Nancy Benson
@n3ben.bsky.social
Professor Emerita University of Illinois journalism, former Fulbright Specialist, Benton Fellow, international journalism consultant, Chicago radio news
Reposted by Nancy Benson
If the president can't constitutionally sign something with an autopen because autopens didn't exist in the eighteenth century, then of course he can't constitutionally sign a bill with a Sharpie, either.
March 17, 2025 at 10:50 AM
If the president can't constitutionally sign something with an autopen because autopens didn't exist in the eighteenth century, then of course he can't constitutionally sign a bill with a Sharpie, either.
Reposted by Nancy Benson
* ONTARIO PREMIER SAYS 'IF THE UNITED STATES ESCALATES, I WILL NOT HESITATE TO SHUT THE ELECTRICITY OFF COMPLETELY'
@reuters.com
@reuters.com
March 10, 2025 at 3:33 PM
* ONTARIO PREMIER SAYS 'IF THE UNITED STATES ESCALATES, I WILL NOT HESITATE TO SHUT THE ELECTRICITY OFF COMPLETELY'
@reuters.com
@reuters.com
Reposted by Nancy Benson
The New York Times is helping hidebound, overmatched Democrats spin the idea that Rep. Al Green’s heckling of Trump was a bad act. They would’ve preferred “a solemn and staid protest.”
No staid protest has ever defeated fascism.
The pro-democracy folks I know were inspired by Green’s defiance.
No staid protest has ever defeated fascism.
The pro-democracy folks I know were inspired by Green’s defiance.
March 9, 2025 at 10:19 PM
The New York Times is helping hidebound, overmatched Democrats spin the idea that Rep. Al Green’s heckling of Trump was a bad act. They would’ve preferred “a solemn and staid protest.”
No staid protest has ever defeated fascism.
The pro-democracy folks I know were inspired by Green’s defiance.
No staid protest has ever defeated fascism.
The pro-democracy folks I know were inspired by Green’s defiance.
Reposted by Nancy Benson
Two notes on the podcast I helped edit, “Division Street Revisited,” an update on Studs Terkel’s fascinating 1960s interviews:
/ The last of 7 episodes airs on Chicago’s WBEZ at 6:30 CT tonight.
/ 4 episodes will air on WNYC in NY on March 15 and March 29 at 2 pm ET to mark Women’s History Month.
/ The last of 7 episodes airs on Chicago’s WBEZ at 6:30 CT tonight.
/ 4 episodes will air on WNYC in NY on March 15 and March 29 at 2 pm ET to mark Women’s History Month.
Division Street Revisited — M. Harris & Co.
A podcast hosted by Pulitzer Prize winner Mary Schmich
www.mharris.com
March 10, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Two notes on the podcast I helped edit, “Division Street Revisited,” an update on Studs Terkel’s fascinating 1960s interviews:
/ The last of 7 episodes airs on Chicago’s WBEZ at 6:30 CT tonight.
/ 4 episodes will air on WNYC in NY on March 15 and March 29 at 2 pm ET to mark Women’s History Month.
/ The last of 7 episodes airs on Chicago’s WBEZ at 6:30 CT tonight.
/ 4 episodes will air on WNYC in NY on March 15 and March 29 at 2 pm ET to mark Women’s History Month.
Reposted by Nancy Benson
Can’t stress this enough! And obviously neither the SEC or the DOJ (at least at the highest levels) is going to seriously investigate and prosecute insider trading.
Just an obvious point that anyone with the inside word on when these these total reversals are going to be announced is in a position to make almost limitless amounts of money. Don't forget that given the kind of people who make up this administration.
March 4, 2025 at 11:25 PM
Can’t stress this enough! And obviously neither the SEC or the DOJ (at least at the highest levels) is going to seriously investigate and prosecute insider trading.
Reposted by Nancy Benson
If we had strong, fearless news media, we'd see headlines like:
"Trump lies about Social Security fraud."
Instead we see headlines about his "game show flair."
"Trump lies about Social Security fraud."
Instead we see headlines about his "game show flair."
March 5, 2025 at 1:22 PM
If we had strong, fearless news media, we'd see headlines like:
"Trump lies about Social Security fraud."
Instead we see headlines about his "game show flair."
"Trump lies about Social Security fraud."
Instead we see headlines about his "game show flair."
Reposted by Nancy Benson
Dear Ukraine and Zelensky,
Ignore @SpeakerJohnson he can’t find his spine and knows better, don’t resign.
Ignore @SpeakerJohnson he can’t find his spine and knows better, don’t resign.
March 2, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Dear Ukraine and Zelensky,
Ignore @SpeakerJohnson he can’t find his spine and knows better, don’t resign.
Ignore @SpeakerJohnson he can’t find his spine and knows better, don’t resign.
Reposted by Nancy Benson
Democratic women are the ones who are stepping up and confronting Musk and Trump.
February 23, 2025 at 6:01 AM
Democratic women are the ones who are stepping up and confronting Musk and Trump.
Should have been the headline a year ago
The New York Times closes the barn door long after it let the horse escape.
