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Jess

@jessbetten.bsky.social

490 followers 530 following 890 posts

Cats-in-bow ties enthusiast, beginning knitter, Public Defender, Red Sox fan, and native masshole now residing in enemy territory. Nothing here is legal advice or even necessarily good advice. Follow for rage, cats, and snark Pronouns: she/her

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Jess @jessbetten.bsky.social · Apr 17

I need to point out that as NYC is looking for savings in the current budget season, that NYPD past spending has included:
$13,500 on scruff costumes
$13,000 on shrooms
$500,000 on robots
$69,000 on shoe shine machines

Not to mention
$205,631,253 in police misconduct settlements in 2024 ALONE

Dani Welch @daniwelch.bsky.social · Apr 17

Before that, it was their 2015 exposé on the NYPD's Scruff McGruff expenditures.

McGruff the Crime Dog among questionable expenditures

McGruff the Crime Dog has taken a bite out of the NYPD’s budget: The department has dropped more than $13,500 on eight McGruff costumes in just one of several unusual purchases in recent years. The…

nypost.com

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Grudgie the Whale @grudgie.bsky.social · 17h

I’m don’t think there’s any doubt about this.

Republicans and Trump are absolutely shitting themselves over the evidence against Trump in the Epstein files.

Dana Houle @danahoule.bsky.social · 17h

I think Trump would rather Congress never vote to reopen the government than let Adelrita Grijalva trigger the Epstein Files discharge. And I bet he doesn’t have a plan other than the Insurrection Act.

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CAKE @thebandcake.bsky.social · 14h

The phone number for the U.S. Capitol switchboard is (202) 224-3121. #epstein

Adelita for Congress @adelitaforcongress.bsky.social · 2d

My constituents want me to get to work but House Republicans are more concerned about protecting the Epstein files.

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/06/u...

Elected but Not Seated, Grijalva Waits to Sign Epstein Petition

www.nytimes.com

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KindLivesMatter @bekindforthefuture.bsky.social · 14h

Why are we in recess? Because the day we go back into session, I have 218 votes for the discharge petition to force a vote on releasing the Epstein files,” Massie (R-KY) said.

KEEP THE PRESSURE On, The Epstein Files MUST Be Released And The Republicans Can’t Stop It. No More Protection For Pedo’s!

Swalwell: Republicans planning 'jail break' revolt over Epstein files — The Hill

Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) predicted Wednesday that dozens of Republicans may ultimately support legislation requiring the Department of Justice to release files related to convicted sex offender J...

apple.news

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Dr. Mar 💙 @boldnewme.bsky.social · 14h

Zoomed-in photo of AG Pam Bondi's notes. (REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst)

Not legal answers. Not facts. Not accountability.

Just a file of attacks and instructions to smear Sheldon Whitehouse, pivot to “dark money,” and even drag Epstein and Reid Hoffman into unrelated questions.👇

It’s performance.

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Popehat Agitates And Irritates @kenwhite.bsky.social · 15h

The White House Antifa Roundtable is one of the best displays I’ve seen of this-is-how-bad-it’s-gotten — just a sewer of open fascism, dementia, morons and freaks, and incoherent rage.

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David Bier @davidjbier.bsky.social · 15h

MSNBC published my response to ICE's baseless claims about me. "I am more interested in ICE officer safety than ICE itself is. ICE cares more about running up the deportation numbers than protecting its officers." www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnb...

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Jess @jessbetten.bsky.social · 14h

it would be nice if our president would at least live in the same reality as the rest of us.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 16h

Trump: "I don't know what could be worse than Portland. You don't even have stores anymore. They don't even put glass up. They put plywood on their windows."

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jamelle @jamellebouie.net · 15h

genuinely think they are feeding him AI videos

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 16h

Trump: "I don't know what could be worse than Portland. You don't even have stores anymore. They don't even put glass up. They put plywood on their windows."

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Jess @jessbetten.bsky.social · 14h

Like I don’t know that he was ever the smartest or kindest or most coherent human, but there is a marked change in his ability to speak clearly or on a topic or stay awake or not experience what really truly look like serious medical symptoms and man if you thought BIDEN was to old, this is worse.

