Ben Rhodes
@rhodesben.bsky.social
21K followers 48 following 93 posts
Pod Save the World. NYT opinion. MSNBC. Author: After the Fall and The World As It Is
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rhodesben.bsky.social
"From masked ICE agents to threats against an alleged conspiracy of leftist NGOs, a sense of chaos demoralizes opposition and silences critics. American institutions are sorted into those who are with or against the administration. The empire came home." www.nytimes.com/2025/09/18/o...
Opinion | Britain Offers a Warning of What America Could Become
www.nytimes.com
rhodesben.bsky.social
Trump, Putin, the Internet, social media, democracy, AI, climate change, and basically the history of the last decade - loved this conversation with @jonfavs.bsky.social on Offline.
crooked.com
"I think we have to come to terms, before we can fix democracy, with the fact that it’s technology that broke it." – Ben Rhodes
rhodesben.bsky.social
Trump has not gotten a single concession from Putin - not one. His "deal making" is entirely about Ukrainian concessions.
rhodesben.bsky.social
“My advice would be to not capitulate to Trump,” Rhodes said. “He has grown all too accustomed to people he perceives as weaker bending to his will, which is something that Putin does not do… Zelenskyy needs Europe.” www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...
Zelenskyy faces daunting trip to the White House – but this time he will not be alone
Dream team of European leaders will be with the Ukrainian president, seeking to show a united front when they meet Donald Trump
www.theguardian.com
rhodesben.bsky.social
Hawks have often weaponized "Munich" every time the U.S. doesn't go to war. But they forget the real betrayal of Munich - two big countries meeting to carve up the borders of a smaller one to give to an aggressor without that nation present.
rhodesben.bsky.social
Trump wanting to concede Ukrainian territory that Russia does not even occupy (and that's not his to concede) is just about the worst case scenario. www.nytimes.com/live/2025/08...
Live Updates: Trump Backs Plan to Cede Land for Peace in Ukraine
www.nytimes.com
rhodesben.bsky.social
Trump’s interview shows just how easy it is for him to get completely played. Putin conceded nothing about Ukraine but repeats Trump conspiracy theories and he calls the meeting a 10 of 10.
rhodesben.bsky.social
So Putin gets a red carpet welcome, a ride in the presidential limo, speaks first at the presser, frames the meeting as a successful talk among equals, while making absolutely no concession on the conduct or outcome of the war.
rhodesben.bsky.social
The fact that an indicted war criminal has been invited to the US to meet with the President to look at maps of the country he invaded tells you Putin has already won.
rhodesben.bsky.social
""Even when presented with Zohran Mamdani’s campaign — an innovative example of fresh political tactics and policies — many party leaders recoiled. The party seems — quite literally — afraid of its own future. It is past time for Democrats to do what Mr. Mamdani did " www.nytimes.com/2025/08/11/o...
Opinion | We’re Trapped in Trump’s Reality. This Is How We Escape It.
www.nytimes.com
rhodesben.bsky.social
Trump’s DC takeover is not about crime or a distraction it’s a preview of the authoritarian playbook he wants to use in other cities using whatever authority and justification he can find.
rhodesben.bsky.social
New Pod Save the World on Trump's potential capitulation to Putin, Israel's Gaza "takeover" and the 4th anniversary of the collapse of Afghanistan, with @yaldahakim.bsky.social www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwRl...
Trump’s Strongman Summit Is A Gift to Putin
YouTube video by Pod Save the World
www.youtube.com
rhodesben.bsky.social
Trump has "embodied a culture in which money is ennobling, human beings are brands, and the capacity to be shamed is weakness." www.nytimes.com/2025/08/11/o...
Opinion | How Short-Term Thinking Is Destroying America
www.nytimes.com
Reposted by Ben Rhodes
iwillnotbesilenced.bsky.social
On Wednesday, ICE GOONS arrested a mother in the school drop-off line at Inzunza Camarina Elementary in Chula Vista, leaving her two children in the car.
Reposted by Ben Rhodes
johnphudson.bsky.social
Two prominent Israeli human rights organizations released reports Monday that concluded their government’s actions in the Gaza Strip amounted to genocide
rhodesben.bsky.social
No Democrat should support military assistance for a government that is starving an entire population. This should not be a close call or some agonizing debate.
jbendery.bsky.social
In a new statement, Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) says he's done supporting any aid to Israel amid Gaza's nutrition and humanitarian crisis.

"My litmus test will be simple: no aid of any kind as long as there are starving children in Gaza due to the action or inaction of the Israeli government.”
rhodesben.bsky.social
Extra Pod Save the World on latest Iran intel, Syria strikes, Bibi politics, and how some Dems are behind the curve on a lot of it. www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQck...
Leaked Report Reveals TRUMP IS LYING About Major Decision
YouTube video by Pod Save the World
www.youtube.com
rhodesben.bsky.social
Always good to see the Democratic Party committed to learning absolutely nothing that could be uncomfortable. www.nytimes.com/2025/07/19/u...
Democrats’ 2024 Autopsy Is Described as Avoiding the Likeliest Cause of Death
www.nytimes.com
rhodesben.bsky.social
"“Paramount’s decision comes against a backdrop of relentless attacks on a free press by President Trump, through lawsuits against CBS and ABC, threatened litigation of media organizations with critical coverage, and the unconscionable defunding of PBS and NPR.” variety.com/2025/tv/news...
Writers Guild Demands Investigation Into Stephen Colbert ‘Late Show’ Cancellation, Has ‘Significant Concerns’ About Bribery at Paramount
The WGA has issued a statement calling for a bribery investigation following CBS' cancellation of 'The Late Show With Stephen Colbert.'
variety.com
rhodesben.bsky.social
With each capitulation, Republicans in Congress and the courts encourage Trump to seize more power. Why would anyone count on Trump to stop asserting more and more power before constitutional democracy is unrecognizable?
sahilkapur.bsky.social
A RISING TRUMP-ERA TREND: Republicans keep voting for bills they say they don't like

Some call to undo/fix policies they just backed.

Others predict they'll have regrets.

Some threaten to vote no, then fold.

Others warn they're ceding Article I power.

www.nbcnews.com/politics/con...
Republicans keep voting for bills they say they don't like
In some cases, GOP members of Congress have said legislation they supported will need to be fixed down the road. In others, they've backed off explicit threats to vote "no."
www.nbcnews.com