Jonathan Bernstein
@jonathanbernstein.bsky.social
Good Politics/Bad Politics - Subscribe! https://goodpoliticsbadpolitics.substack.com/ Also I root for the Giants. The Making of the Presidential Candidates 2024.
On Earth 452, "Questioningly" was their 9th straight Number 1 smash hit, a streak ended when "She's the One" topped out at 8. "Howling at the Moon" was their 14th and final Number 1.
January 10, 2026 at 10:57 PM
On Earth 452, "Questioningly" was their 9th straight Number 1 smash hit, a streak ended when "She's the One" topped out at 8. "Howling at the Moon" was their 14th and final Number 1.
I do: "[T]he official language of San Marcos will be Swedish. Silence! In addition to that, all citizens will be required to change their underwear every half-hour. Underwear will be worn on the outside so we can check. Furthermore, all children under 16 years old are now... 16 years old!"
January 10, 2026 at 8:56 PM
I do: "[T]he official language of San Marcos will be Swedish. Silence! In addition to that, all citizens will be required to change their underwear every half-hour. Underwear will be worn on the outside so we can check. Furthermore, all children under 16 years old are now... 16 years old!"
So when it comes to Trump himself: Just as he's never really accepted the relationship between "buying things" and "paying for them", I think he just doesn't much see how foreign policy goals are related at all to the specific actions he wants to take. In other words....
When I’m not enraged by ICE, I am baffled by what we did in Venezuela. We changed nothing but the name of the President. We are trying to steal oil that no one seems to want. We did this horrible violation of international law, and for what?
Once upon a time, the American government actually paid attention to the oil men before doing coups and interventions (see next post).
We used to be a country, a real country. www.cnn.com/2026/01/09/p...
We used to be a country, a real country. www.cnn.com/2026/01/09/p...
January 10, 2026 at 7:49 AM
So when it comes to Trump himself: Just as he's never really accepted the relationship between "buying things" and "paying for them", I think he just doesn't much see how foreign policy goals are related at all to the specific actions he wants to take. In other words....
Seems unfair to a guy who any day now might have a Nobel Prize.
January 10, 2026 at 2:09 AM
Seems unfair to a guy who any day now might have a Nobel Prize.
Losing loser loses again. Missed another one earlier, on elections.
He's obviously doing a lot, and destroying a lot...but remember that he's also getting defeated all the time and plenty of the stuff he claims to be doing never happens either because he lies or because he's stopped or both.
He's obviously doing a lot, and destroying a lot...but remember that he's also getting defeated all the time and plenty of the stuff he claims to be doing never happens either because he lies or because he's stopped or both.
Breaking:
NEW YORK (AP) — Judge stops the Trump administration's freeze on child care and other social service funding for 5 states for now.
NEW YORK (AP) — Judge stops the Trump administration's freeze on child care and other social service funding for 5 states for now.
January 10, 2026 at 12:44 AM
Losing loser loses again. Missed another one earlier, on elections.
He's obviously doing a lot, and destroying a lot...but remember that he's also getting defeated all the time and plenty of the stuff he claims to be doing never happens either because he lies or because he's stopped or both.
He's obviously doing a lot, and destroying a lot...but remember that he's also getting defeated all the time and plenty of the stuff he claims to be doing never happens either because he lies or because he's stopped or both.
Reposted by Jonathan Bernstein
🧵 Trump foreign-policy is overwhelmingly reality-television optics. More sound and fury than shock and awe.
It doesn't put in the work. The deals it negotiates? Mostly vaporware. It announces "☮️ in our time" based on ceasefires. I'd bet good 💰 that 🇻🇪 will not be a vassal state for all that long.
It doesn't put in the work. The deals it negotiates? Mostly vaporware. It announces "☮️ in our time" based on ceasefires. I'd bet good 💰 that 🇻🇪 will not be a vassal state for all that long.
A Mercosur-EU shared market is post-American Transatlanticism
January 9, 2026 at 4:22 PM
🧵 Trump foreign-policy is overwhelmingly reality-television optics. More sound and fury than shock and awe.
It doesn't put in the work. The deals it negotiates? Mostly vaporware. It announces "☮️ in our time" based on ceasefires. I'd bet good 💰 that 🇻🇪 will not be a vassal state for all that long.
It doesn't put in the work. The deals it negotiates? Mostly vaporware. It announces "☮️ in our time" based on ceasefires. I'd bet good 💰 that 🇻🇪 will not be a vassal state for all that long.
