Formerly Libraryben on Twitter
@bbtwlvloonspr.bsky.social
Glad to see some of the better parts of Twitter here. Formerly a library tech guy. Now doing library adjacent things but a little less adjacent than before. Wolves Twitter. Loons. Spurs. Disc golf nerd. Took up TTRPGs. Fully support 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈
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There is another factor for why many elected representatives, particularly on the Democratic side, seem so abysmally out of touch: the speed with which politics has fundamentally transformed presents a real adaptation challenge.
Long terms in office, plus incumbency advantage, make this kind of structural failure of representation almost inevitable
January 17, 2026 at 2:12 PM
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Reposted by Formerly Libraryben on Twitter
Reposted by Formerly Libraryben on Twitter
CNN: A majority of the country, 58% say President Trump's first year has been a failure. That includes two thirds of independent voters. Now, why is that? Across the board, Americans disapprove of how the president is handling every major issue.
January 16, 2026 at 5:07 PM
CNN: A majority of the country, 58% say President Trump's first year has been a failure. That includes two thirds of independent voters. Now, why is that? Across the board, Americans disapprove of how the president is handling every major issue.
Reposted by Formerly Libraryben on Twitter
"There comes a point where we have to start questioning whether or not he’s actually aware of what’s happening around him & the harm he’s doing. It’s similar to historical figures like Nero or Caligula. Their madness took over & they started doing wildly destructive things. Trump is in that place."
Simon Rosenberg on Trump’s no good, very bad year
"It’s grotesque. He’s become a grotesque figure."
www.publicnotice.co
January 16, 2026 at 2:55 PM
"There comes a point where we have to start questioning whether or not he’s actually aware of what’s happening around him & the harm he’s doing. It’s similar to historical figures like Nero or Caligula. Their madness took over & they started doing wildly destructive things. Trump is in that place."
Oh
"unnerving"
"fruitless exercise"
"the craziest thing I've heard"
NYT obtained transcripts of secret grand jury testimony from the Georgia election interference case against Trump and his allies — show just how alarmed senior Republicans felt about Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
"fruitless exercise"
"the craziest thing I've heard"
NYT obtained transcripts of secret grand jury testimony from the Georgia election interference case against Trump and his allies — show just how alarmed senior Republicans felt about Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
In Secret Testimony, Republicans Derided Trump’s Stolen Election Claims
www.nytimes.com
January 16, 2026 at 5:08 PM
Oh
Reposted by Formerly Libraryben on Twitter
The 6-month-old that DHS is tweeting about here lived in the neighborhood and the baby’s father was just trying to evacuate his family after federal agents had shot someone.
January 16, 2026 at 3:38 PM
The 6-month-old that DHS is tweeting about here lived in the neighborhood and the baby’s father was just trying to evacuate his family after federal agents had shot someone.
Reposted by Formerly Libraryben on Twitter
"The engine puttered; the inside of his 15-year-old hatchback was starting to smell like burning oil.
Within seconds Stancil was on the Expedition’s tail, no more than a few metres off the white bumper. He laid into his horn. 'Meep-Meep-Meep!' It sounded like the Roadrunner. 'Meep-Meep-Meep!'"
Within seconds Stancil was on the Expedition’s tail, no more than a few metres off the white bumper. He laid into his horn. 'Meep-Meep-Meep!' It sounded like the Roadrunner. 'Meep-Meep-Meep!'"
Richard Warnica: I spent the week in Minnesota. The only thing I’m sure of now is that more people are going to die
As confrontations between ICE and protestors and activists grow more common, the tension only rises.
www.thestar.com
January 16, 2026 at 2:46 PM
"The engine puttered; the inside of his 15-year-old hatchback was starting to smell like burning oil.
Within seconds Stancil was on the Expedition’s tail, no more than a few metres off the white bumper. He laid into his horn. 'Meep-Meep-Meep!' It sounded like the Roadrunner. 'Meep-Meep-Meep!'"
Within seconds Stancil was on the Expedition’s tail, no more than a few metres off the white bumper. He laid into his horn. 'Meep-Meep-Meep!' It sounded like the Roadrunner. 'Meep-Meep-Meep!'"
Reposted by Formerly Libraryben on Twitter
Yes. ICE service is being sold to disaffected MAGA goons as an opportunity to wage a campaign of cleansing, restorative violence against Americans as an act of patriotic national service. And most normies now see that this isn't anything akin to real law enforcement.
newrepublic.com/article/2052...
newrepublic.com/article/2052...
January 16, 2026 at 12:35 PM
Yes. ICE service is being sold to disaffected MAGA goons as an opportunity to wage a campaign of cleansing, restorative violence against Americans as an act of patriotic national service. And most normies now see that this isn't anything akin to real law enforcement.
newrepublic.com/article/2052...
newrepublic.com/article/2052...
Reposted by Formerly Libraryben on Twitter
Oh killing moms isn’t as popular IRL as it is with middle aged boys who are still mad at their moms? bsky.app/profile/axio...
