Jonathan Bender
@obliviousdude.bsky.social
DC, recovering lawyer, policy wonk, ANC rep, family guy, guitarist, photographer, diver, deadhead, oblivious dude.
What about this? What Senate Dems really "got" was preservation of the filibuster (for a while longer).
Seems genuinely possible that that is what impelled them.
Seems genuinely possible that that is what impelled them.
November 10, 2025 at 5:33 AM
What about this? What Senate Dems really "got" was preservation of the filibuster (for a while longer).
Seems genuinely possible that that is what impelled them.
Seems genuinely possible that that is what impelled them.
So now Trump will go back to SCOTUS. Bu at least they'll be expected to act with dispatch.
BREAKING
The 1st Circuit REJECTS Trump DOJ's request to pause a judge's order to pay up Nov's SNAP funds to the states.
The SCOTUS stay will expire within 48 hours absent further action from the justices, per its terms.
Doc ecf.ca1.uscourts.gov/n/beam/servl...
The 1st Circuit REJECTS Trump DOJ's request to pause a judge's order to pay up Nov's SNAP funds to the states.
The SCOTUS stay will expire within 48 hours absent further action from the justices, per its terms.
Doc ecf.ca1.uscourts.gov/n/beam/servl...
November 10, 2025 at 5:31 AM
So now Trump will go back to SCOTUS. Bu at least they'll be expected to act with dispatch.
Does the CR contain the rehiring stuff? Or is that part of the minibus? If the former, House Rs might not have the votes if a few freedom caucus folks refuse to vote for "new" spending, especially if not every R member is present.
If the latter, wouldn't Rs likely vote Y on CR and no on minibus?
If the latter, wouldn't Rs likely vote Y on CR and no on minibus?
November 10, 2025 at 4:30 AM
Does the CR contain the rehiring stuff? Or is that part of the minibus? If the former, House Rs might not have the votes if a few freedom caucus folks refuse to vote for "new" spending, especially if not every R member is present.
If the latter, wouldn't Rs likely vote Y on CR and no on minibus?
If the latter, wouldn't Rs likely vote Y on CR and no on minibus?
Reposted by Jonathan Bender
The Democrats who caved just taught Republicans that using mass starvation as a weapon works.
November 10, 2025 at 12:31 AM
The Democrats who caved just taught Republicans that using mass starvation as a weapon works.
Reposted by Jonathan Bender
I'm the spouse of an air traffic controller and I could not be more livid at the news that Dems might cave. I called and left voicemails for my Dem senators. If my family can hold the fucking line, so can they.
November 9, 2025 at 11:32 PM
I'm the spouse of an air traffic controller and I could not be more livid at the news that Dems might cave. I called and left voicemails for my Dem senators. If my family can hold the fucking line, so can they.
Reposted by Jonathan Bender
I suppose it’s something to imagine that in addition to being yelled at by us they are also being yelled at by House reps, some of whom probably have their real phone numbers
The proposal is “not a deal," says Democratic U.S. House Rep. Ritchie Torres.
"It’s an unconditional surrender that abandons the 24 million Americans whose health care premiums are about to double.”
buff.ly/9aW3zLz
"It’s an unconditional surrender that abandons the 24 million Americans whose health care premiums are about to double.”
buff.ly/9aW3zLz
Democrats Consider GOP Deal to Reopen Government, With Promise of Later Vote on ACA Subsidies
Democrats are considering a Republican offer to reopen the government with a promise of a later vote on extending ACA health-care tax credits.
buff.ly
November 9, 2025 at 11:46 PM
I suppose it’s something to imagine that in addition to being yelled at by us they are also being yelled at by House reps, some of whom probably have their real phone numbers
Reposted by Jonathan Bender
Donald Trump’s approval rating has tanked and Republican suffered heavy losses in last week’s elections. There’s never been a better time for Senate Democrats to cave on the ACA extension.
November 9, 2025 at 11:47 PM
Donald Trump’s approval rating has tanked and Republican suffered heavy losses in last week’s elections. There’s never been a better time for Senate Democrats to cave on the ACA extension.
Reposted by Jonathan Bender
Have R senators? (Like me?) Call Schumer’s office to tell him you will never donate to another D senate campaign again as long as he’s Senate leader. Tell him this deal is a shameful joke and a betrayal.
(202) 224-6542
(202) 224-6542
I just did this and if nothing else it was cathartic. I said I would make it my life’s mission to make sure there’s a primary challenger for any D involved in this deal, it’s fucking embarrassing.
So, listen, call Schumer’s office no matter where you live, no matter if you’re registered to vote. Leave a voicemail that says if Senate Dems cave without an ACA premiums fix, you will never vote for or donate to another Senate Democrat as long as he is Leader
November 9, 2025 at 11:34 PM
Have R senators? (Like me?) Call Schumer’s office to tell him you will never donate to another D senate campaign again as long as he’s Senate leader. Tell him this deal is a shameful joke and a betrayal.
