Chris Nehls
@nehls.bsky.social
Senior advisor @americalabs Congressional reform, democracy, civic tech. US History PhD. 3x Wahoo. Back from Japan. Let's Go Mets. 🏀. wants to know the exact dimensions of hell
Reposted by Chris Nehls
I chart how 60s' liberals' frustration with House minority rule in their own party led us to a different kind of minority rule now, unintentionally accelerated by Pelosi's iron grip as Speaker. Johnson's turned the strong speaker model into a WH appendage, so we need a new one
Master of the House: The Pelosi Paradox
How the Strongest Speaker Made Congress Weak
open.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 2:12 PM
I chart how 60s' liberals' frustration with House minority rule in their own party led us to a different kind of minority rule now, unintentionally accelerated by Pelosi's iron grip as Speaker. Johnson's turned the strong speaker model into a WH appendage, so we need a new one
take a break from raging about the health care part (which was never gonna work) and read this entire thread on the end of the shutdown
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 2:37 PM
take a break from raging about the health care part (which was never gonna work) and read this entire thread on the end of the shutdown
I chart how 60s' liberals' frustration with House minority rule in their own party led us to a different kind of minority rule now, unintentionally accelerated by Pelosi's iron grip as Speaker. Johnson's turned the strong speaker model into a WH appendage, so we need a new one
Master of the House: The Pelosi Paradox
How the Strongest Speaker Made Congress Weak
open.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 2:12 PM
I chart how 60s' liberals' frustration with House minority rule in their own party led us to a different kind of minority rule now, unintentionally accelerated by Pelosi's iron grip as Speaker. Johnson's turned the strong speaker model into a WH appendage, so we need a new one
Reposted by Chris Nehls
We know this because he told us.
The reality is the government was shut down the first day Trump entered office. We just didn't talk about it that way.
The only real leverage Dems had is on appropriations. Schumer screwed that up in February/March for FY 26. It imperiled his political support.
The reality is the government was shut down the first day Trump entered office. We just didn't talk about it that way.
The only real leverage Dems had is on appropriations. Schumer screwed that up in February/March for FY 26. It imperiled his political support.
November 10, 2025 at 1:50 PM
We know this because he told us.
The reality is the government was shut down the first day Trump entered office. We just didn't talk about it that way.
The only real leverage Dems had is on appropriations. Schumer screwed that up in February/March for FY 26. It imperiled his political support.
The reality is the government was shut down the first day Trump entered office. We just didn't talk about it that way.
The only real leverage Dems had is on appropriations. Schumer screwed that up in February/March for FY 26. It imperiled his political support.
Reposted by Chris Nehls
Leaders don't have this kind of power. They do not direct senators' votes. They can pressure or persuade but this notion Schumer can block senators from breaking ranks is pure myth.
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 1:25 PM
Leaders don't have this kind of power. They do not direct senators' votes. They can pressure or persuade but this notion Schumer can block senators from breaking ranks is pure myth.
Reposted by Chris Nehls
40 years ago we’d have congressional hearings falsely accusing metal bands of putting backwards messages in their songs that told kids to kill themselves & now we have a planet-killing chatbot that’s all like “bet you won’t commit suicide chickenshit bitch” & the government is like here’s $5 billion
November 8, 2025 at 4:23 AM
40 years ago we’d have congressional hearings falsely accusing metal bands of putting backwards messages in their songs that told kids to kill themselves & now we have a planet-killing chatbot that’s all like “bet you won’t commit suicide chickenshit bitch” & the government is like here’s $5 billion
Watching a game on this floor. Spotted a guy wearing a John Wall Rockets jersey. Very disoriented
November 8, 2025 at 2:13 AM
Watching a game on this floor. Spotted a guy wearing a John Wall Rockets jersey. Very disoriented
Reposted by Chris Nehls
We should all ask ourselves: what are we willing to sacrifice to uphold the rule of law and ensure Congress's constitutional power of the purse is upheld? For me, some flight cancellations is not too high a price to pay. (If we were in France, we'd have had general strikes far earlier.)
November 7, 2025 at 1:20 PM
We should all ask ourselves: what are we willing to sacrifice to uphold the rule of law and ensure Congress's constitutional power of the purse is upheld? For me, some flight cancellations is not too high a price to pay. (If we were in France, we'd have had general strikes far earlier.)
