Bill Scher
@billscher.bsky.social
Politics Editor for @washingtonmonthly.com
“Trump must know he would never win a Nobel for washing his hands of Ukraine, ending military support, and letting Moscow steamroll Kyiv. Any fantasies of a medal ceremony in Oslo hinge on an actual peace agreement.”
November 26, 2025 at 12:00 PM
“Trump must know he would never win a Nobel for washing his hands of Ukraine, ending military support, and letting Moscow steamroll Kyiv. Any fantasies of a medal ceremony in Oslo hinge on an actual peace agreement.”
“Vance and his hard-right janissaries have long wanted Rubio gone … It seems they outmanoeuvred him by drafting and leaking the plan behind his back, then forcing his capitulation after he denounced it.”
Wherein I do a bit of Kremlinology around the White House's chaotic Ukraine peace negotiations. www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
Justin Ling: American leadership looks chaotic. The truth may be more sinister
A recent flip-flop on Ukraine may be less a sign of disorganization than infighting.
www.thestar.com
November 25, 2025 at 1:32 PM
“Vance and his hard-right janissaries have long wanted Rubio gone … It seems they outmanoeuvred him by drafting and leaking the plan behind his back, then forcing his capitulation after he denounced it.”
Reposted by Bill Scher
Would make Cox the THIRD Republican governor in recent years to expand his state's Supreme Court to shift its ideological balance rightward, after Arizona and Georgia.
Reminder: Republicans love "court packing" when it suits them:
Last week Utah Gov. Spencer Cox appointed anti-abortion culture war zealot John Nielsen to the state supreme court, & may now expand the court to create a majority more favorable to Republican legislators: www.sltrib.com/news/politic...
Last week Utah Gov. Spencer Cox appointed anti-abortion culture war zealot John Nielsen to the state supreme court, & may now expand the court to create a majority more favorable to Republican legislators: www.sltrib.com/news/politic...
November 24, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Would make Cox the THIRD Republican governor in recent years to expand his state's Supreme Court to shift its ideological balance rightward, after Arizona and Georgia.
Reposted by Bill Scher
PUNCHBOWL: “.. GOP members messaged us over the weekend saying that they, too, are considering retiring in the middle of the term. Here’s one particularly exercised senior House Republican:
@punchbowlnews.bsky.social
@punchbowlnews.bsky.social
November 24, 2025 at 3:37 PM
PUNCHBOWL: “.. GOP members messaged us over the weekend saying that they, too, are considering retiring in the middle of the term. Here’s one particularly exercised senior House Republican:
@punchbowlnews.bsky.social
@punchbowlnews.bsky.social
Trump ACA plan reportedly:
* Extends enhanced subsidies for 2 years
* Adds income eligibility limit (current program has sliding scale)
* Adds regressive minimum premium payment, preventing $0 premiums
* Can downgrade coverage with savings routed to Health Savings Accounts
* Extends enhanced subsidies for 2 years
* Adds income eligibility limit (current program has sliding scale)
* Adds regressive minimum premium payment, preventing $0 premiums
* Can downgrade coverage with savings routed to Health Savings Accounts
Trump's proposal would put an income limit on who's eligible for the tax credits and require recipients to make a minimum premium payment, eliminating $0 premium plans that Republicans say fuel fraud. The plan would encourage people to buy lower-premium options.
www.axios.com/2025/11/24/t...
www.axios.com/2025/11/24/t...
Trump to push new Republican plan on Obamacare subsidies
The plan calls for a short-term extension of the subsidies in exchange for new eligibility limits.
www.axios.com
November 24, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Trump ACA plan reportedly:
* Extends enhanced subsidies for 2 years
* Adds income eligibility limit (current program has sliding scale)
* Adds regressive minimum premium payment, preventing $0 premiums
* Can downgrade coverage with savings routed to Health Savings Accounts
* Extends enhanced subsidies for 2 years
* Adds income eligibility limit (current program has sliding scale)
* Adds regressive minimum premium payment, preventing $0 premiums
* Can downgrade coverage with savings routed to Health Savings Accounts
Trump's job approval is FIFTEEN POINTS underwater in NEVADA emersoncollegepolling.com/nevada-2026-...
Nevada 2026 Poll: Dead Heat for Governor, U.S. Senators Rosen and Cortez Masto Underwater - Emerson Polling
Majority of Nevada Voters Disapprove of Trump’s Handling of Economy & Immigration A new Emerson…Full Release & Results
emersoncollegepolling.com
November 23, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Trump's job approval is FIFTEEN POINTS underwater in NEVADA emersoncollegepolling.com/nevada-2026-...
Reposted by Bill Scher
There's a new and very dangerous development in Trumpland. They're now so devoted to coal, oil, and gas that they want to punish any country that tries to “inhibit, prohibit, strangle, divest from” U.S. fossil fuels. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/22/o...
Opinion | The Real Reason Trump Is Fawning Over Saudi Arabia’s Ruler
www.nytimes.com
November 22, 2025 at 4:41 PM
There's a new and very dangerous development in Trumpland. They're now so devoted to coal, oil, and gas that they want to punish any country that tries to “inhibit, prohibit, strangle, divest from” U.S. fossil fuels. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/22/o...
