Ben Werkley
@benwerkley.bsky.social
Historian, avid reader, traveler, and nerd. I also will occasionally dabble in photography, running, and exploring.
Reposted by Ben Werkley
The AHA is compiling resources developed by historians in response to recent actions by the federal governments. We welcome submissions from our members about op-eds, media appearances, or other resources they've contributed offering historical context and insight to the public. 🗃️
Historians Respond to Federal Actions - AHA
AHA members are providing important historical context and insight to the public on the recent actions by the federal government.
www.historians.org
August 13, 2025 at 12:30 PM
The AHA is compiling resources developed by historians in response to recent actions by the federal governments. We welcome submissions from our members about op-eds, media appearances, or other resources they've contributed offering historical context and insight to the public. 🗃️
Reposted by Ben Werkley
Feels like panic.
Tossing off random rage-making topics for distraction.
Has there been mention of pronouns yet?
Tossing off random rage-making topics for distraction.
Has there been mention of pronouns yet?
July 20, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Feels like panic.
Tossing off random rage-making topics for distraction.
Has there been mention of pronouns yet?
Tossing off random rage-making topics for distraction.
Has there been mention of pronouns yet?
Reposted by Ben Werkley
By 2029 the GOP may have entrenched their coup by "legal" methods
Gerrymandering-permitted by MAGA judges
Changes in citizenship laws and deportations
Quashing dissent by jailing protesters
And radical "interpretation" of the Constitution
We still don't fully comprehend the danger America faces
Gerrymandering-permitted by MAGA judges
Changes in citizenship laws and deportations
Quashing dissent by jailing protesters
And radical "interpretation" of the Constitution
We still don't fully comprehend the danger America faces
"Unlike January 2021 — when the Big Lie scheme failed — by 2029 Trump and his cohorts will have new tools to carry out a coup, including a massive federal police force with a proven willingness to engage in systemic illegality at Trump's behest."
The emerging coup
Lawless authoritarian regimes don't give up power willingly.
www.publicnotice.co
July 20, 2025 at 3:57 PM
By 2029 the GOP may have entrenched their coup by "legal" methods
Gerrymandering-permitted by MAGA judges
Changes in citizenship laws and deportations
Quashing dissent by jailing protesters
And radical "interpretation" of the Constitution
We still don't fully comprehend the danger America faces
Gerrymandering-permitted by MAGA judges
Changes in citizenship laws and deportations
Quashing dissent by jailing protesters
And radical "interpretation" of the Constitution
We still don't fully comprehend the danger America faces
Reposted by Ben Werkley
Stunning charts show how disproportionately the Roberts Court favors the Trump regime.
"This pattern exemplifies what scholars call 'autocratic legalism'—the systematic weaponization of legal institutions to consolidate power while maintaining the appearance of legal process."
"This pattern exemplifies what scholars call 'autocratic legalism'—the systematic weaponization of legal institutions to consolidate power while maintaining the appearance of legal process."
July 19, 2025 at 8:35 PM
Stunning charts show how disproportionately the Roberts Court favors the Trump regime.
"This pattern exemplifies what scholars call 'autocratic legalism'—the systematic weaponization of legal institutions to consolidate power while maintaining the appearance of legal process."
"This pattern exemplifies what scholars call 'autocratic legalism'—the systematic weaponization of legal institutions to consolidate power while maintaining the appearance of legal process."
Reposted by Ben Werkley
Who wants to tell him they call this “Mexican Coke”?
July 20, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Who wants to tell him they call this “Mexican Coke”?
Reposted by Ben Werkley
Reposted by Ben Werkley
"They released their insane asylum population into our country" -- Trump still thinks that people who make political asylum claims come from insane asylums
July 8, 2025 at 4:09 PM
"They released their insane asylum population into our country" -- Trump still thinks that people who make political asylum claims come from insane asylums
Reposted by Ben Werkley
Freedom from kings.
Freedom from fascism.
Power to the people forever. ♥️
Happy Independence Day 🇺🇸
Freedom from fascism.
Power to the people forever. ♥️
Happy Independence Day 🇺🇸
July 4, 2025 at 9:20 PM
Freedom from kings.
Freedom from fascism.
Power to the people forever. ♥️
Happy Independence Day 🇺🇸
Freedom from fascism.
Power to the people forever. ♥️
Happy Independence Day 🇺🇸
Reposted by Ben Werkley
Can’t make this up.
July 4, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Can’t make this up.
