Top recent posts by Public Intellectuals on Bluesky

NEWS: We polled our locals yesterday before Schumer's surrender asking what they would do to hold accountable Senate Dems who cave on the GOP bill. 67% said they'd show up at town halls or public events to express their anger. 78% said they'd support primary challenges. We'll see where this goes.

No Dem Senator has to follow Schumer here. This is a weak stategic move driven by fear and learned helplessness. Don't follow him. He's leading the party into irrelevance and helping Trump and Musk in the process. Call your Dem Senators and ask them not to join Schumer's surrender tomorrow.

I’m voting NO on cloture and NO on the House Republican’s disastrous government spending bill. Here’s why:

I don't want to raise false hopes, but I don't think this is over. If you haven't called your Dem Senators yet today, now's the time.

At the protest for veterans in DC.

That's it. Remove @schumer.senate.gov as minority leader. Enough Quislings.

America was founded on the concept of checks and balances, but Republicans in Congress are bending the knee to those who seek to gut our government from the inside out. We have the power to stop the cessation of power to Donald Trump and Elon Musk. I urge a no vote on the CR.

It is absolutely essential to overthrow Chuck Schumer as leader of Senate Democrats. Tonight.

Republicans left us two foul choices intended to harm Americans and give the powers of Congress to Trump and Musk. I’ll be voting NO on this fake CR. We must focus our energy on the dangers of the MAGA Republican government which gave us this false choice.

THEY'RE ALREADY DOING THAT @SCHUMER.SENATE.GOV YOU FUCKING IDIOT ALL THIS DOES IS GUARANTEES MUSK CAN KEEP SHUTTING THE GOVERNMENT DOWN OFFICE BY OFFICE RESIGN, YOU GUTLESS BRAINLESS TRUMP COLLABORATOR

We've made progress toward giving every child the education they deserve. High school graduation rates are at a 14-year high. AP scores outpaced the national average. Eighth graders had some of the highest average scores in reading and math. Let’s not lose that momentum.

The Trump admin. is openly threatening PBS and NPR. This is how @newshour opened its program on Monday. The network accurately reported how Trump's tariffs will hurt Americans. This is journalism. This is courage.

This is good. They should be mad. And Dem Senators should hear and see that anger before they decide how to vote.

It’s been an awful long time since I’ve seen a man less made for a moment than @SenSchumer.

This is exactly right but so commonly misunderstood.

Donald Trump's approval ratings are underwater across the board. Americans don't support how he is handling the economy, the federal work force, foreign policy, or trade. Which, is basically everything a President does.

The @democrats.senate.gov need a new leader. Schumer is unable to meet this moment. He cannot be the opposition leader when he’s a spineless collaborator.

"This is a direct threat to the judiciary of the United States, and it includes the Supreme Court justices themselves."

Chag Purim Sameach! To the Jewish community here in Illinois and across the world: may our Purim be full of joy, celebration, and unity.

Donald Trump and Elon Musk want a shutdown to destroy vital government services faster. It would be a disaster. And we have to alert everyone how much pain it would cause the American people. From my interview on @allinwithchris.bsky.social:

Rollover and play dead wins. I'm honestly really sorry everyone. This is a bad, depressing outcome. We tried our best, and we didn't succeed. We're circling up with Indivisible group leaders over the next day to plan for what accountability will look like. Stay tuned.

Here’s the deal: @chuckschumer has gotta go. He just ain’t made for this moment. Come on Democrats. www.mediaite.com/tv/sorry-chu...

If we enter a shutdown, Congressional Republicans would weaponize their majorities to cherry-pick which parts of government to reopen.

"I have determined the best way to fight Trump and congressional Republicans is by relinquishing all my leverage and voting for their funding bill." What a crock of shit.

The Trump Administration is actively covering up Russian war crimes...and trying to help Russians get away with them. Stop and ponder that a minute. Perhaps it is not surprising from a president who has made obstruction of justice an art form. But it is gut-wrenchingly awful nonetheless.

I haven’t seen the Democratic base this angry at one person in the party quite like this in my recent memory.

Primary @schumer.senate.gov.

Trump says that it should crime to criticize the courts — “It has to stop, it has to be illegal, influencing judges” — which would make his own conduct when he criticized judges who ruled against him a crime

Maybe they should have read Project 2025: “Wall Street is simply flabbergasted that Trump is wrecking the economy” www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...

"I believe that's a tremendous mistake."

Schumer thinks giving Trump six more months to destroy our democracy and ruin the lives of countless millions of Americans is a good strategy. He has no idea what year it is. He is playing 1980s political games as the Panzers roll down Pennsylvania Avenue.

