Candace Smith
@candigirlatl68.bsky.social
Lawyer, ATLien, Politics and Pop Culture Junkie, Voter Protection Advocate, Fan of the Oxford comma. She/her. The thoughts are mine; the typos are Siri’s.
Reposted by Candace Smith
People who are saying that Trump's new National Security Strategy should not be taken seriously should ask themselves this: Was it right or wrong not to take Project 2025 seriously?
December 12, 2025 at 8:21 PM
People who are saying that Trump's new National Security Strategy should not be taken seriously should ask themselves this: Was it right or wrong not to take Project 2025 seriously?
Reposted by Candace Smith
i think a (perhaps underappreciated) aspect of this whole situation is the extent to which every elite profession is filled with people who excel at drawing attention and want to be famous more than they want to do the actual job
December 11, 2025 at 2:18 PM
i think a (perhaps underappreciated) aspect of this whole situation is the extent to which every elite profession is filled with people who excel at drawing attention and want to be famous more than they want to do the actual job
Wrong. It is having GOP governor’s mansions taking orders from Trump, both houses of Congress doing almost anything Trump wants and a Supreme Court co-signing - and fast tracking - nearly all of it. Plus it’s MSM print and tv sanewashing the admin.
What sticks out to me is how absolutely unafraid of prosecution this psychopath is. Part of it is narcissistic personality disorder, but it's mostly the perceived weakness of Democrats. Should they retake power, no one expects Democrats to hold anyone accountable.
December 5, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Wrong. It is having GOP governor’s mansions taking orders from Trump, both houses of Congress doing almost anything Trump wants and a Supreme Court co-signing - and fast tracking - nearly all of it. Plus it’s MSM print and tv sanewashing the admin.
Reposted by Candace Smith
American politics makes a lot more sense when you realize that the GOP is afraid of pissing off the GOP base, and the Dems are afraid of pissing off the GOP base, but neither party is afraid of pissing off the Dem base.
March 14, 2025 at 10:24 PM
American politics makes a lot more sense when you realize that the GOP is afraid of pissing off the GOP base, and the Dems are afraid of pissing off the GOP base, but neither party is afraid of pissing off the Dem base.
Reposted by Candace Smith
“I think the most important lesson from Chicago right now is that anyone can do this and everyone should do this. The distributed nature of the movement is key.” organizingmythoughts.org/in-chicago-w...
In Chicago, We Run Toward Danger Together
"Faced with unrelenting state violence, Chicagoans have refused to be cowed," says Mariame Kaba.
organizingmythoughts.org
November 8, 2025 at 1:42 PM
“I think the most important lesson from Chicago right now is that anyone can do this and everyone should do this. The distributed nature of the movement is key.” organizingmythoughts.org/in-chicago-w...
Reposted by Candace Smith
Justice KBJ is a brilliant strategist. She is working the rules to compel timely review of the stay in the SNAP case by both the Circuit Court and by the Supreme Court. This is why knowing which SCOTUS justice has supervision of the Circuit you file in is essential.
www.reuters.com/world/us/usd...
www.reuters.com/world/us/usd...
www.reuters.com
November 8, 2025 at 11:12 PM
Justice KBJ is a brilliant strategist. She is working the rules to compel timely review of the stay in the SNAP case by both the Circuit Court and by the Supreme Court. This is why knowing which SCOTUS justice has supervision of the Circuit you file in is essential.
www.reuters.com/world/us/usd...
www.reuters.com/world/us/usd...
Reposted by Candace Smith
lol Nate Silver? The dude who hasn’t been right on anything since…
Sorry should have just ended on a period after “hasn’t been right on anything.”
Y’all are on quite the kick scraping mold off of leftovers and just reheating them in the microwave.
Sorry should have just ended on a period after “hasn’t been right on anything.”
Y’all are on quite the kick scraping mold off of leftovers and just reheating them in the microwave.
November 8, 2025 at 4:16 AM
lol Nate Silver? The dude who hasn’t been right on anything since…
Sorry should have just ended on a period after “hasn’t been right on anything.”
Y’all are on quite the kick scraping mold off of leftovers and just reheating them in the microwave.
Sorry should have just ended on a period after “hasn’t been right on anything.”
Y’all are on quite the kick scraping mold off of leftovers and just reheating them in the microwave.
