Ellen Bender
@ellenbnyc.bsky.social
Co-Founder, Markers For Democracy, Postcards To Voters Writer, Retired Lawyer, Mom, Reader of Banned Books https://linktr.ee/markersfordemocracy
Reposted by Ellen Bender
You won't find a more important piece than this -- an absolute must-read from the woman who wrote the book on concentration camps
When I got the contract to write a history of concentration camps in 2014, I hoped to keep the US from ending up here. That didn't work out! But now it's critical to understand how much is already in process and the enormity of what's coming. The sooner we act to stop it, the more people we'll save.
Building the camps
The warehouseification of detention and initial thoughts on stopping it.
degenerateart.beehiiv.com
February 11, 2026 at 2:49 AM
You won't find a more important piece than this -- an absolute must-read from the woman who wrote the book on concentration camps
Reposted by Ellen Bender
Not official just yet but AIPAC really just burned more than $2,300,000 on a race against a candidate who is pro Israel but who wouldn't agree, preemptively, to always unconditionally vote for aid to Israel. And then that guy won anyway.
February 6, 2026 at 1:52 AM
Not official just yet but AIPAC really just burned more than $2,300,000 on a race against a candidate who is pro Israel but who wouldn't agree, preemptively, to always unconditionally vote for aid to Israel. And then that guy won anyway.
Reposted by Ellen Bender
I testified Friday before Gov. Pritzker's commission studying abuses of ICE and CBP and tried to explain how the agencies went so far off track. It's actually way worse than I ever realized. Please read and share my testimony as Congress considers reform: www.doomsdayscenario.co/p/accountabi...
Accountability for ICE and CBP
However bad you think the corruption and misconduct at ICE and CBP is — the reality is far far worse.
www.doomsdayscenario.co
February 1, 2026 at 5:02 PM
I testified Friday before Gov. Pritzker's commission studying abuses of ICE and CBP and tried to explain how the agencies went so far off track. It's actually way worse than I ever realized. Please read and share my testimony as Congress considers reform: www.doomsdayscenario.co/p/accountabi...
Reposted by Ellen Bender
Writing #PostcardstoVoters is good for my soul & for democracy. Help increase name recognition for downballot candidates! Cards for Kadarius Knapper for school board 🚌 in AR & Julio Salinas for state rep, Rio Grande Valley, TX. More: @markers4democracy.bsky.social.
📷️ & cards by #StephaniesVision
📷️ & cards by #StephaniesVision
February 1, 2026 at 7:30 PM
Writing #PostcardstoVoters is good for my soul & for democracy. Help increase name recognition for downballot candidates! Cards for Kadarius Knapper for school board 🚌 in AR & Julio Salinas for state rep, Rio Grande Valley, TX. More: @markers4democracy.bsky.social.
📷️ & cards by #StephaniesVision
📷️ & cards by #StephaniesVision
Reposted by Ellen Bender
Lady Gaga has put out a gorgeous anthem for Minneapolis.
youtu.be/e3o5FIXoK84?...
youtu.be/e3o5FIXoK84?...
Won’t You Be My Neighbor? | Lady Gaga Original
YouTube video by Rocket
youtu.be
January 29, 2026 at 7:16 PM
Lady Gaga has put out a gorgeous anthem for Minneapolis.
youtu.be/e3o5FIXoK84?...
youtu.be/e3o5FIXoK84?...
Reposted by Ellen Bender
Reposted by Ellen Bender
January 28, 2026 at 8:57 PM
Reposted by Ellen Bender
I wrote this song on Saturday, recorded it yesterday and released it to you today in response to the state terror being visited on the city of Minneapolis. It’s dedicated to the people of Minneapolis, our innocent immigrant neighbors and in memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good.
Stay free
Stay free
Bruce Springsteen - Streets Of Minneapolis (Official Audio)
YouTube video by Bruce Springsteen
youtu.be
January 28, 2026 at 5:02 PM
I wrote this song on Saturday, recorded it yesterday and released it to you today in response to the state terror being visited on the city of Minneapolis. It’s dedicated to the people of Minneapolis, our innocent immigrant neighbors and in memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good.
Stay free
Stay free
Alex Pretti and Another Kind of Masculinity
open.substack.com/pub/pegtyre/...
open.substack.com/pub/pegtyre/...
Alex Pretti and Another Kind of Masculinity
Are We Finally Moving Away from Temu Tough Guys?
open.substack.com
January 27, 2026 at 7:18 PM
Alex Pretti and Another Kind of Masculinity
open.substack.com/pub/pegtyre/...
open.substack.com/pub/pegtyre/...
Reposted by Ellen Bender
Just a reminder that Niall Ferguson is the guy in every dystopian sci-fi movie who issues blithe assurances that "the system will contain X"
Of course, not all of them felt this way. Niall Ferguson, for example, projected a serene confidence that I found somewhat shocking
April 9, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Just a reminder that Niall Ferguson is the guy in every dystopian sci-fi movie who issues blithe assurances that "the system will contain X"
Reposted by Ellen Bender
My subscription to Brian's substack had lapsed because I hadn't updated my credit card, but I finally resubscribed just to read and share this. Highly recommend.
January 26, 2026 at 6:47 PM
My subscription to Brian's substack had lapsed because I hadn't updated my credit card, but I finally resubscribed just to read and share this. Highly recommend.
Reposted by Ellen Bender
And this is why if you would like to see a better Dem Party, you should be adopting one or two primary challengers in safe Dem seats and helping them knock out a consultant-led incumbent.