NEW: As the chaotic scenes from Minnesota play out around the clock, Axios has learned that some Trump advisers quietly are talking about "recalibrating" the White House's approach.
Trump's team recently reviewed private GOP polling that showed support for his immigration policies falling.
Trump's team recently reviewed private GOP polling that showed support for his immigration policies falling.
Trump's immigration erosion worries his team
Some Trump advisers quietly are talking about "recalibrating" the White House's approach — though it's unclear what changes Trump would embrace, if any.
www.axios.com
January 16, 2026 at 12:33 PM
Oh killing moms isn’t as popular IRL as it is with middle aged boys who are still mad at their moms? bsky.app/profile/axio...
Reposted by Formerly Libraryben on Twitter
BREAKING: Medical examiner says death of ICE detainee was a HOMICIDE - a witness says he was choked to death by GUARDS. www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/...
Medical examiner believes death of man in ICE custody was homicide, recording says
A fellow detainee says he witnessed Geraldo Lunas Campos being choked to death by guards at the ICE detention center in Texas on Jan. 3.
www.washingtonpost.com
January 15, 2026 at 11:09 PM
BREAKING: Medical examiner says death of ICE detainee was a HOMICIDE - a witness says he was choked to death by GUARDS. www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/...
Reposted by Formerly Libraryben on Twitter
After shooting him in the face, they dragged him into the building and handcuffed him.
They didn’t call 911 right away, though agents did mock him, saying “you’re going to lose your eye.”
Training won’t help bc they are opportunistic psychopaths. They joined bc they wanted to hurt and kill people.
They didn’t call 911 right away, though agents did mock him, saying “you’re going to lose your eye.”
Training won’t help bc they are opportunistic psychopaths. They joined bc they wanted to hurt and kill people.
21-year-old activist injured by ICE:
I will be blind for life. I have fractures in my skull that they can't fix. They pulled a piece of plastic the size of a nickel out of my eye. I had shards of metal, glass, and plastic behind my eye and in my skull. They said it was a miracle I survived.
I will be blind for life. I have fractures in my skull that they can't fix. They pulled a piece of plastic the size of a nickel out of my eye. I had shards of metal, glass, and plastic behind my eye and in my skull. They said it was a miracle I survived.
January 15, 2026 at 11:03 PM
After shooting him in the face, they dragged him into the building and handcuffed him.
They didn’t call 911 right away, though agents did mock him, saying “you’re going to lose your eye.”
Training won’t help bc they are opportunistic psychopaths. They joined bc they wanted to hurt and kill people.
They didn’t call 911 right away, though agents did mock him, saying “you’re going to lose your eye.”
Training won’t help bc they are opportunistic psychopaths. They joined bc they wanted to hurt and kill people.
Reposted by Formerly Libraryben on Twitter
Seeing Zohran instantly getting a bunch of shit done in like a week makes you realize that politicians could always do that on some level if they wanted it bad enough and very few of them actually do.
January 15, 2026 at 1:23 AM
Seeing Zohran instantly getting a bunch of shit done in like a week makes you realize that politicians could always do that on some level if they wanted it bad enough and very few of them actually do.
Reposted by Formerly Libraryben on Twitter
Yikes.
FOX BUSINESS: What can we anticipate from Trump's Davos speech?
HASSETT: There's gonna be some look at the new world order that President Trump is creating
HASSETT: There's gonna be some look at the new world order that President Trump is creating
January 15, 2026 at 7:54 PM
Yikes.
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the question to ask about this is, okay, he wants to cancel the midterms. how does he get the VA state board of elections to cancel the midterms? how does he get the georgia board of elections to do it? how does he convince republican house members to quit their jobs and give up their paychecks?
Trump says a lot of deranged shit, but, per this Reuters article — and the threats of invoking the Insurrection Act in Minnesota this morning — he is very clearly exploring how to cancel the midterms.
www.reuters.com/world/us/fiv...
www.reuters.com/world/us/fiv...
January 15, 2026 at 7:46 PM
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Reposted by Formerly Libraryben on Twitter
The MN AG just released a federal action reporting portal - please share Https://www.ag.state.mn.us/Federal-Action/
January 15, 2026 at 7:42 PM
The MN AG just released a federal action reporting portal - please share Https://www.ag.state.mn.us/Federal-Action/
Reposted by Formerly Libraryben on Twitter
A question for the white women
January 15, 2026 at 6:30 PM
A question for the white women
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just a reminder that we aren’t even seeing the worst of what is happening in Minneapolis from someone detailed at the Whipple Federal Building yesterday
January 15, 2026 at 6:33 PM
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Reposted by Formerly Libraryben on Twitter
U.S. citizen detained by ICE:
“…they finally told me that they could offer undocumented family members of mine legal protection if I have any…or money, in exchange for giving them the names of protest organizers, or undocumented persons. I was shocked, and told them no.”
