Ben
@benatlarge.bsky.social
Yep, I’m gay. Out since 1997. My opinions are my own. Likes often just mean "I want to read this later." Screenshots are WAY better than giving “engagement” to nonsense.
Reposted by Ben
@petebuttigieg.bsky.social: "We have an ICE agent who should have been trained not to be in front of a vehicle and never to shoot into a moving vehicle, and yet this happened on [Kristi Noem's] watch. The whole POINT of Homeland Security is to make this country more stable and safe."
January 9, 2026 at 2:52 AM
@petebuttigieg.bsky.social: "We have an ICE agent who should have been trained not to be in front of a vehicle and never to shoot into a moving vehicle, and yet this happened on [Kristi Noem's] watch. The whole POINT of Homeland Security is to make this country more stable and safe."
Reposted by Ben
@petebuttigieg.bsky.social: "What ICE has become has nothing to do with keeping us safe and in many cases, including this American mother of 3 who lost her life yesterday, it's doing the opposite."
January 9, 2026 at 3:15 AM
@petebuttigieg.bsky.social: "What ICE has become has nothing to do with keeping us safe and in many cases, including this American mother of 3 who lost her life yesterday, it's doing the opposite."
Reposted by Ben
@petebuttigieg.bsky.social: Trump "said he was gonna lower costs, he did the opposite. He said he was gonna make healthcare more affordable, he did the opposite. He said that America would become a more peaceable place on his watch. We are seeing instead how he is deliberately stirring up chaos."
January 9, 2026 at 4:03 AM
@petebuttigieg.bsky.social: Trump "said he was gonna lower costs, he did the opposite. He said he was gonna make healthcare more affordable, he did the opposite. He said that America would become a more peaceable place on his watch. We are seeing instead how he is deliberately stirring up chaos."
Reposted by Ben
I think, every so often, about how the student protesters in South Korea figured out there was a finite supply of tear gas, and then staged retreating marches that caused police to burn off most of it, before the big "bring your auntie and kids" marches that ultimately toppled the dictatorship.
September 18, 2025 at 5:03 AM
I think, every so often, about how the student protesters in South Korea figured out there was a finite supply of tear gas, and then staged retreating marches that caused police to burn off most of it, before the big "bring your auntie and kids" marches that ultimately toppled the dictatorship.
Reposted by Ben
A Turning Point for Trump’s Marauding Secret Police talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/a-tur...
A Turning Point for Trump’s Marauding Secret Police
People who don’t like Donald Trump are kinda gunshy talking about turning...
talkingpointsmemo.com
January 9, 2026 at 12:17 AM
A Turning Point for Trump’s Marauding Secret Police talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/a-tur...
Reposted by Ben
by mid-next year the white house will be renamed the Ballroom Annex
Breaking: The White House is planning to make Trump's new ballroom as tall as the main mansion.
“The heights will match exactly,” architect Shalom Baranes just told planning commission.
Trump officials previously said ballroom would be shorter.
More with @jonathanreports.bsky.social
“The heights will match exactly,” architect Shalom Baranes just told planning commission.
Trump officials previously said ballroom would be shorter.
More with @jonathanreports.bsky.social
Trump plans to make White House ballroom as tall as White House itself
The president’s architect disclosed the change as federal oversight bodies begin a fast-track review of the $400 million project.
www.washingtonpost.com
January 8, 2026 at 9:12 PM
by mid-next year the white house will be renamed the Ballroom Annex
Reposted by Ben
Wait wait wait, while Americans have to pay hundreds of billions of dollars in new tariffs, Trump is going send over $10,000 to each person in *Greenland*?????????
This is a joke right ?
www.reuters.com/world/europe...
This is a joke right ?
www.reuters.com/world/europe...
Exclusive: Trump administration mulls payments to sway Greenlanders to join US
U.S. officials have discussed sending lump sum payments to Greenlanders as part of a bid to convince them to secede from Denmark and potentially join the United States, according to four sources famil...
www.reuters.com
January 8, 2026 at 8:12 PM
Wait wait wait, while Americans have to pay hundreds of billions of dollars in new tariffs, Trump is going send over $10,000 to each person in *Greenland*?????????
