Erasmus Matta
@razmattazz.bsky.social
"Nothing so charms the American people as personal bravery."
-John Brown
-John Brown
Reposted by Erasmus Matta
Ominous
NEW: President Trump's pardon of his alleged 2020 co-conspirators was less about shielding them from past crimes, his adversaries say, than about signaling to others that he has their back if he needs them again in 2026 or 2028.
w/ @joshgerstein.bsky.social
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
w/ @joshgerstein.bsky.social
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
November 11, 2025 at 1:33 AM
Ominous
Reposted by Erasmus Matta
American politics makes a lot more sense when you realize that the GOP is afraid of pissing off the GOP base, and the Dems are afraid of pissing off the GOP base, but neither party is afraid of pissing off the Dem base.
March 14, 2025 at 10:24 PM
American politics makes a lot more sense when you realize that the GOP is afraid of pissing off the GOP base, and the Dems are afraid of pissing off the GOP base, but neither party is afraid of pissing off the Dem base.
Reposted by Erasmus Matta
The coordinated nature of this—none are facing voters in 2026—means that either Schumer approved it or failed in his job as Senate Majority Leader to stop it.
Dems voting "no" get zero credit until they demand a change in leadership. Schumer out as Leader, Durbin out as Whip.
Dems voting "no" get zero credit until they demand a change in leadership. Schumer out as Leader, Durbin out as Whip.
so currently defectors are:
Kaine (2030)
Shaheen (Retiring)
Hasan (2028)
Fetterman (2028)
Durbin (Retiring)
CCM (2028)
Rosen (2030)
King (2030)
Kaine (2030)
Shaheen (Retiring)
Hasan (2028)
Fetterman (2028)
Durbin (Retiring)
CCM (2028)
Rosen (2030)
King (2030)
November 10, 2025 at 2:43 AM
The coordinated nature of this—none are facing voters in 2026—means that either Schumer approved it or failed in his job as Senate Majority Leader to stop it.
Dems voting "no" get zero credit until they demand a change in leadership. Schumer out as Leader, Durbin out as Whip.
Dems voting "no" get zero credit until they demand a change in leadership. Schumer out as Leader, Durbin out as Whip.
I had this exact same thought. This was considered a seismic event when it happened. There needs to be several of these moments for the Dems in the coming years.
thinking back to when eric cantor got knocked out in a primary in 2014
November 10, 2025 at 3:01 AM
I had this exact same thought. This was considered a seismic event when it happened. There needs to be several of these moments for the Dems in the coming years.
Just a bunch of hollowed-out delusionals at the top of the Dem caucus. 40 days of this shit and they choose to throw it away for absolutely nothing when they had the most momentum and leverage.
The most Democrat consultant-brained piece of this was making it a procedural fight about ACA subsidies — that, if extended for a year, would help the GOP in the 2026 midterms anyway — instead of making it stand against Trump’s lawlessness and corruption.
But that would require believing in things.
But that would require believing in things.
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.
November 10, 2025 at 2:41 AM
Just a bunch of hollowed-out delusionals at the top of the Dem caucus. 40 days of this shit and they choose to throw it away for absolutely nothing when they had the most momentum and leverage.
Reposted by Erasmus Matta
My family has been without half our income for 40 days. It has been.. very hard.
We are willing to feel that pain so people can have health care next year, or to undo these illegal recissions.
We are not willing to have been put through this for NOTHING.
We are willing to feel that pain so people can have health care next year, or to undo these illegal recissions.
We are not willing to have been put through this for NOTHING.
November 10, 2025 at 1:36 AM
My family has been without half our income for 40 days. It has been.. very hard.
We are willing to feel that pain so people can have health care next year, or to undo these illegal recissions.
We are not willing to have been put through this for NOTHING.
We are willing to feel that pain so people can have health care next year, or to undo these illegal recissions.
We are not willing to have been put through this for NOTHING.
Reposted by Erasmus Matta
Thread: part of an ongoing project to erase people of color from military history:
1/ The US Government has quietly removed a memorial to Black soldiers who died in World War II from the Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten, South Limburg. The move follows a complaint from the right-wing Heritage Foundation to the American Battle Monuments Commission. ⬇️
November 9, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Thread: part of an ongoing project to erase people of color from military history:
The author has done a brilliant job here. Worth the read.
This is fucking brilliant, and you should read it: lithub.com/maybe-dont-t...
