Rick Varco
@rvarco.bsky.social
SEIU Healthcare Minnesota & Iowa Political Director, ex-Philosophy grad student, Democrat, comic book fan, and Spot Bar regular
Reposted by Rick Varco
Here's a package of stories I put together in *2010* on abolishing the filibuster. Featuring contributions from, among others, @kagrox.bsky.social, Sen. Tom Udall, and @mattyglesias.bsky.social.
The filibuster sucks for reasons that have been well understood for a long-ass time now.
The filibuster sucks for reasons that have been well understood for a long-ass time now.
Rules of enragement: The filibuster and Senate reform
grist.org
November 10, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Here's a package of stories I put together in *2010* on abolishing the filibuster. Featuring contributions from, among others, @kagrox.bsky.social, Sen. Tom Udall, and @mattyglesias.bsky.social.
The filibuster sucks for reasons that have been well understood for a long-ass time now.
The filibuster sucks for reasons that have been well understood for a long-ass time now.
Reposted by Rick Varco
When the Conservative Party in Korea declared martial law, the Korean Democrats knew if they didn’t send them to hell there would be no opposition afterwards. And look at them. They’re taking the ex conservative president and ensuring he never breathes free ever again.
South Korea special prosecutor indicts ex-President Yoon on more charges reut.rs/3Xka3TD
South Korea special prosecutor indicts ex-President Yoon on more charges
South Korea's special prosecutor on Monday indicted former President Yoon Suk Yeol on additional charges of abusing power and aiding an enemy state related to his short-lived imposition of martial law last year.
reut.rs
November 10, 2025 at 3:33 AM
When the Conservative Party in Korea declared martial law, the Korean Democrats knew if they didn’t send them to hell there would be no opposition afterwards. And look at them. They’re taking the ex conservative president and ensuring he never breathes free ever again.
Has been from the day it was created.
Vibes among House Democrats and activists, "The Senate is the enemy"
November 10, 2025 at 2:19 AM
Has been from the day it was created.
Reposted by Rick Varco
I know we've all got a lot on our minds and the gusher of news doesn't stop for anybody, but....
Did you see where the President of Iran announced that the drought there is so bad that if they don't get any rain in the next two months they'll run out of water and *evacuate Tehran*?
Did you see where the President of Iran announced that the drought there is so bad that if they don't get any rain in the next two months they'll run out of water and *evacuate Tehran*?
November 9, 2025 at 12:10 AM
I know we've all got a lot on our minds and the gusher of news doesn't stop for anybody, but....
Did you see where the President of Iran announced that the drought there is so bad that if they don't get any rain in the next two months they'll run out of water and *evacuate Tehran*?
Did you see where the President of Iran announced that the drought there is so bad that if they don't get any rain in the next two months they'll run out of water and *evacuate Tehran*?
Reposted by Rick Varco
Every time this stuff happens, my thought process begins to consider what kind of justice will be required in 3 years for these people.
ICE agents in Chicago violently detain a non verbal autistic man for being “non compliant”
He couldn’t “comply” because of his disability…they don’t care
This is not the first time they’ve gone after a disabled person
They target the most vulnerable because it’s an easy way to meet their quota
He couldn’t “comply” because of his disability…they don’t care
This is not the first time they’ve gone after a disabled person
They target the most vulnerable because it’s an easy way to meet their quota
November 8, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Every time this stuff happens, my thought process begins to consider what kind of justice will be required in 3 years for these people.
Reposted by Rick Varco
Trump Administration officials are all about Confederate monuments; can we just reopen Andersonville and put them there?
Every time this stuff happens, my thought process begins to consider what kind of justice will be required in 3 years for these people.
ICE agents in Chicago violently detain a non verbal autistic man for being “non compliant”
He couldn’t “comply” because of his disability…they don’t care
This is not the first time they’ve gone after a disabled person
They target the most vulnerable because it’s an easy way to meet their quota
He couldn’t “comply” because of his disability…they don’t care
This is not the first time they’ve gone after a disabled person
They target the most vulnerable because it’s an easy way to meet their quota
November 8, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Trump Administration officials are all about Confederate monuments; can we just reopen Andersonville and put them there?
Reposted by Rick Varco
Another J6 insurrectionist pardoned by Donald Trump was arrested on other charges, this time, kidnapping and rape.
“A Summit man, who was once accused of firing a gun during the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol, was taken into custody last month after he was wanted for aggravated kidnapping and aggravated sexual assault in Utah.”
patch.com/illinois/lag...
patch.com/illinois/lag...
