Stephen Semler
@stephensemler.bsky.social
Policy analyst/advisor. Newsletter: stephensemler.com
Reposted by Stephen Semler
Reposted by Stephen Semler
ICE’s pending $30 billion budget exceeds the military spending of nearly every country, including Canada, Brazil, Mexico, and Iran.
ICE + CBP funding for 2026 would total $66 billion, higher than all but 7 militaries worldwide.
ICE + CBP funding for 2026 would total $66 billion, higher than all but 7 militaries worldwide.
After a string of ICE murders, Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries proposed reforms — and $11 billion more for ICE.
Including reconciliation bill funding, the Schumer-Jeffries plan would give ICE a $30 billion budget, higher than all but 15 militaries worldwide:
www.stephensemler.com/p/democratic...
Including reconciliation bill funding, the Schumer-Jeffries plan would give ICE a $30 billion budget, higher than all but 15 militaries worldwide:
www.stephensemler.com/p/democratic...
February 9, 2026 at 7:18 PM
ICE’s pending $30 billion budget exceeds the military spending of nearly every country, including Canada, Brazil, Mexico, and Iran.
ICE + CBP funding for 2026 would total $66 billion, higher than all but 7 militaries worldwide.
ICE + CBP funding for 2026 would total $66 billion, higher than all but 7 militaries worldwide.
Reposted by Stephen Semler
It’s absolutely clear that that’s the case in the post, chart, and article.
Your comment is moronic.
Your comment is moronic.
February 10, 2026 at 12:53 AM
It’s absolutely clear that that’s the case in the post, chart, and article.
Your comment is moronic.
Your comment is moronic.
Reposted by Stephen Semler
Reposted by Stephen Semler
Money is policy: you can’t give ICE a budget larger than all but 15 militaries worldwide and expect the agency to demilitarize its behavior.
Jeffries and Schumer expect us to believe otherwise.
www.stephensemler.com/p/democratic...
Jeffries and Schumer expect us to believe otherwise.
www.stephensemler.com/p/democratic...
February 9, 2026 at 7:18 PM
Money is policy: you can’t give ICE a budget larger than all but 15 militaries worldwide and expect the agency to demilitarize its behavior.
Jeffries and Schumer expect us to believe otherwise.
www.stephensemler.com/p/democratic...
Jeffries and Schumer expect us to believe otherwise.
www.stephensemler.com/p/democratic...
Reposted by Stephen Semler
What would 66 billion do for the American public I wonder
ICE’s pending $30 billion budget exceeds the military spending of nearly every country, including Canada, Brazil, Mexico, and Iran.
ICE + CBP funding for 2026 would total $66 billion, higher than all but 7 militaries worldwide.
ICE + CBP funding for 2026 would total $66 billion, higher than all but 7 militaries worldwide.
After a string of ICE murders, Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries proposed reforms — and $11 billion more for ICE.
Including reconciliation bill funding, the Schumer-Jeffries plan would give ICE a $30 billion budget, higher than all but 15 militaries worldwide:
www.stephensemler.com/p/democratic...
Including reconciliation bill funding, the Schumer-Jeffries plan would give ICE a $30 billion budget, higher than all but 15 militaries worldwide:
www.stephensemler.com/p/democratic...
February 10, 2026 at 12:39 AM
What would 66 billion do for the American public I wonder
Reposted by Stephen Semler
Thinking a lot lately how the last time my classroom was painted was probably 1992
ICE’s pending $30 billion budget exceeds the military spending of nearly every country, including Canada, Brazil, Mexico, and Iran.
ICE + CBP funding for 2026 would total $66 billion, higher than all but 7 militaries worldwide.
ICE + CBP funding for 2026 would total $66 billion, higher than all but 7 militaries worldwide.
After a string of ICE murders, Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries proposed reforms — and $11 billion more for ICE.
Including reconciliation bill funding, the Schumer-Jeffries plan would give ICE a $30 billion budget, higher than all but 15 militaries worldwide:
www.stephensemler.com/p/democratic...
