David Dayen
@ddayen.bsky.social
Executive editor, The American Prospect. Author, Chain of Title and Monopolized. Tips at ddayen-at-prospect-dot-org or Signal at ddayen.90
Pinned
Sports - The American Prospect
prospect.org
You can see our entire series on The Business of Sports at
prospect.org/sports. More to come in the days ahead!
prospect.org/sports. More to come in the days ahead!
And now the House has defeated the rule, 214-217. The expectation is Democrats will immediately get 2 votes to block Trump’s tariffs on Canada and Mexico. Those motions are ripe and ready for voting tomorrow.
Speaker Johnson can no longer stop time (that's what his motion did, procedurally speaking)
Speaker Johnson can no longer stop time (that's what his motion did, procedurally speaking)
This is interesting, the House has been routinely blocking votes to negate individual tariffs, which Democrats have the right to call, through procedural trickery. But some Republicans have had enough, and the extension of the trickery may now end, with tariff votes sure to follow.
Rule vote postponed amid tariff backlash
Live updates and analysis from POLITICO’s Congress team.
www.politico.com
February 11, 2026 at 2:58 AM
And now the House has defeated the rule, 214-217. The expectation is Democrats will immediately get 2 votes to block Trump’s tariffs on Canada and Mexico. Those motions are ripe and ready for voting tomorrow.
Speaker Johnson can no longer stop time (that's what his motion did, procedurally speaking)
Speaker Johnson can no longer stop time (that's what his motion did, procedurally speaking)
An important part of this legal ruling is that California under the anti-mask law treats its own officers separately. That was a last-minute addition by Gavin Newsom. Now it got the law thrown out.
www.reuters.com/legal/govern...
www.reuters.com/legal/govern...
February 10, 2026 at 11:01 PM
An important part of this legal ruling is that California under the anti-mask law treats its own officers separately. That was a last-minute addition by Gavin Newsom. Now it got the law thrown out.
www.reuters.com/legal/govern...
www.reuters.com/legal/govern...
Two DSA (or DSA-adjacent) mayoral candidates in LA and DC are trying to recreate the magic Zohran Mamdani found in NYC. Harold Meyerson looks at whether they can succeed.
prospect.org/2026/02/10/d...
prospect.org/2026/02/10/d...
Do L.A. and D.C. Have Their Own Mamdanis? - The American Prospect
Two somewhat socialist mayoral candidates are working to see that they do.
prospect.org
February 10, 2026 at 9:44 PM
Two DSA (or DSA-adjacent) mayoral candidates in LA and DC are trying to recreate the magic Zohran Mamdani found in NYC. Harold Meyerson looks at whether they can succeed.
prospect.org/2026/02/10/d...
prospect.org/2026/02/10/d...
Reposted by David Dayen
we need to talk about that Ring Super Bowl ad
February 10, 2026 at 8:18 PM
we need to talk about that Ring Super Bowl ad
NEWS: a 4th Illinois open-seat House race is seeing big outside money from AIPAC, this time a $2.8 million ad buy for Melissa Conyears-Ervin, the Chicago city treasurer. AIPAC switched sides from Jason Friedman, who had raised 3x as much money as anyone in the race.
prospect.org/2026/02/10/a...
prospect.org/2026/02/10/a...
A Fourth Candidate in Illinois Gets the AIPAC Boost - The American Prospect
Melissa Conyears-Ervin is benefiting from a reported $2.8 million in super PAC ads.
prospect.org
February 10, 2026 at 7:32 PM
NEWS: a 4th Illinois open-seat House race is seeing big outside money from AIPAC, this time a $2.8 million ad buy for Melissa Conyears-Ervin, the Chicago city treasurer. AIPAC switched sides from Jason Friedman, who had raised 3x as much money as anyone in the race.
prospect.org/2026/02/10/a...
prospect.org/2026/02/10/a...
There's now some chatter that Friedman might drop out, which is crazy. He has raised 3x as much as anyone else in the race!
AIPAC had planned to back a candidate named Jason Friedman in an IL House race but in a move that can only be called flagrantly antisemitic, they have rejected him as "too obviously aligned." So they are throwing their money behind a Black woman who doesn't have a history of commenting on Israel...
February 10, 2026 at 6:15 PM
There's now some chatter that Friedman might drop out, which is crazy. He has raised 3x as much as anyone else in the race!