Fugitive Nabbed On Kidnap, Sex Assault Charges Was Accused Of Firing Gun At Capitol Riot
Banuelos was charged last year for the Jan. 6, 2021, shooting at the U.S. Capitol riot, but charges were dropped after the Trump pardons.
patch.com
November 8, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Another J6 insurrectionist pardoned by Donald Trump was arrested on other charges, this time, kidnapping and rape.
Reposted by Rick Varco
Across Eastern Europe, they have what are known as "lustration" laws that do exactly this for people who were in the Stasi and its various equivalents. It's a model we should be examining.
Absolutely sadistic.
A Dem Congress should pass a law banning anyone who is currently serving with ICE or CBP from future Fed employment.
The Feds should condition all future Fed grants to police depts on blanket refusals to hire ppl who were in ICE/CBP right now.
A Dem Congress should pass a law banning anyone who is currently serving with ICE or CBP from future Fed employment.
The Feds should condition all future Fed grants to police depts on blanket refusals to hire ppl who were in ICE/CBP right now.
Or Rodney Taylor, a disabled double amputee who’s been in America since he was two years old.
He was days away from receiving new prosthetic legs when ICE grabbed him
His health is declining, they won’t let him get his legs and they’ve placed him in solitary
www.disabledginger.com/p/help-rodne...
He was days away from receiving new prosthetic legs when ICE grabbed him
His health is declining, they won’t let him get his legs and they’ve placed him in solitary
www.disabledginger.com/p/help-rodne...
November 8, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Across Eastern Europe, they have what are known as "lustration" laws that do exactly this for people who were in the Stasi and its various equivalents. It's a model we should be examining.
Reposted by Rick Varco
An actually essential piece of journalism from the times:
"We interviewed 40 of the men who were imprisoned: They described being beaten, sexually assaulted by guards and driven to the brink of suicide." 1/2
"We interviewed 40 of the men who were imprisoned: They described being beaten, sexually assaulted by guards and driven to the brink of suicide." 1/2
‘You Are All Terrorists’: Four Months in a Salvadoran Prison
www.nytimes.com
November 8, 2025 at 4:46 PM
An actually essential piece of journalism from the times:
"We interviewed 40 of the men who were imprisoned: They described being beaten, sexually assaulted by guards and driven to the brink of suicide." 1/2
"We interviewed 40 of the men who were imprisoned: They described being beaten, sexually assaulted by guards and driven to the brink of suicide." 1/2
Reposted by Rick Varco
"When I picked up my granddaughter from the federal agents, she had a dirty diaper, a bruise on her face, and was developing a rash. She was exhausted and cried… My heart aches knowing this could happen to others, to my kids, or even me, despite being U.S. citizens.”
November 8, 2025 at 3:26 PM
"When I picked up my granddaughter from the federal agents, she had a dirty diaper, a bruise on her face, and was developing a rash. She was exhausted and cried… My heart aches knowing this could happen to others, to my kids, or even me, despite being U.S. citizens.”
Reposted by Rick Varco
Chris Murphy: "There will be pretty substantial damage to a Dem brand that has been rehabilitated if on the heels of an election in which the people told us to keep fighting, we immediately stop... if we surrender without having gotten anything, I worry it'll be hard to get them back up off the mat"
November 7, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Chris Murphy: "There will be pretty substantial damage to a Dem brand that has been rehabilitated if on the heels of an election in which the people told us to keep fighting, we immediately stop... if we surrender without having gotten anything, I worry it'll be hard to get them back up off the mat"
Reposted by Rick Varco
fine. keep it shut. Trump's approval seems to drop every week this goes on. rollcall.com/2025/11/07/r...
Republicans denounce new Democratic offer to end shutdown - Roll Call
A new Senate Democratic plan for ending the partial government shutdown met with a wall of Republican resistance late Friday.
rollcall.com
November 8, 2025 at 12:32 AM
fine. keep it shut. Trump's approval seems to drop every week this goes on. rollcall.com/2025/11/07/r...
Reposted by Rick Varco
A federal tax credit meant to drive down the cost of health insurance premiums for people buying their own coverage is about to expire. For some Minnesotans, the change is coming with a dramatic price tag.
With federal subsidy set to expire, some Minnesotans face eye-popping health premium increases
A federal tax credit meant to drive down the cost of health insurance premiums for people buying their own coverage is about to expire. For some Minnesotans, the change is coming with a dramatic price...
www.mprnews.org
November 7, 2025 at 10:39 PM
A federal tax credit meant to drive down the cost of health insurance premiums for people buying their own coverage is about to expire. For some Minnesotans, the change is coming with a dramatic price tag.