Including reconciliation bill funding, the Schumer-Jeffries plan would give ICE a $30 billion budget, higher than all but 15 militaries worldwide:
www.stephensemler.com/p/democratic...
February 10, 2026 at 12:29 AM
Thinking a lot lately how the last time my classroom was painted was probably 1992
Reposted by Stephen Semler
Sounds like your beef is with reading comprehension, not me.
February 10, 2026 at 12:38 AM
Sounds like your beef is with reading comprehension, not me.
Reposted by Stephen Semler
That’s plenty clear in the post, chart, and article.
Go complain somewhere else.
Go complain somewhere else.
February 10, 2026 at 12:37 AM
That’s plenty clear in the post, chart, and article.
Go complain somewhere else.
Go complain somewhere else.
Reposted by Stephen Semler
imagine putting this money into a new deal 2.0 and fixing roads and bridges, providing housing and healthcare to everyone, and streamlining immigration processes
ICE’s pending $30 billion budget exceeds the military spending of nearly every country, including Canada, Brazil, Mexico, and Iran.
ICE + CBP funding for 2026 would total $66 billion, higher than all but 7 militaries worldwide.
ICE + CBP funding for 2026 would total $66 billion, higher than all but 7 militaries worldwide.
After a string of ICE murders, Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries proposed reforms — and $11 billion more for ICE.
Including reconciliation bill funding, the Schumer-Jeffries plan would give ICE a $30 billion budget, higher than all but 15 militaries worldwide:
www.stephensemler.com/p/democratic...
Including reconciliation bill funding, the Schumer-Jeffries plan would give ICE a $30 billion budget, higher than all but 15 militaries worldwide:
www.stephensemler.com/p/democratic...
February 9, 2026 at 11:37 PM
imagine putting this money into a new deal 2.0 and fixing roads and bridges, providing housing and healthcare to everyone, and streamlining immigration processes
Imagine if Biden used reconciliation to pass his infrastructure bill instead of cutting it by 80% all so he could call it bipartisan
imagine putting this money into a new deal 2.0 and fixing roads and bridges, providing housing and healthcare to everyone, and streamlining immigration processes
ICE’s pending $30 billion budget exceeds the military spending of nearly every country, including Canada, Brazil, Mexico, and Iran.
ICE + CBP funding for 2026 would total $66 billion, higher than all but 7 militaries worldwide.
ICE + CBP funding for 2026 would total $66 billion, higher than all but 7 militaries worldwide.
February 10, 2026 at 12:33 AM
Imagine if Biden used reconciliation to pass his infrastructure bill instead of cutting it by 80% all so he could call it bipartisan
Reposted by Stephen Semler
New York should never let them sleep again
After a string of ICE murders, Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries proposed reforms — and $11 billion more for ICE.
Including reconciliation bill funding, the Schumer-Jeffries plan would give ICE a $30 billion budget, higher than all but 15 militaries worldwide:
www.stephensemler.com/p/democratic...
Including reconciliation bill funding, the Schumer-Jeffries plan would give ICE a $30 billion budget, higher than all but 15 militaries worldwide:
www.stephensemler.com/p/democratic...
February 9, 2026 at 11:46 PM
New York should never let them sleep again
Reposted by Stephen Semler
would love if the takeaway here was people realizing "wow there IS money for political parties to pursue policies they believe in!" then reconsider the last several democratic administrations through that lens
ICE’s pending $30 billion budget exceeds the military spending of nearly every country, including Canada, Brazil, Mexico, and Iran.
ICE + CBP funding for 2026 would total $66 billion, higher than all but 7 militaries worldwide.
ICE + CBP funding for 2026 would total $66 billion, higher than all but 7 militaries worldwide.
After a string of ICE murders, Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries proposed reforms — and $11 billion more for ICE.
Including reconciliation bill funding, the Schumer-Jeffries plan would give ICE a $30 billion budget, higher than all but 15 militaries worldwide:
www.stephensemler.com/p/democratic...
