Jeff Alworth
@alworth.bsky.social
Politics/news account. Like all people, I have a life beyond my career. Part of it involves civic engagement. For beer check out beervana.bsky.social.
Longer essays: https://substack.com/@jeffalworth/
Longer essays: https://substack.com/@jeffalworth/
Reposted by Jeff Alworth
The news last night that a faction of Democrats in the Senate had agreed to end the shutdown was a gut punch, but it underscores a point I’ve been considering for the past few weeks: for totally different reasons, I don’t think either party is going to survive the second Trump administration intact.
The Parties’ Terminal Fissures
The Trump administration poses an existential challenge for both parties, but for very different reasons. And neither one is likely to survive it.
jeffalworth.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 4:40 PM
The news last night that a faction of Democrats in the Senate had agreed to end the shutdown was a gut punch, but it underscores a point I’ve been considering for the past few weeks: for totally different reasons, I don’t think either party is going to survive the second Trump administration intact.
Reposted by Jeff Alworth
Shaheen is retiring; Virginia is solid enough Blue territory that Kaine shld be replaced by a Democrat who is serious about preserving American democracy.
Senate reaches deal to reopen government after moderate Democrats cave
Senate Reaches Deal To Reopen Government After Moderate Democrats Cave
Republicans found enough Democrats willing to drop their party's demand to extend soon-to-expire health care subsidies for millions of people.
www.huffpost.com
November 10, 2025 at 1:48 AM
Shaheen is retiring; Virginia is solid enough Blue territory that Kaine shld be replaced by a Democrat who is serious about preserving American democracy.
Politics is the acquisition and exercise of power. A lot of elite Dems somehow do not get this.
Standing up to a tyrant - who is willing to impose pain as leverage to compel loyalty or acquiescence - is hard. You can convince yourself that yielding stops the pain and brings you back to "normal".
But there is no "normal". Submission emboldens the tyrant. The threat grows.
But there is no "normal". Submission emboldens the tyrant. The threat grows.
November 10, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Politics is the acquisition and exercise of power. A lot of elite Dems somehow do not get this.
The news last night that a faction of Democrats in the Senate had agreed to end the shutdown was a gut punch, but it underscores a point I’ve been considering for the past few weeks: for totally different reasons, I don’t think either party is going to survive the second Trump administration intact.
The Parties’ Terminal Fissures
The Trump administration poses an existential challenge for both parties, but for very different reasons. And neither one is likely to survive it.
jeffalworth.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 4:40 PM
The news last night that a faction of Democrats in the Senate had agreed to end the shutdown was a gut punch, but it underscores a point I’ve been considering for the past few weeks: for totally different reasons, I don’t think either party is going to survive the second Trump administration intact.
The Dems absolutely do neg get how to use power or why the voters hate them. Talk about a giant sucking sound.
We had a good run.
We had a good run.
I'm hearing the same thing. Dems are nearing a surrender. I'm shocked. Largest protest in history + best election night in years + polling showing we're kicking their ass in public opinion. And now Dems may cave.
It ain't over til it's over, so please do call if you've got a Dem senator.
It ain't over til it's over, so please do call if you've got a Dem senator.
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 9:29 PM
The Dems absolutely do neg get how to use power or why the voters hate them. Talk about a giant sucking sound.
We had a good run.
We had a good run.
Reposted by Jeff Alworth
BREAKING: Judge Immergut issues a permanent injunction against Pete Hegseth and the deployment of the National Guard to Portland.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
November 8, 2025 at 1:01 AM
BREAKING: Judge Immergut issues a permanent injunction against Pete Hegseth and the deployment of the National Guard to Portland.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Politico: “New York is quietly preparing for a Donald Trump takeover of the country’s largest city… Gov. Kathy Hochul has devised a virtual war room & convened a series of conversations with law enforcement, business officials and activist groups to stop or at least mitigate any federal incursion.”
November 7, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Politico: “New York is quietly preparing for a Donald Trump takeover of the country’s largest city… Gov. Kathy Hochul has devised a virtual war room & convened a series of conversations with law enforcement, business officials and activist groups to stop or at least mitigate any federal incursion.”
