Richard Fawal
@rfawal.bsky.social
I do politics, public affairs, podcasts, and craft beer. I lead Voxtopica.com. I write at https://6to64.substack.com. I publish DCBeer.com. I don’t do fascism. No 🧊
Remember, this was a *special election*. Voters in TN-7 and across the country will choose their member of the House next November.
I would not be surprised if @aftynbehn.bsky.social just keeps running, and I would continue to support her campaign.
I would not be surprised if @aftynbehn.bsky.social just keeps running, and I would continue to support her campaign.
Tonight, we did something everyone counted out. We proved to a nation that states like Tennessee are still worth fighting for. The margin was close, and that can only be attributed to the thousands of volunteers who showed out. This is just the beginning.
December 3, 2025 at 1:33 PM
Remember, this was a *special election*. Voters in TN-7 and across the country will choose their member of the House next November.
I would not be surprised if @aftynbehn.bsky.social just keeps running, and I would continue to support her campaign.
I would not be surprised if @aftynbehn.bsky.social just keeps running, and I would continue to support her campaign.
The myth of the Democratic “centrist” endures.
Voters want candidates who speak to them, understand their concerns and desires, and offer real solutions (like @aftynbehn.bsky.social).
Voters don’t care for Dem “centrists” whose campaigns are just denials of GOP lies about Democrats.
Voters want candidates who speak to them, understand their concerns and desires, and offer real solutions (like @aftynbehn.bsky.social).
Voters don’t care for Dem “centrists” whose campaigns are just denials of GOP lies about Democrats.
Despite @aftynbehn.bsky.social generating real excitement with an authentic progressive anti-corruption message and getting closer than anyone in #TN7, *experts* are already dropping predictable “a centrist would’ve done better” takes - as though that hasn’t been tried here many times.
December 3, 2025 at 1:26 PM
The myth of the Democratic “centrist” endures.
Voters want candidates who speak to them, understand their concerns and desires, and offer real solutions (like @aftynbehn.bsky.social).
Voters don’t care for Dem “centrists” whose campaigns are just denials of GOP lies about Democrats.
Voters want candidates who speak to them, understand their concerns and desires, and offer real solutions (like @aftynbehn.bsky.social).
Voters don’t care for Dem “centrists” whose campaigns are just denials of GOP lies about Democrats.
Reposted by Richard Fawal
TN07 is a story about gerrymandering: the GOP cracked Nashville into 3 districts when it redrew the 2022 map, destroying the Dem seat there.
Fast-forward: a section of Nashville, which just 5 years ago had a Dem representative, is now voting Dem by huge margins but it's been designed to not matter.
Fast-forward: a section of Nashville, which just 5 years ago had a Dem representative, is now voting Dem by huge margins but it's been designed to not matter.
December 3, 2025 at 2:14 AM
TN07 is a story about gerrymandering: the GOP cracked Nashville into 3 districts when it redrew the 2022 map, destroying the Dem seat there.
Fast-forward: a section of Nashville, which just 5 years ago had a Dem representative, is now voting Dem by huge margins but it's been designed to not matter.
Fast-forward: a section of Nashville, which just 5 years ago had a Dem representative, is now voting Dem by huge margins but it's been designed to not matter.
Reposted by Richard Fawal
If you ever wondered what GOP gerrymandering looks like in red states with blue cities, I present:
December 2, 2025 at 8:49 PM
If you ever wondered what GOP gerrymandering looks like in red states with blue cities, I present:
Reposted by Richard Fawal
2026 is going to be a *great* year to run for office. @runforsomething.net will help you. Filing deadlines are coming up fast - it's just barely not too late to get started. runforwhat.net
Where Can I Run by Run for Something
Take the next step: Look up offices you can run for
runforwhat.net
December 2, 2025 at 8:48 PM
2026 is going to be a *great* year to run for office. @runforsomething.net will help you. Filing deadlines are coming up fast - it's just barely not too late to get started. runforwhat.net
When Democrats stop saying “rural folk vote against their interests” and start talking to rural folks about what matters to them, they’ll win elections like TN-7.
No matter the outcome in TN-7, the lesson for Democrats is that they need to run candidates in every district, and they need to talk to rural voters face-to-face, where they are.
December 3, 2025 at 2:15 AM
When Democrats stop saying “rural folk vote against their interests” and start talking to rural folks about what matters to them, they’ll win elections like TN-7.
The GOP won this battle but they’re still losing the war.
a bummer for the Dems but the story is less the outcome than the margin. this a deep red seat that Dems came close to capturing. storm clouds and scary music for the GOP
December 3, 2025 at 2:11 AM
The GOP won this battle but they’re still losing the war.
No matter the outcome in TN-7, the lesson for Democrats is that they need to run candidates in every district, and they need to talk to rural voters face-to-face, where they are.
