Meredith Shiner
@meredithshiner.com
current twitter ex-pat. past congressional reporter. contributing editor @newrepublic.com. running a communications consulting business and raising a tiny baseball fan irl.
let’s work together! ⬇️
meredithshiner.com
let’s work together! ⬇️
meredithshiner.com
Pinned
Meredith Shiner
@meredithshiner.com
· Feb 3
Primary Every Democrat
It’s exhausting to watch poll-tested, donor-beholden congressional Democrats continue to be too old, too cloistered, and too bumbling to do anything as the government burns.
newrepublic.com
New from me in @newrepublic.com: “Primary Every Democrat.”
If the current crop cannot demonstrate they care more about democracy than enjoying three-day weekends, we should flood the zone and challenge them all.
If the current crop cannot demonstrate they care more about democracy than enjoying three-day weekends, we should flood the zone and challenge them all.
I can't drink brown liquor (long story involving Ron Johnson firing his entire legislative staff in 2012 and @dcbigjohn.bsky.social) but even if I could I cannot imagine a more boring person to drink with than Tony Dokoupil.
New: CBS News seems to be preparing a new segment called "Whiskey Fridays with Tony Dokoupil," per sources.
Some staff were only first made aware of it as they encountered CBS testing out set designs of a faux-stocked bar in the newsroom, featuring a large sponsor banner for Jack Daniels.
Some staff were only first made aware of it as they encountered CBS testing out set designs of a faux-stocked bar in the newsroom, featuring a large sponsor banner for Jack Daniels.
January 13, 2026 at 9:37 PM
I can't drink brown liquor (long story involving Ron Johnson firing his entire legislative staff in 2012 and @dcbigjohn.bsky.social) but even if I could I cannot imagine a more boring person to drink with than Tony Dokoupil.
Chicago and LA were somewhat buffered by their sheer geographic size. The Minneapolis situation (alongside the seemingly permanent national guard occupation of DC) necessarily creates this different feeling and dynamic for residents.
It's 10am in Minneapolis and rapid response is underwater, reports of chemicals deployed already.
As others have pointed out, the ratio of feds (with more arriving) to residents and square mileage here is extreme compared to what we experienced in Chicago.
We are in freefall.
As others have pointed out, the ratio of feds (with more arriving) to residents and square mileage here is extreme compared to what we experienced in Chicago.
We are in freefall.
January 13, 2026 at 5:51 PM
Chicago and LA were somewhat buffered by their sheer geographic size. The Minneapolis situation (alongside the seemingly permanent national guard occupation of DC) necessarily creates this different feeling and dynamic for residents.
I had so many Farside anthology books
why did so many millennials read so many newspaper comics? easily 60 percent of my reading diet in elementary/middle school was collected editions of calvin and hobbes, farside, dilbert, peanuts, doonesbury (!), foxtrot (?!?) and i know im not alone. historically unique phenomenon
rather than talk about Scott Adams I want to talk about something weirder (me). Who else was really into Dilbert when you were 12. Who else was like, boy, I can't wait to work a cubicle job
January 13, 2026 at 5:21 PM
I had so many Farside anthology books
👀👀👀👀
Condé Nast forgot to renew the trademark for Gourmet and so a group of journalists grabbed it and are relaunching the food magazine as a worker-owned co-op. Love it. [gourmetmagazine.net]
Gourmet Magazine
Gourmet is a worker-owned publication about food and the people who make and consume it.
gourmetmagazine.net
January 13, 2026 at 5:19 PM
👀👀👀👀
again I need people to know that this fall, North side Chicago yoga pants moms who for all I know voted for Paul Vallas in 2023 all came up to me at a Lil Kickers soccer practice for toddlers asking where they could buy my shirt. IN SEPTEMBER. BEFORE THEY SHOT A WHITE MOM LIKE THEM IN THE FACE.
January 13, 2026 at 4:04 PM
again I need people to know that this fall, North side Chicago yoga pants moms who for all I know voted for Paul Vallas in 2023 all came up to me at a Lil Kickers soccer practice for toddlers asking where they could buy my shirt. IN SEPTEMBER. BEFORE THEY SHOT A WHITE MOM LIKE THEM IN THE FACE.
Reposted by Meredith Shiner
Bridging my current life in Chicago and my past life in D.C., I argue today at @newrepublic.com that Democrats should ~never~ vote to fund this government. Make John Thune blow up Senate rules and Republicans wholly own the U.S. extra-military military doing war crimes against us, funded by us.
The Case for the Forever Shutdown
Senate Democrats actually allowing the GOP to stop funding the government is only the first step. Now they have to make the case that Trump’s government is illegitimate.
newrepublic.com
October 8, 2025 at 11:44 AM
Bridging my current life in Chicago and my past life in D.C., I argue today at @newrepublic.com that Democrats should ~never~ vote to fund this government. Make John Thune blow up Senate rules and Republicans wholly own the U.S. extra-military military doing war crimes against us, funded by us.
if @jzembik.bsky.social wrote something this patently bad I would simply not declare to no one that he is "the funniest writer in America," and I hope someone, ~anyone~, would force me to consume actual comedic content.
