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Guillermo Mena @gmena.bsky.social · 7d

A must-read OpEd by @zackbeauchamp.bsky.social on why Democrats need a new shutdown strategy along similar lines to what I’ve laid out about the need for a contrasting vision.

It’s short so you should definitely read the whole thing.

www.vox.com/politics/463...

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Reposted by Guillermo Mena

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 8d

Trump on Gaza: "We're gonna create something that was my idea but unfortunately I got drafted. It's gonna be called the 'board of peace.' And it's gonna reign over that territory. They asked me if I'd be the chairman of the board of peace. I said yes."

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Guillermo Mena @gmena.bsky.social · 8d

And yes to all of this

bsky.app/profile/andy...

Andy Craig @andycraig.bsky.social · 8d

"Dems will get blamed for a shutdown" as opposed to what, all the friendly coverage and positive credit they'd get for caving yet again? This whole premise is built on a delusion about what the alternative is. There's no cowering in the corner and being so inoffensive they won't still attack you.

Reposted by Guillermo Mena

Andy Craig @andycraig.bsky.social · 8d

"Dems will get blamed for a shutdown" as opposed to what, all the friendly coverage and positive credit they'd get for caving yet again? This whole premise is built on a delusion about what the alternative is. There's no cowering in the corner and being so inoffensive they won't still attack you.

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Guillermo Mena @gmena.bsky.social · 8d

Please spare us. There are enough Smotrich and Ben Gvir and Netanyahu videos out there. There’s testimony. There’s video of the press being killed. Catholic churches attacked. The evidence is overwhelming. It’s genocide.

Reposted by Guillermo Mena

Governor JB Pritzker @govpritzker.illinois.gov · 8d

In any other country, if federal agents fired upon journalists when unprovoked — what would we call it?

If federal agents marched down streets demanding papers — what would we say?

Authoritarianism — let’s not pretend it’s something else when it happens in our American cities.

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Guillermo Mena @gmena.bsky.social · 8d

Right. That’s why I said no rescissions. (Sorry for the earlier typo.)

But we could and should substantively demand so much more because there are other imperatives beyond ACA.

bsky.app/profile/gmen...

Guillermo Mena @gmena.bsky.social · 8d

I care. But I agree I don’t get the sole focus on ACA subsidies with no rescissions.

Why not also restore fired workers? And due process guardrails for ICE? And get the Medicare/Medicaid funding back? And end the tariffs and get a Fed seat?

Justify the shutdown by laying out a contrasting vision.

Senate Gabe @senategabe.bsky.social · 11d

I honestly do not care who is blamed for this shutdown.

They all should be blamed because they are all part of the government and they are negotiating over what, ACA subsidies is it?, while the entire country burns.

Guillermo Mena @gmena.bsky.social · 8d

We must stop Trump’s priorities:

💰Corruption. Genocide so Kushner can redevelop Gaza. Arab crypto deals.

💰Denying healthcare to Americans so the very rich get richer.

🥷Unleashing masked assailants on our streets breaking windows and bones because people look Latino.

📚Gutting “liberal” education.

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Guillermo Mena @gmena.bsky.social · 8d

So the CR is Republicans demanding that Democrats bail them out on their inability to pass their own budget and proceed on an appropriations bill. (That’s the 2nd step they could have proceeded on without Dem votes.)

But Democrats should not do this for next to nothing.

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Guillermo Mena @gmena.bsky.social · 8d

Creating division is the one thing congressional Republicans agree on.

Yes Mike Johnson refuses to swear in Adelita Grijalva because she’ll release the Epstein files. But also because if he can’t pass a budget now, imagine if his margin were even thinner.

Dems shouldn’t deal until she’s sworn in.

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Guillermo Mena @gmena.bsky.social · 8d

Republicans can’t govern. Funding the government is a 3-step process and Democrats can only stop the 3rd step. Yet Republicans can’t even approve the first, a budget, which they could have without needing Dem votes.

And that’s because Republicans can’t agree among themselves on a plan for America.