Can we begin the conversation now about cognitive degeneration?

A shutdown would give Donald Trump the keys to the city, state, and country. Musk has said he wants a shutdown, and reporting has shown he is already making plans to use the shutdown to expedite his destruction of key government programs and services.

This is the Trump plan.

BREAKING: Two separate federal judges have determined that thousands of probationary federal employees were fired improperly, and ordered jobs restored across a wide range of government departments. @maddow.msnbc.com explains. www.youtube.com/watch?v=dh3A...

Maybe Senate Dems will do the right thing today IN SPITE OF Schumer.

Exactly right. They are not only misreading the moment, they are not prepared for this moment, not up to this moment, not of this moment.

Trump and Musk would love a shutdown. We must not give them one. From me in @NYTimes.com: www.nytimes.com/2025/03/13/o...

Happy Holi, Illinois. Wishing everyone celebrating the Festival of Colors a vibrant and peaceful spring.

ROSEN and DUCKWORTH no on cloture.

When I told the reporter "Schumer has lost a step," this is what I was thinking about:

At the protest for veterans in DC.

"Squandering the little power you have left is definitely NOT meeting this terrible moment in history."

Attendees could be heard booing loudly after noticing Vance, with the boos increasing in intensity as more concert-goers noticed him.

I’m simply going to post these two facts regarding Sen Schumer’s post: 1. Trump sent JD Vance to lobby Republicans to vote for the partisan GOP CR bill that makes devastating cuts across the board and legitimizes DOGE. 2. Trump publicly castigated GOP Rep Massie for voting NO.

Didn’t expect Schumer to be the guy who electrifies Democrats into ruthless straight talkers - Trump should’ve done it! - but digging the energy in some seriously shitty circumstances 😵‍💫

"It is an unacceptable, unconscionable and un-American spending bill, that's why House Democrats remain strongly opposed." House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., speaks out ahead of key Senate vote on averting a government shutdown.

I’m a no on this bad “CR." R's left Dems no good road on government funding. They forced a choice between two bad MAGA options – both would harm the American people and give away the power of Congress to Trump. That danger is where our focus has to be.

'Highly unusual': White House halts FBI background checks for senior staff, shifts them to Pentagon: Sources. That is very unusual. I’m worried.. a lot

Congratulations to @schumer.senate.gov and the others who just played into the hands of an insane dictator who just said it's illegal for cnn and msnbc to criticize him

A shutdown would give Donald Trump and Elon Musk carte blanche to destroy vital government services at a significantly faster rate than they can right now.

"That is how thousands of Americans got their jobs back today."

Donald Trump is an utterly horrible human being. A cruel, ignorant, pathological liar incapable of shame or human empathy. How the hell did Democrats lose to him? Democrats became elitists/snobs, utterly out of touch with, and dismissive of, regular folks. That’s how.

As usual, AOC is right. As usual, Dem leaders are curled up in a ball under their desks. There was a chance to gain leverage here and, more importantly, actually help protect Americans who the CR will hurt gravely. But no. Kittens need naptime.

Key Democrats voting 'Hell no!' on GOP funding bill and say Trump owns any govt. shutdown youtu.be/fgPVdTY-bSI?...

Mumbling Don is rambling in another Pep Rally that claims the entire basis of corruption in the DOJ is because the DOJ prosecuted him.

Doug Ford, the premier of Ontario, appeared on the PBS News Hour where he asked why Trump was so unhappy with USMCA which Trump created in 2018. Trump is using the fentanyl crisis under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to violate his own agreement.

"Why Welcoming the Nazis is Better for the People of France" by Marshal Philippe Petain.

Thanks to the Democrats of Rossmoor for such a warm welcome as I kicked off my campaign to be CA’s next governor. There were questions about both Trump & our cost of living crisis. Our next gov will have to tackle both: standing up to Trump when he hurts Californians, AND addressing high costs.

“intelligence gathered within the past month, said officials in Moscow believe that Trump is weak, lacks a core set of principles and may be open to manipulation.” www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

I have a friend who thought that blood oranges were so named because they had the same history as blood diamonds. And yes that friend was me

BREAKING: Judge orders thousands of probationary employees fired by Trump be reinstated www.nbcnews.com/politics/tru...

There’s only one way to deal with Russia—With total victory for Ukraine. We arm Ukraine. We provide extensive intelligence. We open supply chains. We provided humanitarian aid. We guarantee NATO membership. Sociopaths only feel pain. apple.news/AMhAau0i-SJq...