Jess @jessbetten.bsky.social · 14h

aside from the facism, it is decidedly not great that it strongly appears a man with man army at his disposal truly is suffering from a severe mental decline; as in watch an old interview and he was much more coherent than now.
if this were my relative we would be at the Dr talking about their care.

Kelsey Reichmann @kelseyreichmann.bsky.social · 14h

White House says Trump will visit Walter Reed on Friday for a routine check up

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Eric Michael Garcia @ericmgarcia.bsky.social · 1d

I've been banging this drum for the past four months or so: DOGE and Russ Vought broke the appropriations process. What's the point of going through the arduous process of crafting 12 spending bills, clearing them through committee and getting them through two chambers if Trump does rescissions?

Garrett M. Graff @vermontgmg.bsky.social · 1d

If appropriations bills are not seen as enforceable contracts, why should any Member of Congress vote to fund any part of the federal government under Donald Trump? You're voting to provide money for lawlessness. www.doomsdayscenario.co/p/there-is-n...

There is no budget "deal" to be made

President Trump has so broken the constitutional framework as to make joint normal, responsible government impossible.

www.doomsdayscenario.co

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Olúfẹ́mi O. Táíwò @olufemiotaiwo.bsky.social · 1d

yo they hired Mamdani video guys. someone's doing some thinking somewhere

Chuck Schumer @schumer.senate.gov · 1d

The government is shut down because Trump and the Republicans are hellbent on taking health care away from you.

And they won’t even come to the table to talk to us about it.

This is not about politics. It's about people.

Let’s break it down:

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Jess @jessbetten.bsky.social · 20h

cats are on cop watch.
And ICE watch. Cats don’t like facism.

Duh.

Scougs the Spooky Cat @scougs.bsky.social · 1d

Oooooh... love me some drama.. Why ya gettin chased by the piguloo's now, @cousinnudaq.bsky.social

Jess @jessbetten.bsky.social · 20h

Glad there is growth.

Still not voting for him again.
also still waiting for him to address any of the many constituent calls and letters he’s been getting.

Charlotte Clymer @charlotteclymer.bsky.social · 1d

"So, Democrats have three words for this: no fucking way. It's literally life or death. We will not let Republicans blow up our health care system."

This is, hands down, the best comms work Chuck Schumer has done in YEARS. Surprisingly good.

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CNN @cnn.com · 1d

There will not be enough air traffic controllers in the tower at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, the FAA is warning.

Now on the seventh day of the government shutdown, the same scenario is playing out at FAA offices across the country, with ripple effects hitting flights almost everywhere.

Delays spread to major airports across the country, as the seventh day of government shutdown impacts travelers | CNN

There are not going to be enough air traffic controllers in the tower at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport Tuesday night, the Federal Aviation Administratoin is warning. In Nashville, so many are...

www.cnn.com

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Jess @jessbetten.bsky.social · 20h

bonus of making it harder to ID you and maybe providing some cushioning from being beaten to the ground?

Where… where does one get an inflatable frog costume?

Cannonball Adderall @leupp.bsky.social · 1d

I love this city

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GHOULLIKEHELLMACHINE @golikehellmachine.com · 1d

lmao, kristi noem wanted a black bloc fight and got an inflatable rave instead. fuck you DHS, rip city forever.

Courtney Vaughn @courtneyvaughn.bsky.social · 1d

Streets are still closed off in front of the Portland ICE facility at 8:30pm. Protesters have gathered on a side street. Dance party in progress.

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clyde bruckman's ghost's final repost says free link @ultralaser.bsky.social · 1d

fucked up that this is all just landlords swatting their own buildings to get rid of all the working class residents so they can raise the rent or sell to a developer who'll flip them into high end condos or w/e

like it's a real estate scam! it's a fucking land grab! a fire for the insurance money!

