Ben Wilbanks
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benawil.bsky.social
Ben Wilbanks
@benawil.bsky.social
29 followers 33 following 19 posts
Managing Director at Texas Blue Action
Posts Replies Media Videos
Reposted by Ben Wilbanks
blueaction-vote.bsky.social
Let’s level set on what it will take to flip TX blue. It’s not impossible but we have to work together.
So You Want to Flip Texas Blue? Let’s Talk Strategy
An election is right around the corner, and warning lights should be flashing for Democrats across Texas, from top to bottom.
open.substack.com
July 24, 2025 at 3:05 PM
benawil.bsky.social
Higher tariffs are a capital-sink that will have ripple effects throughout the economy.
July 13, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Reposted by Ben Wilbanks
reichlinmelnick.bsky.social
🚨Federal judge orders DHS to limit “roving patrols” in Los Angeles.

The judge finds that the evidence shows that DHS officers are racially profiling people to demand their papers, which all sides agree is illegal, and orders DHS to stop those unlawful practices.
What the federal government would have this Court believe—in the face of a mountain of evidence presented in this case—is that none of this is actually happening. Most of the questions before this Court are fairly simple and non-controversial, and both sides in this case agree on the answers. • May the federal government conduct immigration enforcement— even large scale immigration enforcement-in Los Angeles? Yes, it may. • Do all individuals regardless of immigration status— share in the rights guaranteed by the Fourth and Fifth Amendments to the Constitution? Yes, they do. • Is it illegal to conduct roving patrols which identify people based upon race alone, aggressively question them, and then detain them without a warrant, without their consent, and without reasonable suspicion that they are without status? Yes, it is. • Is it unlawful to prevent people from having access to lawyers who can help them in immigration court? Yes, it is. There are really two questions in controversy that this Court must decide today. First, are the individuals and organizations who brought this lawsuit likely to succeed in proving that the federal government is indeed conducting roving patrols without reasonable suspicion and denying access to lawyers? This Court decides—based on all the evidence presented-that they are. And second, what should be done about it? The individuals and organizations who have brought this lawsuit have made a fairly modest request: that this Court order the federal government to stop.
July 12, 2025 at 2:32 AM
Reposted by Ben Wilbanks
blueaction-vote.bsky.social
Thank you for your endorsement Congresswoman Escobar!

The time to get trained and organize is now! The 2026 Election may seem far off but it will be here before we know it. We can achieve great things when each of us does our part.

Join up and make sure our people vote in 2026! Links in bio.
July 11, 2025 at 4:56 PM
benawil.bsky.social
*whispers* tariffs are a tax on consumers youtu.be/Cx0gM69wneQ?...
Just the Facts: Tariffs & the Trade Deficit
YouTube video by Texas Blue Action
youtu.be
July 9, 2025 at 3:50 AM
Reposted by Ben Wilbanks
repescobar.bsky.social
July 2, 2025 at 6:44 PM
benawil.bsky.social
Check it out: “Every Election Matters” by @blueaction-vote.bsky.social on @cottonbureau.com — cottonbureau.com/p/EC7GHB/shi....
Every Election Matters by Texas Blue Action
cottonbureau.com
July 2, 2025 at 5:43 PM
benawil.bsky.social
I’m biased but I don’t think there’s a better strategy for Texas Democrats to turn out 1 million ADDITIONAL likeminded voters.
blueaction-vote.bsky.social Blue Action @blueaction-vote.bsky.social · Jun 17
Let’s work smarter not harder to #fliptexasblue. Texas Blue Action has been focused on neighborhood and relational organizing since 2018. When you make sure your friends vote we can save resources for hard to reach voters.

