Reposted by Ben Birdsall
I smile broadly and begin a 35 minute laudatory speech as I introduce pigs in a blanket as a first ballot Hall of Famer in the Snacking, Cocktail Party, and Holiday Wing. A triple threat and the best to ever do it.
November 14, 2025 at 3:11 AM
I smile broadly and begin a 35 minute laudatory speech as I introduce pigs in a blanket as a first ballot Hall of Famer in the Snacking, Cocktail Party, and Holiday Wing. A triple threat and the best to ever do it.
Reposted by Ben Birdsall
Small but important victory in the lawsuit challenging the city’s approval of a land use compatibility statement for Zenith in February.
Appeals Court Rules in Favor of Environmental Advocates in Zenith Energy Lawsuit
Appeals Court Rules in Favor of Environmental Advocates in Zenith Energy Lawsuit. Environmental advocates celebrated the procedural win, saying the Land Use Board of Appeals has a better grasp on comp...
www.portlandmercury.com
November 14, 2025 at 2:56 AM
Small but important victory in the lawsuit challenging the city’s approval of a land use compatibility statement for Zenith in February.
Reposted by Ben Birdsall
The copy here is an all-time example of NY Times passive voice. Matt Gaetz has no agency here.
Even in the image, look at the phrase "left vulnerable to exploitation." Who exploited her?
Even in the image, look at the phrase "left vulnerable to exploitation." Who exploited her?
A teenager in Florida with a homeless parent wanted money for braces and ended up having sex for money with powerful men, setting off a chain of events that would have a dramatic impact on her life and help upend the political career of Representative Matt Gaetz. nyti.ms/49PSkL9
November 14, 2025 at 12:29 AM
The copy here is an all-time example of NY Times passive voice. Matt Gaetz has no agency here.
Even in the image, look at the phrase "left vulnerable to exploitation." Who exploited her?
Even in the image, look at the phrase "left vulnerable to exploitation." Who exploited her?
Reposted by Ben Birdsall
At the same time the NY Times was hyping Hillary Clinton's emails, it had a reporter with emails from Jeffrey Epstein that were highly damaging to Trump.
The more NYT apologists try to minimize this the clearer it becomes that they don't understand why much of the public doesn't trust legacy media.
The more NYT apologists try to minimize this the clearer it becomes that they don't understand why much of the public doesn't trust legacy media.
November 13, 2025 at 5:44 PM
At the same time the NY Times was hyping Hillary Clinton's emails, it had a reporter with emails from Jeffrey Epstein that were highly damaging to Trump.
The more NYT apologists try to minimize this the clearer it becomes that they don't understand why much of the public doesn't trust legacy media.
The more NYT apologists try to minimize this the clearer it becomes that they don't understand why much of the public doesn't trust legacy media.
Reposted by Ben Birdsall
I’m fine conceding that a bunch of nebulously incriminating Epstein statements do not a story make, but in that case neither does the Biden Parkinson’s nonsense, or literally any component of the various Clinton/Wikileaks pseudo-scandals, or tons of other right-wing stuff the paper has laundered
November 13, 2025 at 5:36 PM
I’m fine conceding that a bunch of nebulously incriminating Epstein statements do not a story make, but in that case neither does the Biden Parkinson’s nonsense, or literally any component of the various Clinton/Wikileaks pseudo-scandals, or tons of other right-wing stuff the paper has laundered
Reposted by Ben Birdsall
Media standards:
1) No Democratic scandal on par with Trump-Epstein, so it’d be biased and unfair to five it much attention.
2) Trump wouldn’t be shamed into resigning and his cult of personality wouldn’t abandon him, so Trump-Epstein wasn’t worth pursuing.
Way too many think that’s journalism.
1) No Democratic scandal on par with Trump-Epstein, so it’d be biased and unfair to five it much attention.
2) Trump wouldn’t be shamed into resigning and his cult of personality wouldn’t abandon him, so Trump-Epstein wasn’t worth pursuing.
