Eric Chenoweth

If this is what it takes to tarnish the Republican brand, so be it. It should certainly. But that killing civilians in the streets, detaining tens of thousands in inhumane conditions, sending asylum seekers to a Gulag prison, etc. etc. isn't what tarnishes the brand, we're still in trouble.

Bill Grueskin@bgrueskin.bsky.social

In 2006, Democrats took over the House, in part because GOP Florida Rep. Mark Foley was caught in a sordid scandal with congressional pages. That did widespread damage to the Republican brand. Ramaswamy's slimy ad (along with the Vance/Trump bizarre defense of it) has potential to do the same.

wsj.comExclusive | Trump Called Musk and Asked Him to Lift Ukraine Starlink RestrictionsThe military-grade system appeared to be working more normally on Thursday, soon after the call.

To the reporters who believed this story, I have a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you.

Catherine Rampell@crampell.bsky.social

President Trump called Elon Musk and asked him to lift restrictions on a military-grade version of Starlink in Ukraine that the SpaceX chief throttled, U.S. officials said www.wsj.com/world/trump-...

As noted, if one can directly support Ukraine (u24.gov.ua) *and* contribute to defeat Rs betraying Ukraine (and due to their slavish support for Trump, it is nearly all of them), this is how I'm making a last contribution for the mid-terms. IMHO, the most effective means to achieve the goal.

Swing Left@swingleft.bsky.social

The battlefield for control of Congress is more expansive than anyone expected. These are the most important Senate and House races where Democratic candidates need dollars most and where your dollar can go the furthest. Donate to the Immediate Impact Fund: swingleft.org/iif

One is torn as to what is more immediately important: contribute to defeat Rs betraying Ukr in the mid-term elections or directly support Ukraine. If one can do both, please do. Today, I'm contributing to Sky Defense (there are other ways to support non-military needs also). u24.gov.ua/sky-defense

UNITED24@u24.gov.ua

This is just an ordinary day in the life of Ukrainians. Every single day. Ukrainians keep living, working, and supporting each other, but no one should ever have to get used to this. Support Sky Defense. Help bring ordinary, peaceful days back to Ukrainians. u24.gov.ua/sky-defense?...

euronews.comKallas accuses US of pushing Ukraine to 'surrender on Putin's terms'"American negotiators have been trying to push Ukraine into surrender for almost two years," Kaja Kallas said amid rising EU-US tensions.

Yes, it is.

Phillips OBrien@phillipspobrien.bsky.social

It is so important that European leaders acknowledge the truth as Kaja Kallas does here. Trump and the USG have been trying to force Ukraine to surrender for almost two years. There has been no recent pivot to Russia. It’s been a constant US policy www.euronews.com/2026/10/20/k...

bbc.co.ukUK to deploy jets to defend Saudi Arabia from Houthi attacksThe UK announces it will provide additional defensive military support to Saudi Arabia as Houthi attacks escalate in the region.

A good question. And ever more pressing for Burnham to answer given that Trump is betraying Ukraine and actively denying it the means to defend itself from Russian attack.

Ian Bond@cerianbond.bsky.social

Why is the UK sending fighters to Saudi Arabia to defend it against Houthi missiles, but won't send them to Ukraine to defend it against the much more devastating strikes from Russia? Strategically as well as morally, Ukraine deserves our help. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

aclu.orgPathway to Citizenship NowICE has shot and killed people in our streets. Dozens have died in ICE custody. These aren’t isolated events. We need solutions today and the Dream and Promise Act is a critical piece of that. Take action now

I've done. Encourage others to please do likewise.