December 3, 2025 at 2:02 AM
No matter the outcome in TN-7, the lesson for Democrats is that they need to run candidates in every district, and they need to talk to rural voters face-to-face, where they are.
I live in Tennessee and spend a week in Nashville at a music festival every year, so if any national reporters want the inside scoop, hit me up.
My mom used to live in West Nashville and I briefly dated a girl from Clarksville, so if any national reporters want the Inside Scoop on TN-7, hit me up.
December 3, 2025 at 1:32 AM
I live in Tennessee and spend a week in Nashville at a music festival every year, so if any national reporters want the inside scoop, hit me up.
“Under your leadership, we ended a twenty year war on women who refuse to be subservient to men like us.”
RFK Jr: "Two weeks ago we ended, under your leadership, a twenty year war on women".
Three out of five men in this shot have been accused of sexual misconduct, harassment or abusive behaviour towards women. A fourth signed into law a near-total abortion ban in his state as governor.
Three out of five men in this shot have been accused of sexual misconduct, harassment or abusive behaviour towards women. A fourth signed into law a near-total abortion ban in his state as governor.
December 2, 2025 at 11:45 PM
“Under your leadership, we ended a twenty year war on women who refuse to be subservient to men like us.”
Reposted by Richard Fawal
RFK Jr: "Two weeks ago we ended, under your leadership, a twenty year war on women".
Three out of five men in this shot have been accused of sexual misconduct, harassment or abusive behaviour towards women. A fourth signed into law a near-total abortion ban in his state as governor.
Three out of five men in this shot have been accused of sexual misconduct, harassment or abusive behaviour towards women. A fourth signed into law a near-total abortion ban in his state as governor.
December 2, 2025 at 6:46 PM
RFK Jr: "Two weeks ago we ended, under your leadership, a twenty year war on women".
Three out of five men in this shot have been accused of sexual misconduct, harassment or abusive behaviour towards women. A fourth signed into law a near-total abortion ban in his state as governor.
Three out of five men in this shot have been accused of sexual misconduct, harassment or abusive behaviour towards women. A fourth signed into law a near-total abortion ban in his state as governor.
Reposted by Richard Fawal
It costs nothing for you to share this
For every $1 donated to your local food pantry, 10 meals will be served to families in need this holiday season
#GivingTuesday
For every $1 donated to your local food pantry, 10 meals will be served to families in need this holiday season
#GivingTuesday
December 2, 2025 at 10:01 PM
It costs nothing for you to share this
For every $1 donated to your local food pantry, 10 meals will be served to families in need this holiday season
#GivingTuesday
For every $1 donated to your local food pantry, 10 meals will be served to families in need this holiday season
#GivingTuesday
Pro-life, amiright?
Nayra Guzmán was 15 days post C-section — going to see her baby in the NICU — when she was taken to Broadview and held in custody for about 34 hours.
She slept on a bench and barely got food. She couldn't pump.
Her story is a rare window into the growing detention of pregnant & postpartum people.
She slept on a bench and barely got food. She couldn't pump.
Her story is a rare window into the growing detention of pregnant & postpartum people.
Her baby was in the NICU. She was in ICE detention.
Before Trump took office, postpartum immigrants were rarely detained by ICE. Nayra Guzmán was detained while her 15-day-old baby was in the NICU.
19thnews.org
December 2, 2025 at 11:37 PM
Pro-life, amiright?
Reposted by Richard Fawal
He seems to be constantly fighting 'wokeness' these days...
December 2, 2025 at 7:06 PM
He seems to be constantly fighting 'wokeness' these days...
This is absolutely absurd. Any student in any class could respond to any assignment with, “My religion says X, so that’s the answer.”
I wonder how OU would have responded if the student in question were Muslim and based their answer on the Koran, then sued when they failed?
I wonder how OU would have responded if the student in question were Muslim and based their answer on the Koran, then sued when they failed?
Imagine I got pulled over for speeding and the cop asked me for my license and registration. I don't get to say "but the Bible doesn't have any posted speed limits" and then protest the ticket because the officer ignored by precious religious beliefs.
November 30, 2025 at 8:53 PM
This is absolutely absurd. Any student in any class could respond to any assignment with, “My religion says X, so that’s the answer.”
I wonder how OU would have responded if the student in question were Muslim and based their answer on the Koran, then sued when they failed?
I wonder how OU would have responded if the student in question were Muslim and based their answer on the Koran, then sued when they failed?
The Trump Administration is nothing but lies and corruption.
HASSETT: Gas prices dropped below $2 a gallon in a lot of places
CORDES: Gas prices on average are still at $3 a galloon
HASSETT: For a few states they got below $2
CORDES: Gas prices on average are still at $3 a galloon
HASSETT: For a few states they got below $2
November 30, 2025 at 8:37 PM
The Trump Administration is nothing but lies and corruption.