#strategy #vote #gotv #TexasDemocrats #texasprogressives
June 17, 2025 at 10:49 PM
benawil.bsky.social
#resistance if somebody isn’t splicing in North Korean dear leader praise footage between shots of Trump and his cabinet during the parade what are we doing?
June 15, 2025 at 2:54 AM
benawil.bsky.social
So migrants seeking political asylum are being sent to the communist countries they escaped by a Republican President? Just making sure I’m getting that right.
June 12, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Reposted by Ben Wilbanks
kateconger.com
Here it is: Musk thinks he is owed a say in Trump’s policy because of how much he spent on the campaign.
June 5, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Reposted by Ben Wilbanks
blueaction-vote.bsky.social
Block Captain Goals
-Increase contact rates at the door
-Host small neighborly meetups
-Turn non-voting Democrats into every election voters
-Maintain contact to build a lasting civic relationship
Become a Texas Blue Action Block Captain - INFO Session! · Blue Action
Have you attended a Blue Action Network Onboarding? Have you grown your personal network using our organizing tool? Now you might be asking - How do I grow my network further? How do I get plugged i...
www.mobilize.us
June 5, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Reposted by Ben Wilbanks
blueaction-vote.bsky.social
Building relationships with your neighbors can be tough, and political relationships are no different. Sign up to become a Block Captain and create lasting change by increasing voter turnout. Sign up to learn how our Block Captain program is different from your typical canvassing initiative.
Become a Texas Blue Action Block Captain - INFO Session! · Blue Action
Have you attended a Blue Action Network Onboarding? Have you grown your personal network using our organizing tool? Now you might be asking - How do I grow my network further? How do I get plugged i...
www.mobilize.us
June 5, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Reposted by Ben Wilbanks
repescobar.bsky.social
Republicans were so eager to cut your healthcare and give billionaires the biggest tax cut in American history that they didn't even fully read the devastating budget bill they passed in the middle of the night.

America, these are the people in charge.
June 3, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Reposted by Ben Wilbanks
kairyssdal.bsky.social
I’ll say this as many times as I have to.

No tax cut in the history of tax cuts has ever paid for itself. Not a one.
May 30, 2025 at 4:55 PM
benawil.bsky.social
Nature is healing
A woodpecker has invaded a Massachusetts neighborhood. Residents are taking it in stride
During the War of 1812, residents of Rockport, Massachusetts, hurled rocks at British soldiers using their stockings as slings.
apnews.com
May 1, 2025 at 3:50 PM
benawil.bsky.social
This is why we won't shut up about relational organizing at @blueaction-vote.bsky.social. It's the most efficient and effective way to reach people who are tuned out. www.nytimes.com/2025/04/28/o...
Opinion | I Worked for Harris and Biden. Here’s the Missing Link for Democrats. (Gift Article)
Opt-out voters don’t buy what we’re selling — and even if they did, we’d have a hard time reaching them.
www.nytimes.com
April 29, 2025 at 10:26 PM
benawil.bsky.social
Great day to gather in downtown El Paso! Many are ready to do the work. Thank you @repescobar.bsky.social for making this happen!
April 26, 2025 at 10:09 PM
Reposted by Ben Wilbanks
profgalloway.com
He’s so good at this.
petebuttigieg.bsky.social Pete Buttigieg @petebuttigieg.bsky.social · Apr 24
I want politics to be about a better everyday life.

Here's what that can look like:
April 24, 2025 at 7:36 PM
benawil.bsky.social
Do you know any Democrats in TX who wanna volunteer and turn out voters in their OWN NEIGHBORHOOD? That’s what Blue Action is all about, talking to the like-minded people you know and making sure they vote! 🚫stranger outreach

