Ben Muse
@benmuse.bsky.social
Worked as an economist with Alaska and Federal fishery management agencies. Retired and living in Juneau now.
Reposted by Ben Muse
Reposted by Ben Muse
In this new @usnews.com article, five law profs (including me) with vastly different views on most issues explain why colleges should reject Trump's "Compact" with higher ed, for both constitutional and policy reasons: www.usnews.com/opinion/arti...
www.usnews.com
November 20, 2025 at 9:47 PM
In this new @usnews.com article, five law profs (including me) with vastly different views on most issues explain why colleges should reject Trump's "Compact" with higher ed, for both constitutional and policy reasons: www.usnews.com/opinion/arti...
Reposted by Ben Muse
Absolutely incredible; after shooting Marimar Martinez 5 times and arresting her on claims that she rammed them and pulled a gun, prosecutors have now moved to dismiss ALL criminal charges against her and her codefendant.
New: the govt has moved to dismiss its assault case against Marimar Martinez and Anthony Ian Santos Ruiz, two people accused of "box[ing] in" a Border Patrol vehicle in Chicago on Oct. 4.
One agent shot Martinez, with evidence presented to the court that he later bragged about in text messages.
One agent shot Martinez, with evidence presented to the court that he later bragged about in text messages.
November 20, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Absolutely incredible; after shooting Marimar Martinez 5 times and arresting her on claims that she rammed them and pulled a gun, prosecutors have now moved to dismiss ALL criminal charges against her and her codefendant.
We need to beat the Republicans so badly next year that the survivors are left really scared, realizing that the general election voters are a greater threat to their careers than MAGA primary voters.
Especially if people just whine about how everything is fascism instead of acting like mature citizens of a democracy and getting off their asses and voting against it.
By the time Tom is willing to acknowledge the fascism that Trump is baking into the American political system, there will be no one left able to do anything about it.
November 20, 2025 at 9:43 PM
We need to beat the Republicans so badly next year that the survivors are left really scared, realizing that the general election voters are a greater threat to their careers than MAGA primary voters.
Reposted by Ben Muse
I don't think he's over, but authoritarians usually don't get more than 12-18 months to capture a regime, and they rely on a sense of power and inevitability. He's behind schedule and lost that aura.
Also, populist dictators usually make things better for their supporters. But not this one.
Also, populist dictators usually make things better for their supporters. But not this one.
November 20, 2025 at 9:33 PM
I don't think he's over, but authoritarians usually don't get more than 12-18 months to capture a regime, and they rely on a sense of power and inevitability. He's behind schedule and lost that aura.
Also, populist dictators usually make things better for their supporters. But not this one.
Also, populist dictators usually make things better for their supporters. But not this one.
Senator Murkowski, you may think that Trump will give you what you want on accelerated Alaska resource development, but you’re not taking account of the general incompetence of this administration.
It is also a Reign of Error - his DOJ is so incompetent that they are losing on multiple fronts - the Texas redistricting, the charges against Comey, the cancelling of federal grants, the placement of National Guard in US cities.....
In the WH, beside MBS, Trump confessed that he knew Epstein before he was charged with any crime, after saying he knew nothing about him, making it his worst day.
The trump presidency as we have known it is over.
Trump's reign of terror in Congress is over.
Listen to Lawrence O'Donnell :
The trump presidency as we have known it is over.
Trump's reign of terror in Congress is over.
Listen to Lawrence O'Donnell :
November 20, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Senator Murkowski, you may think that Trump will give you what you want on accelerated Alaska resource development, but you’re not taking account of the general incompetence of this administration.
Reposted by Ben Muse
Before the midterms of 1866, President Andrew Johnson called his congressional opponents traitors and said they should be hanged.
Voters were so profoundly moved by his words... that they gave his opponents a supermajority in Congress, and the nation got the Fourteenth Amendment.
Voters were so profoundly moved by his words... that they gave his opponents a supermajority in Congress, and the nation got the Fourteenth Amendment.
November 20, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Before the midterms of 1866, President Andrew Johnson called his congressional opponents traitors and said they should be hanged.
Voters were so profoundly moved by his words... that they gave his opponents a supermajority in Congress, and the nation got the Fourteenth Amendment.
Voters were so profoundly moved by his words... that they gave his opponents a supermajority in Congress, and the nation got the Fourteenth Amendment.
