Marjorie Taylor Greene apparently is reading me in the @washingtonmonthly.com washingtonmonthly.com/2025/10/01/s...

This fact is not breaking through. Republicans have the power to open the government by themselves. They just need to use the “nuclear option” to suspend or change the filibuster. Rs nuked three weeks ago for judges, so we know they’re able. But they’d rather keep it closed and blame Dems.

When Trump tried to remove FTC Commissioner Rebecca Slaughter, SCOTUS set the case for arguments—but kept Slaughter fired in the meantime. When Trump tried to remove the Fed's Lisa Cook, SCOTUS set the case for argument—but *let Cook keep serving* in the meantime. That difference says a lot.

Don't sleep on Michelle Wu, one of this country's most quietly effective climate leaders, cruising to a second term in Boston. It's telling that business interests tried and failed to stop her and are pouting about it now Gift link: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Republicans Can End the Government Shutdown Today If Republicans don’t want a bipartisan deal, they can kill the filibuster. So why aren’t they? –– @billscher.bsky.social washingtonmonthly.com/2025/10/01/s...

“Republicans Can End the Government Shutdown Today” — my latest for @washingtonmonthly.com washingtonmonthly.com/2025/10/01/s...

I think I agree with this, from @billscher.bsky.social.

The federal government has been continually operating for 2̶4̶4̶0̶ zero consecutive days

Exactly. De are not obligated to give their votes to partisan-drafted spending bills or nominal deals negotiated in bad faith. If Rs don’t want true bipartisanship, then Rs alone have the power & responsibility to keep the government open washingtonmonthly.com/2025/09/26/d...

The president’s decision to threaten mass layoffs of federal workers in the case of a shutdown should prompt Democrats to shift course. You can’t win a game with someone playing an entirely different game. So, stop playing. washingtonmonthly.com/2025/09/26/d...

“The Democrats’ Shutdown Strategy Is Bad. Trump’s Is Worse.” My latest for @washingtonmonthly.com washingtonmonthly.com/2025/09/26/d...

Why is NYT using the informal “Obamacare” in headline and first mention when reporting on a policy decision made by Republicans who opposed Obama’s creation of the program?

Perhaps I should have said "throuple" but that would have implied Trump has the capacity for commitment

Happening this week, starting tomorrow: Utah’s legislature is meeting to adopt a new congressional map after a court order. All five draft maps would transform a safely GOP seat into a swing district that’d be very winnable for Dems.

Thank you @billscher.bsky.social Absolutely right. www.impeachtrumpagain.org @fsfp.bsky.social “impeachment is the lone and proper constitutional remedy for an unconstitutional president and his unconstitutional apparatchiks.” washingtonmonthly.com/2025/09/19/f... 1/

Do 2024 Trump voters and non-voters see what he’s wrought—what they’ve wrought—in the last 8 months? He still gets too much benefit of the doubt. What will it take? More inflation, job loss, disease and death? Maybe a government shutdown? It's all coming. My latest open.substack.com/pub/jilllawr...

Free Kimmel. Impeach Carr. Impeach Trump washingtonmonthly.com/2025/09/19/f...

Charlie Kirk’s assassination sparks heated debate: Martyr or menace? @billscher.bsky.social & yours truly dive into his legacy, cancel culture, & free speech threats in this explosive DMZ episode! 🎙️ Watch now

🎙️Higher education excellence is not catering to the wealthy but meeting the needs of the average student, says @glastris.bsky.social. He's the editor of @washingtonmonthly.com which just put out its 2025 college rankings. Listen here: www.wortfm.org/a-successful...

"It's worth noting that somehow Bill Scher and Ezra Klein, two of the worst democratic pundits in the country, somehow got to the right place ahead of our actual professional pols." www.lawyersgunsmoneyblog.com/2025/09/do-d...

“The Biden-Harris Relationship Makes Sense Now” — my latest for the @washingtonmonthly.com washingtonmonthly.com/2025/09/11/b...

Remember when the world was on fire in 2024?

Will Democrats ever stop arguing over what they should say, how they should say it, and where they should say it? They really should, because the answers are obvious: It all depends—on who you are, where you live, and what you believe. New from me @thebulwark.com www.thebulwark.com/p/shocking-i...

@billscher.bsky.social: The choice Dems face is not limited to abetting GOP authoritarianism and embracing a government shutdown. Dems have a third option: End all negotiations with Republicans and tell them it’s their responsibility to keep the government open. washingtonmonthly.com/2025/09/09/e...