I think you guys crashed Pluribus
November 7, 2025 at 3:39 AM
I think you guys crashed Pluribus
this friggin guy
Mike Johnson on the tariffs case before SCOTUS: "I'm cheering for the president that the executive will win on this. Now, I say that as a jealous guardian of the legislative branch of government, Article 1."
November 6, 2025 at 2:12 PM
this friggin guy
Been thinking since Tues about anti-incumbent swings G Elliot Morris pegged in his newsletter and how non-MAGA House GOP reps. are gonna get wiped out in '26 and need to do something like this to survive www.city-journal.org/article/repu...
Republicans Should Consider Electoral Reform
Proportional representation is a smart way to ensure that conservatives in blue states are heard.
www.city-journal.org
November 6, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Been thinking since Tues about anti-incumbent swings G Elliot Morris pegged in his newsletter and how non-MAGA House GOP reps. are gonna get wiped out in '26 and need to do something like this to survive www.city-journal.org/article/repu...
Reposted by Chris Nehls
Mamdani has won more votes than there are people in South Dakota.
November 5, 2025 at 2:57 AM
Mamdani has won more votes than there are people in South Dakota.
I WANT TO BE A PART OF IT
November 5, 2025 at 2:42 AM
I WANT TO BE A PART OF IT
Reposted by Chris Nehls
If you follow American politics closely--and let's be honest, if you follow me on here it's either for that or the Stubbs pics--then you really should subscribe to Elliott's site. He's doing fantastic work, and a lot of it. It'd be a bargain at twice the price!
Two more days to get 20% off an annual subscription to Strength In Numbers. Subscribers tell me it's one of the best deals in news today, with high-quality, exclusive analysis for members, and frankly a very high frequency of posts. Join our club of news nerds
www.gelliottmorris.com/electionseason
www.gelliottmorris.com/electionseason
Subscribe to Strength In Numbers
Independent, data-driven analysis of politics, public opinion, and elections. A place for thinking smarter with data. Click to read Strength In Numbers, by G. Elliott Morris, a Substack publication wi...
www.gelliottmorris.com
November 4, 2025 at 1:51 PM
If you follow American politics closely--and let's be honest, if you follow me on here it's either for that or the Stubbs pics--then you really should subscribe to Elliott's site. He's doing fantastic work, and a lot of it. It'd be a bargain at twice the price!
Honestly can’t remember who the Dodgers’ closer was at this point
November 2, 2025 at 3:32 AM
Honestly can’t remember who the Dodgers’ closer was at this point
Love these “this is stressful, glad I’m not a fan” comments — you people wouldn’t last 15 minutes of being a Mets fan.
November 2, 2025 at 2:43 AM
Love these “this is stressful, glad I’m not a fan” comments — you people wouldn’t last 15 minutes of being a Mets fan.
America deserves Ron Darling in the World Series broadcast
November 2, 2025 at 2:39 AM
America deserves Ron Darling in the World Series broadcast
When was the last time you heard a crowd chant, “Whoop, there it is?”
November 2, 2025 at 2:21 AM
When was the last time you heard a crowd chant, “Whoop, there it is?”
Don’t miss Gimenez’s slow bat
November 2, 2025 at 12:50 AM
Don’t miss Gimenez’s slow bat
Reposted by Chris Nehls
When did they call him up from the minors?
Blue Jays, undeterred, announce that Drake will start game 7
Dodgers just announced Shohei Ohtani will start game 7. Buckle up.
November 2, 2025 at 12:02 AM
When did they call him up from the minors?
Favorite Canadian baseball player who’s not Larry Walker: I’ll go first - Rheal Cormier
November 1, 2025 at 11:48 PM
Favorite Canadian baseball player who’s not Larry Walker: I’ll go first - Rheal Cormier
Never gonna regret thinking the Mets should have beaten the Dodgers offer by 100 mil
World Series ERA:
Yoshinobu Yamamoto 1.20
Other Dodgers pitchers 5.36
Yoshinobu Yamamoto 1.20
Other Dodgers pitchers 5.36
November 1, 2025 at 3:28 AM
Never gonna regret thinking the Mets should have beaten the Dodgers offer by 100 mil