“It’s easier than explaining it” really sums up the era.
November 22, 2025 at 3:06 PM
“It’s easier than explaining it” really sums up the era.
Reposted by Bill Scher
News investigations into Trump-era national security and criminal justice decisions haven’t penetrated the national consciousness because of the president’s ability to distract. They should. @billscher.bsky.social
washingtonmonthly.com/2025/11/21/t...
washingtonmonthly.com/2025/11/21/t...
Trump’s Policy Failures Are Even Worse Than We Realize
Daily chaos from Trump keeps overshadowing damning investigations into his national security and justice failures. Consequences are mounting.
washingtonmonthly.com
November 21, 2025 at 5:48 PM
News investigations into Trump-era national security and criminal justice decisions haven’t penetrated the national consciousness because of the president’s ability to distract. They should. @billscher.bsky.social
washingtonmonthly.com/2025/11/21/t...
washingtonmonthly.com/2025/11/21/t...
This is from the FBI
November 21, 2025 at 2:44 PM
This is from the FBI
"Trump’s Policy Failures Are Even Worse Than We Realize"
My @washingtonmonthly.com look at how Trump's policy choices have weakened national security
washingtonmonthly.com/2025/11/21/t...
My @washingtonmonthly.com look at how Trump's policy choices have weakened national security
washingtonmonthly.com/2025/11/21/t...
Trump’s Policy Failures Are Even Worse Than We Realize
Daily chaos from Trump keeps overshadowing damning investigations into his national security and justice failures. Consequences are mounting.
washingtonmonthly.com
November 21, 2025 at 1:45 PM
"Trump’s Policy Failures Are Even Worse Than We Realize"
My @washingtonmonthly.com look at how Trump's policy choices have weakened national security
washingtonmonthly.com/2025/11/21/t...
My @washingtonmonthly.com look at how Trump's policy choices have weakened national security
washingtonmonthly.com/2025/11/21/t...
“Trump’s job performance garners career-high disapproval among men, White voters, and those without a college degree.”
www.foxnews.com/politics/fox...
www.foxnews.com/politics/fox...
Fox News Poll: Voters say White House is doing more harm than good on economy
Trump's approval hits new lows as 76% view economy negatively in latest Fox News poll. Rising costs for groceries, utilities spark voter dissatisfaction nationwide.
www.foxnews.com
November 20, 2025 at 12:42 AM
“Trump’s job performance garners career-high disapproval among men, White voters, and those without a college degree.”
www.foxnews.com/politics/fox...
www.foxnews.com/politics/fox...
Aug. 2016: "We must also screen out any [immigrants] who believe that Sharia law should supplant American law"
Sept. 2025: "London, where you have a terrible mayor... it’s been so changed. Now they want to go to sharia law"
Today: Let's heed what Saudi theocrats have to say on transgender rights
Sept. 2025: "London, where you have a terrible mayor... it’s been so changed. Now they want to go to sharia law"
Today: Let's heed what Saudi theocrats have to say on transgender rights
Trump: "A lot of the Saudis are sitting here saying, 'What the hell is he talking about? Transitioning?' They don't do a lot of transitioning. They're saying, 'What do you mean women are playing against men? That doesn't happen does it?" Yeah it does. These people are crazy."
November 19, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Aug. 2016: "We must also screen out any [immigrants] who believe that Sharia law should supplant American law"
Sept. 2025: "London, where you have a terrible mayor... it’s been so changed. Now they want to go to sharia law"
Today: Let's heed what Saudi theocrats have to say on transgender rights
Sept. 2025: "London, where you have a terrible mayor... it’s been so changed. Now they want to go to sharia law"
Today: Let's heed what Saudi theocrats have to say on transgender rights
"Nobody knew health care could be so complicated" -- Donald Trump, February 2017
You could say Republicans are at the spaghetti-on-the-wall stage with attempts to find a counter to letting enhanced ACA subsidies. Proving to be a real headache. Walking the halls of Congress, you could hear vitriol at insurance companies, lots about HSAs, and tons of proposals for ACA changes.
Republicans eye HSAs, ACA overhaul as enhanced subsidies near end
Under pressure to respond to skyrocketing health insurance exchange premiums, the GOP is scrambling for an elusive healthcare plan.
www.modernhealthcare.com
November 19, 2025 at 2:59 PM
"Nobody knew health care could be so complicated" -- Donald Trump, February 2017
Reposted by Bill Scher
People are pissed about food prices. People are pissed about Trump. Affordability politics can be tricky and divisive, but there’s an obvious food affordability agenda that could unite the left and center behind good policy and good politics. A thread! 1
November 19, 2025 at 2:02 PM
People are pissed about food prices. People are pissed about Trump. Affordability politics can be tricky and divisive, but there’s an obvious food affordability agenda that could unite the left and center behind good policy and good politics. A thread! 1
Reposted by Bill Scher
NEW this AM: A new Marist poll has Democrats up 14 points on the generic congressional ballot ahead of the 2026 midterms.