(202) 224-6542
(202) 224-6542
Reposted by Jonathan Bender
So, listen, call Schumer’s office no matter where you live, no matter if you’re registered to vote. Leave a voicemail that says if Senate Dems cave without an ACA premiums fix, you will never vote for or donate to another Senate Democrat as long as he is Leader
Call them:
Schumer (NY)
202 224-6542
Booker (NJ)
202 224-3224
King (ME)
202 224-5344
Hassan (NH)
202 224-3324
Durbin (IL)
202 224-2152
Ossoff (GA)
202 224-3521
Shaheen (NH)
202 224-2841
Gillibrand (NY)
202 224-4451
Masto (NV)
202 224-3542
Warner (VA)
202 224-2023
Fetterman (PA)
No Point
Schumer (NY)
202 224-6542
Booker (NJ)
202 224-3224
King (ME)
202 224-5344
Hassan (NH)
202 224-3324
Durbin (IL)
202 224-2152
Ossoff (GA)
202 224-3521
Shaheen (NH)
202 224-2841
Gillibrand (NY)
202 224-4451
Masto (NV)
202 224-3542
Warner (VA)
202 224-2023
Fetterman (PA)
No Point
November 9, 2025 at 11:05 PM
So, listen, call Schumer’s office no matter where you live, no matter if you’re registered to vote. Leave a voicemail that says if Senate Dems cave without an ACA premiums fix, you will never vote for or donate to another Senate Democrat as long as he is Leader
Is there an off-ramp for this timeline?
November 9, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Is there an off-ramp for this timeline?
Reposted by Jonathan Bender
Astonishing how hard this administration is working to keep people hungry.
It's clear they are trying maximize public suffering, in hopes of getting people to blame Dems for that suffering. But it's transparently the White House working overtime to keep the suffering going!
bsky.app/profile/cram...
It's clear they are trying maximize public suffering, in hopes of getting people to blame Dems for that suffering. But it's transparently the White House working overtime to keep the suffering going!
bsky.app/profile/cram...
Yikes. USDA sent threatening letter to states telling them that if they sent out EBT money —which many states did during the window when a lower court said SNAP funds had to be released—they have to take it back (?)
Trying to sort out what this means and if states even can claw back the funds
Trying to sort out what this means and if states even can claw back the funds
November 9, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Astonishing how hard this administration is working to keep people hungry.
It's clear they are trying maximize public suffering, in hopes of getting people to blame Dems for that suffering. But it's transparently the White House working overtime to keep the suffering going!
bsky.app/profile/cram...
It's clear they are trying maximize public suffering, in hopes of getting people to blame Dems for that suffering. But it's transparently the White House working overtime to keep the suffering going!
bsky.app/profile/cram...
So much winning
November 7, 2025 at 5:48 PM
So much winning
Aha! The government has an appeal issue to give Sandwich Guy heartburn.
November 6, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Aha! The government has an appeal issue to give Sandwich Guy heartburn.
They sent a 20-person SWAT team to arrest him like he was El Chapo, then couldn't even indict him on a felony count, now they can't even convict him on a misdemeanor.
Now he can lunch on sandwiches in peace without worrying about being convicted of a misdemeanor-in-possession.
Now he can lunch on sandwiches in peace without worrying about being convicted of a misdemeanor-in-possession.
BREAKING: JUSTICE DEPARTMENT EATS A LOSS IN 'SANDWICH GUY' CASE AS JURORS FIND DEFENDANT NOT GUILTY www.nbcnews.com/politics/jus...
Jury acquits D.C. 'sandwich guy' charged with chucking a sub at a federal agent
Sean Dunn faced single misdemeanor offense after federal grand jurors refused to indict him on the felony charge sought by prosecutors.
www.nbcnews.com
November 6, 2025 at 7:59 PM
They sent a 20-person SWAT team to arrest him like he was El Chapo, then couldn't even indict him on a felony count, now they can't even convict him on a misdemeanor.
Now he can lunch on sandwiches in peace without worrying about being convicted of a misdemeanor-in-possession.
Now he can lunch on sandwiches in peace without worrying about being convicted of a misdemeanor-in-possession.
Reposted by Jonathan Bender
The jury system is a foot-long above the rest. www.nbcnews.com/politics/jus...
Jury acquits D.C. 'sandwich guy' charged with chucking a sub at a federal agent
Sean Dunn faced single misdemeanor offense after federal grand jurors refused to indict him on the felony charge sought by prosecutors.
www.nbcnews.com
November 6, 2025 at 7:54 PM
The jury system is a foot-long above the rest. www.nbcnews.com/politics/jus...
So many of these for Sandwich Guy, but this one just hit the spot.
