Chris Nehls
@nehls.bsky.social
Senior advisor @americalabs Congressional reform, democracy, civic tech. US History PhD. 3x Wahoo. Back from Japan. Let's Go Mets. 🏀. wants to know the exact dimensions of hell
Reposted by Chris Nehls
I’m long passed taking the high road with these people. If you’re actively abetting the destruction of American democracy I wish nothing but psychic torment and paper cuts for you.
November 27, 2025 at 4:23 AM
I’m long passed taking the high road with these people. If you’re actively abetting the destruction of American democracy I wish nothing but psychic torment and paper cuts for you.
Reposted by Chris Nehls
"I say we take off and nuke the site from orbit. It's the only way to be sure."
November 27, 2025 at 2:30 AM
"I say we take off and nuke the site from orbit. It's the only way to be sure."
I think this is in reference to Hayden Christensen trying to be Mark Ruffalo
November 27, 2025 at 3:17 AM
I think this is in reference to Hayden Christensen trying to be Mark Ruffalo
Reposted by Chris Nehls
Betty White and Lorne Greene hosting the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade, 1965
November 29, 2024 at 7:15 PM
Betty White and Lorne Greene hosting the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade, 1965
Rewatching the Todd Haynes Velvet Underground doc and totally missed this the first time
November 27, 2025 at 2:37 AM
Rewatching the Todd Haynes Velvet Underground doc and totally missed this the first time
I googled "118th Congress retirements" to refresh my memory of other mid-session ones and this is what the AI delivered... 3 out of 8 of these are right.
November 25, 2025 at 9:02 PM
I googled "118th Congress retirements" to refresh my memory of other mid-session ones and this is what the AI delivered... 3 out of 8 of these are right.
Reposted by Chris Nehls
*hauls out drum he’s been banging for over two decades* now would be the perfect time to reject Hutchinson v. Proxmire and recognize that Speech or Debate Clause immunity should ABSOLUTELY protect members’ communications with the public at large.
“Within the White House, Trump and his lieutenants aren’t planning on letting up…Trump has told some advisers that he wants RICO prosecutions and conspiracy charges leveled against the six Democrats, a source with direct knowledge of the matter tells Zeteo…
zeteo.com/p/how-we-gre...
zeteo.com/p/how-we-gre...
November 24, 2025 at 10:42 PM
*hauls out drum he’s been banging for over two decades* now would be the perfect time to reject Hutchinson v. Proxmire and recognize that Speech or Debate Clause immunity should ABSOLUTELY protect members’ communications with the public at large.
Historically, too - railroad bubbles leading to labor unions and Populism. More than voter backlash is possible
One explanation for economic populism in the US is the recurring cycle of bubbles and bailouts that happens without any democratic input
November 24, 2025 at 10:51 PM
Historically, too - railroad bubbles leading to labor unions and Populism. More than voter backlash is possible
Reposted by Chris Nehls
Side note: "They don't even allow little wins like announcing small grants"
I noticed early in Trump I that cabinet sec'ys weren't making announcements as sec'ys had in the past; they ~all came from the WH. And that way is esp stupid w/ Congress. But, Trump is the no carrot, all stick president.
I noticed early in Trump I that cabinet sec'ys weren't making announcements as sec'ys had in the past; they ~all came from the WH. And that way is esp stupid w/ Congress. But, Trump is the no carrot, all stick president.
November 24, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Side note: "They don't even allow little wins like announcing small grants"
I noticed early in Trump I that cabinet sec'ys weren't making announcements as sec'ys had in the past; they ~all came from the WH. And that way is esp stupid w/ Congress. But, Trump is the no carrot, all stick president.
I noticed early in Trump I that cabinet sec'ys weren't making announcements as sec'ys had in the past; they ~all came from the WH. And that way is esp stupid w/ Congress. But, Trump is the no carrot, all stick president.
I go to basically every Mets game here in DC and the number of Nimmo jerseys I see is ... not many. We're a savvy group.
November 24, 2025 at 1:16 AM
I go to basically every Mets game here in DC and the number of Nimmo jerseys I see is ... not many. We're a savvy group.
I don’t mean to brag
I don’t mean to boast
But I’m intercontinental when I eat French toast
I don’t mean to boast
But I’m intercontinental when I eat French toast
November 23, 2025 at 1:36 PM
I don’t mean to brag
I don’t mean to boast
But I’m intercontinental when I eat French toast
I don’t mean to boast
But I’m intercontinental when I eat French toast
Reposted by Chris Nehls
What exactly is a Thurber-themed tattoo?
November 22, 2025 at 7:13 AM
What exactly is a Thurber-themed tattoo?
