Mona Burns
@monaburns.bsky.social
Political writer. Covering Congress. Vincit Omnia Veritas.
Diversity is our strength. Unity is our power. 🩵
"Freedom is not just an absence of evil, but a presence of good."
-Timothy Snyder
Diversity is our strength. Unity is our power. 🩵
"Freedom is not just an absence of evil, but a presence of good."
-Timothy Snyder
Reposted by Mona Burns
Trump's Golden Age👇
Fact:
The affordability crisis is NOT a "hoax"
Fact:
The affordability crisis is NOT a "hoax"
February 7, 2026 at 3:50 PM
Trump's Golden Age👇
Fact:
The affordability crisis is NOT a "hoax"
Fact:
The affordability crisis is NOT a "hoax"
Reposted by Mona Burns
Violation of the Geneva Conventions and the Eighth Amendment.
Acive duty military are being ordered to buy a ticket to Melania and watch it, whether they want to, or not. www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/mil...
Military Pressured to See ‘Melania’ Against Their Will
A military group has evidence of troops being ordered into theater—the movie theater.
www.thedailybeast.com
February 7, 2026 at 2:40 PM
Violation of the Geneva Conventions and the Eighth Amendment.
Reposted by Mona Burns
Trump’s advisors told him he was going to be booed mercilessly, so he isn’t going this year and he’s canceling the F-22 flyover too.
February 7, 2026 at 3:00 PM
Trump’s advisors told him he was going to be booed mercilessly, so he isn’t going this year and he’s canceling the F-22 flyover too.
Reposted by Mona Burns
I so missed this! Webb County Sheriff Martin Cuellar, brother of Rep. Henry Cuellar, indicted on federal fraud charges
www.texastribune.org/2026/01/22/w...
www.texastribune.org/2026/01/22/w...
February 7, 2026 at 3:00 PM
I so missed this! Webb County Sheriff Martin Cuellar, brother of Rep. Henry Cuellar, indicted on federal fraud charges
www.texastribune.org/2026/01/22/w...
www.texastribune.org/2026/01/22/w...
“We are in a period not of transition but of rupture. Europe will soon be fully responsible for its own security, and we’ll also have to begin thinking much more strategically about how to wield power in the world.”
Excellent read:
Excellent read:
New in PN: @anneapplebaum.bsky.social on Trump's betrayal of Europe
"They’re bewildered we’ve allowed this to happen. And yes, you do hear Europeans saying, 'why aren’t people protesting?' This all comes as a real shock to people who had a different expectation of what America was."
"They’re bewildered we’ve allowed this to happen. And yes, you do hear Europeans saying, 'why aren’t people protesting?' This all comes as a real shock to people who had a different expectation of what America was."
Anne Applebaum on Trump's betrayal of Europe
"They’re bewildered we’ve allowed this to happen."
www.publicnotice.co
February 7, 2026 at 3:36 PM
“We are in a period not of transition but of rupture. Europe will soon be fully responsible for its own security, and we’ll also have to begin thinking much more strategically about how to wield power in the world.”
Excellent read:
Excellent read:
"The calendar says 2026, but it feels a lot like 2018."
1 retiring House Republican said that Thursday’s Trump post depicting Obamas as apes validated the choice to leave Capitol Hill. Not long after that, Nevada Rep. Mark Amodei announced retirement
Aide: “Another reason to increase the intensity of my job search"
www.semafor.com/article/02/0...
Aide: “Another reason to increase the intensity of my job search"
www.semafor.com/article/02/0...
Domestic challenges mount for Trump
From social media posting to immigration to the midterms, the president is on the back foot.
www.semafor.com
February 7, 2026 at 3:32 PM
"The calendar says 2026, but it feels a lot like 2018."
Brand New from Julie K Brown:
DOJ's 86-page prosecution memo listing possible co-conspirators in the Epstein case-& the victim's allegations against those possible co-conspirators-disappeared from their website after the Miami Herald questioned them about the list
www.miamiherald.com/news/local/c...