Reposted by Richard Fawal
I found a flowchart which helps you navigate the IT landscape
October 1, 2025 at 6:22 PM
I found a flowchart which helps you navigate the IT landscape
Reposted by Richard Fawal
The president and the speaker are scrambling to promote a candidate in a gerrymandered Tennessee district Trump won by 22 points last year.
That’s the smell of panic in the air.
That’s the smell of panic in the air.
Trump and Mike Johnson plan to hold a Monday evening tele-rally to boost Matt Van Epps in the #TN07 special election. www.axios.com/2025/11/28/t...
November 28, 2025 at 10:30 PM
The president and the speaker are scrambling to promote a candidate in a gerrymandered Tennessee district Trump won by 22 points last year.
That’s the smell of panic in the air.
That’s the smell of panic in the air.
Reposted by Richard Fawal
It's not Thanksgiving until your racist Uncle says something racist.
TRUMP: If you look at Somalia, they are taking over Minnesota.
REPORTER: What do the Somalians have to do with this Afghan guy who shot the National Guard members?
TRUMP: Ah, nothing. But Somalians have caused a lot of trouble. They're ripping us off.
REPORTER: What do the Somalians have to do with this Afghan guy who shot the National Guard members?
TRUMP: Ah, nothing. But Somalians have caused a lot of trouble. They're ripping us off.
November 28, 2025 at 2:02 AM
It's not Thanksgiving until your racist Uncle says something racist.
Reposted by Richard Fawal
This is the first Thanksgiving for Sophie & Colin Hortman without their parents, Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman and Mark Hortman who were assassinated along with the family dog in an act of political murder. National guards troops were not deployed to the state in response.
November 27, 2025 at 5:24 PM
This is the first Thanksgiving for Sophie & Colin Hortman without their parents, Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman and Mark Hortman who were assassinated along with the family dog in an act of political murder. National guards troops were not deployed to the state in response.
Introduce yourself with five concerts you’ve seen multiple times:
Lucinda Williams
Hayes Carll
Grateful Dead (with Jerry Garcia)
Billy Strings
Joshua Ray Walker
Lucinda Williams
Hayes Carll
Grateful Dead (with Jerry Garcia)
Billy Strings
Joshua Ray Walker
Introduce yourself with five concerts you've seen multiple times
R.E.M.
OutKast
Radiohead
Beastie Boys
The Roots
R.E.M.
OutKast
Radiohead
Beastie Boys
The Roots
Introduce yourself with five concerts you've seen —
NIN
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Soul Coughing
Poe
Tom Morello
NIN
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Soul Coughing
Poe
Tom Morello
November 28, 2025 at 12:22 AM
Introduce yourself with five concerts you’ve seen multiple times:
Lucinda Williams
Hayes Carll
Grateful Dead (with Jerry Garcia)
Billy Strings
Joshua Ray Walker
Lucinda Williams
Hayes Carll
Grateful Dead (with Jerry Garcia)
Billy Strings
Joshua Ray Walker
Reposted by Richard Fawal
what i love is that in 1990 judas priest got brought to trial over the claim that subliminal messages in the recording "better by you better than me" caused two suicides and now in 2025 openai seems to be generating a suicide a week with its superliminal messages and the US government is funding it
November 27, 2025 at 8:23 AM
what i love is that in 1990 judas priest got brought to trial over the claim that subliminal messages in the recording "better by you better than me" caused two suicides and now in 2025 openai seems to be generating a suicide a week with its superliminal messages and the US government is funding it
Reposted by Richard Fawal
Homeland Security doesn’t grasp the fact that the first Thanksgiving was about making “room at the table” for European “invaders.”
November 27, 2025 at 11:57 PM
Homeland Security doesn’t grasp the fact that the first Thanksgiving was about making “room at the table” for European “invaders.”
Israel is executing Palestinians in cold blood. Note: this is NOT is Gaza, so not in a “war zone.” This is in territory that has been under Israeli military occupation since 1967.
Of course, I will be labeled “antisemitic” for pointing this out.
Of course, I will be labeled “antisemitic” for pointing this out.
POLITICO: “Israeli soldiers on Thursday appeared to kill a pair of Palestinian men in the occupied West Bank after they had surrendered to troops, drawing Palestinian accusations that the men were executed “in cold blood.”“ www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
November 28, 2025 at 12:15 AM
Israel is executing Palestinians in cold blood. Note: this is NOT is Gaza, so not in a “war zone.” This is in territory that has been under Israeli military occupation since 1967.
Of course, I will be labeled “antisemitic” for pointing this out.
Of course, I will be labeled “antisemitic” for pointing this out.
Loki and I say Happy Thanksgiving!
November 27, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Loki and I say Happy Thanksgiving!