Mahtin
@mahtininthesky.bsky.social
Californian in NYC. Not good at writing my thoughts succinctly.
Pinned
Mahtin
@mahtininthesky.bsky.social
· Nov 11
If the 2024 election definitively proved one thing, it is that the Dem strategy for addressing GOP dominance of federal courts - win every presidential election until enough reactionary judges die to retake the majority - is not remotely viable.
This applies to SCOTUS too. Declining to impose consequences (e.g. court packing) after the GOP stole a seat has made the GOP justices more brazen, not less.
The pathway to good government court reform is to threaten to pack it, forcing GOPers to choose between a Dem Court and a nonpartisan one.
The pathway to good government court reform is to threaten to pack it, forcing GOPers to choose between a Dem Court and a nonpartisan one.
California Republican suddenly supporting a national partisan gerrymandering ban. IT’S GAME THEORY BABY THINK OF THE STRATEGERY, WE PLAYING DEFECT-DEFECT NOT DEFECT-COOPERATE, IT’S TIT FOR TAT, CONSIDER THE INCENTIVES
November 26, 2025 at 6:58 PM
This applies to SCOTUS too. Declining to impose consequences (e.g. court packing) after the GOP stole a seat has made the GOP justices more brazen, not less.
The pathway to good government court reform is to threaten to pack it, forcing GOPers to choose between a Dem Court and a nonpartisan one.
The pathway to good government court reform is to threaten to pack it, forcing GOPers to choose between a Dem Court and a nonpartisan one.
Apparently, the basis for assessing him a "winner" was that he received plaudits from right-wing media (for a question rooted in ignorant and racist assumptions that Mamdani easily shot down).
Truly revelatory reporting, at least in terms what it reveals about the NYTimes itself.
Truly revelatory reporting, at least in terms what it reveals about the NYTimes itself.
What a strange framing and characterization. How does one describe his blatantly dishonest, racist question about taxes as “press[ing] the Mayor-elect on his policy proposals”? In what way does this lying troll emerge as a “winner“?
November 24, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Apparently, the basis for assessing him a "winner" was that he received plaudits from right-wing media (for a question rooted in ignorant and racist assumptions that Mamdani easily shot down).
Truly revelatory reporting, at least in terms what it reveals about the NYTimes itself.
Truly revelatory reporting, at least in terms what it reveals about the NYTimes itself.
I don't think this is quite right. There's a difference between charming Trump from a place of resolute strength and engaging in (ineffective) appeasement. Mamdani can do this without blowback because he didn't concede anything or sell out, and he pushed back on the hostile questions he was asked.
a significant reason Mamdani can get away with this and other Dems can’t is less that he’s charmed Trump and more that he’s charmed you, dear reader, which is why you’re not yelling at him for being a collaborator or an appeaser right now
November 21, 2025 at 11:09 PM
I don't think this is quite right. There's a difference between charming Trump from a place of resolute strength and engaging in (ineffective) appeasement. Mamdani can do this without blowback because he didn't concede anything or sell out, and he pushed back on the hostile questions he was asked.
Incredible that this act of cowardice happened at the same time as a profound demonstration of the effectiveness of standing up to Trump.
Trump's deference to Mamdani, in contrast to his treatment of other notable Dems, should be a lesson for those who are tempted to try appeasement as a strategy.
Trump's deference to Mamdani, in contrast to his treatment of other notable Dems, should be a lesson for those who are tempted to try appeasement as a strategy.
In a country where the cost of living rises but wages don't, where illness can leave you in financial ruin, and where the young feel they have no chance at any upward mobility, 86 House Democrats joined Republicans to pass a resolution denouncing “the horrors of socialism.” trib.al/YmIjeGU
86 Democrats Condemn Socialism as Zohran Mamdani Meets With Trump
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries appeared to lead the charge.
trib.al
November 21, 2025 at 10:24 PM
Incredible that this act of cowardice happened at the same time as a profound demonstration of the effectiveness of standing up to Trump.
Trump's deference to Mamdani, in contrast to his treatment of other notable Dems, should be a lesson for those who are tempted to try appeasement as a strategy.
Trump's deference to Mamdani, in contrast to his treatment of other notable Dems, should be a lesson for those who are tempted to try appeasement as a strategy.
