Ben Kannenberg
@benkannenberg.bsky.social
He/Him, Aspiring Historian, Eventual Writer, (Usually) Proud DSA Member, Schismatic Catholic.
If Republican vote share in midterms and specials continues to be so closely tied to Trumps approval numbers, this puts them in contention for "worst midterm in American history". If Trump sinks to 31% it practically guarantees it. The current record holder is, of course, Grover Cleveland, at 37.7%.
Gallup poll | 11/3-11/25
President Trump approval
Disapprove 60% (+6)
Approve 36% (-5)
news.gallup.com/poll/699221/...
President Trump approval
Disapprove 60% (+6)
Approve 36% (-5)
news.gallup.com/poll/699221/...
November 28, 2025 at 9:14 PM
If Republican vote share in midterms and specials continues to be so closely tied to Trumps approval numbers, this puts them in contention for "worst midterm in American history". If Trump sinks to 31% it practically guarantees it. The current record holder is, of course, Grover Cleveland, at 37.7%.
Reposted by Ben Kannenberg
how *I* would spend our political capital in the next Democratic term:
1) add PR and DC as states
2) pack the court
2a) pursuant to this, find in particular a plaintiff to bring a case to reverse the gutting of Obamacare in 2010 & reimpose individual mandate
>
1) add PR and DC as states
2) pack the court
2a) pursuant to this, find in particular a plaintiff to bring a case to reverse the gutting of Obamacare in 2010 & reimpose individual mandate
>
November 28, 2025 at 5:19 PM
how *I* would spend our political capital in the next Democratic term:
1) add PR and DC as states
2) pack the court
2a) pursuant to this, find in particular a plaintiff to bring a case to reverse the gutting of Obamacare in 2010 & reimpose individual mandate
>
1) add PR and DC as states
2) pack the court
2a) pursuant to this, find in particular a plaintiff to bring a case to reverse the gutting of Obamacare in 2010 & reimpose individual mandate
>
Reposted by Ben Kannenberg
How Republicans commemorated Thanksgiving in 1869--with a multi-racial/multi-ethnic gathering of people at a table with a centerpiece celebrating universal suffrage and self-government, and with an engraving of Castle Garden, the pre-Ellis Island point of disembarkation for immigrants.
November 27, 2025 at 6:01 PM
How Republicans commemorated Thanksgiving in 1869--with a multi-racial/multi-ethnic gathering of people at a table with a centerpiece celebrating universal suffrage and self-government, and with an engraving of Castle Garden, the pre-Ellis Island point of disembarkation for immigrants.
Reposted by Ben Kannenberg
RIP Martin Luther, you would have loved Papal Audience Black Friday deals.
November 27, 2025 at 10:08 PM
RIP Martin Luther, you would have loved Papal Audience Black Friday deals.
Reposted by Ben Kannenberg
Far from being an eternal symbol of Pilgrims-and-Indians lies, Thanksgiving was, for a good portion of its history, a symbol of social reform and abolitionism
November 27, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Far from being an eternal symbol of Pilgrims-and-Indians lies, Thanksgiving was, for a good portion of its history, a symbol of social reform and abolitionism
Reposted by Ben Kannenberg
Feels worth pointing out that the entire reason Trump put the national guard into cities was bc they were hoping something violent would happen to some of them.
November 28, 2025 at 11:48 AM
Feels worth pointing out that the entire reason Trump put the national guard into cities was bc they were hoping something violent would happen to some of them.
Reposted by Ben Kannenberg
We are in peak French heist season.
Thieves take €90,000 of snails meant for Michelin-starred restaurants
“It’s very surprising because they stole 450 kilos of snail meat.”
“It’s very surprising because they stole 450 kilos of snail meat.”
Thieves take €90,000 of snails meant for Michelin-starred restaurants
French police are on the trail of ‘experienced’ criminals who stole a whole year’s worth of produce from Jean-Mathieu Dauvergne’s L’Escargot des Grands Crus
stzl.ink
November 28, 2025 at 1:43 AM
We are in peak French heist season.
Reposted by Ben Kannenberg
the fact that the news media isn't blasting across every front page of the country how completely unhinged the president is on a 24/7/365 basis, tells me that the news media is completely complicit in Trump's regime.
November 28, 2025 at 5:13 AM
the fact that the news media isn't blasting across every front page of the country how completely unhinged the president is on a 24/7/365 basis, tells me that the news media is completely complicit in Trump's regime.
Reposted by Ben Kannenberg
Effectively there is no *one* person performing the duties of President of the United States right now. We are in an interregnum with an occupied throne.
The fundamental thing to understand about this administration is the president is a grumpy retiree. He has no interest in working anymore. Which leads to him being pissed that he is getting asked a question, pissed he has to show up and work, the scheming viziers running the show, etc..
