Thomas Bartscherer
@tbartscherer.bsky.social
Reposted by Thomas Bartscherer
THEY DID IT. EVERY SENATE DEMOCRAT just voted on an amendment to DEFUND ICE (rescind the BBB slush fund that keeps ICE open during a shutdown.) This amendment failed, but it shows broad support! KEEP CALLING and make it a demand to vote for the DHS funding bill!!
👀 Every Senate Democrat + Collins and Murkowski just voted for the Bernie Sanders amendment to repeal the $75 billion in additional ICE funding under Trump’s “big beautiful bill.” The measure failed 49-51.
January 31, 2026 at 12:23 AM
THEY DID IT. EVERY SENATE DEMOCRAT just voted on an amendment to DEFUND ICE (rescind the BBB slush fund that keeps ICE open during a shutdown.) This amendment failed, but it shows broad support! KEEP CALLING and make it a demand to vote for the DHS funding bill!!
More significant than the fact that he is an utter narcissist is the fact that an utter narcissist won the election. Twice.
January 30, 2026 at 6:55 PM
More significant than the fact that he is an utter narcissist is the fact that an utter narcissist won the election. Twice.
Reposted by Thomas Bartscherer
Breaking news: The former CNN anchor Don Lemon was arrested on charges connected to a Minnesota church protest, people familiar with the matter said.
Federal Agents Arrest Don Lemon Over Minnesota Church Protest
The former CNN anchor has said he was not demonstrating, but reporting as a journalist, during the interruption of a service inside a St. Paul church earlier this month.
nyti.ms
January 30, 2026 at 1:11 PM
Breaking news: The former CNN anchor Don Lemon was arrested on charges connected to a Minnesota church protest, people familiar with the matter said.
Reposted by Thomas Bartscherer
The destruction of the civil service can destroy democracy, too
the next episode of the AUTOCRACY IN AMERICA podcast has dropped:
www.theatlantic.com/podcasts/202...
the next episode of the AUTOCRACY IN AMERICA podcast has dropped:
www.theatlantic.com/podcasts/202...
Purge the Public Servants
The destruction of the civil service can destroy democracy, too.
www.theatlantic.com
January 30, 2026 at 1:26 PM
The destruction of the civil service can destroy democracy, too
the next episode of the AUTOCRACY IN AMERICA podcast has dropped:
www.theatlantic.com/podcasts/202...
the next episode of the AUTOCRACY IN AMERICA podcast has dropped:
www.theatlantic.com/podcasts/202...
Reposted by Thomas Bartscherer
Here's a "holy shit" sentence for you:
"In the past year, the federal workforce lost more than 10,000 STEM Ph.D.s, according to an analysis in Science."
www.thebulwark.com/p/trump-is-m...
"In the past year, the federal workforce lost more than 10,000 STEM Ph.D.s, according to an analysis in Science."
www.thebulwark.com/p/trump-is-m...
Trump Is Making America Stupider
How MAGA is purging scientists and other skilled workers from both the private and public sectors.
www.thebulwark.com
January 30, 2026 at 2:05 AM
Here's a "holy shit" sentence for you:
"In the past year, the federal workforce lost more than 10,000 STEM Ph.D.s, according to an analysis in Science."
www.thebulwark.com/p/trump-is-m...
"In the past year, the federal workforce lost more than 10,000 STEM Ph.D.s, according to an analysis in Science."
www.thebulwark.com/p/trump-is-m...
Reposted by Thomas Bartscherer
President Trump has filed a lawsuit against the IRS, in which he demands that the IRS, which he as president controls, pay him $10 billion.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
January 30, 2026 at 12:56 AM
President Trump has filed a lawsuit against the IRS, in which he demands that the IRS, which he as president controls, pay him $10 billion.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Reposted by Thomas Bartscherer
In other news today: Trump sues IRS, Treasury Department for $10 billion over tax return leak - www.reuters.com/markets/us/t...
Trump sues IRS, Treasury Department for $10 billion over tax return leak
U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday sued the Internal Revenue Service and Treasury Department for $10 billion over the disclosure of his tax returns to the media in 2019 and 2020.
www.reuters.com
January 30, 2026 at 12:43 AM
In other news today: Trump sues IRS, Treasury Department for $10 billion over tax return leak - www.reuters.com/markets/us/t...
"He was found to be carrying the pizza cutter along with a barbecue fork." Because you never know. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/29/n...
Pizza Cutter and a Fork: A Bizarre Bid to Break Mangione Out of Jail
www.nytimes.com
January 29, 2026 at 10:25 PM
"He was found to be carrying the pizza cutter along with a barbecue fork." Because you never know. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/29/n...
At least there's this. How much grimmer would it be if it were 50/50. Or worse. www.pewresearch.org/politics/202...
Confidence in Trump Dips, and Fewer Now Say They Support His Policies and Plans
Only 27% of Americans say they support all or most of Trump's policies – down since last year, with the change coming entirely among Republicans.
www.pewresearch.org
January 29, 2026 at 10:17 PM
At least there's this. How much grimmer would it be if it were 50/50. Or worse. www.pewresearch.org/politics/202...
Nietzsche on the present times.
January 29, 2026 at 10:07 PM
Nietzsche on the present times.
