Jeff Blattner
@theblatt.bsky.social
Former Chief Counsel to Sen. Ted Kennedy, Dep. Asst US Atty General, Sup. Ct Law Clerk. Pittsburgh guy now in Colorado
https://jeffblattner.substack.com/
https://dornsife.usc.edu/center-for-political-future/fellows-program/former-fellows/jeff-blattner/
https://jeffblattner.substack.com/
https://dornsife.usc.edu/center-for-political-future/fellows-program/former-fellows/jeff-blattner/
Pinned
Jeff Blattner
@theblatt.bsky.social
· Jan 30
Dems, this isn't that hard. Trump is (1) incompetent and (2) only about enriching himself and his cronies. Anything coming out of his mouth is an attempt to distract from (1) and (2). Repeat as needed.
Sure didn't take long for Trump to create new distractions.
Two weeks is a lifetime on Capitol Hill. Trump will create new distractions. Public attention will shift elsewhere. Delay deprives Dems of leverage and favors the GOP.
January 30, 2026 at 6:37 PM
Sure didn't take long for Trump to create new distractions.
Reposted by Jeff Blattner
Do you know how bad the Minneapolis ICE situation is for Trump? The Administration is releasing more Epstein files to distract from it.
January 30, 2026 at 4:33 PM
Do you know how bad the Minneapolis ICE situation is for Trump? The Administration is releasing more Epstein files to distract from it.
Do you know how bad the Minneapolis ICE situation is for Trump? The Administration is releasing more Epstein files to distract from it.
January 30, 2026 at 4:33 PM
Do you know how bad the Minneapolis ICE situation is for Trump? The Administration is releasing more Epstein files to distract from it.
Anyone else having trouble reconciling Senate Democrats giving DHS and ICE two weeks of slack while they "negotiate" with Trump with DOJ's arrest today of Don Lemon? Not exactly evidence that Trump "got the message" of Minneapolis and will negotiate in good faith...
January 30, 2026 at 3:18 PM
Anyone else having trouble reconciling Senate Democrats giving DHS and ICE two weeks of slack while they "negotiate" with Trump with DOJ's arrest today of Don Lemon? Not exactly evidence that Trump "got the message" of Minneapolis and will negotiate in good faith...
FFS, the Constitution already bans the deportation of American citizens!
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) on Thursday said House Democrats will demand a ban on the deportation of American citizens as a condition of winning their support for legislation funding the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Jeffries demands ban on deportation of US citizens as part of DHS reforms
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) on Thursday said House Democrats will demand a ban on the deportation of American citizens as a condition of winning their support for legislation fun…
www.kget.com
January 30, 2026 at 2:29 AM
FFS, the Constitution already bans the deportation of American citizens!
Two weeks is a lifetime on Capitol Hill. Trump will create new distractions. Public attention will shift elsewhere. Delay deprives Dems of leverage and favors the GOP.
January 29, 2026 at 11:38 PM
Two weeks is a lifetime on Capitol Hill. Trump will create new distractions. Public attention will shift elsewhere. Delay deprives Dems of leverage and favors the GOP.
Bumping this up. Call your Senators and tell them to demand protections that make more Minnesotas impossible. Accept nothing less.
Demonstrations won't convince Trump to do the right thing, but they might convince Senate Democrats not to do the wrong thing, i.e., accepting inadequate protections against future abuses.
“An administration official gave away the game to Punchbowl News, admitting that these “de-escalatory measures” are about placating Senate Democrats so they don’t seize this moment to demand restrictions on ICE as part of any government funding package.”
newrepublic.com/article/2057...
newrepublic.com/article/2057...
January 29, 2026 at 11:10 PM
Bumping this up. Call your Senators and tell them to demand protections that make more Minnesotas impossible. Accept nothing less.
Reposted by Jeff Blattner
Trump is backing up faster than a rusted-out Corvair at a demolition derby. Now is not the time to surrender leverage.
We're about to witness huge test of Schumer's leadership. 3 things he can't do:
- Let squishy Senators cut own deal w/ Thune.
- Give up leverage of gov't shutdown.
- Make quick deal that doesn't (1) dismantle & replace ICE w/ professional enforcers & (2) require resignation of Noem, Bovino et al.
- Let squishy Senators cut own deal w/ Thune.
- Give up leverage of gov't shutdown.
- Make quick deal that doesn't (1) dismantle & replace ICE w/ professional enforcers & (2) require resignation of Noem, Bovino et al.
January 26, 2026 at 11:38 PM
Trump is backing up faster than a rusted-out Corvair at a demolition derby. Now is not the time to surrender leverage.
Reposted by Jeff Blattner
Demonstrations won't convince Trump to do the right thing, but they might convince Senate Democrats not to do the wrong thing, i.e., accepting inadequate protections against future abuses.
“An administration official gave away the game to Punchbowl News, admitting that these “de-escalatory measures” are about placating Senate Democrats so they don’t seize this moment to demand restrictions on ICE as part of any government funding package.”
newrepublic.com/article/2057...
newrepublic.com/article/2057...
