outsource jobs abroad, I'm leading 100+ of my Dem colleagues in urging that environmental enforcement standards be strengthened in the renewal of USMCA to support job creation and clean manufacturing.
Rep. Doggett Urges Trump Administration to Fix Gaps in USMCA
Washington, D.C.—As Americans struggle with an unstable economy due to President Trump’s chaotic policies and large corporations exploit lax rules in the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) to outsou...
doggett.house.gov
November 6, 2025 at 8:26 PM
This is BIG -- Rep Doggett and 100+ reps demand full elimination of the ISDS provisions in the USMCA.
ISDS empowers corporations to sue governments and get taxpayer money over health, environmental, and other laws they don't like. It's a total scam, and it's on it's way OUT!
ISDS empowers corporations to sue governments and get taxpayer money over health, environmental, and other laws they don't like. It's a total scam, and it's on it's way OUT!
Reposted by Mark Rickling
Lindsey Boylan was the first whistleblower to come forward with sexual misconduct allegations against Andrew Cuomo.
Her accusations & those of 12 others were corroborated by the NY AG (and later by DOJ.) Cuomo resigned.
Now he has lost again, and this picture is as unabashed a joy as you'll see.
Her accusations & those of 12 others were corroborated by the NY AG (and later by DOJ.) Cuomo resigned.
Now he has lost again, and this picture is as unabashed a joy as you'll see.
Me finding out @zohrankmamdani won. Captured by the great Faraz Ansari
November 5, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Lindsey Boylan was the first whistleblower to come forward with sexual misconduct allegations against Andrew Cuomo.
Her accusations & those of 12 others were corroborated by the NY AG (and later by DOJ.) Cuomo resigned.
Now he has lost again, and this picture is as unabashed a joy as you'll see.
Her accusations & those of 12 others were corroborated by the NY AG (and later by DOJ.) Cuomo resigned.
Now he has lost again, and this picture is as unabashed a joy as you'll see.
💯💯💯
At this point, anyone—a university, a law firm, a corporation, a Democrat—bending the knee to Trump is doing it because they want to, not because of any political reality.
November 5, 2025 at 2:33 AM
💯💯💯
Reposted by Mark Rickling
Unbelievable.
As in, literally, not credible.
As in, literally, not credible.
RAJU: Last week you were very critical of Biden's use of the autopen. But Trump admitted on 60 Minutes to not knowing he pardoned a crypto billionaire who pleaded guilty to money laundering. Does that also concern you?
MIKE JOHNSON: I don't know anything about that. I didn't see it. I'm not sure.
MIKE JOHNSON: I don't know anything about that. I didn't see it. I'm not sure.
November 3, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Unbelievable.
As in, literally, not credible.
As in, literally, not credible.
Reposted by Mark Rickling
Crazy how much some media has normalized the idea that voters are taking a risk if they elect governors/mayors who will defy Trump. That he’ll threaten their funding, etc.
Try to imagine, say. Greg Abbott being asked if he’s worried that Biden will punish Texas over his lawsuits.
Try to imagine, say. Greg Abbott being asked if he’s worried that Biden will punish Texas over his lawsuits.
November 3, 2025 at 11:54 AM
Crazy how much some media has normalized the idea that voters are taking a risk if they elect governors/mayors who will defy Trump. That he’ll threaten their funding, etc.
Try to imagine, say. Greg Abbott being asked if he’s worried that Biden will punish Texas over his lawsuits.
Try to imagine, say. Greg Abbott being asked if he’s worried that Biden will punish Texas over his lawsuits.
Reposted by Mark Rickling
This is the same as using lawfare to prosecute the presidents political enemies, the same as Speaker Johnson refusing to swear in an elected Democrat, the same as Trump still claiming he won the 2020 election.
It is not a democracy if opposition figures are not allowed to hold power.
It is not a democracy if opposition figures are not allowed to hold power.
MAGA's attempt to use the "insurrection clause" against Mamdani is absurd, but it's also a very deliberate statement of right-wing impunity, given that Trump actually did spark an insurrection but the Supreme Court ruled that he was not constitutionally ineligible to hold public office.
Exclusive | House Republicans exploring ways to prevent Mamdani from being sworn in as NYC mayor if he wins on Election Day
House Republicans are exploring ways to prevent Zohran Mamdani from ever being sworn in as mayor even if he prevails in Tuesday’s election by using the Constitution’s “insurrectio…
nypost.com
November 3, 2025 at 12:36 AM
This is the same as using lawfare to prosecute the presidents political enemies, the same as Speaker Johnson refusing to swear in an elected Democrat, the same as Trump still claiming he won the 2020 election.
It is not a democracy if opposition figures are not allowed to hold power.
It is not a democracy if opposition figures are not allowed to hold power.