I'm Margaret! I'm the best! Blah Blah Blah! @vt-vagabond.bsky.social · 1d

There’s a lot in here that deserves a pull quote, but this is the most egregious. I need people to recognize the gravity of the situation here in Chicago;

SOUTH SIDE WEEKLY
Donate

"The ones that are getting out are coming home to no home," Watson said.
According to her, after the raid occurred, building management stole or threw out residents belongings, including visas and important documents.

ICIRR is still trying to determine the identities of all the people detained in the raid. Castro said that the organization usually can do that by following up with family members or loved ones. "In this instance, there was nobody left to work with," she said. The only detainee name they're sure of is that of a person who passed their Venezuelan passport to a neighbor as they were being taken away.

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Robin Marty @robinmarty.com · 1d

Can’t wait for Alito to explain why you have a right to pray at midfield on public school property but should be shot in the head with “less” lethal ammo when you do it in front of an immigration detention facility

Kurt @flglchicago.bsky.social · 1d

Here’s video of the incident

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Evan Bernick, a finite mode with a smol hooman and a lorg floof @evanbernick.bsky.social · 1d

“Clashed with”

The New York Times @nytimes.com · 1d

Over the past week, ICE and border patrol agents have clashed with Chicago residents, and federal guard troops arriving in the city might inflame tensions further. Our reporters describe the situation on the ground.

Listen to "The Daily."

Trump Claims ‘Rebellion’ in American Cities

President Trump said he would consider using the Insurrection Act to deploy the National Guard in Chicago and other places.

nyti.ms

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Jess @jessbetten.bsky.social · 21h

Jury service is an incredibly important duty for citizens and I am delighted to see so many grand jurors critically thinking and using their power.
All of our systems- including juries- are supposed to be a CHECK on state power- a principal too often forgotten.

Haydon is reading The Uncertain Center, Arthur C McGill @haydonmp.bsky.social · 1d

Add it to the tally.

Seems like we’re getting up to 20+ grand jury no true bills just from what I’ve seen. Absolutely remarkable.

Seth Stern @sethstern.bsky.social · 1d

A federal grand jury declined to indict two people charged with assaulting law enforcement agents outside a suburban Chicago ICE facility, an attorney for one of the defendants said, Megan Crepeau and @benjaminpenn.bsky.social report

news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...

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Haydon is reading The Uncertain Center, Arthur C McGill @haydonmp.bsky.social · 1d

Add it to the tally.

Seems like we’re getting up to 20+ grand jury no true bills just from what I’ve seen. Absolutely remarkable.

Seth Stern @sethstern.bsky.social · 1d

Grand Jury Declines to Indict Two Chicago-Area ICE Protesters

A federal grand jury declined to indict two people charged with assaulting law enforcement agents outside a suburban Chicago ICE facility, an attorney for one of the defendants said.

news.bloomberglaw.com

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Kevin M. Kruse @kevinmkruse.bsky.social · 1d

It's clear by now that the Democrats won't press this case as aggressively as it needs to be pressed, and the media won't do that unless they have Democrats' quotes to use as a springboard either.

They won't do this work, so it's even more important that we circulate these stories ourselves.

David M. Perry @lollardfish.bsky.social · 1d

I really believe that huge majorities of Americans don’t want masked soldiers shooting priests in the street. They don’t want naked children ripped out out of their apartments in the middle of the night and handcuffed. We win by making sure these stories get told.

Kevin M. Kruse @kevinmkruse.bsky.social · 1d

The same people who insisted devout Catholic Joe Biden was leading a “war on Christianity” are now cheering Trump on as his armed goons assault clergymen.

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Eric Columbus @ericcolumbus.bsky.social · 1d

“We can’t afford a king”

Anthony Michael Kreis @anthonymkreis.bsky.social · 1d

Once again, I’m wondering why Democrats aren’t running with a straightforward message of “despotism is un-American and unaffordable” right now and all the way into the midterms.

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Jess @jessbetten.bsky.social · 21h

Playing to a middle that doesn’t exist anymore isn’t gonna solve this.

When one side is facist and here for rounding people up with secret police who do the bidding of the president, you don’t need to balance the other side- you need to get off the scale and try something else.