ACLU@aclu.org

Dreamers and people who built lives here after fleeing crises shouldn’t have to live in fear of ICE. Congress is on recess, but their duty to us continues. Tell your representatives to add the signature we need to force a vote on a bill that would provide legal protections for 4+ million people.

theins.pressRussian strike on Pryluky in Ukraine’s Chernihiv Region kills at least 19, including five children, in deadliest attack of the past monthThe death toll from an Kh-101 Russian missile strike on the Ukrainian city of Pryluky on Oct. 7 has risen to 19 people, according to a report by President…

Do not forget #Ukraine. It is under relentless assault by Russia. (BTW, the best way to change Putin's calculation of outlasting Eur support is to defeat Rs in the mid-terms. Ds united to force passage of concrete military & reconstruction aid. Rs allow Trump to abandon Ukr & make deals w/ Putin.)

The Insider@theins.press

Russian strike on Pryluky in Ukraine’s Chernihiv Region kills at least 19, including five children, in deadliest attack of the past month “This was the ‘gift’ Putin gave himself for his birthday,” wrote Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

maligninfluenceoperations.substack.comInside Trump Donor Konstantin Sokolov’s Business Ties to RussiaThis investigation is part of an ongoing examination of Konstantin Sokolov’s network.

If you were wondering what happened to Russia's active measures assault on the United States with the aim of undermining its democracy, world power and global standing . . . Well, it never stopped. (Follow @olgalautman.bsky.social to keep up to date.)

Olga Lautman 🇺🇦@olgalautman.bsky.social

Russian-born American businessman Konstantin Sokolov gave $11M to MAGA Inc. and donated to Trump’s ballroom. He was recently tapped to lead Trump’s $201M TRIPP+ investment fund. @luchkov.bsky.social and I dug into his past and found that his former partner worked for Oleg Deripaska.

Happy to join others in this election cycle to mobilize voters to put a stop on the US's authoritarian slide. (Go to @targetmajoritynyc.bsky.social for more opportunities to canvas voters.)

🌊❌👑🐸❌🧊 Target Majority NYC: An Indivisible & Swing Left Group@targetmajoritynyc.bsky.social

What a fabulous Saturday #GroundTruth canvass with some of the best conversations we've ever had! Now we have more teams out again today! Thanks to all our friends from @jh-indivisible.bsky.social and other groups who joined in <3 @swingleft.bsky.social

31 Aug

As someone who has critiqued the @nytimes.com for at times for soft-pedalling its coverage of Trump (and it does), worth remembering that yes also, it was clear-eyed & warning the country's citizens of what Trump would do more than much of the media. Yes, spot on. And with appropriate font size.

Alt National Park Service@altnps.bsky.social

They were spot on. This was The New York Times Sunday Opinion section on October 27, 2024.

28 Aug

This is Ukraine's reality. It is the result of Trump's and the US's betrayal of Ukraine. US b/c the Republican majority in Congress could have acted w/ legislation to provide Patriots & accelerate production. But it is Trump who made sure Ukraine was denied defense of its skies.

24Hours Ukraine@24hoursukraine.bsky.social

💔 A residential building in Kyiv is on fire after a Russian drone crashed into it.

mississippifreepress.orgSupreme Court Clears Way for Trump Mail Voting Order in Advance of MidtermsThe Supreme Court on Monday cleared the way for President Donald Trump to move ahead with his executive order restricting mail-in voting.

26 Aug

We underestimated the danger of this EO. But it told us everything we needed to know: Trump ordered the national government to create a list of all citizens & to confer rights only to those on its list. It was an authoritarian order. That SCOTUS didn't reject it on its face is itself most alarming.

Mississippi Free Press@mississippifreepress.org

President Donald Trump's executive order, signed in March, calls on his administration to create lists of eligible voters and orders the U.S. Postal Service to deliver mail ballots only to people on those lists. Democratic officials in 23 states and the District of Columbia sued to block the order.

26 Aug

The only way to save America is to enshrine Dolly Parton.

WuTangIsForTheChildren@wutangforchildren.bsky.social

Buckingham Palace band playing 9 to 5 for Dolly Parton

26 Aug

And the refrain: "Elbows up from shore to shore" (worth the listen). The damage Trump is doing to the U.S. is unprecedented and incalculable. By the end of Trump's term, it will indeed be America Alone. (Unless of course what Ratcliffe was doing was establishing a formal entente w/ Russia.)

