Paul Alcocer
@paul28730.bsky.social
Retired Florida escapee who was enjoying the Blue Ridge Mountains until grandchildren in FL prompted return. Man it's hot here! “When we remember we are all mad, the mysteries disappear and life stands explained.” ― Mark Twain
It is political malpractice for Democratic senators to be helping Trump fill judicial vacancies four months before the midterms. Completely unserious people.
I Am Begging Senate Democrats to Do Anything Other Than Help Confirm Trump Judges
Four months before the 2026 midterms, three Democratic lawmakers have decided to give a historically unpopular president a little boost.
ballsandstrikes.substack.com
I was appalled (though not surprised) when I learned Sunday that Senate Dems intend to help Republicans fund the government through the election, with one minimal concession that has nothing to do with election subversion or ongoing Trump theft of federal dollars from blue states. And I remain so.
Senate Democrats Dodge Last Pre-Election Opportunity To Fight Trump
They won't take a big stand to protect the election, or resist Trump's broader lawlessness, before the midterms.
offmessage.net
America's highest profile gutter racist to spend $100 million supporting the party of racism.
Musk’s super PAC to pour at least $100M backing Republicans in 8 states
Elon Musk is jumping back into the political spending arena ahead of the 2026 midterms with a new field program to help elect Republicans in at least eight states. The Tesla and SpaceX CEO authoriz…
thehill.com
I wrote about how much Americans wagered on sports betting in 2025 and how it’s more than they spent on movies, art, museums and music combined. Read my article @fortunemagazine.bsky.social fortune.com/2026/07/26/g...
Gambling becomes America's favorite pastime as Americans spend more on sports bets than movies, arts, museums, and music combined | Fortune
Americans wagered $166 billion on sports last year, more than Hollywood, the music industry, books, and museums combined.
fortune.com
The GOP is trying to kill public transit, full stop.
Yonah Freemark@yonahfreemark.com · last wk.Congress appropriated billions of dollars for new transit projects. Why is the Trump administration spending none of it? Why are even transit projects in red states going unfounded? New reporting in @nytimes.com (gift link): www.nytimes.com/2026/07/27/u...
Ever heard what a data center sounds like? Sound On. Florida’s future shouldn’t be for sale. While Byron Donalds takes money from the data center industry, I’ll keep fighting for the water, land, communities, and families that make this state worth protecting. Floridians come first.
100% "There’s a particular challenge with the word “socialism,” because most contemporary politicians who use it, here and abroad, are advocating greater social justice, not the wholesale dismantling of market capitalism."
E.J. Dionne@ejdionne.bsky.social · 2w agoDemocrats should not let themselves be baited into a useless debate over the abstractions represented by the words “socialism” and “capitalism.” Their focus should be on the shared work that social and economic reconstruction will require. My column www.nytimes.com/2026/07/19/o...
“What we’re talking about is real basic human connection, … being able to get on the phone and talk to that family member is a basic human need.” - Peter Mayer of @worthrises.bsky.social
Want less prison violence? Make prison phone calls free.
"What we're talking about is real basic human connection, ... being able to get on the phone and talk to that family member is a basic human need."
therealnews.com
just heard a foundation declare its mission as reducing "polarization" as though there's some sweet spot halfway between white supremacy/radical inequality/climate denial and the opposite we should all aim for. There isn't. Been railing against it forever.
Stop glorifying ‘centrism’. It is an insidious bias favoring an unjust status quo | Rebecca Solnit
The notion of a neutral and moderate middle is a prejudice of people for whom the system is working, against those for whom it’s not
theguardian.com
central virginia folks, consider supporting the blue ridge area food bank www.brafb.org
Blue Ridge Area Food Bank | Nourishing Our Community
Empowering Central & Western Virginia with nutritious food. Join us in our mission to end hunger—volunteer, donate, or find help today.
brafb.org
Carl Quintanilla@carlquintanilla.bsky.social · 2w agoPage One. @nytimes.com
E. Jean Carroll spent nearly a decade in court fighting one of the most powerful men in the world. She fought with tenacity and grace — and she won. She is one of my personal heroes. We all owe her a debt of gratitude.
