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Binyamin Appelbaum @bcappelbaum.bsky.social · 7d

President Trump is seeking to deprive millions of Americans of their health insurance. Senate Democrats are refusing to acquiesce.

Opinion | The Real Stakes of the Shutdown

www.nytimes.com

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Binyamin Appelbaum @bcappelbaum.bsky.social · 9d

Shutdowns tend to be brief because Americans are soon reminded that the government does important things. But the end of a shutdown doesn’t mean that everything springs back to normal. Some of the damage endures.

www.nytimes.com/2025/09/29/o...

Opinion | Why Is Your Flight Always Delayed? Blame Government Shutdowns.

www.nytimes.com

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Binyamin Appelbaum @bcappelbaum.bsky.social · 11d

And what are we to make of the 1 percent of atheists who agree?

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Binyamin Appelbaum @bcappelbaum.bsky.social · 20d

The owners of local TV stations were a conservative force in American politics and society even back when there were a lot of them. But allowing them to consolidate has certainly made it easier for them to flex those muscles.

Judd Legum @juddlegum.bsky.social · 21d

After Trump’s FCC chair, demanded ABC take action against against Kimmel for his comments on Kirk, Nexstar, the largest operator of ABC affiliates announced it would pull Kimmel from its stations

Then ABC said it was taking Kimmel off the air

Nexstar is seeking FCC approval for a $6.2B merger

Nexstar Media Group, Inc. Enters into Definitive Agreement To Acquire TEGNA Inc. for $6.2 Billion in Accretive Transaction | Nexstar Media Group, Inc.

Enhances Nexstar’s Position as a Leading Local Media Company Preserves High-Quality Local Journalism and Diversity of Opinion Strengthens Ability to

www.nexstar.tv

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Binyamin Appelbaum @bcappelbaum.bsky.social · 27d

Meanwhile, in a parallel universe…

Bolsonaro Sentenced to 27 Years in Prison for Plotting Coup in Brazil

www.nytimes.com

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Binyamin Appelbaum @bcappelbaum.bsky.social · Sep 5

A sign of the folly of Mr. Trump’s trade policy is that it has inspired no apparent envy.

Opinion | Trump Thought He Was Leading on Trade. No One Is Following.

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Binyamin Appelbaum

Michael Stipe @michaelstipe.bsky.social · Aug 30

I can

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Binyamin Appelbaum @bcappelbaum.bsky.social · Sep 3

I went to lunch yesterday and there were two S.C. national guardsmen at the next table who had clearly been at the restaurant for a while when I got there, and who were still chilling when I left. And I hope they spent the whole day inside enjoying the air conditioning. Much safer for all of us.

Stephanie Mencimer @smencimer.bsky.social · Sep 3

National Guardsmen now stationed outside our DC building confirmed that the only thing they can do if they witness a crime is call 911. The have no more authority than my office mate to intervene. Despite the handcuffs, they can't make arrests. They are very expensive mall cops.

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Binyamin Appelbaum @bcappelbaum.bsky.social · Sep 2

Tech companies like to tell stories in which government rarely appears except as an outside force threatening to break the beautiful things they’ve created.

The story that doesn’t get told is how their successes have relied on the government's interventions.

www.nytimes.com/2025/09/02/o...

Opinion | The Government Just Walloped Google. That’s Good Business.

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Binyamin Appelbaum

The Ass is the father of the legs @internethippo.bsky.social · Aug 26

The mental health benefits of not knowing any history right now must be massive. Moving through your day with total equanimity. What happens next? Who knows? Maybe something good

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Binyamin Appelbaum @bcappelbaum.bsky.social · Aug 26

They should arm the National Guard troops with flyswatters. Put them to work doing something actually useful. The mosquitos in DC are out of control.

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Binyamin Appelbaum @bcappelbaum.bsky.social · Aug 26

The thing I've always wondered about is, say you're a young person in DC interested in law enforcement. How do you decide which of the several dozen flavors police you want to be?

Gillian Brockell @gbrockell.bsky.social · Aug 26

DC has a dizzying array of federal police forces you’ve never heard of:

Bureau of Engraving and Printing Police

Government Printing Office Police

US Mint Police

Armed Forces Retirement Home Police

Library of Congress Police, right across the street from the Supreme Court Police

Brad Heath @bradheath.bsky.social · Aug 26

In which I learned that the National Zoo has its own police force.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

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Binyamin Appelbaum @bcappelbaum.bsky.social · Aug 26

President Trump’s attempt to fire the Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook is a grab for power in defiance of the nation’s laws, and if it succeeds, it will be to the detriment of the nation’s interests.

www.nytimes.com/2025/08/26/o...