Reposted by Rick Varco
The world’s first trillionaire initiated a move that has left more than half a million people dead, most of whom are children.
November 7, 2025 at 7:39 AM
The world’s first trillionaire initiated a move that has left more than half a million people dead, most of whom are children.
I love this phrasing so much.
November 7, 2025 at 3:23 AM
I love this phrasing so much.
Reposted by Rick Varco
🚨🚨🚨 The jury has reached a verdict. Sean Dunn, aka the DC Sandwich Guy, has been found NOT GUILTY of assault.
November 6, 2025 at 7:25 PM
🚨🚨🚨 The jury has reached a verdict. Sean Dunn, aka the DC Sandwich Guy, has been found NOT GUILTY of assault.
Reposted by Rick Varco
Illegal impoundments are so important to Republicans that they’re insisting on language that would prevent GAO from suing.
How can you make a budget deal when one side insists on the ability to ignore that deal?
How can you make a budget deal when one side insists on the ability to ignore that deal?
November 6, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Illegal impoundments are so important to Republicans that they’re insisting on language that would prevent GAO from suing.
How can you make a budget deal when one side insists on the ability to ignore that deal?
How can you make a budget deal when one side insists on the ability to ignore that deal?
Reposted by Rick Varco
Burn the filibuster to the ground! www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
Trump Is Right: Ditch the Filibuster
The tactic is a deformed anachronism. Its demise would benefit the whole country, and Democrats especially.
www.theatlantic.com
November 6, 2025 at 1:31 AM
Burn the filibuster to the ground! www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Rick Varco
Thank you to everyone who made this victory happen! This was an incredibly common sense change that will make Saint Paul better.
🧵🎉 We did it, St. Paul! This election, voters came together to overwhelmingly pass Administrative Citations.
⚖️ With this win, our city can hold corporate wrongdoers accountable, protect renters in their homes, and ensure workers get a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work.
⚖️ With this win, our city can hold corporate wrongdoers accountable, protect renters in their homes, and ensure workers get a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work.
November 5, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Thank you to everyone who made this victory happen! This was an incredibly common sense change that will make Saint Paul better.
Reposted by Rick Varco
🧵🎉 We did it, St. Paul! This election, voters came together to overwhelmingly pass Administrative Citations.
⚖️ With this win, our city can hold corporate wrongdoers accountable, protect renters in their homes, and ensure workers get a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work.
⚖️ With this win, our city can hold corporate wrongdoers accountable, protect renters in their homes, and ensure workers get a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work.
November 5, 2025 at 5:22 AM
🧵🎉 We did it, St. Paul! This election, voters came together to overwhelmingly pass Administrative Citations.
⚖️ With this win, our city can hold corporate wrongdoers accountable, protect renters in their homes, and ensure workers get a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work.
⚖️ With this win, our city can hold corporate wrongdoers accountable, protect renters in their homes, and ensure workers get a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work.
Well how about that!
ST. PAUL ELECTIONS: ADMINISTRATIVE CITATIONS WIN! And resoundingly so... www.twincities.com/2025/11/04/s...
St. Paul voters appear ready to embrace administrative citations
The city council will have wide latitude to add fine ladders for violations of existing city ordinances.
www.twincities.com
November 5, 2025 at 5:47 AM
Well how about that!
Reposted by Rick Varco
🚨BREAKING NEWS! The Virginia House of Delegates has not only been defended, but expanded — making VA the nation’s newest pro-democracy trifecta!
November 5, 2025 at 1:46 AM
🚨BREAKING NEWS! The Virginia House of Delegates has not only been defended, but expanded — making VA the nation’s newest pro-democracy trifecta!
Reposted by Rick Varco
Every day at noon, no matter how busy, Johny Merida Aguilar left his construction job and hurried to his 5-year-old son's school to feed him. His son has brain cancer and generally only accepts food from his father.
Merida Aguilar was arrested by ICE in September and faces deportation to Bolivia.
Merida Aguilar was arrested by ICE in September and faces deportation to Bolivia.
He was caring for his 5-year-old son with brain cancer. Then he was detained by ICE.
A court has temporarily blocked Johny Merida Aguilar's deportation to Bolivia.
www.inquirer.com
October 13, 2025 at 1:03 AM
Every day at noon, no matter how busy, Johny Merida Aguilar left his construction job and hurried to his 5-year-old son's school to feed him. His son has brain cancer and generally only accepts food from his father.
Merida Aguilar was arrested by ICE in September and faces deportation to Bolivia.
Merida Aguilar was arrested by ICE in September and faces deportation to Bolivia.
Reposted by Rick Varco
