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David Benfell, Ph.D. @disunitedstates.org · 1d

It’s not a matter of blame.

David Benfell, Ph.D. @disunitedstates.org · 1d

Substantive achievements of the sort the Democrats never manage to accomplish.

You know, little things, like voting rights reform which might have helped to keep them in the game in 2024, a meaningful response to the climate crisis, a raise in the minimum wage so it's a livable wage. Little things.

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David Benfell, Ph.D. @disunitedstates.org · 1d

The question here really is whether the so-called pragmatism of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Zohran Mamdani is really all that pragmatic when it yields no more results than a purist 'fundamentalist' position.

The American Prospect @prospect.org · 1d

Zohran Mamdani’s campaign shows that democratic socialists can win support from all corners. The tens of thousands of DSA members turning out to canvas in NYC “are not only Zohran Mamdani’s socialists; they’re Michael Harrington’s socialists, too.” From Harold Meyerson: trib.al/xAWFNLZ

The Rift in American Socialism

Today on TAP: Realists (Mamdani, AOC) seek immersion in mass politics; fundamentalists oppose it.

trib.al

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Reposted by David Benfell, Ph.D.

Popehat Agitates And Irritates @kenwhite.bsky.social · 1d

I have a couple of comments about Paul Ingrassia's lawyer, who sounds like a lawyer who would be hired by Paul Ingrassia.

First, vagueness in legal threats is the hallmark of legal thuggery. Notice the letter does not identify a single allegedly false statement of fact in the Politico story.

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Anna Bower @annabower.bsky.social · 1d

Paul Ingrassia is now threatening to sue Politico:

“This vexatious political attack masquerading as "journalism" is defamatory and will be addressed in forthcoming litigation.”

October 10, 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Re: Statement on behalf of my client Paul Ingrassia regarding last night's story, Key Trump nominee accused of sexual harassment, POLITICO (Oct. 9, 2025), https://www.politico.com/news/2025/10/09/ingrassia-trump-harassment-dhs-
00596545
POLITICO's hit piece about Mr. Ingrassia is calculated to cause maximum harm to his promising career — and torpedo his nomination for Special Counsel. This vexatious political attack masquerading as "journalism" is defamatory and will be addressed in forthcoming litigation.
To be 100% crystal clear, so that there is zero room for doubt: Mr. Ingrassia did not engage in any wrongdoing in connection with the matters reported. As POLITICO itself reported: "The woman, whom POLITICO is not naming, said in a statement that she 'never felt uncomfortable' about Ingrassia's behavior and said she had never made a complaint." This is one of the only accurate parts of POLITICO's otherwise fantastical and fictional partisan fairy tale.
Accordingly, one last time, I call upon POLITICO to publicly apologize and issue a full retraction of this disgraceful and partisan sludge.
/s/ Edward Andrew Paltzik
taylordykema.com

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Reposted by David Benfell, Ph.D.

Catherine Rampell @crampell.bsky.social · 1d

🤣🤣🤣

Jose Pagliery @josepagliery.bsky.social · 2d

Oh come on. On an official document?

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Reposted by David Benfell, Ph.D.

David Benfell, Ph.D. (he/him/his) @benfell.infosec.exchange.ap.brid.gy · 1d

Nothing to see here, folks: Donald Trump had a routine annual physical examination in April, where, naturally, he was pronounced in “excellent health.” He was scheduled for another one—also, supposedly a routine annual physical examination—today, a mere six months—not a year—following his last […]

Original post on infosec.exchange

infosec.exchange

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David Benfell, Ph.D. @disunitedstates.org · 1d

Well, actually, it turns out that María Corina Machado is a right-wing authoritarian in opposition to the left-wing authoritarian Nicolás Maduro.

The Nobel committee continues a long tradition of awarding the prize to unsavory figures, like Henry Kissinger.

www.democracynow.org/2025/10/10/n...

2025 Nobel Peace Prize for Anti-Maduro Leader María Corina Machado “Opposite of Peace”: Greg Grandin

The Norwegian Nobel Committee has awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize to María Corina Machado, a leading Venezuelan opposition figure. Machado was set to run for president last year, but she was disqua...

www.democracynow.org

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Reposted by David Benfell, Ph.D.

Vegan FTA @veganftaofficial.bsky.social · 1d

A dozen organic dairies at Point Reyes, California, began leaving after a multimillion-dollar 2025 buyout. 🐄

#dairy #meat #california #farming #cowranch

California Seashore Begins Ecological Restoration, Removing its Dairy Ranches

A dozen organic dairy and cow ranches at Point Reyes National Seashore in California, US, started moving off the land following a multimillion-dollar buyout arranged earlier in 2025.

veganfta.com

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Reposted by David Benfell, Ph.D.

David Benfell, Ph.D. (he/him/his) @benfell.infosec.exchange.ap.brid.gy · 1d

It’s worth remembering that Henry Kissinger also won the Nobel Peace Prize.

https://mastodon.online/@jetton/115350864276416053

Curmudgeon (@[email protected])

So the Nobel Peace Prize was given to María Corina Machado, a far right politician and Trump ally. Almost the worst pick they could have made. I wonder how long Marco Rubio will remain Secretary of State once Trump realizes he was the one who nominated her. https://www.democracynow.org/2025/10/10/nobel_peace_prize

mastodon.online

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Reposted by David Benfell, Ph.D.

Prem Thakker ツ @premthakker.bsky.social · 3d

NOTE: Leavitt says Trump will "stop by for his routine yearly check up."

But…Trump had his annual check up already. 5 months ago. On April 11.