Reposted by Candace Smith
Theresa Gillespie Isom, a North Mississippi Democrat, won a special election for Mississippi Senate District 2, flipping a Republican-held seat.
Her victory helped Democrats break the Republican Party’s supermajority for the first time in 13 years.
Her victory helped Democrats break the Republican Party’s supermajority for the first time in 13 years.
Democrat Theresa Gillespie Isom Flips GOP-Held Mississippi Senate Seat in North Mississippi
Theresa Gillespie Isom, a North Mississippi Democrat, has won a special election for Mississippi Senate District 2, flipping a GOP-held seat.
buff.ly
November 7, 2025 at 10:45 PM
Theresa Gillespie Isom, a North Mississippi Democrat, won a special election for Mississippi Senate District 2, flipping a Republican-held seat.
Her victory helped Democrats break the Republican Party’s supermajority for the first time in 13 years.
Her victory helped Democrats break the Republican Party’s supermajority for the first time in 13 years.
Reposted by Candace Smith
Mississippi Democrats Break Republican Senate Supermajority, Flipping 3 Legislative Seats!
💙💙💙
www.mississippifreepress.org/mississippi-...
💙💙💙
www.mississippifreepress.org/mississippi-...
Mississippi Democrats Break Republican Senate Supermajority, Flipping 3 Legislative Seats
After 13 years, Mississippi Democrats broke the Republican Party's supermajority in the Mississippi Senate, flipping 3 legislative seats.
www.mississippifreepress.org
November 5, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Mississippi Democrats Break Republican Senate Supermajority, Flipping 3 Legislative Seats!
💙💙💙
www.mississippifreepress.org/mississippi-...
💙💙💙
www.mississippifreepress.org/mississippi-...
Reposted by Candace Smith
Last year after the election, I reflected: "When we fight, we win—but sometimes the fight takes awhile."
Last night, we saw Democratic victories across our nation. I am so proud of these enthusiastic, principled, inspirational leaders who will continue to fight for our nation, ideals, and progress.
Last night, we saw Democratic victories across our nation. I am so proud of these enthusiastic, principled, inspirational leaders who will continue to fight for our nation, ideals, and progress.
November 5, 2025 at 11:26 PM
Last year after the election, I reflected: "When we fight, we win—but sometimes the fight takes awhile."
Last night, we saw Democratic victories across our nation. I am so proud of these enthusiastic, principled, inspirational leaders who will continue to fight for our nation, ideals, and progress.
Last night, we saw Democratic victories across our nation. I am so proud of these enthusiastic, principled, inspirational leaders who will continue to fight for our nation, ideals, and progress.
Reposted by Candace Smith
November 6, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Reposted by Candace Smith
Good morning. Today would be a good day to give money to Democratic senate candidates like @drannieandrews.com
drannieandrews.com
secure.actblue.com/donate/loc_website
drannieandrews.com
secure.actblue.com/donate/loc_website
November 5, 2025 at 12:21 PM
Good morning. Today would be a good day to give money to Democratic senate candidates like @drannieandrews.com
drannieandrews.com
secure.actblue.com/donate/loc_website
drannieandrews.com
secure.actblue.com/donate/loc_website
Reposted by Candace Smith
Beshear: Let me be clear. The president has both the funding and the authority to fund snap during a shutdown. In fact, every other president in every other shutdown has done so. People going hungry in this instance is a choice that this president has made.
November 5, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Beshear: Let me be clear. The president has both the funding and the authority to fund snap during a shutdown. In fact, every other president in every other shutdown has done so. People going hungry in this instance is a choice that this president has made.
Reposted by Candace Smith
SCOOP: Months late, the DHS quietly formalized sweeping changes to a federal immigration database that now allows it to be used as a “voter verification” tool that sidesteps federal privacy protections and makes it easier to remove voters from the rolls.
In Late, Obscure Notice, DHS Turbocharges Trump’s Voter Purge Database, Evading Privacy Protections
Read more here.
www.democracydocket.com
October 31, 2025 at 2:04 PM
SCOOP: Months late, the DHS quietly formalized sweeping changes to a federal immigration database that now allows it to be used as a “voter verification” tool that sidesteps federal privacy protections and makes it easier to remove voters from the rolls.
Reposted by Candace Smith
My favorite thing as a writer is when I start ranting about something on Bluesky, get it all out of my system, and then turn it into a real piece of writing.
