Ian Vandewalker
@ianvan.bsky.social
Policy advocacy and research on money in politics and disinformation. Senior Counsel & Manager, Brennan Center.
Reposted by Ian Vandewalker
BREAKING: The Trump administration seeks an emergency pause to a court order demanding full November SNAP payments.
Trump administration seeks to halt SNAP food aid payments after a court order
The Trump administration has asked a federal appeals court to block a judge’s order to distribute November’s full SNAP benefits during a U.S. government shutdown. U.S.
bit.ly
November 7, 2025 at 3:34 PM
BREAKING: The Trump administration seeks an emergency pause to a court order demanding full November SNAP payments.
An important piece of the anti-corruption puzzle... www.brennancenter.org/our-work/pol...
Codifying the Constitution’s Emoluments Clauses
To prevent corruption, the Constitution prohibits the president and other officials from receiving untoward benefits. Congress, however, must take action to enable enforcement.
www.brennancenter.org
November 7, 2025 at 7:17 PM
An important piece of the anti-corruption puzzle... www.brennancenter.org/our-work/pol...
Reposted by Ian Vandewalker
At $16 million in campaign spending, the PA retention elections are the second most expensive retention elections ever. But the justices themselves have only raised $4 million, the bulk of the spending is by outside interest groups. 2/
October 30, 2025 at 4:11 PM
At $16 million in campaign spending, the PA retention elections are the second most expensive retention elections ever. But the justices themselves have only raised $4 million, the bulk of the spending is by outside interest groups. 2/
Reposted by Ian Vandewalker
The welfare state is about dignity, equality, and making people not poor, but as @itsafronomics.bsky.social says/cites here, it’s often also an investment that more than pays for itself
Why should you 🫵🏿 care about SNAP? SNAP recipients saw:
- Improved life expectancy
- Lower chance of incarceration
- Lowers chance of poverty
- Lived in better neighborhoods
- Higher human capital
SNAP keeps our neighbors fed, communities safer, and kids educated. Also people are HUNGRY. DUH!
- Improved life expectancy
- Lower chance of incarceration
- Lowers chance of poverty
- Lived in better neighborhoods
- Higher human capital
SNAP keeps our neighbors fed, communities safer, and kids educated. Also people are HUNGRY. DUH!
November 2, 2025 at 3:58 PM
The welfare state is about dignity, equality, and making people not poor, but as @itsafronomics.bsky.social says/cites here, it’s often also an investment that more than pays for itself
Reposted by Ian Vandewalker
NEW: Jury selection begins in the trial of sandwich guy today. The prosecutors are accusing him of "throwing a meat sandwich" at "point-blank range."
POINT-BLANK RANGE 💀 www.nbcnews.com/politics/tru...
POINT-BLANK RANGE 💀 www.nbcnews.com/politics/tru...
Jury selection begins in the trial of D.C.'s 'sandwich guy'
Sean Dunn went viral this summer for throwing a salami sub at a Customs and Border Protection agent.
www.nbcnews.com
November 3, 2025 at 6:05 PM
NEW: Jury selection begins in the trial of sandwich guy today. The prosecutors are accusing him of "throwing a meat sandwich" at "point-blank range."
POINT-BLANK RANGE 💀 www.nbcnews.com/politics/tru...
POINT-BLANK RANGE 💀 www.nbcnews.com/politics/tru...
Anonymous donors funding the ballroom. "The fund-raising is being overseen by Meredith O’Rourke, Mr. Trump’s lead campaign finance operative, with assistance from a handful of lobbyists and consultants who have been top bundlers for various Trump groups." www.nytimes.com/2025/11/01/u...
Trump’s Team Offers to Keep Some Ballroom Donors Incognito
www.nytimes.com
November 3, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Anonymous donors funding the ballroom. "The fund-raising is being overseen by Meredith O’Rourke, Mr. Trump’s lead campaign finance operative, with assistance from a handful of lobbyists and consultants who have been top bundlers for various Trump groups." www.nytimes.com/2025/11/01/u...
Reposted by Ian Vandewalker
Let's remember that earlier this year, the Trump administration canceled 94 million pounds of aid that was supposed to go to food banks.