Reposted by Jonathan Bernstein
This Sunday, you can find me on CBS Sunday Morning discussing health insurance coverage denials and the findings from my forthcoming book, Coverage Denied, which is out 4/23 and available for preorder (www.cambridge.org/core/books/c...). www.cbsnews.com/news/this-we...
This week on "Sunday Morning" (Jan. 11)
A look at the features for this week's broadcast of the Emmy-winning program, hosted by Jane Pauley.
www.cbsnews.com
January 9, 2026 at 9:44 PM
This Sunday, you can find me on CBS Sunday Morning discussing health insurance coverage denials and the findings from my forthcoming book, Coverage Denied, which is out 4/23 and available for preorder (www.cambridge.org/core/books/c...). www.cbsnews.com/news/this-we...
Reposted by Jonathan Bernstein
The first member of Congress to write "Abolish ICE" to constituents was Earl Blumenauer in 2018 dcinbox.com/email/?id=14...
It's time to abolish ICE
dcinbox.com
January 9, 2026 at 10:53 PM
The first member of Congress to write "Abolish ICE" to constituents was Earl Blumenauer in 2018 dcinbox.com/email/?id=14...
Reminding everyone after this crap week to watch after your mental health. Whatever works best for you. No guilt; it's part of fighting for the republic.
Best thing that happened to me over the holiday was that I found my long-believed-to-be-lost hard drive full of obscure fansubbed anime and weird music that I found in various places but haven't listened to in ages.
As a result, all of you fuckers get to hear White Boy & The Average Rat Band now.
As a result, all of you fuckers get to hear White Boy & The Average Rat Band now.
White Boy And The Average Rat Band - Neon Warriors
YouTube video by Paul
www.youtube.com
January 9, 2026 at 11:17 PM
Reminding everyone after this crap week to watch after your mental health. Whatever works best for you. No guilt; it's part of fighting for the republic.
Need someone to put a % on the chance that before this is over Trump will just use the otherwise deserted Kennedy Center for ceremonies awarding himself various different medals and prizes in front of cardboard cutouts and piped in cheers.
“.. saying that the Trump administration’s policies had ‘shattered’ the confidence of donors and resulted in a 40 percent drop in ticket revenues. “
@nytimes.com #ETTD
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/09/a...
@nytimes.com #ETTD
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/09/a...
January 9, 2026 at 11:10 PM
Need someone to put a % on the chance that before this is over Trump will just use the otherwise deserted Kennedy Center for ceremonies awarding himself various different medals and prizes in front of cardboard cutouts and piped in cheers.
Reposted by Jonathan Bernstein
Eh. I think these guys are so pickled in their own juices they have lost all sense of how the stuff they’re saying plays with normal people.
BTW, there is a very concrete reason for Vance’s unspeakable behavior. He has concluded he has no political future. He knows something about Trump’s mental state and plans that has made him lose any appetite for remaining viable.
January 9, 2026 at 11:02 PM
Eh. I think these guys are so pickled in their own juices they have lost all sense of how the stuff they’re saying plays with normal people.
(1) "Spanish Model" is just wonderfully fun.
(2) The more I listen, the more I'm amazed by Pete Thomas.
That is all. Perhaps.
(2) The more I listen, the more I'm amazed by Pete Thomas.
That is all. Perhaps.
January 9, 2026 at 10:51 PM
(1) "Spanish Model" is just wonderfully fun.
(2) The more I listen, the more I'm amazed by Pete Thomas.
That is all. Perhaps.
(2) The more I listen, the more I'm amazed by Pete Thomas.
That is all. Perhaps.
Reposted by Jonathan Bernstein
Always.
Never escaping the adage "men are afraid that women are laughing at them; women are afraid that men will kill them"
He never dropped his phone.
Even while “fearing for his life” and shooting her with the other hand.
Even while “fearing for his life” and shooting her with the other hand.
January 9, 2026 at 7:24 PM
Always.
Reposted by Jonathan Bernstein
Today is not the first time fascist and illiberal political movements threatened American politics. But it does seem like this generation of politicians and actors have lost some capacity for tolerance, even when opposing ideologies are broadly pro-democratic.
January 9, 2026 at 3:00 PM
Today is not the first time fascist and illiberal political movements threatened American politics. But it does seem like this generation of politicians and actors have lost some capacity for tolerance, even when opposing ideologies are broadly pro-democratic.
