God is he disgusting

Time for Quinn @yeargain.bsky.social's idea!

Colorado Democrats need to impeach Gov. Jared Polis

Debbie Wasserman Schultz hasn't said where she'll run under the new GOP gerrymander, but Black leaders in South Florida have a very clear message about where they think she *shouldn't* run. Reading the tea leaves, though, it doesn't sound like DWS is all that receptive. More in today's newsletter:

This is sad for a lot of reasons, not least because it's a direct result of the GOP's assault on Memphis' Black community. But I also thought the looming primary between Cohen and Justin Pearson was going to be fascinating.

The Downballot has pretty good reach, and some pretty influential people read us, but I have no doubt that Quinn's theory going viral on here was the key that got Dems in VA and DC talking about it all weekend.

I posted a legal theory on Bluesky on Friday night and by the end of the weekend, Hakeem Jeffries was talking about it with Virginia Democrats.

Genuinely astonished to see a Democratic elected official still saying this. NJ state Sen. Vin Gopal made these comments in a piece published *today* by @politico.com. www.politico.com/newsletters/...

We covered the Georgia GOP's new law that would make elections for DA and other offices nonpartisan—in just five blue counties around Atlanta. Oh, and all the DAs are Black women. But the precise way the law ensnares these counties hasn't gotten much attention. www.the-downballot.com/p/morning-di...

Elections for local utility *and* statewide utility regulators (like public service commissions) are, quite justifiably, the new hotness. With soaring electricity costs and tremendous anger over data centers, these races are growing more and more important—and offer a huge opportunity for reformers.

CNN's "word of the week"? Inspired by last week's Virginia Supreme Court decision, it's "election," featuring commentary from me on why the case was wrongly decided: www.cnn.com/2026/05/13/u...

This sure feels like someone got back an alarming poll of his primary next month, but good. x.com/stephen_neuk...

Dan Osborn got what he wanted out of Tuesday's primaries for Nebraska Senate, while the Democratic contest for the swingy 2nd Congressional District remains undecided. We recap what went down in our brand new Morning Digest.

Counterpoint: Govt officials, particularly intelligence leaders, shouldn’t be doing “oppo hits” on members of Congress during legitimate oversight hearings.

It occurs to me that as fewer liberals and Dems post on Twitter, the Twitter algorithm becomes much more likely to boost internal conflicts between right-leaning figures because those are now the more common conflicts that take place on the platform.

Nebraska independent Dan Osborn isn't on the ballot tonight, but there's a lot riding for him in the Senate primaries for the Democrats and ... the Legal Marijuana Now Party.

The Purcell Principle means it always too late for courts to fix something racist and never too late for states to do something racist

Sargent asked an important question that so rarely gets asked of Democratic leaders. I find it vexing that Surovell's answer to "What will you do next?" is to say, "Here's what we already tried to do."

Mazal tov to @gelliottmorris.com on Strength In Numbers' first anniversary! Elliott, you said you were worried the new SIN podcast would feel like a chore. Instead, it's "become one of the most fun parts of my week." Same here, buddy. Thank you for bringing me on board!

Great recap from @kateriga.bsky.social at @talkingpointsmemo.com of @yeargain.bsky.social's idea for VA Dems to lower the judicial retirement age and ensuing developments. talkingpointsmemo.com/live-blog/sc...

VA Dems got hit with a major setback on Friday when the state Supreme Court ruled that a new House map targeting four GOP seats couldn't be used. But top Dem recruits are still forging ahead with their campaigns, despite running on tougher turf than expected. We run it down in today's Digest -->

The @newyorker.com posted a cartoon with a typo and I am SHOOK www.instagram.com/p/DYK3dNEAezc/

This hasn’t just broken containment. It’s reaching escape velocity.

I know this isn't a quick fix, particularly in Virginia, but remember: SCOTUS probably isn't riding to the rescue. Rights and liberties increasingly depend on state courts. You can help: *Clerk in state courts! *Practice in state courts! *Try to become a state court judge!

The Downballot's @davidnir.com & @yeargain.bsky.social just went live earlier this evening to discuss the huge reaction to Quinn's piece advising Virginia Democrats to lower the retirement age of judges and usher in a brand-new Supreme Court. Watch the whole thing, and/or find a transcript, here!

You saw the article that burned up Bluesky last night: Virginia Dems can immediately lower the retirement age for judges—and get an all-new Supreme Court. In just 5 minutes, @yeargain.bsky.social & @davidnir.com will do an impromptu Substack Live explaining it all and taking your questions!