“You’re a stupid person” — Trump lashes out at a reporter who presses him on the fact that the suspected DC shooter was actually thoroughly vetted before he was let in the US from Afghanistan
November 28, 2025 at 7:16 AM
Effectively there is no *one* person performing the duties of President of the United States right now. We are in an interregnum with an occupied throne.
Reposted by Ben Kannenberg
In the long term this is what will kill what's left of America's miniscule credibility in MENA: US-backed ceasefires are when the Arab ceases and Israel continues to fire.
And this is not a Trump problem, but a bipartisan problem. This "ceasefire" was achieved by the previous president.
And this is not a Trump problem, but a bipartisan problem. This "ceasefire" was achieved by the previous president.
A ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon took effect a year ago today.
Since then, Israel has violated the ceasefire nearly 10,000 times: 7,500 violations of Lebanese airspace and almost 2,500 ground violations, according to the UN.
Since then, Israel has violated the ceasefire nearly 10,000 times: 7,500 violations of Lebanese airspace and almost 2,500 ground violations, according to the UN.
Lebanon: Israel’s attacks continue one year into "ceasefire"
www.nrc.no
November 28, 2025 at 2:22 AM
In the long term this is what will kill what's left of America's miniscule credibility in MENA: US-backed ceasefires are when the Arab ceases and Israel continues to fire.
And this is not a Trump problem, but a bipartisan problem. This "ceasefire" was achieved by the previous president.
And this is not a Trump problem, but a bipartisan problem. This "ceasefire" was achieved by the previous president.
Reposted by Ben Kannenberg
November 27, 2025 at 10:55 PM
Reposted by Ben Kannenberg
BOAT STUCK HOLIDAY EDITION
November 27, 2025 at 4:43 PM
BOAT STUCK HOLIDAY EDITION
Reposted by Ben Kannenberg
I have a simpler issue: my brain refuses to pronounce it as anything other than "you-ess-ians" which is stupid and irritates me and I want it to stop
November 26, 2025 at 9:42 PM
I have a simpler issue: my brain refuses to pronounce it as anything other than "you-ess-ians" which is stupid and irritates me and I want it to stop
Reposted by Ben Kannenberg
Me preparing my political takes for thanksgiving dinner:
November 27, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Me preparing my political takes for thanksgiving dinner:
Reposted by Ben Kannenberg
Exactly one year ago today, Syrian rebels led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham began an offensive against the Assad regime named “Operation Deterrence of Aggression”.
Less than 2 weeks later, 5 decades of Ba’athist fascism was over.
Less than 2 weeks later, 5 decades of Ba’athist fascism was over.
November 27, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Exactly one year ago today, Syrian rebels led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham began an offensive against the Assad regime named “Operation Deterrence of Aggression”.
Less than 2 weeks later, 5 decades of Ba’athist fascism was over.
Less than 2 weeks later, 5 decades of Ba’athist fascism was over.
Reposted by Ben Kannenberg
The Trump administration has reacted to a small scale lone wolf attack by in DC announcing a sweeping collective punishment, using the organs of government to heap blame on partisan rivals, and potentially dissuading anyone from collaborating with US forces abroad for a generation.
CIA statement about the Afghan man identified as the gunman who shot two National Guardsmen in Washington
November 27, 2025 at 2:38 PM
The Trump administration has reacted to a small scale lone wolf attack by in DC announcing a sweeping collective punishment, using the organs of government to heap blame on partisan rivals, and potentially dissuading anyone from collaborating with US forces abroad for a generation.
Reposted by Ben Kannenberg
The proofing copies for both "Littoral Commander: Australia" 🦘 and 2nd Edition "Littoral Commander: Indo-Pacific" 🗺️ are here! I will be confirming some last details before the print run goes into high gear! None of this would have been possible without your support. 🎲 😁 💥
November 27, 2025 at 3:15 PM
The proofing copies for both "Littoral Commander: Australia" 🦘 and 2nd Edition "Littoral Commander: Indo-Pacific" 🗺️ are here! I will be confirming some last details before the print run goes into high gear! None of this would have been possible without your support. 🎲 😁 💥
Reposted by Ben Kannenberg
Wait. Wait. Use this one. With the safety tips on it. That's #PublicHealth
November 27, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Wait. Wait. Use this one. With the safety tips on it. That's #PublicHealth
Reposted by Ben Kannenberg
That’s basically every ‘no’ vote on City of Yes, plus the votes got by nixing the specific eastern Queens R varieties from the ADU requirements … plus Manhattan. I’d suggest this has the makings of a very anti-building/pro-neighborhood-character Council. (Charter revisions look set to be a *bfd*)
November 26, 2025 at 7:38 PM
That’s basically every ‘no’ vote on City of Yes, plus the votes got by nixing the specific eastern Queens R varieties from the ADU requirements … plus Manhattan. I’d suggest this has the makings of a very anti-building/pro-neighborhood-character Council. (Charter revisions look set to be a *bfd*)
Reposted by Ben Kannenberg
thank goodness the pro-housing ballot measures passed.
they will be our best enabler of Zohran passing progressive pro-housing policy now that the city council is being led by an outer borough conservative NIMBY coalition
they will be our best enabler of Zohran passing progressive pro-housing policy now that the city council is being led by an outer borough conservative NIMBY coalition
Council’s got two real powers: budget and (now reduced but still significant) upzoning/downzoning.
