Matt Sowards
@mattsowards.bsky.social
At the intersection of curmudgeon and bon vivant
This is the main reason behind my skepticism with the argument that had Bob Casey won last fall, the reconciliation bill would have failed. Someone else would have flipped. They always flip.
The usual drill played out time and time again. It was 50-50 with Vance now breaking the tie. They never vote against something when it matters - when they will be the deciding vote. They only do it when they know it will pass without them.
July 16, 2025 at 4:11 AM
This is the main reason behind my skepticism with the argument that had Bob Casey won last fall, the reconciliation bill would have failed. Someone else would have flipped. They always flip.
Reposted by Matt Sowards
Evergreen tweet:
To the “both sides are the same!!” crowd, if you TRULY believed that then you shouldn’t be upset about what’s happening right now.
To the “both sides are the same!!” crowd, if you TRULY believed that then you shouldn’t be upset about what’s happening right now.
June 22, 2025 at 12:52 AM
Evergreen tweet:
To the “both sides are the same!!” crowd, if you TRULY believed that then you shouldn’t be upset about what’s happening right now.
To the “both sides are the same!!” crowd, if you TRULY believed that then you shouldn’t be upset about what’s happening right now.
Reposted by Matt Sowards
Trump's executive order tonight has illegally cancelled union contracts for 67% of the federal workforce & 75% of unionized federal employees — roughly 700,000 union workers
This may be the single biggest attack on the labor movement in American history
This may be the single biggest attack on the labor movement in American history
March 28, 2025 at 3:17 AM
Trump's executive order tonight has illegally cancelled union contracts for 67% of the federal workforce & 75% of unionized federal employees — roughly 700,000 union workers
This may be the single biggest attack on the labor movement in American history
This may be the single biggest attack on the labor movement in American history
Reposted by Matt Sowards
Waiting until after Democrats caved on the CR, Trump issues a late night order to eliminate 7 agencies “to the maximum extent” allowed by law, including the organization running the Voice of America, the agency that helps fund museums and libraries in all 50 states, and so on. Order in alt text:
March 15, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Waiting until after Democrats caved on the CR, Trump issues a late night order to eliminate 7 agencies “to the maximum extent” allowed by law, including the organization running the Voice of America, the agency that helps fund museums and libraries in all 50 states, and so on. Order in alt text:
Truly a generational talent.
Gavin Newsom sees 10-point net drop in favorability since launching his podcast. Survey finds "the podcast only made 13% of voters have an improved perception of the Governor, with 26% saying that it harmed their perception."
CA 120: Gavin's podcast - Presidential run or empire building? - Capitol Weekly
Gov. Gavin Newsom's new podcast has sent shockwaves through California's political world. But is there more to Newsom's efforts than meets the eye?
capitolweekly.net
March 16, 2025 at 1:53 AM
Truly a generational talent.
Largely agree with this and think it's a good point. Also the reason Republicans in the House since Gingrich have been unable to actually govern. They're better at being bomb throwers than bridge builders.
To temper the Schumer discussion only slightly. There are majority leaders and minority leaders. Rarely are the requirements for each office housed in the same men. Reid was better in the opposition than the majority. For Schumer, it's the opposite.
March 14, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Largely agree with this and think it's a good point. Also the reason Republicans in the House since Gingrich have been unable to actually govern. They're better at being bomb throwers than bridge builders.
Reposted by Matt Sowards
Schumer is a glad hander. He has his uses, but he's not an opposition leader. We've seen this since Reid retired, though Schumer's miscalculated worse this time than ever before.
March 14, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Schumer is a glad hander. He has his uses, but he's not an opposition leader. We've seen this since Reid retired, though Schumer's miscalculated worse this time than ever before.
Reposted by Matt Sowards
It’s very simple: they are happier and more comfortable when they’re powerless. They know it’s a bad look to be seen giving power away but they’re relieved if someone takes it from them.
It’s the definition of cowardice: preferring the certainty of surrender to the uncertainty of resistance.
It’s the definition of cowardice: preferring the certainty of surrender to the uncertainty of resistance.
I will just put this out there. If all the senators who are saying they want to block this bill really wanted to badly enough they could force Schumer's hand. This isn't 'if Mike Pence has courage'. A leader doesn't buck the overwhelming majority of his caucus. Doesn't happen.
March 13, 2025 at 11:33 PM
It’s very simple: they are happier and more comfortable when they’re powerless. They know it’s a bad look to be seen giving power away but they’re relieved if someone takes it from them.
It’s the definition of cowardice: preferring the certainty of surrender to the uncertainty of resistance.
It’s the definition of cowardice: preferring the certainty of surrender to the uncertainty of resistance.
Reposted by Matt Sowards
Congrats, they heard you! The Social Security Administration has decided tonight to abandon its plans to end phone service for millions of Americans filing retirement and disability claims. Thank you to all who shared our post and made calls today—you did it!
March 13, 2025 at 2:43 AM
Congrats, they heard you! The Social Security Administration has decided tonight to abandon its plans to end phone service for millions of Americans filing retirement and disability claims. Thank you to all who shared our post and made calls today—you did it!