Reposted by Mark Rickling
The US is the purple line bottoming out. Our economy may still roar, but we’re killing ourselves. Hoarding wealth, refusing to even ensure our kids have enough to eat. That line is an indictment. It reflects our warped values.
This graph never fails to be shocking: "The US has experienced the earliest and greatest slowdown in life expectancy improvements among higher-income countries, reported Eileen Crimmins. “We have horrible life expectancy—and it’s getting worse and worse”"
www.prb.org/resources/se...
www.prb.org/resources/se...
November 1, 2025 at 3:08 AM
The US is the purple line bottoming out. Our economy may still roar, but we’re killing ourselves. Hoarding wealth, refusing to even ensure our kids have enough to eat. That line is an indictment. It reflects our warped values.
Reposted by Mark Rickling
This right here, this exact sentence, is THE problem in American political journalism.
The IRA *was* cheap energy and good jobs! That was the whole bill! Democrats did precisely what political pundits are telling them to do and the pundits just ignore it.
The IRA *was* cheap energy and good jobs! That was the whole bill! Democrats did precisely what political pundits are telling them to do and the pundits just ignore it.
November 1, 2025 at 12:13 PM
This right here, this exact sentence, is THE problem in American political journalism.
The IRA *was* cheap energy and good jobs! That was the whole bill! Democrats did precisely what political pundits are telling them to do and the pundits just ignore it.
The IRA *was* cheap energy and good jobs! That was the whole bill! Democrats did precisely what political pundits are telling them to do and the pundits just ignore it.
Reposted by Mark Rickling
Giving $7.5B in tax breaks to oil companies to pump overseas offers all of the global downside & none of the (bogus) domestic upside of oil subsidies. Truly self-destructive
Gift link to my column for @opinion.bloomberg.com
www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...
Gift link to my column for @opinion.bloomberg.com
www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...
Oil Subsidies Are Bad. Exporting $7.5 Billion of Them Is Worse.
Giving fossil-fuel companies billions of dollars in tax breaks to pump the oil and gas heating up the planet is a terrible idea, but I guess you could argue it might at least create US jobs — unless y...
www.bloomberg.com
October 29, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Giving $7.5B in tax breaks to oil companies to pump overseas offers all of the global downside & none of the (bogus) domestic upside of oil subsidies. Truly self-destructive
Gift link to my column for @opinion.bloomberg.com
www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...
Gift link to my column for @opinion.bloomberg.com
www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...
Reposted by Mark Rickling
Rep. Rosa DeLauro: "On the food stamp issue, the money is there! Let them not get away with saying they can't do it. Their political will isn't there to feed the people who rely on the SNAP program which is the most effective anti-hunger program in the USA."
October 28, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Rep. Rosa DeLauro: "On the food stamp issue, the money is there! Let them not get away with saying they can't do it. Their political will isn't there to feed the people who rely on the SNAP program which is the most effective anti-hunger program in the USA."
Reposted by Mark Rickling
An embarrassingly obvious point, but...
This. Is. Illegal.
If anything like the rule of law were in force, Trump couldn't arbitrarily increase a tariff because he is annoyed.
In important and increasing ways, the rule of law in the US no longer exists.
www.cnn.com/2025/10/25/b...
This. Is. Illegal.
If anything like the rule of law were in force, Trump couldn't arbitrarily increase a tariff because he is annoyed.
In important and increasing ways, the rule of law in the US no longer exists.
www.cnn.com/2025/10/25/b...
Trump says he’s increasing tariffs on Canada by 10% after Ontario’s Reagan ad | CNN Business
President Donald Trump said Saturday he is increasing the tariff on Canada by 10% over current levels, further escalating trade tensions over what he called a “fake” ad that featured parts of an anti-...
www.cnn.com
October 25, 2025 at 9:38 PM
An embarrassingly obvious point, but...
This. Is. Illegal.
If anything like the rule of law were in force, Trump couldn't arbitrarily increase a tariff because he is annoyed.
In important and increasing ways, the rule of law in the US no longer exists.
www.cnn.com/2025/10/25/b...
This. Is. Illegal.
If anything like the rule of law were in force, Trump couldn't arbitrarily increase a tariff because he is annoyed.
In important and increasing ways, the rule of law in the US no longer exists.
www.cnn.com/2025/10/25/b...
Reposted by Mark Rickling
The inability of the media to properly inform people what were the actual policy differences at stake in 2024 (massive raids in your community vs no massive raids) was a huge problem.
New AP-NORC poll:
– 25% of Hispanic adults have a favorable view of Trump, down from 44% in January
– It's Trump's lowest favorability with Hispanic voters since 2019.
– "About two-thirds of Hispanic adults under age 45 and Hispanic men now view Trump unfavorably."
apnews.com/article/hisp...