DOJ's 86-page prosecution memo listing possible co-conspirators in the Epstein case-& the victim's allegations against those possible co-conspirators-disappeared from their website after the Miami Herald questioned them about the list
www.miamiherald.com/news/local/c...
Who were the other men in the Epstein files? This is the FBI’s own list
FBI employees shared a PowerPoint presentation in the summer of 2025 covering the Epstein case, including a slide about 11 powerful men.
www.miamiherald.com
February 7, 2026 at 3:15 PM
Brand New from Julie K Brown:
DOJ's 86-page prosecution memo listing possible co-conspirators in the Epstein case-& the victim's allegations against those possible co-conspirators-disappeared from their website after the Miami Herald questioned them about the list
www.miamiherald.com/news/local/c...
DOJ's 86-page prosecution memo listing possible co-conspirators in the Epstein case-& the victim's allegations against those possible co-conspirators-disappeared from their website after the Miami Herald questioned them about the list
www.miamiherald.com/news/local/c...
From 'Complex' yesterday:
"47M more viewers tuned into Michelle Obama doc as 'Melania' opened"
At least partially explains Trump's extremely racist outburst yesterday
That small petty vindictive man will never, ever get over his profound jealousy of the Obamas
NEVER
www.complex.com/pop-culture/...
"47M more viewers tuned into Michelle Obama doc as 'Melania' opened"
At least partially explains Trump's extremely racist outburst yesterday
That small petty vindictive man will never, ever get over his profound jealousy of the Obamas
NEVER
www.complex.com/pop-culture/...
Michelle Obama Doc Sees Huge Viewership Boost as 'Melania' Gets Released
Michelle Obama’s documentary, 'Becoming,' boasted extreme...
www.complex.com
February 7, 2026 at 3:07 PM
From 'Complex' yesterday:
"47M more viewers tuned into Michelle Obama doc as 'Melania' opened"
At least partially explains Trump's extremely racist outburst yesterday
That small petty vindictive man will never, ever get over his profound jealousy of the Obamas
NEVER
www.complex.com/pop-culture/...
"47M more viewers tuned into Michelle Obama doc as 'Melania' opened"
At least partially explains Trump's extremely racist outburst yesterday
That small petty vindictive man will never, ever get over his profound jealousy of the Obamas
NEVER
www.complex.com/pop-culture/...
If you had trouble keeping track of yesterday's chaos
Here's Ron Filipkowski's 'Today in Politics' bulletin
On the fallout from Trump's racist Obama post
JD Vance being LOUDLY booed in Italy
And a whole hell of a lot more
Great way to catch up:
Here's Ron Filipkowski's 'Today in Politics' bulletin
On the fallout from Trump's racist Obama post
JD Vance being LOUDLY booed in Italy
And a whole hell of a lot more
Great way to catch up:
Today in Politics, Bulletin 302. Everything you need to know about what happened today in politics. open.substack.com/pub/meidasto...
Today in Politics, Bulletin 302. 2/6/26
… Trump posted a racist depicting Barack and Michelle Obama as apes last night.
open.substack.com
February 7, 2026 at 2:56 PM
If you had trouble keeping track of yesterday's chaos
Here's Ron Filipkowski's 'Today in Politics' bulletin
On the fallout from Trump's racist Obama post
JD Vance being LOUDLY booed in Italy
And a whole hell of a lot more
Great way to catch up:
Here's Ron Filipkowski's 'Today in Politics' bulletin
On the fallout from Trump's racist Obama post
JD Vance being LOUDLY booed in Italy
And a whole hell of a lot more
Great way to catch up:
CBS:
"U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has said he had "limited interactions" with Jeffrey Epstein, but documents show they were in business together as recently as 2014."
I told you guys Lutnick is a first class creep
Read this:
www.cbsnews.com/news/howard-...
