benjamin
@benofficial.bsky.social
gay, fat, & tired. anglo-catholic socialist. nyc.
Reposted by benjamin
Virtually everybody involved in American politics accepts the implicit premise that that Republican voters are owed deference while Democratic voters exist on sufferance.
why are there rarely articles written about liberals in red state urban centers (e.g. Salt Lake City) being gerrymandered into some rural conservative representative?
December 26, 2025 at 11:37 PM
Virtually everybody involved in American politics accepts the implicit premise that that Republican voters are owed deference while Democratic voters exist on sufferance.
Reposted by benjamin
more confirmation that lurking clearly behind this idea of the “heritage american” is a straightforward contempt for the actual history and tradition of this country, such that vermeule has to hallucinate a framework to justify his desire to jettison the clear meaning of the 14th amendment
I had missed this latest delirium by Adrian Vermeule on birthright citizenship
'Common law?! NAH, it's the Roman law of adoption that should govern the interpretation of the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution!'
thenewdigest.substack.com/p/immigratio...
'Common law?! NAH, it's the Roman law of adoption that should govern the interpretation of the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution!'
thenewdigest.substack.com/p/immigratio...
December 27, 2025 at 12:01 AM
more confirmation that lurking clearly behind this idea of the “heritage american” is a straightforward contempt for the actual history and tradition of this country, such that vermeule has to hallucinate a framework to justify his desire to jettison the clear meaning of the 14th amendment
Reposted by benjamin
Plato argued in the Republic that the 'tyrant,' or someone with unlimited wealth and power, would live the worst possible life because his soul would be devoured by lawless, unlimited desires that could never be sated. I think we've gotten confirmation of this from more cases than Trump lately
I always thought Plato was pretty pollyannaish on this point, but this is decent evidence for the view that a man of bad character will therefore be unhappy even with every external trapping of success and good fortune.
President Donald Trump gifted the world with nearly 200 Truth Social posts (and counting) on Christmas Day, where he amplified conspiracy theories about the 2020 election and called for a member of Congress to be deported.
December 26, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Plato argued in the Republic that the 'tyrant,' or someone with unlimited wealth and power, would live the worst possible life because his soul would be devoured by lawless, unlimited desires that could never be sated. I think we've gotten confirmation of this from more cases than Trump lately
Reposted by benjamin
Abolish ICE and prosecute its officers for the crimes they have committed against their fellow Americans and the Republic.
ICE detain father shopping on Christmas Eve—then steal his family's groceries.
Then 3 agents divvy up his paid for food—taking what they want for themselves.
"Can I just get the wife's number to call and let her know?" woman asks.
"No, guess he should've complied," agent says.
Yakima, Washington
Then 3 agents divvy up his paid for food—taking what they want for themselves.
"Can I just get the wife's number to call and let her know?" woman asks.
"No, guess he should've complied," agent says.
Yakima, Washington
December 26, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Abolish ICE and prosecute its officers for the crimes they have committed against their fellow Americans and the Republic.
Reposted by benjamin
ICE detain father shopping on Christmas Eve—then steal his family's groceries.
Then 3 agents divvy up his paid for food—taking what they want for themselves.
"Can I just get the wife's number to call and let her know?" woman asks.
"No, guess he should've complied," agent says.
Yakima, Washington
Then 3 agents divvy up his paid for food—taking what they want for themselves.
"Can I just get the wife's number to call and let her know?" woman asks.
"No, guess he should've complied," agent says.
Yakima, Washington
December 25, 2025 at 7:03 PM
ICE detain father shopping on Christmas Eve—then steal his family's groceries.
Then 3 agents divvy up his paid for food—taking what they want for themselves.
"Can I just get the wife's number to call and let her know?" woman asks.
"No, guess he should've complied," agent says.
Yakima, Washington
Then 3 agents divvy up his paid for food—taking what they want for themselves.
"Can I just get the wife's number to call and let her know?" woman asks.