No kings. No billionaire lords. No spineless Dems from the 90s.

Primary @durbin.senate.gov.

Wishing a joyful Purim to everyone celebrating this evening in Illinois and around the country. Chag Purim Sameach!

“when you turn America into a vast extortion machine, you will get some short-term wins as weaker powers bend to your gangsterism, but you will burn the relationships, at home and abroad, that are actually the source of America’s long-term might.” www.nytimes.com/2025/03/13/o...

How many lives will be shattered and destroyed, how many institutions in our society razed to the ground, how much will be lost and unrecoverable in the six months Chuck Schumer wants to give Trump before he gets serious about negotiating with him? Fatal cluelessness.

Dismantling the Department of Education = stealing from our children’s futures. This department funds afterschool programs, helps millions of kids get the financial aid they need when they go to college, enforces our civil rights laws that protect students, and more.

I suspect Trump gets more resistance trying to button up his pants every morning than he does from the Democrats.

2-party system is anachronistic. A relic. The Dems have no plan. What’s their platform? Is there a line in the sand? We need a third “way” that combines sanity and courage. Americans still clinging to rationality must figure it out against the cowards & the crazies. www.cbsnews.com/news/governm...

"These potential savings represent an approximate $26 return on every dollar invested."

It's a five alarm fire and Dem leaders are making s'mores.

Wrong action. Wrong rationale. Wrong time to be so wrong…again.

This is the craziest thing ever - to avoid a divisive vote over tariffs that had to happen within 15 days, Republicans declared the remainder of 2025 to be….one long day. What? They can’t just redefine time! This is insane.

She is the leader of the party, titles notwithstanding. The leader we need.

NOW: attacking @normeisen.bsky.social and calling him scum and states that anyone going after him is illegal. Trump is a liar, a criminal and a dictator. He should be prosecuted again.

"Flagrantly illegal, as well as gross and tawdry."

"One lawmaker even vowed at the House Democratic retreat to 'write a check tonight' supporting Ocasio-Cortez."

@schumer.senate.gov to the residents of Washington DC: drop dead

This is what a man without a soul looks and sounds like.👇

Donald Trump delivering remarks at the DOJ is like Pontius Pilate giving an Easter speech

Donald is not happy with the WSJ. Actually, the only thing the USA need fear is Trump, who is destroying the government and the economy with GOP merely watching and nodding. truthsocial.com/@realDonaldT...

Change your mind or resign, @schumer.senate.gov.

Given the times, I’m trying to touch on all health topics, both urgent and also those related to everyday issues. Many ways to get easy access to meds for hair loss that may also pose potential patient safety issues. We highlight what to be vigilant for. Full link here: youtu.be/U3JW7AYM2d4?...

NEW: Trump is not eligible to be elected to a third term. Troublingly, Trump’s nominee for solicitor general deflected questions about whether he would advance arguments that violate the 22nd Amendment's ban on a president being elected to a third term. www.citizensforethics.org/reports-inve...

They say aardvarks and rhinoceroses are living fossils. Also Chuck Schumer.

I believe MAGA has a better understanding of climate change and vaccines than 10 Senate Dems do of the political, social, legal, economic and national security threats we face in this moment. Their delusions will usher in our nightmares.

Good morning to everyone, except @schumer.senate.gov.

"There’s essentially an unconstitutional assault on the government right now – and I think you’d agree with that."

You handed them the ball and now you’re mad. You’re still ageist and sexist and racist. Back Black Women Now and We can take the Country Back. Your white whining and save us bullshit is embarrassing. Anyone who mentions Bernie or AOC as a solution is not your friend. I am unassailablly right. 🕊️

Someone from Schumer’s staff should leak that he was doing this as a trial balloon and gracefully work from there.

Dem leaders mistakenly think the "worst case scenario" is something that isn't happening right now. And by miscalculating that way, they guarantee it will only get worse and worse.

The Democrats need a strong, articulate leader who is a gifted communicator and is widely perceived as a fighter. Schumer is definitely not it.

Promote and amplify. www.nytimes.com/2025/03/12/t...

"Classified U.S. intelligence reports... cast doubt on Vladimir Putin’s willingness to end the war against Ukraine, assessing that [Putin] has not veered from his maximalist goal of dominating his western neighbor" via @washingtonpost.com www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

Every day Dem leaders work to bring to life another chapter in their Project 1985 plan. (And yes, I know Project 2025 is the GOP plant to send us back to 1725. And it’s the greater evil. But wouldn’t it be good if Dems tried to stop them?).