Maybe Don’t Talk to the New York Times About Zohran Mamdani
It’s remarkable, the people you’ll hear from. Teach for even a little while at an expensive institution—the term they tend to prefer is “elite”—and odds are that eventually someone who was a studen…
lithub.com
November 9, 2025 at 3:24 AM
The author has done a brilliant job here. Worth the read.
For another great, and satisfying, example of this, listen to the trial and depositions of Alex Jones and the InfoWars staffers for the Sandy Hook defamation lawsuit. Jones tries to use the same rhetoric and lies to steer the lawyers, but it means jack-all during a deposition or in front of a judge.
I always find it interesting how the story changes when a lawyer gets to court. They can say anything they want outside of court without accountability but the rules are vastly different in court where you can get seriously penalized for lying.
November 9, 2025 at 2:26 AM
For another great, and satisfying, example of this, listen to the trial and depositions of Alex Jones and the InfoWars staffers for the Sandy Hook defamation lawsuit. Jones tries to use the same rhetoric and lies to steer the lawyers, but it means jack-all during a deposition or in front of a judge.
Reposted by Erasmus Matta
pre-writing a devastating obituary for your enemy is god-tier hating of a kind you don’t often see anymore. renaissance haterism. beautiful stuff.
A Sharon Begley byline, almost 5 years after her death.
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
James Watson, dead at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers
James Watson, the co-discoverer of the structure of DNA who died Thursday at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers.
www.statnews.com
November 9, 2025 at 12:55 AM
pre-writing a devastating obituary for your enemy is god-tier hating of a kind you don’t often see anymore. renaissance haterism. beautiful stuff.
Reposted by Erasmus Matta
A Sharon Begley byline, almost 5 years after her death.
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
James Watson, dead at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers
James Watson, the co-discoverer of the structure of DNA who died Thursday at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers.
www.statnews.com
November 8, 2025 at 1:39 PM
A Sharon Begley byline, almost 5 years after her death.
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
White nationalists were using his statements to support their despicable ideology. Watson repeatedly said racist and bigoted shit for decades, sometimes immediately apologizing and recanting them, only to promptly spit out the same hateful trash.
It's irritating that they describe the effects of his racism as limited to causing controversy within science and reputational consequences for himself rather than giving an immeasurable boost, false veneer of legitimacy, and idiot-friendly prestige to modern scientific racism and eugenics.
James D. Watson died on Thursday in East Northport, N.Y., on Long Island. He was 97.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/s...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/s...
November 8, 2025 at 1:06 AM
White nationalists were using his statements to support their despicable ideology. Watson repeatedly said racist and bigoted shit for decades, sometimes immediately apologizing and recanting them, only to promptly spit out the same hateful trash.
This is someone who made millions of dollars for a ruthless criminal organization. Even if he didn't murder anyone to become a made man in the mafia (as he claims), the money he made empowered his gang to kill and destroy the lives of many, many people.
New Crash out. Mamdani is bad because the literal mafia doesn't like him.
November 7, 2025 at 3:19 AM
This is someone who made millions of dollars for a ruthless criminal organization. Even if he didn't murder anyone to become a made man in the mafia (as he claims), the money he made empowered his gang to kill and destroy the lives of many, many people.
Reposted by Erasmus Matta
The elimination of USAID was an unforgivable moral atrocity that should haunt Trump, Elon Musk and Marco Rubio for the rest of their days and beyond
One analytical model shows that, as of November 5th, the dismantling of U.S.A.I.D. has already caused the deaths of 600,000 people, two-thirds of them children. https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/jUzNSc
The Shutdown of U.S.A.I.D. Has Already Killed Hundreds of Thousands
The short documentary “Rovina’s Choice” tells the story of what goes when aid goes.
newyorkermag.visitlink.me
November 7, 2025 at 2:36 AM
The elimination of USAID was an unforgivable moral atrocity that should haunt Trump, Elon Musk and Marco Rubio for the rest of their days and beyond
Fifty billion dollars a year was such a small price to prevent so much death.
So many Republicans and conservative pundits rejoiced at the demolition of the USAID. This is forever on their heads and it should hound Musk, Trump, Rubio, and all the DOGE staffers to the end of their days.
So many Republicans and conservative pundits rejoiced at the demolition of the USAID. This is forever on their heads and it should hound Musk, Trump, Rubio, and all the DOGE staffers to the end of their days.