"No, guess he should've complied," agent says.
Yakima, Washington
Reposted by benjamin
12:32 am on Christmas… trans rights
BREAKING: Federal judge in Pittsburgh blocks DOJ's invasive trans care subpoena.
The latest loss for DOJ, regarding the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center's patients, also brings news that DOJ has started scaling back its requests following its many losses.
New, at Law Dork:
The latest loss for DOJ, regarding the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center's patients, also brings news that DOJ has started scaling back its requests following its many losses.
New, at Law Dork:
Breaking: Federal judge in Pittsburgh blocks DOJ's invasive trans care subpoena
The latest loss for DOJ, regarding the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center's patients, also brings news that DOJ has started scaling back its requests following its many losses.
www.lawdork.com
December 25, 2025 at 5:32 AM
12:32 am on Christmas… trans rights
Reposted by benjamin
I hope everyone understands that this was never about the grade or religious freedom. This was a targeted attack on a trans faculty member, and it succeeded.
A graduate teaching assistant who gave a University of Oklahoma student a failing grade on a psychology essay will no longer be teaching at the university
Graduate instructor who gave failing grade to Samantha Fulnecky no longer teaching at OU
A graduate teaching assistant who gave a University of Oklahoma student a failing grade on a psychology essay will no longer be teaching at the university.
www.koco.com
December 23, 2025 at 3:42 PM
I hope everyone understands that this was never about the grade or religious freedom. This was a targeted attack on a trans faculty member, and it succeeded.
Reposted by benjamin
Devastating news. After ICE kidnapped, disappeared, and separated Astoria 6-year-old Yuanxin from his father Fei, they've both been deported to China—and the fascists who control our federal government are celebrating this cruelty.
We must abolish ICE once and for all.
We must abolish ICE once and for all.
Breaking News: A father and his 6-year-old son who were separated by immigration officials in New York City have been deported to China.
Immigration Officials Deport Queens 6-Year-Old and Father Who Fled China
Hundreds of people had rallied for the family in New York City after they were separated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in November.
nyti.ms
December 20, 2025 at 11:20 PM
Devastating news. After ICE kidnapped, disappeared, and separated Astoria 6-year-old Yuanxin from his father Fei, they've both been deported to China—and the fascists who control our federal government are celebrating this cruelty.
We must abolish ICE once and for all.
We must abolish ICE once and for all.
Reposted by benjamin
i cannot escape the sense that what these people are fundamentally opposed to is political leadership
December 20, 2025 at 10:45 PM
i cannot escape the sense that what these people are fundamentally opposed to is political leadership
Reposted by benjamin
the monoquant view of electoral politics is just so fucking facile and childish, "errr excuse me you don't have a top score 🤓☝️" motherfucker that isn't the point of politics
This is why I'm really starting to hate the data bros.
Matty Y: "Dems should focus less on climate change/renewable energy, it's a losing issue."
Sean Casten (an actual Congressman): "I won a purple district multiple times by focusing on those issues"
Lakshya: "YEAH BUT YOU DIDN'T OVERPERFORM"
Matty Y: "Dems should focus less on climate change/renewable energy, it's a losing issue."
Sean Casten (an actual Congressman): "I won a purple district multiple times by focusing on those issues"
Lakshya: "YEAH BUT YOU DIDN'T OVERPERFORM"
December 20, 2025 at 10:21 PM
the monoquant view of electoral politics is just so fucking facile and childish, "errr excuse me you don't have a top score 🤓☝️" motherfucker that isn't the point of politics
Reposted by benjamin
We’re fielding democratic candidates who oppose the secret police, defend trans rights, defund genocide, and stand up to the oligarchy.
act.dsausa.org/s/4536.Xd0xHm
act.dsausa.org/s/4536.Xd0xHm
December 20, 2025 at 10:17 PM
We’re fielding democratic candidates who oppose the secret police, defend trans rights, defund genocide, and stand up to the oligarchy.
act.dsausa.org/s/4536.Xd0xHm
act.dsausa.org/s/4536.Xd0xHm
Reposted by benjamin
There’s room for somebody on the left to wrap themselves in the flag a little & make a point that the right’s rejection of America as a creedal nation—and their ad hoc, ahistorical effort to make it an ethnonationalist project instead—is distinctly *unamerican,* a rejection of the national project.
