Stephen Semler
@stephensemler.bsky.social
Policy analyst/advisor. Newsletter: stephensemler.com
Reposted by Stephen Semler
Merry Christmas!
The President of Peace just bombed Nigeria.
The President of Peace just bombed Nigeria.
December 25, 2025 at 11:09 PM
Merry Christmas!
The President of Peace just bombed Nigeria.
The President of Peace just bombed Nigeria.
Reposted by Stephen Semler
But how will we pay for it???
As Trump drags us into an Iraq-style war in Venezuela, 312 members of the House — including 115 Democrats — just voted to authorize over $900 billion in military spending.
December 24, 2025 at 7:31 PM
But how will we pay for it???
Reposted by Stephen Semler
Senators who voted for the $901 billion military bill accepted 3.5x as much money from military contractors as those opposed.
Helps explain why the Senate is so comfortable ignoring public opinion.
www.stephensemler.com/p/1-in-10-vo...
Helps explain why the Senate is so comfortable ignoring public opinion.
www.stephensemler.com/p/1-in-10-vo...
December 22, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Reposted by Stephen Semler
December 13, 2025 at 3:30 AM
Reposted by Stephen Semler
So glad that 61% of Senate Dems just voted to give Trump $901 billion in military spending
bsky.app/profile/step...
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Among the top 25 Senate recipients of campaign cash from arms companies, only 1 voted against the $901 billion military bill.
Among the bottom 25 recipients, 11 voted against the bill.
Full data/interactive table: www.stephensemler.com/p/senate-vot...
Among the bottom 25 recipients, 11 voted against the bill.
Full data/interactive table: www.stephensemler.com/p/senate-vot...
December 23, 2025 at 12:36 AM
So glad that 61% of Senate Dems just voted to give Trump $901 billion in military spending
bsky.app/profile/step...
bsky.app/profile/step...
This is the Pentagon budget. An enshittified slush fund stuffed with vanity projects. The greed and excess — beyond words.
President Trump said he will oversee the development of a new class of Navy battleship — named after himself.
Trump unveils new class of Navy battleship named after himself
President Donald Trump on Monday said he will oversee the development of a new class of Navy “battleship” — named after himself.
wapo.st
December 23, 2025 at 12:35 AM
This is the Pentagon budget. An enshittified slush fund stuffed with vanity projects. The greed and excess — beyond words.
Reposted by Stephen Semler
Reposted by Stephen Semler
December 23, 2025 at 12:27 AM
Reposted by Stephen Semler
Among the top 25 Senate recipients of campaign cash from arms companies, only 1 voted against the $901 billion military bill.
Among the bottom 25 recipients, 11 voted against the bill.
Full data/interactive table: www.stephensemler.com/p/senate-vot...
Among the bottom 25 recipients, 11 voted against the bill.
Full data/interactive table: www.stephensemler.com/p/senate-vot...
December 22, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Among the top 25 Senate recipients of campaign cash from arms companies, only 1 voted against the $901 billion military bill.
Among the bottom 25 recipients, 11 voted against the bill.
Full data/interactive table: www.stephensemler.com/p/senate-vot...
Among the bottom 25 recipients, 11 voted against the bill.
Full data/interactive table: www.stephensemler.com/p/senate-vot...
Reposted by Stephen Semler
Full data for the House: www.stephensemler.com/p/house-vote...
House votes on military spending vs. arms industry cash
Polygraph | Newsletter n°326 | 12 Dec 2025
www.stephensemler.com
December 22, 2025 at 5:58 PM
Full data for the House: www.stephensemler.com/p/house-vote...
Reposted by Stephen Semler
Peters earning that bribe—er—donation.
The national defense bill I helped craft as a member of the Armed Services Committee will support our servicemembers and help keep Michigan at the forefront of our national security.
www.peters.senate.gov/newsroom/pre...
www.peters.senate.gov/newsroom/pre...
Senate Passes National Defense Bill with Provisions Secured by Peters to Strengthen Michigan’s Defense Footprint | U.S. Senator Gary Peters of Michigan
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), a member of the Armed Services Committee, helped the...
www.peters.senate.gov
December 22, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Peters earning that bribe—er—donation.
Reposted by Stephen Semler
Many thanks. The mining was carried out by hand, sadly. If there’s an automated way to do this I havent figured it out.
bsky.app/profile/step...
bsky.app/profile/step...
Among the top 25 Senate recipients of campaign cash from arms companies, only 1 voted against the $901 billion military bill.
Among the bottom 25 recipients, 11 voted against the bill.
Full data/interactive table: www.stephensemler.com/p/senate-vot...
Among the bottom 25 recipients, 11 voted against the bill.
Full data/interactive table: www.stephensemler.com/p/senate-vot...
December 22, 2025 at 11:59 PM
Many thanks. The mining was carried out by hand, sadly. If there’s an automated way to do this I havent figured it out.
bsky.app/profile/step...
bsky.app/profile/step...