Way too many think that’s journalism.
November 13, 2025 at 12:35 AM
Media standards:
1) No Democratic scandal on par with Trump-Epstein, so it’d be biased and unfair to five it much attention.
2) Trump wouldn’t be shamed into resigning and his cult of personality wouldn’t abandon him, so Trump-Epstein wasn’t worth pursuing.
Way too many think that’s journalism.
1) No Democratic scandal on par with Trump-Epstein, so it’d be biased and unfair to five it much attention.
2) Trump wouldn’t be shamed into resigning and his cult of personality wouldn’t abandon him, so Trump-Epstein wasn’t worth pursuing.
Way too many think that’s journalism.
Reposted by Ben Birdsall
In the century leading up to 1975, nearly 6000 freighters went down in the Great Lakes.
The Edmund Fitzgerald was the last.
The last. In 50 years, not a single commercial freighter has been lost in the Great Lakes.
Why?
It's NOAA. Of course it's NOAA.
The Edmund Fitzgerald was the last.
The last. In 50 years, not a single commercial freighter has been lost in the Great Lakes.
Why?
It's NOAA. Of course it's NOAA.
November 11, 2025 at 1:50 AM
In the century leading up to 1975, nearly 6000 freighters went down in the Great Lakes.
The Edmund Fitzgerald was the last.
The last. In 50 years, not a single commercial freighter has been lost in the Great Lakes.
Why?
It's NOAA. Of course it's NOAA.
The Edmund Fitzgerald was the last.
The last. In 50 years, not a single commercial freighter has been lost in the Great Lakes.
Why?
It's NOAA. Of course it's NOAA.
Reposted by Ben Birdsall
The point of a political party is what it does
November 10, 2025 at 2:45 AM
The point of a political party is what it does
This is awesome, Sam Coffey is such a boss
November 10, 2025 at 3:18 AM
This is awesome, Sam Coffey is such a boss
Reposted by Ben Birdsall
Unless Democratic Senators who voted no on the #Schumersurrender today explicitly call for Schumer to resign or step aside - they all own this cave. Just pushing out performative posts and press releases don’t count for much anymore. Enough.
Since the Democrats worked extra hard to hide who actually supported this, I think the No Kings/Resistance position should be to primary every Democrat unless they publicly call for Schumer's ouster this week
Either they go into total rebellion mode, which they won't, or the people will
Either they go into total rebellion mode, which they won't, or the people will
November 10, 2025 at 2:37 AM
Unless Democratic Senators who voted no on the #Schumersurrender today explicitly call for Schumer to resign or step aside - they all own this cave. Just pushing out performative posts and press releases don’t count for much anymore. Enough.
Reposted by Ben Birdsall
The most Democrat consultant-brained piece of this was making it a procedural fight about ACA subsidies — that, if extended for a year, would help the GOP in the 2026 midterms anyway — instead of making it stand against Trump’s lawlessness and corruption.
But that would require believing in things.
But that would require believing in things.
Major concession from Democrats here is enhanced ACA funds aren’t extended. Preserving them was Dems’ central demand in this fight. They secured a promise of a vote (which Thune has been offering for weeks), but that could still fail. Even if it passes, Johnson has made no promise of a House vote.
Tentative Senate deal to end shutdown, multiple sources tell me & @frankthorp.bsky.social:
—CR through Jan 30
—Approps minibus
—Fully funds SNAP
—Reverses Trump’s shutdown RIFs
—Promise of Senate vote on ACA subsidies by Dec second week (details/outcome uncertain)
—Led by King/Shaheen/Hassan
—CR through Jan 30
—Approps minibus
—Fully funds SNAP
—Reverses Trump’s shutdown RIFs
—Promise of Senate vote on ACA subsidies by Dec second week (details/outcome uncertain)
—Led by King/Shaheen/Hassan
November 10, 2025 at 2:30 AM
The most Democrat consultant-brained piece of this was making it a procedural fight about ACA subsidies — that, if extended for a year, would help the GOP in the 2026 midterms anyway — instead of making it stand against Trump’s lawlessness and corruption.