Soon after, the USDA abruptly ended its 27-year practice of collecting national data on hunger.
Again, there's nothing "accidental" about the suffering to come.
Soon after, the USDA abruptly ended its 27-year practice of collecting national data on hunger.
Again, there's nothing "accidental" about the suffering to come.
Trump Canceled 94 Million Pounds of Food Aid. Here’s What Never Arrived.
ProPublica obtained records from the Department of Agriculture that detail the millions of pounds of food, down to the number of eggs, that never reached food banks because of the administration’s cut...
projects.propublica.org
October 31, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Let's remember that earlier this year, the Trump administration canceled 94 million pounds of aid that was supposed to go to food banks.
Soon after, the USDA abruptly ended its 27-year practice of collecting national data on hunger.
Again, there's nothing "accidental" about the suffering to come.
Soon after, the USDA abruptly ended its 27-year practice of collecting national data on hunger.
Again, there's nothing "accidental" about the suffering to come.
Reposted by Ian Vandewalker
Just so we're clear: This administration's blatant, unapologetic choice to deny food to 42 million people—to have the money sitting there and say, "No, we'll let them go hungry"—is simply a more overt display of why homelessness and poverty keep worsening in this country.
Because it's *decided.*
Because it's *decided.*
Judge Skeptical Over Trump Administration Decision to Suspend Food Stamps
www.nytimes.com
October 31, 2025 at 12:29 PM
Just so we're clear: This administration's blatant, unapologetic choice to deny food to 42 million people—to have the money sitting there and say, "No, we'll let them go hungry"—is simply a more overt display of why homelessness and poverty keep worsening in this country.
Because it's *decided.*
Because it's *decided.*
Does the oath for Florida surgeon general start with "first, do harm"?
FL is moving forward w/ plan to end all childhood vaccine mandates. Starting with hepatitis B, chickenpox, and the bacteria causing meningitis and pneumonia. Then next year GOP FL legislature is expected to revisit 1977 law re: whooping cough, measles, polio, rubella, mumps, diphtheria, and tetanus.
October 31, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Does the oath for Florida surgeon general start with "first, do harm"?
Today in dystopia...
California police boost patrols at grocery stores as millions set to lose SNAP benefits
California police boost patrols at grocery stores as millions set to lose SNAP benefits
www.foxla.com
October 30, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Today in dystopia...
Keeping talent out of our universities... This idiot has such angry pride in making the USA dumber, sicker, and poorer.
Florida's governor is telling public universities to stop hiring anyone on a H-1B visa. Expect other red states to follow suit.
Florida’s Public Universities Should No Longer Hire Foreign Employees, DeSantis Says
The Republican governor’s directive on H-1B visas comes as President Trump has initiated his policy of charging employers a new $100,000 fee to hire people from outside the United States.
www.chronicle.com
October 30, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Keeping talent out of our universities... This idiot has such angry pride in making the USA dumber, sicker, and poorer.
Reposted by Ian Vandewalker
"This spring, Binance took steps that catapulted the Trump family venture’s new stablecoin product, enhancing its credibility and pushing its market capitalization up from $127 million to over $2.1 billion. Trump granted Zhao a presidential pardon last week..." www.wsj.com/finance/curr...
Binance Boosted Trump Family’s Crypto Company Ahead of Pardon for Its Billionaire Founder
The giant crypto exchange facilitated a $2 billion purchase of World Liberty’s stablecoin and built its technology. The clemency for Changpeng Zhao—the tycoon known as CZ—surprised some in the adminis...
www.wsj.com
October 30, 2025 at 12:15 PM
"This spring, Binance took steps that catapulted the Trump family venture’s new stablecoin product, enhancing its credibility and pushing its market capitalization up from $127 million to over $2.1 billion. Trump granted Zhao a presidential pardon last week..." www.wsj.com/finance/curr...
$130 million gift to the Pentagon from one of Trump's biggest 2024 backers is laughably small in terms of military salaries, but enough to make Trump fawn all over his "friend" Timothy Mellon (whose name he didn't want to reveal). www.nytimes.com/2025/10/25/u...