This is a joke right ?
www.reuters.com/world/europe...
This is a joke right ?
www.reuters.com/world/europe...
Reposted by Ben
January 8, 2026 at 9:30 PM
Reposted by Ben
Just below the headline I want to note that House Democrats had full attendance and matched the total number of Republicans voting on the most important measure of the year so far.
Republicans cannot pass party line legislation under those conditions!
Republicans cannot pass party line legislation under those conditions!
January 8, 2026 at 10:18 PM
Just below the headline I want to note that House Democrats had full attendance and matched the total number of Republicans voting on the most important measure of the year so far.
Republicans cannot pass party line legislation under those conditions!
Republicans cannot pass party line legislation under those conditions!
Reposted by Ben
Today’s vote to restore the ACA tax credits that make health care affordable for millions of Americans was an easy YES for me.
I’ve said it before, and I will say it again — this is not a game! The Senate must join us to stop this health care crisis.
I’ve said it before, and I will say it again — this is not a game! The Senate must join us to stop this health care crisis.
January 8, 2026 at 10:20 PM
Today’s vote to restore the ACA tax credits that make health care affordable for millions of Americans was an easy YES for me.
I’ve said it before, and I will say it again — this is not a game! The Senate must join us to stop this health care crisis.
I’ve said it before, and I will say it again — this is not a game! The Senate must join us to stop this health care crisis.
Reposted by Ben
Right now, nearly 500,000 Pennsylvanians are seeing their premiums skyrocket. 70,000 Pennsylvanians have already been forced to drop their health care coverage.
That’s why today, House Democrats forced a vote to end this shutdown of health care.
That’s why today, House Democrats forced a vote to end this shutdown of health care.
www.abc27.com
January 8, 2026 at 11:17 PM
Right now, nearly 500,000 Pennsylvanians are seeing their premiums skyrocket. 70,000 Pennsylvanians have already been forced to drop their health care coverage.
That’s why today, House Democrats forced a vote to end this shutdown of health care.
That’s why today, House Democrats forced a vote to end this shutdown of health care.
Reposted by Ben
I always thought the term "cosplaying" was overused until ICE/CBP started showing up everywhere. Look at this guy, does he think it's Fallujah? (It's a high school in Minneapolis).
www.mprnews.org/story/2026/0...
www.mprnews.org/story/2026/0...
January 8, 2026 at 3:33 PM
I always thought the term "cosplaying" was overused until ICE/CBP started showing up everywhere. Look at this guy, does he think it's Fallujah? (It's a high school in Minneapolis).
www.mprnews.org/story/2026/0...
www.mprnews.org/story/2026/0...
Reposted by Ben
Years?? Americans want a president actually focused on running *our* country and making life affordable for us here at home — not taking control of another country!
Breaking News: In a wide-ranging interview with The New York Times, President Trump said he expected the U.S. would be running Venezuela for years.
Trump Says U.S. Oversight of Venezuela Could Last for Years
In a wide-ranging interview with The New York Times on Wednesday, President Trump said “only time will tell” when it comes to how long the United States aims to control the country.
nyti.ms
January 8, 2026 at 6:02 PM
Years?? Americans want a president actually focused on running *our* country and making life affordable for us here at home — not taking control of another country!
Reposted by Ben
The AI-generated podcast stuff truly confounds me. I guess there are people who enjoy asking Alexa or Siri things and expand that into: What if my robot friend could tell me a story about the news?
These people have wrinkle-free brains.
These people have wrinkle-free brains.
Storied newspaper chain McClatchy recently shuttered its Washington bureau and laid off staff. Now its told union leaders it wants to publish AI-generated stories without human review and create AI impersonations of reporters for podcasts.
The scoop in @status.news www.status.news/p/mcclatchy-...
The scoop in @status.news www.status.news/p/mcclatchy-...