February 23, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Should have been the headline a year ago
Reposted by Nancy Benson
I just learned that crows can hold a 17 year grudge against a person and I’ve officially found my new spirit animal…. 🐦⬛🐦⬛🐦⬛
February 22, 2025 at 8:23 AM
I just learned that crows can hold a 17 year grudge against a person and I’ve officially found my new spirit animal…. 🐦⬛🐦⬛🐦⬛
Reposted by Nancy Benson
McConnell's legacy is grim - he fought campaign finance reform, stonewalled Supreme court nominees - but what stands out most? More than any single person, he had the chance to end Trump but chose not to do so, even as he understood the risk Trump posed. donmoynihan.substack.com/p/jan-6-and-...
February 20, 2025 at 11:02 PM
McConnell's legacy is grim - he fought campaign finance reform, stonewalled Supreme court nominees - but what stands out most? More than any single person, he had the chance to end Trump but chose not to do so, even as he understood the risk Trump posed. donmoynihan.substack.com/p/jan-6-and-...
Reposted by Nancy Benson
Democratic leaders:
I think it's abundantly clear at this point that simply going along to get along ain't gonna work. Trying to negotiate ain't gonna work. Being collegial ain't gonna work. What you're doing right now isn't working.
Take your gloves off and punch back. Hard.
I think it's abundantly clear at this point that simply going along to get along ain't gonna work. Trying to negotiate ain't gonna work. Being collegial ain't gonna work. What you're doing right now isn't working.
Take your gloves off and punch back. Hard.
February 19, 2025 at 10:32 PM
Democratic leaders:
I think it's abundantly clear at this point that simply going along to get along ain't gonna work. Trying to negotiate ain't gonna work. Being collegial ain't gonna work. What you're doing right now isn't working.
Take your gloves off and punch back. Hard.
I think it's abundantly clear at this point that simply going along to get along ain't gonna work. Trying to negotiate ain't gonna work. Being collegial ain't gonna work. What you're doing right now isn't working.
Take your gloves off and punch back. Hard.
Reposted by Nancy Benson
Trying to shame a eugenicist for having multiple babies with multiple women won’t work. Just FYI.
February 16, 2025 at 8:57 PM
Trying to shame a eugenicist for having multiple babies with multiple women won’t work. Just FYI.
Glad he's stepping up
Mike Pence just reposted an old article he wrote about the limitations on the powers of a president. For some reason. Here is a part of it.
February 17, 2025 at 12:15 AM
Glad he's stepping up
Reposted by Nancy Benson
Fact check: nearly 70 percent of US money for Ukraine actually went to US defense industry to replenish the stocks of OLD stuff that went to Ukraine to use.
Much of which we would have paid to destroy as their lifespan expired.
Much of which we would have paid to destroy as their lifespan expired.
February 16, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Fact check: nearly 70 percent of US money for Ukraine actually went to US defense industry to replenish the stocks of OLD stuff that went to Ukraine to use.
Much of which we would have paid to destroy as their lifespan expired.
Much of which we would have paid to destroy as their lifespan expired.
How does the SupCo immunity decision factor in here?
This is extraordinarily dangerous. Tomorrow, the legacy media will ask Republican officials about this. Those officials will lie and obfuscate. And the legacy media will move on.
That is part of the crisis we face.
That is part of the crisis we face.
February 16, 2025 at 2:43 AM
How does the SupCo immunity decision factor in here?
Reposted by Nancy Benson
For many years it was my job to report on the Murdoch empire, and this NYT very long read on the family legal feud is incredible. At heart though it captures the Zeitgeist and ugly truth - that society is being dicked around by a tiny handful of very wealthy people
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/13/m...
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/13/m...
Inside the Murdochs’ Succession Drama
More than 3,000 pages of documents reveal how years of betrayals led to a messy court battle that threatens the future of Rupert’s empire.
www.nytimes.com
February 14, 2025 at 12:06 PM
For many years it was my job to report on the Murdoch empire, and this NYT very long read on the family legal feud is incredible. At heart though it captures the Zeitgeist and ugly truth - that society is being dicked around by a tiny handful of very wealthy people
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/13/m...
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/13/m...
Reposted by Nancy Benson
The uncomfortable truth is the "Trump campaigned on egg prices" thing is something Dems tell themselves to rationalize what happened in November. Trump actually campaigned on hate and abusing power -- and won!
The sorry state of the American electorate is a difficult thing to come to terms with.
The sorry state of the American electorate is a difficult thing to come to terms with.
He's not even trying to hide it
Trump's Time Magazine interview exposes a malevolent fool.
www.publicnotice.co
February 12, 2025 at 7:23 PM
The uncomfortable truth is the "Trump campaigned on egg prices" thing is something Dems tell themselves to rationalize what happened in November. Trump actually campaigned on hate and abusing power -- and won!
The sorry state of the American electorate is a difficult thing to come to terms with.
The sorry state of the American electorate is a difficult thing to come to terms with.
