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You are here: Home / Archives for Breathtaking Criminality and Lawlessness / Dems Fighting Back

Dems Fighting Back

Open Thread: Good for Rep. Jeffries

by Anne Laurie|  July 9, 20251:49 pm| 30 Comments

This post is in: Dems Fighting Back, Immigration, Open Threads, Proud to Be A Democrat

Unmask ICE.

[image or embed]

— Hakeem Jeffries (@hakeem-jeffries.bsky.social) July 9, 2025 at 9:03 AM

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"The masks frequently worn by agents make ICE seem like the type of secret police that operates in authoritarian regimes. But they are apparently meant to keep the police secret."

[image or embed]

— Katelyn Burns (@katelynburns.com) July 9, 2025 at 9:22 AM

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It is a telling thing imho that these agents so fear being associated with what they're doing that this where we are.

[image or embed]

— Schnorkles O'Bork (@schnorkles.bsky.social) July 9, 2025 at 10:41 AM

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this is a great look at the nuts and bolts of actually trying to hire the number of people they say they want to hire.

[image or embed]

— GOLIKEHELLMACHINE (@golikehellmachine.com) July 9, 2025 at 11:24 AM

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This is getting lost. When Stephen Miller shrieks orders for 3000 daily arrests, they HAVE TO go after noncriminals. It's the only way to juice the numbers. So Miller is shifting resources away from serious crimes toward that.
@vermontgmg.bsky.social and me on this:
newrepublic.com/article/1976…

[image or embed]

— Greg Sargent (@gregsargent.bsky.social) July 8, 2025 at 8:29 AM

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Jeffries calls for Hegseth's resignation and says, "when you limit Ukraine's ability to be successful in the war of aggression that Russia has launched against a sovereign country, you undermine America's national security interests. And that's highly problematic."

[image or embed]

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) July 9, 2025 at 10:48 AM

Open Thread: Good for Rep. JeffriesPost + Comments (30)

How Democrats Win

by WaterGirl|  June 26, 202510:10 am| 175 Comments

This post is in: Dark Days Before the Dawn, Dems Fighting Back, Open Threads, We're Not Dead Yet

Even if you are a “I can read it faster than I can watch it or listen to it person”, I hope you’ll make an exception and watch this video.

It’s less than 3 minutes long.

Then maybe we can talk about what we agree with, anything we might not agree with, and maybe use this as a jumping off point to talk about other ideas we might have about how we win.

While I wait 3 minutes for you all to finishing watching the video :-) can I just say that Betty Cracker has had some seriously kick-ass posts here in the morning lately.

Open thread.

How Democrats WinPost + Comments (175)

OBBB Open Thread: Money Money Money Money

by Anne Laurie|  June 24, 20259:08 am| 171 Comments

This post is in: C.R.E.A.M., Dems Fighting Back, Open Threads, Republican Venality

The fifth set of Byrd droppings is out
Dems win on the sale of public lands: Rs may not sell of our public lands!
Other huge victories in this area around making oil and gas leasing, mining, pay-to-play for oil and gas exports, and NEPA compliance
ENR and Senate Budget Dem staff crushed it

[image or embed]

— Bobby Kogan (@bbkogan.bsky.social) June 23, 2025 at 11:49 PM


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Wow. Fourth batch of Byrd droppings is out – Dem staff absolutely dominated the HSGAC fight
We won on reorg & bonuses for cost cutters ofc, but also on at-will, filing fees, and USPS green vehicles & infrastructure sales
Seriously, major praise to the D staff
www.budget.senate.gov/ranking-memb…
[image or embed]

— Bobby Kogan (@bbkogan.bsky.social) June 22, 2025 at 11:14 PM


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New @msnbc.com op-ed from me: despite protestations from the right, the “big beautiful bill” really would add trillions to the deficit and would harm, not help, the economy.
[image or embed]