Little peek under the hood at Weiss’s first weeks in charge of CBS. 📺 www.nytimes.com/2026/01/13/b...
January 13, 2026 at 3:37 PM
if @jzembik.bsky.social wrote something this patently bad I would simply not declare to no one that he is "the funniest writer in America," and I hope someone, ~anyone~, would force me to consume actual comedic content.
Lololololololololol
Sources: Bari Weiss has privately been deeply frustrated by the negative reaction to her CBS tenure and has blamed subordinates for not stanching the criticism (New York Times)
Main Link | Mediagazer Permalink
Main Link | Mediagazer Permalink
January 13, 2026 at 1:45 PM
Lololololololololol
I’m exactly “my most desired splurge in life is a Carepod and I’m hoping it really works because you need a humidifier in Chicago winter but will never clean your humidifier diligently enough” years old. It arrived off backorder today and I will report to you all, who are also all exactly my age.
January 13, 2026 at 5:05 AM
I’m exactly “my most desired splurge in life is a Carepod and I’m hoping it really works because you need a humidifier in Chicago winter but will never clean your humidifier diligently enough” years old. It arrived off backorder today and I will report to you all, who are also all exactly my age.
Oh interesting maybe someone show this clip to @durbin.senate.gov
![Screenshot of a bluesky post from October:
Eric Michael Garcia @ericmgarcia.bsky.social
Durbin on whether Democrats can use reining in ICE in Chicago as a precondition to [reopen] the government says "can't do that. It's gotta be health care all the way."
3:33 PM • Oct 8, 2025 © Everybody can reply
45 reposts 243 quotes 302 likes
302 likes 10 saves
1 288
O 302
企
••](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:qjoafldyxvsszdxrrmxyvq67/bafkreihovvzgmsnmv2f6hxo7hqfbcggi5d7d3fn7t77rcg5vvxlidir2x4@jpeg)
January 13, 2026 at 2:05 AM
Oh interesting maybe someone show this clip to @durbin.senate.gov
we'll never know if Illinois elected officials taking a stronger stance against ICE would have prevented the same movie we saw here from playing in Minnesota but I wish they had tried harder.
An all too familiar scene: tossing some more gas canisters at residents as they flee.
January 12, 2026 at 6:48 PM
we'll never know if Illinois elected officials taking a stronger stance against ICE would have prevented the same movie we saw here from playing in Minnesota but I wish they had tried harder.
there are not more of them than us.
January 12, 2026 at 3:46 PM
there are not more of them than us.
turns out Jews have been persecuted for thousands of years because we've never before had an Eric Adams crypto token to "fight antisemitism."
Eric Adams has apparently been in Congo in addition to Dubai this month, he said on Fox Business this morning.
He's back in NYC today to announce "New York City Coin," a crypto token, the proceeds of which he says will be used to fight antisemitism and "anti-Americanism."
He's back in NYC today to announce "New York City Coin," a crypto token, the proceeds of which he says will be used to fight antisemitism and "anti-Americanism."
January 12, 2026 at 3:09 PM
turns out Jews have been persecuted for thousands of years because we've never before had an Eric Adams crypto token to "fight antisemitism."
THIS ISN'T EVEN THE FIRST TIME THEY'VE TAKEN A PARENT OF A TEENAGER DYING OF CANCER
“A Maryland man is navigating two devastating blows to his family after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested his wife just days before their 15-year-old son’s death from cancer.” www.kkco11news.com/2026/01/12/t...
Teen dies of cancer days after mother arrested by ICE: ‘She’s never gonna see him’
The mother's family pleaded with federal officers for her release from custody to say her final goodbyes to her son, but their requests went unanswered.
www.kkco11news.com
January 12, 2026 at 3:06 PM
THIS ISN'T EVEN THE FIRST TIME THEY'VE TAKEN A PARENT OF A TEENAGER DYING OF CANCER
not to diminish the point but I think they knew exactly who he was and what he was doing at the time (we all saw it with our own eyes!), they just chose not to care or were somehow afraid of the wrath of the unelected shadow president who was bulldozing the government.
The national media, the ADL, corporate leaders, etc. are not revisiting their decisions about Musk now afaict. Musk is just allowed to be a very public Nazi accelerationist as well as a CSAM publisher without any mainstream scrutiny.
Every week is overwhelming evidence of what we saw with our own eyes, but which our credulous media was afraid to print: the Nazi salute was a Nazi salute
January 12, 2026 at 3:04 PM
not to diminish the point but I think they knew exactly who he was and what he was doing at the time (we all saw it with our own eyes!), they just chose not to care or were somehow afraid of the wrath of the unelected shadow president who was bulldozing the government.
Reposted by Meredith Shiner
“Can I check a pulse?” yelled the bystander, standing across Portland Avenue from Renee Good’s lifeless body inside her crashed SUV, video footage of the exchange shows.
“No,” an agent replies. “Back up.”
“I’m a physician!”
“I don’t care.”