Reminded, again, of Churchill:
"An appeaser is someone who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last"
"An appeaser is someone who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last"
"A desire to capitulate in search of an excuse" sums up a lot of what's happening right now, and it's where Trump gets the bulk of his political strength
March 12, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Reminded, again, of Churchill:
"An appeaser is someone who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last"
"An appeaser is someone who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last"
Reposted by Matt Sowards
Pretty sure Senate Democrats are very, very scared of entering a fight that's not purely performative and doesn't have a clear end date, so they're latching on to any excuse they can get to not do that.
have they lost their minds?
ADDITIONAL POINT: I've now heard this independently from enough sources that I think it's true. A big driver of the Yes faction in the Senate Ds is the idea that a shutdown will slow down the court cases. When first heard this a couple days ago I thought youv'e got to be friggin' kidding. REALLY?
March 12, 2025 at 9:50 PM
Pretty sure Senate Democrats are very, very scared of entering a fight that's not purely performative and doesn't have a clear end date, so they're latching on to any excuse they can get to not do that.
Reposted by Matt Sowards
Elon is attacking somebody falsely and egregiously because they are a real astronaut
March 10, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Elon is attacking somebody falsely and egregiously because they are a real astronaut
Reposted by Matt Sowards
Yesterday I stood with NTEU members as they rallied to defend Treasury employees who keep our economy running. They process tax refunds, protect retirement benefits, and ensure vital services work for millions. Undermining their work hurts everyone and the services we rely on.
March 6, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Yesterday I stood with NTEU members as they rallied to defend Treasury employees who keep our economy running. They process tax refunds, protect retirement benefits, and ensure vital services work for millions. Undermining their work hurts everyone and the services we rely on.
Reposted by Matt Sowards
Let’s make him FAMOUS, shall we?! 👇
You know what to do.
You know what to do.
February 22, 2025 at 12:02 AM
Let’s make him FAMOUS, shall we?! 👇
You know what to do.
You know what to do.
Reposted by Matt Sowards
For all of modern US History conservatives use our ability to project power like a cantankerous regional bully who only picks fights with the weak, while liberals have made us a globe-bestriding superpower the likes of which humankind has never otherwise seen. -OS
January 24, 2025 at 9:33 PM
For all of modern US History conservatives use our ability to project power like a cantankerous regional bully who only picks fights with the weak, while liberals have made us a globe-bestriding superpower the likes of which humankind has never otherwise seen. -OS
Reposted by Matt Sowards
We just had this whole election cycle about how inflation is the unforgivable political sin, which no other widely felt benefit can counterbalance, and it’s discarded two days into the new administration.
JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon said Wednesday that the looming tariffs that President Donald Trump is expected to slap on U.S. trading partners could be viewed positively.
Read more here: cnb.cx/40uxoTI
Read more here: cnb.cx/40uxoTI
January 22, 2025 at 4:37 PM
We just had this whole election cycle about how inflation is the unforgivable political sin, which no other widely felt benefit can counterbalance, and it’s discarded two days into the new administration.
Reposted by Matt Sowards
Zuckerberg would like you to think he dropped out of college because he was too smart for it to challenge him, when it's because he was enough of an idiot to think he was too smart for it.
January 8, 2025 at 4:05 AM
Zuckerberg would like you to think he dropped out of college because he was too smart for it to challenge him, when it's because he was enough of an idiot to think he was too smart for it.
Reposted by Matt Sowards
A gentle reminder that new year resolutions don’t have to be about positive changes. You can commit to be more petty, seek revenge, and disrespect your enemies.
January 1, 2025 at 9:53 PM
A gentle reminder that new year resolutions don’t have to be about positive changes. You can commit to be more petty, seek revenge, and disrespect your enemies.
Agree with Chief here. The Party's position for the next two years should be "fuck off. Pass it yourself"
The key for House Democrats come the new term is to completely let go of the instinct to govern.
December 20, 2024 at 3:58 AM
Agree with Chief here. The Party's position for the next two years should be "fuck off. Pass it yourself"
My kingdom for "sine die"
December 19, 2024 at 4:32 PM
My kingdom for "sine die"
Reposted by Matt Sowards
If you are beginning a social media post with "Elon Musk is right" as Musk is literally part of the incoming administration and randomly threatening to prosecute Americans for opposing Trump, then you would be better off saying nothing at all. Yes, I'm talking about Bernie Sanders.
December 2, 2024 at 2:00 AM
If you are beginning a social media post with "Elon Musk is right" as Musk is literally part of the incoming administration and randomly threatening to prosecute Americans for opposing Trump, then you would be better off saying nothing at all. Yes, I'm talking about Bernie Sanders.
Reposted by Matt Sowards
Starting a phony transgender bathroom debate and hiding behind the guise of “protecting women” to distract from your attempts to push through the confirmations of alleged rapists, sex traffickers, and fraudsters at the highest levels of government is peak Republican Party.
November 21, 2024 at 12:10 PM
Starting a phony transgender bathroom debate and hiding behind the guise of “protecting women” to distract from your attempts to push through the confirmations of alleged rapists, sex traffickers, and fraudsters at the highest levels of government is peak Republican Party.