Including reconciliation bill funding, the Schumer-Jeffries plan would give ICE a $30 billion budget, higher than all but 15 militaries worldwide:
www.stephensemler.com/p/democratic...
February 10, 2026 at 12:05 AM
would love if the takeaway here was people realizing "wow there IS money for political parties to pursue policies they believe in!" then reconsider the last several democratic administrations through that lens
Reposted by Stephen Semler
We cut kids' health care to pay for this
ICE’s pending $30 billion budget exceeds the military spending of nearly every country, including Canada, Brazil, Mexico, and Iran.
ICE + CBP funding for 2026 would total $66 billion, higher than all but 7 militaries worldwide.
ICE + CBP funding for 2026 would total $66 billion, higher than all but 7 militaries worldwide.
After a string of ICE murders, Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries proposed reforms — and $11 billion more for ICE.
Including reconciliation bill funding, the Schumer-Jeffries plan would give ICE a $30 billion budget, higher than all but 15 militaries worldwide:
www.stephensemler.com/p/democratic...
Including reconciliation bill funding, the Schumer-Jeffries plan would give ICE a $30 billion budget, higher than all but 15 militaries worldwide:
www.stephensemler.com/p/democratic...
February 10, 2026 at 12:19 AM
We cut kids' health care to pay for this
Reposted by Stephen Semler
$19B plus $11B equals $30B. Hope this helps
February 10, 2026 at 12:27 AM
$19B plus $11B equals $30B. Hope this helps
Reposted by Stephen Semler
Because it’s part of ICE’s budget. What Schumer and Jeffries are proposing is giving ICE $11 billion more in exchange for reforms that ICE will feel free to ignore.
February 10, 2026 at 12:26 AM
Because it’s part of ICE’s budget. What Schumer and Jeffries are proposing is giving ICE $11 billion more in exchange for reforms that ICE will feel free to ignore.
ICE’s pending $30 billion budget exceeds the military spending of nearly every country, including Canada, Brazil, Mexico, and Iran.
ICE + CBP funding for 2026 would total $66 billion, higher than all but 7 militaries worldwide.
ICE + CBP funding for 2026 would total $66 billion, higher than all but 7 militaries worldwide.
After a string of ICE murders, Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries proposed reforms — and $11 billion more for ICE.
Including reconciliation bill funding, the Schumer-Jeffries plan would give ICE a $30 billion budget, higher than all but 15 militaries worldwide:
www.stephensemler.com/p/democratic...
Including reconciliation bill funding, the Schumer-Jeffries plan would give ICE a $30 billion budget, higher than all but 15 militaries worldwide:
www.stephensemler.com/p/democratic...
February 9, 2026 at 7:18 PM
ICE’s pending $30 billion budget exceeds the military spending of nearly every country, including Canada, Brazil, Mexico, and Iran.
ICE + CBP funding for 2026 would total $66 billion, higher than all but 7 militaries worldwide.
ICE + CBP funding for 2026 would total $66 billion, higher than all but 7 militaries worldwide.
Money is policy: you can’t give ICE a budget larger than all but 15 militaries worldwide and expect the agency to demilitarize its behavior.
Jeffries and Schumer expect us to believe otherwise.
www.stephensemler.com/p/democratic...
Jeffries and Schumer expect us to believe otherwise.
www.stephensemler.com/p/democratic...
February 9, 2026 at 7:18 PM
Money is policy: you can’t give ICE a budget larger than all but 15 militaries worldwide and expect the agency to demilitarize its behavior.
Jeffries and Schumer expect us to believe otherwise.
www.stephensemler.com/p/democratic...
Jeffries and Schumer expect us to believe otherwise.
www.stephensemler.com/p/democratic...
After a string of ICE murders, Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries proposed reforms — and $11 billion more for ICE.
Including reconciliation bill funding, the Schumer-Jeffries plan would give ICE a $30 billion budget, higher than all but 15 militaries worldwide:
www.stephensemler.com/p/democratic...
