Nicholas Grossman
@nicholasgrossman.bsky.social
International Relations prof at U. Illinois. Editor of Arc Digital. Author “Drones and Terrorism.” Politics, national security, and occasional nerdery.
One appeaser, Sen. Angus King, explained his decision with, “Standing up to Donald Trump didn’t work.”
Well sure, when you prematurely fold rather than see a fight through, you fail. And why should Trump opponents vote for anyone who thinks standing up to Trump isn’t worth doing?
Well sure, when you prematurely fold rather than see a fight through, you fail. And why should Trump opponents vote for anyone who thinks standing up to Trump isn’t worth doing?
Democrats Have to Get Out of a Normal Democracy Mindset
By folding in the government shutdown in exchange for virtually nothing, eight Democratic senators aid Trump's authoritarian takeover rather than oppose it
www.arcdigital.media
November 11, 2025 at 2:07 AM
One appeaser, Sen. Angus King, explained his decision with, “Standing up to Donald Trump didn’t work.”
Well sure, when you prematurely fold rather than see a fight through, you fail. And why should Trump opponents vote for anyone who thinks standing up to Trump isn’t worth doing?
Well sure, when you prematurely fold rather than see a fight through, you fail. And why should Trump opponents vote for anyone who thinks standing up to Trump isn’t worth doing?
“If we fight united”
That’s it, Senator, no one believes you will. Not Trump and the GOP, who will go even harder now that they’ve seen what makes the Democratic caucus crack and fold. Not the base, which feels betrayed after helping the party to an electoral win.
Any plans to change anything?
That’s it, Senator, no one believes you will. Not Trump and the GOP, who will go even harder now that they’ve seen what makes the Democratic caucus crack and fold. Not the base, which feels betrayed after helping the party to an electoral win.
Any plans to change anything?
That December vote is a huge moment we can turn into a victory. People are watching. Good bill, we win; they cheat, they will lose. If we fight united.
November 11, 2025 at 1:01 AM
“If we fight united”
That’s it, Senator, no one believes you will. Not Trump and the GOP, who will go even harder now that they’ve seen what makes the Democratic caucus crack and fold. Not the base, which feels betrayed after helping the party to an electoral win.
Any plans to change anything?
That’s it, Senator, no one believes you will. Not Trump and the GOP, who will go even harder now that they’ve seen what makes the Democratic caucus crack and fold. Not the base, which feels betrayed after helping the party to an electoral win.
Any plans to change anything?
Reposted by Nicholas Grossman
Yeah, real professionals will quit because this is not Justice. This is a concocted lie by a corrupt President who wants his followers to believe nonsense.
Breaking MSNBC:
The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida called a division-wide meeting this afternoon, following the resignations of two prosecutors who were asked to take part in a vast "conspiracy" investigation into former intel and law enforcement officials.
The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida called a division-wide meeting this afternoon, following the resignations of two prosecutors who were asked to take part in a vast "conspiracy" investigation into former intel and law enforcement officials.
U.S. Attorney investigating alleged grand ‘conspiracy’ calls unit-wide meeting after two prosecutors resign
Career prosecutors on “pins and needles” after flurry of subpoenas approved.
www.msnbc.com
November 10, 2025 at 10:21 PM
Yeah, real professionals will quit because this is not Justice. This is a concocted lie by a corrupt President who wants his followers to believe nonsense.
Reposted by Nicholas Grossman
This shutdown was better than no shutdown, but @nicholasgrossman.bsky.social is right that it could have been better and achieved more. And that the country needs a real, strong, committed opposition party. Not there yet. www.arcdigital.media/p/democrats-...
Democrats Have to Get Out of a Normal Democracy Mindset
By folding in the government shutdown in exchange for virtually nothing, eight Democratic senators aid Trump's authoritarian takeover rather than oppose it
www.arcdigital.media
November 10, 2025 at 8:31 PM
This shutdown was better than no shutdown, but @nicholasgrossman.bsky.social is right that it could have been better and achieved more. And that the country needs a real, strong, committed opposition party. Not there yet. www.arcdigital.media/p/democrats-...
I missed this awful detail in the Senate deal: helping politicians who conspired against America as part of Trump's coup hide their phone records.
That's right, as ICE brutally violates rights in ways that leave people with no recourse, the Senate found time to protect their colleagues from justice.
That's right, as ICE brutally violates rights in ways that leave people with no recourse, the Senate found time to protect their colleagues from justice.
Buried inside the deal to reopen government is a provision that would give Senators private right of action to sue for millions in damages over their phone records being analyzed by Jack Smith's team.
