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
“Minnesotans turned out in historic numbers to exercise their democratic rights at precinct caucuses,” said DFL Party Chair Richard Carlbom. “Tonight is more proof that we will never stop fighting for our neighbors.”
February 4, 2026 at 6:09 AM
“Minnesotans turned out in historic numbers to exercise their democratic rights at precinct caucuses,” said DFL Party Chair Richard Carlbom. “Tonight is more proof that we will never stop fighting for our neighbors.”
Reposted by Rick Varco
This remains the correct take on candidate moderation
Gave a presentation on this last month but arguing that moderate candidates don't do better overall is like arguing that height doesn't matter in basketball. But also if height were the only thing that mattered then the Trail Blazers were right to pick Sam Bowie over Michael Jordan.
February 3, 2026 at 6:45 PM
This remains the correct take on candidate moderation
Reposted by Rick Varco
We need to call them witnesses, not observers.
Witness Tampering is a federal & state felony. (MN Stat. § 609.498 -Tampering With a Witness)
Prosecutors don’t need to prove the underlying crime happened - only that someone tried to threaten, influence, intimidate, or retaliate against a witness.
Witness Tampering is a federal & state felony. (MN Stat. § 609.498 -Tampering With a Witness)
Prosecutors don’t need to prove the underlying crime happened - only that someone tried to threaten, influence, intimidate, or retaliate against a witness.
February 3, 2026 at 6:44 PM
We need to call them witnesses, not observers.
Witness Tampering is a federal & state felony. (MN Stat. § 609.498 -Tampering With a Witness)
Prosecutors don’t need to prove the underlying crime happened - only that someone tried to threaten, influence, intimidate, or retaliate against a witness.
Witness Tampering is a federal & state felony. (MN Stat. § 609.498 -Tampering With a Witness)
Prosecutors don’t need to prove the underlying crime happened - only that someone tried to threaten, influence, intimidate, or retaliate against a witness.
Reposted by Rick Varco
In 1946, cartoonist & illustrator Noel Sickles was sent by Life magazine to sketch the Nuremberg trials. Here is his sketch of the execution of Joachim Von Ribbentrop, who claimed at trial that his boss had made all of the important decisions, & that he was only following orders.
December 2, 2024 at 9:15 AM
In 1946, cartoonist & illustrator Noel Sickles was sent by Life magazine to sketch the Nuremberg trials. Here is his sketch of the execution of Joachim Von Ribbentrop, who claimed at trial that his boss had made all of the important decisions, & that he was only following orders.
Reposted by Rick Varco
A new poll finds that 1 in 4 Minnesota voters took part in the Jan 23 shutdown against ICE, or have a loved one who did. Of those, 38% DID NOT WORK, either because they made the choice to stay out, or their workplaces closed. By me, @thomasbirm.bsky.social, @bloomekatz.bsky.social
Poll Shows Massive Participation in Minnesota Shutdown Against ICE
1 in four Minnesota voters took part in January 23 day of action, or had a loved one who did.
inthesetimes.com
February 2, 2026 at 9:31 PM
A new poll finds that 1 in 4 Minnesota voters took part in the Jan 23 shutdown against ICE, or have a loved one who did. Of those, 38% DID NOT WORK, either because they made the choice to stay out, or their workplaces closed. By me, @thomasbirm.bsky.social, @bloomekatz.bsky.social
Reposted by Rick Varco
the Republican Party will get worse before it gets worse, but God willing it will also get a whole lot smaller
February 1, 2026 at 9:39 PM
the Republican Party will get worse before it gets worse, but God willing it will also get a whole lot smaller
Reposted by Rick Varco
BREAKING: The two federal immigration agents who fired on Minneapolis protester Alex Pretti are identified in government records as Border Patrol agent Jesus Ochoa and Customs and Border Protection officer Raymundo Gutierrez.