Donor Who Gave $130 Million to Pay Troops Is Reclusive Heir to Mellon Fortune
www.nytimes.com
October 27, 2025 at 2:04 PM
$130 million gift to the Pentagon from one of Trump's biggest 2024 backers is laughably small in terms of military salaries, but enough to make Trump fawn all over his "friend" Timothy Mellon (whose name he didn't want to reveal). www.nytimes.com/2025/10/25/u...
From Altria (tobacco) to Winklevoss (crypto), here are the corporate interests paying for the destruction of the East Wing of the White House to make a party venue. www.pbs.org/newshour/pol...
Who’s paying for Trump’s $300 million ballroom?
The president has maintained that the multi-million-dollar project will be paid by private donations — and not by taxpayers.
www.pbs.org
October 24, 2025 at 2:46 PM
From Altria (tobacco) to Winklevoss (crypto), here are the corporate interests paying for the destruction of the East Wing of the White House to make a party venue. www.pbs.org/newshour/pol...
Reposted by Ian Vandewalker
“Medical staff did not give her any food, water, or pain medication for several hours. Much later that evening, after a significant loss of blood, Lucia was transported to an emergency room approximately an hour away, with her arms and legs shackled.”
Pregnant women describe miscarrying and bleeding out while in ICE custody, advocates say
The ACLU and other groups are pressing for ICE to identify and release all pregnant women in custody and to stop detaining anyone known to be pregnant, postpartum or nursing.
www.nbcnews.com
October 23, 2025 at 6:38 PM
“Medical staff did not give her any food, water, or pain medication for several hours. Much later that evening, after a significant loss of blood, Lucia was transported to an emergency room approximately an hour away, with her arms and legs shackled.”
Reposted by Ian Vandewalker
The White House is trying to undermine U.S. elections. Keep track and learn more with our interactive timeline: bit.ly/3IZMSdG
October 23, 2025 at 4:50 PM
The White House is trying to undermine U.S. elections. Keep track and learn more with our interactive timeline: bit.ly/3IZMSdG
Reposted by Ian Vandewalker
President Trump has pardoned Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, whose crypto exchange has been boosting the Trump family's own crypto venture.
Exclusive | Trump Pardons Convicted Binance Founder
The pardon follows months of efforts by Changpeng Zhao to boost Trump crypto company
on.wsj.com
October 23, 2025 at 3:10 PM
President Trump has pardoned Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, whose crypto exchange has been boosting the Trump family's own crypto venture.
Reposted by Ian Vandewalker
I want more people to care that SNAP benefits are being cut off on November 1. 40% of SNAP beneficiaries are children. This is callous and vile.
October 22, 2025 at 12:33 AM
I want more people to care that SNAP benefits are being cut off on November 1. 40% of SNAP beneficiaries are children. This is callous and vile.
Reposted by Ian Vandewalker
A 200-person homeless encampment in Gainesville, GA, is being cleared this week. Many of those living in tents have jobs but can't afford rent.
One woman estimated she's been forced to move 20 times. "There's a lot of people who get checks that don't have enough money to get places," she said.
One woman estimated she's been forced to move 20 times. "There's a lot of people who get checks that don't have enough money to get places," she said.
200-person homeless camp on community soccer field to be cleared
Many work full time but still can't afford housing.
www.wsbtv.com
October 18, 2025 at 1:39 PM
A 200-person homeless encampment in Gainesville, GA, is being cleared this week. Many of those living in tents have jobs but can't afford rent.
One woman estimated she's been forced to move 20 times. "There's a lot of people who get checks that don't have enough money to get places," she said.
One woman estimated she's been forced to move 20 times. "There's a lot of people who get checks that don't have enough money to get places," she said.
Reposted by Ian Vandewalker
So for-profit AI companies have trained on the world's largest collaborative volunteer project and a precious free resource, to make money for their for-profit enterprises. They have crushed traffic to the volunteer project, starving it of donors and volunteers
www.404media.co/wikipedia-sa...
www.404media.co/wikipedia-sa...
