Come for the politics, stay for the snark.
Busy couple of days with family, but it looks like we can use an open thread.
Who else stayed up late to watch the World Series? 18 innings, yikes, that’s two whole games!
Anyway off to a late lunch / early dinner. Company leaves in the morning – I will be sad to see them go!
What are you guys up to?
Open thread.
i am but a simple country farmer, but i do not think the speaker of the house should imply that his party’s president can turn the dial on a big wheel labeled PAIN and constantly look back at the audience for screams like a contestant on the price is right: hell edition
— GHOULLIKEHELLMACHINE (@golikehellmachine.com) October 28, 2025 at 11:12 AM
It bears repeating: USDA has a $5 billion contingency reserve that it refuses to utilize to continue SNAP benefits. This was the USDA's *own plan* at the start of the shutdown—now quietly deleted from its website.
This is as blatant an example of "hunger is a policy choice" as you will ever see.— Brian Goldstone (@brian-goldstone.bsky.social) October 28, 2025 at 11:15 AM
Yes, the goal of the administration is to kill people and decimate rural areas, both of which are important if you're the psycopaths in charge who think that it's the only way to keep the government from "going broke"
— Schnorkles O'Bork (@schnorkles.bsky.social) October 28, 2025 at 10:30 AM
oh so they're getting kinda freaked out
— Schnorkles O'Bork (@schnorkles.bsky.social) October 28, 2025 at 10:32 AM
This sort of rhetoric about people not getting government benefits from the anti-government party is notable.
— Schnorkles O'Bork (@schnorkles.bsky.social) October 28, 2025 at 10:33 AM
The reason why the GOP even in the immediate post Tea Party period wouldn't let this happen is because they understand that both groups of benefits are more used by their own voters than democrats.
The current crop has internalized their own propaganda.— Schnorkles O'Bork (@schnorkles.bsky.social) October 28, 2025 at 10:40 AM
<em>Repubs in Disarray!</em> Open ThreadPost + Comments (137)
What we're witnessing with #Melissa is ultra rare in the history of known hurricanes in the Atlantic. This level of sustained intensity and feasting on every joule of ocean heat content without any real disruption is incredible.
Not hyperbole: Jamaica is facing a generational catastrophic event.— Steve Bowen (@stevebowen.bsky.social) October 27, 2025 at 10:23 PM
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As the government shutdown drags on, Democrats push to renew Obamacare subsidies while Republicans debate changes to the law.
— The Associated Press (@apnews.com) October 28, 2025 at 12:30 AM
… Fifteen years after the Affordable Care Act was enacted, the party remains united in criticizing the law but divided on how to move forward. That tension has come into sharp focus during the government shutdown as Democrats seize on rising premiums to pressure Republicans into extending expiring subsidies for the law, often referred to as Obamacare.
President Donald Trump and GOP leaders say they’ll consider extending the enhanced tax credits that otherwise expire at year’s end — but only after Democrats vote to reopen the government. In the meantime, people enrolled in the plans are already being notified of hefty premium increases for 2026.
As town halls fill with frustrated voters and no clear Republican plan emerges, the issue appears to be gaining political strength heading into next year’s midterm elections…
‘Concepts of a plan’
… Republicans say they want a broader overhaul of the health care system, though such a plan would be difficult to advance before next year. Party leaders have not outlined how they’ll handle the expiring tax credits, insisting they won’t negotiate on the issue until Democrats agree to end the shutdown.House Speaker Mike Johnson told a press conference Monday that the tax credits are “subsidizing bad policy.” Republicans “have a long list of ideas” to address health care costs, he said, and are “grabbing the best ideas that we’ve had for years to put it on paper and make it work.”…
A looming internal GOP fight
Even as GOP leaders pledge to discuss ending the subsidies when the government opens, it’s clear that many Republican lawmakers are adamantly opposed to an extension.“At least among Republicans, there’s a growing sense that just maintaining the status quo is very destructive,” said Brian Blase, the president of Paragon Health Institute and a former health policy adviser to Trump during his first term…
Also pathetic, and fallacious:
House Speaker Mike Johnson said Monday that he's not "100% sure" if active duty service members will be paid at the end of the week, as the government shutdown continues.
— PBS News (@pbsnews.org) October 27, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Tuesday Morning Open Thread: Pathetic Fallacies*Post + Comments (322)
It was a VERY long day and I’m just now at 11:20 PM EDT gotten a few minutes to do a very brief Monday night update. Then I’m going to get the grime off and rack out. So everyone is preemptively welcome.
Ukrainian drones heading for Moscow (and elsewhere) for second night in a row. Map by @DrnBmbr
— Euan MacDonald (@euanmacdonald.bsky.social) October 27, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Here is President Zelenskyy’s address from earlier today. Video below, English transcript after the jump.
War for Ukraine Day 1,341: A Very Brief Monday Night UpdatePost + Comments (7)
This is a video worth watching in its entirety.
Whistle Brigade resources here, 3D printing instructions here
I don’t have a lot to add to the discourse these days. I’m afraid most days I’m just trying to stay busy enough to wade through the grief of losing my dad and two friends in less than two months without being overwhelmed.
Watergirl said there were requests for budget menus…which I could do, just need some additional guidance from y’all on what exactly that would mean. I think it’s also important to discuss how to save money while shopping – I’ve developed quite a few tricks over the years.
This is an open thread, if you need me, I’ll be curled up under a blanket on the couch with three Great Danes and at least two of the three cats, binging on mindless movies
Remember to unplug from the drama to recharge and take care of you…
The White House reveals their new logo.
— Hoodlum 🇺🇸 (@nothoodlum.bsky.social) October 26, 2025 at 5:32 PM
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My wife’s (in some cases three-time) trump voting relatives have started mentioning the ballroom to me, negatively; anecdata but I’d like to see some high quality polling. I think it’s a mistake by certain elite elected Dems to think this story isn’t breaking thru
— Asawin Suebsaeng (@swin24.bsky.social) October 25, 2025 at 2:04 PM
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A very offline cousin sent this to fam group chat. This story is breaking containment.
— Jake Grumbach (@jakemgrumbach.bsky.social) October 24, 2025 at 7:36 PM
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Leavitt emphasized the president has unquestionable authority to alter the premises however he desires, repeatedly leaning on a legal precedent she failed to name. trib.al/a5edvxJ
Trump's team is flagrantly ignoring the fact that any significant project requires congressional approval.— The New Republic (@newrepublic.com) October 26, 2025 at 6:23 PM
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— George Conway ?????????? (@gtconway.bsky.social) October 25, 2025 at 11:49 AM
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That kind of money for just a ballroom is nonsensical. And if it's a new bunker or similar, it should be appropriated by Congress.
Bunker Boy’s Ballroom open.substack.com/pub/marygedd…— Jerry Graybosch (@jwgraybosch.bsky.social) October 25, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Remember, social media friends, sharing is caring… Mary Geddry, “Bunker Boy’s Ballroom”:
… Let’s do some arithmetic. The White House ballroom is supposed to be about 90,000 square feet. At $350 million, that’s $3,888 per square foot, a figure that belongs more to a hardened military installation than an architectural vanity project. For comparison, even the most decadent hotel ballroom in Washington runs about $1,000 per square foot. But nuclear-hardened command centers? They start at $3,000.
Open Thread: Desecrating the Peoples’ HousePost + Comments (51)
Looks like we can use a new thread!