Reposted by Stephen Semler
Reposted by Stephen Semler
December 22, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Reposted by Stephen Semler
Getting that MIC check.
Among the top 25 Senate recipients of campaign cash from arms companies, only 1 voted against the $901 billion military bill.
Among the bottom 25 recipients, 11 voted against the bill.
Full data/interactive table: www.stephensemler.com/p/senate-vot...
Among the bottom 25 recipients, 11 voted against the bill.
Full data/interactive table: www.stephensemler.com/p/senate-vot...
December 22, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Getting that MIC check.
Reposted by Stephen Semler
Senate version: bsky.app/profile/step...
Senators who voted for the $901 billion military bill accepted 3.5x as much money from military contractors as those opposed.
Helps explain why the Senate is so comfortable ignoring public opinion.
www.stephensemler.com/p/1-in-10-vo...
Helps explain why the Senate is so comfortable ignoring public opinion.
www.stephensemler.com/p/1-in-10-vo...
December 22, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Senate version: bsky.app/profile/step...
Reposted by Stephen Semler
Senators who voted for the $901 billion military bill accepted 3.5x as much money from military contractors as those opposed.
Helps explain why the Senate is so comfortable ignoring public opinion.
www.stephensemler.com/p/1-in-10-vo...
Helps explain why the Senate is so comfortable ignoring public opinion.
www.stephensemler.com/p/1-in-10-vo...
December 22, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Reposted by Stephen Semler
The lessons of the Korean and Vietnam wars is that you can call acts of war "police actions" and proceed without a Declaration of War from Congress.
After that, Congress can only defund the military to put an end to the illegal invasion.
After that, Congress can only defund the military to put an end to the illegal invasion.
December 17, 2025 at 6:15 PM
The lessons of the Korean and Vietnam wars is that you can call acts of war "police actions" and proceed without a Declaration of War from Congress.
After that, Congress can only defund the military to put an end to the illegal invasion.
After that, Congress can only defund the military to put an end to the illegal invasion.
Reposted by Stephen Semler
Roll call and data summary of the above also be found here: www.stephensemler.com/p/congress-i...
Congress ignores public opinion, approves $901 billion military bill
Polygraph | Newsletter n°327 | 12 Dec 2025
www.stephensemler.com
December 22, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Roll call and data summary of the above also be found here: www.stephensemler.com/p/congress-i...
Reposted by Stephen Semler
Here’s the list, with how much each one received from military contractors beforehand:
bsky.app/profile/step...
bsky.app/profile/step...
December 22, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Here’s the list, with how much each one received from military contractors beforehand:
bsky.app/profile/step...
bsky.app/profile/step...
Reposted by Stephen Semler
As a constituent, it's so embarrassing that @peters.senate.gov will post "I'm the most bipartisan person in congress" but it's not about him reaching across the aisle but him reaching for a MIC check.
Among the top 25 Senate recipients of campaign cash from arms companies, only 1 voted against the $901 billion military bill.
Among the bottom 25 recipients, 11 voted against the bill.
Full data/interactive table: www.stephensemler.com/p/senate-vot...
Among the bottom 25 recipients, 11 voted against the bill.
Full data/interactive table: www.stephensemler.com/p/senate-vot...
December 22, 2025 at 6:11 PM
As a constituent, it's so embarrassing that @peters.senate.gov will post "I'm the most bipartisan person in congress" but it's not about him reaching across the aisle but him reaching for a MIC check.
Among the top 25 Senate recipients of campaign cash from arms companies, only 1 voted against the $901 billion military bill.
Among the bottom 25 recipients, 11 voted against the bill.
Full data/interactive table: www.stephensemler.com/p/senate-vot...
Among the bottom 25 recipients, 11 voted against the bill.
Full data/interactive table: www.stephensemler.com/p/senate-vot...
December 22, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Among the top 25 Senate recipients of campaign cash from arms companies, only 1 voted against the $901 billion military bill.
Among the bottom 25 recipients, 11 voted against the bill.
Full data/interactive table: www.stephensemler.com/p/senate-vot...
Among the bottom 25 recipients, 11 voted against the bill.
Full data/interactive table: www.stephensemler.com/p/senate-vot...
Reposted by Stephen Semler
Senators who voted for the $901 billion military bill accepted 3.5x as much money from military contractors as those opposed.
Helps explain why the Senate is so comfortable ignoring public opinion.
www.stephensemler.com/p/1-in-10-vo...
Helps explain why the Senate is so comfortable ignoring public opinion.
www.stephensemler.com/p/1-in-10-vo...
December 20, 2025 at 1:35 AM
Senators who voted for the $901 billion military bill accepted 3.5x as much money from military contractors as those opposed.
Helps explain why the Senate is so comfortable ignoring public opinion.
www.stephensemler.com/p/1-in-10-vo...
Helps explain why the Senate is so comfortable ignoring public opinion.
www.stephensemler.com/p/1-in-10-vo...
Reposted by Stephen Semler