— Bobby Kogan (@bbkogan.bsky.social) June 23, 2025 at 9:30 AM


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Damn—the Senate parliamentarian has ruled that a LOT of the reconciliation bill requires 60 votes to pass, including a massive assault on federal regulations and several heinous attacks on civil service protections. This effectively guts a big chunk of the bill. www.budget.senate.gov/ranking-memb…

— Mark Joseph Stern (@mjsdc.bsky.social) June 23, 2025 at 10:10 AM


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show full post on front page

Morning. ☕️
ICYMI: The provision in the Senate GOP’s tax bill aimed at letting Trump rule like a king — it makes it too expensive for groups to sue the Trump admin for lawlessness — is likely getting axed after the Senate parliamentarian said it violates rules. www.huffpost.com/entry/gop-ta…
[image or embed]

— Jen Bendery (@jbendery.bsky.social) June 23, 2025 at 10:49 AM


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Chuck Grassley got very agitated when I asked him why he put language in this bill that prices out public interest groups from being able to sue the Trump admin for lawlessness.
He offered this word salad before walking away in a huff:

[image or embed]

— Jen Bendery (@jbendery.bsky.social) June 23, 2025 at 11:23 AM

OBBB Open Thread: Money Money Money MoneyPost + Comments (171)

Simon Rosenberg Sees Emerging Opportunity, and I Make Some Lists

by WaterGirl|  June 19, 20259:30 am| 124 Comments

This post is in: Breathtaking Criminality and Lawlessness, Dark Days Before the Dawn, Dems Fighting Back, Grieving for Our Country, Open Threads, Refusing To Let Those Fuckers Win, The Only Way Out Is Through, Today in Fascism

Simon Rosenberg had a lot to say on his substack this morning, and I have turned some of that into lists that might be useful as we communicate with people who might not be as politically engaged as we are.

Simon Rosenberg sees what’s happening as an emerging opportunity.

According to Rosenberg, in recent days we’ve all been reminded that:

  • sometimes the wheels on the bus go round and round,
  • and sometimes they come flying off.
  • Trump has always been a ridiculous and cartoonish figure.
  • The Emperor never had any clothes.
  • He was always the old man behind the curtain and never the Wizard.

I just get the sense now that the buffoonish, dangerous, sundowning man we all see is now being seen by far more people.

A door is opening, people are waking up to the awful reality of Trump and not the right wing noise machine version of him.

You never know in politics what is the trigger that causes things to change, for new understandings to emerge. I have always believed that there was a limit to how fast some of his weak supporters would have buyer’s remorse, and come to realize they got played. In fact I’ve been surprised how quickly and consequentially his numbers have come down. Down, however they are, even on what was his greatest strength – immigration.

Which is why we need to keep working as hard as we can people. He is stumbling, failing, getting panicky, looking weak and pathetic.

An opportunity is emerging for us and we need to seize it.

That was from yesterday.  This is Rosenberg today.

I made some lists from what Rosenberg wrote, because as text it was overwhelming and my eyes were glazing over.

What Trump Has Done

A quick summary – other than breaking a lot of things and enriching himself Trump has very few wins he can point to right now.

  • His economic strategy is slowing the global and US economies,
  • has caused our credit rating to be downgraded,
  • threatens the fiscal integrity of the United States,
  • raises prices on everyone and does not cutting them,
  • and will cause tens of millions to lose their health insurance,
  • tens of millions more will see their health care costs rise
  • and the overall health care system will be dramatically weakened.

What Trump Promised

  • He promised to end the Ukraine war,
  • bring peace to the Middle East,
  • end the Gaza conflict,
  • 90 trade deals in 90 days,
  • rip Greenland from Europe,
  • make Canada the 51st state

In reality, none of that has happened.

