Michael Bender
@bendersae.bsky.social
Just a Dad who believes that everyone has a right to live their life the way they want. I advocate for more biking, walking, housing access, education, clean air and water, and social justice.
Frustrated with the gridlock and dysfunction at the national level? Feeling like your voice doesn’t matter in the big political fights? Here’s where you can make a real difference: right in your own backyard.
September 19, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Frustrated with the gridlock and dysfunction at the national level? Feeling like your voice doesn’t matter in the big political fights? Here’s where you can make a real difference: right in your own backyard.
Reposted by Michael Bender
Reposted by Michael Bender
Reposted by Michael Bender
But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.
Just from a simple list of events in the last seven months, it becomes clear that democracy and the rule of law have been extinguished, we have crossed every red line and tripwire for autocracy.
August 28, 2025 at 2:40 PM
But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.
Reposted by Michael Bender
The Trump admin wrongly sent Kilmar Abrego Garcia to a horrific El Salvadoran prison.
Now, just days after he was reunited with his family, they’re trying to deny him his rights and deport him to Uganda.
Kilmar—like everyone—deserves a fair hearing to defend himself.
Now, just days after he was reunited with his family, they’re trying to deny him his rights and deport him to Uganda.
Kilmar—like everyone—deserves a fair hearing to defend himself.
August 25, 2025 at 1:52 PM
The Trump admin wrongly sent Kilmar Abrego Garcia to a horrific El Salvadoran prison.
Now, just days after he was reunited with his family, they’re trying to deny him his rights and deport him to Uganda.
Kilmar—like everyone—deserves a fair hearing to defend himself.
Now, just days after he was reunited with his family, they’re trying to deny him his rights and deport him to Uganda.
Kilmar—like everyone—deserves a fair hearing to defend himself.
Reposted by Michael Bender
MAGA - where ignorance is bliss and spreading lies is doctrine.
August 22, 2025 at 10:31 AM
MAGA - where ignorance is bliss and spreading lies is doctrine.
Reposted by Michael Bender
Good thing Desantis doesn’t allow “politics” when it comes to roads.
August 22, 2025 at 10:57 AM
Good thing Desantis doesn’t allow “politics” when it comes to roads.
The scope and scale of the housing crisis is such that leaving it up to towns or even regions will not result in a meaningful solution. 5002 wasnt perfect, but it was a step forward. ctmirror.org/2025/08/22/c...
To replace HB 5002, CT towns pitch regional approach to housing
A proposal from organizations that represent CT’s 169 towns eliminates measures related to zoning and focuses instead on regional planning.
ctmirror.org
August 22, 2025 at 11:26 AM
The scope and scale of the housing crisis is such that leaving it up to towns or even regions will not result in a meaningful solution. 5002 wasnt perfect, but it was a step forward. ctmirror.org/2025/08/22/c...
Reposted by Michael Bender
“these right wing governors are sending their constituents away from their homes, families, and often their jobs, [and] they’re sending their Guard away to a safer place than their own state, all to avenge a privileged kid with criminal hacker ties whom DC cops helped as the crime was happening.”
When Right Wing Governors Put the Safety of "Big Balls" Over Their Own Constituents
www.emptywheel.net/2025/08/19/w...
www.emptywheel.net/2025/08/19/w...
August 19, 2025 at 6:41 PM
“these right wing governors are sending their constituents away from their homes, families, and often their jobs, [and] they’re sending their Guard away to a safer place than their own state, all to avenge a privileged kid with criminal hacker ties whom DC cops helped as the crime was happening.”
Reposted by Michael Bender
Reposted by Michael Bender
This.
These displays are necessary because they’re actually weak.
These displays are necessary because they’re actually weak.
Occurs to me that Trump's entire regime consolidation strategy is to persuade everyone through displays of force that the regime is already consolidated and there's no point in resisting. Which I don't think will work, but also shows how important public acts of noncompliance are.
August 15, 2025 at 12:39 AM
This.
These displays are necessary because they’re actually weak.
These displays are necessary because they’re actually weak.
Reposted by Michael Bender
RFK IS IN THE EPSTEIN FILES. Plot twist: it's not a brain worm, it's neurosyphilis. And I bet he got it from Donnie's sloppy seconds.
August 13, 2025 at 12:44 AM
RFK IS IN THE EPSTEIN FILES. Plot twist: it's not a brain worm, it's neurosyphilis. And I bet he got it from Donnie's sloppy seconds.
Reposted by Michael Bender
We can crack the pillars that prop up Trump’s authoritarian regime by refusing to cooperate or comply with requests, demands, or orders.
Watch the training: youtube.com/live/yqhFZjH...
Join the campaign to teach peaceful disruption tactics to one million Americans: www.mobilize.us/nokings/even...
Watch the training: youtube.com/live/yqhFZjH...
Join the campaign to teach peaceful disruption tactics to one million Americans: www.mobilize.us/nokings/even...
August 2, 2025 at 1:01 PM
We can crack the pillars that prop up Trump’s authoritarian regime by refusing to cooperate or comply with requests, demands, or orders.
Watch the training: youtube.com/live/yqhFZjH...
Join the campaign to teach peaceful disruption tactics to one million Americans: www.mobilize.us/nokings/even...
Watch the training: youtube.com/live/yqhFZjH...
Join the campaign to teach peaceful disruption tactics to one million Americans: www.mobilize.us/nokings/even...
Reposted by Michael Bender
Judge Boasberg is the rare public official who is acting like the executive branch's respect for the rule of law is critical to the success of the American project and a prosperous global economy. More judges and politicians should take cues from him.