Reposted by Mahtin
one thing i think is true is that republicans assumed that democrats would not respond in kind and that the forceful pushback spooked them (a lesson to learn here, perhaps)
Trump's corrupt scheme to rig 2026 is suddenly falling apart:
*Court strikes down Texas GOP gerrymander
*Indiana GOP lacks votes to redraw map
*Big Dem win in Virginia could give Ds more seats
On the pod, DLCC head Heather Williams is informative on what's next:
newrepublic.com/article/2033...
*Court strikes down Texas GOP gerrymander
*Indiana GOP lacks votes to redraw map
*Big Dem win in Virginia could give Ds more seats
On the pod, DLCC head Heather Williams is informative on what's next:
newrepublic.com/article/2033...
Trump’s Plot to Rig 2026 Is Falling Apart, and Boy Is He Mad About It
As the Trump-GOP scheme to gerrymander the midterms suddenly faces big new setbacks, a Democratic operative who’s leading in these fights explains why the battle isn’t over—and what must happen now.
newrepublic.com
November 19, 2025 at 1:13 PM
one thing i think is true is that republicans assumed that democrats would not respond in kind and that the forceful pushback spooked them (a lesson to learn here, perhaps)
Nope. We have 100 years of public policy effectively dictating one of these outcomes. Policy has made suburbs (space and cars) the default option. A lot of people are willing to pay a massive premium to live in urban areas though. It's just that there are very few places where it's a viable option.
Right, this is true, but the OVERWHELMING evidence of the past 100 years of American life is that vastly more people want space and a car than a smaller unit and a car-free lifestyle. This is mostly why the suburban share of US population has grown relentlessly for the entire 20th and 21st century
Some people put a premium on space in my experience, others put a premium on not having to have a car and not being isolated out in the suburbs
November 19, 2025 at 1:01 AM
Nope. We have 100 years of public policy effectively dictating one of these outcomes. Policy has made suburbs (space and cars) the default option. A lot of people are willing to pay a massive premium to live in urban areas though. It's just that there are very few places where it's a viable option.
I think this is what happens in practice in recent years, but I don't think it has to be this way. Low info voters can understand nuance. The problem is, convincing these voters that Trump was trying to kill SNAP and it was Dems who saved it takes real effort, and Dems don't seem to want to do that.
This does not work I think. A lot of voters know what Congress did and what the President did but the knowledgeable voters are all committed partisans. Swing voters are low info and just credit whatever happens to the President.
One way the shutdown deal might actually help Democrats: it gives them ammo to claim they saved SNAP/other benefits, following up recent electoral wins on affordability and prices that in tandem could help repair the party's image with working-class voters
www.gelliottmorris.com/p/one-way-th...
www.gelliottmorris.com/p/one-way-th...
November 14, 2025 at 3:39 PM
I think this is what happens in practice in recent years, but I don't think it has to be this way. Low info voters can understand nuance. The problem is, convincing these voters that Trump was trying to kill SNAP and it was Dems who saved it takes real effort, and Dems don't seem to want to do that.
Using "do GOP voters care?" to define newsworthiness inevitably kills any story negative to the GOP. It cedes the narrative on current events to the GOP propaganda machine. On any story, GOP outlets make excuses, deflect blame, concoct lies. And eventually GOP voters do not care, and the story dies.
Perfect example of political media operating under the post-truth standard that (1) distorts the facts until the parties look approximately equal, and (2) holds “do MAGA voters care?” as a higher standard than “is it true?” or “is it important for the public to know about this?”
Wild to watch playbook run cover for this particular Trump scandal
November 13, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Using "do GOP voters care?" to define newsworthiness inevitably kills any story negative to the GOP. It cedes the narrative on current events to the GOP propaganda machine. On any story, GOP outlets make excuses, deflect blame, concoct lies. And eventually GOP voters do not care, and the story dies.
Reposted by Mahtin
i’ve said this before and i remain convinced it’s true, the 2028 platform that would deliver obama 08 results is “i am gonna
bring the hammer down on the corrupt self-dealing politicians and their rich friends and there are no sacred cows id give a pass”
bring the hammer down on the corrupt self-dealing politicians and their rich friends and there are no sacred cows id give a pass”
November 13, 2025 at 2:07 PM
i’ve said this before and i remain convinced it’s true, the 2028 platform that would deliver obama 08 results is “i am gonna
bring the hammer down on the corrupt self-dealing politicians and their rich friends and there are no sacred cows id give a pass”
bring the hammer down on the corrupt self-dealing politicians and their rich friends and there are no sacred cows id give a pass”
This is completely backwards. Internal recriminations are a prerequisite to fighting united. Leaders have betrayed the public so many times over the past year. This being perhaps the most egregious example. How can the public trust the leaders moving forward without some sort of accountability?