texasblueaction.com/events
events — Texas Blue Action
texasblueaction.com
April 24, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Reposted by Ben Wilbanks
jamellebouie.net
there really is no alternative to tearing up CBP and ICE root and branch
nycsouthpaw.bsky.social southpaw @nycsouthpaw.bsky.social · Apr 23
A US citizen with a learning disability who has just suffered a medical emergency asks a CBP officer for directions outside the emergency room. He ends up detained in an icebox for ten days and has the assistant secretary of DHS lying about him to the public at large. popular.info/p/us-citizen...
Tricia McLaughlin & @TriciaOhio 0... The narrative being pushed about Jose Hermosillo is false. On April 8, Hermosillo approached Border Patrol in Tucson and stated he had entered the U.S. illegally through Nogales. He said he wanted to turn himself in and completed a sworn statement identifying as a Mexican citizen who had entered unlawfully. He was processed and appeared in court on April 11. Afterward, he was held by the U.S. Marshals in Florence, AZ. A few days later, his family presented documents showing U.S. citizenship. The charges were dismissed, and he was released to his family. This arrest was the direct result of Hermosillo's own actions and statements. In an interview with Popular Information, his first with any media outlet, Hermosillo said DHS'. 's account was false. According to Hermosillo, he was visiting his girlfriend's family in Tucson from his home in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Several hours before his arrest, Hermosillo was transported to a hospital in Tucson by ambulance after suffering from a seizure. He has a New Mexico state ID, but did not take it with him during the medical emergency. After being released from the hospital following treatment, Hermosillo did not know how to return to where he was staying. He approached the Border Patrol officer because he was looking for someone to help him. "I saw a car, and I askled] him for help," Hermosillo said. He told the officer that he was staying in Tucson. "You" re not from here. Do you have your papers?" the officer said, according to Hermosillo. When the officer asked where he was from, Hermosillo said he told the officer, "New Mexico." The officer then accused Hermosillo of lying. "Don't make me lout] like [I'm] stupid," the officer said. "I know you're from Mexico." After that, Hermosillo said, he was arrested. Hermosillo said that he never told the officer that he was born in Mexico, was a citizen of Mexico, or entered the country illegally. And he would not have said those things because they are not true. He signed the transcript released by DHS because the officer ordered him to "sign everything." But Hermosillo did not read it, because he cannot read. According to Hermosillo's girlfriend, Grace Hernandez, Hermosillo has learning disabilities and can only write his name. Hermosillo said he did not graduate from high school and dropped out after the 10th grade. The officer also signed the document, which said Hermosillo "read" the document or had it read to him. But Hermosillo said no one read him the document. Other documents created by the officer have inaccuracies. For example, the criminal complaint says that Hermosillo was detained "at or near Nogales, Arizona." But Hermosillo was detained in Tuscon, which is more than 70 miles from Nogales. John Mennell, a spokesperson for the U.S. Border Patrol, said that it was an "unintentional" error. Hermosillo said he was detained with about 15 other men in a cell at the Florence Correctional Center. He was served only cold food. He said he contracted the flu because "they have it cold in there and everybody's getting sick." Hermosillo said he requested medicine but was not provided with any.
April 23, 2025 at 3:12 PM
benawil.bsky.social
Opinion | Naval Academy Censors Ryan Holiday’s Lecture on Censorship (Gift Article)
How a lecture to the U.S. Naval Academy on censorship was censored.
www.nytimes.com
April 19, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Reposted by Ben Wilbanks
repescobar.bsky.social
During a visit this week to Planned Parenthood, it was brought to my attention that 75% of Planned Parenthood's patients rely on Title X funding, which Donald Trump froze.

A thread.
April 17, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Reposted by Ben Wilbanks
chrislhayes.bsky.social
Don’t forget slapping enormous tariffs on the Canadian lumber we primarily use to build houses.
resnikoff.bsky.social Ned Resnikoff @resnikoff.bsky.social · Apr 5
If MAGA really wanted more high-wage jobs where people work with their hands, they would be trying to boost construction work. But instead they’re crashing housing production and trying to protect high resource areas from upzoning.
April 5, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Reposted by Ben Wilbanks
4furrylandmines.bsky.social
This is the HANDS OFF in El Paso TX today, and I have never seen this spirit of Fight before!!! We are all doing our part for Our Country, For Our Democracy💪💪💪
April 5, 2025 at 8:24 PM