Reposted by Ben Werkley
This holds true for events in Minnesota today.
Violence against legislators is a clarion call of weakness.
It advertises the fact that the attackers are weak, desperate, and in the minority.
It is an open attack on democratic governance, grounded on free and fair elections by We the People.
Violence against legislators is a clarion call of weakness.
It advertises the fact that the attackers are weak, desperate, and in the minority.
It is an open attack on democratic governance, grounded on free and fair elections by We the People.
Never forget that the bluster and brutality and made-for-TV violence that we’re witnessing in CA and elsewhere right now on the part of the administration is a sign of weakness and fear.
Not strength.
Not strength.
June 14, 2025 at 3:47 PM
This holds true for events in Minnesota today.
Violence against legislators is a clarion call of weakness.
It advertises the fact that the attackers are weak, desperate, and in the minority.
It is an open attack on democratic governance, grounded on free and fair elections by We the People.
Violence against legislators is a clarion call of weakness.
It advertises the fact that the attackers are weak, desperate, and in the minority.
It is an open attack on democratic governance, grounded on free and fair elections by We the People.
Reposted by Ben Werkley
We obtained records showing how an ex-DOGE staffer with no medical experience used AI to identify which VA contracts to kill.
“I would never recommend someone run my code and do what it says,” he said.
Read more: propub.li/4emGV69
“I would never recommend someone run my code and do what it says,” he said.
Read more: propub.li/4emGV69
June 14, 2025 at 8:30 PM
We obtained records showing how an ex-DOGE staffer with no medical experience used AI to identify which VA contracts to kill.
“I would never recommend someone run my code and do what it says,” he said.
Read more: propub.li/4emGV69
“I would never recommend someone run my code and do what it says,” he said.
Read more: propub.li/4emGV69
Reposted by Ben Werkley
A reminder to reporters, when historians look back on this moment with the president throwing himself a military parade and the people throwing No Kings rallies across America, the media sources raving about the former and sneering at the latter are going to be quoted by name.
This is your legacy!
This is your legacy!
June 14, 2025 at 4:32 PM
A reminder to reporters, when historians look back on this moment with the president throwing himself a military parade and the people throwing No Kings rallies across America, the media sources raving about the former and sneering at the latter are going to be quoted by name.
This is your legacy!
This is your legacy!
Reposted by Ben Werkley
Raskin: You are not our king, and we are not your subjects. We will never be your subjects. All of us born here on this land are citizens and your executive order is nothing but bad graffiti on the Constitution, and we're going to wash it off today
June 14, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Raskin: You are not our king, and we are not your subjects. We will never be your subjects. All of us born here on this land are citizens and your executive order is nothing but bad graffiti on the Constitution, and we're going to wash it off today
Reposted by Ben Werkley
We have won both the academic and public debate on the effects of immigration, yet we're losing politically because the propaganda from one political party is so powerful, and the response from the other side is to hide. It's unbelievable.
NEW CBS poll shows that Americans don’t believe Trump’s lies about immigrants but do believe his lies about the immigrants he’s deporting.
June 8, 2025 at 4:25 PM
We have won both the academic and public debate on the effects of immigration, yet we're losing politically because the propaganda from one political party is so powerful, and the response from the other side is to hide. It's unbelievable.
Reposted by Ben Werkley
Major General Randy E. Manner, former Acting Vice Chief, National Guard Bureau statement to Fox News:
"This is an inappropriate use of the National Guard and is not warranted.”
"This is an inappropriate use of the National Guard and is not warranted.”
June 9, 2025 at 3:18 AM
Major General Randy E. Manner, former Acting Vice Chief, National Guard Bureau statement to Fox News:
"This is an inappropriate use of the National Guard and is not warranted.”
"This is an inappropriate use of the National Guard and is not warranted.”
Reposted by Ben Werkley
Chris Murphy: "Donald Trump only cares about quelling violent protests, or quelling protests writ large, when it's protest against him. That's fundamentally undemocratic."
June 9, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Chris Murphy: "Donald Trump only cares about quelling violent protests, or quelling protests writ large, when it's protest against him. That's fundamentally undemocratic."