This is interesting, the House has been routinely blocking votes to negate individual tariffs, which Democrats have the right to call, through procedural trickery. But some Republicans have had enough, and the extension of the trickery may now end, with tariff votes sure to follow.
Rule vote postponed amid tariff backlash
Live updates and analysis from POLITICO’s Congress team.
www.politico.com
February 10, 2026 at 6:13 PM
This is interesting, the House has been routinely blocking votes to negate individual tariffs, which Democrats have the right to call, through procedural trickery. But some Republicans have had enough, and the extension of the trickery may now end, with tariff votes sure to follow.
The entire conceit of "reforming" ICE, ensuring only targeted operations, nothing without a warrant, etc., is incongruous with the $75 billion cash infusion for the agency. They're going to spend that money on *something*. Like a network of local offices.
In Philadelphia, ICE will share office space with a DMV. A proposed ICE office in Portland, Maine is within walking distance of 8 places of worship. Today WIRED is publishing the locations of dozens of planned ICE offices across the US, part of a major expansion. from @leahfeiger.bsky.social
ICE Is Expanding Across the US at Breakneck Speed. Here’s Where It’s Going Next
ICE plans to lease offices throughout the US as part of a secret, months-long expansion campaign. WIRED is publishing dozens of these locations.
www.wired.com
February 10, 2026 at 6:02 PM
The entire conceit of "reforming" ICE, ensuring only targeted operations, nothing without a warrant, etc., is incongruous with the $75 billion cash infusion for the agency. They're going to spend that money on *something*. Like a network of local offices.
Reposted by David Dayen
Amazing a whole story about Eddie Bauer filing for bankruptcy can leave out the fact that it was owned by private equity from 2009 to 2021 www.nytimes.com/2026/02/10/b...
Eddie Bauer Files for Bankruptcy
www.nytimes.com
February 10, 2026 at 12:39 PM
Amazing a whole story about Eddie Bauer filing for bankruptcy can leave out the fact that it was owned by private equity from 2009 to 2021 www.nytimes.com/2026/02/10/b...
As ICE and CBP testify in Congress, we have updated our tracker of deaths at the hands of immigration enforcers. 25 have been killed with another 18 seriously injured, and there have also been 44 deaths in ICE/CBP custody.
Wondering if this will come up at the hearing.
prospect.org/2026/01/29/i...
Wondering if this will come up at the hearing.
prospect.org/2026/01/29/i...
A Running Count of How Many People ICE Has Killed and Injured - The American Prospect
ICE is not required to report any use-of-force incidents against the public. So The American Prospect created our own running tally.
prospect.org
February 10, 2026 at 3:53 PM
As ICE and CBP testify in Congress, we have updated our tracker of deaths at the hands of immigration enforcers. 25 have been killed with another 18 seriously injured, and there have also been 44 deaths in ICE/CBP custody.
Wondering if this will come up at the hearing.
prospect.org/2026/01/29/i...
Wondering if this will come up at the hearing.
prospect.org/2026/01/29/i...
Between crypto, private credit, and AI, risks of another financial crash are prominent. Having a Trump sycophant at the Fed likely means that crash will lead to rewarding friends and punishing enemies. From Bob Kuttner.
prospect.org/2026/02/10/t...
prospect.org/2026/02/10/t...
The Next Financial Collapse - The American Prospect
In the coming crisis, the Fed is not likely to be in good hands.
prospect.org
February 10, 2026 at 2:48 PM
Between crypto, private credit, and AI, risks of another financial crash are prominent. Having a Trump sycophant at the Fed likely means that crash will lead to rewarding friends and punishing enemies. From Bob Kuttner.
prospect.org/2026/02/10/t...
prospect.org/2026/02/10/t...
Utah's packing its court.
Virginia posted new maps in defiance of a judicial order.
Maryland's Senate is resisting a redraw while the House embraces it.
Trump's gerrymandering demand will be largely a wash but it has opened a Pandora's box, @gurleygg.bsky.social writes.
prospect.org/2026/02/10/r...
Virginia posted new maps in defiance of a judicial order.
Maryland's Senate is resisting a redraw while the House embraces it.
Trump's gerrymandering demand will be largely a wash but it has opened a Pandora's box, @gurleygg.bsky.social writes.
prospect.org/2026/02/10/r...
America Sinks Into the Quicksand of Mid-Decade Redistricting - The American Prospect
After the Texas-California stalemate, predicting an outcome to this debacle is futile.
prospect.org
February 10, 2026 at 2:43 PM
Utah's packing its court.