“No,” an agent replies. “Back up.”
“I’m a physician!”
“I don’t care.”
‘I’m a physician,’ he said. ‘Don’t care’ was the reply.
Bystander medical assistance was declined during the restraint-related death of George Floyd, and now after the shooting of Renee Good.
bit.ly
January 12, 2026 at 2:15 PM
“Can I check a pulse?” yelled the bystander, standing across Portland Avenue from Renee Good’s lifeless body inside her crashed SUV, video footage of the exchange shows.
“No,” an agent replies. “Back up.”
“I’m a physician!”
“I don’t care.”
“No,” an agent replies. “Back up.”
“I’m a physician!”
“I don’t care.”
me, watching Rhea Seehorn, to my husband: “ @tomandlorenzo.bsky.social has a theory that you dress like the statue if you think you’re going to win.”
January 12, 2026 at 3:29 AM
me, watching Rhea Seehorn, to my husband: “ @tomandlorenzo.bsky.social has a theory that you dress like the statue if you think you’re going to win.”
what a decade this week has been
January 12, 2026 at 1:24 AM
what a decade this week has been
1) Jerome Powell is a boss;
2) it’s absolutely rich for this White House to choose testimony over renovations of historic Fed buildings as the pretext for intimidation considering THEY BULLDOZED THE EAST WING without any approvals.
2) it’s absolutely rich for this White House to choose testimony over renovations of historic Fed buildings as the pretext for intimidation considering THEY BULLDOZED THE EAST WING without any approvals.
Video message from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KckG...
www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/s...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KckG...
www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/s...
Statement by Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell
YouTube video by Federal Reserve
www.youtube.com
January 12, 2026 at 12:47 AM
1) Jerome Powell is a boss;
2) it’s absolutely rich for this White House to choose testimony over renovations of historic Fed buildings as the pretext for intimidation considering THEY BULLDOZED THE EAST WING without any approvals.
2) it’s absolutely rich for this White House to choose testimony over renovations of historic Fed buildings as the pretext for intimidation considering THEY BULLDOZED THE EAST WING without any approvals.
well that was nuts
January 11, 2026 at 4:36 AM
well that was nuts
that seemed incredibly unlikely in the third quarter my goodness
January 11, 2026 at 4:23 AM
that seemed incredibly unlikely in the third quarter my goodness
watching a playoff football game on my iPad because you can’t watch a playoff football game on a hotel room tv is just a small personal example of how these tv contracts are not for the fans
January 11, 2026 at 4:19 AM
watching a playoff football game on my iPad because you can’t watch a playoff football game on a hotel room tv is just a small personal example of how these tv contracts are not for the fans
Reposted by Meredith Shiner
Suspect arrested in predawn fire that left parts of Mississippi’s largest synagogue in charred ruins
A fire heavily damaged Jackson’s only synagogue before dawn Saturday – the same house of worship that was firebombed by the Ku Klux Klan in 1967 because the rabbi had been an advocate for civil…
A fire heavily damaged Jackson’s only synagogue before dawn Saturday – the same house of worship that was firebombed by the Ku Klux Klan in 1967 because the rabbi had been an advocate for civil…
Suspect arrested in predawn fire that left parts of Mississippi’s largest synagogue in charred ruins
A fire heavily damaged Jackson’s only synagogue before dawn Saturday – the same house of worship that was firebombed by the Ku Klux Klan in 1967 because the rabbi had been an advocate for civil rights.
mississippitoday.org
January 11, 2026 at 3:07 AM
Suspect arrested in predawn fire that left parts of Mississippi’s largest synagogue in charred ruins
A fire heavily damaged Jackson’s only synagogue before dawn Saturday – the same house of worship that was firebombed by the Ku Klux Klan in 1967 because the rabbi had been an advocate for civil…
A fire heavily damaged Jackson’s only synagogue before dawn Saturday – the same house of worship that was firebombed by the Ku Klux Klan in 1967 because the rabbi had been an advocate for civil…
I’m begging Democratic leaders to understand that outlining and forcefully articulating their vision for accountability now is an electoral strategy.
"The Democrats’ plan: TBD. There has been a lot of rhetoric, but ... the caucus is largely shying away from using its leverage in the appropriations process and threatening another government shutdown."
“We’ll figure out the accountability mechanisms at the appropriate time" - Hakeem Jeffries
“We’ll figure out the accountability mechanisms at the appropriate time" - Hakeem Jeffries
January 10, 2026 at 5:30 PM
I’m begging Democratic leaders to understand that outlining and forcefully articulating their vision for accountability now is an electoral strategy.
Reposted by Meredith Shiner
Hey Minneapolis ❄️—we're indie reporters here from Chicago. If there's anything you'd like us to know about community actions, vigils, or fed activity, please drop us a line on Signal at unraveled.66 📱
January 10, 2026 at 4:07 PM
Hey Minneapolis ❄️—we're indie reporters here from Chicago. If there's anything you'd like us to know about community actions, vigils, or fed activity, please drop us a line on Signal at unraveled.66 📱