Reposted by Jonathan Bernstein
If I'm not mistaken, this means that @jamellebouie.net has won the major public engagement prizes from APSA and AHA within a six-month period! And he more than deserves them both!
Mazel tov to Jamelle!
Mazel tov to Jamelle!
“He reads it. He cites it. And he makes it accessible to a national audience.” Very cool moment @historians.org #AHA26 recognizing @jamellebouie.net’s exceptional engagement w history and historians in his brilliant opinion writing.
January 9, 2026 at 4:04 PM
If I'm not mistaken, this means that @jamellebouie.net has won the major public engagement prizes from APSA and AHA within a six-month period! And he more than deserves them both!
Mazel tov to Jamelle!
Mazel tov to Jamelle!
"Peace", like "law" is just a meaningless word to him; it apparently doesn't occur to him that bombing/attacking/threatening multiple nations in the last week would have anything at all to do with whether we should all consider him a peace guy.
And he thinks only stupid dupes believe otherwise.
And he thinks only stupid dupes believe otherwise.
Trump tells Hannity he will accept Machado’s Nobel Prize when she gives it to him.
So embarrassing.
So embarrassing.
January 9, 2026 at 4:32 AM
"Peace", like "law" is just a meaningless word to him; it apparently doesn't occur to him that bombing/attacking/threatening multiple nations in the last week would have anything at all to do with whether we should all consider him a peace guy.
And he thinks only stupid dupes believe otherwise.
And he thinks only stupid dupes believe otherwise.
Dude the job is to find ways to rip off the players and break their union and that's bad enough please stop with all this garbage.
Commissioner Rob Manfred said he is considering the possibility of a split season or an in-season tournament.
But he added that adjusting the league schedule is more complicated than in other sports.
But he added that adjusting the league schedule is more complicated than in other sports.
January 9, 2026 at 2:24 AM
Dude the job is to find ways to rip off the players and break their union and that's bad enough please stop with all this garbage.
What do you mean "had"?
Anyway...how about XTC, "Skylarking."
Anyway...how about XTC, "Skylarking."
Name a record you had on cassette tape
January 9, 2026 at 1:58 AM
What do you mean "had"?
Anyway...how about XTC, "Skylarking."
Anyway...how about XTC, "Skylarking."
Reposted by Jonathan Bernstein
An excellent point from Larry — this bill marks the first time in *a decade and a half* that we've seen Republicans vote "for" the ACA in any substantive sense
Things have shifted quite a bit from when the ACA originally passed with no Republican votes, as did the enhanced premium subsidies.
These are the 17 House Republicans who voted with all Democrats to resurrect ACA funds for 3 years:
Bresnahan
Carey
De La Cruz
Fitzpatrick
Garbarino
Hurd (CO)
Joyce (OH)
Kean
LaLota
Lawler
Mackenzie
Miller (OH)
Nunn (IA)
Salazar
Valadao
Van Orden
Wittman
Bresnahan
Carey
De La Cruz
Fitzpatrick
Garbarino
Hurd (CO)
Joyce (OH)
Kean
LaLota
Lawler
Mackenzie
Miller (OH)
Nunn (IA)
Salazar
Valadao
Van Orden
Wittman
January 8, 2026 at 11:40 PM
An excellent point from Larry — this bill marks the first time in *a decade and a half* that we've seen Republicans vote "for" the ACA in any substantive sense
We'll see but so far 2026 seems somewhat different from 2025 on the Hill.
And again: Today's present and voting House was 213/213 (with five Republicans absent). Next two vacancies filled will be Dems.
And again: Today's present and voting House was 213/213 (with five Republicans absent). Next two vacancies filled will be Dems.
17 Republicans voting with Democrats to cleanly extend the ACA enhanced subsidies is nearly double the number who signed the discharge petition along with Democrats to force the vote (9)
(Note that the bill the Senate is considering is not a clean extension.)
(Note that the bill the Senate is considering is not a clean extension.)
January 8, 2026 at 10:59 PM
We'll see but so far 2026 seems somewhat different from 2025 on the Hill.
And again: Today's present and voting House was 213/213 (with five Republicans absent). Next two vacancies filled will be Dems.
And again: Today's present and voting House was 213/213 (with five Republicans absent). Next two vacancies filled will be Dems.
