Penny Messinger
@pennymessinger.bsky.social
History professor, gardener, Appalachian expat, feminist, opponent of fascism, Mom, fascinated by the world.
Reposted by Penny Messinger
Reposted by Penny Messinger
None of this trump and Epstein stuff is surprising and yet seeing it in print still feels jarring. it’s easy to be cynical but we absolutely don’t know what will break through until it does.
November 13, 2025 at 3:37 AM
None of this trump and Epstein stuff is surprising and yet seeing it in print still feels jarring. it’s easy to be cynical but we absolutely don’t know what will break through until it does.
Reposted by Penny Messinger
Fresh from their six-week paid vacation, Speaker Johnson finally swore in Congresswoman Adelita Grijalva. A majority of the House has signed the discharge petition for full release of the Epstein File. Let’s vote.
November 12, 2025 at 11:57 PM
Fresh from their six-week paid vacation, Speaker Johnson finally swore in Congresswoman Adelita Grijalva. A majority of the House has signed the discharge petition for full release of the Epstein File. Let’s vote.
Reposted by Penny Messinger
In response to this claim that the "strategy didn't work."
The people were on our side. We were building momentum to help save our democracy. We could have won - the premium increase notices were just starting.
And giving in now will embolden him. Things will likely get worse.
The people were on our side. We were building momentum to help save our democracy. We could have won - the premium increase notices were just starting.
And giving in now will embolden him. Things will likely get worse.
November 10, 2025 at 5:43 PM
In response to this claim that the "strategy didn't work."
The people were on our side. We were building momentum to help save our democracy. We could have won - the premium increase notices were just starting.
And giving in now will embolden him. Things will likely get worse.
The people were on our side. We were building momentum to help save our democracy. We could have won - the premium increase notices were just starting.
And giving in now will embolden him. Things will likely get worse.
Reposted by Penny Messinger
The average SNAP benefit per month is $177 a person.
The average ACA benefit per month is up to $550 a person.
People want us to hold the line for a reason. This is not a matter of appealing to a base. It’s about people’s lives.
And working people want leaders whose word means something to them.
The average ACA benefit per month is up to $550 a person.
People want us to hold the line for a reason. This is not a matter of appealing to a base. It’s about people’s lives.
And working people want leaders whose word means something to them.
November 10, 2025 at 1:49 AM
The average SNAP benefit per month is $177 a person.
The average ACA benefit per month is up to $550 a person.
People want us to hold the line for a reason. This is not a matter of appealing to a base. It’s about people’s lives.
And working people want leaders whose word means something to them.
The average ACA benefit per month is up to $550 a person.
People want us to hold the line for a reason. This is not a matter of appealing to a base. It’s about people’s lives.
And working people want leaders whose word means something to them.
Reposted by Penny Messinger
“It all began back in the heat of summer, when conservatives and major capitalists were picking up the pieces after their attempt to stop Mamdani’s primary bid ran straight into the upstart socialist’s rock star popularity.” @rpaynereport.bsky.social for @salon.com www.salon.com/2025/10/30/p...
Panic in the Hamptons: The fight to stop Zohran Mamdani
Behind closed doors, wealthy donors plotted to stop a movement reshaping New York politics — and exposed their deepest fears.
www.salon.com
October 30, 2025 at 11:44 AM
“It all began back in the heat of summer, when conservatives and major capitalists were picking up the pieces after their attempt to stop Mamdani’s primary bid ran straight into the upstart socialist’s rock star popularity.” @rpaynereport.bsky.social for @salon.com www.salon.com/2025/10/30/p...
Reposted by Penny Messinger
you know this guy had to have made a huge number of enemies for oklahoma republicans to want to take him down (serves him right, he sucks)
THE CHICKENS ARE FINALLY COMING HOME TO ROOST
Ryan Walters is out & the investigation floodgates just opened. The Oklahoma AG launched a full audit of Walters’ entire tenure as Superintendent, and it’s about damn time.
Also the education dept website’s being scrubbed of his culture-war nonsense.
🧵
Ryan Walters is out & the investigation floodgates just opened. The Oklahoma AG launched a full audit of Walters’ entire tenure as Superintendent, and it’s about damn time.
Also the education dept website’s being scrubbed of his culture-war nonsense.