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
Shutdown Deal Would Let Senators Sue Over Jack Smith Searches
Senators whose phone records were sought by Special Counsel Jack Smith would gain authority to sue for millions in damages under a provision buried in the Senate-advanced deal to reopen the government...
news.bloomberglaw.com
November 10, 2025 at 10:18 PM
I missed this awful detail in the Senate deal: helping politicians who conspired against America as part of Trump's coup hide their phone records.
That's right, as ICE brutally violates rights in ways that leave people with no recourse, the Senate found time to protect their colleagues from justice.
That's right, as ICE brutally violates rights in ways that leave people with no recourse, the Senate found time to protect their colleagues from justice.
Reposted by Nicholas Grossman
Why is the "we must be united!" hectoring directed at people who are mad at the Cavers and not to the Cavers? Everyone who's mad was united, then the Cave Caucus walked across the aisle and betrayed what the public had been told was the Dem position.
The sooner we get past internal recriminations and back to fighting united, the better off we all are — the likelier our victory next November.
November 10, 2025 at 10:11 PM
Why is the "we must be united!" hectoring directed at people who are mad at the Cavers and not to the Cavers? Everyone who's mad was united, then the Cave Caucus walked across the aisle and betrayed what the public had been told was the Dem position.
Reposted by Nicholas Grossman
"The Appeasement Eight gave Republicans bipartisan cover, and established another point of leverage Trump has over Congressional Dems...in a rapidly backsliding democracy, harm is happening no matter what. Therefore, preventing authoritarian consolidation is the most harm-reducing move."
Yep:
Yep:
I wrote about the "Appeasement Eight" Senate Democrats getting the party to fold to Trump in the government shutdown, and why it shows that pro-democracy Americans badly need a real opposition party, full of leaders who recognize the United States isn't a normal rule of law democracy anymore.
Democrats Have to Get Out of a Normal Democracy Mindset
By folding in the government shutdown in exchange for virtually nothing, eight Democratic senators aid Trump's authoritarian takeover rather than oppose it
www.arcdigital.media
November 10, 2025 at 8:30 PM
"The Appeasement Eight gave Republicans bipartisan cover, and established another point of leverage Trump has over Congressional Dems...in a rapidly backsliding democracy, harm is happening no matter what. Therefore, preventing authoritarian consolidation is the most harm-reducing move."
Yep:
Yep:
Reposted by Nicholas Grossman
This sums it up nicely
The harm caused by the shutdown was real, affecting millions, and no one should downplay that. But America is not in a situation of harm or no harm. Rapidly backsliding into authoritarianism, America is in a terrible situation where appeasement trades short-term relief for more long-term harm.
Democrats Have to Get Out of a Normal Democracy Mindset
By folding in the government shutdown in exchange for virtually nothing, eight Democratic senators aid Trump's authoritarian takeover rather than oppose it
www.arcdigital.media
November 10, 2025 at 8:22 PM
This sums it up nicely
Good read by @jilldlawrence.bsky.social about Elise Stefanik, who started as a smart conservative, went all in on MAGA, got her nomination to UN Ambassador yanked, and is now attempting to run for governor of New York.
Elise Stefanik’s Bad Bet on MAGA Politics
For a promise of power, she has let herself be yanked around. Now she’s launched a Trumpian campaign for governor of New York.
www.thebulwark.com
November 10, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Good read by @jilldlawrence.bsky.social about Elise Stefanik, who started as a smart conservative, went all in on MAGA, got her nomination to UN Ambassador yanked, and is now attempting to run for governor of New York.
I wrote about the "Appeasement Eight" Senate Democrats getting the party to fold to Trump in the government shutdown, and why it shows that pro-democracy Americans badly need a real opposition party, full of leaders who recognize the United States isn't a normal rule of law democracy anymore.
Democrats Have to Get Out of a Normal Democracy Mindset
By folding in the government shutdown in exchange for virtually nothing, eight Democratic senators aid Trump's authoritarian takeover rather than oppose it
www.arcdigital.media
November 10, 2025 at 8:10 PM
I wrote about the "Appeasement Eight" Senate Democrats getting the party to fold to Trump in the government shutdown, and why it shows that pro-democracy Americans badly need a real opposition party, full of leaders who recognize the United States isn't a normal rule of law democracy anymore.
Hoax (noun): Something real that actually happened that one dislikes and would've preferred hadn't happened
For example, "Democrat Shutdown Hoax" or "Russia hoax"
For example, "Democrat Shutdown Hoax" or "Russia hoax"
Trump in lengthy new post says he will reward air traffic controllers who have worked through the shutdown, punish those who took time off.