CorrinaLeeB 🇨🇦@corrina.sheshed.rocks

🇨🇦 🎶Oh, we’re going to a trade war… They thought Canada would fold without a fight. Instead, we rally side by side🍁 Never mistake Canadian politeness for weakness. We can say “sorry” AND stand our ground🇨🇦 #CanadaStrong #ElbowsUp #SheShed

31 July

Truly, do not forget. Remind others of what Trump did (incl. musing about injecting bleach in a nationwide press conference). Push back on disinformation (Fauci didn't fund a bioweapon; he based his recommendations, which were sound, for how to combat it on the best science at the time; etc.).

Sherrilyn Ifill@sifill.bsky.social

The Fauci hearing was a disgrace. Here are some reminders of how it really went down in 2020. Never forget.

theguardian.comDon’t call them ICE detention centers. Call them camps | John WashingtonI’ve spent a decade reporting on immigration enforcement. The word ‘camp’ best captures the political function of these facilities

31 July

True.

Guardian US@us.theguardian.com

"A concentration camp, in its most basic definition, is a place where a targeted civilian population, not necessarily accused of a crime, is detained and at least some of their basic rights are suspended," writes @jwashing.bsky.social. "That’s precisely what’s happening in the United States today."

24 July

No, one can't. These should be the stories that grace our front pages every day: the injustices and human rights violations being perpetrated by ICE every day. cc: @nytimes.com @usatoday.com @washingtonpost.com @wsj.com @inquirer.com @chicagotribune.com @latimes.com

Kyle Cheney@kyledcheney.bsky.social

CAN'T MAKE IT UP: ICE deported a man to Mexico in violation of a court order in Nov., acknowledged the error and returned him to the U.S. Then they deported him to El Salvador, in violation of court-ordered torture protection. He's currently imprisoned. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

23 July

Yup, it is. This is what you get when you marry the realist school of international relations with corruption. Indeed, it was always the most realistic marriage.

Christopher Webb@cwebbonline.com

This is nuts Anyone taking bets on whether Jared Kushner profits from this Saudi nuclear deal? WHAT SHOULD CONCERN US ALL Saudi Arabia could enrich uranium on its own soil under weaker safeguards, and they’ve already said if Iran gets a nuclear weapon, they’ll build one too. What could go wrong?

23 July

That Blanche even got to the nomination process shows how far gone we are as a country (actually, how far gone Republicans are as a party). Thanks to @riseandresist.bsky.social for being there to pressure the New York Bar Association to do the right thing.

Rise and Resist@riseandresist.bsky.social

‼️DISBAR BLANCHE‼️ July 22, 2026 New York City Bar Association Rise and Resit calls to disbar U.S. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. Over 100 former federal judges have filed ethics complaints citing conflict of interests, and politicization of the Department of Justice.

9 May

It is hard to convey how significant the political & social messages Peter Magyar is sending the public today. Hungary was never monocultural; it is & always has been multicultural. Yes, truly historic. The response shows it. Listen & watch to the end. A message also for here: Change is possible.

Palma Polyak@palmapolyak.bsky.social

Truly historic & moving scenes from the inaugural session of the Hungarian Parliament. A children’s tambura band from a tiny village playing a folk song often described as the unofficial Roma anthem. MPs were tearing up & so were many more of us watching. After all those years of hate. 🎥 telex.hu

Eric Chenoweth reposted

jamelle

@jamellebouie.net

8 May

some wisdom from james wilson, framer. "The truth is that, in our governments, the supreme, absolute, and uncontrollable power remains in the people."

youtu.beSherrilyn Ifill - What Happened to the Voting Rights Act? | The Daily ShowYouTube video by The Daily Show

5 May

Yes, it was. They really didn't hide it. Ever.

