Joel Montfort
@montfort.me
#TX politics. Political Scientist. Democrat. #ODAT #texasdemocrat, #txlege
Pinned
Joel Montfort
@montfort.me
· Nov 19
Firing up a TX politics starter pack covering politicians and news reporters. Please post other people you see here on bluesky so I can add them.
go.bsky.app/88DCTg1
go.bsky.app/88DCTg1
How many years away are we from the first robot murdering a human? 5? 10?
gizmodo.com/you-must-rea...
gizmodo.com/you-must-rea...
You Must Read This Riveting Whistleblower Lawsuit About Allegedly Dangerous Robots
A safety technician was fired as a company allegedly rushed ahead in commercializing a powerful humanoid robot with bone-crunching capabilities.
gizmodo.com
November 23, 2025 at 3:01 PM
How many years away are we from the first robot murdering a human? 5? 10?
gizmodo.com/you-must-rea...
gizmodo.com/you-must-rea...
There is so much to unpack here. DJT giving the thumbs up with Mamdani, in front of the Roosevelt portrait with Lincoln looking on. Then there is the representation of horseshoe politics, and they are in front of an arch. 🤯
November 22, 2025 at 2:14 PM
There is so much to unpack here. DJT giving the thumbs up with Mamdani, in front of the Roosevelt portrait with Lincoln looking on. Then there is the representation of horseshoe politics, and they are in front of an arch. 🤯
Border Patrol is spying on citizens who drive in the US and pulling over anyone they deem suspicious. They are desperately trying to hide it from the public. apnews.com/article/immi...
Border Patrol is monitoring US drivers and detaining those with 'suspicious' travel patterns
The U.S. Border Patrol is monitoring millions of American drivers nationwide in a secretive program to identify and detain people whose travel patterns it deems suspicious.
apnews.com
November 20, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Border Patrol is spying on citizens who drive in the US and pulling over anyone they deem suspicious. They are desperately trying to hide it from the public. apnews.com/article/immi...
A pedofile and a murderer walk into a guilded bar... and the joke is on us.
If this nation had moral standards, a pedophile would not be allowed to host a murderer in the Oval Office.
November 19, 2025 at 6:01 PM
A pedofile and a murderer walk into a guilded bar... and the joke is on us.
Here we go again with Halligan's folly. She never presented all of Comey's indictments to the grand jury that are now part of the charges brought against him in court.
abcnews.go.com/US/comey-see...
abcnews.go.com/US/comey-see...
Judge grills government over apparent lapses in Comey indictment
Lindsey Halligan, the U.S. attorney who brought charges against James Comey, told a judge that the full grand jury that indicted Comey did not see the indictment.
abcnews.go.com
November 19, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Here we go again with Halligan's folly. She never presented all of Comey's indictments to the grand jury that are now part of the charges brought against him in court.
abcnews.go.com/US/comey-see...
abcnews.go.com/US/comey-see...
As @hcrichardson.bsky.social points out in her email today, it is the 162nd anniversary of Lincoln's famous speech at the location of the Battle of Gettysburg.
November 19, 2025 at 1:14 PM
As @hcrichardson.bsky.social points out in her email today, it is the 162nd anniversary of Lincoln's famous speech at the location of the Battle of Gettysburg.
While the state of Illinois and the Feds battle out deployment of troops in the state, TX has wasted $5M deploying its National Guard troops who have done nothing, waiting for the court's approval. When will we tire of Abbott's wasteful spending in this state?
www.texastribune.org/2025/10/29/t...
www.texastribune.org/2025/10/29/t...
Texans oppose National Guard deployment to cities out of state
At President Trump’s direction, Gov. Greg Abbott authorized the deployment of hundreds of troops to Illinois to “safeguard” U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.
www.texastribune.org
November 18, 2025 at 2:22 PM
While the state of Illinois and the Feds battle out deployment of troops in the state, TX has wasted $5M deploying its National Guard troops who have done nothing, waiting for the court's approval. When will we tire of Abbott's wasteful spending in this state?
www.texastribune.org/2025/10/29/t...
www.texastribune.org/2025/10/29/t...
Sylvester Turner's Congressional seat #TX18, which has been without representation for 11 months, finally has a runoff date of January 31st.
www.texastribune.org/2025/11/17/t...
www.texastribune.org/2025/11/17/t...
Abbott sets Jan. 31 runoff for 18th Congressional District
The Houston-based seat will have been without representation for about 11 months.
www.texastribune.org
November 17, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Sylvester Turner's Congressional seat #TX18, which has been without representation for 11 months, finally has a runoff date of January 31st.
www.texastribune.org/2025/11/17/t...
www.texastribune.org/2025/11/17/t...