Has there been a more pathetic and ineffective leader of the House Democrats in our lifetimes? I can't think of one.
Truthout@truthout.org · 3w agoIn a “dear colleague” letter on Tuesday, Hakeem Jeffries wrote that he will be voting against a measure introduced by Rep. Thomas Massie that would cut $3.3 billion in Foreign Military Financing to Israel.
Breaking: Eric, who along with his father, was caught stealing money from his foundation for kids with cancer, has released his new book.
stuff like this is why one important avenue for court reform is just nixing the shadow docket altogether and forcing these people to explain themselves to the public when they issue orders. also, making their records property of the united states and subject to publication when they leave the bench.
Alex Aronson@alexaronson.bsky.social · 3w agoAmy Coney Barrett just told Congress that it would be inappropriate to explain the reasoning behind the Court’s unreasoned shadow docket orders. As if unreasoned judicial orders are a thing. They are not. The reasoning is the whole point.
"Members of the group Patriot Front ride the metro as a commuter looks on, during the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 4, 2026. REUTERS/Cheney Orr"
DC is, flatly, owed statehood after what they have been through under this man to make sure this shit never happens again
Dave Karpf@davekarpf.bsky.social · last mo.The entire city is on edge right now. It’s 96 degrees, we’re interrupted every 5 min by the sound of low-flying fighter jets, and the president has managed to ruin July 4th. Quietly muttering to myself: “just wait until IT happens. Everyone will be so happy when IT happens. It’ll be incredible…”
Floridians deserve an independent voice in the Senate — not someone who does the bidding of billionaires and corporations. As Senator, I’ll always put you first.
If Democrats can reform the Supreme Court they could also: - Increase the size of the Senate with DC statehood - Increase the size of the House - Update the Voting Rights Act - Pass a federal ban on partisan congressional gerrymandering
Brian Tyler Cohen@briantylercohen.bsky.social · last mo."When Democrats retake control of the government... we have to decide if we want to win symbolic victories and simply get caught trying or if we actually want to make permanent, meaningful change. If it’s the latter, then inherently, that requires us to expand the Supreme Court.”
absolutely vital to win the senate this november. need to basically blockade judicial confirmations for the next two years.
Michael@fleerultra.bsky.social · last mo.we are one john roberts heart attack away from the complete dissolution of the reconstruction amendments and instantiation of a formalized caste system
The correct statement for Dems to give is this: It is a relief that the Court reaffirmed the foundational principle that anyone born in America is unquestionably American. But the close split on this simple constitutional question reveals a body corrupted beyond repair by authoritarian bullying.
I’m looking forward to the next session when the Democrats have an actual leader in the House. Not sure who that is but if it’s this loser it’s game over.
Hakeem Jeffries@hakeem-jeffries.bsky.social · last mo.Birthright citizenship remains the law of the land. Out of many, one!
really cannot be emphasized enough that the drafters of the birthright clause very much considered cases analogous to undocumented immigrants and *included them too*
Adam Serwer@adamserwer.bsky.social · last mo.That's right.
![During the ratification debates, Senator Cowan took aim
at the Roma people too, characterizing them as undeserving
of birthright citizenship because they “wander[ed] in
gangs,” “infest[ed] society,” and “impos[ed] upon the simple
and weak everywhere.”49 And again, Senator Conness dismissed Senator Cowan’s prejudices: “The only invasion of
Pennsylvania within my recollection was an invasion very
much worse and more disastrous to the State, and more to
be feared and more feared, than that of Gypsies. It was an
invasion of rebels [at Gettysburg].](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:lzlqyldh7nfc34pfffvd24ko/bafkreihrli2ghfantwmdgc4pk4rr4ddt4ajq4xgnggxhs4qv4hojeppmpi)
anyway i think the proper takeaway here is that a bare majority of the court thinks the plain words of the 14th amendment mean what they say, that four members believe there is a secret hidden meaning only recently discovered by hack lawyers
In a sane world (an alt reality) today's dissents would sufficient to warrant Thomas, Gorsuch and Alito's impeachment and removal from office. If you defy the plain words, meaning, intent, history, precedent of a black letter constitutional injunction u are abusing your power and should be removed.