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Guillermo Mena @gmena.bsky.social · 8d

I care. But I agree I don’t get the sole focus on ACA subsidies with no rescissions.

Why not also restore fired workers? And due process guardrails for ICE? And get the Medicare/Medicaid funding back? And end the tariffs and get a Fed seat?

Justify the shutdown by laying out a contrasting vision.

Senate Gabe @senategabe.bsky.social · 11d

I honestly do not care who is blamed for this shutdown.

They all should be blamed because they are all part of the government and they are negotiating over what, ACA subsidies is it?, while the entire country burns.

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Guillermo Mena @gmena.bsky.social · 8d

That seems like too small thinking.

Why is the sole focus on ACA subsidies. (And no recissions).

Why not also restore fired workers? And due process guardrails for ICE? And get the Medicare/Medicaid funding back? And end the tariffs and get a Fed seat?

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Guillermo Mena @gmena.bsky.social · 15d

Loved the quote here by @senategabe.bsky.social:

“…we’re living in the context of Trump trying to murder everybody in Congress, and everybody who’s influential in the Democratic Party cannot stop humming the tune that in order to succeed, we have to come together with this party.”

https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/searchlight-adam-jentleson?utm_campaign=SproutSocial&utm_content=The+Nation&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter

t.co

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Guillermo Mena @gmena.bsky.social · Sep 4

And I realize some (not all) of these are controlled by Trump cronies. Yes, @mayorbowser.bsky.social also counts as a Trump crony.

But then let’s protest what they’re doing instead of encouraging people to attend as if the events were the core cultural ballast and genuine expression of our city.

Guillermo Mena @gmena.bsky.social · Sep 4

DC cultural institutions are glam partying like it’s fucking Renaissance Venice while our civil rights get destroyed on the sidewalks. Costume(!) balls as masked agents sow terror.

Frivolous, irrelevant art isn’t the protest art we should support. It’s normalizing fascism.

Phillips After 5: This month's after-hours event,
"Dancin' in September," is on September 4! From art to incense making to live music and games inspired by Earth, Wind & Fire, don't miss this party. Tickets are $20.
NGA Nights: National Gallery Nights are back for the fall, starting on September 11 with the theme "Back to School." Tickets are free but distributed via lottery which opens on September 1.
Live at the Library: On September 18, the Library of Congress is holding a Golden Age of Hollywood Costume Ball- free advance tickets required.
NMWA Nights: Party at the National Museum of Women in the Arts on September 17— there will be art-making, performances, and more. Tickets are $22 for DC residents.
History & Hops: Tour Heurich House, hang out with their favorite DC beverage producers, and taste their creations at this after-hours event in the biergarten on September 18. Tickets are $35.
SAAM After Hours: On September 18, celebrate the Renwick's new State Fairs exhibit with food, an open bar, live music- and themed outfits are encouraged.
Tickets are $125.
Q?rius After Hours: Head to the National Museum of Natural History for puzzles and games, crafts, and more on September 24. Tickets are free.
Tudor Nights: Tudor Place in Georgetown is hosting their monthly late night party on September 25 and the theme is "Games People Play!" Enjoy vintage gaming, cocktails and light bites, and a chance to explore the museum. Tickets are $35.
Vintage Game Night: The Woodrow Wilson House is hosting their quarterly vintage game night with snacks and drinks on Septamber 201 Ticketc are $20, or $40 to

Outdoor party with caption: DE'S ART ALL NIGHT PARTY IS BACK
SEPTEMBER 12-13!

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Guillermo Mena @gmena.bsky.social · Aug 22

Navy Yard is an armed encampment now. I just want to leave DC. This is affecting my health. And Mayor Bowser is licking Trump’s fascist boot, still going on about crime. Pathetic.

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Reposted by Guillermo Mena

Marisa Kabas @marisakabas.bsky.social · Aug 21

NEW—Earlier this evening agents from ICE/other fed agencies were outside Rhode Island Ave metro in DC asking people exiting the station for their IDs, per someone who experienced it. When the person presented their Real ID license, an agent said that wasn't sufficient. Luckily they had secondary ID.