Absolutely amazing (in a good way).
This case was brought by the Chicago Headline Club, Chicago Newspaper Guild Local 34071, Block Club Chicago and other organizations.
WTTW News is not a plaintiff.
I have belonged to the Headline Club in the past, but I am not currently a dues-paying member.
I am not a member of the News Guild.
WTTW News is not a plaintiff.
I have belonged to the Headline Club in the past, but I am not currently a dues-paying member.
I am not a member of the News Guild.
November 7, 2025 at 5:51 AM
Absolutely amazing (in a good way).
Reposted by Jeff Alworth
If the sandwich don’t split, you must acquit
Defense says that the officer's testimony was "very questionable" because he said the sandwich both exploded in spray of mustard and onions and also landed in its wrapper on the ground.
November 5, 2025 at 8:29 PM
If the sandwich don’t split, you must acquit
Two days after the election, we seem to have settled into the confirmation-bias phase of analysis. Whatever your priors going in, you will, with 48 hours’ reflection, come to see that the results prove your vision of politics.
November 6, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Two days after the election, we seem to have settled into the confirmation-bias phase of analysis. Whatever your priors going in, you will, with 48 hours’ reflection, come to see that the results prove your vision of politics.
Reposted by Jeff Alworth
Last night, Democrats crushed the GOP in a way that can only be seen as a rebuke of Trump’s lawless overreach. Excellent news! But it also makes the next year even more dangerous for democracy.
That Was Fun, But…
Last night, Democrats crushed the GOP in a way that can only be seen as a rebuke of Trump’s lawless overreach. Excellent news! But it also makes the next year even more dangerous for democracy.
jeffalworth.substack.com
November 5, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Last night, Democrats crushed the GOP in a way that can only be seen as a rebuke of Trump’s lawless overreach. Excellent news! But it also makes the next year even more dangerous for democracy.
Reposted by Jeff Alworth
Imagine how much better Democrats would have done last night if they'd folded on the shutdown.
November 5, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Imagine how much better Democrats would have done last night if they'd folded on the shutdown.
Last night, Democrats crushed the GOP in a way that can only be seen as a rebuke of Trump’s lawless overreach. Excellent news! But it also makes the next year even more dangerous for democracy.
That Was Fun, But…
Last night, Democrats crushed the GOP in a way that can only be seen as a rebuke of Trump’s lawless overreach. Excellent news! But it also makes the next year even more dangerous for democracy.
jeffalworth.substack.com
November 5, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Last night, Democrats crushed the GOP in a way that can only be seen as a rebuke of Trump’s lawless overreach. Excellent news! But it also makes the next year even more dangerous for democracy.
Reposted by Jeff Alworth
Democrats have flipped 2 seats in the Mississippi senate, and in so doing they've broken the GOP's supermajority in the chamber.
November 5, 2025 at 5:42 AM
Democrats have flipped 2 seats in the Mississippi senate, and in so doing they've broken the GOP's supermajority in the chamber.
Reposted by Jeff Alworth
Maybe dumping poop on voters from an airplane is not a surefire electoral strategy
November 5, 2025 at 3:04 AM
Maybe dumping poop on voters from an airplane is not a surefire electoral strategy
Reposted by Jeff Alworth
Andrew Cuomo to join Harvard’s Institute of Politics
November 5, 2025 at 2:37 AM
Andrew Cuomo to join Harvard’s Institute of Politics
Dems are very excited today because they are likely to win some high-profile victories NYC, NJ, and VA. I think things may be dicier than they imagine (especially in the NJ gov's race), but we'll see. But if they are successful, it will not be the awesome victory they expect. 1/2
November 4, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Dems are very excited today because they are likely to win some high-profile victories NYC, NJ, and VA. I think things may be dicier than they imagine (especially in the NJ gov's race), but we'll see. But if they are successful, it will not be the awesome victory they expect. 1/2
Reposted by Jeff Alworth
Obama: “as for the president, he’s been focused on critical issues like paving over the rose garden so folks don't get mud on their shoes, & gold plating the Oval Office & building a $300M ballroom
So Virginia, here's the good news. If you can't visit a doctor, don't worry, he will save you a dance”
So Virginia, here's the good news. If you can't visit a doctor, don't worry, he will save you a dance”
November 2, 2025 at 12:47 AM
Obama: “as for the president, he’s been focused on critical issues like paving over the rose garden so folks don't get mud on their shoes, & gold plating the Oval Office & building a $300M ballroom
So Virginia, here's the good news. If you can't visit a doctor, don't worry, he will save you a dance”
So Virginia, here's the good news. If you can't visit a doctor, don't worry, he will save you a dance”
When the leadoff man got on, they needed to bench Ohtani. Paid the price there.
