Paul Beddoe
@pvbeddoe.bsky.social
🏛️ Retired lobbyist. 🏥 True believer in Medicaid and public health. 🎓Ecclesiastical history PhD. ⛪️ High church Lutheran. 🇳🇴🇬🇧🇩🇪 Love family history,🕵️♀️ Nordic Noir, 💍 Tolkien. 🏳️🌈Happily gay married.
Reposted by Paul Beddoe
Someone vandalized our anti-ICE #nativity, but we came back stronger than ever. It’s a piece of living art, and we’re not going to stop sharing our message of compassion and love. We get knocked down, but we get back up again - better and stronger. Love wins - never doubt it.
December 13, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Someone vandalized our anti-ICE #nativity, but we came back stronger than ever. It’s a piece of living art, and we’re not going to stop sharing our message of compassion and love. We get knocked down, but we get back up again - better and stronger. Love wins - never doubt it.
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#DHS called my nativity "offensive to Christians," and I've got a lot to say about that. What's offensive to Christians is the vile way that they treat bearers of the image of God - that's everybody. We've got to stand up to this secret police force with all we have before it's too late.
December 11, 2025 at 7:38 PM
#DHS called my nativity "offensive to Christians," and I've got a lot to say about that. What's offensive to Christians is the vile way that they treat bearers of the image of God - that's everybody. We've got to stand up to this secret police force with all we have before it's too late.
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Collective punishment is driving this country, but it doesn’t have to be that way. As Christians it’s up to us to articulate a theology of collective blessing instead - one that stands up for our #Muslim friends and neighbors against the #islamophobia in this country.
December 10, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Collective punishment is driving this country, but it doesn’t have to be that way. As Christians it’s up to us to articulate a theology of collective blessing instead - one that stands up for our #Muslim friends and neighbors against the #islamophobia in this country.
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I gotta say, I assumed a religion angle in this story would show up eventually, but I can't say this is the kind I expected.
(Side note: two overtly contradictory theologies have gotten some air time in MAGA-land recently — one that insists Jesus never broke the law, and, also, this.)
(Side note: two overtly contradictory theologies have gotten some air time in MAGA-land recently — one that insists Jesus never broke the law, and, also, this.)
She compares the boat strikes to Jesus breaking the sabbath to heal someone.
December 6, 2025 at 10:53 PM
I gotta say, I assumed a religion angle in this story would show up eventually, but I can't say this is the kind I expected.
(Side note: two overtly contradictory theologies have gotten some air time in MAGA-land recently — one that insists Jesus never broke the law, and, also, this.)
(Side note: two overtly contradictory theologies have gotten some air time in MAGA-land recently — one that insists Jesus never broke the law, and, also, this.)
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Everything in our nativity was done to real people in Chicagoland. After Hannity put our church on his show, some people said that it was "sacrilege," but the real sacrilege is what is done to our immigrant neighbors and siblings by ICE. That's what profanes the image of God.
Religion note: Remember that pastor who was arrested protesting an ICE detention facility outside Chicago recently? The one who was photographed on the ground as officers arrested him?
That's Rev. Michael Woolf, and this is his church.
That's Rev. Michael Woolf, and this is his church.
December 4, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Everything in our nativity was done to real people in Chicagoland. After Hannity put our church on his show, some people said that it was "sacrilege," but the real sacrilege is what is done to our immigrant neighbors and siblings by ICE. That's what profanes the image of God.
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Muppet Christmas Carol
What is the message of A Christmas Carol if not "Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand?"
The ax is at the root of the tree, Scrooge.
What is the message of A Christmas Carol if not "Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand?"
The ax is at the root of the tree, Scrooge.
What’s the best advent movie?
December 2, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Muppet Christmas Carol
What is the message of A Christmas Carol if not "Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand?"
The ax is at the root of the tree, Scrooge.
What is the message of A Christmas Carol if not "Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand?"
The ax is at the root of the tree, Scrooge.
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imagine walking down the beach and seeing jesus carrying some guy
November 22, 2025 at 1:04 AM
imagine walking down the beach and seeing jesus carrying some guy
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@govpritzker.illinois.gov I want you to watch this video of me slammed to the ground- why are you allowing this to happen to people you know are on the right side of history. They tied my hands behind my back and when I asked them to be loosened because I was going numb they said, “STFU.”
at one point, i watched a cook county sheriff’s officer (who appears to be in charge) point out a priest in the crowd.
he and a couple officers then went into the crowd , dragged him into the street, and arrested him.
situation is still tense as crowd jostles with police to get into the street.
he and a couple officers then went into the crowd , dragged him into the street, and arrested him.
situation is still tense as crowd jostles with police to get into the street.