January 26, 2026 at 6:45 PM
And this is why if you would like to see a better Dem Party, you should be adopting one or two primary challengers in safe Dem seats and helping them knock out a consultant-led incumbent.
Reposted by Ellen Bender
For the umpteenth time, Brian nails it. House Dem Leadership screwed up big last week. This isn't "I told ya so." There should be some real reflection within the Dem Caucus about the systemic error in judgement that dismissed all efforts aimed at getting them to make the right call last week.
The murder of Alex Pretti might prove to be a political turning point for the GOP. It should be a turning point for Dems, too. For the current leadership, and the consultant-industrial complex, which just fatally endangered the careers of seven members who chose to put morality last.
A Failure In Plain Sight
Who, if anyone, will acknowledge the obvious, and do something about it?
www.offmessage.net
January 26, 2026 at 6:45 PM
For the umpteenth time, Brian nails it. House Dem Leadership screwed up big last week. This isn't "I told ya so." There should be some real reflection within the Dem Caucus about the systemic error in judgement that dismissed all efforts aimed at getting them to make the right call last week.
Reposted by Ellen Bender
I think it's really bad that the group that claims to speak for Jews at Columbia University is so grossly xenophobic.
Also - Mamdani did grow up in NYC.
Also - Mamdani did grow up in NYC.
January 26, 2026 at 4:07 PM
I think it's really bad that the group that claims to speak for Jews at Columbia University is so grossly xenophobic.
Also - Mamdani did grow up in NYC.
Also - Mamdani did grow up in NYC.
Reposted by Ellen Bender
One of the best things I’ve read in a while:
January 25, 2026 at 10:39 PM
One of the best things I’ve read in a while:
Tell your senators to rein in ICE NOW act.indivisible.org/sign/ice-out...
Tell your senators to rein in ICE NOW
On Wednesday, January 7, Renee Good was killed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Then, on January 24, Border Patrol killed Alex Pretti. These deaths were a direct...
act.indivisible.org
January 24, 2026 at 9:49 PM
Tell your senators to rein in ICE NOW act.indivisible.org/sign/ice-out...
Reposted by Ellen Bender
You cannot claim to be a Democrat and vote to finance fascism. Any notion this will shore up your law enforcement bonafides will come crashing down as Americans see that the criminals are ICE and you just upped their weapons stash.
Every representative who voted yes voted for more brutalization of our neighbors, more kidnapping of our children, more trampling of our rights, and more murder from this government.
January 22, 2026 at 11:57 PM
You cannot claim to be a Democrat and vote to finance fascism. Any notion this will shore up your law enforcement bonafides will come crashing down as Americans see that the criminals are ICE and you just upped their weapons stash.
Reposted by Ellen Bender
Trump & Vance are trying to inject their conception of America into the body politic & the American people are overwhelmingly rejecting it, like a failed organ transplant.
January 23, 2026 at 12:10 AM
Trump & Vance are trying to inject their conception of America into the body politic & the American people are overwhelmingly rejecting it, like a failed organ transplant.
Reposted by Ellen Bender
📣 ANNOUNCEMENT:
Last fall, in addition to my usual fundraising page to raise money VA Dems running in *competitive* state legislative districts, @90for90.bsky.social approached me with an idea to create a *second* page *specifically* to raise money for the REDDEST, LEAST competitive seats. 1/
Last fall, in addition to my usual fundraising page to raise money VA Dems running in *competitive* state legislative districts, @90for90.bsky.social approached me with an idea to create a *second* page *specifically* to raise money for the REDDEST, LEAST competitive seats. 1/
January 20, 2026 at 8:20 PM
📣 ANNOUNCEMENT:
Last fall, in addition to my usual fundraising page to raise money VA Dems running in *competitive* state legislative districts, @90for90.bsky.social approached me with an idea to create a *second* page *specifically* to raise money for the REDDEST, LEAST competitive seats. 1/
Last fall, in addition to my usual fundraising page to raise money VA Dems running in *competitive* state legislative districts, @90for90.bsky.social approached me with an idea to create a *second* page *specifically* to raise money for the REDDEST, LEAST competitive seats. 1/
@mediaanddemocracy.bsky.social calls out Illegal intimidation of journalists by Trump administration open.substack.com/pub/mediaand...
MAD calls out Illegal intimidation of journalists by Trump administration
and Jeff Bezos for cowardice and greed.
open.substack.com
January 19, 2026 at 10:24 PM
@mediaanddemocracy.bsky.social calls out Illegal intimidation of journalists by Trump administration open.substack.com/pub/mediaand...
Read "Dispatch from the occupation" by @donmoyn.bsky.social open.substack.com/pub/donmoyni...
Dispatch from the occupation
What life is like in Minneapolis now
open.substack.com
January 17, 2026 at 3:13 PM
Read "Dispatch from the occupation" by @donmoyn.bsky.social open.substack.com/pub/donmoyni...
Reposted by Ellen Bender
I have the utmost respect for Senator Kaine and Senator Warner but we do not need “coaching” on redistricting coming from a cuck chair in the corner. How about you all stay focused on the fascist in the White House and let us handle redistricting in Virginia. 10-1
January 16, 2026 at 10:10 PM
I have the utmost respect for Senator Kaine and Senator Warner but we do not need “coaching” on redistricting coming from a cuck chair in the corner. How about you all stay focused on the fascist in the White House and let us handle redistricting in Virginia. 10-1
Reposted by Ellen Bender
January 16, 2026 at 12:32 PM