The sooner we get past internal recriminations and back to fighting united, the better off we all are — the likelier our victory next November.
November 10, 2025 at 10:28 PM
This is completely backwards. Internal recriminations are a prerequisite to fighting united. Leaders have betrayed the public so many times over the past year. This being perhaps the most egregious example. How can the public trust the leaders moving forward without some sort of accountability?
Reposted by Mahtin
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 2:34 AM
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
Reposted by Mahtin
ah, perhaps instead of pumping millions into endless factional infighting Dem donors could invest in making local Dem organizations genuine civic spaces that can reach people during and between elections
November 5, 2025 at 12:49 PM
ah, perhaps instead of pumping millions into endless factional infighting Dem donors could invest in making local Dem organizations genuine civic spaces that can reach people during and between elections
I think a lot of the 2024 pundit consensus was based on wishcasting rather than a good faith effort to understand the election. Trump lacked a mandate for his agenda, given that his win was built on lying about what he would do in office. Many pundits wanted to manufacture consent for his agenda.
basically every 2024 truism is dead. Trump did not build a lasting multiracial coalition or turn young men into committed Republicans. You don’t need to cave on trans rights to win. The pundits have nothing left to tell you.
November 5, 2025 at 3:10 PM
I think a lot of the 2024 pundit consensus was based on wishcasting rather than a good faith effort to understand the election. Trump lacked a mandate for his agenda, given that his win was built on lying about what he would do in office. Many pundits wanted to manufacture consent for his agenda.
Reposted by Mahtin
The last month of the anti-Mamdani campaign was an absolutely shameful undertaking, an attempt to rip the city and Democratic coalition apart and I'm very happy to see it failed.
November 5, 2025 at 3:15 AM
The last month of the anti-Mamdani campaign was an absolutely shameful undertaking, an attempt to rip the city and Democratic coalition apart and I'm very happy to see it failed.
We *can* have nice things!
November 5, 2025 at 2:56 AM
We *can* have nice things!
Reposted by Mahtin
i hope to see enterprising democrats announce their intent to retire schumer and gillibrand over the next two years.
Q: It's election day in NYC. Did you vote for Mamdani or Cuomo?
Schumer: "Look, I voted, and I look forward to working with the next mayor to help NYC."
Schumer: "Look, I voted, and I look forward to working with the next mayor to help NYC."
November 4, 2025 at 9:20 PM
i hope to see enterprising democrats announce their intent to retire schumer and gillibrand over the next two years.
Cheney pushed us into an unnecessary war that left hundreds of thousands dead. People warned in real time that the surveillance state and security apparatus he was building to kill foreigners he didn't like would one day be turned onto Americans, and Trump is now doing just that.
By almost any measure, Cheney was the most powerful vice president in history, the "architect and executor of President Bush's major initiatives," writes Robert McFadden. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/04/u...
November 4, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Cheney pushed us into an unnecessary war that left hundreds of thousands dead. People warned in real time that the surveillance state and security apparatus he was building to kill foreigners he didn't like would one day be turned onto Americans, and Trump is now doing just that.
I've been beating this drum since the campaign. Mass Deportation is not a policy that targets only noncitizens. Awful people will use the deportation regime to erect and entrench race-based hierarchies, even among citizens.
Not just Kavanaugh stops. Kavanaugh ransacking of apartments. open.substack.com/pub/migranti...
SCOOP: Latino Tenants Told to Vacate After Georgetown ICE Raid
Witnesses describe multi-agency sweep at Wisconsin & O St. NW; 10–12 taken; Latino units “tossed;” ammunition left in the hallway, and tenants told to vacate.
open.substack.com
November 3, 2025 at 10:25 PM
I've been beating this drum since the campaign. Mass Deportation is not a policy that targets only noncitizens. Awful people will use the deportation regime to erect and entrench race-based hierarchies, even among citizens.
(1) This sounds great!
(2) It's really telling that the GOP House Leader is claiming that they can can only retain majorities through continued disenfranchisement.
(2) It's really telling that the GOP House Leader is claiming that they can can only retain majorities through continued disenfranchisement.