  • global leaders are not bending the knee
  • and some are even mocking him to his face while visiting the Oval Office.
  • He keeps losing in court again and again, badly,
  • and judges are growing far more ambitious in their rulings.
  • He had to bring Kilmar Abrego Garcia home.
  • His bestie Elon tore into him, trashed his terrible budget bill
  • and [Elon]called on him to be replaced as President.
  • No one came to his birthday parade.
  • Rs keep losing and underperforming in elections.
  • His cowardice and indecision has become a global meme.
  • His budget bill is wildly unpopular, and struggling to get through Congress.
  • What may be the largest protest movement in American history has formed against him.
  • It has become impossible to hide the buffoonery of his Star Wars bar cabinet.
  • He looks terrible.
  • His ties are longer, his pants higher and his Truths more unhinged.
  • He fled the G7 on Monday.
  • Respected elected officials in America are getting arrested, charged, assaulted and assasinated.
  • Marines are on the streets of an American city.

Everything he is doing appears designed to make China and Russia – not America – great again.

The circle of defiance to Trump’s agenda of sabotage, plunder and betrayal keeps growing and growing. The world, the American people and reality itself just aren’t bending the knee. Our democracy is proving more resilient and our people more patriotic than he expected. This thing simply isn’t working as this delusional, vainglorious, sundowning old man thought it would.

We, all of us, clearly do not understand how STRONG AND MIGHTY he is.

And now I’ll repeat what Rosenberg wrote yesterday

I just get the sense now that the buffoonish, dangerous, sundowning man we all see is now being seen by far more people.

A door is opening, people are waking up to the awful reality of Trump and not the right wing noise machine version of him.

You never know in politics what is the trigger that causes things to change, for new understandings to emerge. I have always believed that there was a limit to how fast some of his weak supporters would have buyer’s remorse, and come to realize they got played. In fact I’ve been surprised how quickly and consequentially his numbers have come down. Down, however they are, even on what was his greatest strength – immigration.

Which is why we need to keep working as hard as we can people. He is stumbling, failing, getting panicky, looking weak and pathetic.

An opportunity is emerging for us and we need to seize it.

Open thread!

Simon Rosenberg Sees Emerging Opportunity, and I Make Some ListsPost + Comments (124)

Open Thread: Local Dem Officials Resisting ICE

by Anne Laurie|  June 18, 20254:32 pm| 87 Comments

This post is in: Civil Rights, Criminal Justice, Dems Fighting Back, Immigration, Proud to Be A Democrat

Padilla said Trump is on a "tour of retribution" in his first floor speech since he was handcuffed at Noem's press briefing last week.

[image or embed]

— Politico (@politico.com) June 17, 2025 at 4:08 PM


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Padilla gave this speech on the floor pretty much as the news of Brad Lander's arrest in New York was breaking. Two Democratic lawmakers tackled and handcuffed by federal law enforcement in the span of a week.

[image or embed]

— Nikki McCann Ramírez (@nikkimcr.bsky.social) June 17, 2025 at 1:21 PM


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The same people demanding you present a photo ID to vote are perfectly fine with letting you be arrested, handcuffed & thrown into a van by armed men wearing plain clothes, face masks & presenting no identification of any sort.

— Charles Gaba ?? (@charlesgaba.com) June 18, 2025 at 1:48 AM


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Not an original point but worth saying again – there is not a single element in this picture that identifies any of these folks as law enforcement agents. No badges, no uniforms, no vests. Out of context it just looks like a bunch of random guys are kidnapping a mayoral candidate.

[image or embed]

— Jeff Lazarus (@jlazarus.bsky.social) June 17, 2025 at 2:21 PM


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I would add, that the fact the GOP is acting the way they are is being treated by the DC political press corps as though this is actually strategically good for them, when, in fact, it probably isn't.

— Dennis Yedwab (@dennisyedwab.bsky.social) June 17, 2025 at 10:13 PM


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So @whitneycwimbish.bsky.social did a writeup of Brad Lander's arrest today at 26 Federal Plaza in NYC, focusing not just on Lander's treatment, but the treatment of immigrants inside, both in the courtroom and once they are detained.
prospect.org/justice/2025…

[image or embed]

— David Dayen (@ddayen.bsky.social) June 17, 2025 at 7:56 PM


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WATCH: NYC comptroller Brad Lander says he sat in a detention room for 3.5 hours without hearing a word about why he was arrested.
"They knew who I was. There's no doubt they knew I was the comptroller."