McClatchy’s Machine Mindset
A recent meeting with McClatchy executives left union leaders stunned and deeply alarmed about how the company wishes to implement A.I. in the newsroom, Status has learned.
www.status.news
January 8, 2026 at 1:53 PM
The AI-generated podcast stuff truly confounds me. I guess there are people who enjoy asking Alexa or Siri things and expand that into: What if my robot friend could tell me a story about the news?
These people have wrinkle-free brains.
These people have wrinkle-free brains.
Reposted by Ben
Everyone should ask why the Trump Administration keeps lying about this — why they are telling you to disbelieve your own eyes.
An American citizen in a peaceful neighborhood gunned down by masked agents sent there to make people afraid.
The Vice President’s lies are despicable.
An American citizen in a peaceful neighborhood gunned down by masked agents sent there to make people afraid.
The Vice President’s lies are despicable.
January 8, 2026 at 3:13 PM
Everyone should ask why the Trump Administration keeps lying about this — why they are telling you to disbelieve your own eyes.
An American citizen in a peaceful neighborhood gunned down by masked agents sent there to make people afraid.
The Vice President’s lies are despicable.
An American citizen in a peaceful neighborhood gunned down by masked agents sent there to make people afraid.
The Vice President’s lies are despicable.
Reposted by Ben
The video shows that the driver of the vehicle turned her wheels to avoid the ICE agents who surrounded her, screamed profanity at her, and gave her conflicting orders.
They escalated the situation, put the public in danger, killed her without justification, and kept firing at her.
They escalated the situation, put the public in danger, killed her without justification, and kept firing at her.
January 8, 2026 at 3:13 PM
The video shows that the driver of the vehicle turned her wheels to avoid the ICE agents who surrounded her, screamed profanity at her, and gave her conflicting orders.
They escalated the situation, put the public in danger, killed her without justification, and kept firing at her.
They escalated the situation, put the public in danger, killed her without justification, and kept firing at her.
Reposted by Ben
Even if Babbitt were standing still the Capitol policeman had more jurisdiction over her than ICE. They are not real police. They have jurisdiction over civilians in restricted and specific circumstances.
Unless you're Ashli Babbitt. Then fuck what a U.S. Capitol police officer tells you to do.
The legal standard is that if an officer is in fear for others or himself legitimately he can use lethal force to neutralize the threat. Fleeing or eluding has never been a standard for use of lethal force.
The legal standard is that if an officer is in fear for others or himself legitimately he can use lethal force to neutralize the threat. Fleeing or eluding has never been a standard for use of lethal force.
Rep. Wesley Hunt: "The bottom line is this: when a federal officer gives you instructions, you abide by them and then you get to keep you life"
January 8, 2026 at 12:11 AM
Even if Babbitt were standing still the Capitol policeman had more jurisdiction over her than ICE. They are not real police. They have jurisdiction over civilians in restricted and specific circumstances.
Reposted by Ben
Really worth watching this interview with a bystander who witnessed the ICE shooting in Minneapolis: "I'm pretty right-leaning. But seeing this, this is not how we're supposed to be doing things in America.”
January 7, 2026 at 10:56 PM
Really worth watching this interview with a bystander who witnessed the ICE shooting in Minneapolis: "I'm pretty right-leaning. But seeing this, this is not how we're supposed to be doing things in America.”
Reposted by Ben
Once again, Speaker Johnson and most House Republicans' priorities are clear— and protecting your health care is not one of them.
January 7, 2026 at 11:05 PM
Once again, Speaker Johnson and most House Republicans' priorities are clear— and protecting your health care is not one of them.
Reposted by Ben
Trump is lying, again.
The only time NATO’s Article 5 mutual defense provision was ever invoked was by the U.S. after 9/11.
Hundreds of soldiers from our NATO allies were killed fighting alongside American troops in Afghanistan.
Trump insulting our allies makes us weaker.
The only time NATO’s Article 5 mutual defense provision was ever invoked was by the U.S. after 9/11.
Hundreds of soldiers from our NATO allies were killed fighting alongside American troops in Afghanistan.
Trump insulting our allies makes us weaker.
January 7, 2026 at 3:15 PM
Trump is lying, again.
The only time NATO’s Article 5 mutual defense provision was ever invoked was by the U.S. after 9/11.