Christopher Webb@cwebbonline.com

THIS WAS ALWAYS THEIR PLAN Gut the Voting Rights Act… then move fast to erase majority-Black districts across the South completely. 📌 Louisiana, 1 in 3 people are Black 📌 Mississippi, 2 in 5 people are Black 📌 N Carolina, 1 in 5 people are Black 📌 Tennessee, 1 in 6 people are Black

Eric Chenoweth reposted

Sherrilyn Ifill

@sifill.bsky.social

5 May

WATCH: Last night I had the chance to sit down for an extended conversation with Jon Stewart to talk about the state of voting rights & democracy in this country. Class was very much in session! Thank you @thedailyshow youtu.be/SCse1FFEKLM

True. And let's remind ourselves that our Third Founders (King, Randolph, Rustin & so many others) made clear the struggle for Black freedom was (& is) a struggle for everyone's freedom, for liberty & justice for all, for fulfilling America's original *stated* ideals. 1/

Ida Bae Wells@nhannahjones.bsky.social

We must understand that the Voting Rights Act was not merely about ensuring Black Americans rights, it was about democratizing America. This ruling is not just a decimation of Black rights and Black Americans’ ability to have representation, it is a fatal blow to multiracial democracy.

View full thread

nytimes.comAmerica Wasn’t a Democracy, Until Black Americans Made It One (Published 2019)

Also, do reread Nikole Hannah Jones's opening essay to the 1619 Project. Some so-called liberal historians contested it but democracy experts affirmed it. Her words ring more true as Trumpism tries to dismantle America's multiracial democracy. 5/ www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

Dismantling the VRA (et al.) is dismantling the 14th & 15th Amendments. It is doing what the so-called Civil Rights Cases of 1873 & the "Compromise of 1876" did in reversing Reconstruction. Rebuild & restrengthen the multiracial coalition to not let America fall into another nadir. 6/6

Ida Bae Wells@nhannahjones.bsky.social

View full thread

bing.coma. philip randolph speech to the 1963 march on washington - Search VideosVideosWatch videos instantly on Bing—enjoy direct playback, discover related clips, and dive into trending content all in one place.

Go back to listen/read King's "I Have a Dream Speech." It is more than a misconstrued sentence. And listen/read A. Philip Randolph's opening speech. It set out the March's vision. (One might say they reflected the "Spirit of '76".) 3/ theblackfreedommovement.voices.wooster.edu/wp-content/u...

shankerinstitute.orgWhat Would Bayard Rustin Do? by Eric ChenowethEric Chenoweth is director of the Institute for Democracy in Eastern Europe and principal author of Democracy Web, an online comparative study guide for teachers, students and civic activists. He work...

The Civil Rights Movement is often sanitized. Now, as its achievements are taken away 1 by 1 by Trump & SCOTUS, let's remember its radical spirit. I did so by asking what Bayard Rustin would do today & looking for the answer in his full writings. 4/ www.shankerinstitute.org/resource/wha...

Ida Bae Wells@nhannahjones.bsky.social

Not just King's but every speech at the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom spoke to the inherent interconnection between the struggle for American Blacks' basic rights & the struggle to achieve a multiracial democracy with full political, social & economic freedom for all citizens. 2/

newrepublic.comICE Agent Who Killed Renee Good in Minneapolis Gets Cushy New JobJonathan Ross is still avoiding accountability months after he shot and killed Renee Good.

When there is no accountability, there is repression & lawlessness. Every repressive action of this administration has been challenged, but there is no accountability. Nota Bene to all candidates: If you don't think this is an issue to campaign on, you're missing the thread.

Jonathan Cohn @jonathancohn.bsky.social

"Jonathan Ross, who was only placed on three days of administrative leave for shooting Good in the arm, head, and chest, is back in both an administrative and investigative capacity, facing virtually no consequences for killing an innocent woman in broad daylight." newrepublic.com/post/209615/...