November 10, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Hoax (noun): Something real that actually happened that one dislikes and would've preferred hadn't happened
For example, "Democrat Shutdown Hoax" or "Russia hoax"
For example, "Democrat Shutdown Hoax" or "Russia hoax"
“We will keep fighting.”
Okay. In the same way? Because it will likely have the same result.
Or in a different way? If so, why not fight that way now?
Okay. In the same way? Because it will likely have the same result.
Or in a different way? If so, why not fight that way now?
Democrats have been fighting for months to address America's healthcare crisis
For the millions who will lose coverage
For people with cancer who won't get the care they need
For working families who can't afford to pay $25K more a year for healthcare
We will keep fighting
For the millions who will lose coverage
For people with cancer who won't get the care they need
For working families who can't afford to pay $25K more a year for healthcare
We will keep fighting
November 10, 2025 at 4:59 AM
“We will keep fighting.”
Okay. In the same way? Because it will likely have the same result.
Or in a different way? If so, why not fight that way now?
Okay. In the same way? Because it will likely have the same result.
Or in a different way? If so, why not fight that way now?
It’s not left v. center or progressive v. liberal or anything like that. It’s fight v. don’t fight.
November 10, 2025 at 4:21 AM
It’s not left v. center or progressive v. liberal or anything like that. It’s fight v. don’t fight.
Capitulating Democratic senators waited until after the election, indicating they know capitulation was a bad politics that bothers their voters and reduces their chances of retaking power.
November 10, 2025 at 4:09 AM
Capitulating Democratic senators waited until after the election, indicating they know capitulation was a bad politics that bothers their voters and reduces their chances of retaking power.
The craziest part is that Republicans could’ve ended the shutdown on their own anytime they wanted. 50 senators is all it would take.
But they didn’t feel like it. Which is accepted as a premise, so fixing things becomes Democrats’ responsibility, and apparently enough Democratic senators agree.
But they didn’t feel like it. Which is accepted as a premise, so fixing things becomes Democrats’ responsibility, and apparently enough Democratic senators agree.
November 10, 2025 at 3:03 AM
The craziest part is that Republicans could’ve ended the shutdown on their own anytime they wanted. 50 senators is all it would take.
But they didn’t feel like it. Which is accepted as a premise, so fixing things becomes Democrats’ responsibility, and apparently enough Democratic senators agree.
But they didn’t feel like it. Which is accepted as a premise, so fixing things becomes Democrats’ responsibility, and apparently enough Democratic senators agree.
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.
Reposted by Nicholas Grossman
“I also think it’s highly significant that we’ll have 3 year-long appropriations bills attached,” Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins (R-ME) said.🤦♀️WHAT GOOD are those bipartisan bills if Trump spends taxpayer $s however he wants, whatever the Constitution says? www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
Senate reaches deal on ending the shutdown
Democrats are coalescing around a bipartisan agreement to fund the government.
www.politico.com
November 10, 2025 at 2:39 AM
“I also think it’s highly significant that we’ll have 3 year-long appropriations bills attached,” Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins (R-ME) said.🤦♀️WHAT GOOD are those bipartisan bills if Trump spends taxpayer $s however he wants, whatever the Constitution says? www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
Teaching the Trump administration that disrupting air travel gets them what they want would be a bad idea. They’d pull that lever again.
November 10, 2025 at 12:12 AM
Teaching the Trump administration that disrupting air travel gets them what they want would be a bad idea. They’d pull that lever again.
Reposted by Nicholas Grossman
It is genuinely hard for most people to grasp how poor the past was.
November 9, 2025 at 6:23 PM
It is genuinely hard for most people to grasp how poor the past was.
Dear the Bills,
You're supposed to score before the fourth quarter. Waiting until the fourth to score any points runs the risk of spotting your opponent too big a lead to catch, especially when you can't stop them from scoring more.
Beating the Chiefs last week was nice. But still. You know. FYI.
You're supposed to score before the fourth quarter. Waiting until the fourth to score any points runs the risk of spotting your opponent too big a lead to catch, especially when you can't stop them from scoring more.
Beating the Chiefs last week was nice. But still. You know. FYI.
November 9, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Dear the Bills,
You're supposed to score before the fourth quarter. Waiting until the fourth to score any points runs the risk of spotting your opponent too big a lead to catch, especially when you can't stop them from scoring more.
Beating the Chiefs last week was nice. But still. You know. FYI.
You're supposed to score before the fourth quarter. Waiting until the fourth to score any points runs the risk of spotting your opponent too big a lead to catch, especially when you can't stop them from scoring more.
Beating the Chiefs last week was nice. But still. You know. FYI.