Opinion | Trump Is Trying to End Fed Independence

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Binyamin Appelbaum

Asher Hellbein @asherelbein.bsky.social · Aug 21

What you're asking for is literally the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History, which you would know if you had ever gone inside

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · Aug 21

White House official Lindsey Halligan: "While slavery is obviously a horrible aspect of our nation's history, you can't really talk about slavery honestly unless you also talk about hope and progress ... we need to stop focusing so much on the lack of progress."

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Binyamin Appelbaum @bcappelbaum.bsky.social · Aug 11

As a DC resident I do feel that the city has been overrun by "violent gangs and bloodthirsty criminals" and I would like them to leave the White House and stop destroying the federal government.

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Binyamin Appelbaum @bcappelbaum.bsky.social · Aug 7

I'm fascinated by this story. Did she actually hurt anyone or was she doing the job just fine? If you've successfully treated 4,500 people, are you actually engaged in a fraud?

The New York Times @nytimes.com · Aug 7

A woman working at a Florida hospital drew blood, administered medications and started IV lines, treating about 4,500 people over seven months. After she was offered a promotion, the hospital discovered that she had forged her documents to work there. The woman was arrested on Tuesday.

Woman Working at Hospital Treated 4,500 Patients Without License, Police Say

The 29-year-old forged her documents to work at a Florida hospital, and the discrepancy was noticed only after she was offered a promotion, according to an investigation.

nyti.ms

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Binyamin Appelbaum @bcappelbaum.bsky.social · Aug 5

The Trump administration is engaged in an increasingly wide-ranging effort to erase data or to prevent the collection of new data that contradicts its political agenda.

www.nytimes.com/2025/08/05/o...

Opinion | America Will Suffer From Trump’s Assault on Facts

www.nytimes.com

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Binyamin Appelbaum @bcappelbaum.bsky.social · Aug 1

As the linked article explains, it absolutely does.

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Binyamin Appelbaum @bcappelbaum.bsky.social · Aug 1

A sad day for DC. A billionaire gets a huge check from taxpayers, and in return we get less housing and less economic development.

The 51st @51st.news · Aug 1

The RFK Stadium bill moved forward on a 9-3 vote.
We explain the deal, where councilmembers stand and what's next: 51st.news/dc-council-a...

D.C. Council grants initial approval to the Commanders deal

The $3.7 billion development is more or less a sure thing.

51st.news

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Binyamin Appelbaum @bcappelbaum.bsky.social · Aug 1

Option 1: Serve out your term.

Option 2: Step down early for no apparent reason and facilitate Trump's takeover of the Fed.

Why would you choose Option 2?

www.nytimes.com/2025/08/01/b...

Fed Governor Steps Down Early, Giving Trump Opportunity to Shape Central Bank

www.nytimes.com

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Binyamin Appelbaum @bcappelbaum.bsky.social · Aug 1

The economist John Maynard Keynes said that when the facts contradicted his opinions, he changed his mind. The president prefers to change the facts.

www.nytimes.com/2025/08/01/o...

Opinion | After a Week of Mediocre Economic News, Trump Wants to Fire the Messenger

www.nytimes.com

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Binyamin Appelbaum @bcappelbaum.bsky.social · Jul 24

Economists have a fancy term for this. They call it fiscal dominance. It means that monetary policy becomes subservient to the need to finance the state.

That's what Trump wants.

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Binyamin Appelbaum @bcappelbaum.bsky.social · Jul 24

A particularly important point about Trump's campaign to cow the Fed is that he's trying to get the central bank to conceal the damage caused by his own profligacy. He wants the Fed to hold down the government's borrowing costs.

www.nytimes.com/2025/07/24/o...

Opinion | If Trump Keeps Intimidating the Fed, He Will Pay a Price

www.nytimes.com

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Binyamin Appelbaum @bcappelbaum.bsky.social · Jul 24

The question hanging over the economy is whether President Trump understands that doing anything more than complaining about the Federal Reserve would be counterproductive.

www.nytimes.com/2025/07/24/o...

Opinion | If Trump Keeps Intimidating the Fed, He Will Pay a Price

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Binyamin Appelbaum

Yonah Freemark @yonahfreemark.com · Jul 24

Here’s what happens when you don’t bring transit service back: riders don’t come back either.

Of the 25 largest US urban areas, all but one offered less transit service in 2024 than they did in 2019. No wonder they all have lower ridership.

Transit Ridership Hasn’t Recovered Since the Pandemic. What Can the US Learn from French Transit Systems?

French cities have increased both bus and rail use beyond prepandemic levels, thanks to a quick return to normal service and expanded high-quality travel options.

www.urban.org

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