Home of the Marist Poll | Polls, Analysis, Learning, and More
The Marist Institute for Public Opinion (MIPO) is a survey research center. MIPO is home to the Marist Poll and conducts polls on politics, the economy, sports, technology and more at the local, state...
maristpoll.marist.edu
November 19, 2025 at 11:32 AM
NEW this AM: A new Marist poll has Democrats up 14 points on the generic congressional ballot ahead of the 2026 midterms.
Reposted by Bill Scher
This opinion makes it very clear that Trump's Justice Department screwed up badly here. Texas could've just drawn a partisan gerrymander and gotten away with it. Instead, the Justice Department (unnecessarily) injected race into it, directing Texas to draw an unconstitutional *racial* gerrymander.
November 18, 2025 at 6:52 PM
This opinion makes it very clear that Trump's Justice Department screwed up badly here. Texas could've just drawn a partisan gerrymander and gotten away with it. Instead, the Justice Department (unnecessarily) injected race into it, directing Texas to draw an unconstitutional *racial* gerrymander.
It will be hilarious if the 2025-2026 gerrymandering cycle ends with only California getting a new map
Whoa: A federal court just barred Texas from using its new congressional map, drawn by the GOP to target Dems.
"Substantial evidence shows that Texas racially gerrymandered the 2025 Map."
Court says the old map must be used in 2026. Appeals are certain. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
"Substantial evidence shows that Texas racially gerrymandered the 2025 Map."
Court says the old map must be used in 2026. Appeals are certain. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
November 18, 2025 at 6:23 PM
It will be hilarious if the 2025-2026 gerrymandering cycle ends with only California getting a new map
Reposted by Bill Scher
For me and clearly many others, the SOB test is now the primary lens for judging Democratic candidates. Every election at every level, from now through 2028, is a referendum on an unbearable presidency. My latest, at The Big Picture.
thinkbigpicture.substack.com/p/democrats-...
thinkbigpicture.substack.com/p/democrats-...
Democrats: Don’t Fail the ‘SOB Test'
Which Democratic leaders have learned the right lessons about how to compete in a post-Trump political environment?
thinkbigpicture.substack.com
November 17, 2025 at 8:41 PM
For me and clearly many others, the SOB test is now the primary lens for judging Democratic candidates. Every election at every level, from now through 2028, is a referendum on an unbearable presidency. My latest, at The Big Picture.
thinkbigpicture.substack.com/p/democrats-...
thinkbigpicture.substack.com/p/democrats-...
“Trump’s Poll Numbers Just Entered the Danger Zone” — my latest for @washingtonmonthly.com
washingtonmonthly.com/2025/11/18/t...
washingtonmonthly.com/2025/11/18/t...
Trump’s Poll Numbers Just Entered the Danger Zone
Trump’s job approval fell below 45% for the first time in his second term—historically the point where the GOP gets wiped out in midterms.
washingtonmonthly.com
November 18, 2025 at 12:35 PM
“Trump’s Poll Numbers Just Entered the Danger Zone” — my latest for @washingtonmonthly.com
washingtonmonthly.com/2025/11/18/t...
washingtonmonthly.com/2025/11/18/t...
We finally solved that pesky problem of too many college graduates getting jobs
Kevin Hassett: "I think there could be a little bit of an almost quiet time in the labor market, because firms are finding that AI is making their workers so productive that they don't necessarily have to hire the new kids out of college and so on."
November 17, 2025 at 1:39 PM
We finally solved that pesky problem of too many college graduates getting jobs
Trump's job approve/disapprove is 5 points underwater (44/49) in ARIZONA, per Emerson College Polling
emersoncollegepolling.com/arizona-2026...
emersoncollegepolling.com/arizona-2026...
Arizona 2026: Governor Hobbs Faces Tight Re-Election Race; Rep. Biggs Leads GOP Primary - Emerson Polling
Immigration Drops as Top Issue for Arizona Voters, Economic Concerns on Rise A new Emerson…Full Release & Results
emersoncollegepolling.com
November 16, 2025 at 12:24 AM
Trump's job approve/disapprove is 5 points underwater (44/49) in ARIZONA, per Emerson College Polling
emersoncollegepolling.com/arizona-2026...
emersoncollegepolling.com/arizona-2026...
I believe these clips are from Todd Snider's final performance:
Handsome John: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dc17...
Handsome John: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dc17...
Todd Snider, Gothic Theater 10/30/25 , Handsome John
YouTube video by Surrounded by Squirrels with Brian Mobley
www.youtube.com
November 15, 2025 at 6:39 PM
I believe these clips are from Todd Snider's final performance:
Handsome John: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dc17...
Handsome John: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dc17...
Near Truths and Hotel Rooms is a perfect album open.spotify.com/album/0Fwf3V...
Near Truths and Hotel Rooms Live
open.spotify.com
November 15, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Near Truths and Hotel Rooms is a perfect album open.spotify.com/album/0Fwf3V...