In a highly unusual move, the magistrate looking over the grand jury indictment of James Comey has asked the prosecutor, Lindsey Halligan, to share her indictment materials with the defense because she may have committed misconduct
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/17/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/17/u...
Judge Says Justice Dept. May Have Committed Misconduct in Comey Case
www.nytimes.com
November 17, 2025 at 8:29 PM
In a highly unusual move, the magistrate looking over the grand jury indictment of James Comey has asked the prosecutor, Lindsey Halligan, to share her indictment materials with the defense because she may have committed misconduct
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/17/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/17/u...
So, Trump's Liberation Day in April not working out? Things actually did get more expensive? The consumer actually does pay for tariffs? Nothing like economics to get in the way of a bad plan.
www.reuters.com/business/tru...
www.reuters.com/business/tru...
www.reuters.com
November 15, 2025 at 2:41 PM
So, Trump's Liberation Day in April not working out? Things actually did get more expensive? The consumer actually does pay for tariffs? Nothing like economics to get in the way of a bad plan.
www.reuters.com/business/tru...
www.reuters.com/business/tru...
Beto was right in 2022. Abbott is the single greatest driver of inflation in Texas. He has no real solutions, only platitudes. Here we are again with him making the same promises from 4 years ago.
www.texastribune.org/2022/04/22/t...
www.texastribune.org/2022/04/22/t...
Why cutting Texans’ property taxes is so financially and politically hard
Texas school districts, cities and counties rely heavily on property taxes to pay for roads, libraries, police, firefighters and public schools. But lowering tax bills has long been a difficult endeav...
www.texastribune.org
November 14, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Beto was right in 2022. Abbott is the single greatest driver of inflation in Texas. He has no real solutions, only platitudes. Here we are again with him making the same promises from 4 years ago.
www.texastribune.org/2022/04/22/t...
www.texastribune.org/2022/04/22/t...
Drug Wars Part Deux is coming to a TV near you. We lost the first Drug War in the '80s, but as DJT becomes more desperate to distract from his failed domestic policies, Venezuela will be our sacrificial lamb. Is America Great Again? www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-v...
Top officials present Trump with military options for Venezuela in the coming days
The potential operations for Venezuela presented to Trump included options for strikes on land, multiple sources said.
www.cbsnews.com
November 14, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Drug Wars Part Deux is coming to a TV near you. We lost the first Drug War in the '80s, but as DJT becomes more desperate to distract from his failed domestic policies, Venezuela will be our sacrificial lamb. Is America Great Again? www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-v...
A PA sheriff signed up to have his agency cooperate with ICE. His opponent criticized him for the decision, and he lost his reelection. Honeymoon is over.
abcnews.go.com/US/pennsylva...
abcnews.go.com/US/pennsylva...
A Pennsylvania sheriff struck a deal with ICE. Months later, he was voted out.
A Philadelphia-area sheriff was ousted last week after facing criticism over a partnership he forged with federal immigration authorities.
abcnews.go.com
November 13, 2025 at 2:12 PM
A PA sheriff signed up to have his agency cooperate with ICE. His opponent criticized him for the decision, and he lost his reelection. Honeymoon is over.
abcnews.go.com/US/pennsylva...
abcnews.go.com/US/pennsylva...
The two Texas families that relocated to Russia to escape LGBTQ indoctrination are finding it hard to adjust to life there. Shocking! www.chron.com/culture/arti...
They left Texas for Russia to escape 'LGBT indoctrination.' Turns out, it sucks.
Their Texas towns had too much "DEI" and "LGBT indoctrination." So they moved to Russia and became influencers.
www.chron.com
November 11, 2025 at 2:16 PM
The two Texas families that relocated to Russia to escape LGBTQ indoctrination are finding it hard to adjust to life there. Shocking! www.chron.com/culture/arti...
AG Ken Paxton has sued the non-profit voter registration org 'Jolt'. Paxton claims Jolt's efforts to register people at TX DMV locations are an effort to register undocumented immigrants so they can vote. This suit likely stems from a tweet from Bartiromo last summer.
www.kvue.com/article/news...
www.kvue.com/article/news...
November 11, 2025 at 1:37 PM
AG Ken Paxton has sued the non-profit voter registration org 'Jolt'. Paxton claims Jolt's efforts to register people at TX DMV locations are an effort to register undocumented immigrants so they can vote. This suit likely stems from a tweet from Bartiromo last summer.
www.kvue.com/article/news...
www.kvue.com/article/news...
The juxtaposition of Musk becoming a trillionaire and people's SNAP benefits being cut off is our contemporary dystopian version of "The Jungle."