On that note: hey, it’s me, heckling centrist Dems in the New Republic!
newrepublic.com/article/2023...
On that note: hey, it’s me, heckling centrist Dems in the New Republic!
newrepublic.com/article/2023...
October 30, 2025 at 3:05 PM
My favorite thing as a writer is when I start ranting about something on Bluesky, get it all out of my system, and then turn it into a real piece of writing.
On that note: hey, it’s me, heckling centrist Dems in the New Republic!
newrepublic.com/article/2023...
On that note: hey, it’s me, heckling centrist Dems in the New Republic!
newrepublic.com/article/2023...
Reposted by Candace Smith
Even when the moments aren’t going viral and therefore recede a bit from national headlines, it’s worth remembering again that the trump administration is still raining a lot of terror down on the chicago area. All the love to the great American city and its surrounding neighborhoods
October 29, 2025 at 2:09 AM
Even when the moments aren’t going viral and therefore recede a bit from national headlines, it’s worth remembering again that the trump administration is still raining a lot of terror down on the chicago area. All the love to the great American city and its surrounding neighborhoods
Reposted by Candace Smith
basically all this shit is Roberts' fault, because the immunity made Trump feel like he could break the law as much as he wants without consequences. bsky.app/profile/jayw...
Here's a fun little nugget from Trump's demand that DOJ pay him, personally, $250 million: In his memo, he argues that prosecutors "should have foreseen" that he has "immunity from prosecution for officials acts." Thank you John Roberts, great rule of law-ing, sir! static01.nyt.com/newsgraphics...
![Moreover, as former U.S. Court of Appeals Judge and now-Attorney General Merrick
Garland should have foreseen, President Trump had immunity from prosecution for
official acts.23 As such, given the Supreme Court's immunity decision and Judge
Cannon's dismissal of the prosecution on grounds that the Special Counsel's
appointment violated the appointments clause and his office was funded through an
19 Superseding Indictment at 1-4, United States v. Trump et al., No. 23-80101-CR, 2024 WL 3404555
(S.D Fla. July 15, 2024) (the original indictment was dated June 8, 2023).
20 United States v. Trump, No. 23-80101-CR, 2024 WL 3404555, at * 1 (S.D. Fla. July 15, 2024)
(hereinafter " Dismissal Order”).
21 Order Denying Motion for Franks Hearing and Reserving Ruling on Balance of Motion Pending
Necessary Factual Development at 9, U.S. v. Trump et al., No. 23-80101- CR (S.D. FL June 27, 2024)
(Document 655) (“But the Court determines that some of the terms in that document ( e.g.,
'national
defense information' and ‘Presidential Records'), do not carry ‘generally understood meaning[ s]' such
that a law enforcement agent, without further clarification, would have known to identify such
material as 'seizable” property'[.]"); accord. id. at 10 ("the present record does not indicate , for example,
whether the clarifying information in the affidavit was attached to the warrant or expressly
incorporated into it [See ECF No. 567 p. 13] ”) .
22 Constitutional Questions After the Raid on Mar-a-Lago, National Constitution Center 2 ( August 18,
2022), https://constitutioncenter.org/media/files/Mar-a-lago_Raid_Transcript.pdf .
23 Trump v. United States, 144 S. Ct. 2312, 2327 (2024) .](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:bpna2qi2e44fafbhhtqjak3x/bafkreicz6cwnbxxtz5qt3avx6tftshxlv6atsp6k23hmvgdffohy2aigmq@jpeg)
October 23, 2025 at 4:48 PM
basically all this shit is Roberts' fault, because the immunity made Trump feel like he could break the law as much as he wants without consequences. bsky.app/profile/jayw...
Reposted by Candace Smith
The White House State dining room was absolutely lovely and plenty big enough -seating for 140 guests. Of course the Obamas gave it extra class & elegance
October 23, 2025 at 12:24 AM
The White House State dining room was absolutely lovely and plenty big enough -seating for 140 guests. Of course the Obamas gave it extra class & elegance
Reposted by Candace Smith
Every dollar for Trump’s ego is a dollar stolen from working families.
#TrumpHatesOurHealthCare
#TrumpHatesOurHealthCare
October 21, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Every dollar for Trump’s ego is a dollar stolen from working families.
