Ben
@sawdust-and-grist.bsky.social
Blue Dot, Red State. Fathers of 3 Girls. Web Developer and Technical Project Manager. #resist
Reposted by Ben
Reposted by Ben
AOC: "On this point of tax on tips, as one of the only people in this body who has lived off of tips, I want to tell you a little bit about the scam ... the cap on that is $25,000 while you're jacking up taxes on people who make less than $50,000 across the US ... while kicking them off the ACA."
July 2, 2025 at 3:37 PM
AOC: "On this point of tax on tips, as one of the only people in this body who has lived off of tips, I want to tell you a little bit about the scam ... the cap on that is $25,000 while you're jacking up taxes on people who make less than $50,000 across the US ... while kicking them off the ACA."
Reposted by Ben
"If you saw all this in any other country — soldiers sent to crush dissent, union leaders arrested, opposition politicians threatened — it would be clear that autocracy had arrived."
June 10, 2025 at 12:52 AM
"If you saw all this in any other country — soldiers sent to crush dissent, union leaders arrested, opposition politicians threatened — it would be clear that autocracy had arrived."
Reposted by Ben
How now-DHS Secretary Kristi Noem felt about a president potentially federalizing the National Guard one year ago:
June 8, 2025 at 5:23 PM
How now-DHS Secretary Kristi Noem felt about a president potentially federalizing the National Guard one year ago:
Reposted by Ben
Elected Republicans are coalescing around the talking point that CBO's tax cut estimates are complete fiction and that tax cuts pay for themselves.
Well, CBO's 2018 and 2019 revenue estimates - which included the previous year's TCJA - were ... 99.5% accurate. 🧵
Well, CBO's 2018 and 2019 revenue estimates - which included the previous year's TCJA - were ... 99.5% accurate. 🧵
June 3, 2025 at 11:48 PM
Elected Republicans are coalescing around the talking point that CBO's tax cut estimates are complete fiction and that tax cuts pay for themselves.
Well, CBO's 2018 and 2019 revenue estimates - which included the previous year's TCJA - were ... 99.5% accurate. 🧵
Well, CBO's 2018 and 2019 revenue estimates - which included the previous year's TCJA - were ... 99.5% accurate. 🧵
Reposted by Ben
“Fluoridating our water was an easy way to provide children from all backgrounds and socioeconomic status the same standard of care,” writes Dr. Sarmishta Kannan in an op-ed. “Now we need to advocate for other options.”
Voices: I’m a pediatrician. Without water fluoridation, we lose our best weapon to shield kids from tooth decay.
“Fluoridating our water was an easy way to provide children from all backgrounds and socioeconomic status the same standard of care,” writes Dr. Sarmishta Kannan in an op-ed. “Now we need to advocate for other options.”
www.sltrib.com
May 26, 2025 at 7:29 PM
“Fluoridating our water was an easy way to provide children from all backgrounds and socioeconomic status the same standard of care,” writes Dr. Sarmishta Kannan in an op-ed. “Now we need to advocate for other options.”
Reposted by Ben
Republicans in Utah commissioned an investigation into gender-affirming care for trans youth after banning it in 2023.
They're now rejecting the findings of that investigation which showed access to care reduced suicides and improved "positive mental health and psychosocial functioning outcomes."
They're now rejecting the findings of that investigation which showed access to care reduced suicides and improved "positive mental health and psychosocial functioning outcomes."
Utah lawmakers’ own study found gender-affirming care benefits trans youth. Will they lift the treatment ban?
The Utah Legislature's own newly-released study found that gender-affirming care benefits trans youth. Now, will lawmakers lift the treatment ban?
www.sltrib.com
May 24, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Republicans in Utah commissioned an investigation into gender-affirming care for trans youth after banning it in 2023.
They're now rejecting the findings of that investigation which showed access to care reduced suicides and improved "positive mental health and psychosocial functioning outcomes."
They're now rejecting the findings of that investigation which showed access to care reduced suicides and improved "positive mental health and psychosocial functioning outcomes."
Reposted by Ben
Hard to believe they’re talking about the same event.
May 25, 2025 at 7:39 AM
Hard to believe they’re talking about the same event.
Reposted by Ben
Reposted by Ben
Starting to wonder if we took one for global civic democracy. Electing Trump basically seems to have knee-capped every revanchist far-right candidate in the world. You're welcome, world.
May 18, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Starting to wonder if we took one for global civic democracy. Electing Trump basically seems to have knee-capped every revanchist far-right candidate in the world. You're welcome, world.
Reposted by Ben
The Trump admin has decided to permit the sale of devices that enable standard firearms to fire like machine guns — a move that one person familiar with the matter said was "by far the most dangerous thing this administration has done" on gun policy.
May 18, 2025 at 6:01 PM
The Trump admin has decided to permit the sale of devices that enable standard firearms to fire like machine guns — a move that one person familiar with the matter said was "by far the most dangerous thing this administration has done" on gun policy.
Reposted by Ben
I see Truth Social is working just great...
May 18, 2025 at 12:48 AM
I see Truth Social is working just great...
Reposted by Ben
The Supreme Court holds that fascism is bad. Thomas and Alito dissent.
May 16, 2025 at 8:33 PM
The Supreme Court holds that fascism is bad. Thomas and Alito dissent.
Reposted by Ben
Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg confirmed today he's considering a possible 2028 presidential run and weighed on former President Biden's impact on the 2024 election.
Buttigieg, weighing 2028 bid, says "maybe" it was a mistake for Biden to run in 2024
"Right now, with the benefit of hindsight, I think most people would agree that that's the case," he told reporters.
www.axios.com
May 14, 2025 at 5:35 AM
Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg confirmed today he's considering a possible 2028 presidential run and weighed on former President Biden's impact on the 2024 election.