Prem Thakker ツ @premthakker.bsky.social · 3d

New — White House says Donald Trump will visit Walter Reed Medical Center on Friday.

"On Friday morning, President Trump will visit Walter Reed Medical Center for a planned meeting and remarks with the troops. While there, President Trump will stop by for his routine yearly check up. He will then return to the White House. President Trump is considering going to the Middle East shortly thereafter." - White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt

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David Benfell, Ph.D. @disunitedstates.org · 2d

The Democrats never seem to care that they need to offer a substantive reason to vote for them rather than reasons to vote against the Republicans.

They either think style is enough or really do prefer to sit in opposition, where all they have to do is complain about Republicans--still style.

David Benfell, Ph.D. @disunitedstates.org · 2d

Way ahead of you.

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Reposted by David Benfell, Ph.D.

POLITICO Europe @politico.eu · 2d

Less than 24 hours after the European Parliament voted to ban plant-based foods across the EU from using names like “burger,” “sausage” or “steak” — the institution’s canteen in Strasbourg served up a “vegan burger” as its healthy lunch option.

EU Parliament votes to ban veggie burgers — then serves them for lunch

The ink was barely dry on the European Parliament’s prohibition across the bloc when its own chefs dished up “vegan burgers,” leaving lawmakers choking on the irony.

www.politico.eu

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David Benfell, Ph.D. @disunitedstates.org · 2d

I'm here and I'd sure like to be there.

Politico @politico.com · 2d

“When America creates a situation of making it difficult for people with advanced degrees to stay in the United States, I think that’s an opportunity for Canada,” said Canada’s outgoing UN ambassador.

Bob Rae on Trump, tariffs and global disorder 👇

The Book that Canada’s Outgoing UN Ambassador Turns to Again and Again

Bob Rae also gets candid about Trump speeches, U.S.-Canada ties and global disorder.

www.politico.com

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David Benfell, Ph.D. @disunitedstates.org · 2d

These are the death throes of a constitutional oligarchy, now supplanted by an aconstitutional broligarchy.

www.disunitedstates.org/p/its-an-aco...

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Reposted by David Benfell, Ph.D.

Richard Delevan @richard.wickedproblems.earth · 2d

The Republic is over. Start talking about what should come next and how to get there.

Radley Balko @radleybalko.bsky.social · 2d

Nothing remotely resembling an insurrection is happening anywhere in the country. Any violence associated with protest has been isolated, mild, and, in nearly every case, instigated by federal law enforcement. If we let Trump get away with calling dissent an insurrection, our republic is over.

BREAKING: Trump Admin 'Seriously' Considering Using the Insurrection Act, Reports NBC

President Trump is "seriously" considering invoking the Insurrection Act in order to more easily deploy National Guard troops to major cities as part of crime crackdown, NBC reported on Wednesday

www.mediaite.com

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David Benfell, Ph.D. @disunitedstates.org · 2d

@atrupar.com is simply trying to be "objective." In this, he quotes an obvious lie and judges that sufficient.

The trouble is that this is a brilliant example of why "objectivity" does not exist.

George Conway 👊🇺🇸🔥 @gtconway.bsky.social · 2d

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David Benfell, Ph.D. @disunitedstates.org · 2d

The assumption here is that the Constitution in any way matters to Donald Trump and his minions.

www.disunitedstates.org/p/its-an-aco...

George Conway 👊🇺🇸🔥 @gtconway.bsky.social · 2d

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George Conway 👊🇺🇸🔥 @gtconway.bsky.social · 2d

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David Benfell, Ph.D. (he/him/his) @benfell.infosec.exchange.ap.brid.gy · 2d

RE: https://mastodon.social/@houstonpublicmedia/115344677475278624

The claim that one is excising a 'political ideology' is itself both political and ideological.

mastodon.social

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David Benfell, Ph.D. @disunitedstates.org · 3d

Because it fits their ideology.

Epistemologically, conservatives devalue verifiable ("temporal") information in favor of ideological ("permanent") knowledge. It's one reason there's no hope for a reconciliation between white Christian nationalism and everyone else--we can't even agree on premises.

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David Benfell, Ph.D. @disunitedstates.org · 4d

I’m deeply skeptical that Donald Trump will live to finish his term. (I’ve been wrong here before, even doubting he’d live to the 2024 election.) J. D. Vance remains one Big Mac away from the presidency.

Raw Story @rawstory.com · 4d

Jim Acosta and Molly Jong-Fast spoke Tuesday about ongoing political turmoil, mocking Secretary of State Marco Rubio and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller over their chances to succeed President Donald Trump.

'It's never gonna be you!' Trump loyalists get dose of succession reality from analyst

Jim Acosta and Molly Jong-Fast spoke Tuesday about ongoing political turmoil, mocking Secretary of State Marco Rubio and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller over their chances to succeed President Donald Trump.Jong-Fast ripped Miller, saying he "sounds nuts" and that he "spends almost a...

bit.ly

Reposted by David Benfell, Ph.D.

Scott Horton @robertscotthorton.bsky.social · 4d

What's it like living in Chicago today? This image gives us a strong sense of the fear that Chicagoans fear from Trump's secret police.

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Reposted by David Benfell, Ph.D.

Aalia Mauro @aaliamauro.bsky.social · 4d

I'm sick of anyone bringing up Oct 7th. There have been like a thousand October 7ths in Palestine. End the gcide now.

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David Benfell, Ph.D. @disunitedstates.org · 4d

All this would be fine, but at least in the U.S., the Green Party also supports throwing Ukraine under the bus. That, along with support for genocide, is one of my red lines.

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