David Rosen
@davidrosen12.bsky.social
Progressive strategy, political psychology, generational theory, and the dangers of gerontocracy. Not a work account.
Pinned
David Rosen
@davidrosen12.bsky.social
· Sep 6
House Republicans have added 325 poison pills to spending bills this year
So far this year, House Republicans have added more than 325 poison pill riders to their draft spending bills. I know, because right now I’m the guy in all of...
www.dallasnews.com
My family history is directly downstream of an 1871 policy rider in the Texas Legislature that shaped the geography of North Texas.
I think about this often, because I help lead the coalition that fights off harmful policy riders in the annual spending bills.
www.dallasnews.com/opinion/comm...
I think about this often, because I help lead the coalition that fights off harmful policy riders in the annual spending bills.
www.dallasnews.com/opinion/comm...
Look, I've regularly called for Senate Democrats to oust Schumer since the mid 2010s.
Yet these 8 senators won't even go that far, even in hushed tones.
It's a measure of the vast distances Democrats still have to go to become an effective force against the right.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/24/u...
Yet these 8 senators won't even go that far, even in hushed tones.
It's a measure of the vast distances Democrats still have to go to become an effective force against the right.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/24/u...
Chuck Schumer Faces Pushback From a ‘Fight Club’ of Senate Democrats
www.nytimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Look, I've regularly called for Senate Democrats to oust Schumer since the mid 2010s.
Yet these 8 senators won't even go that far, even in hushed tones.
It's a measure of the vast distances Democrats still have to go to become an effective force against the right.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/24/u...
Yet these 8 senators won't even go that far, even in hushed tones.
It's a measure of the vast distances Democrats still have to go to become an effective force against the right.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/24/u...
Reposted by David Rosen
folks, your faves are in the club. are they as bad as the worst people in the club? no. but theyre in the fucking club and that allegiance is thicker than blood.
November 20, 2025 at 6:09 PM
folks, your faves are in the club. are they as bad as the worst people in the club? no. but theyre in the fucking club and that allegiance is thicker than blood.
Republicans learned Democrats are cowards a very long time ago.
I repeatedly pointed it out during Obama's presidency and throughout Trump's first term.
It's Democratic voters who are belatedly realizing their leaders aren't cut out for a fight.
I repeatedly pointed it out during Obama's presidency and throughout Trump's first term.
It's Democratic voters who are belatedly realizing their leaders aren't cut out for a fight.
By surrendering so utterly and completely at a moment of their maximum leverage and momentum, Senate Democrats taught Trump and his cadre an important lesson: Do enough damage and your opponents will buckle. Because of this surrender, our democracy is more imperiled now than it was before.
November 15, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Republicans learned Democrats are cowards a very long time ago.
I repeatedly pointed it out during Obama's presidency and throughout Trump's first term.
It's Democratic voters who are belatedly realizing their leaders aren't cut out for a fight.
I repeatedly pointed it out during Obama's presidency and throughout Trump's first term.
It's Democratic voters who are belatedly realizing their leaders aren't cut out for a fight.
Reposted by David Rosen
i don’t think people realize how straight up delusional a solid proportion of democratic senators are regarding our politics. i don’t mean that as hyperbole. they are actually untethered from reality
I think this helpfully confirms the notion that the end of the filibuster was a big motivator for the eight Dems.
Heaven forbid the Republicans get rid of the filibuster…
November 14, 2025 at 12:59 PM
i don’t think people realize how straight up delusional a solid proportion of democratic senators are regarding our politics. i don’t mean that as hyperbole. they are actually untethered from reality
As I privately told colleagues all summer long, the objectively correct strategy for Republicans was to cut Democrats out of the process and refuse all their demands.
The Senate Democratic surrender confirmed that this was -- and remains -- the correct strategy.
The Senate Democratic surrender confirmed that this was -- and remains -- the correct strategy.
Shutdown fight shows the basic cunning of the default GOP move: never give Dems an inch, no matter how unpopular our position, and wait for them to fracture. www.offmessage.net/p/epstein-re...
November 13, 2025 at 9:41 PM
As I privately told colleagues all summer long, the objectively correct strategy for Republicans was to cut Democrats out of the process and refuse all their demands.
The Senate Democratic surrender confirmed that this was -- and remains -- the correct strategy.
The Senate Democratic surrender confirmed that this was -- and remains -- the correct strategy.