November 2, 2025 at 1:03 AM
When the leadoff man got on, they needed to bench Ohtani. Paid the price there.
Thanks to the federal government shutdown, 42 million hungry Americans will receive no or reduced SNAP benefits. This is not a funding crisis, though—it’s a political crisis.
The Politics of Hunger
Thanks to the federal government shutdown, 42 million hungry Americans will receive no or reduced SNAP benefits. This is not a funding crisis, though—it’s a political crisis.
jeffalworth.substack.com
November 1, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Thanks to the federal government shutdown, 42 million hungry Americans will receive no or reduced SNAP benefits. This is not a funding crisis, though—it’s a political crisis.
Reposted by Jeff Alworth
The vast majority of Americans think of politics as an activity that happens over there. It’s as if it’s a sordid arena sport conducted by trashy people. Donald Trump, in spandex with a floppy red tie battling scrawny democrats who have to keep pushing their horn-rim glasses back up their noses.
Cartoon Villains and the Arena Effect
Thinking of politics as something that is contained, like a pro wrestling match, and happens over there, not here, has brought us to a place where 42 million people are about to go hungry.
jeffalworth.substack.com
October 31, 2025 at 4:54 PM
The vast majority of Americans think of politics as an activity that happens over there. It’s as if it’s a sordid arena sport conducted by trashy people. Donald Trump, in spandex with a floppy red tie battling scrawny democrats who have to keep pushing their horn-rim glasses back up their noses.
The vast majority of Americans think of politics as an activity that happens over there. It’s as if it’s a sordid arena sport conducted by trashy people. Donald Trump, in spandex with a floppy red tie battling scrawny democrats who have to keep pushing their horn-rim glasses back up their noses.
Cartoon Villains and the Arena Effect
Thinking of politics as something that is contained, like a pro wrestling match, and happens over there, not here, has brought us to a place where 42 million people are about to go hungry.
jeffalworth.substack.com
October 31, 2025 at 4:54 PM
The vast majority of Americans think of politics as an activity that happens over there. It’s as if it’s a sordid arena sport conducted by trashy people. Donald Trump, in spandex with a floppy red tie battling scrawny democrats who have to keep pushing their horn-rim glasses back up their noses.
Reposted by Jeff Alworth
More big news: the Senate just passed my bipartisan resolution to end Trump's global tariffs. This is a huge win and shows how unpopular Trump's tariffs really are. Now it's time for Mike Johnson to abandon his 6 week vacation and get this passed in the House.
October 30, 2025 at 5:39 PM
More big news: the Senate just passed my bipartisan resolution to end Trump's global tariffs. This is a huge win and shows how unpopular Trump's tariffs really are. Now it's time for Mike Johnson to abandon his 6 week vacation and get this passed in the House.
Reposted by Jeff Alworth
Chinook salmon have returned to the Klamath River in Oregon after being absent for more than a century. The announcement came roughly a year after the last of four major hydroelectric dams on the river was demolished.
A River Restoration in Oregon Gets Fast Results: The Salmon Swam Right Back
The fish had been missing from the headwaters of the Klamath River for more than a century. Just a year after the removal of a final dam, they’ve returned.
nyti.ms
October 29, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Chinook salmon have returned to the Klamath River in Oregon after being absent for more than a century. The announcement came roughly a year after the last of four major hydroelectric dams on the river was demolished.