“12 HAngry Men”
November 5, 2025 at 8:25 PM
So many of these for Sandwich Guy, but this one just hit the spot.
Marshall McLuhan moment -- drink!
November 5, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Marshall McLuhan moment -- drink!
Reposted by Jonathan Bender
[Narrator: they lost 13 seats]
November 5, 2025 at 4:28 AM
[Narrator: they lost 13 seats]
Reposted by Jonathan Bender
Update: this has happened. Dems on track to win at least 64 (!) VA House of Delegates seats, w/ two races still outstanding. Massive Dem night.
If Dems win 63+ HoD seats, it would be consistent w/ a lot of strong overperformances we've seen for Dems in downballot races so far in '25 and indicate that Dems should be considered favorites for House control in '26.
November 5, 2025 at 3:43 AM
Update: this has happened. Dems on track to win at least 64 (!) VA House of Delegates seats, w/ two races still outstanding. Massive Dem night.
Reposted by Jonathan Bender
We are strongest because we reflect the diversity of the nation.
Stop trying to engineer the “perfect” type. Start recruiting people who can actually connect with the people in front of them.
Tip O’Neill was right then and he’s right now - All politics is (& remains) LOCAL. #Election2025
Stop trying to engineer the “perfect” type. Start recruiting people who can actually connect with the people in front of them.
Tip O’Neill was right then and he’s right now - All politics is (& remains) LOCAL. #Election2025
November 5, 2025 at 3:56 AM
We are strongest because we reflect the diversity of the nation.
Stop trying to engineer the “perfect” type. Start recruiting people who can actually connect with the people in front of them.
Tip O’Neill was right then and he’s right now - All politics is (& remains) LOCAL. #Election2025
Stop trying to engineer the “perfect” type. Start recruiting people who can actually connect with the people in front of them.
Tip O’Neill was right then and he’s right now - All politics is (& remains) LOCAL. #Election2025
Reposted by Jonathan Bender
Tonight, was another reminder: there is no single mold for a Democratic winner.
Progressives won. Moderates won. Rural, suburban, urban —they all won. Black, White, Latino, AAPI — they all won. We won in the East, South, Midwest and West. Victories in races from City Council to Governor.
Progressives won. Moderates won. Rural, suburban, urban —they all won. Black, White, Latino, AAPI — they all won. We won in the East, South, Midwest and West. Victories in races from City Council to Governor.
November 5, 2025 at 3:56 AM
Tonight, was another reminder: there is no single mold for a Democratic winner.
Progressives won. Moderates won. Rural, suburban, urban —they all won. Black, White, Latino, AAPI — they all won. We won in the East, South, Midwest and West. Victories in races from City Council to Governor.
Progressives won. Moderates won. Rural, suburban, urban —they all won. Black, White, Latino, AAPI — they all won. We won in the East, South, Midwest and West. Victories in races from City Council to Governor.
Reposted by Jonathan Bender
This is beautiful. This is ART.
November 5, 2025 at 3:58 AM
This is beautiful. This is ART.
Reposted by Jonathan Bender
There is not one face of the Democratic Party. Tonight proved there are many faces, but each with a commitment to fight back against the reckless failure of the Trump regime and actually serve people.
Thank goodness.
Thank goodness.
November 5, 2025 at 3:53 AM
There is not one face of the Democratic Party. Tonight proved there are many faces, but each with a commitment to fight back against the reckless failure of the Trump regime and actually serve people.
Thank goodness.
Thank goodness.
Reposted by Jonathan Bender
Republicans thought they had a permanent hold over young men. They didn't.
Spanberger wins men 18-29 by 14%, Sherrill by 10%, and Mamdani by a stunning 40%.
Spanberger wins men 18-29 by 14%, Sherrill by 10%, and Mamdani by a stunning 40%.
November 5, 2025 at 2:50 AM
Republicans thought they had a permanent hold over young men. They didn't.
Spanberger wins men 18-29 by 14%, Sherrill by 10%, and Mamdani by a stunning 40%.
Spanberger wins men 18-29 by 14%, Sherrill by 10%, and Mamdani by a stunning 40%.
Reposted by Jonathan Bender
So much time, ink, & nonsense spilled explaining why the smallest pandemic/inflation-driven anti-incumbent backlash in the entire democratic world was a Paradigm Shifting Tidal Wave Of Crisis For The Democrats. Incredibly parochial in so very many ways.
econbrowser.com/archives/202...
econbrowser.com/archives/202...
November 5, 2025 at 2:40 AM
So much time, ink, & nonsense spilled explaining why the smallest pandemic/inflation-driven anti-incumbent backlash in the entire democratic world was a Paradigm Shifting Tidal Wave Of Crisis For The Democrats. Incredibly parochial in so very many ways.
econbrowser.com/archives/202...
econbrowser.com/archives/202...