Geoff Johnson
@geoffthejohnson.bsky.social
History and reading/writing teacher @CUNY. As a student once wrote of me in an evaluation, “CAN BE FUNNY AT TIMES." I believe that we will win.
I kind of did not know MoveOn still existed (not being glib--it was sort of surprising to read that name again!), but whether Democratic Senators think it makes sense or not, the anger at Schumer and other leaders likely won't be easy to wish away. Plenty of normie Dems are in that boat.
NEW: “Around 80% of MoveOn members that the group surveyed said that Schumer should quit his leadership position.”
www.axios.com/2025/11/10/s...
www.axios.com/2025/11/10/s...
Progressive group MoveOn calls on Schumer to step aside
"Inexplicably, some Senate Democrats, under Leader Schumer's watch, decided to surrender."
www.axios.com
November 11, 2025 at 12:21 AM
I kind of did not know MoveOn still existed (not being glib--it was sort of surprising to read that name again!), but whether Democratic Senators think it makes sense or not, the anger at Schumer and other leaders likely won't be easy to wish away. Plenty of normie Dems are in that boat.
I think it remains important to understand where, exactly, the impetus to cave came from. Who are the exact people who first pushed it and why, who jumped on board and why, who didn't say anything, who objected while the decision was being made, etc. That information matters.
Even the Dem centrists at Third Way are mad about the deal moderate Senate Dems cut with Republicans to end the shutdown:
"We should not have surrendered until we received at least something tangible on lowering health care costs."
"We should not have surrendered until we received at least something tangible on lowering health care costs."
November 10, 2025 at 5:57 PM
I think it remains important to understand where, exactly, the impetus to cave came from. Who are the exact people who first pushed it and why, who jumped on board and why, who didn't say anything, who objected while the decision was being made, etc. That information matters.
"They ended temporary, concentrated pain (the shutdown) by accepting permanent, widespread harm...
"If you’re going to inflict a shutdown, cause real suffering to federal workers and vulnerable people, you damn well better win something concrete for it. Otherwise, you just hurt people for nothing."
"If you’re going to inflict a shutdown, cause real suffering to federal workers and vulnerable people, you damn well better win something concrete for it. Otherwise, you just hurt people for nothing."
Yes, This Was a Betrayal
Democrats Are Bringing Facts to a Fight For Power
antiauthoritarianplaybook.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 5:38 PM
"They ended temporary, concentrated pain (the shutdown) by accepting permanent, widespread harm...
"If you’re going to inflict a shutdown, cause real suffering to federal workers and vulnerable people, you damn well better win something concrete for it. Otherwise, you just hurt people for nothing."
"If you’re going to inflict a shutdown, cause real suffering to federal workers and vulnerable people, you damn well better win something concrete for it. Otherwise, you just hurt people for nothing."
Reposted by Geoff Johnson
I recently had an expansive convo with two of the kickass leaders of a HUGE collective action archiving project, and it's out today.
check it out: youtu.be/xrCElwgY5Co?...
check it out: youtu.be/xrCElwgY5Co?...
Volunteers Archived 10,000 Signs from National Parks (with Jenny McBurney and Lynda Kellam)
YouTube video by 404 Media
youtu.be
November 10, 2025 at 2:11 PM
I recently had an expansive convo with two of the kickass leaders of a HUGE collective action archiving project, and it's out today.
check it out: youtu.be/xrCElwgY5Co?...
check it out: youtu.be/xrCElwgY5Co?...
Reposted by Geoff Johnson
Great job, @schumer.senate.gov. You've changed the story from "GOP hurting millions of Americans to please unpopular, failing, delusional despot who's destroying his party" to "Dems are too weak and divided in the face of Trump's strength to take a stand and protect Americans"
November 10, 2025 at 11:49 AM
Great job, @schumer.senate.gov. You've changed the story from "GOP hurting millions of Americans to please unpopular, failing, delusional despot who's destroying his party" to "Dems are too weak and divided in the face of Trump's strength to take a stand and protect Americans"
An obvious question that must be asked of Schumer immediately and repeatedly. Why did eight members of your caucus vote with the GOP instead of the majority of Senate Democrats and what is your reaction? (In reality, I'm very sure, Schumer was in agreement with that choice--his no vote is phony.)
Chuck Schumer must be replaced as leader since he cannot keep his caucus in line.
America is in the midst of a Republican-made health care crisis—a crisis so severe, so urgent, and so devastating for American families that I cannot support a continuing resolution that fails to address it.
I am voting NO.
I am voting NO.
November 10, 2025 at 12:31 PM
An obvious question that must be asked of Schumer immediately and repeatedly. Why did eight members of your caucus vote with the GOP instead of the majority of Senate Democrats and what is your reaction? (In reality, I'm very sure, Schumer was in agreement with that choice--his no vote is phony.)
Reposted by Geoff Johnson
Harm to SNAP recipients, federal workers, and others is real. In a normal democracy it’d make sense to prioritize reducing that harm in the short term.
In a rapidly backsliding democracy, harm is happening no matter what. Preventing authoritarian consolidation is the most harm-reducing move.