"U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has said he had "limited interactions" with Jeffrey Epstein, but documents show they were in business together as recently as 2014."
I told you guys Lutnick is a first class creep
Read this:
www.cbsnews.com/news/howard-...
Lutnick and Epstein were in business together, Epstein files show
Though the commerce secretary has called his interactions with Epstein as "limited," the two were in business together four years after Epstein's 2008 guilty plea.
www.cbsnews.com
February 7, 2026 at 2:52 PM
CBS:
"U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has said he had "limited interactions" with Jeffrey Epstein, but documents show they were in business together as recently as 2014."
I told you guys Lutnick is a first class creep
Read this:
www.cbsnews.com/news/howard-...
"U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has said he had "limited interactions" with Jeffrey Epstein, but documents show they were in business together as recently as 2014."
I told you guys Lutnick is a first class creep
Read this:
www.cbsnews.com/news/howard-...
DB:
"Thousands of active-duty military personnel may have been “pressured” into seeing the Melania documentary at cinemas around the country"
MRFF: “They were pressured to see the movie. Your military superior [has] complete and total control over you.”
www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/mil...
"Thousands of active-duty military personnel may have been “pressured” into seeing the Melania documentary at cinemas around the country"
MRFF: “They were pressured to see the movie. Your military superior [has] complete and total control over you.”
www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/mil...
Military Pressured to See ‘Melania’ Against Their Will
A military group has evidence of troops being ordered into theater—the movie theater.
www.thedailybeast.com
February 7, 2026 at 2:48 PM
DB:
"Thousands of active-duty military personnel may have been “pressured” into seeing the Melania documentary at cinemas around the country"
MRFF: “They were pressured to see the movie. Your military superior [has] complete and total control over you.”
www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/mil...
"Thousands of active-duty military personnel may have been “pressured” into seeing the Melania documentary at cinemas around the country"
MRFF: “They were pressured to see the movie. Your military superior [has] complete and total control over you.”
www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/mil...
[email protected] on Twitter last night:
"Big boos for JD Vance in Milan.
From a friend inside the stadium at the Opening Ceremony:
"Big boos for JD Vance in Milan.
From a friend inside the stadium at the Opening Ceremony:
February 7, 2026 at 2:41 PM
[email protected] on Twitter last night:
"Big boos for JD Vance in Milan.
From a friend inside the stadium at the Opening Ceremony:
"Big boos for JD Vance in Milan.
From a friend inside the stadium at the Opening Ceremony:
“QAnon sounded crazy to the rest of us at the time — and it’s still crazy — but the Epstein files show it had parallels in reality"
Gift link to Molly Jong-Fast's NYT guest essay this morning:
"Casually wrapped up together with a bow are canceled men and sex trafficking and media advice from Michael Wolff. Being a convicted sex offender did not make Mr. Epstein an outcast.."
Excellent read:
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/07/o...
"Casually wrapped up together with a bow are canceled men and sex trafficking and media advice from Michael Wolff. Being a convicted sex offender did not make Mr. Epstein an outcast.."
Excellent read:
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/07/o...
Opinion | Now We Know What All Those People Got From Epstein
www.nytimes.com
February 7, 2026 at 2:38 PM
“QAnon sounded crazy to the rest of us at the time — and it’s still crazy — but the Epstein files show it had parallels in reality"
Gift link to Molly Jong-Fast's NYT guest essay this morning:
"Casually wrapped up together with a bow are canceled men and sex trafficking and media advice from Michael Wolff. Being a convicted sex offender did not make Mr. Epstein an outcast.."
Excellent read:
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/07/o...
"Casually wrapped up together with a bow are canceled men and sex trafficking and media advice from Michael Wolff. Being a convicted sex offender did not make Mr. Epstein an outcast.."
Excellent read:
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/07/o...