Two CBP Agents Identified in Alex Pretti Shooting
The two federal immigration agents who fired on Minneapolis protester Alex Pretti are identified in government records as Border Patrol agent Jesus Ochoa and Customs and Border Protection officer Raym...
www.propublica.org
February 1, 2026 at 9:10 PM
BREAKING: The two federal immigration agents who fired on Minneapolis protester Alex Pretti are identified in government records as Border Patrol agent Jesus Ochoa and Customs and Border Protection officer Raymundo Gutierrez.
One of our finest hours as a state and he wants to give credit to tourists. Like saying the 1st MN was really guys from Iowa.
Tom Emmer lies about his own constituents: "If you go to my state, the pictures you're seeing of these mobs in Minneapolis, these are paid agitators and protesters. Yeah, you got some Minnesotan anarchists that are in there, but they are people coming from outside our state."
February 1, 2026 at 7:39 PM
One of our finest hours as a state and he wants to give credit to tourists. Like saying the 1st MN was really guys from Iowa.
Reposted by Rick Varco
The most important part of the Rehmet campaign (in my humble opinion as a local political scientist whose opinion nobody asked for) is that Rehmet ran as a union man.
Rehmet is a union president, and this was an unapologetically pro labor campaign.
Rehmet is a union president, and this was an unapologetically pro labor campaign.
February 1, 2026 at 1:13 PM
The most important part of the Rehmet campaign (in my humble opinion as a local political scientist whose opinion nobody asked for) is that Rehmet ran as a union man.
Rehmet is a union president, and this was an unapologetically pro labor campaign.
Rehmet is a union president, and this was an unapologetically pro labor campaign.
Reposted by Rick Varco
HUGE: Democrat Taylor Rehmet has flipped Texas Senate District 9 blue, pulling off a major electoral upset in a district Trump won by 17 points in 2024.
Congrats, Senator-elect Rehmet!
Congrats, Senator-elect Rehmet!
February 1, 2026 at 4:00 PM
HUGE: Democrat Taylor Rehmet has flipped Texas Senate District 9 blue, pulling off a major electoral upset in a district Trump won by 17 points in 2024.
Congrats, Senator-elect Rehmet!
Congrats, Senator-elect Rehmet!
Congrats to @iamunion.bsky.social
Democrats scored a major upset last night in Texas. Taylor Rehmet, a union leader, flipped a state Senate seat in the Fort Worth region.
The win represents a turnaround for a district that tends to be reliably red and voted for President Trump by a large margin in the fall of 2024.
The win represents a turnaround for a district that tends to be reliably red and voted for President Trump by a large margin in the fall of 2024.
February 1, 2026 at 3:56 PM
Congrats to @iamunion.bsky.social
Reposted by Rick Varco
Yesterday, five-year-old Liam and his dad Adrian were released from Dilley detention center. I picked them up last night and escorted them back to Minnesota this morning.
Liam is now home. With his hat and his backpack.
Liam is now home. With his hat and his backpack.
February 1, 2026 at 3:49 PM
Yesterday, five-year-old Liam and his dad Adrian were released from Dilley detention center. I picked them up last night and escorted them back to Minnesota this morning.
Liam is now home. With his hat and his backpack.
Liam is now home. With his hat and his backpack.
Reposted by Rick Varco
BREAKING: Texas Democrat Taylor Rehmet just won a *massive* landslide to flip a deep-red Senate district. He's up by 14 points in a Trump+17 seat—an overperformance of more than 30 points.
How did he do it? Here's our full writeup:
How did he do it? Here's our full writeup:
Breaking: Texas Democrats score landslide upset in race Trump badly wanted to win
Taylor Rehmet just flipped a deep-red seat—and gave his party a shot in the arm
www.the-downballot.com
February 1, 2026 at 5:09 AM
BREAKING: Texas Democrat Taylor Rehmet just won a *massive* landslide to flip a deep-red Senate district. He's up by 14 points in a Trump+17 seat—an overperformance of more than 30 points.
How did he do it? Here's our full writeup:
How did he do it? Here's our full writeup:
Reposted by Rick Varco
DFL legislators need to insist on a compensation fund of tens of millions of dollars to offset economic harms of the ICE siege. It infuriates me that Mercado Central has to hold a $500,000 bake sale to hold onto their building. Tens of fucking millions.