Reposted by Ben Werkley
On Memorial Day, we honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation. Each fallen hero was someone's friend, someone's family. Their bravery secured our freedoms. #MemorialDay
May 26, 2025 at 10:25 PM
On Memorial Day, we honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation. Each fallen hero was someone's friend, someone's family. Their bravery secured our freedoms. #MemorialDay
Reposted by Ben Werkley
History isn’t supposed to be comfortable. It’s supposed to be honest. We don’t learn from a past we pretend didn’t happen. Rewriting our history doesn’t protect us. It makes us weaker. And more likely to repeat the very mistakes they don’t want us to remember.
May 26, 2025 at 1:20 AM
History isn’t supposed to be comfortable. It’s supposed to be honest. We don’t learn from a past we pretend didn’t happen. Rewriting our history doesn’t protect us. It makes us weaker. And more likely to repeat the very mistakes they don’t want us to remember.
Reposted by Ben Werkley
Fed Chair Powell graduation remarks to Princeton nod toward our current predicament: "Look around you. I urge you to take none of this for granted. When you look back in 50 years, you will want to know that you have done whatever it takes to preserve and strengthen our democracy."
May 25, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Fed Chair Powell graduation remarks to Princeton nod toward our current predicament: "Look around you. I urge you to take none of this for granted. When you look back in 50 years, you will want to know that you have done whatever it takes to preserve and strengthen our democracy."
Reposted by Ben Werkley
“The government of the United States is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion.” — Treaty of Tripoli, signed by the United States in 1797.
May 24, 2025 at 4:58 PM
“The government of the United States is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion.” — Treaty of Tripoli, signed by the United States in 1797.
Reposted by Ben Werkley
So now people can STOP the pointless distraction-harvesting of vapid Biden attacks.
He has given his all for this country, and deserves better.
He has given his all for this country, and deserves better.
May 18, 2025 at 10:45 PM
So now people can STOP the pointless distraction-harvesting of vapid Biden attacks.
He has given his all for this country, and deserves better.
He has given his all for this country, and deserves better.
Reposted by Ben Werkley
The GOP’s “big beautiful bill” includes a clause giving Donald Trump the ability to revoke the tax-exempt status of any group the Treasury Department says is a terrorism supporter.
The bill is in the reconciliation process, meaning it only requires a simple majority in the House and Senate to pass.
The bill is in the reconciliation process, meaning it only requires a simple majority in the House and Senate to pass.
Republicans Slip Nonprofit Killer Bill Into Budget Plan
The “nonprofit killer bill” is hidden at the very end of Republicans’ massive 389-page budget package.
newrepublic.com
May 13, 2025 at 7:38 PM
The GOP’s “big beautiful bill” includes a clause giving Donald Trump the ability to revoke the tax-exempt status of any group the Treasury Department says is a terrorism supporter.
The bill is in the reconciliation process, meaning it only requires a simple majority in the House and Senate to pass.
The bill is in the reconciliation process, meaning it only requires a simple majority in the House and Senate to pass.
Reposted by Ben Werkley
Library of Congress staff just showed what resistance looks like. After Trump abruptly fired Dr. Carla Hayden, the respected Librarian of Congress, he tried to install Todd Blanche, his former personal lawyer and current Deputy Attorney General, as acting librarian. Staff weren’t having it.
May 12, 2025 at 11:19 PM
Library of Congress staff just showed what resistance looks like. After Trump abruptly fired Dr. Carla Hayden, the respected Librarian of Congress, he tried to install Todd Blanche, his former personal lawyer and current Deputy Attorney General, as acting librarian. Staff weren’t having it.
Reposted by Ben Werkley
NEWS: U.S. and China agree to a 90-day pause on new tariffs after shipping to U.S. ports plummeted.
Tariffs on Chinese imports will be cut from 145% to 30%. Tariffs on U.S. imports will be cut from 125% to 10%.
If tariffs should result in massive job growth and make the U.S. rich, why lower them?
Tariffs on Chinese imports will be cut from 145% to 30%. Tariffs on U.S. imports will be cut from 125% to 10%.
If tariffs should result in massive job growth and make the U.S. rich, why lower them?
May 12, 2025 at 10:56 AM
NEWS: U.S. and China agree to a 90-day pause on new tariffs after shipping to U.S. ports plummeted.
Tariffs on Chinese imports will be cut from 145% to 30%. Tariffs on U.S. imports will be cut from 125% to 10%.
If tariffs should result in massive job growth and make the U.S. rich, why lower them?
Tariffs on Chinese imports will be cut from 145% to 30%. Tariffs on U.S. imports will be cut from 125% to 10%.
If tariffs should result in massive job growth and make the U.S. rich, why lower them?