Just reading transcript of 7/24 hearing before Judge Boasberg in JGG—AEA case where govt sent Venezuelans to CECOT despite his orders. Even if DC Cir blocks criminal contempt proceedings, Boasberg says he’ll refer DOJ attys to bar authorities & court’s own disciplinary committee ...
1/2
1/2
August 2, 2025 at 1:33 PM
Judge Boasberg is the rare public official who is acting like the executive branch's respect for the rule of law is critical to the success of the American project and a prosperous global economy. More judges and politicians should take cues from him.
Honestly, what the hell kind of spa employs teenage girls? Is Mar-a-lago also a pedophile den?
The siblings of one of Jeffrey Epstein's most prominent accusers said they were shocked when Donald Trump said Epstein “stole her” from Mar-a-Lago—and asked that Trump share whatever else he knows, Sarah Fitzpatrick reports.
Virginia Giuffre’s Family Wants to Know What Trump Knows
The siblings of one of Jeffrey Epstein’s most prominent accusers were shocked that the president referred to her as “stolen.”
bit.ly
July 31, 2025 at 4:08 AM
Honestly, what the hell kind of spa employs teenage girls? Is Mar-a-lago also a pedophile den?
Reposted by Michael Bender
What do Rosie O’Donnell, Lula, John Brennan, and James Comey have in common? https://robertreich.substack.com/p/what-do-rosie-odonnell-lula-john
What do Rosie O’Donnell, Lula, John Brennan, and James Comey have in common?
The Poisoning of Presidential Power
robertreich.substack.com
July 15, 2025 at 4:04 PM
What do Rosie O’Donnell, Lula, John Brennan, and James Comey have in common? https://robertreich.substack.com/p/what-do-rosie-odonnell-lula-john
They also want to be able to blame the democrats who win in 2026 for all the cuts so they can get the seats back in 2028. If we get a blue wave in 2026, they need to be ready for scorched earth battles for power with the executive and judicial branches.
This is another reason why mid-term elections are very important. Trump and his minions don’t want electors to feel the effects of his bills before the 2026 midterms. Please share so that everyone knows.
#midterms
#elections
#strongertogether
#bluecrew
#midterms
#elections
#strongertogether
#bluecrew
July 12, 2025 at 6:46 PM
They also want to be able to blame the democrats who win in 2026 for all the cuts so they can get the seats back in 2028. If we get a blue wave in 2026, they need to be ready for scorched earth battles for power with the executive and judicial branches.
Reposted by Michael Bender
fortunately I know there is nothing more important to Republicans than preventing women from being harassed and menaced by men coming into a women’s restroom, so I’m sure that -
*taps earpiece* what’s that now
*taps earpiece* what’s that now
Isaiah Hodgson, who arrested 2 U.S. citizens, including 20-year-old Adrian Martinez at Walmart and Job Garcia at Home Depot, is accused of entering the women’s restroom and approaching a female while intoxicated and armed with a handgun. lataco.com/border-patro...
by @shoton35mm.bsky.social
by @shoton35mm.bsky.social
July 12, 2025 at 1:05 AM
fortunately I know there is nothing more important to Republicans than preventing women from being harassed and menaced by men coming into a women’s restroom, so I’m sure that -
*taps earpiece* what’s that now
*taps earpiece* what’s that now
Reposted by Michael Bender
the times is reporting that fema let call center operator contracts expire on july 5, the day after the texas flood, and calls answered went from 99.7% that day to 36% the next to 16% the next www.nytimes.com/2025/07/11/c...
FEMA Didn’t Answer Thousands of Calls From Flood Survivors, Documents Show
www.nytimes.com
July 11, 2025 at 11:58 PM
the times is reporting that fema let call center operator contracts expire on july 5, the day after the texas flood, and calls answered went from 99.7% that day to 36% the next to 16% the next www.nytimes.com/2025/07/11/c...
Reposted by Michael Bender
BREAKING: Judge rules that during its large-scale enforcement operation in LA, DHS/ICE has been arresting people without probable cause -- based on factors like accent and line of work.
She orders the agencies to stop.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
She orders the agencies to stop.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
July 12, 2025 at 1:36 AM
BREAKING: Judge rules that during its large-scale enforcement operation in LA, DHS/ICE has been arresting people without probable cause -- based on factors like accent and line of work.
She orders the agencies to stop.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
She orders the agencies to stop.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
They are treating it like there’s a hostile occupying force operating in their territory.
🚨BREAKING: Cal State LA just moved classes online and let faculty work remotely, not for a storm, not for COVID, but because ICE is in the area.
Let that sink in, an entire university is treating immigration enforcement like a public health crisis.
Let that sink in, an entire university is treating immigration enforcement like a public health crisis.
July 12, 2025 at 2:22 AM
They are treating it like there’s a hostile occupying force operating in their territory.
Reposted by Michael Bender
www.newsweek.com/ice-employee...
Government attorney resigned over what he called a shift in Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) mission from safeguarding the nation to chasing deportation numbers.
Government attorney resigned over what he called a shift in Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) mission from safeguarding the nation to chasing deportation numbers.
ICE employee quits: "Had to make a moral decision"
Adam Boyd, a 33-year-old attorney, quit the legal department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement last month, The Atlantic reported.
www.newsweek.com
July 10, 2025 at 11:01 PM
www.newsweek.com/ice-employee...
Government attorney resigned over what he called a shift in Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) mission from safeguarding the nation to chasing deportation numbers.
Government attorney resigned over what he called a shift in Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) mission from safeguarding the nation to chasing deportation numbers.