November 15, 2025 at 5:34 PM
@govpritzker.illinois.gov I want you to watch this video of me slammed to the ground- why are you allowing this to happen to people you know are on the right side of history. They tied my hands behind my back and when I asked them to be loosened because I was going numb they said, “STFU.”
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Listening to these pathetic rationalizations from King, Hassan, Shaheen, whoever else they have queued up.
Disappointed that they're not having windup speech by Sen. Neville Chamberlain.
Disappointed that they're not having windup speech by Sen. Neville Chamberlain.
November 10, 2025 at 2:33 AM
Listening to these pathetic rationalizations from King, Hassan, Shaheen, whoever else they have queued up.
Disappointed that they're not having windup speech by Sen. Neville Chamberlain.
Disappointed that they're not having windup speech by Sen. Neville Chamberlain.
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Yeah, I'm sorry, but you do not keep the government shut for more than a month and then NOT get a deal on the main item you have been messaging on without completely shifting the blame dynamic.
Major concession from Democrats here is enhanced ACA funds aren’t extended. Preserving them was Dems’ central demand in this fight. They secured a promise of a vote (which Thune has been offering for weeks), but that could still fail. Even if it passes, Johnson has made no promise of a House vote.
Tentative Senate deal to end shutdown, multiple sources tell me & @frankthorp.bsky.social:
—CR through Jan 30
—Approps minibus
—Fully funds SNAP
—Reverses Trump’s shutdown RIFs
—Promise of Senate vote on ACA subsidies by Dec second week (details/outcome uncertain)
—Led by King/Shaheen/Hassan
—CR through Jan 30
—Approps minibus
—Fully funds SNAP
—Reverses Trump’s shutdown RIFs
—Promise of Senate vote on ACA subsidies by Dec second week (details/outcome uncertain)
—Led by King/Shaheen/Hassan
November 10, 2025 at 1:24 AM
Yeah, I'm sorry, but you do not keep the government shut for more than a month and then NOT get a deal on the main item you have been messaging on without completely shifting the blame dynamic.
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Bullies gain power when their misconduct succeeds in causing righteous people to yield in the face of wrongdoing. That’s why voting for Trump's continuing resolution - without any protection against his health care cuts or his growing illegality - is a mistake.
I voted NO.
I voted NO.
November 10, 2025 at 2:19 AM
Bullies gain power when their misconduct succeeds in causing righteous people to yield in the face of wrongdoing. That’s why voting for Trump's continuing resolution - without any protection against his health care cuts or his growing illegality - is a mistake.
I voted NO.
I voted NO.
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This right here.
Chris Murphy: "There will be pretty substantial damage to a Dem brand that has been rehabilitated if on the heels of an election in which the people told us to keep fighting, we immediately stop... if we surrender without having gotten anything, I worry it'll be hard to get them back up off the mat"
November 10, 2025 at 1:23 AM
This right here.
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It’s no good being innocent as doves if you aren’t going to be wise as serpents.
November 10, 2025 at 2:08 AM
It’s no good being innocent as doves if you aren’t going to be wise as serpents.
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The politics of the shutdown:
*GOP had a strong opening position
*Undercut themselves with the RIFs and unnecessary cuts to blue states/SNAP
*Polls showed GOP getting most of the blame, no reason to assume that would change
*Dem centrists then folded on their key issue of ACA subsidies
*GOP had a strong opening position
*Undercut themselves with the RIFs and unnecessary cuts to blue states/SNAP
*Polls showed GOP getting most of the blame, no reason to assume that would change
*Dem centrists then folded on their key issue of ACA subsidies
November 10, 2025 at 2:11 AM
The politics of the shutdown:
*GOP had a strong opening position
*Undercut themselves with the RIFs and unnecessary cuts to blue states/SNAP
*Polls showed GOP getting most of the blame, no reason to assume that would change
*Dem centrists then folded on their key issue of ACA subsidies
*GOP had a strong opening position
*Undercut themselves with the RIFs and unnecessary cuts to blue states/SNAP
*Polls showed GOP getting most of the blame, no reason to assume that would change
*Dem centrists then folded on their key issue of ACA subsidies
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Fight don’t fold.
November 10, 2025 at 2:12 AM
Fight don’t fold.