Since 2022, I've maintained a whip count of which senators support and oppose a filibuster carveout to protect abortion rights.
For years, Kaine has dodged taking a position.
My whip count treats him as an opponent of protecting abortion rights, because he says things like this.
For years, Kaine has dodged taking a position.
My whip count treats him as an opponent of protecting abortion rights, because he says things like this.
November 13, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Since 2022, I've maintained a whip count of which senators support and oppose a filibuster carveout to protect abortion rights.
For years, Kaine has dodged taking a position.
My whip count treats him as an opponent of protecting abortion rights, because he says things like this.
For years, Kaine has dodged taking a position.
My whip count treats him as an opponent of protecting abortion rights, because he says things like this.
Elite impunity is one of the many forces fueling civic collapse.
As I regularly pointed out for over a decade, there is a nearly exhaustive bipartisan consensus in favor of it.
You can count the exceptions on one or two hands.
As I regularly pointed out for over a decade, there is a nearly exhaustive bipartisan consensus in favor of it.
You can count the exceptions on one or two hands.
It was perfectly captured by political scientist Ed Burmila: “The crisis of elite impunity that is ruining our society cannot be more clearly or convincingly demonstrated than with the fact that all of these people wrote all this stuff into an email and hit Send.”
bsky.app/profile/edbu...
bsky.app/profile/edbu...
The crisis of elite impunity that is ruining our society cannot be more clearly or convincingly demonstrated than with the fact that all of these people wrote all this stuff into an email and hit Send.
November 13, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Elite impunity is one of the many forces fueling civic collapse.
As I regularly pointed out for over a decade, there is a nearly exhaustive bipartisan consensus in favor of it.
You can count the exceptions on one or two hands.
As I regularly pointed out for over a decade, there is a nearly exhaustive bipartisan consensus in favor of it.
You can count the exceptions on one or two hands.
Reposted by David Rosen
The people & institutions who might have some ability to impose consequences on Trump -- even if only political consequences -- are fucking cowards. They could just impose the consequences now, but they don't want to, even though, as I said, it's all already quite clear. So they're waiting.
November 12, 2025 at 9:30 PM
The people & institutions who might have some ability to impose consequences on Trump -- even if only political consequences -- are fucking cowards. They could just impose the consequences now, but they don't want to, even though, as I said, it's all already quite clear. So they're waiting.
Schumer must go.
But the Schumer problem is also a whole caucus problem. He's just the current face of it.
Primary all of them every time they're up for reelection -- no exceptions ever.
But the Schumer problem is also a whole caucus problem. He's just the current face of it.
Primary all of them every time they're up for reelection -- no exceptions ever.
EXCLUSIVE: AOC laid the blame for a disappointing shutdown deal at the feet of Senate Democrats as a whole — not just Schumer.
AOC blasts Senate Democrats — not just Chuck Schumer — over shutdown deal
"This problem is much bigger than Leader Schumer," Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said, continuing to sidestep questions about a 2028 Senate run.
www.politico.com
November 12, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Schumer must go.
But the Schumer problem is also a whole caucus problem. He's just the current face of it.
Primary all of them every time they're up for reelection -- no exceptions ever.
But the Schumer problem is also a whole caucus problem. He's just the current face of it.
Primary all of them every time they're up for reelection -- no exceptions ever.
Biden and congressional Democrats prioritizing infrastructure spending over protecting democracy was already a world-historical mistake, as many of us pointed out at the time.
These findings make it look even worse.
These findings make it look even worse.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed 4 years ago. In new research @urbaninstitute.bsky.social we study its effects.
US transport spending increased by 30%, but:
—Funding for non-highway projects flatlined
—Construction cost increases resulted in no actual increase in infrastructure
US transport spending increased by 30%, but:
—Funding for non-highway projects flatlined
—Construction cost increases resulted in no actual increase in infrastructure
Federal Infrastructure Spending on Transportation, Four Years after the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is up for reauthorization in 2026. New analysis shows that the act increased spending on transportation infrastructure, but…
www.urban.org
November 12, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Biden and congressional Democrats prioritizing infrastructure spending over protecting democracy was already a world-historical mistake, as many of us pointed out at the time.
These findings make it look even worse.
These findings make it look even worse.
The right -- especially the religious right -- has a gigantic and persistent problem with pedophiles and sex predators in their ranks and among their leaders.
They may deny it in public and to anyone outside their tribe, but I think they know it as well as anyone.
Here's why I say that...
