Zach Rabiroff
@zachrabiroff.com
Writer for the Comics Journal, Flaming Hydra, Polygon, io9, etc.
www.zachrabiroff.com
www.zachrabiroff.com
I'll add that if Democrats really didn't think they'd get concessions on ACA subsidies (which they might have, foolishly), and therefore planned to fold in the end, then this was nothing more than a cynical election ploy -- unforgivable under the circumstances.
November 11, 2025 at 7:34 AM
I'll add that if Democrats really didn't think they'd get concessions on ACA subsidies (which they might have, foolishly), and therefore planned to fold in the end, then this was nothing more than a cynical election ploy -- unforgivable under the circumstances.
I mean, the second option is the superior one in every single respect, unless you personally are a member of the United States Congress.
November 11, 2025 at 7:30 AM
I mean, the second option is the superior one in every single respect, unless you personally are a member of the United States Congress.
I'm stuck on the fact that there were 0 objections to unanimous consent to fast track the bills, even as all the Democrats put out their passionate confessionals about how we need to keep fighting. If the Senate Democrats didn't all want to fold, nobody had a problem with it, either.
November 11, 2025 at 7:25 AM
I'm stuck on the fact that there were 0 objections to unanimous consent to fast track the bills, even as all the Democrats put out their passionate confessionals about how we need to keep fighting. If the Senate Democrats didn't all want to fold, nobody had a problem with it, either.
You can't possibly imagine the suffering they went through by not-folding for 40 days straight, Robert. Frankly, SNAP recipients should feel sorry for *them*.
November 11, 2025 at 7:18 AM
You can't possibly imagine the suffering they went through by not-folding for 40 days straight, Robert. Frankly, SNAP recipients should feel sorry for *them*.
Reposted by Zach Rabiroff
Depressing to realize that all the generations of Americans cynically muttering "those crooked bums are all the same" were right more often than they were wrong.
November 11, 2025 at 6:33 AM
Depressing to realize that all the generations of Americans cynically muttering "those crooked bums are all the same" were right more often than they were wrong.
The whole reason we had this shutdown in the first place is that Democrats were skittish over a year of polling saying everyone in America associated them with the word "fold"
November 11, 2025 at 7:01 AM
The whole reason we had this shutdown in the first place is that Democrats were skittish over a year of polling saying everyone in America associated them with the word "fold"
Yeah, I continue to be perplexed by the widespread belief that Schumer is any kind of orchestrator for his caucus, rather than a somewhat-successful manager of a general consensus. Shuffle the leadership all you want, but it's deck chairs on the Titanic all day long.
November 11, 2025 at 6:48 AM
Yeah, I continue to be perplexed by the widespread belief that Schumer is any kind of orchestrator for his caucus, rather than a somewhat-successful manager of a general consensus. Shuffle the leadership all you want, but it's deck chairs on the Titanic all day long.
Depressing to realize that all the generations of Americans cynically muttering "those crooked bums are all the same" were right more often than they were wrong.
November 11, 2025 at 6:33 AM
Depressing to realize that all the generations of Americans cynically muttering "those crooked bums are all the same" were right more often than they were wrong.
Oh, yeah, that's the stuff
November 11, 2025 at 6:32 AM
Oh, yeah, that's the stuff
Will be very funny when they vote to advance Trump's ACA repeal through the Senate
November 11, 2025 at 4:25 AM
Will be very funny when they vote to advance Trump's ACA repeal through the Senate
There were some stories last week about how Senate democrats were conferencing with Schiff about how to shield themselves from potential Trump prosecutions, and anyway...makes you think.
November 11, 2025 at 4:09 AM
There were some stories last week about how Senate democrats were conferencing with Schiff about how to shield themselves from potential Trump prosecutions, and anyway...makes you think.
Imagine if John Cheever had taken a decade to just spit hellfire at Alfred P. Sloan. Imagine the beauty we could have had in the world.
November 11, 2025 at 4:03 AM
Imagine if John Cheever had taken a decade to just spit hellfire at Alfred P. Sloan. Imagine the beauty we could have had in the world.
Schiff inevitably getting indicted this week is the perfect little comedy stinger to everything
November 11, 2025 at 3:36 AM
Schiff inevitably getting indicted this week is the perfect little comedy stinger to everything
His signature quality is a sense of palpable wonder about the multitude of things in the world
November 11, 2025 at 3:22 AM
His signature quality is a sense of palpable wonder about the multitude of things in the world
Well, it's an old phenomenon, but it's also an old problem: Democrats in the 80's lamented Tip O'Neill being the face of the party, but he was at least an extraordinary political operator to balance things out.
November 11, 2025 at 3:12 AM
Well, it's an old phenomenon, but it's also an old problem: Democrats in the 80's lamented Tip O'Neill being the face of the party, but he was at least an extraordinary political operator to balance things out.
And it's not like this is a new phenomenon: congressional leaders have been regarded as de facto party leaders when the party is out of the White House for decades. They knew who they were choosing when they chose him.
November 11, 2025 at 3:09 AM
And it's not like this is a new phenomenon: congressional leaders have been regarded as de facto party leaders when the party is out of the White House for decades. They knew who they were choosing when they chose him.
Sure, nobody has healthcare anymore and tens of thousands of people suffered food insecurity, but now now the party can be unified around its signature 2025 accomplishment: banning hemp gummies.
November 11, 2025 at 2:58 AM
Sure, nobody has healthcare anymore and tens of thousands of people suffered food insecurity, but now now the party can be unified around its signature 2025 accomplishment: banning hemp gummies.
I can’t say I’m actively looking forward to this party getting wiped out in the midterms, but I cant say I’m actively disappointed by it
November 11, 2025 at 2:47 AM
I can’t say I’m actively looking forward to this party getting wiped out in the midterms, but I cant say I’m actively disappointed by it
Maybe she can try one for Trumpcare to make up for it
November 11, 2025 at 1:05 AM
Maybe she can try one for Trumpcare to make up for it
Interesting that Axios gave him the favorable headline.
November 11, 2025 at 12:18 AM
Interesting that Axios gave him the favorable headline.
Real Oracle at Delphi Prophecy presidency we've got going here
November 10, 2025 at 11:53 PM
Real Oracle at Delphi Prophecy presidency we've got going here
Your bet comes in the form of a laminated ticket that's just slightly too large to fit in any part of your wallet.
November 10, 2025 at 11:51 PM
Your bet comes in the form of a laminated ticket that's just slightly too large to fit in any part of your wallet.
I'm happy to disagree, and would be happier to be wrong. I readily admit I take the more cynical position until someone in the Senate proves otherwise.
November 10, 2025 at 11:50 PM
I'm happy to disagree, and would be happier to be wrong. I readily admit I take the more cynical position until someone in the Senate proves otherwise.
Consider, though: why, during the hours-long gap before Cornyn got back to town last night, were there no frantic efforts to peel only one vote from the bill? And why did 0 Senators object to unanimous consent to advance it today?
November 10, 2025 at 11:47 PM
Consider, though: why, during the hours-long gap before Cornyn got back to town last night, were there no frantic efforts to peel only one vote from the bill? And why did 0 Senators object to unanimous consent to advance it today?