#TrumpHatesOurHealthCare
#TrumpHatesOurHealthCare
Reposted by Candace Smith
Once again, EVERY R1 research university depends on federal funding for ~15-25% of its budget. You simply can't unplug the largest or 2nd-largest source of $$ of every R1 university & expect it not to have devastating consequences for graduate education, which will spill over to undergrad education.
Wow. Harvard nuking its PhD programs
- Science PhD admissions reduced by more than 75%
- Arts & Humanities reduced by about 60%
- Social Sciences by 50–70%
- History by 60%
- Biology by 75%
- The German department will lose all PhD seats
- Sociology from six PhD students to zero
- Science PhD admissions reduced by more than 75%
- Arts & Humanities reduced by about 60%
- Social Sciences by 50–70%
- History by 60%
- Biology by 75%
- The German department will lose all PhD seats
- Sociology from six PhD students to zero
Harvard FAS Cuts Ph.D. Seats By More Than Half Across Next Two Admissions Cycles | News | The Harvard Crimson
The Faculty of Arts and Sciences slashed the number of Ph.D. student admissions slots for the Science division by more than 75 percent and for the Arts & Humanities division by about 60 percent for th...
www.thecrimson.com
October 21, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Once again, EVERY R1 research university depends on federal funding for ~15-25% of its budget. You simply can't unplug the largest or 2nd-largest source of $$ of every R1 university & expect it not to have devastating consequences for graduate education, which will spill over to undergrad education.
Reposted by Candace Smith
The president of the United States posted a video of him defecating on the American people. Many in my profession normalized it. This is a big reason why we are where we are.
October 20, 2025 at 12:08 PM
The president of the United States posted a video of him defecating on the American people. Many in my profession normalized it. This is a big reason why we are where we are.
Reposted by Candace Smith
The most upsetting part of this story to me is the line where the Times says it is “unclear” where the money came from.
Under our constitution,
it is either extremely clear where money comes from - a congressional appropriation - or an illegal channel. So so, @nytimes.com
Under our constitution,
it is either extremely clear where money comes from - a congressional appropriation - or an illegal channel. So so, @nytimes.com
October 18, 2025 at 5:28 PM
The most upsetting part of this story to me is the line where the Times says it is “unclear” where the money came from.
Under our constitution,
it is either extremely clear where money comes from - a congressional appropriation - or an illegal channel. So so, @nytimes.com
Under our constitution,
it is either extremely clear where money comes from - a congressional appropriation - or an illegal channel. So so, @nytimes.com
Reposted by Candace Smith
Some No Kings Day 2.0 pics!
October 18, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Some No Kings Day 2.0 pics!
Reposted by Candace Smith
Hakeem Jeffries posted pictures of two Rep. Members posing with “Young Republicans” who were part of a racist text thread (as reported by Politico).
In response, Mike Davis (well-connected in Trump World & on the Hill) called Jeffries a “house slave” for George Soros - proving Jeffries’ point.
In response, Mike Davis (well-connected in Trump World & on the Hill) called Jeffries a “house slave” for George Soros - proving Jeffries’ point.
October 15, 2025 at 7:31 PM
Hakeem Jeffries posted pictures of two Rep. Members posing with “Young Republicans” who were part of a racist text thread (as reported by Politico).
In response, Mike Davis (well-connected in Trump World & on the Hill) called Jeffries a “house slave” for George Soros - proving Jeffries’ point.
In response, Mike Davis (well-connected in Trump World & on the Hill) called Jeffries a “house slave” for George Soros - proving Jeffries’ point.
Reposted by Candace Smith
People ask what they can do in this moment: here's a crucially important election. There are 52,000 elections taking place next month, many of which will be determined by turnout.
Dispatch from Pennsylvania on a highly unusual state Supreme Court election—one of the few most consequential matters on the ballot anywhere in the country next month. New from me in @boltsmag.org: boltsmag.org/pennsylvania...
Inside the Clunky Elections to Control Pennsylvania's Supreme Court - Bolts
The GOP is making an expensive push to end Democrats’ majority on a court at the center of election lawsuits, sparking a fledging campaign season with little precedent or template.
boltsmag.org
October 8, 2025 at 4:55 PM
People ask what they can do in this moment: here's a crucially important election. There are 52,000 elections taking place next month, many of which will be determined by turnout.