Reposted by Ben Muse
when I was young, i used to wonder how people like this would fare in life, as they didn't seem suited for gainful employment. it turns out, the internet allowed them to accumulate a massive audience of similar idiots, enriching them and turning them into a presidential advisor
November 20, 2025 at 12:58 AM
when I was young, i used to wonder how people like this would fare in life, as they didn't seem suited for gainful employment. it turns out, the internet allowed them to accumulate a massive audience of similar idiots, enriching them and turning them into a presidential advisor
Reposted by Ben Muse
What's amazing here is that MBS looks more uncomfortable about the direction the conversation took than Trump does.
Trump suggests Khashoggi had it coming: "You're mentioning someone that was extremely controversial. A lot of people didn't like that gentleman that you're talking about. Whether you like him or didn't like him, things happen. But he knew nothing about it. You don't have to embarrass our guest."
November 18, 2025 at 7:32 PM
What's amazing here is that MBS looks more uncomfortable about the direction the conversation took than Trump does.
Reposted by Ben Muse
“He believes that nothing can or should exist beyond him”
This is the key that unlocks the door to understanding Trump. Hard for sane people to wrap their minds around. But if you truly understand this you will understand him and his decision making process, such as it is.
This is the key that unlocks the door to understanding Trump. Hard for sane people to wrap their minds around. But if you truly understand this you will understand him and his decision making process, such as it is.
I asked @maryltrump.bsky.social about how this all might end--what it would look like. Here's part of what she said: "He will burn it all down."
November 18, 2025 at 2:06 AM
“He believes that nothing can or should exist beyond him”
This is the key that unlocks the door to understanding Trump. Hard for sane people to wrap their minds around. But if you truly understand this you will understand him and his decision making process, such as it is.
This is the key that unlocks the door to understanding Trump. Hard for sane people to wrap their minds around. But if you truly understand this you will understand him and his decision making process, such as it is.
Reposted by Ben Muse
This whole NYT account about the weaponization of DOJ is beyond disturbing. Kinda feels like the US government fell in January.
Gift link: www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Gift link: www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
November 17, 2025 at 1:05 PM
This whole NYT account about the weaponization of DOJ is beyond disturbing. Kinda feels like the US government fell in January.
Gift link: www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Gift link: www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Reposted by Ben Muse
This, from the people who said sending artillery shells to Ukraine would leave us unable to defend Taiwan.
Roughly a fifth of all deployed US naval ships are in the Caribbean, according to Stars & Stripes and USNI News
November 16, 2025 at 5:33 PM
This, from the people who said sending artillery shells to Ukraine would leave us unable to defend Taiwan.
Reposted by Ben Muse
Why I am disgusted with Congress and the SCOTUS. Top 10 things Trump is doing that they could stop if they wanted to:
1. Extrajudicial military murders
2. Bribe taking corruption of gifts to Trump and family
3. Abuse of the pardon power
4. Race-based targeting of Latinos for immigration /1
1. Extrajudicial military murders
2. Bribe taking corruption of gifts to Trump and family
3. Abuse of the pardon power
4. Race-based targeting of Latinos for immigration /1
November 15, 2025 at 8:04 PM
Why I am disgusted with Congress and the SCOTUS. Top 10 things Trump is doing that they could stop if they wanted to:
1. Extrajudicial military murders
2. Bribe taking corruption of gifts to Trump and family
3. Abuse of the pardon power
4. Race-based targeting of Latinos for immigration /1
1. Extrajudicial military murders
2. Bribe taking corruption of gifts to Trump and family
3. Abuse of the pardon power
4. Race-based targeting of Latinos for immigration /1
Trump’s whims are our law now.
Trump: The east wing… looked like hell. I didn’t want to sacrifice a great ballroom for an ok ballroom by leaving it..
November 14, 2025 at 1:44 AM
Trump’s whims are our law now.
Reposted by Ben Muse
202-224-3121
November 13, 2025 at 5:01 AM
202-224-3121
Reposted by Ben Muse
The silence of congressional Republicans to all the Trump corruption - from his disgusting pardons, to the UAE crypto money, to the Qatari jet, and the ballroom, should be used against all of them in midterms along with their silence on tariffs which has made things unaffordable.
November 9, 2025 at 1:09 AM
The silence of congressional Republicans to all the Trump corruption - from his disgusting pardons, to the UAE crypto money, to the Qatari jet, and the ballroom, should be used against all of them in midterms along with their silence on tariffs which has made things unaffordable.
