Jeff Blattner
@theblatt.bsky.social
Former Chief Counsel to Sen. Ted Kennedy, Dep. Asst US Atty General, Sup. Ct Law Clerk. Pittsburgh guy now in Colorado
https://jeffblattner.substack.com/
https://dornsife.usc.edu/center-for-political-future/fellows-program/former-fellows/jeff-blattner/
https://jeffblattner.substack.com/
https://dornsife.usc.edu/center-for-political-future/fellows-program/former-fellows/jeff-blattner/
Pinned
Jeff Blattner
@theblatt.bsky.social
· Jan 30
Dems, this isn't that hard. Trump is (1) incompetent and (2) only about enriching himself and his cronies. Anything coming out of his mouth is an attempt to distract from (1) and (2). Repeat as needed.
There are two kinds of Democrats:
Real Democrats see this and say "How can we win back working Trump voters?"
The other kind say "How can we win back the broligarchs?
Be a real Democrat.
Real Democrats see this and say "How can we win back working Trump voters?"
The other kind say "How can we win back the broligarchs?
Be a real Democrat.
December 9, 2025 at 8:49 PM
There are two kinds of Democrats:
Real Democrats see this and say "How can we win back working Trump voters?"
The other kind say "How can we win back the broligarchs?
Be a real Democrat.
Real Democrats see this and say "How can we win back working Trump voters?"
The other kind say "How can we win back the broligarchs?
Be a real Democrat.
Oof. Schumer rated most effective Hill leader by a lowly six percent of senior Democratic aides.
punchbowl.news/article/poll...
punchbowl.news/article/poll...
December 9, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Oof. Schumer rated most effective Hill leader by a lowly six percent of senior Democratic aides.
punchbowl.news/article/poll...
punchbowl.news/article/poll...
Judging from the questions by members of the Supreme Court majority in the FTC case, I think they believe that the American Revolution was fought to replace an all-powerful king with an all-powerful president.
December 8, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Judging from the questions by members of the Supreme Court majority in the FTC case, I think they believe that the American Revolution was fought to replace an all-powerful king with an all-powerful president.
Reposted by Jeff Blattner
I've known Billy Shore since I covered his campaign for Taylor Allderdice Student Council President in 1972. As Maureen Dowd writes, he is a true hero. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/06/o...
Opinion | Leaving Hungry Pols to Help Hungry Kids
www.nytimes.com
December 6, 2025 at 4:09 PM
I've known Billy Shore since I covered his campaign for Taylor Allderdice Student Council President in 1972. As Maureen Dowd writes, he is a true hero. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/06/o...
I've known Billy Shore since I covered his campaign for Taylor Allderdice Student Council President in 1972. As Maureen Dowd writes, he is a true hero. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/06/o...
Opinion | Leaving Hungry Pols to Help Hungry Kids
www.nytimes.com
December 6, 2025 at 4:09 PM
I've known Billy Shore since I covered his campaign for Taylor Allderdice Student Council President in 1972. As Maureen Dowd writes, he is a true hero. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/06/o...
Very smart take (starting around 19:00) on the Colorado Governor race, and why Michael Bennet's approval numbers are falling while Phil Weiser's are rising. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c...
What Are Coloradans Thinking? Plus, Fake Snow, Rent Algorithms, and Bennet vs. Weiser
Podcast Episode · City Cast Denver · 11/25/2025 · 42m
podcasts.apple.com
December 4, 2025 at 12:29 AM
Very smart take (starting around 19:00) on the Colorado Governor race, and why Michael Bennet's approval numbers are falling while Phil Weiser's are rising. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c...
Reposted by Jeff Blattner
Fascinating, not entirely sympathetic, profile by Tim Alberta. Details lots of complaints by other politicians; but what's most interesting is Shapiro's relentless focus on improving the lives of all Pennsylvanians, meeting them where they are, not condescending. www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
The Operator
Josh Shapiro has spent his life preparing to lead an America that might no longer exist.
www.theatlantic.com
December 3, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Fascinating, not entirely sympathetic, profile by Tim Alberta. Details lots of complaints by other politicians; but what's most interesting is Shapiro's relentless focus on improving the lives of all Pennsylvanians, meeting them where they are, not condescending. www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
Fascinating, not entirely sympathetic, profile by Tim Alberta. Details lots of complaints by other politicians; but what's most interesting is Shapiro's relentless focus on improving the lives of all Pennsylvanians, meeting them where they are, not condescending. www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
The Operator
Josh Shapiro has spent his life preparing to lead an America that might no longer exist.
www.theatlantic.com
December 3, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Fascinating, not entirely sympathetic, profile by Tim Alberta. Details lots of complaints by other politicians; but what's most interesting is Shapiro's relentless focus on improving the lives of all Pennsylvanians, meeting them where they are, not condescending. www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
This could result in a situation in which Hegseth cannot set foot in a civilized country outside the U.S. without risking arrest.