Opinion | Now We Know What All Those People Got From Epstein
www.nytimes.com
February 7, 2026 at 2:37 PM
Gift link to Molly Jong-Fast's NYT guest essay this morning:
"Casually wrapped up together with a bow are canceled men and sex trafficking and media advice from Michael Wolff. Being a convicted sex offender did not make Mr. Epstein an outcast.."
Excellent read:
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/07/o...
"Casually wrapped up together with a bow are canceled men and sex trafficking and media advice from Michael Wolff. Being a convicted sex offender did not make Mr. Epstein an outcast.."
Excellent read:
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/07/o...
NPR on the ignominous Kari Lake's latest scandal:
She swore to a fed'l judge last week that she's VOA's CEO
But .. there's no evidence Trump ever appointed her
And .. she's apparently ineligible
Lake just can't stay away from public humiliation
www.npr.org/2025/08/13/n...
She swore to a fed'l judge last week that she's VOA's CEO
But .. there's no evidence Trump ever appointed her
And .. she's apparently ineligible
Lake just can't stay away from public humiliation
www.npr.org/2025/08/13/n...
Is Kari Lake a CEO? Her agency said so. The law suggests not
Kari Lake has sought to dismantle Voice of America and its federal parent, the U.S. Agency for Global Media. The agency has recently called her its acting CEO. But the law suggests she's not eligible ...
www.npr.org
February 7, 2026 at 2:25 PM
NPR on the ignominous Kari Lake's latest scandal:
She swore to a fed'l judge last week that she's VOA's CEO
But .. there's no evidence Trump ever appointed her
And .. she's apparently ineligible
Lake just can't stay away from public humiliation
www.npr.org/2025/08/13/n...
She swore to a fed'l judge last week that she's VOA's CEO
But .. there's no evidence Trump ever appointed her
And .. she's apparently ineligible
Lake just can't stay away from public humiliation
www.npr.org/2025/08/13/n...
ICYMI:
"Governors’ offices learned Friday that a WH meeting around the upcoming NGA weekend will only include Republicans"
NGA's Brandon Tatum: “To disinvite individual governors to the WH sessions undermines an important opportunity for federal-state collaboration.”
www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
"Governors’ offices learned Friday that a WH meeting around the upcoming NGA weekend will only include Republicans"
NGA's Brandon Tatum: “To disinvite individual governors to the WH sessions undermines an important opportunity for federal-state collaboration.”
www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
White House excluding Dems from its annual governors meeting
It’s a break from a decades-long bipartisan tradition.
www.politico.com
February 7, 2026 at 2:20 PM
ICYMI:
"Governors’ offices learned Friday that a WH meeting around the upcoming NGA weekend will only include Republicans"
NGA's Brandon Tatum: “To disinvite individual governors to the WH sessions undermines an important opportunity for federal-state collaboration.”
www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
"Governors’ offices learned Friday that a WH meeting around the upcoming NGA weekend will only include Republicans"
NGA's Brandon Tatum: “To disinvite individual governors to the WH sessions undermines an important opportunity for federal-state collaboration.”
www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
Reposted by Mona Burns
The same thing is true for the voter ID section of the bill.
✅U.S. Passport
✅Enhanced driver's license from MI, MN, NY, VT, WA
-OR-
Regular driver's license / government ID + birth certificate
3/
✅U.S. Passport
✅Enhanced driver's license from MI, MN, NY, VT, WA
-OR-
Regular driver's license / government ID + birth certificate
3/
February 6, 2026 at 1:44 AM
The same thing is true for the voter ID section of the bill.
✅U.S. Passport
✅Enhanced driver's license from MI, MN, NY, VT, WA
-OR-
Regular driver's license / government ID + birth certificate
3/
✅U.S. Passport
✅Enhanced driver's license from MI, MN, NY, VT, WA
-OR-
Regular driver's license / government ID + birth certificate
3/
Reposted by Mona Burns
I've read through the GOP's new 'SAVE America Act' which will be voted on next week in the House.