Johnson: "If they had no filibuster, they would pack the SCOTUS. You'd go from 9 to 17 or however many liberals they could pack. You would make DC & Puerto Rico into states, which would give 4 additional Democrat senators & make us a permanent minority. You'd see massive restrictions of 2A rights"
November 3, 2025 at 6:56 PM
(1) This sounds great!
(2) It's really telling that the GOP House Leader is claiming that they can can only retain majorities through continued disenfranchisement.
(2) It's really telling that the GOP House Leader is claiming that they can can only retain majorities through continued disenfranchisement.
This piece is deeply misleading. Cuomo was the single biggest impediment to NY progressives for a decade, and the article omits entirely how he spent years working behind the scenes to empower the GOP in the state legislature and conservatives in the state high court to defeat Democratic priorities.
Former N.Y. Gov. Andrew Cuomo has a long list of accomplishments, many of them progressive. In the race for New York City mayor, that experience hasn't given him the boost he wanted. n.pr/49uczOs
Andrew Cuomo fights for his political life and his version of the Democratic Party
Former N.Y. Gov. Andrew Cuomo has a long list of accomplishments, many of them progressive. In the race for New York City mayor, that experience hasn't given him the boost he wanted.
n.pr
November 3, 2025 at 3:13 PM
This piece is deeply misleading. Cuomo was the single biggest impediment to NY progressives for a decade, and the article omits entirely how he spent years working behind the scenes to empower the GOP in the state legislature and conservatives in the state high court to defeat Democratic priorities.
Reposted by Mahtin
Between what came before and what happened tonight, Dems ought to treat encounters with CBS reporters as presumptively hostile and untrustworthy. A small thing, but there’s no way out of this disaster if the party continues helplessly submitting to unequal treatment from ~all mediating institutions.
November 3, 2025 at 3:36 AM
Between what came before and what happened tonight, Dems ought to treat encounters with CBS reporters as presumptively hostile and untrustworthy. A small thing, but there’s no way out of this disaster if the party continues helplessly submitting to unequal treatment from ~all mediating institutions.
Reposted by Mahtin
This is also how they’ll cover him if he wins. Mamdani - all democrats who actually want to govern and fix things - need to understand the NYT politics team as a partisan force arrayed against them.
I genuinely wonder if anyone on the NYT editorial team looks at the Mamdani coverage in total and thinks "yeah, we got this one right"
The story on the eve of the election is basically reporters asking the public "is Mamdani experienced enough?"
No actual news.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/02/n...
The story on the eve of the election is basically reporters asking the public "is Mamdani experienced enough?"
No actual news.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/02/n...
Even for Some Mamdani Supporters, His Thin Résumé Is Cause for Concern
www.nytimes.com
November 2, 2025 at 11:08 PM
This is also how they’ll cover him if he wins. Mamdani - all democrats who actually want to govern and fix things - need to understand the NYT politics team as a partisan force arrayed against them.
🤣
Defend NYC, a pro-Cuomo super PAC operated by Trump adviser Jason Meister, is spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on sending out this text message to NYC voters, hoping it'll convince them to vote Cuomo for mayor, new filings show.
October 31, 2025 at 6:07 PM
🤣
I think this gives the "run on kitchen table issues!" crowd too much credit. It's not just that they're endorsing him through gritted teeth. They also spent months trying to inject non-economic issues (Israel, policing) into the election in an effort to distract from his popular economic platform.
It’s also hard not to notice that Zohran is running the exact campaign they say they want and they are endorsing him through gritted teeth. Charisma and vision are the only things that break through in this media environment. You cant stand out if you’re ideological jello.
October 28, 2025 at 7:22 PM
I think this gives the "run on kitchen table issues!" crowd too much credit. It's not just that they're endorsing him through gritted teeth. They also spent months trying to inject non-economic issues (Israel, policing) into the election in an effort to distract from his popular economic platform.
Reposted by Mahtin
I think any story about Trump's autocracy should be mostly about the people and institutions who failed to stop it. This guy isn't a political genius, everything else just happens to be rotten. 'Toddler Consolidates Power In Household' is a story about incompetent parents, not shrewd maneuvering
October 28, 2025 at 2:07 PM
I think any story about Trump's autocracy should be mostly about the people and institutions who failed to stop it. This guy isn't a political genius, everything else just happens to be rotten. 'Toddler Consolidates Power In Household' is a story about incompetent parents, not shrewd maneuvering