I just read through all 153* quote-posts of this post: - zero (0) were against the idea - three (3) were on the fence - two (2) expressed doubt about whether it'd succeed I think this may be the most universally favorable proposal in the history of Bluesky?

this is the closest I've ever come to actually suggesting a "one neat trick" suggestion for anything, but I'm so serious here. the Virginia Constitution gives the legislature the power to set retirement ages for judges "REGARDLESS OF THE TERM TO WHICH ELECTED OR APPOINTED." make it 54 right now.

We don't ordinarily publish posts at [checks watch] 8:51 PM on a Friday night, but state constitutional law expert Quinn @yeargain.bsky.social has an outside-the-box idea for reversing the VA Supreme Court that is very much worth taking seriously: Dems can simply lower the retirement age.

For the cause of rebalancing the nationwide congressional map, one very important election is coming up next month. MD Senate President Bill Ferguson, who refused to redraw the map, faces a primary challenge from Bobby LaPin. Notably, Gov. Wes Moore just refused to endorse Ferguson for reelection.

I’m wondering if Virginia Democrats could file a Purcell-type suit in federal court, arguing that the VA Supreme Court acted too close to the election.

There are thousands of maps that were protected by the VRA until Callais. If you're looking just at Congress, you're missing 99% of the story. If Virginia Beach decides to ditch its district map (required under a VRA suit) and revert to at-large elections, that can't be "offset" elsewhere.

Something important to recognize with the demise of the VRA: One major way many localities have suppressed the minority vote is by using at-large rather than district-based elections. Many were compelled to adopt districts under the VRA, but they could go back to at-large elections now.

The idea that conservatives are simply more authentic in their belief is one American culture accepts unquestioningly. You saw this in the response to Reform Jews arguing abortion bans violate their religious freedom - Reform Jews are seen as incapable of holding deeply-seated religious beliefs.

One thing I love about knowing so many amazing nerds is that I can ask my people, "So how on earth do we summarize VRA sec. 2, the Gingles criteria, and Callais all in a single poll question that normal humans can understand?" @yeargain.bsky.social & @snipy.bsky.social were up to the task!

NEW: We've got the first polling on how Americans feel about the Voting Rights Act—and SCOTUS' decision to gut it—since Callais was handed down. The bottom line: They think we still need the VRA. Complete data at the link.

There's one Democrat, btw, who I think should be pretty nervous about these results: Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson

Come follow tonight’s election results with fellow Sickos on The Downballot’s Discord server! sidestack.io/the-downballot

Same. I'm grateful beyond words for antidepressants. That's why I'm so angry at the framing of this piece—"help" Americans "quit" antidepressants, as though they're a bad thing. This is psychotic and dangerous. For the NYT to abet RFK like this is appalling.

@pkrugman.bsky.social recently said that the "good old days" of low prices should be fading away—and he's right. The problem is, it'll take many years. New (and my first piece at Strength In Numbers!) w/@gelliottmorris.com: Why consumer sentiment won't recover until the 2030s w/o bold new policies.

Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus chair on special session to redraw Supreme Court being in old capitol building: "It’s a slap in the face to the 1.2 million African Americans in this state to be meeting in the place that established the 1890 Constitution that disenfranchised African Americans."

The 2026 primary season is back, and The Downballot previews what to watch in Indiana & Ohio! • Trump redistricting revenge tour targets 7 Indiana GOP senators • 80-year-old congressman is about to find out if Republicans want generational change • Top ICE official wants to take on vulnerable Dem

This line in particular makes me feel ill: "The dissent would require that the 2026 congressional elections in Louisiana be held under a map that has been held to be unconstitutional." SCOTUS' Republican majority has long required elections to be held under illegal maps—when it hurts Dems.

This is partisanship at its rawest. SCOTUS has clamped down on lower courts for rulings that could alter maps many *months* before an election—even when those maps have been judged illegal. Here, it's rushing to let the Louisiana GOP change a map *while an election is underway.*

Knicks fans buying playoff tickets in Philly

Bobby Pulido *has* to do a show with these guys

the ravenousness with which Republicans are attempting to carve up Black lawmakers' congressional districts and steal them for partisan gain would theoretically be evidence that racism is alive and well in American politics, but of course, as the Court has explained, racism is over now

Gas in Beverly Hills today, sent by a friend