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— All In with Chris Hayes (@allinwithchris.bsky.social) June 17, 2025 at 8:36 PM


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We will all be worse off if we let Donald Trump and his fascist regime undermine the rule of law.

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— Brad Lander (@bradlander.bsky.social) June 18, 2025 at 12:27 AM


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Ice is literally cutting advertisements for democrats https://t.co/H5rZbA1WGZ

— Molly Jong-Fast (@MollyJongFast) June 17, 2025

Open Thread: Local Dem Officials Resisting ICEPost + Comments (87)

Wednesday Morning Open Thread: Take Our Wins

by Anne Laurie|  June 18, 20256:49 am| 257 Comments

This post is in: Dems Fighting Back, Foreign Affairs, LGBTQ Rights Are Human Rights, Open Threads, Proud to Be A Democrat

Jay Jones, a former Virginia delegate, wins Democratic nomination for the state’s attorney general.

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— The Associated Press (@apnews.com) June 17, 2025 at 10:09 PM

BREAKING: Judge blocks the Trump administration from limiting passport sex markers for many transgender and nonbinary people.

[image or embed]

— The Associated Press (@apnews.com) June 17, 2025 at 7:07 PM

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is lifting a curfew in downtown Los Angeles.
Her Tuesday announcement comes after she first imposed the curfew in response to protests against President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown in the city.

[image or embed]

— The Associated Press (@apnews.com) June 17, 2025 at 3:07 PM

The “No Kings” protest was a powerful showing of hope and mobilization against President Trump’s attacks on democracy. @jimacosta.bsky.social explains in conversation with Sen. @dougjones.bsky.social:

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— Center for American Progress (@americanprogress.bsky.social) June 17, 2025 at 5:09 PM

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— George Conway 👊🇺🇸🔥 (@gtconway.bsky.social) June 17, 2025 at 8:46 PM

Wednesday Morning Open Thread: Take Our WinsPost + Comments (257)

Monday Afternoon Open Thread: Not Popular

by Anne Laurie|  June 16, 20251:49 pm| 87 Comments

This post is in: C.R.E.A.M., Dems Fighting Back, Open Threads, Trumpery

As Republican senators consider President Donald Trump’s big bill that could slash federal spending and extend tax cuts, a new survey shows most U.S. adults don’t think the government is overspending on the programs the GOP has focused on cutting, like Medicaid and food stamps.

[image or embed]

— The Associated Press (@apnews.com) June 16, 2025 at 11:18 AM

… Americans broadly support increasing or maintaining existing levels of funding for popular safety net programs, including Social Security and Medicare, according to the poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. They’re more divided on spending around the military and border security, and most think the government is spending too much on foreign aid.

The poll points to a disconnect between Republicans’ policy agenda and public sentiment around the domestic programs that are up for debate in the coming weeks…

Voters, when questioned, don’t actually approve of the GOP’s Big Ugly Bill. It would be to the Repubs’ advantage if their Very Serious Media cronies could keep all eyes focused on the usual summertime trivia, but Don TACO must have all the attention at all times, and we Democrats need to leverage this to highlight the truth.

Our June Strength In Numbers/@verasight.bsky.social poll:
– Trump approval 42/56. Underwater on 10/11 issues.
– Dems +8 in House
– 62% are worried about presidential conflicts of interest
– LA, deportations lead news recall
+ more on messaging & Abundance
www.gelliottmorris.com/p/trump-appr…

[image or embed]

— G Elliott Morris (@gelliottmorris.com) June 16, 2025 at 8:05 AM


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In our new Strength In Numbers/@verasight.bsky.social poll, we asked people to tell us what they had read or seen on the news over the last month.
We fielded from June 6-12. Responses were overwhelmingly about Trump, deportations, LA, Musk, and tariffs. All bad issues for the White House.

[image or embed]

— G Elliott Morris (@gelliottmorris.com) June 16, 2025 at 9:20 AM

Monday Afternoon Open Thread: Not PopularPost + Comments (87)

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