Donald Trump Is Frightened
Trump wants to appear eager to minimize out-of-control clashes between government militias and protesters. But he doesn’t want to stop the things causing those clashes in the first place.
newrepublic.com
January 28, 2026 at 6:46 PM
Demonstrations won't convince Trump to do the right thing, but they might convince Senate Democrats not to do the wrong thing, i.e., accepting inadequate protections against future abuses.
Not a retreat, much less a surrender. A strategic withdrawal in the face of strength. Senate Democrats would be crazy not to press for real and lasting change.
Homan: "We are not surrendering our mission at all. We are just doing it smarter."
January 29, 2026 at 1:49 PM
Not a retreat, much less a surrender. A strategic withdrawal in the face of strength. Senate Democrats would be crazy not to press for real and lasting change.
Reposted by Jeff Blattner
Activists are calling for a “nationwide day of no school, no work and no shopping” across the U.S. on Friday, Jan. 30, to protest President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown following the fatal shootings of two people by federal agents in Minneapolis.
January 28, 2026 at 10:11 PM
Activists are calling for a “nationwide day of no school, no work and no shopping” across the U.S. on Friday, Jan. 30, to protest President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown following the fatal shootings of two people by federal agents in Minneapolis.
Demonstrations won't convince Trump to do the right thing, but they might convince Senate Democrats not to do the wrong thing, i.e., accepting inadequate protections against future abuses.
“An administration official gave away the game to Punchbowl News, admitting that these “de-escalatory measures” are about placating Senate Democrats so they don’t seize this moment to demand restrictions on ICE as part of any government funding package.”
newrepublic.com/article/2057...
newrepublic.com/article/2057...
Donald Trump Is Frightened
Trump wants to appear eager to minimize out-of-control clashes between government militias and protesters. But he doesn’t want to stop the things causing those clashes in the first place.
newrepublic.com
January 28, 2026 at 6:46 PM
Demonstrations won't convince Trump to do the right thing, but they might convince Senate Democrats not to do the wrong thing, i.e., accepting inadequate protections against future abuses.
Reposted by Jeff Blattner
“An administration official gave away the game to Punchbowl News, admitting that these “de-escalatory measures” are about placating Senate Democrats so they don’t seize this moment to demand restrictions on ICE as part of any government funding package.”
newrepublic.com/article/2057...
newrepublic.com/article/2057...
Donald Trump Is Frightened
Trump wants to appear eager to minimize out-of-control clashes between government militias and protesters. But he doesn’t want to stop the things causing those clashes in the first place.
newrepublic.com
January 28, 2026 at 2:03 PM
“An administration official gave away the game to Punchbowl News, admitting that these “de-escalatory measures” are about placating Senate Democrats so they don’t seize this moment to demand restrictions on ICE as part of any government funding package.”
newrepublic.com/article/2057...
newrepublic.com/article/2057...
Imagine taking the old crown jewel of TV news and turning into a pastiche of podcasters to please your billionaire patrons. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/27/b...
Bari Weiss Urges CBS News to Think Like a ‘Start-Up’
www.nytimes.com
January 27, 2026 at 10:57 PM
Imagine taking the old crown jewel of TV news and turning into a pastiche of podcasters to please your billionaire patrons. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/27/b...
Reposted by Jeff Blattner
WIthout nonpartisan professional leadership at DHS, ICE & CBP who can institute top-to-bottom reforms, weed out the thugs and hacks, and retrain everyone else to meet best-in-kind law enforcement practices, this will fall far short of what is required to prevent future Minneapolis-type incidents.
Dems coalescing around 5 restrictions on ICE, I'm told:
DHS required to cooperate with state probes (big)
CBP stays at border
warrants for arrests
IDs, bodycams
ICE out of churches, schools
"That package unites a lot of Dems," Sen Chris Murphy tells me on the pod:
newrepublic.com/article/2057...
DHS required to cooperate with state probes (big)
CBP stays at border
warrants for arrests
IDs, bodycams
ICE out of churches, schools
"That package unites a lot of Dems," Sen Chris Murphy tells me on the pod:
newrepublic.com/article/2057...
A Dem Senator’s Harsh Takedown of Trump Hits Home: “Breaking Point”
As Trump scrambles to contain the damage from the latest ICE horrors, Senator Chris Murphy offers a sharp indictment of Trump-ICE lawlessness—and explains how Dems can meet the urgency of the moment.
newrepublic.com
January 27, 2026 at 6:55 PM
WIthout nonpartisan professional leadership at DHS, ICE & CBP who can institute top-to-bottom reforms, weed out the thugs and hacks, and retrain everyone else to meet best-in-kind law enforcement practices, this will fall far short of what is required to prevent future Minneapolis-type incidents.
WIthout nonpartisan professional leadership at DHS, ICE & CBP who can institute top-to-bottom reforms, weed out the thugs and hacks, and retrain everyone else to meet best-in-kind law enforcement practices, this will fall far short of what is required to prevent future Minneapolis-type incidents.