If immigrating from England makes you a "heritage American" then I guess I'm one too.
December 20, 2025 at 2:24 PM
There’s room for somebody on the left to wrap themselves in the flag a little & make a point that the right’s rejection of America as a creedal nation—and their ad hoc, ahistorical effort to make it an ethnonationalist project instead—is distinctly *unamerican,* a rejection of the national project.
Reposted by benjamin
This Yglesias piece in the NYT is horrifically bad. Almost every "fact" it cites is provably false. At best it is cocktail party banter from a pundit who knows nothing of energy. At worst, it was cut/paste from oil industry talking points. So, a rebuttal: www.nytimes.com/2025/12/18/o...
Opinion | Obama Supported It. The Left in Canada and Norway Does. Why Don’t Democrats?
www.nytimes.com
December 20, 2025 at 2:57 PM
This Yglesias piece in the NYT is horrifically bad. Almost every "fact" it cites is provably false. At best it is cocktail party banter from a pundit who knows nothing of energy. At worst, it was cut/paste from oil industry talking points. So, a rebuttal: www.nytimes.com/2025/12/18/o...
Reposted by benjamin
The lawless killing spree continues.
Do not become inured.
This is premeditated killing outside of armed conflict.
We call that murder.
Do not become inured.
This is premeditated killing outside of armed conflict.
We call that murder.
December 19, 2025 at 2:56 AM
The lawless killing spree continues.
Do not become inured.
This is premeditated killing outside of armed conflict.
We call that murder.
Do not become inured.
This is premeditated killing outside of armed conflict.
We call that murder.
Reposted by benjamin
This is just straight up misinformation and propaganda
These democrats don’t just not understand. They are actively working to dismantle all democratic institutions and any kind of free and fair information space.
They are either incompetent to the point of malice or acting out of malice
These democrats don’t just not understand. They are actively working to dismantle all democratic institutions and any kind of free and fair information space.
They are either incompetent to the point of malice or acting out of malice
Children are being exploited and abused because Big Tech consistently prioritizes profits over people.
Enough is enough. Time to sunset Section 230.
Enough is enough. Time to sunset Section 230.
December 19, 2025 at 3:05 AM
This is just straight up misinformation and propaganda
These democrats don’t just not understand. They are actively working to dismantle all democratic institutions and any kind of free and fair information space.
They are either incompetent to the point of malice or acting out of malice
These democrats don’t just not understand. They are actively working to dismantle all democratic institutions and any kind of free and fair information space.
They are either incompetent to the point of malice or acting out of malice
Reposted by benjamin
If we get absolutely destroyed an election because we stood with trans people, stood against the government kidnapping “immigrants“ off the street, etc., then let us go down with all flags flying
December 18, 2025 at 7:23 PM
If we get absolutely destroyed an election because we stood with trans people, stood against the government kidnapping “immigrants“ off the street, etc., then let us go down with all flags flying
Reposted by benjamin
Yes, I think Kilmar Abrego Garcia-focused messaging—and more so pro-immigrant messaging more broadly—is probably an important part of any campaign in Texas and Florida, two extremely Latino states where the Feds are trying a national Prop 183.
I’m curious, though, is someone going to *actually* disagree with me and argue that Garcia-focused messaging is what we will see Dem challengers in Iowa, Ohio, Texas, Alaska, Kansas, and Florida have success with?
My sense is everyone is actually aligned on this.
My sense is everyone is actually aligned on this.
December 18, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Yes, I think Kilmar Abrego Garcia-focused messaging—and more so pro-immigrant messaging more broadly—is probably an important part of any campaign in Texas and Florida, two extremely Latino states where the Feds are trying a national Prop 183.