Reposted by Ben
May 12, 2025 at 10:18 AM
Reposted by Ben
It's 2015. President Barack Obama has accepted a "sky palace" jumbo jet from the Qatari government, which he'll own after he leaves office. "Everybody relax," he says in an interview with the New York Times. Everyone does. The networks then televise the military parade in his honor on his birthday.
May 11, 2025 at 6:43 PM
It's 2015. President Barack Obama has accepted a "sky palace" jumbo jet from the Qatari government, which he'll own after he leaves office. "Everybody relax," he says in an interview with the New York Times. Everyone does. The networks then televise the military parade in his honor on his birthday.
Reposted by Ben
The GOP wanted to impeach Biden for a fake $5M bribe from Ukraine that was made up by a guy sitting in prison for lying about it, but they’re cool with a $400M plane from Qatar. Do I have that right?
May 11, 2025 at 5:14 PM
The GOP wanted to impeach Biden for a fake $5M bribe from Ukraine that was made up by a guy sitting in prison for lying about it, but they’re cool with a $400M plane from Qatar. Do I have that right?
Reposted by Ben
New analysis from @saraestep.bsky.social and me for @americanprogress.bsky.social! Breadwinning mothers and women are literally supporting everyone- from the economy to their families. www.americanprogress.org/article/brea...
Breadwinning Women Are a Lifeline for Their Families and the Economy
A new Center for American Progress analysis shows that large shares of working women—both mothers and married women without cohabitating children—continue to be breadwinners for their families. Policy...
www.americanprogress.org
May 9, 2025 at 1:33 PM
New analysis from @saraestep.bsky.social and me for @americanprogress.bsky.social! Breadwinning mothers and women are literally supporting everyone- from the economy to their families. www.americanprogress.org/article/brea...
Reposted by Ben
Why are Republicans in the House so disinterested in holding Trump to account? In part because even in swing districts moderates have vanished.
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
May 9, 2025 at 3:05 AM
Why are Republicans in the House so disinterested in holding Trump to account? In part because even in swing districts moderates have vanished.
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
Reposted by Ben
NEW: Dark money spending in the 2024 federal elections hit $1.9 billion — nearly double the previous record.
This is an unprecedented surge in secret political spending.
Here’s the full @brennancenter.bsky.social report with all of the details: www.brennancenter.org/our-work/res...
This is an unprecedented surge in secret political spending.
Here’s the full @brennancenter.bsky.social report with all of the details: www.brennancenter.org/our-work/res...
Dark Money Hit a Record High of $1.9 Billion in 2024 Federal Races
Spending by groups that do not disclose their donors has increased and become harder to trace.
www.brennancenter.org
May 7, 2025 at 9:07 PM
NEW: Dark money spending in the 2024 federal elections hit $1.9 billion — nearly double the previous record.
This is an unprecedented surge in secret political spending.
Here’s the full @brennancenter.bsky.social report with all of the details: www.brennancenter.org/our-work/res...
This is an unprecedented surge in secret political spending.
Here’s the full @brennancenter.bsky.social report with all of the details: www.brennancenter.org/our-work/res...
Reposted by Ben
During COVID, the prophet of the LDS church (a medical doctor) encouraged vaccination for everyone’s safety, and some right-wing/Trumpist Mormons cried “woke” and left the church over it. So…yeah. Fascinating is one word for the right-wing brainworm.
It's honestly fascinating to watch the rightwing response to Pope Leo XIV. Normally, this guy would be greeted with enthusiasm. He's solid conservative who grew up in the Midwest. The first American pope.
But he follows Christ's teachings on migrants and refugees. So, they're irate. Fascinating.
But he follows Christ's teachings on migrants and refugees. So, they're irate. Fascinating.
May 8, 2025 at 9:41 PM
During COVID, the prophet of the LDS church (a medical doctor) encouraged vaccination for everyone’s safety, and some right-wing/Trumpist Mormons cried “woke” and left the church over it. So…yeah. Fascinating is one word for the right-wing brainworm.
Reposted by Ben
Slightly more seriously. It's crazy how the entire supposed constitutional theory of Trump 2.0 is that all power is vested in this single individual, down to every last tiny detail and whenever you ask him he's like "I have no idea; ask the lawyers"
May 7, 2025 at 8:23 PM
Slightly more seriously. It's crazy how the entire supposed constitutional theory of Trump 2.0 is that all power is vested in this single individual, down to every last tiny detail and whenever you ask him he's like "I have no idea; ask the lawyers"
Reposted by Ben
Farm radio is talking about tariffs and farm impacts.
There are fewer places to bury your head from the facts.
There are fewer places to bury your head from the facts.
May 6, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Farm radio is talking about tariffs and farm impacts.
There are fewer places to bury your head from the facts.
There are fewer places to bury your head from the facts.
Reposted by Ben
You know that Twilight Zone episode where the kid has amazing psychic powers and can make people disappear with his mind and the entire town is hostage to him and has to cater to his every whim? That’s us right now.
May 5, 2025 at 4:29 PM
You know that Twilight Zone episode where the kid has amazing psychic powers and can make people disappear with his mind and the entire town is hostage to him and has to cater to his every whim? That’s us right now.
Reposted by Ben
Even *if* you accept Stephen Miller’s (textually, historically, and morally indefensible) claim that undocumented immigrants are not entitled to due process, you’d *still* need due process to ensure that the individuals at issue are, in fact, undocumented.
His argument fails even on its own terms.
His argument fails even on its own terms.
May 5, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Even *if* you accept Stephen Miller’s (textually, historically, and morally indefensible) claim that undocumented immigrants are not entitled to due process, you’d *still* need due process to ensure that the individuals at issue are, in fact, undocumented.
His argument fails even on its own terms.
His argument fails even on its own terms.