the filibuster is one of many American Institutions that is so incomprehensibly stupid that future generations will struggle to understand why it ever existed

Interesting post below from @chrisdillow.bsky.social, discussing political instability in the UK as a result of weakened negative feedback loops. Similar dynamics seem to be at work here in the US.

Blogged: how the ruling elite's failure to stand up against fascism is causing a crisis for UK democracy: stumblingandmumbling.typepad.com/stumbling_an...

New Quinniac poll: If there's a shutdown... 32% blame Dems 31% blame Republicans 22% blame Trump That's a majority blaming Trump and/or the GOP. Hang tough, Dems.

Here's an idea for the Democrats: Have a victim or two of Assad's torture chambers testify at Tulsi Gabbard's confirmation hearing.

To Jack Smith, Chris Wray, and anyone else thinking of just obeying in advance: STOP. Our system depends on there being a political cost for breaking things. If Trump wants to fire the FBI Director or fire the Special Counsel prosecuting him, make him do it. Stop doing his work for him!

This is self-evidently right. Being elected president doesn't mean you're suddenly exempt from past or current contractual obligations (paying your rent, paying for goods you have bought) or can commit civil wrongs with impunity (drive negligently, defraud or injure people, etc).