What exactly is a Thurber-themed tattoo?
November 22, 2025 at 7:13 AM
What exactly is a Thurber-themed tattoo?
Reposted by Chris Nehls
As a retiring but still sitting member of the House, MTG has the opportunity to read into the public record documents that otherwise could not be released... and would be protected by the constitution's speech or debate clause from prosecution.
November 22, 2025 at 2:21 AM
As a retiring but still sitting member of the House, MTG has the opportunity to read into the public record documents that otherwise could not be released... and would be protected by the constitution's speech or debate clause from prosecution.
@americalabs.org and I spoke with ND prof James Curry about how leadership in Congress restricts info to control members and ideas for how the rank and file can have more info at their disposal open.substack.com/pub/firstbra...
open.substack.com
November 21, 2025 at 6:06 PM
@americalabs.org and I spoke with ND prof James Curry about how leadership in Congress restricts info to control members and ideas for how the rank and file can have more info at their disposal open.substack.com/pub/firstbra...
Reposted by Chris Nehls
We spent a year investigating billionaires for @washingtonpost.com.
We found: the wealthiest 100 Americans gave $1.1 billion to influence the 2024 elections — 140x more than they did in 2000. And almost all of that giving boosted Republicans.
washingtonpost.com/politics/int...
We found: the wealthiest 100 Americans gave $1.1 billion to influence the 2024 elections — 140x more than they did in 2000. And almost all of that giving boosted Republicans.
washingtonpost.com/politics/int...
November 21, 2025 at 2:56 PM
We spent a year investigating billionaires for @washingtonpost.com.
We found: the wealthiest 100 Americans gave $1.1 billion to influence the 2024 elections — 140x more than they did in 2000. And almost all of that giving boosted Republicans.
washingtonpost.com/politics/int...
We found: the wealthiest 100 Americans gave $1.1 billion to influence the 2024 elections — 140x more than they did in 2000. And almost all of that giving boosted Republicans.
washingtonpost.com/politics/int...
Hive mind question, Congress people: McCarthy and Jeffries announced a task force on expelling members off committees in ‘23. Did it ever meet? Issue recs?
November 21, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Hive mind question, Congress people: McCarthy and Jeffries announced a task force on expelling members off committees in ‘23. Did it ever meet? Issue recs?
Aren’t you allegedly a first amendment attorney
Mike Johnson on Trump calling for Democrats to be executed: "Attorneys have to parse the language and determine all that."
November 21, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Aren’t you allegedly a first amendment attorney
Reposted by Chris Nehls
After watching an episode of Slow Horses tonight, I said, let's see what's up with Ken Burns' Revolution. All I can say is, whatever possessed him to think that the best way to get Americans to think seriously about the legacy of the Revolution is to review the history of the Revolutionary War?
November 21, 2025 at 4:56 AM
After watching an episode of Slow Horses tonight, I said, let's see what's up with Ken Burns' Revolution. All I can say is, whatever possessed him to think that the best way to get Americans to think seriously about the legacy of the Revolution is to review the history of the Revolutionary War?
Domestic Abu Ghraib
ICE’s Detention Center outside Chicago was sued on October 30 for allegedly abusing detainees. One day later, a "system crash" lost all video footage that could have shown how detainees were being treated. trib.al/QwT3aqI
November 21, 2025 at 12:55 AM
Domestic Abu Ghraib
We got a bunch of Abu Ghraibs stateside as we bury Dick Cheney
"A Chinese immigrant was found dead in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention, with his hands and feet tied behind him, an attorney has alleged."
www.newsweek.com/ice-detainee...
www.newsweek.com/ice-detainee...
Man detained by ICE found dead, hanging with hands and feet tied—attorney
The Chinese national died in Pennsylvania in August, but his family's requests for answers from DHS have gone unmet.
www.newsweek.com
November 20, 2025 at 12:35 PM
We got a bunch of Abu Ghraibs stateside as we bury Dick Cheney
This is a Sam Merrill appreciation skeet as he’s not playing
November 20, 2025 at 1:35 AM
This is a Sam Merrill appreciation skeet as he’s not playing
best story so far about how the House Freedom Caucus and Russ Vought are in cahoots www.notus.org/congress/mar...
A Top Republican Wanted to Reclaim Congress’ Spending Authority. The White House Stopped Him.
Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart, a top appropriator, tried to add guardrails from ‘pocket rescissions’ in an appropriations bill. But then Office of Management Budget Director Russ Vought talked to him.
www.notus.org
November 19, 2025 at 1:08 PM
best story so far about how the House Freedom Caucus and Russ Vought are in cahoots www.notus.org/congress/mar...