One analytical model shows that, as of November 5th, the dismantling of U.S.A.I.D. has already caused the deaths of 600,000 people, two-thirds of them children. https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/jUzNSc
The Shutdown of U.S.A.I.D. Has Already Killed Hundreds of Thousands
The short documentary “Rovina’s Choice” tells the story of what goes when aid goes.
newyorkermag.visitlink.me
November 7, 2025 at 3:08 AM
Fifty billion dollars a year was such a small price to prevent so much death.
So many Republicans and conservative pundits rejoiced at the demolition of the USAID. This is forever on their heads and it should hound Musk, Trump, Rubio, and all the DOGE staffers to the end of their days.
So many Republicans and conservative pundits rejoiced at the demolition of the USAID. This is forever on their heads and it should hound Musk, Trump, Rubio, and all the DOGE staffers to the end of their days.
Inquiring minds want to know.
November 5, 2025 at 3:40 AM
Inquiring minds want to know.
Reposted by Erasmus Matta
Bill Ackman gotta be on the third draft of a tweet longer than Middlemarch right now
November 5, 2025 at 2:52 AM
Bill Ackman gotta be on the third draft of a tweet longer than Middlemarch right now
AP calling a successful retention for all three liberal Pennsylvania supreme court justices.
www.pbs.org/newshour/pol...
www.pbs.org/newshour/pol...
Live Results: Pennsylvania Supreme Court 2025 election
Control of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court hangs in the balance in statewide elections.
www.pbs.org
November 5, 2025 at 2:57 AM
AP calling a successful retention for all three liberal Pennsylvania supreme court justices.
www.pbs.org/newshour/pol...
www.pbs.org/newshour/pol...
Reposted by Erasmus Matta
Traditional American politics is premised on the notion that sometimes you lose and sometimes you win and you have to deal with that.
But Trumpism is premised on the notion that any result where you don’t win is illegitimate, unlawful, fraud, criminal.
You can’t negotiate with people like that.
But Trumpism is premised on the notion that any result where you don’t win is illegitimate, unlawful, fraud, criminal.
You can’t negotiate with people like that.
November 5, 2025 at 2:41 AM
Traditional American politics is premised on the notion that sometimes you lose and sometimes you win and you have to deal with that.
But Trumpism is premised on the notion that any result where you don’t win is illegitimate, unlawful, fraud, criminal.
You can’t negotiate with people like that.
But Trumpism is premised on the notion that any result where you don’t win is illegitimate, unlawful, fraud, criminal.
You can’t negotiate with people like that.
The bizarre need of pundits and journalists to paint a pallor of successful Dems as some weird, at-odds outliers is not fluke: it's by design.
i want to repeat this: mamdani and spanberger have run similar campaigns tailored to their respective electorates and it is maddening to watch political journalists attempt to create some broad contrast where none exist
the other thing about this is that there is no reason to pit these candidates against each other? each are good fits for their respective electorates and each shows the value of vigorous campaigns focused on the stated material problems of voters.
November 5, 2025 at 2:45 AM
The bizarre need of pundits and journalists to paint a pallor of successful Dems as some weird, at-odds outliers is not fluke: it's by design.
I hope all the billionaires who gave millions to to Cuomo's campaign in these last few weeks donate the same amount to NYC food banks.
November 5, 2025 at 2:38 AM
I hope all the billionaires who gave millions to to Cuomo's campaign in these last few weeks donate the same amount to NYC food banks.
Reposted by Erasmus Matta
Came here to say this, but Jamelle Bouie has this covered. 👇
When the Democratic tent includes candidates like Spanberger and Mamdani, there is no crisis, or fight, for the party. IT’S A COALITION, NOT A POINT ESTIMATE.
When the Democratic tent includes candidates like Spanberger and Mamdani, there is no crisis, or fight, for the party. IT’S A COALITION, NOT A POINT ESTIMATE.
i want to repeat this: mamdani and spanberger have run similar campaigns tailored to their respective electorates and it is maddening to watch political journalists attempt to create some broad contrast where none exist
the other thing about this is that there is no reason to pit these candidates against each other? each are good fits for their respective electorates and each shows the value of vigorous campaigns focused on the stated material problems of voters.
November 5, 2025 at 2:12 AM
Came here to say this, but Jamelle Bouie has this covered. 👇
When the Democratic tent includes candidates like Spanberger and Mamdani, there is no crisis, or fight, for the party. IT’S A COALITION, NOT A POINT ESTIMATE.
When the Democratic tent includes candidates like Spanberger and Mamdani, there is no crisis, or fight, for the party. IT’S A COALITION, NOT A POINT ESTIMATE.