Walter IV
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walteriv.bsky.social
Walter IV
@walteriv.bsky.social
Living just enough for the city. Living just enough 🎵

Blocked by Geoff Garin
Pinned
Keep ya head up, Lil Man.
Reposted by Walter IV
It is incredible — the blind spots you develop when you’ve never, ever been poor.
Trump claims that food stamps "puts the country in jeopardy. People that are able-bodied can do a job, they leave their job because they figure they can pick this up, it's easier."
November 11, 2025 at 12:34 AM
Reposted by Walter IV
I've said it before, and I will say it again.

We need courageous leaders that put working families at the center of all they do.

8 democrats caving to empty promises is an indefensible leadership failure

For the sake of our country, Schumer needs to resign.
November 10, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Reposted by Walter IV
“We’ll see.”

We’re supposed to accept that Democratic leadership allowed this caliber of strategist to negotiate a deal with the most diabolical, mendacious group of politicians in American government.
Shaheen: "We've heard from a number of our colleagues on the other side of the aisle that they're willing to come to the table, they're willing to work with us once the govt is open to get this done. We've heard the same thing from the White House. So now we'll see if they're really gonna work w/us"
November 10, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Reposted by Walter IV
Good morning to everyone but especially to Lady Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss, whose judgement against Rudy Giuliani for defaming them and turning their lives upside down cannot be pardoned away by the president
November 10, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Reposted by Walter IV
The surrender caucus secured yes votes from Democrats who aren't facing re-election this cycle, but four of them have Democratic governors who can pick their replacement.

If you live in Illinois, Pennsylvania, Maine or Virginia this is an easy and effective way to make your anger clear.
Yup, and the damage isn’t so much in the story as in the proof of weakness. Trump now knows he has new torture tools to make Dems do what he wants. It’s why at least one of the 7 capitulators oughta be run out of office now, mid session. Get that number down to 6. www.offmessage.net/p/16-thought...
November 10, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Reposted by Walter IV
Yup, and the damage isn’t so much in the story as in the proof of weakness. Trump now knows he has new torture tools to make Dems do what he wants. It’s why at least one of the 7 capitulators oughta be run out of office now, mid session. Get that number down to 6. www.offmessage.net/p/16-thought...
November 10, 2025 at 12:31 PM
Reposted by Walter IV
Also: This is the town where MTG grew up. She would’ve have been a kid then. Watch this special and you’ll know why I don’t buy her current shtick for a second.
This 1987 CNN special about some horribly racist citizens of Forsyth, GA is very tough to watch, but also very timely because a lot of what these Klan members were arguing then is now, well…you know. (Content Warning: Repeated use of the N-word.) youtu.be/ZkLxEl2G6hE?...
19870124 CNN The Big Story
YouTube video by Steve Connors
youtu.be
November 10, 2025 at 5:42 AM
Reposted by Walter IV
Doesn’t matter that Schumer voted “no”. He got the Dem caucus on board with caving. THEN the caucus figured out who should vote yes to provide cover for D Sens up for reelection in 2026, who might have been in serious danger of being primaried. 2/
November 10, 2025 at 2:54 AM
Reposted by Walter IV
Van Hollen Senate Minority Leader vote when
November 10, 2025 at 3:37 AM
Reposted by Walter IV
80% of Democratic voters want a new leader in the Senate.

Does that matter at all to Democratic senators?
November 10, 2025 at 3:25 AM
Reposted by Walter IV
The model of holding individual senators responsible is broken here. The retirees clearly agreed to take the fall. Which is why the nos should get no credit for voting no unless they move to oust Schumer
November 10, 2025 at 3:20 AM
Reposted by Walter IV
The caucus meeting was just to orchestrate who would fall on the sword but not be up for a vote in 2026.
so currently defectors are:

Kaine (2030)
Shaheen (Retiring)
Hasan (2028)
Fetterman (2028)
Durbin (Retiring)
CCM (2028)
Rosen (2030)
King (2030)
November 10, 2025 at 2:05 AM
Reposted by Walter IV
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 Walter IV
Since the Democrats worked extra hard to hide who actually supported this, I think the No Kings/Resistance position should be to primary every Democrat unless they publicly call for Schumer's ouster this week

Either they go into total rebellion mode, which they won't, or the people will
November 10, 2025 at 2:34 AM
Reposted by Walter IV
Assume all the yes and no votes from Dem senators are strategic and not sincere votes. The party caucus made a decision. No way to know how many were in favor. Then the caucus decided who would vote yes and no based on what would protect each of them politically the most. That’s how this works.
November 10, 2025 at 2:12 AM
Reposted by Walter IV
Senator Schumer is no longer effective and should be replaced. If you can’t lead the fight to stop healthcare premiums from skyrocketing for Americans, what will you fight for?
November 10, 2025 at 2:25 AM
Reposted by Walter IV
Schumer can be removed from his Dem leadership role this week - 23 Dems (and/or independents) just have to vote to depose him

And they should, given this is his fault.
This is a lovely sentiment but Schumer isn't up for re-election until 2028 and he knows this. At which point he will be 77/78. There's no mechanism to recall a sitting senator AFAIK.
Let’s be clear: Chuck Schumer is the one ending this shutdown, no matter how the votes read.

Chuck Schumer is claiming that he’s voting no, while letting other Senators (Fetterman, Kaine, King, etc) do HIS dirty work.

He must be removed from his leadership & primaried for the sake of this country
November 10, 2025 at 2:07 AM
Reposted by Walter IV
So it wasn’t a dream! Whoa
GRAMMY-NOMINATED. WOW.
November 10, 2025 at 1:42 AM
Reposted by Walter IV
"In fact, they were acting with the express approval of Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and were reporting to him daily."
November 10, 2025 at 1:13 AM
Reposted by Walter IV
Gary Peters is one of them, if you're in Michigan, call his office: (202) 224-6221
Sounds like the squishes in the senate caucus are ready to pull the plug with no ACA changes. This is real. If you want to register your opinion you shld call yr senator in the next hour. They not only want to reopen w/nothing. They want cover from their colleagues who still want to hold out.
November 9, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Reposted by Walter IV
Call the United States Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and they will connect you with your senator's office.

If you're represented by one of the squishier centrists, be sure to make a call. Now.
Sounds like the squishes in the senate caucus are ready to pull the plug with no ACA changes. This is real. If you want to register your opinion you shld call yr senator in the next hour. They not only want to reopen w/nothing. They want cover from their colleagues who still want to hold out.
November 9, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Reposted by Walter IV
“A promise of a vote on healthcare” is nothing
November 9, 2025 at 8:10 PM
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This piece is as good as people say it is. Read it to appreciate that writing isn't just about content, but style. AI can't do this.
Maybe Don’t Talk to the New York Times About Zohran Mamdani
It’s remarkable, the people you’ll hear from. Teach for even a little while at an expensive institution—the term they tend to prefer is “elite”—and odds are that eventually someone who was a studen…
lithub.com
November 9, 2025 at 11:10 AM
Reposted by Walter IV
Two panels commemorating the contribution of Black American soldiers towards the liberation of the Netherlands in World War Two have been quietly removed from a cemetery in Limburg. It follows a complaint by right-wing think tank The Heritage Foundation to the American Battle Monuments Commission.
November 8, 2025 at 8:55 PM