But that would require believing in things.
But that would require believing in things.
Reposted by Ben Birdsall
Schumer can be removed from his Dem leadership role this week - 23 Dems (and/or independents) just have to vote to depose him
And they should, given this is his fault.
And they should, given this is his fault.
This is a lovely sentiment but Schumer isn't up for re-election until 2028 and he knows this. At which point he will be 77/78. There's no mechanism to recall a sitting senator AFAIK.
Let’s be clear: Chuck Schumer is the one ending this shutdown, no matter how the votes read.
Chuck Schumer is claiming that he’s voting no, while letting other Senators (Fetterman, Kaine, King, etc) do HIS dirty work.
He must be removed from his leadership & primaried for the sake of this country
Chuck Schumer is claiming that he’s voting no, while letting other Senators (Fetterman, Kaine, King, etc) do HIS dirty work.
He must be removed from his leadership & primaried for the sake of this country
November 10, 2025 at 2:07 AM
Schumer can be removed from his Dem leadership role this week - 23 Dems (and/or independents) just have to vote to depose him
And they should, given this is his fault.
And they should, given this is his fault.
Reposted by Ben Birdsall
👇🎯 Unfortunately, this is true & probably the only way. Voters need to realize that hating government, & illegally defunding & dismantling it, & pretending that we can run a modern society/economy on Ronald Reagan's shabby talking point & worn copies of Atlas Shrugged & Mein Kampf is untenable.
Democrats have to stop bailing out Republicans from facing the consequences of their own policies. And yeah, that means they have to stop sparing voters from experiencing what GOP government truly means.
Every time Dems step in, it only emboldens the GOP & they make it even worse the next time.
Every time Dems step in, it only emboldens the GOP & they make it even worse the next time.
So Democrats get:
1. A CR that will prevent the GOP from facing the wrath of Americans for a shutdown over the holidays
2. A coupon for one (1) meaningless ACA vote that will fail
3. An end to the illegal RIF/SNAP moves that are already before the courts
Those all seem like wins for the GOP.
1. A CR that will prevent the GOP from facing the wrath of Americans for a shutdown over the holidays
2. A coupon for one (1) meaningless ACA vote that will fail
3. An end to the illegal RIF/SNAP moves that are already before the courts
Those all seem like wins for the GOP.
November 10, 2025 at 12:35 AM
👇🎯 Unfortunately, this is true & probably the only way. Voters need to realize that hating government, & illegally defunding & dismantling it, & pretending that we can run a modern society/economy on Ronald Reagan's shabby talking point & worn copies of Atlas Shrugged & Mein Kampf is untenable.
You would think one of these could would eventually be a card on an SD player
November 9, 2025 at 10:41 PM
You would think one of these could would eventually be a card on an SD player
Reposted by Ben Birdsall
Portland Mayor Wilson is specifically trying to gather pro-sweep comments from Portlanders to validate the camping ban enforcement.
I know it’s an extra task, but PLEASE take the time to send all city councilors anti-sweep comments! Especially your district’s representatives.
I know it’s an extra task, but PLEASE take the time to send all city councilors anti-sweep comments! Especially your district’s representatives.
November 9, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Portland Mayor Wilson is specifically trying to gather pro-sweep comments from Portlanders to validate the camping ban enforcement.
I know it’s an extra task, but PLEASE take the time to send all city councilors anti-sweep comments! Especially your district’s representatives.
I know it’s an extra task, but PLEASE take the time to send all city councilors anti-sweep comments! Especially your district’s representatives.
Reposted by Ben Birdsall
makes too much sense so no, they won't do this.
This would be a really great time for the Democrats to serve up a single-payer program that wouldn't enrich health insurance companies and would lower health care costs.
“Concepts of a plan” forever.