Reposted by Nancy Benson
The real game is finally being revealed: Capture massive media megaphone, elect puppet president, install personal hacker army, kneecap Congress, destroy government oversight, grab lucrative contracts.
www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...
www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...
February 13, 2025 at 1:40 PM
The real game is finally being revealed: Capture massive media megaphone, elect puppet president, install personal hacker army, kneecap Congress, destroy government oversight, grab lucrative contracts.
www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...
www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...
They have been mostly responsible for scientific breakthroughs that make our lives better
Research universities have helped establish the meaning of “college” as Americans know it, Ian Bogost writes. But in the face of pressure from the Trump administration, their future may now be up for grabs.
A New Kind of Crisis for American Universities
The ivory tower has been breached.
www.theatlantic.com
February 10, 2025 at 10:12 PM
They have been mostly responsible for scientific breakthroughs that make our lives better
She is not a serious person
Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins slams the Trump admin’s NIH cuts as “poorly conceived” and says she has called RFK to “to express my strong opposition to these arbitrary cuts in funding for vital research.” She says he promised to “re-examine this initiative” if confirmed as HHS secretary.
February 10, 2025 at 10:10 PM
She is not a serious person
Reposted by Nancy Benson
Excuse me while I vent for a moment
SHE IS THE APPROPRIATIONS CHAIR. SHE CAN SUBPOENA OFFICIALS, HOLD TELEVISED HEARINGS, HOLD UP ANYONE’S FUNDING, ZERO OUT THE WHITE HOUSE’S FUCKING ICE CREAM AND DIET COKE BUDGET, AND ENFORCE THE APPROPRIATIONS LAWS THAT ARE THE SOURCE OF HER PERSONAL POWER.
SHE IS THE APPROPRIATIONS CHAIR. SHE CAN SUBPOENA OFFICIALS, HOLD TELEVISED HEARINGS, HOLD UP ANYONE’S FUNDING, ZERO OUT THE WHITE HOUSE’S FUCKING ICE CREAM AND DIET COKE BUDGET, AND ENFORCE THE APPROPRIATIONS LAWS THAT ARE THE SOURCE OF HER PERSONAL POWER.
Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins slams the Trump admin’s NIH cuts as “poorly conceived” and says she has called RFK to “to express my strong opposition to these arbitrary cuts in funding for vital research.” She says he promised to “re-examine this initiative” if confirmed as HHS secretary.
February 10, 2025 at 9:25 PM
Excuse me while I vent for a moment
SHE IS THE APPROPRIATIONS CHAIR. SHE CAN SUBPOENA OFFICIALS, HOLD TELEVISED HEARINGS, HOLD UP ANYONE’S FUNDING, ZERO OUT THE WHITE HOUSE’S FUCKING ICE CREAM AND DIET COKE BUDGET, AND ENFORCE THE APPROPRIATIONS LAWS THAT ARE THE SOURCE OF HER PERSONAL POWER.
SHE IS THE APPROPRIATIONS CHAIR. SHE CAN SUBPOENA OFFICIALS, HOLD TELEVISED HEARINGS, HOLD UP ANYONE’S FUNDING, ZERO OUT THE WHITE HOUSE’S FUCKING ICE CREAM AND DIET COKE BUDGET, AND ENFORCE THE APPROPRIATIONS LAWS THAT ARE THE SOURCE OF HER PERSONAL POWER.
Reposted by Nancy Benson
We need to banish the phrase "claimed without evidence" from journalism. Because 100% of the time it means "This public figure told this lie, but my news organization's conventions prevent me from saying it's a lie, even though it's an obvious lie."
Calling a lie a lie ought to be the convention.
Calling a lie a lie ought to be the convention.
February 10, 2025 at 5:41 PM
We need to banish the phrase "claimed without evidence" from journalism. Because 100% of the time it means "This public figure told this lie, but my news organization's conventions prevent me from saying it's a lie, even though it's an obvious lie."
Calling a lie a lie ought to be the convention.
Calling a lie a lie ought to be the convention.
Reposted by Nancy Benson
For a quick sugar high to “own the libs,” the attempts to shutter USAID would do long term damage that couldn’t be reversed for a generation. My latest:
adamkinzinger.substack.com/p/the-case-f...
adamkinzinger.substack.com/p/the-case-f...
The Case For USAID
It does us, and others, a world of good
adamkinzinger.substack.com
February 10, 2025 at 5:43 PM
For a quick sugar high to “own the libs,” the attempts to shutter USAID would do long term damage that couldn’t be reversed for a generation. My latest:
adamkinzinger.substack.com/p/the-case-f...
adamkinzinger.substack.com/p/the-case-f...
She's such a weak interviewer
After Kristen Welker let National Security Adviser Michael Waltz lie and evade on NBC's "Meet the Press," she wound up her interview by asking him for his Super Bowl pick.
That's how you normalize fascists and tell them you're friendly enough that they can come back later and lie some more.
That's how you normalize fascists and tell them you're friendly enough that they can come back later and lie some more.
February 10, 2025 at 4:40 PM
She's such a weak interviewer