This is a pretty clear coalition on anti-property tax + pro-NYPD-spending + anti-major-upzoning
My bet is we get a ‘stasis’/member deference Council
This is a pretty clear coalition on anti-property tax + pro-NYPD-spending + anti-major-upzoning
My bet is we get a ‘stasis’/member deference Council
November 26, 2025 at 7:53 PM
thank goodness the pro-housing ballot measures passed.
they will be our best enabler of Zohran passing progressive pro-housing policy now that the city council is being led by an outer borough conservative NIMBY coalition
they will be our best enabler of Zohran passing progressive pro-housing policy now that the city council is being led by an outer borough conservative NIMBY coalition
Reposted by Ben Kannenberg
like Democrats have had to and have won with shitty, superficial, both-sides slanted journalism before. they lost this election. but Trump's comeback was in an environment that was favorable to him in almost every way
dc journalists and beltway media culture are significantly, if not nearly entirely, to blame for where we are right now
November 27, 2025 at 1:10 AM
like Democrats have had to and have won with shitty, superficial, both-sides slanted journalism before. they lost this election. but Trump's comeback was in an environment that was favorable to him in almost every way
Reposted by Ben Kannenberg
dc journalists and beltway media culture are significantly, if not nearly entirely, to blame for where we are right now
November 27, 2025 at 1:04 AM
dc journalists and beltway media culture are significantly, if not nearly entirely, to blame for where we are right now
Reposted by Ben Kannenberg
this is pretty solid spiritual advice tbh
“Be prudent, be wise, be careful that your use of AI does not limit your true human growth. Use it in such a way that if it disappeared tomorrow, you would still know how to think, how to create, how to act on your own, how to form authentic friendships.”
“Be prudent, be wise, be careful that your use of AI does not limit your true human growth. Use it in such a way that if it disappeared tomorrow, you would still know how to think, how to create, how to act on your own, how to form authentic friendships.”
Pope Leo XIV told students not to use artificial intelligence for homework, saying that AI ‘won’t stand in authentic wonder before the beauty of God’s creation.’
Even God Is Worried About ChatGPT
Pope Leo XIV told students not to use artificial intelligence for homework, saying that AI ‘won’t stand in authentic wonder before the beauty of God’s creation.’
www.vulture.com
November 26, 2025 at 4:45 PM
this is pretty solid spiritual advice tbh
“Be prudent, be wise, be careful that your use of AI does not limit your true human growth. Use it in such a way that if it disappeared tomorrow, you would still know how to think, how to create, how to act on your own, how to form authentic friendships.”
“Be prudent, be wise, be careful that your use of AI does not limit your true human growth. Use it in such a way that if it disappeared tomorrow, you would still know how to think, how to create, how to act on your own, how to form authentic friendships.”
One of my favorite dumb bits is whenever a Tame Impala song comes on or someone brings them up, I make sure to say "did you know this is actually several guys?"
November 26, 2025 at 6:26 PM
One of my favorite dumb bits is whenever a Tame Impala song comes on or someone brings them up, I make sure to say "did you know this is actually several guys?"
Reposted by Ben Kannenberg
maybe this will turn out to be a damp squib but literally everyone involved is approaching it as a close race.
most interesting thing about this imo is that the R candidate is above water on favorability
most interesting thing about this imo is that the R candidate is above water on favorability
Emerson poll | 11/22-11/24 LV
Tennessee’s 7th congressional special election (Trump +22)
(Leaners pushed)
🟥Matt Van Epps 49.4%
🟦Aftyn Behn 47.0%
Others 3.5%
emersoncollegepolling.com/tennessee-7t...
Tennessee’s 7th congressional special election (Trump +22)
(Leaners pushed)
🟥Matt Van Epps 49.4%
🟦Aftyn Behn 47.0%
Others 3.5%
emersoncollegepolling.com/tennessee-7t...
Tennessee 7th District 2025 Special Election Poll: Republican Van Epps and Democrat Behn Locked In Tight Race - Emerson Polling
Voters Split on Trump’s Job Performance as Economic Issues Top Voters’ Concerns A new Emerson…Full Release & Results
emersoncollegepolling.com
November 26, 2025 at 1:16 PM
maybe this will turn out to be a damp squib but literally everyone involved is approaching it as a close race.
most interesting thing about this imo is that the R candidate is above water on favorability
most interesting thing about this imo is that the R candidate is above water on favorability