In a rapidly backsliding democracy, harm is happening no matter what. Preventing authoritarian consolidation is the most harm-reducing move.
November 10, 2025 at 2:54 AM
Harm to SNAP recipients, federal workers, and others is real. In a normal democracy it’d make sense to prioritize reducing that harm in the short term.
In a rapidly backsliding democracy, harm is happening no matter what. Preventing authoritarian consolidation is the most harm-reducing move.
In a rapidly backsliding democracy, harm is happening no matter what. Preventing authoritarian consolidation is the most harm-reducing move.
So who exactly is in control of the Democratic Party if not the centrist and institutionalist wing and not average people who vote for Democrats? Seems worth looking into...
the strongest signal I’ve seen so far — the centrist and institutionalist wing of the Democratic Party is saying ‘hell no’
The government has been shut down for 40 days—the longest in history. All Democrats have fought hard for extending the Affordable Care Act tax credits that make health care affordable for millions. I’m voting against the bill given it doesn’t extend these valuable tax credits.
November 10, 2025 at 2:47 AM
So who exactly is in control of the Democratic Party if not the centrist and institutionalist wing and not average people who vote for Democrats? Seems worth looking into...
We should have a collective conversation as to whether it's worthwhile or not to make "change in Senate leadership" a core grassroots demand. Do we start a "anyone with Schumer loses donations/gets primaried" campaign to try to force him out? Could be a good idea, but what are our other demands?
Do you support a change in Senate leadership after this surrender?
Not picking on Booker - we should ask this of literally all the no votes.
Not picking on Booker - we should ask this of literally all the no votes.
As I've always said, I will not support a government funding bill that continues to raise our costs, jeopardizes our health care, and hurts the people of my state.
November 10, 2025 at 2:40 AM
We should have a collective conversation as to whether it's worthwhile or not to make "change in Senate leadership" a core grassroots demand. Do we start a "anyone with Schumer loses donations/gets primaried" campaign to try to force him out? Could be a good idea, but what are our other demands?
Reposted by Geoff Johnson
Stop patting senators on the head unless they are calling for schumer's removal. Everything else is just in the script
November 10, 2025 at 2:26 AM
Stop patting senators on the head unless they are calling for schumer's removal. Everything else is just in the script
Reposted by Geoff Johnson
Warner is up for reelection. He was widely seen driving towards surrender behind the scenes, but he's voting no in public because it's unpopular. The real question is whether he supports a senate leadership change. If not, someone who supports senate leadership change should primary him.
But I cannot support a deal that still leaves millions of Americans wondering how they are going to pay for their health care or whether they will be able to afford to get sick.
November 10, 2025 at 1:56 AM
Warner is up for reelection. He was widely seen driving towards surrender behind the scenes, but he's voting no in public because it's unpopular. The real question is whether he supports a senate leadership change. If not, someone who supports senate leadership change should primary him.
Ro Khanna (while certainly good on some important issues) is a very self-interested political actor, but his choice to go against Chuck seems significant for the direction of the party. Every Democratic Senator now has to respond to Khanna's suggestion. Schumer could be ousted. (But then what? Who?)
Ro Khanna calls for Schumer‘ ouster
November 10, 2025 at 2:31 AM
Ro Khanna (while certainly good on some important issues) is a very self-interested political actor, but his choice to go against Chuck seems significant for the direction of the party. Every Democratic Senator now has to respond to Khanna's suggestion. Schumer could be ousted. (But then what? Who?)
The opposition party to the Trump regime cannot have party members who defect/tip the balance to the regime position at moments of heightened political struggle. That's why the Democratic Party is not currently an opposition party. If it cannot become one in the months ahead, it must be replaced.
November 10, 2025 at 2:27 AM
The opposition party to the Trump regime cannot have party members who defect/tip the balance to the regime position at moments of heightened political struggle. That's why the Democratic Party is not currently an opposition party. If it cannot become one in the months ahead, it must be replaced.
This is the kind of shit about which I want to see actual in-depth political reporting. Durbin is not running again--what is his *actual* reason for doing this? There is an answer (or really multiple answers) to it and we don't have that info ("he's craven/owned by donors/etc. etc." isn't enough).
Durbin is a YES on this deal: “At Democrats’ urging, today’s bill is not the same one we’ve voted down 14 times. Republicans finally woke up and realized their Groundhog Day needed to end. This bill is not perfect, but it takes important steps to reduce their shutdown’s hurt.”
November 10, 2025 at 1:41 AM
This is the kind of shit about which I want to see actual in-depth political reporting. Durbin is not running again--what is his *actual* reason for doing this? There is an answer (or really multiple answers) to it and we don't have that info ("he's craven/owned by donors/etc. etc." isn't enough).
Such absolute horseshit. Members of *the caucus he leads* made the deal, and it's almost certain that Schumer is good with it, meaning he is party to the immense suffering. Or, if he genuinely is aghast at his fellow Dems but couldn't keep them with the rest of the caucus, he must resign as leader.
Schumer says he's a NO on this deal, slamming Republicans for refusing an ACA funding extension.
"Because of Republicans, Americans are going to suffer immensely as this health care crisis gets worse," he said. "Therefore, I must vote no."