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Guillermo Mena @gmena.bsky.social · Jul 11

@steventdennis.bsky.social
Here’s an odd bird in Old Town Alexandria of all places

www.zillow.com/homedetails/...

810 Prince St, Alexandria, VA 22314 | MLS #VAAX2046252 | Zillow

This 3183 square feet Townhouse home has 6 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms. It is located at 810 Prince St, Alexandria, VA.

www.zillow.com

Reposted by Guillermo Mena

Manu Gupta @mgupta108.bsky.social · Apr 28

🚨Karoline Leavitt says Supreme Court Justices will be arrested if they harbor criminal aliens:

Reporter: "Would you arrest a Supreme Court justice?"

Leavitt: "Anyone obstructing law enforcement... Is at risk of being prosecuted."

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Guillermo Mena @gmena.bsky.social · Apr 28

Please stop with the nostalgia nonsense. We have a housing crisis and cost of college crisis. And instead of addressing those DC taxpayers are being asked to pony up over $1 Billion to use the last big parcel in DC for a billionaire’s barely active stadium. Including a $181 million parking lot!

Reposted by Guillermo Mena

Gillian Branstetter @gbbranstetter.bsky.social · Apr 16

RFK Jr. wants to eradicate autistic people and also has no idea what an autistic person is

"These are kids who will never pay taxes," Kennedy declared. "They'll never hold a
job. Theyl never play baseball. They'Il never write a poem. They'll never go out
" on a date. Many of them will never use a toilet unassisted. We have to recognize
doing this to our children.
we are

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Guillermo Mena @gmena.bsky.social · Mar 22

I’m not saying we should cancel Capital Pride, as a well-known fellow LGBT rights advocate accused me of.

Yes, we should protest what Trump is doing to LGBT Americans and others. He’s raping our Constitution.

But we can’t invite foreigners into a CBP/ICE due process limbo we can’t save them from.

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Guillermo Mena @gmena.bsky.social · Mar 22

Cancel DC WorldPride.

We’re inviting foreign LGBT people into a trap.

Many innocents will have their intimacy exposed, be strip searched and jailed without due process for our indifference.

@capitalpridedc.bsky.social and @ryanbos.bsky.social are recklessly endangering those we should defend.

ADVOCATE
"There are calls for us to cancel WorldPride or for WorldPride to move somewhere else, but that's a no," Bos told The Advocate in a Friday interview. "If anything, this is the time for us to show up. Our adversaries want us to get confused, want us to get frustrated, want us to get ignored, and want us to give up. We can't do that."

ADVOCATE
A significant feature of this year's WorldPride will be a large-scale march and rally planned for Sunday, June 8. Unlike the more celebratory Pride parade the day before, the Sunday event is designed to be a traditional protest, amplifying the voices of LGBTQ+ people worldwide who are facing oppression. Bos said that the organization hopes to mirror the 2017 Women's March movement.

ADVOCATE
Bos affirmed that WorldPride will go as planned in D.C. despite the obstacles and the political landscape. "One way or the other, WorldPride is happening, and it's our responsibility to make sure that WorldPride meets the moment of this time."

ADVOCATE
"The United States is no longer a free democratic country that WorldPride signed up for," AHRC Executive Director Melanie Nathan wrote in a statement. She pointed to recent anti-LGBTQ+ policies, the administration's gutting of asylum protections, and increased hostility toward trans and nonbinary people as reasons for the boycott.

Organizers of WorldPride are pushing back against the boycott call, emphasizing that participation in the event is an act of resistance.

"A boycott of WorldPride sends the wrong message," Capital Pride Alliance Executive Director Ryan Bos said in a statement to The Advocate. "We need to show up together, show resilience and resistance to ensure we remain visible and heard."

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Reposted by Guillermo Mena

Roman Sheremeta @rshereme.bsky.social · Mar 18

Minnesota Senator Justin Eichorn was arrested for soliciting a minor for prostitution.

This is the same senator who recently introduced a bill defining “Trump Derangement Syndrome” as a mental illness. The bill aimed to classify all those who oppose Trump’s policies as mentally ill.

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