Isaac-Davy Aronson

@idaronson.bsky.social

MS NOW producer / co-host, Déjà News pod with @maddow.bsky.social / maker of martinis

🧵 In 2024, the RNC went shopping for the perfect place to sue over mail ballots that arrive after Election Day, even if they were cast on time. Their target: Mississippi — a deep-red state where you need a reason just to cast a mail ballot.

I'll be writing more about this later, but the fact that there are no ICE (or other armed) federal agents at the polls and no federal takeover of elections is not because we are "lucky" or our system is "strong:" it took a ton of hard work from lawyers, election administrators and civil society.

Lookin' out for the base. "There was Alaskan king crab and a caviar bar. There were bongo drums and puppets. A zebra and a miniature pony. The president was thrilled to be entertaining. “Look at all my rich members,” he told reporters. "Look at these guys.” www.nytimes.com/2026/10/31/u...

‘I Came as Donald Trump’: The President Hosts a Luxury Halloween at Mar-a-Lago

President Trump attended his jungle-themed Halloween party at Mar-a-Lago dressed as a distinctly recognizable figure.

nytimes.com

Search More Than 500 Cases of U.S. Citizens Detained by Immigration Agents ProPublica has cataloged every case we can find of an immigration agent detaining a citizen during the current Trump administration. Explore our database to learn more about each incident. 👇

Search More Than 500 Cases of U.S. Citizens Detained by Immigration Agents — ProPublica

ProPublica has cataloged every case we can find of an immigration agent detaining a citizen during the current Trump administration. Explore our database to learn more about each incident.

projects.propublica.org

I get why Republicans are pretending to be outraged by the Alaska story, but there’s a qualitative difference between genuine electoral scandals and routine campaign mischief. Ballot-stacking is ugly, but it’s also a common tactic with a deep and bipartisan pedigree. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...

Eyeing Alaska, Trump and Republicans pick a fight over campaign mischief they can’t win

There’s a qualitative difference between genuine electoral scandals and routine campaign mischief. Ballot-stacking belongs in the latter category.

ms.now

University leaders trying to engage the right wing assault on higher education is such a bad idea because the criticism is bad faith, good faith will never be reciprocated, and they have the demolition of the university as a core movement goal. You can’t make peace with it, you can only defeat it.

Ryan Enos@ryanenos.bsky.social · 2w ago

Wild and revealing interview with Steve Bannon about Trump's attack on universities. ""Universities, Bannon said, are the only reason that Democrats are “able to compete with us.”" www.bostonglobe.com/2026/10/27/n...

People in Belgrade celebrated following Serbia's Aleksandar Vucic speech conceding defeat to a student-led protest movement in a historic election that ends his long grip on power and heralds a new political era in the Balkan country. reut.rs/4zkXvww

The achievement of Serbian students overthrowing Aleksandar Vučić can't be overstated. In 2024, they began protesting. In 2025, they transformed a protest movement into civil dissidence. In 2026, they became a political party — and two months later, crushed a corrupt state-entrenched authoritarian.

Serbia protest.

"In other words, the complaint contends: Freedom Fuel gas is cheap because it’s stolen..." "The man registered no surprise — aware of the Trump promotions, he declared this White House 'the most crooked-ass shit I’ve seen in my gangster motherfucking life'...” www.politico.com/news/magazin...

Trump Promoted Suspiciously Cheap Gas Stations. Here’s What He Didn’t Tell You.

The president celebrated a gas discount. Was it legit?

politico.com

"On Saturday Oct 17, “No Kings: Vote Early” events around the country will promote early voting and help people form voting plans like requesting absentee ballots, checking on their voter registrations or finding neighbors to help them drive to the polls..." www.nytimes.com/2026/10/16/u...

‘No Kings’ Events This Weekend: What We Know

Organizers are hoping to promote early voting ahead of the midterm elections in this latest round of nationwide demonstrations that have previously focused on President Trump.

nytimes.com

After Russia invaded Ukraine, trade between Moscow and the West stopped, not just to punish Putin, but also to deny him the resources needed to help fuel the deadliest conflict in Europe since WWII. Trump now claims he’s struck a deal to buy Russian fuel, which needs to be seen as a real scandal.

Trump claims he’s reached a deal with Putin to buy Russian diesel

The president has created a scandalous dynamic in which the administration will provide resources to both sides of an ongoing and devastating war.

ms.now