Wikipedia Says AI Is Causing a Dangerous Decline in Human Visitors
“With fewer visits to Wikipedia, fewer volunteers may grow and enrich the content, and fewer individual donors may support this work.”
www.404media.co
October 17, 2025 at 2:28 PM
So for-profit AI companies have trained on the world's largest collaborative volunteer project and a precious free resource, to make money for their for-profit enterprises. They have crushed traffic to the volunteer project, starving it of donors and volunteers
www.404media.co/wikipedia-sa...
www.404media.co/wikipedia-sa...
Reposted by Ian Vandewalker
BREAKING from PP
We found immigration agents have held more than 170 *citizens*
The govt doesn't track citizens held. So we did. We tallied:
Nearly 20 kids, two w/ cancer
More than 20 citizens held for day or more, incommunicado
www.propublica.org/article/immi...
by @nicolefoy.bsky.social
We found immigration agents have held more than 170 *citizens*
The govt doesn't track citizens held. So we did. We tallied:
Nearly 20 kids, two w/ cancer
More than 20 citizens held for day or more, incommunicado
www.propublica.org/article/immi...
by @nicolefoy.bsky.social
More Than 170 U.S. Citizens Have Been Held by Immigration Agents. They’ve Been Kicked, Dragged and Detained for Days.
The government does not track how often immigration agents grab citizens. So ProPublica did. Our tally — almost certainly incomplete — includes people who were held for days without a lawyer. And near...
www.propublica.org
October 16, 2025 at 4:06 PM
BREAKING from PP
We found immigration agents have held more than 170 *citizens*
The govt doesn't track citizens held. So we did. We tallied:
Nearly 20 kids, two w/ cancer
More than 20 citizens held for day or more, incommunicado
www.propublica.org/article/immi...
by @nicolefoy.bsky.social
We found immigration agents have held more than 170 *citizens*
The govt doesn't track citizens held. So we did. We tallied:
Nearly 20 kids, two w/ cancer
More than 20 citizens held for day or more, incommunicado
www.propublica.org/article/immi...
by @nicolefoy.bsky.social
"Many of the companies have large contracts with the federal government, including Amazon, Lockheed Martin and Palantir Technologies." www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Trump wants a White House ballroom. These companies are funding it.
Tech, crypto and defense companies are among the donors that have committed millions to help turn Trump’s ballroom dream into a reality, according to the White House.
www.washingtonpost.com
October 16, 2025 at 5:23 PM
"Many of the companies have large contracts with the federal government, including Amazon, Lockheed Martin and Palantir Technologies." www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Ian Vandewalker
I teach American government to 200+ college students.
If I don't point out to students through the college newspaper that constitutional principles and the rule of law are being undermined, what use am I? This is not about partisanship. dailycollegian.com/2025/10/lett...
If I don't point out to students through the college newspaper that constitutional principles and the rule of law are being undermined, what use am I? This is not about partisanship. dailycollegian.com/2025/10/lett...
Letter: Defend democracy against unchecked presidential power
‘Every generation is called to renew democracy. Yours will be tested,’ writes Ray La Raja
dailycollegian.com
October 15, 2025 at 3:39 PM
I teach American government to 200+ college students.
If I don't point out to students through the college newspaper that constitutional principles and the rule of law are being undermined, what use am I? This is not about partisanship. dailycollegian.com/2025/10/lett...
If I don't point out to students through the college newspaper that constitutional principles and the rule of law are being undermined, what use am I? This is not about partisanship. dailycollegian.com/2025/10/lett...
Reposted by Ian Vandewalker
Pennsylvania's state supreme court retention race "is already the most expensive retention election in [the state's] history," @douglaskeith.bsky.social told @notus.com reports. It "speaks to the new era of state judicial politics that we’re in today."
National Parties Are Investing in These ‘Sleepy’ Pennsylvania Retention Elections
“This is one of the most important races in the country that nobody’s talking about,” a vice chair at the Democratic National Committee told NOTUS.
www.notus.org
October 15, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Pennsylvania's state supreme court retention race "is already the most expensive retention election in [the state's] history," @douglaskeith.bsky.social told @notus.com reports. It "speaks to the new era of state judicial politics that we’re in today."