Reposted by Ben Muse
Incredibly destructive.
November 7, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Incredibly destructive.
Reposted by Ben Muse
We need to normalize thinking about large-scale prosecutions of this admin as inevitable.
Cabinet members on down to ICE stormtroopers are going to face justice for their rampage of criminality.
And the public needs to know details of what happened. The murders, the bribes and embezzlement.
Cabinet members on down to ICE stormtroopers are going to face justice for their rampage of criminality.
And the public needs to know details of what happened. The murders, the bribes and embezzlement.
November 7, 2025 at 5:14 AM
We need to normalize thinking about large-scale prosecutions of this admin as inevitable.
Cabinet members on down to ICE stormtroopers are going to face justice for their rampage of criminality.
And the public needs to know details of what happened. The murders, the bribes and embezzlement.
Cabinet members on down to ICE stormtroopers are going to face justice for their rampage of criminality.
And the public needs to know details of what happened. The murders, the bribes and embezzlement.
Reposted by Ben Muse
Yesterday’s Democratic wave means Trump will double down on efforts to cheat, rig upcoming elections and illegally attack democrats.
November 5, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Yesterday’s Democratic wave means Trump will double down on efforts to cheat, rig upcoming elections and illegally attack democrats.
Reposted by Ben Muse
There will be a brain drain out of the US to Canada, Europe and other countries.
And once we lose these top researchers we may never get them back.
It‘s been a monumental mistake to attack science and higher education.
And once we lose these top researchers we may never get them back.
It‘s been a monumental mistake to attack science and higher education.
Canada makes pitch for US researchers to relocate with $1.7bn in new funding. My story for @science.org 🧪
www.science.org/content/arti...
www.science.org/content/arti...
Canada’s new budget aims to lure U.S. researchers to relocate
Spending plan also calls for smaller research spending cut than feared
www.science.org
November 5, 2025 at 8:21 PM
There will be a brain drain out of the US to Canada, Europe and other countries.
And once we lose these top researchers we may never get them back.
It‘s been a monumental mistake to attack science and higher education.
And once we lose these top researchers we may never get them back.
It‘s been a monumental mistake to attack science and higher education.
Reposted by Ben Muse
AOC: "This is about, do you understand the assignment of fighting fascism right now? And they assignment is to come together across difference no matter what."
November 5, 2025 at 3:21 AM
AOC: "This is about, do you understand the assignment of fighting fascism right now? And they assignment is to come together across difference no matter what."
Reposted by Ben Muse
Really looking forward to the Speaker of the House claiming to be unaware of the election results.
November 5, 2025 at 3:05 AM
Really looking forward to the Speaker of the House claiming to be unaware of the election results.
Reposted by Ben Muse
We're all going to write pieces about what you can learn from tonight but it's actually pretty simple: The frontier of the Rebellion is everywhere. And even the smallest act of insurrection pushes our lines forward.
November 5, 2025 at 4:34 AM
We're all going to write pieces about what you can learn from tonight but it's actually pretty simple: The frontier of the Rebellion is everywhere. And even the smallest act of insurrection pushes our lines forward.
Reposted by Ben Muse
These big wins will embolden Dems to take on Trump's lawbreaking and show there's a price for GOP enabling of him. Folks hate to hear this, but normal patterns are asserting themselves: Liberalism isn't dead, Rs are likely to lose in 2026, and Trump is really unpopular, not a magical exception.
November 5, 2025 at 1:30 AM
These big wins will embolden Dems to take on Trump's lawbreaking and show there's a price for GOP enabling of him. Folks hate to hear this, but normal patterns are asserting themselves: Liberalism isn't dead, Rs are likely to lose in 2026, and Trump is really unpopular, not a magical exception.
Reposted by Ben Muse
On Nov. 1, federal SNAP funding stopped. This leaves 70,000 Alaskans (many of them children) facing hunger.
1. Tell governor to find a way to feed as many as possible.
2. Let your legislator know that you support a special session.
3. Make a donation to the Food Bank of Alaska #akleg #akgov
1. Tell governor to find a way to feed as many as possible.
2. Let your legislator know that you support a special session.
3. Make a donation to the Food Bank of Alaska #akleg #akgov
November 2, 2025 at 8:29 PM