Erin
thevelvetsun.bsky.social
Erin
@thevelvetsun.bsky.social
Living in WA state with my dog. I enjoy reading, crafting, cooking, and hiking. Been voting blue since 2004.
Reposted by Erin
I mean, look, I'm not a reporter, so who am I to talk?

But on a day where the president both just called a woman reporter "Piggy" and is celebrating someone who had people bone saw apart one of my colleagues, I might just be a little ready to defend my colleagues and profession.

But that's just me
November 18, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Reposted by Erin
The fact that not a single member of the Senate Dem caucus has called for Schumer to be replaced shows you how deep the rot is. This includes Sanders and Warren.
November 11, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Reposted by Erin
scenes from a victory lap

zeteo.com/p/senate-dem...
November 11, 2025 at 3:14 AM
Reposted by Erin
Democrats were overwhelmingly united on their shutdown demands.

Americans understood that Trump and Republicans were to blame.

Voters made it known last Tuesday that they'll elect leaders who stand up to Trump.

Democrats held the cards — and folded for no reason.
November 10, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Reposted by Erin
One of two things is true:

1. Chuck Schumer genuinely felt this is a bad deal, so he voted against it, but he couldn't keep Senate Dems in line because he's a lackluster leader.

OR

2. Chuck Schumer orchestrated the shutdown deal w/ retiring Dems because he's a bad strategist and got rattled.
November 10, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Reposted by Erin
Arranged it. "Okay, you 8 are safe or retiring; you vote yes, and the rest of us will be outraged and vote no."
They must really think we're idiots. Maybe we're right, because we'll re-elect most of them. UNLESS THEY GET PRIMARIED.
November 10, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Reposted by Erin
If they aren't calling for Schumer and Durbin to step down, they are going along with it
November 10, 2025 at 3:06 AM
Reposted by Erin
If Durbin and Schumer aren’t out of leadership by Friday, every single Senate Democrat should be primaried. Every single one. This betrayal is unforgivable.
November 10, 2025 at 2:51 AM
Reposted by Erin
The coordinated nature of this—none are facing voters in 2026—means that either Schumer approved it or failed in his job as Senate Majority Leader to stop it.

Dems voting "no" get zero credit until they demand a change in leadership. Schumer out as Leader, Durbin out as Whip.
so currently defectors are:

Kaine (2030)
Shaheen (Retiring)
Hasan (2028)
Fetterman (2028)
Durbin (Retiring)
CCM (2028)
Rosen (2030)
King (2030)
November 10, 2025 at 2:43 AM
Reposted by Erin
Millions of Democratic voters on Tuesday: Fight these guys. Fight them.

Senate Democrats: We heard you loud and clear and we will give in
November 9, 2025 at 11:08 PM
Reposted by Erin
MAGA's Chuck Schumer and his criminal senate crooks gleefully reversed all the electoral victories Democrats had last week and that's exactly what Trump wanted them to do.
#MissionAccomplished
November 10, 2025 at 3:03 AM
Reposted by Erin
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
Reposted by Erin
So Democrats get:

1. A CR that will prevent the GOP from facing the wrath of Americans for a shutdown over the holidays

2. A coupon for one (1) meaningless ACA vote that will fail

3. An end to the illegal RIF/SNAP moves that are already before the courts

Those all seem like wins for the GOP.
November 10, 2025 at 12:08 AM
Reposted by Erin
I think Senate folders are significantly underestimating how fucking angry Democratic voters are at them
November 10, 2025 at 12:40 AM
Reposted by Erin
"I hold the winning hand. I fold."
November 9, 2025 at 8:12 PM
Reposted by Erin
Dems backed Trump into a corner where he’s advocating for starving Americans and hemorrhaging support. If they vote to let him off the hook in exchange for nothing it’s a cataclysmic failure. I know people are in pain but insulating Republicans from political consequences is not the answer.
November 9, 2025 at 10:58 PM
Reposted by Erin
NEW: The Trump admin told states it must immediately "undo" the work to provide full food stamp benefits, or face penalties. The feds sent this in a late-night memo, only adding to the chaos and confusion around SNAP. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/09/b...
Trump Administration Demands States ‘Undo’ Work to Send Full Food Stamps
www.nytimes.com
November 9, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Reposted by Erin
Nothing says "I love Americans" more than fighting a rule to pay full SNAP benefits 3 weeks before Thanksgiving.
November 7, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Reposted by Erin
🚨 CNBC: "Announced corporate job cuts surging past 1 million so far this year, with 153,000 new layoffs just in October according to Challenger. That is the worst October since 2003."
November 6, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Reposted by Erin
CNN: "A brand new report is out showing layoff announcements hit their highest level for October in over 20 years. It's painting a picture of a job market that is really hurting. US-based employers announced 150,074 job cuts in October, more than any October since 2003."
November 6, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Reposted by Erin
Merkley: "What we've seen is that democracies no longer die bc men w/guns go in and take it over. Instead, it's electeds who erode the separation of power. If you have a rubber-stamp Congress & courts that deliver more power to the executive, suddenly you have an authoritarian state. It's here now."
October 23, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Reposted by Erin
Here's a gift link to the New York Times' coverage of the initial Tea Party rallies in April 2009 which inspired the media to treat it like a massive movement.

Check out how tiny the crowds were:

Philly: 200
DC: "several hundred"
Boston: 500
Austin: 1,000
Houston: 2,000
Tax Day Is Met With Tea Parties (Published 2009)
www.nytimes.com
October 20, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Go Mariners! Make us proud!!!!!
October 20, 2025 at 12:19 AM
Reposted by Erin
A WILD ONE: A man broke his leg during an arrest by ICE at a car wash south of L.A.

ICE has held him under 24/7 guard at a hospital, registering him under a pseudonym, for *37 days* without telling him why.

A judge has ordered his immediate release.

storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
October 5, 2025 at 1:35 AM
Women have leveled up, now men need to
October 3, 2025 at 6:46 PM