Virginia posted new maps in defiance of a judicial order.
Maryland's Senate is resisting a redraw while the House embraces it.
Trump's gerrymandering demand will be largely a wash but it has opened a Pandora's box, @gurleygg.bsky.social writes.
prospect.org/2026/02/10/r...
Virginia posted new maps in defiance of a judicial order.
Maryland's Senate is resisting a redraw while the House embraces it.
Trump's gerrymandering demand will be largely a wash but it has opened a Pandora's box, @gurleygg.bsky.social writes.
prospect.org/2026/02/10/r...
NBA, NFL, MLB, & NHL players make around 50% of total league revenues. WNBA players make 9%. Their demand for 30%, still a bargain, has been rebuffed by owners, who offered 15%.
As Harold Meyerson writes, sports unions have always struggled for a fair share of the enormous profits they generate.
As Harold Meyerson writes, sports unions have always struggled for a fair share of the enormous profits they generate.
Baselines and Picket Lines - The American Prospect
Superstar athletes are close to American royalty, but they still have to fight like other workers for fair pay.
prospect.org
February 10, 2026 at 2:19 PM
NBA, NFL, MLB, & NHL players make around 50% of total league revenues. WNBA players make 9%. Their demand for 30%, still a bargain, has been rebuffed by owners, who offered 15%.
As Harold Meyerson writes, sports unions have always struggled for a fair share of the enormous profits they generate.
As Harold Meyerson writes, sports unions have always struggled for a fair share of the enormous profits they generate.
Just learned that AIPAC has now jumped into a fourth open seat House race in Illinois, backing Melissa Conyears Ervin with what has been described as a $2.8 million buy (around $500k a week).
This is straight up AIPAC, not a shell PAC, through United Democracy Project.
This is straight up AIPAC, not a shell PAC, through United Democracy Project.
February 10, 2026 at 2:43 AM
Just learned that AIPAC has now jumped into a fourth open seat House race in Illinois, backing Melissa Conyears Ervin with what has been described as a $2.8 million buy (around $500k a week).
This is straight up AIPAC, not a shell PAC, through United Democracy Project.
This is straight up AIPAC, not a shell PAC, through United Democracy Project.
MAGA lobbyists are demanding that Trump's antitrust division settle the monopolization case against Live Nation/Ticketmaster. The top lawyers in the department don't want to do it. So now the #2 at DOJ Antitrust just quit.
February 10, 2026 at 12:01 AM
MAGA lobbyists are demanding that Trump's antitrust division settle the monopolization case against Live Nation/Ticketmaster. The top lawyers in the department don't want to do it. So now the #2 at DOJ Antitrust just quit.
Reposted by David Dayen
No Kings includes Draft Kings
February 8, 2026 at 11:49 PM
No Kings includes Draft Kings
We got the pitch deck that public-private partnership Freedom 250 is using to sell access to corporations to Trump in conjunction with the semiquincentennial. $1 million and up gets you a private reception with the president. Read the deck here:
prospect.org/2026/02/09/r...
prospect.org/2026/02/09/r...
Read Trump’s Pitch Deck for Selling America’s Birthday - The American Prospect
Freedom 250 is urging donors to repeat far-right Christian nationalist and anti-abortion talking points.
prospect.org
February 9, 2026 at 11:02 PM
We got the pitch deck that public-private partnership Freedom 250 is using to sell access to corporations to Trump in conjunction with the semiquincentennial. $1 million and up gets you a private reception with the president. Read the deck here:
prospect.org/2026/02/09/r...
prospect.org/2026/02/09/r...
Look at this cute new milkshake duck, trying to save Democrats from their excesses.
Update: we regret to inform you that the milkshake duck is a registered lobbyist for OpenAI.
lda.gov/filings/publ...
Update: we regret to inform you that the milkshake duck is a registered lobbyist for OpenAI.
lda.gov/filings/publ...
February 9, 2026 at 10:29 PM
Look at this cute new milkshake duck, trying to save Democrats from their excesses.
Update: we regret to inform you that the milkshake duck is a registered lobbyist for OpenAI.
lda.gov/filings/publ...
Update: we regret to inform you that the milkshake duck is a registered lobbyist for OpenAI.
lda.gov/filings/publ...
The trade of "reforms" to ICE for funding for the Department of Homeland Security looks more and more like it's off the table, Bob Kuttner reports.
prospect.org/2026/02/09/r...
prospect.org/2026/02/09/r...
