V. Tom Gardner
@vtomgardner.bsky.social
#PoliSci Visiting Professor. Political geek. Specialties: communications, political communications, social media, media relations, writing. RT ≠ Support. Alumni Santa Clara University and George Washington University (#GSPM).
Reposted by V. Tom Gardner
This is not what they actually say. This is what they used to say, in the long ago before times when Shaheen learned to do politics. There is no kumbaya median voter anymore. The question you get knocking doors is not "why can't you all just work together?" it's "why didn't / will you fight harder?
Shaheen: "When I talk to my constituents in New Hampshire, you know what they say to me? They say, 'Why can't you all just work together to address the problems that are facing this country?'"
November 10, 2025 at 3:15 AM
This is not what they actually say. This is what they used to say, in the long ago before times when Shaheen learned to do politics. There is no kumbaya median voter anymore. The question you get knocking doors is not "why can't you all just work together?" it's "why didn't / will you fight harder?
Reposted by V. Tom Gardner
My wife and I pay for life insurance even though we have never died. I pay for fire insurance even though my house has never burned down. That's not because we want to throw money at insurance companies. It's because THAT'S HOW INSURANCE WORKS.
November 10, 2025 at 3:44 PM
My wife and I pay for life insurance even though we have never died. I pay for fire insurance even though my house has never burned down. That's not because we want to throw money at insurance companies. It's because THAT'S HOW INSURANCE WORKS.
Reposted by V. Tom Gardner
The head of MI5 asked Kash Patel to protect the job of a London FBI agent, who dealt with surveillance tech that British security would need to monitor a new embassy China wants to build in London, U.S. officials said. After Patel agreed to fund the agent's role, the job is now slated to disappear.
F.B.I. Director Is Said to Have Made a Pledge to Head of MI5, Then Broken It
The episode has contributed to concerns among intelligence allies that Kash Patel, brash and partisan, is also unpredictable and even unreliable.
nyti.ms
November 10, 2025 at 5:25 PM
The head of MI5 asked Kash Patel to protect the job of a London FBI agent, who dealt with surveillance tech that British security would need to monitor a new embassy China wants to build in London, U.S. officials said. After Patel agreed to fund the agent's role, the job is now slated to disappear.
Reposted by V. Tom Gardner
Why isn't anyone talking about this?
👇
"This is just not what any of us signed up for, and it's so out of the scope of normal operations,"
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"This is just not what any of us signed up for, and it's so out of the scope of normal operations,"
In an encrypted group chat, National Guard members question Trump deployments
As President Trump's call for National Guard deployments rings out across the U.S., a small contingent of Ohio guard members is quietly expressing concern in an encrypted group chat.
www.npr.org
November 10, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Why isn't anyone talking about this?
👇
"This is just not what any of us signed up for, and it's so out of the scope of normal operations,"
👇
"This is just not what any of us signed up for, and it's so out of the scope of normal operations,"
Reposted by V. Tom Gardner
NEW: A Fort Worth church is offering a $100 online academy that aims to train conservative Christians to run for office.
At the core of the program is the idea that there's no separation between what happens within the church and in the government.
w/ @fortworthreport.bsky.social @texastribune.org
At the core of the program is the idea that there's no separation between what happens within the church and in the government.
w/ @fortworthreport.bsky.social @texastribune.org
“No Separation Between Church and State”: Inside a Texas Church’s Training Academy for Christians Running for Office
A Fort Worth church’s candidate training program is the “next stage” of a religion-driven political movement, which has more latitude now that the IRS has allowed religious leaders to endorse candidat...
www.propublica.org
November 10, 2025 at 1:00 PM
NEW: A Fort Worth church is offering a $100 online academy that aims to train conservative Christians to run for office.