February 1, 2026 at 2:40 PM
DFL legislators need to insist on a compensation fund of tens of millions of dollars to offset economic harms of the ICE siege. It infuriates me that Mercado Central has to hold a $500,000 bake sale to hold onto their building. Tens of fucking millions.
Reposted by Rick Varco
Some filing deadlines have passed, but...If you're a Democrat and you've ever thought of running for office: Get cracking.
And state and local Dem parties? Get every damn slot filled, top to bottom of the ballot. Sure, more solid GOP seats won't become competitive, but more than ever youneverknow.
And state and local Dem parties? Get every damn slot filled, top to bottom of the ballot. Sure, more solid GOP seats won't become competitive, but more than ever youneverknow.
UPDATE: The Democrat won the latest batch of roughly 6,000 votes, continuing to dominate in the count.
The Election Day vote is bluer than the early vote day so far.
With 55K votes in, Rehmet is up 57% to 43%.
This is a 30% swing since 2024 for now.
The Election Day vote is bluer than the early vote day so far.
With 55K votes in, Rehmet is up 57% to 43%.
This is a 30% swing since 2024 for now.
February 1, 2026 at 4:09 AM
Some filing deadlines have passed, but...If you're a Democrat and you've ever thought of running for office: Get cracking.
And state and local Dem parties? Get every damn slot filled, top to bottom of the ballot. Sure, more solid GOP seats won't become competitive, but more than ever youneverknow.
And state and local Dem parties? Get every damn slot filled, top to bottom of the ballot. Sure, more solid GOP seats won't become competitive, but more than ever youneverknow.
Will be there in 64B for the Mighty @epmurphymn.bsky.social
Are you going to caucus? Repost if you are, let’s see some numbers.
What Happens at DFL and GOP Precinct Caucuses in Minnesota?
January 30, 2026 at 1:49 AM
Will be there in 64B for the Mighty @epmurphymn.bsky.social
The best summary of the NiMBY mind ever
Trump: "I don't want to drive housing prices down. I want to drive housing prices up for people who own homes."
January 29, 2026 at 6:34 PM
The best summary of the NiMBY mind ever
Reposted by Rick Varco
Shout out to @megl.bsky.social , putting up better numbers than both Morgan Freeman and Christmas
January 28, 2026 at 3:33 PM
Shout out to @megl.bsky.social , putting up better numbers than both Morgan Freeman and Christmas
This will be in anthologies 100 years from now, somewhere next to Ernie Pyle.
January 27, 2026 at 2:32 PM
This will be in anthologies 100 years from now, somewhere next to Ernie Pyle.
Reposted by Rick Varco
Last week in Minnesota, I watched ordinary people risk their lives to protect their neighbors. In the process, they not only won a significant—though not final—victory against authoritarianism, they proved virtually every MAGA social theory wrong. (gift link) www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
January 27, 2026 at 1:06 PM
Last week in Minnesota, I watched ordinary people risk their lives to protect their neighbors. In the process, they not only won a significant—though not final—victory against authoritarianism, they proved virtually every MAGA social theory wrong. (gift link) www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
Reposted by Rick Varco
Bovino’s retirement needs to be a cage. His command environment yielded Renee Good’s death, Alex Pretti’s death & Julio Sosa-Celis’ shooting. Failure to prosecute Bovino & everyone else materially responsible for these atrocities will be understood by ICE, CBP, etc as a green light for the next ones
January 27, 2026 at 1:53 AM
Bovino’s retirement needs to be a cage. His command environment yielded Renee Good’s death, Alex Pretti’s death & Julio Sosa-Celis’ shooting. Failure to prosecute Bovino & everyone else materially responsible for these atrocities will be understood by ICE, CBP, etc as a green light for the next ones
He can use the time to get ready for his coming tribunal
January 27, 2026 at 12:54 AM
He can use the time to get ready for his coming tribunal