Including reconciliation bill funding, the Schumer-Jeffries plan would give ICE a $30 billion budget, higher than all but 15 militaries worldwide:
www.stephensemler.com/p/democratic...
February 9, 2026 at 6:27 PM
After a string of ICE murders, Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries proposed reforms — and $11 billion more for ICE.
Including reconciliation bill funding, the Schumer-Jeffries plan would give ICE a $30 billion budget, higher than all but 15 militaries worldwide:
www.stephensemler.com/p/democratic...
Including reconciliation bill funding, the Schumer-Jeffries plan would give ICE a $30 billion budget, higher than all but 15 militaries worldwide:
www.stephensemler.com/p/democratic...
Reposted by Stephen Semler
US arms sales to Israel aren’t really sales, at least not in the conventional sense.
More than 80% are funded by US taxpayers www.stephensemler.com/p/biden-sold...
More than 80% are funded by US taxpayers www.stephensemler.com/p/biden-sold...
February 6, 2026 at 3:55 PM
US arms sales to Israel aren’t really sales, at least not in the conventional sense.
More than 80% are funded by US taxpayers www.stephensemler.com/p/biden-sold...
More than 80% are funded by US taxpayers www.stephensemler.com/p/biden-sold...
Reposted by Stephen Semler
US arms sales to Israel aren’t really sales, at least not in the conventional sense.
More than 80% are funded by US taxpayers www.stephensemler.com/p/biden-sold...
More than 80% are funded by US taxpayers www.stephensemler.com/p/biden-sold...
February 6, 2026 at 3:55 PM
US arms sales to Israel aren’t really sales, at least not in the conventional sense.
More than 80% are funded by US taxpayers www.stephensemler.com/p/biden-sold...
More than 80% are funded by US taxpayers www.stephensemler.com/p/biden-sold...
Reposted by Stephen Semler
This is probably the most instructive moment in the evolution of the Democratic Party on Palestine so far— AIPAC is now running ads against one of its (now former) closest allies in Congress, Tom Malinowski, because Malinowski did not commit to *unconditional* support for Netanyahu specifically.
Pro-Israel Group Targets a Former Ally in an Early Congressional Race
www.nytimes.com
January 25, 2026 at 6:41 PM
This is probably the most instructive moment in the evolution of the Democratic Party on Palestine so far— AIPAC is now running ads against one of its (now former) closest allies in Congress, Tom Malinowski, because Malinowski did not commit to *unconditional* support for Netanyahu specifically.
Reposted by Stephen Semler
@wyden.senate.gov's record of warning that there is deep and constitutionally-serious dirt being done by the intelligence agencies in secret is unblemished. The vaguer he is, the filthier the dirt is. This is the vaguest I've ever seen him
Ron Wyden Only Talks Like This When The Spies Do Something *Real* Bad
No, I don't know what they did. But I have a lot of experience with the senator
www.forever-wars.com
February 5, 2026 at 5:10 PM
@wyden.senate.gov's record of warning that there is deep and constitutionally-serious dirt being done by the intelligence agencies in secret is unblemished. The vaguer he is, the filthier the dirt is. This is the vaguest I've ever seen him
Reposted by Stephen Semler
As promised, today @rooseveltinstitute.org releases a blog post previewing our topline findings from @jacklandry.bsky.social and my upcoming paper analyzing the impacts and costs of the SSI Restoration act of 2024!
rooseveltinstitute.org/blog/how-to-...
rooseveltinstitute.org/blog/how-to-...
How to Reduce Poverty Among SSI Recipients: Modeling the Impact of the SSI Restoration Act
Over the last year my colleague Jack Landry and I have been working to quantify the impacts and costs of a family of policy proposals meant to reform the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program, a ...
rooseveltinstitute.org
February 5, 2026 at 5:08 PM
As promised, today @rooseveltinstitute.org releases a blog post previewing our topline findings from @jacklandry.bsky.social and my upcoming paper analyzing the impacts and costs of the SSI Restoration act of 2024!
rooseveltinstitute.org/blog/how-to-...
rooseveltinstitute.org/blog/how-to-...