At the core of the program is the idea that there's no separation between what happens within the church and in the government.
w/ @fortworthreport.bsky.social @texastribune.org
At the core of the program is the idea that there's no separation between what happens within the church and in the government.
w/ @fortworthreport.bsky.social @texastribune.org
Reposted by V. Tom Gardner
CNN's Harry Enten: What President Trump is trying to sell, the American folks aren’t buying, and we can see it pretty simply here. Take a look here. This is consumer sentiment, the current conditions…and get this: according to the University of Michigan, we are dealing with the worst ever
November 10, 2025 at 5:20 PM
CNN's Harry Enten: What President Trump is trying to sell, the American folks aren’t buying, and we can see it pretty simply here. Take a look here. This is consumer sentiment, the current conditions…and get this: according to the University of Michigan, we are dealing with the worst ever
Reposted by V. Tom Gardner
Tell me you don’t understand risk pools without telling me you don’t understand risk pools
November 10, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Tell me you don’t understand risk pools without telling me you don’t understand risk pools
Reposted by V. Tom Gardner
There will be another 60 vote Friday* on the garbage shutdown deal. If we can convince just one Senator from the 52 republicans and 8 Dems that voted yes to flip, we could still stop this. Please jump on the phone today, call them, and share this widely.
*If all goes by the regular schedule
*If all goes by the regular schedule
November 10, 2025 at 5:22 PM
There will be another 60 vote Friday* on the garbage shutdown deal. If we can convince just one Senator from the 52 republicans and 8 Dems that voted yes to flip, we could still stop this. Please jump on the phone today, call them, and share this widely.
*If all goes by the regular schedule
*If all goes by the regular schedule
Reposted by V. Tom Gardner
Looking Back On When President Reagan Fired The Air Traffic Controllers (2021)
Thursday marks 40 years since former President Ronald Reagan fired more than 11,000 striking air traffic controllers. That dealt a serious blow to the American labor movement.
www.npr.org/2021/08/05/1...
Thursday marks 40 years since former President Ronald Reagan fired more than 11,000 striking air traffic controllers. That dealt a serious blow to the American labor movement.
www.npr.org/2021/08/05/1...
Looking Back On When President Reagan Fired The Air Traffic Controllers
Thursday marks 40 years since former President Ronald Reagan fired more than 11,000 striking air traffic controllers. That dealt a serious blow to the American labor movement.
www.npr.org
November 9, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Looking Back On When President Reagan Fired The Air Traffic Controllers (2021)
Thursday marks 40 years since former President Ronald Reagan fired more than 11,000 striking air traffic controllers. That dealt a serious blow to the American labor movement.
www.npr.org/2021/08/05/1...
Thursday marks 40 years since former President Ronald Reagan fired more than 11,000 striking air traffic controllers. That dealt a serious blow to the American labor movement.
www.npr.org/2021/08/05/1...
Reposted by V. Tom Gardner
This is the latest in a growing list of election and voting challenges on the Supreme Court's docket this term, meaning the justices will have a big role in how this nation's elections will be run. www.nbcnews.com/politics/sup...
Supreme Court to weigh imposing new limits on mail-in ballots in a major election case
The Republican National Committee is among those challenging a law in Mississippi, similar to those in many other states, that allow mail-in ballots to be counted after Election Day.
www.nbcnews.com
November 10, 2025 at 3:18 PM
This is the latest in a growing list of election and voting challenges on the Supreme Court's docket this term, meaning the justices will have a big role in how this nation's elections will be run. www.nbcnews.com/politics/sup...
Reposted by V. Tom Gardner
“What Nixon did episodically and covertly, knowing it was illegal or improper, Trump now does routinely and overtly,” writes Mark L. Wolf, who resigned as a federal judge two days ago to speak out against Trump’s assault on the rule of law.
Why I Am Resigning
A federal judge explains his reasoning for leaving the bench.
www.theatlantic.com
November 9, 2025 at 3:10 PM
“What Nixon did episodically and covertly, knowing it was illegal or improper, Trump now does routinely and overtly,” writes Mark L. Wolf, who resigned as a federal judge two days ago to speak out against Trump’s assault on the rule of law.