🧵
October 6, 2025 at 11:18 PM
you know this guy had to have made a huge number of enemies for oklahoma republicans to want to take him down (serves him right, he sucks)
Reposted by Penny Messinger
Tim Walz: "My god, we've got the White House threatening investigations and jail time because an escalator stopped? Walk up the damn stairs!"
October 2, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Tim Walz: "My god, we've got the White House threatening investigations and jail time because an escalator stopped? Walk up the damn stairs!"
Reposted by Penny Messinger
My number one message for high school seniors: Fill out the FAFSA. It'll unlock so many opportunities, whether that’s in higher education, job training, or apprenticeships.
The FAFSA form opens on Wednesday.
The FAFSA form opens on Wednesday.
September 30, 2025 at 2:17 AM
My number one message for high school seniors: Fill out the FAFSA. It'll unlock so many opportunities, whether that’s in higher education, job training, or apprenticeships.
The FAFSA form opens on Wednesday.
The FAFSA form opens on Wednesday.
Reposted by Penny Messinger
Pritzker: "In any other country, if federal agents fired upon journalists & protesters when unprovoked what would we call it? If officials marched down streets harassing civilians & demanding their papers, what would we say? I don't think we'd have trouble calling it what it is: authoritarianism"
September 29, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Pritzker: "In any other country, if federal agents fired upon journalists & protesters when unprovoked what would we call it? If officials marched down streets harassing civilians & demanding their papers, what would we say? I don't think we'd have trouble calling it what it is: authoritarianism"
One of the women (then a girl) raped by Ghislaine Maxwell.
Epstein survivor Sarah Ransome on Ghislaine Maxwell: “I have spent the last 17 years in my own prison for what she, Jeffrey, and all the co-conspirators did to me. I was raped three times a day. Ghislaine must die in prison.”
August 25, 2025 at 12:45 PM
One of the women (then a girl) raped by Ghislaine Maxwell.
Reposted by Penny Messinger
Reposted by Penny Messinger
The president of the United States, wearing a novelty hat that says he’s always right and sitting next to the World Cup trophy he stole, insists that “African American ladies, beautiful ladies” are demanding he invade Chicago with the military.
Trump: After we do this, we will go to another location and make it safe too. Chicago is a mess. That will probably be our next one after this. They are screaming for us to come. African American ladies, beautiful ladies are saying "Please President Trump, come to Chicago, please."
August 23, 2025 at 4:33 PM
The president of the United States, wearing a novelty hat that says he’s always right and sitting next to the World Cup trophy he stole, insists that “African American ladies, beautiful ladies” are demanding he invade Chicago with the military.
This was an excellent episode of The Daily Blast. It was great to hear Amanda Marcotte's take on these issues.
The real reason the WH is raging at "The View" and "South Park" is they know it's lethal for Trump that he's increasingly becoming a diminished, widely mocked figure in the culture, says @amandamarcotte.bsky.social.
On the pod we dig deep into the shrinking of Trump:
newrepublic.com/article/1984...
On the pod we dig deep into the shrinking of Trump:
newrepublic.com/article/1984...
Trump Hit by Harsh Takedown on “The View,” Igniting White House Fury
As Trump gets savagely roasted on “The View” and the White House threatens retaliation in response, a skillful decoder of MAGA explains how this saga exposes his deep weaknesses—political and psycholo...
newrepublic.com
July 25, 2025 at 5:20 PM
This was an excellent episode of The Daily Blast. It was great to hear Amanda Marcotte's take on these issues.
Boring, indeed.
Yesterday Trump called the Epstein story "boring," which I guess is one way to describe the story of a shadowy financier with a private island who traffics underage girls for the benefit of rich and powerful celebrities and heads of state, then mysteriously dies in jail
July 17, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Boring, indeed.
It's hard to believe such a crass jerk exists.
It's getting increasingly hard to tell the real thing from James Austin Johnson.
Trump: "We have a great woman here. Salena Zito. She writes on the rust belt and the midwest really, but the rust belt. Anything having to do with rust and belt."
July 15, 2025 at 8:16 PM
It's hard to believe such a crass jerk exists.
Misogynistic female media figures can rise only so far in MAGA media.