November 9, 2025 at 6:17 PM
makes too much sense so no, they won't do this.
I think there is a strategic downside to the right wing echochamber for R pols over time: they get too used to not having to make a case to convince people of things. The ACA could be a fault line where they discover that past some point you can't just lie in people's faces without their noticing.
I do think senate republicans believe they're untouchable and can facetank the ACA crisis they created without really changing much and boy that is a gamble
Republicans waged a relentless, decades-long campaign to privatize Medicare and Medicaid
They fought even mild efforts to expand public insurance
Now they are objecting to extending extra ACA subsidies, supposedly because money flows to private insurers
We are supposed to take this seriously?
They fought even mild efforts to expand public insurance
Now they are objecting to extending extra ACA subsidies, supposedly because money flows to private insurers
We are supposed to take this seriously?
November 8, 2025 at 10:04 PM
I think there is a strategic downside to the right wing echochamber for R pols over time: they get too used to not having to make a case to convince people of things. The ACA could be a fault line where they discover that past some point you can't just lie in people's faces without their noticing.
I know we're all very used to it by now, but it's wild that the SEI/ML portion of the Thorns availability report is roughly half of a contender-level starting XI plus a couple of subs
#PORvSD NWSL Playoff Availability Report
Portland Thorns
SEI/ML: Dufour, Hanks, Muller, Payne, Wade-Katoa, Weaver, Wilson
OUT: Mimi Alidou (excused)
???: Valerin Loboa (knee), MA Vignola (ankle)
San Diego Wave
OUT: Melanie Barcenas (foot), Savannah McCaskill (foot), Chiamaka Okwuchukwu (SEI)
Portland Thorns
SEI/ML: Dufour, Hanks, Muller, Payne, Wade-Katoa, Weaver, Wilson
OUT: Mimi Alidou (excused)
???: Valerin Loboa (knee), MA Vignola (ankle)
San Diego Wave
OUT: Melanie Barcenas (foot), Savannah McCaskill (foot), Chiamaka Okwuchukwu (SEI)
November 8, 2025 at 9:42 PM
I know we're all very used to it by now, but it's wild that the SEI/ML portion of the Thorns availability report is roughly half of a contender-level starting XI plus a couple of subs
Reposted by Ben Birdsall
Reposted by Ben Birdsall
Reposted by Ben Birdsall
Stoppage time equalizer for Louisville, NWSL chaos beckons lol
November 8, 2025 at 7:07 PM
Stoppage time equalizer for Louisville, NWSL chaos beckons lol
A good reminder that whatever you believe spiritually, the teachings of Jesus Christ are radical and unflinching, and in addition to being worth following are very worth hanging around the necks of the hypocrites who call themselves Christians while oppressing and brutalizing their fellow citizens.
Remember Rev. David Black, the Chicago pastor who was shot in the head with pepper balls? If you haven't heard him speak yet, listen to this.
To ICE: "You can repent"
To ICE: "You can repent"
November 7, 2025 at 8:59 PM
A good reminder that whatever you believe spiritually, the teachings of Jesus Christ are radical and unflinching, and in addition to being worth following are very worth hanging around the necks of the hypocrites who call themselves Christians while oppressing and brutalizing their fellow citizens.
Reposted by Ben Birdsall
10/10 take. No notes.
November 7, 2025 at 5:49 PM
10/10 take. No notes.
Reposted by Ben Birdsall
Just need everyone to Google the name "Rosalind Franklin" at this moment.
Hey folks, as news of Watson's demise spreads, please don't set aside his weighty legacy of misogyny and racism. He was truly among the worst of us. www.vox.com/2019/1/15/18...
DNA scientist James Watson has a remarkably long history of sexist, racist public comments
“People say it would be terrible if we made all girls pretty,” he said in 2003. “I think it would be great.”
www.vox.com
November 7, 2025 at 8:19 PM
Just need everyone to Google the name "Rosalind Franklin" at this moment.