– 25% of Hispanic adults have a favorable view of Trump, down from 44% in January
– It's Trump's lowest favorability with Hispanic voters since 2019.
– "About two-thirds of Hispanic adults under age 45 and Hispanic men now view Trump unfavorably."
apnews.com/article/hisp...
Trump's favorability has fallen among Hispanics since January, a new AP-NORC poll finds
A new poll shows President Donald Trump’s favorability has fallen among Hispanic adults since the beginning of the year, a potential warning sign from a key constituency that helped secure his victory...
apnews.com
October 25, 2025 at 4:57 PM
The inability of the media to properly inform people what were the actual policy differences at stake in 2024 (massive raids in your community vs no massive raids) was a huge problem.
Reposted by Mark Rickling
i think i would honestly find this whole discourse more tolerable if people simply said what they were actually saying, which is that they think the Democratic Party is too associated with femininity (and secondarily, with black people) and that they want to correct this
October 25, 2025 at 12:08 PM
i think i would honestly find this whole discourse more tolerable if people simply said what they were actually saying, which is that they think the Democratic Party is too associated with femininity (and secondarily, with black people) and that they want to correct this
An intensely good essay. 👀
October 20, 2025 at 12:40 PM
An intensely good essay. 👀
Reposted by Mark Rickling
Washington Post editorial board, 2 days ago: "The idea that Trump is easily swayed by Putin, let alone manipulated or controlled by him, does not hold water."
Shouting match. Cursing.
And this ⤵️
Trump "adopted many of Putin’s talking points verbatim, even when they contradicted his own statements about Russia’s weaknesses..
"Trump told Zelenskyy that Putin had told him the conflict was a 'special operation, not even a war.'”
www.ft.com/content/7960...
And this ⤵️
Trump "adopted many of Putin’s talking points verbatim, even when they contradicted his own statements about Russia’s weaknesses..
"Trump told Zelenskyy that Putin had told him the conflict was a 'special operation, not even a war.'”
www.ft.com/content/7960...
October 19, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Washington Post editorial board, 2 days ago: "The idea that Trump is easily swayed by Putin, let alone manipulated or controlled by him, does not hold water."
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Mamdani: "We will make buses free by replacing the revenue that the MTA currently gets from buses. This is revenue that's around $700 million or so. That's less money than Andrew Cuomo gave to Elon Musk in $959 million in tax credits when he was the governor."
October 17, 2025 at 12:36 AM
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Reposted by Mark Rickling
Wild that any Dem candidate would run on the idea that good things should not be possible UNLESS the bill has significant support from a Republican party now full of members saying they "love Hilter" www.bangordailynews.com/2025/10/16/p...
www.bangordailynews.com
October 17, 2025 at 12:30 AM
Wild that any Dem candidate would run on the idea that good things should not be possible UNLESS the bill has significant support from a Republican party now full of members saying they "love Hilter" www.bangordailynews.com/2025/10/16/p...
Reposted by Mark Rickling
You don't find out until the 12th paragraph of this story that what Trump is doing is illegal. Just from a newsworthiness standpoint, how do you not lead with that? www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
Trump is opting some of the government out of the shutdown
The administration is finding ways to pay troops and for government work Trump favors while targeting “Democrat programs” for layoffs or closures.
www.washingtonpost.com
October 16, 2025 at 11:51 AM
You don't find out until the 12th paragraph of this story that what Trump is doing is illegal. Just from a newsworthiness standpoint, how do you not lead with that? www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
Reposted by Mark Rickling
Been informed this game's proper name is El Crapico.
With the Galaxy’s win, next week’s Atlanta vs. D.C. trash can derby will determine who wins the 2025 Wooden Spoon.
October 12, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Been informed this game's proper name is El Crapico.
Reposted by Mark Rickling
When Trump team pushed to investigate Soros, it cited a watchdog group report. But the group's own leader says "we actually did not make either of those claims that a prosecutor would need to make.” @fahrenthold.bsky.social @aduehren.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/2025/10/10/u...
Report on Soros Cited by Justice Dept. Does Not Show Funding for Terrorism
www.nytimes.com
October 11, 2025 at 5:01 PM
When Trump team pushed to investigate Soros, it cited a watchdog group report. But the group's own leader says "we actually did not make either of those claims that a prosecutor would need to make.” @fahrenthold.bsky.social @aduehren.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/2025/10/10/u...
Reposted by Mark Rickling
A classic case of irresponsible both-sidesism from the NYT. The story is that Trump and MAGA propagandists are lying about Portland to incite a conflict, not that there are different views of the matter.
October 11, 2025 at 1:26 PM
A classic case of irresponsible both-sidesism from the NYT. The story is that Trump and MAGA propagandists are lying about Portland to incite a conflict, not that there are different views of the matter.