“…they finally told me that they could offer undocumented family members of mine legal protection if I have any…or money, in exchange for giving them the names of protest organizers, or undocumented persons. I was shocked, and told them no.”
just a reminder that we aren’t even seeing the worst of what is happening in Minneapolis from someone detailed at the Whipple Federal Building yesterday
January 13, 2026 at 3:05 PM
U.S. citizen detained by ICE:
“…they finally told me that they could offer undocumented family members of mine legal protection if I have any…or money, in exchange for giving them the names of protest organizers, or undocumented persons. I was shocked, and told them no.”
“…they finally told me that they could offer undocumented family members of mine legal protection if I have any…or money, in exchange for giving them the names of protest organizers, or undocumented persons. I was shocked, and told them no.”
Reposted by Formerly Libraryben on Twitter
ICE keeps saying the people protesting it are being paid without any evidence, but we have receipts showing that the people *defending* ICE are absolutely being paid.
And yet we only hear lies about the former on cable news.
And yet we only hear lies about the former on cable news.
relevant to the debate over whether we should keep funding DHS without reforms and accountability for how out of control their spending is
January 15, 2026 at 4:28 PM
ICE keeps saying the people protesting it are being paid without any evidence, but we have receipts showing that the people *defending* ICE are absolutely being paid.
And yet we only hear lies about the former on cable news.
And yet we only hear lies about the former on cable news.
Reposted by Formerly Libraryben on Twitter
Los bros 😭😭😭😭
A buddy in MN shared a drawing a classmate of his kid made. They've been making thank you notes for parents who have volunteered to carpool them to school so their own parents don't have to risk waiting out by the bus stop.
January 15, 2026 at 6:26 PM
Los bros 😭😭😭😭
Reposted by Formerly Libraryben on Twitter
Reposted by Formerly Libraryben on Twitter
The Walz response to all this is worthless; but it's a political education opportunity to affirm:
"Do something!" doesn't mean "send in the guard or cops to stop ICE" ...because that's not going to happen.
"Do something!" means stuff like an eviction moratorium; listen to @jchavezmpls.bsky.social:
"Do something!" doesn't mean "send in the guard or cops to stop ICE" ...because that's not going to happen.
"Do something!" means stuff like an eviction moratorium; listen to @jchavezmpls.bsky.social:
It is also our responsibility to keep more families together.
That is why I’m joining Council Members @robin4mpls.bsky.social, Vice President Osman, and Council Member @sorenwithward8.bsky.social in co-sponsoring the Evict ICE, not US Resolution. 2/
That is why I’m joining Council Members @robin4mpls.bsky.social, Vice President Osman, and Council Member @sorenwithward8.bsky.social in co-sponsoring the Evict ICE, not US Resolution. 2/
January 15, 2026 at 5:44 PM
The Walz response to all this is worthless; but it's a political education opportunity to affirm:
"Do something!" doesn't mean "send in the guard or cops to stop ICE" ...because that's not going to happen.
"Do something!" means stuff like an eviction moratorium; listen to @jchavezmpls.bsky.social:
"Do something!" doesn't mean "send in the guard or cops to stop ICE" ...because that's not going to happen.
"Do something!" means stuff like an eviction moratorium; listen to @jchavezmpls.bsky.social:
Renee Good a was murdered by state sponsored, domestic terrorists one week ago, roughly at this time.
She had no intention of being a martyr. Cruelty, inhumanity, and callous disregard for any sense of decency by Trump, Noem, Lisa Demuth, and the MNGOP inflicted martyrdom upon her.
She had no intention of being a martyr. Cruelty, inhumanity, and callous disregard for any sense of decency by Trump, Noem, Lisa Demuth, and the MNGOP inflicted martyrdom upon her.
January 14, 2026 at 3:45 PM
Renee Good a was murdered by state sponsored, domestic terrorists one week ago, roughly at this time.
She had no intention of being a martyr. Cruelty, inhumanity, and callous disregard for any sense of decency by Trump, Noem, Lisa Demuth, and the MNGOP inflicted martyrdom upon her.
She had no intention of being a martyr. Cruelty, inhumanity, and callous disregard for any sense of decency by Trump, Noem, Lisa Demuth, and the MNGOP inflicted martyrdom upon her.
Reposted by Formerly Libraryben on Twitter
The GOP has explicitly advocated that the Education Department be abolished for decades, an issue which never polled as well as abolishing ICE does today.
Abolishing the Education Department was part of the GOP's 1984 platform… and Reagan won 49 states.
Abolishing the Education Department was part of the GOP's 1984 platform… and Reagan won 49 states.
January 14, 2026 at 3:07 PM
The GOP has explicitly advocated that the Education Department be abolished for decades, an issue which never polled as well as abolishing ICE does today.
Abolishing the Education Department was part of the GOP's 1984 platform… and Reagan won 49 states.
Abolishing the Education Department was part of the GOP's 1984 platform… and Reagan won 49 states.
Reposted by Formerly Libraryben on Twitter
Comer is being heckled by someone off camera during this press conference
January 14, 2026 at 3:31 PM
Comer is being heckled by someone off camera during this press conference