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/u...
Down to $1.18: How Families Are Coping With SNAP Cuts
www.nytimes.com
November 7, 2025 at 2:29 PM
The juxtaposition of Musk becoming a trillionaire and people's SNAP benefits being cut off is our contemporary dystopian version of "The Jungle."
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/u...
Just look at what happens when DJT is president:
☑️VA Democrats dominate. Gov, Lt Gov., AG & 13 seats in the VA House.
☑️In Jersey, Dem wins Gov.
☑️NYC Mayor
☑️CA Prop 50 passes easily
☑️2 GA Commissioner seats flipped
☑️3 PA Superior Court Justices reelected
☑️VA Democrats dominate. Gov, Lt Gov., AG & 13 seats in the VA House.
☑️In Jersey, Dem wins Gov.
☑️NYC Mayor
☑️CA Prop 50 passes easily
☑️2 GA Commissioner seats flipped
☑️3 PA Superior Court Justices reelected
November 5, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Just look at what happens when DJT is president:
☑️VA Democrats dominate. Gov, Lt Gov., AG & 13 seats in the VA House.
☑️In Jersey, Dem wins Gov.
☑️NYC Mayor
☑️CA Prop 50 passes easily
☑️2 GA Commissioner seats flipped
☑️3 PA Superior Court Justices reelected
☑️VA Democrats dominate. Gov, Lt Gov., AG & 13 seats in the VA House.
☑️In Jersey, Dem wins Gov.
☑️NYC Mayor
☑️CA Prop 50 passes easily
☑️2 GA Commissioner seats flipped
☑️3 PA Superior Court Justices reelected
DJT is demanding that the GOP Senate use the nuclear option to open government back up, something they can easily do but have refused to. More evidence that they are intentionally starving people and withholding paychecks to make Democrats look bad.
www.nytimes.com/live/2025/10...
www.nytimes.com/live/2025/10...
Trump Administration Live Updates: President Says Abolishing Filibuster Would Let Republicans End Shutdown
www.nytimes.com
October 31, 2025 at 1:04 PM
DJT is demanding that the GOP Senate use the nuclear option to open government back up, something they can easily do but have refused to. More evidence that they are intentionally starving people and withholding paychecks to make Democrats look bad.
www.nytimes.com/live/2025/10...
www.nytimes.com/live/2025/10...
An unusually large number of Trump officials are moving on to military bases for security. I suspect they are planning for things to get worse.
www.theatlantic.com/politics/arc...
www.theatlantic.com/politics/arc...
Top Trump Officials Are Moving Onto Military Bases
Stephen Miller, Marco Rubio, Kristi Noem, and others have taken over homes that until recently housed senior officers.
www.theatlantic.com
October 30, 2025 at 12:32 PM
An unusually large number of Trump officials are moving on to military bases for security. I suspect they are planning for things to get worse.
www.theatlantic.com/politics/arc...
www.theatlantic.com/politics/arc...
When Democrats really, truly speak to voters, they respond. The first two days of voting in NYC are smashing records.
nymag.com/intelligence...
nymag.com/intelligence...
Record-Breaking Early Voting Looks Good for Mamdani
Brooklyn smashed previous records.
nymag.com
October 28, 2025 at 1:06 PM
When Democrats really, truly speak to voters, they respond. The first two days of voting in NYC are smashing records.
nymag.com/intelligence...
nymag.com/intelligence...
Texas Judges are now legally permitted to deny performing gay marriages as we continue to roll back rights in this country.
www.keranews.org/government/2...
www.keranews.org/government/2...
Texas judges who don’t perform gay weddings for faith reasons won’t face sanctions, high court says
Judges who decline to perform weddings based on their religious beliefs won't be violating state rules on judicial impartiality, the Texas Supreme Court said in a comment added to the state judicial c...
www.keranews.org
October 28, 2025 at 12:10 PM
Texas Judges are now legally permitted to deny performing gay marriages as we continue to roll back rights in this country.
www.keranews.org/government/2...
www.keranews.org/government/2...
The sooner Benedict Arnold resigns, the better.
October 16, 2025 at 2:08 PM
The sooner Benedict Arnold resigns, the better.
Scott pleaded the Fifth 75 times while testifying as CEO of his company in a massive, widespread Medicare and Medicaid fraud scheme, which resulted in a settlement with the DOJ and $1.7B in fines.
October 16, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Scott pleaded the Fifth 75 times while testifying as CEO of his company in a massive, widespread Medicare and Medicaid fraud scheme, which resulted in a settlement with the DOJ and $1.7B in fines.
October 16, 2025 at 2:06 PM