28 Apr

Truly, putting someone in a "news analysis" chair that lied so easily about government murders, lawless detentions and generalized brutality is shameful. #CNN already diminished itself out of adoption of a misguided "both sides" business model. Imagine what will happen if Ellison owned it.

Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com

Tricia McLaughlin is trying to make the transition from professional liar for Trump to cable news talking head. Here she is on CNN just now.

28 Apr

Yes, but understand where we are: (1) Trump has successfully made the judicial & investigative depts. of govt. into agencies to repress opponents; (2) he has succeeded in obtaining political indictments; (3) he has yet to succeed in obtaining convictions. We *are* two-thirds there. #VoteThisNovember

This post is unavailable.

27 Apr

One could be utterly astounded at this lack of attention given how clearly Trump's regular "chats" with Putin are connected to Trump's abandonment & betrayal of Ukraine in clear contrast to broad voter sentiment in favor of helping Ukraine.

Rachel Maddow@maddow.bsky.social

For all the studious, self-serious, resource-sucking attention on every utterance from the president, I'm surprised this one very unique, very consistent tic of his hasn't had more attention: www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...

open.substack.comWho Is Joseph diGenova? The Lawyer Directing DOJ Investigations into Trump’s EnemiesAs the 2026 midterms approach, the Trump's Justice Department is twisting procedural rules and ignoring expired statutes of limitations to breathe new life into old conspiracy theories.

22 Apr

Any account of diGenova that doesn't mention his corrupt representation of Dmitri Firtash loses the real thread of why he is being appointed to oversee this investigation. He was part of breathing life into the conspiracy theories from the beginning.

Lincoln Square@lincolnsquare.media

As the 2026 midterms approach, the Trump's Justice Department is twisting procedural rules and ignoring expired statutes of limitations to breathe new life into old conspiracy theories. Read the latest from @frankfigliuzzi.bsky.social for Lincoln Square: open.substack.com/pub/lincolns...

22 Apr

This is the pinnacle of our upside-down world.

Sherrilyn Ifill@sifill.bsky.social

The DOJ was created to increase the capacity for federal prosecutions during Reconstruction esp. those to be brought under the newly enacted KuKlux Klan Act. Now the DOJ is being used to prosecute a storied civil rights organization whose central mission has been to expose & dismantle the Klan.

Eric Chenoweth reposted

Sherrilyn Ifill

@sifill.bsky.social

22 Apr

Yup.

David Rothkopf@djrothkopf.bsky.social

Reading the FT front page story about a Chinese company introducing a battery with a 1500 km range & six minute recharging time & about how two Chinese companies own more than half of the global EV battery market & I am struck by the different realities the US and China occupy. We’ve lost the plot.

20 Apr

When SCOTUS acted b4 to overturn states' violations of basic rights asserted in the federal constitution, its rulings superseded state sovereignty as "the law of the land." But now SCOTUS violates basic rights asserted in state constitutions. That contradiction can't be whisked away & must be faced.

David S. Cohen@dsc250.bsky.social

Big abortion win in PA today - the ban on Medicaid funding is unconstitutional! AND there's a fundamental right to abortion! We won! (Though this Commonwealth Court opinion can be appealed - we'll see what our AG does.)

20 Apr

Reminding: the US agreed to the G7 commitment *not* to lift sanctions on Russia regardless of higher gas prices. The US quickly violated this agreement. Now, Bessent announces that the US will continue to suspend sanctions on Russian oil a 2nd month. The US's word means nothing---except for Russia.

Eric Chenoweth@ericdchenoweth.bsky.social

Good for the G7 countries. But don't expect the U.S. to stick to such an agreement. Indeed, expect the U.S. to do what it can to make sure its illegal war against Iran aids Russia's illegal war against Ukraine.

20 Apr

Nota Bene: This is the consequence of normalization. Even legacy media decline to report salient facts affecting all Americans: a principal US negotiator is beholden to a foreign power seeking to manipulate US foreign policy. BTW, it's Witkoff, too, & both seek more foreign money to be beholden to.