Reposted by V. Tom Gardner
Sometimes people comment that they’ve never called a member of Congress and they are nervous about it.
I completely understand. My suggestion is to write down your thoughts first.
Then call and give them your name and zipcode, and immediately begin reading your statement all the way through.
I completely understand. My suggestion is to write down your thoughts first.
Then call and give them your name and zipcode, and immediately begin reading your statement all the way through.
November 9, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Sometimes people comment that they’ve never called a member of Congress and they are nervous about it.
I completely understand. My suggestion is to write down your thoughts first.
Then call and give them your name and zipcode, and immediately begin reading your statement all the way through.
I completely understand. My suggestion is to write down your thoughts first.
Then call and give them your name and zipcode, and immediately begin reading your statement all the way through.
Reposted by V. Tom Gardner
I was catching up on some reading on why the U.S. government shutdown is happening and realized that a similar conflict in Canada over the budget would lead to the government falling and an election being called.
USDA orders states to stop paying full SNAP benefits and "immediately undo" steps taken to issue them for November. Follow live updates.
https://cnn.it/47LOq3z
https://cnn.it/47LOq3z
November 9, 2025 at 5:24 PM
I was catching up on some reading on why the U.S. government shutdown is happening and realized that a similar conflict in Canada over the budget would lead to the government falling and an election being called.
Reposted by V. Tom Gardner
#BREAKING: Over no public dissents, #SCOTUS denies Kim Davis's petition asking the justices to overturn Obergefell v. Hodges (which recognized federal constitutional protections for same-sex marriage):
www.supremecourt.gov/orders/court...
www.supremecourt.gov/orders/court...
www.supremecourt.gov
November 10, 2025 at 2:31 PM
#BREAKING: Over no public dissents, #SCOTUS denies Kim Davis's petition asking the justices to overturn Obergefell v. Hodges (which recognized federal constitutional protections for same-sex marriage):
www.supremecourt.gov/orders/court...
www.supremecourt.gov/orders/court...
Reposted by V. Tom Gardner
Dems have spent the past two months saying they're fighting to address the crisis of spiking healthcare costs and now they're caving for a deal that does nothing to address healthcare costs ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
November 10, 2025 at 12:52 AM
Dems have spent the past two months saying they're fighting to address the crisis of spiking healthcare costs and now they're caving for a deal that does nothing to address healthcare costs ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
So many people who tried to subvert the Constitution are receiving pardons. It feels like they'll be trying it again.
The pardon covers 77 people, including members of the president’s former legal team, including John Eastman, Jenna Ellis and Sidney Powell.
Trump Pardons Giuliani And Others Allegedly Involved In Bid To Overturn 2020 Elections
The pardon covers 77 people, including members of the president’s former legal team, including John Eastman, Jenna Ellis and Sidney Powell.
www.forbes.com
November 10, 2025 at 1:43 PM
So many people who tried to subvert the Constitution are receiving pardons. It feels like they'll be trying it again.
Reposted by V. Tom Gardner
Millions of food insecure Americans are being treated like bargaining chips in a political showdown. They have no political power, no lobbyists, and no way to influence whether the government reopens. Using them as leverage is cruel.
November 9, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Millions of food insecure Americans are being treated like bargaining chips in a political showdown. They have no political power, no lobbyists, and no way to influence whether the government reopens. Using them as leverage is cruel.
Reposted by V. Tom Gardner
Yes please. would watch this whole series.
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In 1972, a cat commando unit was sent to prison by a military court for a crime they didn't commit. These kittens promptly escaped from a maximum security stockade to the Los Angeles underground. Today, still wanted by the government they survive as soldiers of fortune @[email protected]
November 10, 2025 at 7:02 AM
Yes please. would watch this whole series.