We speak with @billscher.bsky.social about the looming government shutdown and whether Dems should pursue a bipartisan budget agreement or walk away from the table and let the GOP own the consequences until they are willing to negotiate in good faith. soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

Ezra Klein (Almost) Gets It Right Democrats shouldn’t abet authoritarianism by supporting MAGA spending bills. But neither should they own a government shutdown. There’s a better way. washingtonmonthly.com/2025/09/09/e...

“Ezra Klein (Almost) Gets It Right” — my thoughts on Democratic shutdown strategy for @washingtonmonthly.com washingtonmonthly.com/2025/09/09/e...

With a government shutdown looming, Senate Minority Leader Schumer has put the party on a path to acquiescence: washingtonmonthly.com/2025/09/05/g...

Don’t sleep on the NYT investigation into a botched Trump 1.0 Seal Team 6 operation in which 2-3 North Korean fishermen were shot & killed. Key point: Seal Team 6 record was so checkered Obama reduced ops & increased oversight. Trump reversed course. www.nytimes.com/2025/09/05/u...

“A Government Shutdown Looms. Prepare For Democrats to Disappoint.” — my latest for @washingtonmonthly.com washingtonmonthly.com/2025/09/05/g...

Nobel Peace Prize clinched

Also respectfully @walshfreedom.bsky.social I don’t *expect* Republicans to stop Trump. But the point is: * Rs in Congress have the power to stop Trump * Rs who actually believe in conservative principles should want to stop Trump * Rs should be asked publicly why they aren’t stopping Trump

The people in Washington who can actually stop Trump are not Democrats. They are Republicans. And we should be asking them every day when they will start. washingtonmonthly.com/2025/09/02/r...

“Stop Asking How Democrats Will Fight Trump. Start Asking Republicans.” — my latest @washingtonmonthly.com column washingtonmonthly.com/2025/09/02/r...

Better answer: If there’s proof of an actual crime, Justice Department can file charges and access all documents. Otherwise, fuck off.

Bonnie Raitt, unbilled, at the Mid-City Lanes Rock n Bowl in New Orleans, 2001 Liz Phair, Oberlin College Finney Chapel, 1994 Go-Gos w/INXS, 1984

Is Abrego Garcia the first person to petition for asylum in the country that is persecuting him? www.nytimes.com/2025/08/27/u...

Having served on a grand jury, I can tell you that a prosecutor’s case has to be really terrible to whiff on the indictment.

“But remember, Republicans: We’ve got to stop Mamdani because he’s a socialist — because the last thing we need is someone in power calling for even greater government intervention in the private sector.” www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...

“We are moving toward a situation that, in many ways, mirrors the afternoon of 4 May 55 years ago in Kent, Ohio,” writes retired senior CIA intelligence officer Margaret Henoch. Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young's haunting "Four Dead in Ohio" brings it all back. jilllawrence.substack.com/p/how-does-t...

It’s like Waco never happened, but also Waco explains a lot of this

Congratulations Republicans. You finally made it OK for the American government to control the means of production.

“Woodrow Wilson Has Something Donald Trump Desperately Wants” — my latest for @washingtonmonthly.com washingtonmonthly.com/2025/08/22/w...

Most D.C. residents oppose Trump’s city police takeover, poll finds www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/202...

First came the 1992 Year of the Woman, then the 2018 reprise. Next up, thanks to Trump, RFK Jr. and a "complicit Congress," the year of the (Democratic) doctor? My latest @thebulwark.com on @314action.bsky.social's mission to make science a US superpower again. www.thebulwark.com/p/democratic...

Trump is again attacking vote-by-mail even though Republicans just had a great election year by winning more mail votes. My @washingtonmonthly.com warning to Republicans: don’t suppress your own vote washingtonmonthly.com/2025/08/19/t...

Trump wants the federal government to own 10 percent of Intel. I eagerly await all the conservative-libertarian hot takes: www.wsj.com/tech/intel-u...

This is a stupid name but let’s not forget that MSNBC was always a stupid name

Compare NY Times style in 2025 to NY Times style in 1934: “By virtue of the twenty-seven laws passed by the Legislature in special session last month, Senator Huey P. Long became the de facto dictator of this State at noon today and immediately began acting the part.”

“Trump’s Municipal Takeover? Huey Long Did It First” My latest for @washingtonmonthly.com washingtonmonthly.com/2025/08/15/t...