He vows to bring this fight to 2026 midterms.
"Because of Republicans, Americans are going to suffer immensely as this health care crisis gets worse," he said. "Therefore, I must vote no."
He vows to bring this fight to 2026 midterms.
November 10, 2025 at 1:31 AM
Such absolute horseshit. Members of *the caucus he leads* made the deal, and it's almost certain that Schumer is good with it, meaning he is party to the immense suffering. Or, if he genuinely is aghast at his fellow Dems but couldn't keep them with the rest of the caucus, he must resign as leader.
Reposted by Geoff Johnson
i think this is key. taking the deal would amount to taking the blame. it would turn a clear political victory into an unambiguous defeat.
If the Dems blink after all of this, for a deal that all but ensures no ACA subsidies in 2026 anyway, then what was the purpose of letting the shutdown go for 40 days in the first place?
November 10, 2025 at 12:56 AM
i think this is key. taking the deal would amount to taking the blame. it would turn a clear political victory into an unambiguous defeat.
Perhaps one (pretty non-sequitur) way to think about Dems agreeing to end the shutdown is that the vast majority of elected Democrats (especially in the Senate) would much much rather cave to the fascist GOP for *nothing* than have Zohran Mamdani be an important figure in the Democratic Party.
in any case it is wild that voters just sent a huge message and a bunch of senate democrats are all, “it doesn’t look like anything to me”
November 10, 2025 at 1:13 AM
Perhaps one (pretty non-sequitur) way to think about Dems agreeing to end the shutdown is that the vast majority of elected Democrats (especially in the Senate) would much much rather cave to the fascist GOP for *nothing* than have Zohran Mamdani be an important figure in the Democratic Party.
Reposted by Geoff Johnson
We polled Indivisible members over the weekend on whether Dems should take a deal or keep fighting for the ACA subsidies. Results: 98.67% said keep fighting.
Dems who vote to surrender now are fracturing their own party in a way that will reverberate loudly in the primaries.
Dems who vote to surrender now are fracturing their own party in a way that will reverberate loudly in the primaries.
So Democrats get:
1. A CR that will prevent the GOP from facing the wrath of Americans for a shutdown over the holidays
2. A coupon for one (1) meaningless ACA vote that will fail
3. An end to the illegal RIF/SNAP moves that are already before the courts
Those all seem like wins for the GOP.
1. A CR that will prevent the GOP from facing the wrath of Americans for a shutdown over the holidays
2. A coupon for one (1) meaningless ACA vote that will fail
3. An end to the illegal RIF/SNAP moves that are already before the courts
Those all seem like wins for the GOP.
November 10, 2025 at 12:40 AM
We polled Indivisible members over the weekend on whether Dems should take a deal or keep fighting for the ACA subsidies. Results: 98.67% said keep fighting.
Dems who vote to surrender now are fracturing their own party in a way that will reverberate loudly in the primaries.
Dems who vote to surrender now are fracturing their own party in a way that will reverberate loudly in the primaries.
Senator Warren should say exactly who it is who is making the mistake, why she thinks they are doing it, and what she’s going to do about it. Otherwise who cares that she thinks it’s a mistake? You caucus with these people in a political party. Now what?
“I think it’s a terrible mistake,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren says of the deal. “People want us to stand and fight for health care, and that's what I believe.” (via Igor Bobic, HuffPo) x.com/igorbobic/st...
November 10, 2025 at 12:44 AM
Senator Warren should say exactly who it is who is making the mistake, why she thinks they are doing it, and what she’s going to do about it. Otherwise who cares that she thinks it’s a mistake? You caucus with these people in a political party. Now what?
One of the many problems with the elected leadership of the Democratic Party right now is that most of us have no idea why they are doing what they are (apparently) doing. Why would they cave *right now* for essentially nothing? What is the logic, even if it's dogshit logic? Totally unclear. 1/2
November 9, 2025 at 10:55 PM
One of the many problems with the elected leadership of the Democratic Party right now is that most of us have no idea why they are doing what they are (apparently) doing. Why would they cave *right now* for essentially nothing? What is the logic, even if it's dogshit logic? Totally unclear. 1/2
Reposted by Geoff Johnson
This was one of the best things government has done in a while:
The I.R.S. is shutting down its free online system for filing tax returns, a program that the Biden administration introduced last year and that users gave high marks.
via @tarasiegelbernard.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/b...
via @tarasiegelbernard.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/b...
I.R.S. Halts Free Online Offering for Filing Taxes Directly
www.nytimes.com
November 9, 2025 at 8:42 PM
This was one of the best things government has done in a while:
Just pre-ordered Anna's book, which I've been looking forward to for awhile. It's one of those books that I imagine will make me significantly adjust how I teach US history to 1865.
March 10 is the release date of the book that took me 16 years to research and write. Here's the PRE-ORDER page: global.oup.com/academic/pro...
November 9, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Just pre-ordered Anna's book, which I've been looking forward to for awhile. It's one of those books that I imagine will make me significantly adjust how I teach US history to 1865.
Reposted by Geoff Johnson