They may deny it in public and to anyone outside their tribe, but I think they know it as well as anyone.
Here's why I say that...
November 12, 2025 at 5:07 PM
The right -- especially the religious right -- has a gigantic and persistent problem with pedophiles and sex predators in their ranks and among their leaders.
They may deny it in public and to anyone outside their tribe, but I think they know it as well as anyone.
Here's why I say that...
They may deny it in public and to anyone outside their tribe, but I think they know it as well as anyone.
Here's why I say that...
Calling on an official to resign without fighting to remove them is passive-aggressive cowardice and empty moral posturing.
In an era defined by shameless public officials who rarely step down willingly, it's also completely ineffective most of the time.
In an era defined by shameless public officials who rarely step down willingly, it's also completely ineffective most of the time.
November 12, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Calling on an official to resign without fighting to remove them is passive-aggressive cowardice and empty moral posturing.
In an era defined by shameless public officials who rarely step down willingly, it's also completely ineffective most of the time.
In an era defined by shameless public officials who rarely step down willingly, it's also completely ineffective most of the time.
If the Epstein files emerge, House Democrats need to fight to impeach Trump as fast as possible.
Well-known members of both parties are likely to be implicated.
Current Democratic lawmakers need to get on the right side of this extremely fast, or they will get dragged into the mud.
Well-known members of both parties are likely to be implicated.
Current Democratic lawmakers need to get on the right side of this extremely fast, or they will get dragged into the mud.
November 12, 2025 at 3:42 PM
If the Epstein files emerge, House Democrats need to fight to impeach Trump as fast as possible.
Well-known members of both parties are likely to be implicated.
Current Democratic lawmakers need to get on the right side of this extremely fast, or they will get dragged into the mud.
Well-known members of both parties are likely to be implicated.
Current Democratic lawmakers need to get on the right side of this extremely fast, or they will get dragged into the mud.
The Republican base began pushing to remake the GOP leadership in their own image in the early 1960s.
The effects of their work didn't even BEGIN to show up in congressional ideology measures until the late 1970s.
It took them 60 years of relentless work to get where they are now.
The effects of their work didn't even BEGIN to show up in congressional ideology measures until the late 1970s.
It took them 60 years of relentless work to get where they are now.
November 11, 2025 at 3:37 PM
The Republican base began pushing to remake the GOP leadership in their own image in the early 1960s.
The effects of their work didn't even BEGIN to show up in congressional ideology measures until the late 1970s.
It took them 60 years of relentless work to get where they are now.
The effects of their work didn't even BEGIN to show up in congressional ideology measures until the late 1970s.
It took them 60 years of relentless work to get where they are now.
Reposted by David Rosen
The fact that not a single member of the Senate Dem caucus has called for Schumer to be replaced shows you how deep the rot is. This includes Sanders and Warren.
November 11, 2025 at 12:22 PM
The fact that not a single member of the Senate Dem caucus has called for Schumer to be replaced shows you how deep the rot is. This includes Sanders and Warren.
Reposted by David Rosen
Every senator let through the unanimous consent to make the whole thing take 5 minutes. Every one of them is lying to you about their opposition
November 11, 2025 at 7:18 AM
Every senator let through the unanimous consent to make the whole thing take 5 minutes. Every one of them is lying to you about their opposition
Reposted by David Rosen
We just launched the biggest primary program in Indivisible’s history. Help us (literally) send Schumer and the surrender caucus a message. open.substack.com/pub/ezralevi...
Democratic leaders failed us again. Time to get some new leaders.
Indivisible's weekly newsletter with analysis and action
open.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 11:17 PM
We just launched the biggest primary program in Indivisible’s history. Help us (literally) send Schumer and the surrender caucus a message. open.substack.com/pub/ezralevi...
Reposted by David Rosen
America’s chickenshit elites problem continues to be the biggest obstacle to fighting Trump www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
November 10, 2025 at 3:25 PM
America’s chickenshit elites problem continues to be the biggest obstacle to fighting Trump www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
Reposted by David Rosen
This is the entire thing. They ended up with nothing on their PR point and nothing on the real discussion which was submerged. The way they shut down RIFs showed they understood how to stop the power grab and chose not to.
prospect.org/2025/11/10/m...
prospect.org/2025/11/10/m...