Dems coalescing around 5 restrictions on ICE, I'm told:
DHS required to cooperate with state probes (big)
CBP stays at border
warrants for arrests
IDs, bodycams
ICE out of churches, schools
"That package unites a lot of Dems," Sen Chris Murphy tells me on the pod:
newrepublic.com/article/2057...
DHS required to cooperate with state probes (big)
CBP stays at border
warrants for arrests
IDs, bodycams
ICE out of churches, schools
"That package unites a lot of Dems," Sen Chris Murphy tells me on the pod:
newrepublic.com/article/2057...
A Dem Senator’s Harsh Takedown of Trump Hits Home: “Breaking Point”
As Trump scrambles to contain the damage from the latest ICE horrors, Senator Chris Murphy offers a sharp indictment of Trump-ICE lawlessness—and explains how Dems can meet the urgency of the moment.
newrepublic.com
January 27, 2026 at 6:55 PM
WIthout nonpartisan professional leadership at DHS, ICE & CBP who can institute top-to-bottom reforms, weed out the thugs and hacks, and retrain everyone else to meet best-in-kind law enforcement practices, this will fall far short of what is required to prevent future Minneapolis-type incidents.
Would love to see MacKenzie Scott offer to take the Washington Post off Bezos's hands (using a sliver of the proceeds from their divorce) and restore it to its full glory...
January 27, 2026 at 4:57 PM
Would love to see MacKenzie Scott offer to take the Washington Post off Bezos's hands (using a sliver of the proceeds from their divorce) and restore it to its full glory...
Reposted by Jeff Blattner
This is what this means: when we stand together, we win.
Let’s keep winning.
Let’s keep winning.
January 27, 2026 at 12:17 AM
This is what this means: when we stand together, we win.
Let’s keep winning.
Let’s keep winning.
Trump is backing up faster than a rusted-out Corvair at a demolition derby. Now is not the time to surrender leverage.
We're about to witness huge test of Schumer's leadership. 3 things he can't do:
- Let squishy Senators cut own deal w/ Thune.
- Give up leverage of gov't shutdown.
- Make quick deal that doesn't (1) dismantle & replace ICE w/ professional enforcers & (2) require resignation of Noem, Bovino et al.
- Let squishy Senators cut own deal w/ Thune.
- Give up leverage of gov't shutdown.
- Make quick deal that doesn't (1) dismantle & replace ICE w/ professional enforcers & (2) require resignation of Noem, Bovino et al.
January 26, 2026 at 11:38 PM
Trump is backing up faster than a rusted-out Corvair at a demolition derby. Now is not the time to surrender leverage.
We're about to witness huge test of Schumer's leadership. 3 things he can't do:
- Let squishy Senators cut own deal w/ Thune.
- Give up leverage of gov't shutdown.
- Make quick deal that doesn't (1) dismantle & replace ICE w/ professional enforcers & (2) require resignation of Noem, Bovino et al.
- Let squishy Senators cut own deal w/ Thune.
- Give up leverage of gov't shutdown.
- Make quick deal that doesn't (1) dismantle & replace ICE w/ professional enforcers & (2) require resignation of Noem, Bovino et al.
January 26, 2026 at 10:29 PM
We're about to witness huge test of Schumer's leadership. 3 things he can't do:
- Let squishy Senators cut own deal w/ Thune.
- Give up leverage of gov't shutdown.
- Make quick deal that doesn't (1) dismantle & replace ICE w/ professional enforcers & (2) require resignation of Noem, Bovino et al.
- Let squishy Senators cut own deal w/ Thune.
- Give up leverage of gov't shutdown.
- Make quick deal that doesn't (1) dismantle & replace ICE w/ professional enforcers & (2) require resignation of Noem, Bovino et al.
Should Minnesota subpoena Bovino and the other departing officials before they leave the state as material witnesses regarding the training and instructions to those committing two homicides?
Top Border Patrol official Gregory Bovino, a key player in Trump's immigration crackdown, is expected to leave Minneapolis tomorrow, sources tell CNN.
https://cnn.it/3LPyM04
https://cnn.it/3LPyM04
January 26, 2026 at 9:53 PM
Should Minnesota subpoena Bovino and the other departing officials before they leave the state as material witnesses regarding the training and instructions to those committing two homicides?
Reposted by Jeff Blattner
Don't wait for elected leaders to start a real protest movement. MLK didn't.
kinginstitute.stanford.edu/why-we-cant-...
kinginstitute.stanford.edu/why-we-cant-...
Why We Can't Wait
kinginstitute.stanford.edu
January 19, 2026 at 6:00 PM
Don't wait for elected leaders to start a real protest movement. MLK didn't.
kinginstitute.stanford.edu/why-we-cant-...
kinginstitute.stanford.edu/why-we-cant-...
Reposted by Jeff Blattner
Waging war on the American people is an impeachable offense.
January 25, 2026 at 1:35 AM
Waging war on the American people is an impeachable offense.
Sound familiar? Trump is channeling George III.
January 25, 2026 at 1:49 AM
Sound familiar? Trump is channeling George III.
Waging war on the American people is an impeachable offense.
January 25, 2026 at 1:35 AM
Waging war on the American people is an impeachable offense.