It requires both proof of citizenship to register to vote - AND - proof of citizenship to vote.
Nerdy thread 1/
It requires both proof of citizenship to register to vote - AND - proof of citizenship to vote.
Nerdy thread 1/
February 6, 2026 at 1:42 AM
I've read through the GOP's new 'SAVE America Act' which will be voted on next week in the House.
It requires both proof of citizenship to register to vote - AND - proof of citizenship to vote.
Nerdy thread 1/
It requires both proof of citizenship to register to vote - AND - proof of citizenship to vote.
Nerdy thread 1/
Reposted by Mona Burns
Rep. Mark Amodei R-NV will not run for reelection. That makes 51 House members who won't be back after the November elections. So far it's 30R, 21D.
February 6, 2026 at 9:25 PM
Rep. Mark Amodei R-NV will not run for reelection. That makes 51 House members who won't be back after the November elections. So far it's 30R, 21D.
From WaPo Associate Editor Bob Woodward this afternoon:
February 6, 2026 at 8:25 PM
From WaPo Associate Editor Bob Woodward this afternoon:
I cannot possibly overstate how important it is to pay attention to this:
🚨BREAKING: Republicans are moving quickly to pass a bill requiring voters to show proof of citizenship both to register and at the polls ahead of the 2026 midterm elections — a move that experts warn could disenfranchise millions of Americans. www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/...
GOP fast tracks monster voter suppression bill that could disenfranchise millions by requiring proof of citizenship at polls
In the past few weeks, passing the legislation has been a unifying rally cry for Republicans, a welcome distraction from the party’s cratering public opinion polls.
www.democracydocket.com
February 6, 2026 at 4:11 PM
I cannot possibly overstate how important it is to pay attention to this:
So .. this is interesting
Dem House Rep Ted Lieu to House Judiciary about these video logs:
"You need to call Bill Barr to testify .. the noose at the scene was not what killed Epstein. WAIT WTF? That likely means some individual PLACED A NOOSE at the scene."
www.cbsnews.com/news/epstein...
Dem House Rep Ted Lieu to House Judiciary about these video logs:
"You need to call Bill Barr to testify .. the noose at the scene was not what killed Epstein. WAIT WTF? That likely means some individual PLACED A NOOSE at the scene."
www.cbsnews.com/news/epstein...
Who entered Epstein's jail tier the night of his death? Newly released video logs appear to contradict official accounts.
Newly released documents from the Epstein files raise more questions about activity seen on video from the jail the night he died.
www.cbsnews.com
February 6, 2026 at 4:05 PM
So .. this is interesting
Dem House Rep Ted Lieu to House Judiciary about these video logs:
"You need to call Bill Barr to testify .. the noose at the scene was not what killed Epstein. WAIT WTF? That likely means some individual PLACED A NOOSE at the scene."
www.cbsnews.com/news/epstein...
Dem House Rep Ted Lieu to House Judiciary about these video logs:
"You need to call Bill Barr to testify .. the noose at the scene was not what killed Epstein. WAIT WTF? That likely means some individual PLACED A NOOSE at the scene."
www.cbsnews.com/news/epstein...
MSNOW's Kevin Frey on the "complicated" relationship between Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries
And the "potentially impossible fight" over reforming ICE and funding DHS
www.ms.now/news/unified...
And the "potentially impossible fight" over reforming ICE and funding DHS
www.ms.now/news/unified...
Unified or divided? Inside the complicated relationship of Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries.
The two Democratic leaders have at times seemed like they’re working together. At other times, they’ve seemed like they’re working against each other.
www.ms.now
February 6, 2026 at 3:56 PM
MSNOW's Kevin Frey on the "complicated" relationship between Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries
And the "potentially impossible fight" over reforming ICE and funding DHS
www.ms.now/news/unified...
And the "potentially impossible fight" over reforming ICE and funding DHS
www.ms.now/news/unified...