The real choice, no matter how much Senators wish it weren't:
"Unfortunately, making things better for the American people coming out of this shutdown is probably not an option. Either Trump makes things worse with Democratic affirmation, or Trump makes things worse despite Democratic opposition."
"Unfortunately, making things better for the American people coming out of this shutdown is probably not an option. Either Trump makes things worse with Democratic affirmation, or Trump makes things worse despite Democratic opposition."
Opinion | Democrats shouldn’t bail out Trump as the shutdown drags on
The best time for the opposition to take a stand, rather than settle for untrustworthy promises, is right now.
www.msnbc.com
November 9, 2025 at 8:52 PM
The real choice, no matter how much Senators wish it weren't:
"Unfortunately, making things better for the American people coming out of this shutdown is probably not an option. Either Trump makes things worse with Democratic affirmation, or Trump makes things worse despite Democratic opposition."
"Unfortunately, making things better for the American people coming out of this shutdown is probably not an option. Either Trump makes things worse with Democratic affirmation, or Trump makes things worse despite Democratic opposition."
Regular reminder that Axios stories saying Dems are about to cave are likely sourced from GOP staffers trying to make it happen.
Doesn't mean it definitely won't happen. But it's like those NYT stories that Harvard is considering caving (they haven't). The anonymous source was trying to manifest it.
Doesn't mean it definitely won't happen. But it's like those NYT stories that Harvard is considering caving (they haven't). The anonymous source was trying to manifest it.
November 9, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Regular reminder that Axios stories saying Dems are about to cave are likely sourced from GOP staffers trying to make it happen.
Doesn't mean it definitely won't happen. But it's like those NYT stories that Harvard is considering caving (they haven't). The anonymous source was trying to manifest it.
Doesn't mean it definitely won't happen. But it's like those NYT stories that Harvard is considering caving (they haven't). The anonymous source was trying to manifest it.
Reposted by Nicholas Grossman
been doing some light reading about the aftermath of the korean dictatorship and I think it's really important that we repeat this to ourselves, to our friends, to our neighbors, to our politicians
Nuremburg trials is the moderate position
He said that the agents would throw food at them to eat. The agents threatened to withhold food for a week and to beat him up if he didn't sign deportation papers. He said he saw others refuse and get beaten/receive no food. He signed because he was afraid.
November 9, 2025 at 6:14 PM
been doing some light reading about the aftermath of the korean dictatorship and I think it's really important that we repeat this to ourselves, to our friends, to our neighbors, to our politicians
Another pardoned January 6 attacker arrested and charged with other, new felonies (in this case, kidnapping and sexual assault).
And don’t miss the part where he got caught firing off a gun on Jan. 6. You may recall the argument that it couldn’t have been an insurrection because it wasn’t armed.
And don’t miss the part where he got caught firing off a gun on Jan. 6. You may recall the argument that it couldn’t have been an insurrection because it wasn’t armed.
A Trump supporter who fired off a gun during the 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol was arrested last month on kidnapping and sexual assault charges, according to the Cook County Sheriff’s Office in Illinois.
Former Jan. 6 defendant arrested on kidnapping and aggravated assault charges
The Utah man was previously charged with firing a gun outside the Capitol during the Jan. 6, 2021, attack.
www.nbcnews.com
November 9, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Another pardoned January 6 attacker arrested and charged with other, new felonies (in this case, kidnapping and sexual assault).
And don’t miss the part where he got caught firing off a gun on Jan. 6. You may recall the argument that it couldn’t have been an insurrection because it wasn’t armed.
And don’t miss the part where he got caught firing off a gun on Jan. 6. You may recall the argument that it couldn’t have been an insurrection because it wasn’t armed.
Democrats ran a variety of candidates in 2025, who tailored campaigns to their constituents—all anti-Trump, but offering different economic specifics based on their locales.
It was a big tent approach and did well with voters everywhere. Presenting that as infighting is an effort to generate drama.
It was a big tent approach and did well with voters everywhere. Presenting that as infighting is an effort to generate drama.
This NYT framing is ludicrously overstated. Sure, there are primaries. But if anything, the results showed a lot of Dems that there's a way to unify the factions around anti-Trump and affordability politics (as I try to argue in the piece/thread below).
November 9, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Democrats ran a variety of candidates in 2025, who tailored campaigns to their constituents—all anti-Trump, but offering different economic specifics based on their locales.
It was a big tent approach and did well with voters everywhere. Presenting that as infighting is an effort to generate drama.
It was a big tent approach and did well with voters everywhere. Presenting that as infighting is an effort to generate drama.