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Senate Democrats think this is the appropriate response because they begin every conflict with the assumption they will lose, and then ask “How can we end this as quickly as possible while creating the appearance of having tried to win so the base isn’t mad?”
I truly don’t know how you look at the past week and THEN decide THIS is an appropriate — let alone the right — response.
Dems backed Trump into a corner where he’s advocating for starving Americans and hemorrhaging support. If they vote to let him off the hook in exchange for nothing it’s a cataclysmic failure. I know people are in pain but insulating Republicans from political consequences is not the answer.
November 10, 2025 at 12:17 AM
Senate Democrats think this is the appropriate response because they begin every conflict with the assumption they will lose, and then ask “How can we end this as quickly as possible while creating the appearance of having tried to win so the base isn’t mad?”
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I will not support a deal that does nothing to make health care more affordable.
We are in a health care emergency. A simple one-year extension of these tax credits would cost less than Donald Trump’s $40 billion bailout for Argentina.
A vote for this bill is a mistake.
We are in a health care emergency. A simple one-year extension of these tax credits would cost less than Donald Trump’s $40 billion bailout for Argentina.
A vote for this bill is a mistake.
November 10, 2025 at 1:06 AM
I will not support a deal that does nothing to make health care more affordable.
We are in a health care emergency. A simple one-year extension of these tax credits would cost less than Donald Trump’s $40 billion bailout for Argentina.
A vote for this bill is a mistake.
We are in a health care emergency. A simple one-year extension of these tax credits would cost less than Donald Trump’s $40 billion bailout for Argentina.
A vote for this bill is a mistake.
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Note: while not unprecedented, it’s actually pretty rare for a sitting Catholic bishop to participate in a demonstration. It’s just not generally what Catholic bishops do.
Thus: Getting the hierarchy involved in this protest outside an ICE facility is no small thing.
Thus: Getting the hierarchy involved in this protest outside an ICE facility is no small thing.
Chicago Auxiliary Bishop José María Garcia-Maldonado at ICE detention facility: “Being here is an act of holiness…soon we will seek access to the facility to bring the Eucharist to our brothers and sisters; if they say no again, we will keep praying.”
November 1, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Note: while not unprecedented, it’s actually pretty rare for a sitting Catholic bishop to participate in a demonstration. It’s just not generally what Catholic bishops do.
Thus: Getting the hierarchy involved in this protest outside an ICE facility is no small thing.
Thus: Getting the hierarchy involved in this protest outside an ICE facility is no small thing.
Reposted by Paul Beddoe
Reposted by Paul Beddoe
This is out of hand. These agents are there to cause trouble and violence, not to keep people safe. These are the scenes that play out in war torn, destitute countries - not America.
October 7, 2025 at 11:43 PM
This is out of hand. These agents are there to cause trouble and violence, not to keep people safe. These are the scenes that play out in war torn, destitute countries - not America.
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Kavanaugh, J., concurring. www.lawdork.com/p/scotus-tru...
September 10, 2025 at 2:47 AM
Kavanaugh, J., concurring. www.lawdork.com/p/scotus-tru...
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RFK Jr. kept insisting in his hearing that COVID19 vaccines are accessible to everyone, and he also made this false claim last week.
In fact, yesterday Defend Public Health chose this particular RFK Jr. lie as our Whopper of the Week.
In fact, yesterday Defend Public Health chose this particular RFK Jr. lie as our Whopper of the Week.
Whopper of the Week: Kennedy claims that COVID19 vaccines are accessible to all who want them | Defend Public Health
www.defendpublichealth.org
September 4, 2025 at 6:26 PM
RFK Jr. kept insisting in his hearing that COVID19 vaccines are accessible to everyone, and he also made this false claim last week.
In fact, yesterday Defend Public Health chose this particular RFK Jr. lie as our Whopper of the Week.
In fact, yesterday Defend Public Health chose this particular RFK Jr. lie as our Whopper of the Week.
Reposted by Paul Beddoe
Why are federal agents wearing masks to hide their face? Public servants should face the public — take off your masks!
We just launched ads at over a hundred bus shelters around Washington, D.C. — check them out!
We just launched ads at over a hundred bus shelters around Washington, D.C. — check them out!
September 3, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Why are federal agents wearing masks to hide their face? Public servants should face the public — take off your masks!
We just launched ads at over a hundred bus shelters around Washington, D.C. — check them out!
We just launched ads at over a hundred bus shelters around Washington, D.C. — check them out!
Reposted by Paul Beddoe
August 26, 2025 at 2:12 PM