Republican Frostbite - The American Prospect
Defense of ICE has become a political loser, and the deal to trade reforms for continued funding is off the table.
prospect.org
February 9, 2026 at 10:24 PM
The trade of "reforms" to ICE for funding for the Department of Homeland Security looks more and more like it's off the table, Bob Kuttner reports.
prospect.org/2026/02/09/r...
prospect.org/2026/02/09/r...
Reposted by David Dayen
A federal worker at the CFPB found out in December that she had a brain tumor that needed to be removed.
The next month, Russ Vought unilaterally ended her agency's short-term disability plan.
www.huffpost.com/entry/russel...
The next month, Russ Vought unilaterally ended her agency's short-term disability plan.
www.huffpost.com/entry/russel...
A Federal Worker Developed A Brain Tumor. The Trump Admin's Next Move Was Unspeakably Cruel.
Russell Vought is seizing every opportunity he can to dismantle a crucial watchdog agency.
www.huffpost.com
February 9, 2026 at 8:09 PM
A federal worker at the CFPB found out in December that she had a brain tumor that needed to be removed.
The next month, Russ Vought unilaterally ended her agency's short-term disability plan.
www.huffpost.com/entry/russel...
The next month, Russ Vought unilaterally ended her agency's short-term disability plan.
www.huffpost.com/entry/russel...
Reposted by David Dayen
The Trump admin made a pitch deck for corporate sponsors to take over America's 250th birthday.
s3.documentcloud.org
February 9, 2026 at 8:06 PM
The Trump admin made a pitch deck for corporate sponsors to take over America's 250th birthday.
Reposted by David Dayen
Very annoyed at the people who decided to open the floodgates to online sports betting, it is absolutely a scourge. Great piece from Gabrielle Gurley on people spending hours a day on these predatory apps.
The Scourge of Online Sports Betting - The American Prospect
States and leagues must face up to the damage from app-based gambling for the next generation of bettors, most of them young men.
prospect.org
February 9, 2026 at 4:52 PM
Very annoyed at the people who decided to open the floodgates to online sports betting, it is absolutely a scourge. Great piece from Gabrielle Gurley on people spending hours a day on these predatory apps.
I am pretty used to corporate self-interest, but even I'm shocked by what Ellen Ioanes dug up about the Board of Peace and its designs in Gaza.
prospect.org/2026/02/09/b...
prospect.org/2026/02/09/b...
Board of Peace Is a Board of Profits - The American Prospect
Corporate interests dominate the organization planning the reconstruction of Gaza.
prospect.org
February 9, 2026 at 3:50 PM
I am pretty used to corporate self-interest, but even I'm shocked by what Ellen Ioanes dug up about the Board of Peace and its designs in Gaza.
prospect.org/2026/02/09/b...
prospect.org/2026/02/09/b...
There's way too much nonchalance about the fact that California is hurtling toward electing a MAGA governor, even if 65% of its voters vote for a Democrat in the primary. Harold Meyerson reports on the top-two primary setting conditions for an election at odds with voter preference.
The Nation’s Most Democratic State Might Elect a Trump-Friendly Governor - The American Prospect
California’s nonpartisan primary pits eight Democrats against two Republicans; only the top two finishers advance. Do the math.
prospect.org
February 9, 2026 at 2:46 PM
There's way too much nonchalance about the fact that California is hurtling toward electing a MAGA governor, even if 65% of its voters vote for a Democrat in the primary. Harold Meyerson reports on the top-two primary setting conditions for an election at odds with voter preference.
During college football season you may have endured endless ads telling you the game is in crisis. The crisis is this: players are getting paid. Katie Van Dyck explains how schools appealed to Congress to once again hoard the money players generate, and lost (for now):
prospect.org/2026/02/09/f...
prospect.org/2026/02/09/f...
How Congress Refused to Save the NCAA From Itself - The American Prospect
Colleges want exemptions from antitrust and labor laws, so they can continue to hoard billions in cash from sports and deny the players their rights. So far, they’ve failed.
prospect.org
February 9, 2026 at 2:19 PM
During college football season you may have endured endless ads telling you the game is in crisis. The crisis is this: players are getting paid. Katie Van Dyck explains how schools appealed to Congress to once again hoard the money players generate, and lost (for now):
prospect.org/2026/02/09/f...
prospect.org/2026/02/09/f...