Hundreds of soldiers from our NATO allies were killed fighting alongside American troops in Afghanistan.
Trump insulting our allies makes us weaker.
The only time NATO’s Article 5 mutual defense provision was ever invoked was by the U.S. after 9/11.
Hundreds of soldiers from our NATO allies were killed fighting alongside American troops in Afghanistan.
Trump insulting our allies makes us weaker.
Reposted by Ben
If the election was held in February - post-impeachment, pre-COVID - Trump would have won. More importantly, his pollsters gave him numbers that said he was winning easily post-impeachment. And public polling (flawed) showed improving v Dems over the course of the trial. (Look at December-February.)
January 7, 2026 at 5:05 PM
If the election was held in February - post-impeachment, pre-COVID - Trump would have won. More importantly, his pollsters gave him numbers that said he was winning easily post-impeachment. And public polling (flawed) showed improving v Dems over the course of the trial. (Look at December-February.)
Reposted by Ben
Note that the Mayor of Minneapolis made his statement surrounded by police chiefs. As we said in New York, regardless of their politics no serving police officer wants any part of this. It makes everything they do more difficult and ends up putting them in danger.
January 7, 2026 at 6:46 PM
Note that the Mayor of Minneapolis made his statement surrounded by police chiefs. As we said in New York, regardless of their politics no serving police officer wants any part of this. It makes everything they do more difficult and ends up putting them in danger.
Reposted by Ben
The amount of "new" tax cuts (things like the $200 increase in the Child Tax Credit/No Tax On Tips) is more like $800.
For households in the bottom 60%, it's more like $300.
And this ignores higher health care costs from the lapse in enhancements to premium tax credits.
For households in the bottom 60%, it's more like $300.
And this ignores higher health care costs from the lapse in enhancements to premium tax credits.
January 7, 2026 at 7:34 PM
The amount of "new" tax cuts (things like the $200 increase in the Child Tax Credit/No Tax On Tips) is more like $800.
For households in the bottom 60%, it's more like $300.
And this ignores higher health care costs from the lapse in enhancements to premium tax credits.
For households in the bottom 60%, it's more like $300.
And this ignores higher health care costs from the lapse in enhancements to premium tax credits.
Reposted by Ben
It's an interesting move for Trump's Treasury Department to suggest Americans will receive a $3,750 tax cut and $7,200 in higher wages this year.
I'm skeptical it's going to work well for them because Americans are unlikely to see anything like this. 🧵
www.treasury.gov/wftc/index.h...
I'm skeptical it's going to work well for them because Americans are unlikely to see anything like this. 🧵
www.treasury.gov/wftc/index.h...
January 7, 2026 at 7:17 PM
It's an interesting move for Trump's Treasury Department to suggest Americans will receive a $3,750 tax cut and $7,200 in higher wages this year.
I'm skeptical it's going to work well for them because Americans are unlikely to see anything like this. 🧵
www.treasury.gov/wftc/index.h...
I'm skeptical it's going to work well for them because Americans are unlikely to see anything like this. 🧵
www.treasury.gov/wftc/index.h...
Reposted by Ben
I condemn this brutal murder in Minneapolis by ICE agents.
There should be bipartisan outrage about this tragedy. The Republican majorities in Congress need to join with Democrats to demand reform and accountability. This violence cannot and should not be normalized.
There should be bipartisan outrage about this tragedy. The Republican majorities in Congress need to join with Democrats to demand reform and accountability. This violence cannot and should not be normalized.
ICE officer kills a Minneapolis driver in a deadly start to Trump's latest immigration operation
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey says the Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer who shot and killed a motorist acted recklessly, and he rejected federal officials' claims that the officer had acted ...
apnews.com
January 7, 2026 at 9:11 PM
I condemn this brutal murder in Minneapolis by ICE agents.
There should be bipartisan outrage about this tragedy. The Republican majorities in Congress need to join with Democrats to demand reform and accountability. This violence cannot and should not be normalized.
There should be bipartisan outrage about this tragedy. The Republican majorities in Congress need to join with Democrats to demand reform and accountability. This violence cannot and should not be normalized.