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🐈🐈⬛
Reposted by V. Tom Gardner
Indian Illinois Department of Transportation employee stopped by ICE agents, questioned if he was 'aware' of NYC Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani
Indian IDOT employee stopped by ICE agents, questioned if he was 'aware' of NYC Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani
Gov. JB Pritzker is speaking out about the incident, which happened Friday morning, calling it another example of President Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem "continuing to question U....
chicago.suntimes.com
November 8, 2025 at 12:18 PM
Indian Illinois Department of Transportation employee stopped by ICE agents, questioned if he was 'aware' of NYC Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani
Reposted by V. Tom Gardner
Research is being held hostage. Scientists are looking to Europe. We are losing future scientists.
Cornell recapitulated to Trump. Columbia's #NIH grants, including one on uterine fibroids were canceled & then reinstated after it offered to pay $200 mil to Trump.
🧪 www.pbs.org/newshour/sho...
Cornell recapitulated to Trump. Columbia's #NIH grants, including one on uterine fibroids were canceled & then reinstated after it offered to pay $200 mil to Trump.
🧪 www.pbs.org/newshour/sho...
Top researchers consider leaving U.S. amid funding cuts: 'The science world is ending'
A poll from the journal Nature found that 75% of researchers in the U.S. are considering leaving the country. That includes a man who’s been dubbed the "Mozart of Math." Stephanie Sy examines what’s b...
www.pbs.org
November 7, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Research is being held hostage. Scientists are looking to Europe. We are losing future scientists.
Cornell recapitulated to Trump. Columbia's #NIH grants, including one on uterine fibroids were canceled & then reinstated after it offered to pay $200 mil to Trump.
🧪 www.pbs.org/newshour/sho...
Cornell recapitulated to Trump. Columbia's #NIH grants, including one on uterine fibroids were canceled & then reinstated after it offered to pay $200 mil to Trump.
🧪 www.pbs.org/newshour/sho...
Reposted by V. Tom Gardner
This thread is horrifying, and is only happening with the complicity of Congress and the Supreme Court
A family friend was telling us about what her husband shared about his experience in Broadview before he was deported back to Mexico. She's been sharing to friends and family because she's just in disbelief & horror what her husband told her. She wasn't able to talk to him until he was in Mexico.
November 7, 2025 at 4:17 PM
This thread is horrifying, and is only happening with the complicity of Congress and the Supreme Court
Reposted by V. Tom Gardner
"Let me be clear: The president has both the funding and the authority to fund SNAP during a shutdown. In fact, every other president in every other shutdown has done so. People going hungry in this instance is a choice that this president has made.”
Gov. Andy Beshear
Gov. Andy Beshear
November 6, 2025 at 4:38 AM
"Let me be clear: The president has both the funding and the authority to fund SNAP during a shutdown. In fact, every other president in every other shutdown has done so. People going hungry in this instance is a choice that this president has made.”
Gov. Andy Beshear
Gov. Andy Beshear
Take my money!!!
November 6, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Take my money!!!
Reposted by V. Tom Gardner
There's something very telling about Brown's actions--we suddenly have an influx of China experts who want to get in on Taiwan since it's a sexy topic, but disregard the existing Taiwan experts, and want to bury those existing experts because they are competition
In case you missed it, Kerry Brown wrote a book that plagiarized Shelley Rigger’s classic book title.
I, along with others who were asked to review Kerry’s manuscript, said verbatim to change the title.
In the most tacky and unprofessional fashion, he stole her title anyway.
I, along with others who were asked to review Kerry’s manuscript, said verbatim to change the title.
In the most tacky and unprofessional fashion, he stole her title anyway.
November 5, 2025 at 6:25 PM
There's something very telling about Brown's actions--we suddenly have an influx of China experts who want to get in on Taiwan since it's a sexy topic, but disregard the existing Taiwan experts, and want to bury those existing experts because they are competition
Reposted by V. Tom Gardner
November 5, 2025 at 11:09 PM