"These women have become so popular with right-wing audiences that Shapiro loses his ability to control them, a delicious irony in a realm that aggressively clings to the idea that women must only support men, and never be stars in their own right."
www.salon.com/2025/07/07/b...
www.salon.com/2025/07/07/b...
Brett Cooper: Another MAGA girlboss Ben Shapiro can't control
The ladies auxiliary at the Daily Wire keeps outdoing the male hosts
www.salon.com
July 8, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Misogynistic female media figures can rise only so far in MAGA media.
They also sent out this lie to people who have set up an email account with Social Security (not retired), because I got one. When I read it, I said, this isn't in the bill.!
The official White House rapid response account is just blatant lying. No taxes on Social Security is not in the bill.
July 5, 2025 at 10:56 AM
They also sent out this lie to people who have set up an email account with Social Security (not retired), because I got one. When I read it, I said, this isn't in the bill.!
Reposted by Penny Messinger
one of the stranger phenomena in American life is that hate is supposed to flow in one direction (rural people get to hate urban people, Republicans get to hate Democrats) and if the hate goes the other way people pretend as if this is very upsetting.
The media made a HUGE deal out of "basket of deplorables" and "cling to their guns or religion."
But, of course, it will totally ignore Trump saying he hates Democrats: "I hate them. I believe they hate their country."
But, of course, it will totally ignore Trump saying he hates Democrats: "I hate them. I believe they hate their country."
in addition to his "shylocks" comment, i can't imagine the media backlash if Biden said anything like from this screenshot - that he "hates Republicans" - and i'm also tired of having this "IMAGINE IF BIDEN!" thought experiment but it's just a constant reminder of the double standards
July 4, 2025 at 3:28 PM
one of the stranger phenomena in American life is that hate is supposed to flow in one direction (rural people get to hate urban people, Republicans get to hate Democrats) and if the hate goes the other way people pretend as if this is very upsetting.
Reposted by Penny Messinger
Murkowski and Sullivan voting for this is single most cruel, irresponsible vote they have ever taken. They are willing to see tens of thousands of Americans die. Sullivan is up in 2026. Boot him out. Collins voted to proceed. End her career.
July 1, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Murkowski and Sullivan voting for this is single most cruel, irresponsible vote they have ever taken. They are willing to see tens of thousands of Americans die. Sullivan is up in 2026. Boot him out. Collins voted to proceed. End her career.
He has concepts of the plan.
REPORTER: Is the idea that if some illegal immigrants escapes, they get eaten by an alligator or a snake?
TRUMP: I guess that's the concept. This is not a nice business. I guess that's the concept.
TRUMP: I guess that's the concept. This is not a nice business. I guess that's the concept.
July 1, 2025 at 12:57 PM
He has concepts of the plan.
Oh look! It's a chance to buy into the American Dream.
July 1, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Oh look! It's a chance to buy into the American Dream.
Reposted by Penny Messinger
If Trump sold his own farts in a jar for 100k he would sellout in ten min.
July 1, 2025 at 12:41 PM
If Trump sold his own farts in a jar for 100k he would sellout in ten min.
Reposted by Penny Messinger
mike johnson doesn't give a shit
Every major health system in Louisiana is warning Speaker Mike Johnson and the rest of the state’s congressional delegation that the Senate GOP’s planned Medicaid cuts “would be historic in their devastation.”
Louisiana hospitals warn Mike Johnson of 'devastation' from megabill
www.politico.com
June 28, 2025 at 11:55 PM
mike johnson doesn't give a shit
Reposted by Penny Messinger
Big blue states with big cities have been consistent “givers” to the US Treasury while Alabama is a longtime “taker” of funds, speaking of living off the American taxpayer. @sentuberville.bsky.social is the resource sucking ghoul, not big blue cities. You’re welcome, Tommy.
This from Tommy Tuberville may be the most racist things a U.S. senator has said in my lifetime. And the bar is high.
www.al.com/politics/202...
www.al.com/politics/202...
June 28, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Big blue states with big cities have been consistent “givers” to the US Treasury while Alabama is a longtime “taker” of funds, speaking of living off the American taxpayer. @sentuberville.bsky.social is the resource sucking ghoul, not big blue cities. You’re welcome, Tommy.