Paul Begala
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Paul Begala
@paulbegala.bsky.social
Dad, Longhorn, Democrat, CNN contributor, Clinton WH alum, Diane’s Plus One
My latest review for @nytimes.com. Jeff Roche's engaging political history of West Texas.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/07/b...
First They Drove Out the Comanches. Then They Changed the Country.
www.nytimes.com
October 8, 2025 at 8:22 PM
I reviewed The Gunfighters by Bryan Burrough. Burrough blows up Old West myths like Butch Cassidy blew up safes.
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/31/b...
Even the Cowboys Are Bigger in Texas
www.nytimes.com
June 1, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Maybe if we called it the MAGA Carta, Kristi Noem would study it.

You may say that I’m a dreamer. But I’m not the only one.
May 21, 2025 at 1:03 AM
In case you were wondering, there is a 39% chance you will be diagnosed with cancer in your lifetime. Think about that: a better than 1 in 3 chance you get cancer. The budget for the National Cancer Institute is $7.2 billion - and Pres. Trump and the GOP are talking about cutting it.
May 18, 2025 at 9:35 PM
President Joe Biden is a man of profound, powerful faith. May God bless him and his family as he fights cancer.
May 18, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Price tag for Trump’s military festival could reach $45 million, while he cuts children’s health, cancer research, and Medicaid.
May 16, 2025 at 2:37 AM
Reposted by Paul Begala
Republicans worked late into the night... to solidify their support to cut Medicaid and food security for children. apnews.com/article/trum...
House works into the night as Republicans push ahead on Trump's big bill
Tax breaks tallying more than $5 trillion. But also sizable reductions in Medicaid health care, food stamps for older Americans and green energy strategies to fight climate change.
apnews.com
May 14, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Qatar GDP = $213 Billion

U.S. GDP = $23.5 Trillion

Our economy is 110 times the size of Qatar’s. So why does Trump think the richest country on earth needs foreign aid?

No #AirQatar
May 14, 2025 at 2:43 AM
Reposted by Paul Begala
Mitch Landrieu, pollster Margie Omero and Ian Sams are going live at 11AM Eastern to talk about The Working Class Project and their new research on working class voters' relationship with both parties.

Tune in here: workingclassproject.substack.com
The Working Class Project | Substack
To win the working class, Democrats must listen to and learn from them. This project is the biggest effort to do so in 2025. Click to read The Working Class Project, a Substack publication.
workingclassproject.substack.com
May 2, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Trump’s approval is 41% - the lowest 100-day mark in 70 years. But he’s even worse with Independents, with an anemic 31% approval. Weak, weak, weak.
CNN Poll: Trump’s approval at 100 days lower than any president in at least seven decades | CNN Politics
Donald Trump won back the Oval Office and took charge of the government amid the strongest poll numbers of his political career, but as the 100-day mark of his presidency approaches, Americans’ views ...
www.cnn.com
April 27, 2025 at 1:11 PM
From Cardinal Re’s beautiful homily for Pope Francis:

“The guiding thread of his mission was also the conviction that the Church is a home for all, a home with its doors always open. He often used the image of the Church as a “field hospital” after a battle in which many were wounded; …
April 26, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Reposted by Paul Begala
Reuters poll: Trump approval

37% approve
57% disapprove

U.S. adults
April 24, 2025 at 9:35 PM
Voters disapprove of Trump’s handling of every single issue. And this is supposed to be the honeymoon.
Voters See Trump’s Use of Power as Overreaching, Times/Siena Poll Finds
Skepticism has grown of his efforts to expand his authority and of his handling of issues long seen as strengths for him, including the economy and immigration.
www.nytimes.com
April 25, 2025 at 8:09 PM
Reposted by Paul Begala
Al gore is pissed off and I’m here for it
April 23, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Reposted by Paul Begala
MEMBERS OF THE DC BAR: THIS MESSAGE IS FOR YOU—PLEASE VOTE FOR DIANE SELTZER (@whatajlp.bsky.social) 👉👉👉👉👉
If you are a member of the DC Bar, please watch this video and VOTE for Diane Seltzer for DC Bar president.

If you are not a member, please share with others who are.
April 24, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Reposted by Paul Begala
The Holy Father
lived St. Francis’s maxim: “Go forth and preach the Gospel. When necessary, use words.” Pope Francis preached Christ’s love, mercy, and acceptance.
Pope Francis, trailblazing Jesuit with a heart for the poor, dies at 88
When the cardinals voted to elect Jorge Mario Bergoglio as the 265th successor of St. Peter on the evening of March 13, 2013, few of them imagined what kind of pope he would be.
www.americamagazine.org
April 21, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Reposted by Paul Begala
Every single senator who voted to confirm Hegseth is equally responsible and owns this. Your confirmation served as a stamp of approval and your judgment shouldn't be trusted. This goes for every failure of any official confirmed by the Senate.
April 20, 2025 at 11:57 PM
Reposted by Paul Begala
Joe Rogan explains to his audience why due process is important and quotes Ben Franklin — "it is better 100 guilty persons should escape than that one innocent person should suffer.”

He argues against shipping people to a prison in El Salvador without trial because we think they’re gang members.
April 20, 2025 at 10:50 AM
Reposted by Paul Begala
Trump tariffed every country, even penguins, but not Russia.

He said it’s because he’s negotiating the wars end. But he DID tariff Ukraine.

Hmmm
April 20, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Reposted by Paul Begala
I was a social security recipient from the age of 12 through 18. That’s not some weird thing or corruption. It’s called survivors’ benefits. You don’t have to know this. You’re blessed if you don’t. But if you’re going to speak publicly abt the program you need to know this.
Jeanine: We found out there are people who are between the ages of one and four who are getting social security

Jessica: That's the benefit for kids whose parents are dead.
April 10, 2025 at 9:49 PM
Reposted by Paul Begala
The President’s unprecedented Executive Order yesterday targeting Messrs. Chris Krebs and Miles Taylor for nothing but the exercise of their First Amendment rights is the President’s most constitutionally corrupt Executive Order to date.
April 10, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Reposted by Paul Begala
Reality is actually very uplifting. While Trump is afraid of anything even possibly good for our health, clean energy is now more economical than coal, and all Trump’s bombastic proclamations will not change this reality. Our states will continue this progress. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023...
US renewable energy farms outstrip 99% of coal plants economically – study
It is cheaper to build solar panels or cluster of wind turbines and connect them to the grid than to keep operating coal plants
www.theguardian.com
April 11, 2025 at 2:57 AM
Pro tip for Dem pols offering nuanced commentary on Trump’s catastrophic trade policy: when an arsonist is burning down someone’s house, it’s not a good time to lecture them that, “in the right hands, fire can be a useful tool.”
April 11, 2025 at 1:22 PM