Reposted by benjamin
the country cannot survive if there is not accountability for this kind of thing. abolish DHS
Seconds to Chaos in Chicago: Car door ripped open and phone smashed to the ground as Citizen Records ICE in public.
When "rights" aren't respected on the street, your safety is the priority. Watch your back, friends.
When "rights" aren't respected on the street, your safety is the priority. Watch your back, friends.
December 17, 2025 at 5:10 PM
the country cannot survive if there is not accountability for this kind of thing. abolish DHS
Reposted by benjamin
there is really no difference between the current administration and having the country run by david duke
On that last post: I genuinely cannot think of any good-faith reason to bar international adoptions from those 39 countries. Under this new ban, consulates will refuse adoption visas for any baby from Cuba, Haiti, Venezuela, Nigeria, or any of the 39 other countries.
December 17, 2025 at 3:17 AM
there is really no difference between the current administration and having the country run by david duke
Reposted by benjamin
This is, uh, not a smart move. Section 230 has its flaws, but repealing it without having an *extremely solid* plan in place to replace the protections for free speech it offers is tantamount to banning the LGBTQ+ community and others from public online spaces.
Sen. WHITEHOUSE: We finally are moving to file a bipartisan Section 230 repeal bill. Waiting any longer serves no useful purpose.
December 13, 2025 at 1:51 AM
This is, uh, not a smart move. Section 230 has its flaws, but repealing it without having an *extremely solid* plan in place to replace the protections for free speech it offers is tantamount to banning the LGBTQ+ community and others from public online spaces.
Reposted by benjamin
the country Miller wants is the irredeemable America of the anti-American left's imagination.
it's also the country Miller and his ilk want to destroy at all costs, and we have to stop them
December 13, 2025 at 6:03 AM
the country Miller wants is the irredeemable America of the anti-American left's imagination.
Reposted by benjamin
“Post-liberalism” means two things:
1) I like the fascism, but I don’t think of myself as the sort of person who’d be into something so uncouth.
2) The woke made me do it, but since everyone’s opposed to liberty now, why don’t we acknowledge that some races, genders, and religions are lesser.
1) I like the fascism, but I don’t think of myself as the sort of person who’d be into something so uncouth.
2) The woke made me do it, but since everyone’s opposed to liberty now, why don’t we acknowledge that some races, genders, and religions are lesser.
December 13, 2025 at 1:48 PM
“Post-liberalism” means two things:
1) I like the fascism, but I don’t think of myself as the sort of person who’d be into something so uncouth.
2) The woke made me do it, but since everyone’s opposed to liberty now, why don’t we acknowledge that some races, genders, and religions are lesser.
1) I like the fascism, but I don’t think of myself as the sort of person who’d be into something so uncouth.
2) The woke made me do it, but since everyone’s opposed to liberty now, why don’t we acknowledge that some races, genders, and religions are lesser.
Reposted by benjamin
Bovino, the man overseeing mass deportations, publicly declared that we must all have our papers on us, at all times, or we could be stopped, harassed, kidnapped, and detained, as they did with the man in this case, who is a US citizen.
December 13, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Bovino, the man overseeing mass deportations, publicly declared that we must all have our papers on us, at all times, or we could be stopped, harassed, kidnapped, and detained, as they did with the man in this case, who is a US citizen.
Reposted by benjamin
it’s all about capital disciplining labor?
always has been!
always has been!
Kalecki bros would say the point of every Republican presidency is to balance the power in favor of employers
December 11, 2025 at 1:32 AM
it’s all about capital disciplining labor?
always has been!
always has been!
Reposted by benjamin
It’s been two weeks since ICE took Yuanxin Zheng from his father. He is six years old. He’s still not home. This has to end.
December 10, 2025 at 10:32 PM
It’s been two weeks since ICE took Yuanxin Zheng from his father. He is six years old. He’s still not home. This has to end.