November 10, 2025 at 5:08 PM
This is the entire thing. They ended up with nothing on their PR point and nothing on the real discussion which was submerged. The way they shut down RIFs showed they understood how to stop the power grab and chose not to.
prospect.org/2025/11/10/m...
prospect.org/2025/11/10/m...
Reposted by David Rosen
Primary the entire Dem Senate Caucus. We all see right through this political theater. I'm done.
Democrats have been fighting for months to address America's healthcare crisis
For the millions who will lose coverage
For people with cancer who won't get the care they need
For working families who can't afford to pay $25K more a year for healthcare
We will keep fighting
For the millions who will lose coverage
For people with cancer who won't get the care they need
For working families who can't afford to pay $25K more a year for healthcare
We will keep fighting
November 10, 2025 at 4:56 AM
Primary the entire Dem Senate Caucus. We all see right through this political theater. I'm done.
Reposted by David Rosen
"Our constituents want us to take this vote" really tracks well with shielding anyone up for re-election from taking this vote.
November 10, 2025 at 3:46 AM
"Our constituents want us to take this vote" really tracks well with shielding anyone up for re-election from taking this vote.
Reposted by David Rosen
Any Democratic senator, at any moment, could've derailed this by calling for Schumer's replacement and casting their colleagues as MAGA collaborators, thereby shifting the Overton window. But they're all in on it. This was always a team effort.
November 10, 2025 at 2:39 AM
Any Democratic senator, at any moment, could've derailed this by calling for Schumer's replacement and casting their colleagues as MAGA collaborators, thereby shifting the Overton window. But they're all in on it. This was always a team effort.
Reposted by David Rosen
Important to understand this. There's a reasonable chance that your Dem Senator who voted against it and is acting mad now was in on the play. It's the same reason why they scheduled the surrender for AFTER the election this week. They didn't want people pissed at Dems right before an election.
The caucus meeting was just to orchestrate who would fall on the sword but not be up for a vote in 2026.
so currently defectors are:
Kaine (2030)
Shaheen (Retiring)
Hasan (2028)
Fetterman (2028)
Durbin (Retiring)
CCM (2028)
Rosen (2030)
King (2030)
Kaine (2030)
Shaheen (Retiring)
Hasan (2028)
Fetterman (2028)
Durbin (Retiring)
CCM (2028)
Rosen (2030)
King (2030)
November 10, 2025 at 2:11 AM
Important to understand this. There's a reasonable chance that your Dem Senator who voted against it and is acting mad now was in on the play. It's the same reason why they scheduled the surrender for AFTER the election this week. They didn't want people pissed at Dems right before an election.
Reposted by David Rosen
EIGHT Senate Democrats have voted to advance the funding measure so far after the deal was reached:
Cortez Masto
Durbin
Fetterman
Hassan
Kaine
King
Rosen
Shaheen
If the existing 52 Republicans hold, that's 60 — enough to advance this agreement. Final vote still to come.
Cortez Masto
Durbin
Fetterman
Hassan
Kaine
King
Rosen
Shaheen
If the existing 52 Republicans hold, that's 60 — enough to advance this agreement. Final vote still to come.
November 10, 2025 at 1:52 AM
EIGHT Senate Democrats have voted to advance the funding measure so far after the deal was reached:
Cortez Masto
Durbin
Fetterman
Hassan
Kaine
King
Rosen
Shaheen
If the existing 52 Republicans hold, that's 60 — enough to advance this agreement. Final vote still to come.
Cortez Masto
Durbin
Fetterman
Hassan
Kaine
King
Rosen
Shaheen
If the existing 52 Republicans hold, that's 60 — enough to advance this agreement. Final vote still to come.
From Politico:
"Even if senators break a filibuster on Sunday, progressives could drag out passage of the deal for days. Speeding it up would require consent from all 100 senators. The House would then need to come back to Washington to pass the agreement before the government would reopen."
"Even if senators break a filibuster on Sunday, progressives could drag out passage of the deal for days. Speeding it up would require consent from all 100 senators. The House would then need to come back to Washington to pass the agreement before the government would reopen."
November 9, 2025 at 9:09 PM
From Politico:
"Even if senators break a filibuster on Sunday, progressives could drag out passage of the deal for days. Speeding it up would require consent from all 100 senators. The House would then need to come back to Washington to pass the agreement before the government would reopen."
"Even if senators break a filibuster on Sunday, progressives could drag out passage of the deal for days. Speeding it up would require consent from all 100 senators. The House would then need to come back to Washington to pass the agreement before the government would reopen."