Judd Legum@juddlegum.bsky.social

Articles about Jared Kushner's diplomatic role with Iran that mention Kushner has received billions from the Saudi government (2/28-4/19): NYT: 5 of 58 WashPost: 1 of 43 WSJ: 0 of 40 AP: 0 of 26 CNN Wire: 0 of 18 NY Post: 0 of 17 Chicago Tribune: 0 of 4 LA Times: 0 of 4 Boston Globe: 0 of 2

19 Apr

If we learned one thing from Hungary, this is how to campaign in 2026. cc: DNC (btw, get a Bluesky account).

The Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social

🔥SEN. @ossoff.senate.gov : “Ivanka’s husband Jared Kushner’s on the Saudi payroll for $2 BILLION— as he leads 🇺🇸 diplomacy + asks sheikhs for billions more… Never have we seen so little effort to hide so much corruption. The Mar-a-Lago mafia taking corruption to spectacular new heights.”

u24.gov.uaTimothy Snyder Joins Sky Defense to Help Protect Ukrainian CitiesThe goal is $500,000, which will be used to procure interceptor drones and other air defense equipment.

19 Apr

@timothysnyder.bsky.social has led several fundraising campaigns to help #Ukraine survive Russian aggression. He asks now for a new campaign to help it defend against Russian air attacks. With the US under Trump abandoning Ukraine, consider donating to #SkyDefense. u24.gov.ua/news/timothy...

Timothy Snyder@timothysnyder.bsky.social

Since Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, it has fired wave after wave of missiles, bombs, and drones at Ukrainian civilians—at their homes, businesses, water supply, & energy infrastructure. Please join me in raising funds for defense equipment snyder.substack.com/p/sky-defense

snyder.substack.comSky DefenseA New Way to Save Lives in Ukraine

19 Apr

True. Pass it on.

Sherrilyn Ifill@sifill.bsky.social

Not a dime of taxpayer money or govt contracts should go to Palantir.

Eric Chenoweth reposted

Sherrilyn Ifill

@sifill.bsky.social

15 Apr

There is also a”war crimes” doctrine.

Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com

Mike Johnson on the Pope: "If you wade into political waters, you should expect some political response & the Pope has received some. Frankly I was taken a bit aback by him saying something about 'those who engage in war, Jesus doesn't hear their prayers' or something. There's 'just war' doctrine.'"

13 Apr

This was achieved despite extreme gerrymandering: the key to Orban's 2/3 majority in prior elections. Even the most egregious plan to "choose one's own voters" could work after Orban's corruption of power. It took a while, but Hungary's voters came to a true civic consciousness. Take note America.

Szabolcs Panyi@szabolcspanyi.bsky.social

💥🇭🇺With 95% of votes counted, Hungary’s map shows the opposition Tisza party crushing Fidesz 94–12 in constituencies. Péter Magyar has secured a 2/3 majority, asked President Tamás Sulyok and other Orbán loyalists to resign immediately, and announced his first visit to Warsaw.

12 Apr

You'll see a lot of pablum coming from EU officials. In fact, few did much to foster a European Hungary. And over 16 years, many acted to allow Orban's turn away from Europe. That makes what Hungarians did now more impressive. Yes, they chose Europe. May the EU indeed choose Hungary this time.

Ursula von der Leyen@vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu

Hungary has chosen Europe. Europe has always chosen Hungary. A country reclaims its European path. The Union grows stronger.

29 Mar

Do not forget the war against #Ukraine. Russia continues its aggression & war crimes---targeting civilians, hospitals, churches, emergency responders, energy facilities, press-ganging Ukrainian citizens in occupied territory---as the world is pre-occupied by Trump's unleashing of violence elsewhere.

24Hours Ukraine@24hoursukraine.bsky.social

🇺🇦President Zelenskyy: This week alone, Russia used more than 3,000 strike drones against our cities and communities.