Reposted by Jonathan Bernstein
Here are the 17 Republicans who voted for a 3-year extension of health insurance subsidies:
Bresnahan PA, Carey OH,
De La Cruz TX, Fitzpatrick PA, Garbarino NY, Hurd CO, Joyce OH, Kean NJ, LaLota NY, Lawler NY, Mackenzie PA, Miller OH, Nunn IA, Salazar FL, Valadao CA, Van Orden WI, & Wittman VA
Bresnahan PA, Carey OH,
De La Cruz TX, Fitzpatrick PA, Garbarino NY, Hurd CO, Joyce OH, Kean NJ, LaLota NY, Lawler NY, Mackenzie PA, Miller OH, Nunn IA, Salazar FL, Valadao CA, Van Orden WI, & Wittman VA
January 8, 2026 at 10:44 PM
Here are the 17 Republicans who voted for a 3-year extension of health insurance subsidies:
Bresnahan PA, Carey OH,
De La Cruz TX, Fitzpatrick PA, Garbarino NY, Hurd CO, Joyce OH, Kean NJ, LaLota NY, Lawler NY, Mackenzie PA, Miller OH, Nunn IA, Salazar FL, Valadao CA, Van Orden WI, & Wittman VA
Bresnahan PA, Carey OH,
De La Cruz TX, Fitzpatrick PA, Garbarino NY, Hurd CO, Joyce OH, Kean NJ, LaLota NY, Lawler NY, Mackenzie PA, Miller OH, Nunn IA, Salazar FL, Valadao CA, Van Orden WI, & Wittman VA
Reposted by Jonathan Bernstein
20 House Republicans voted to override both Trump vetoes, including 2 full committee chairs (Cole - Appropriations and Thompson - Agriculture).
January 8, 2026 at 8:56 PM
20 House Republicans voted to override both Trump vetoes, including 2 full committee chairs (Cole - Appropriations and Thompson - Agriculture).
Let's check with @paranoiacs.bsky.social
So many rubicons and so many rivers to defile
The human equivalent of Satan on your speed dial
When the whole thing goes down and no roads are open
You'll remember this sound: it’s love and demotion
So many rubicons and so many rivers to defile
The human equivalent of Satan on your speed dial
When the whole thing goes down and no roads are open
You'll remember this sound: it’s love and demotion
How many rubicons are there?
January 8, 2026 at 10:11 PM
Let's check with @paranoiacs.bsky.social
So many rubicons and so many rivers to defile
The human equivalent of Satan on your speed dial
When the whole thing goes down and no roads are open
You'll remember this sound: it’s love and demotion
So many rubicons and so many rivers to defile
The human equivalent of Satan on your speed dial
When the whole thing goes down and no roads are open
You'll remember this sound: it’s love and demotion
Both veto overrides falling short in the House; the FL one got I think 24 GOP votes, and the CO one gets 35 So the losing loser wins these, at least for now, although only because veto overrides need 2/3.
But he's gonna lose on the ACA subsidy extension they're voting on now.
But he's gonna lose on the ACA subsidy extension they're voting on now.
January 8, 2026 at 8:28 PM
Both veto overrides falling short in the House; the FL one got I think 24 GOP votes, and the CO one gets 35 So the losing loser wins these, at least for now, although only because veto overrides need 2/3.
But he's gonna lose on the ACA subsidy extension they're voting on now.
But he's gonna lose on the ACA subsidy extension they're voting on now.
Reposted by Jonathan Bernstein
Four reactions: (A) I'm happy to see this. (B) Because Mike Johnson can keep it off the House floor, and Trump can veto it, it's purely symbolic. (C) If Congress really wants to act, it needs to add a rider to an appropriations bill. (D) Chadha was a crappy, destructive decision.
wapo.st/4qHyjM7
wapo.st/4qHyjM7
Senate passes bill to block further military action in Venezuela
Though largely symbolic, the vote was a rare assertion of Congress’s role in using lethal force after the stunning raid to capture Nicolás Maduro.
wapo.st
January 8, 2026 at 5:33 PM
Four reactions: (A) I'm happy to see this. (B) Because Mike Johnson can keep it off the House floor, and Trump can veto it, it's purely symbolic. (C) If Congress really wants to act, it needs to add a rider to an appropriations bill. (D) Chadha was a crappy, destructive decision.
wapo.st/4qHyjM7
wapo.st/4qHyjM7