Reposted by Thomas Bartscherer
The Post's coverage of Watergate famously began in the Metro section (local court reportiing)
New: The Washington Post’s White House team, which is not considered at risk amid upcoming cuts at the paper, sent a letter to owner Jeff Bezos seeking to protect other sections of the paper including Metro, Arts, and Sports (letter was shared in WaPo union slack)
January 29, 2026 at 2:36 PM
The Post's coverage of Watergate famously began in the Metro section (local court reportiing)
“If the price of liberty is eternal vigilance, a country that inflicts the ultimate punishment on those who dare to be vigilant can no longer be free.”
www.nybooks.com/online/2026/...
www.nybooks.com/online/2026/...
The Crime of Witness | Fintan O’Toole
Renée Good and Alex Pretti were murdered for daring to interfere with the Trump administration’s efforts to normalize abductions and state violence.
www.nybooks.com
January 29, 2026 at 1:34 PM
“If the price of liberty is eternal vigilance, a country that inflicts the ultimate punishment on those who dare to be vigilant can no longer be free.”
www.nybooks.com/online/2026/...
www.nybooks.com/online/2026/...
Reposted by Thomas Bartscherer
I'm told that Trump has posted on Truth Social something like forty times in the last twenty minutes—which is a good excuse for me to trot out a reminder about this useful tool:
Hey, political journalists on Bluesky: If you ever need to find a specific Trump Truth Social post—since searching through them is so difficult—one of my colleagues built this comprehensive database a few months ago. *Super* helpful.
trumpstruth.org
trumpstruth.org
Trump's Truth
'Trump's Truth' is a searchable archive of Donald Trump's posts on TRUTH Social.
trumpstruth.org
January 29, 2026 at 2:48 AM
I'm told that Trump has posted on Truth Social something like forty times in the last twenty minutes—which is a good excuse for me to trot out a reminder about this useful tool:
Reposted by Thomas Bartscherer
Ossoff: "They are building the libertarian, the conservatives' worst nightmare of a Leviathan federal government that is totally unaccountable that acts outside of the Constitution, and a society in which individual rights are not protected."
January 29, 2026 at 2:54 AM
Ossoff: "They are building the libertarian, the conservatives' worst nightmare of a Leviathan federal government that is totally unaccountable that acts outside of the Constitution, and a society in which individual rights are not protected."
Reposted by Thomas Bartscherer
Ossoff: "This is a seismic event. This should have people across the country absolutely shook. This is a huge deal. This is an FBI raid on the Fulton County Elections office ... This is a shot across the bow at the midterm elections. He tried to steal power when he lost it in 2020."
January 29, 2026 at 2:52 AM
Ossoff: "This is a seismic event. This should have people across the country absolutely shook. This is a huge deal. This is an FBI raid on the Fulton County Elections office ... This is a shot across the bow at the midterm elections. He tried to steal power when he lost it in 2020."
That’s a Fox News poll
January 28, 2026 at 11:55 PM
That’s a Fox News poll
Reposted by Thomas Bartscherer
"The concerning part, ma'am, to be honest, is the third clown face."
January 19, 2026 at 5:09 PM
"The concerning part, ma'am, to be honest, is the third clown face."
Heck of a job.
January 27, 2026 at 9:08 PM
Heck of a job.
Wait, so Democrats have (and all along have had) the power to launch "complete oversight and impeachment inquiries"?
NEWS: @raskin.house.gov’s statement on the impeachment of DHS Secretary Kristi Noem:
January 27, 2026 at 9:04 PM
Wait, so Democrats have (and all along have had) the power to launch "complete oversight and impeachment inquiries"?
Reposted by Thomas Bartscherer
NEW: Minnesota's top federal judge says ICE has been violating court orders repeatedly — detaining noncitizens or rushing them to Texas despite judges' commands.
He wants ICE's director to answer for it "personally," and could level contempt sanctions.
www.politico.com/news/2026/01...
He wants ICE's director to answer for it "personally," and could level contempt sanctions.
www.politico.com/news/2026/01...
January 27, 2026 at 12:28 PM
NEW: Minnesota's top federal judge says ICE has been violating court orders repeatedly — detaining noncitizens or rushing them to Texas despite judges' commands.
He wants ICE's director to answer for it "personally," and could level contempt sanctions.
www.politico.com/news/2026/01...
He wants ICE's director to answer for it "personally," and could level contempt sanctions.
www.politico.com/news/2026/01...
Reposted by Thomas Bartscherer
brass solidarity band performing “stand by me” in the streets of whittier next to alex pretti’s memorial. the crowd started chanting “the people united will never be defeated” so they incorporated it into the song. i love minneapolis
January 27, 2026 at 12:22 AM
brass solidarity band performing “stand by me” in the streets of whittier next to alex pretti’s memorial. the crowd started chanting “the people united will never be defeated” so they incorporated it into the song. i love minneapolis
Reposted by Thomas Bartscherer
if bovino is out and conservatives are turning on noem then there is a real opportunity to demand that miller resign too.
January 27, 2026 at 1:07 AM
if bovino is out and conservatives are turning on noem then there is a real opportunity to demand that miller resign too.
Reposted by Thomas Bartscherer
What, is he fled?
January 26, 2026 at 8:52 PM
What, is he fled?
Reposted by Thomas Bartscherer
Trump is sending the guy caught on video accepting a $50K bribe to sort out fraud? Mmmkay
Tacit acknowledgement they've lost control of the narrative plus saving face via lawfare
January 26, 2026 at 7:21 PM
Trump is sending the guy caught on video accepting a $50K bribe to sort out fraud? Mmmkay