Exclusive: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gave an order to “kill everybody” in the first strike on suspected drug boats in the Caribbean. After two men survived, the mission commander ordered a second strike to comply with Hegseth’s instructions, according to two sources.
Hegseth order on first Caribbean boat strike, officials say: Kill them all
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a verbal order to kill all crew members in the Sept. 2 strike on a suspected drug boat. Navy SEALs fired a second missile.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 29, 2025 at 4:00 PM
This could result in a situation in which Hegseth cannot set foot in a civilized country outside the U.S. without risking arrest.
A smart deep-dive into how to address the longer-term challenges facing liberal democracy. on.ft.com/3KxCkDr
Liberalism can win back the working class. Here’s how
Nobel-winning economist Daron Acemoglu on Zohran Mamdani’s rise, the problem with cultural politics — and the case for pro-worker AI
on.ft.com
November 29, 2025 at 3:56 PM
A smart deep-dive into how to address the longer-term challenges facing liberal democracy. on.ft.com/3KxCkDr
George Packer on the intellectual roots of MAGA, and, importantly, on liberals' need to forge a compelling and coherent vision for addressing the despair that feeds MAGA. www.theatlantic.com/books/2025/1...
November 24, 2025 at 3:51 PM
George Packer on the intellectual roots of MAGA, and, importantly, on liberals' need to forge a compelling and coherent vision for addressing the despair that feeds MAGA. www.theatlantic.com/books/2025/1...
The internet is going crazy because a NYC landlord who may need a favor someday is buttering up the mayor-elect...
November 21, 2025 at 10:20 PM
The internet is going crazy because a NYC landlord who may need a favor someday is buttering up the mayor-elect...
If Paramount succeeds in buying WBD, since 2016, the following major news outlets will have turned Trump-adjacent:
-- CBS News;
-- CNN:
-- Twitter;
-- Washington Post;
-- LA Times.
-- CBS News;
-- CNN:
-- Twitter;
-- Washington Post;
-- LA Times.
November 21, 2025 at 10:03 PM
If Paramount succeeds in buying WBD, since 2016, the following major news outlets will have turned Trump-adjacent:
-- CBS News;
-- CNN:
-- Twitter;
-- Washington Post;
-- LA Times.
-- CBS News;
-- CNN:
-- Twitter;
-- Washington Post;
-- LA Times.
Reason to be cheerful.
news.gallup.com/poll/696494/...
news.gallup.com/poll/696494/...
Americans Show Consensus on Many Democracy-Related Matters
A Kettering Foundation/Gallup survey finds most Americans support political compromise, view multiculturalism as a strength and reject political violence.
news.gallup.com
November 20, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Reason to be cheerful.
news.gallup.com/poll/696494/...
news.gallup.com/poll/696494/...
What's at stake is whether Congress can place any limits on AI. Federal legislation happens when those who pay the most lobbyists want it to happen. Unless states retain some power to regulate AI's impact within their borders, big tech firms have no incentive to agree to reasonable federal rules.
🟡 NEW: Democrats are fighting to preserve states’ ability to regulate AI after President Donald Trump called on Congress to pass a moratorium on state-level action.
www.semafor.com/article/11/1...
www.semafor.com/article/11/1...
Democrats fighting to preserve states’ ability to regulate AI
The issue is roaring back to life during defense bill talks after President Donald Trump urged Republicans to act; the Senate had voted 99-1 against a state-level moratorium.
www.semafor.com
November 19, 2025 at 11:03 PM
What's at stake is whether Congress can place any limits on AI. Federal legislation happens when those who pay the most lobbyists want it to happen. Unless states retain some power to regulate AI's impact within their borders, big tech firms have no incentive to agree to reasonable federal rules.
"I’ve been spending time with [Jason] Crow — we’ve done a half-dozen interviews over the past few months," David Ignatius writes.
"I think [@crow.house.gov] should be taken more seriously as a leader in the Democratic Party, perhaps even a presidential candidate."
"I think [@crow.house.gov] should be taken more seriously as a leader in the Democratic Party, perhaps even a presidential candidate."
Opinion | This rising House Democrat is a voice for the angry middle
Why I’m keeping an eye on the politcal trajectory of Jason Crow, a veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan.
wapo.st
November 19, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Reposted by Jeff Blattner
Lest there be any insinuation that Dems spared their own. It would be tough for Kathy Ruemmler—Obama’s WH Counsel from 2011 to mid-2014—to come off looking worse in these docs the committee Dems released. oversightdemocrats.house.gov/sites/evo-su...
![From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Kathy Ruemmler
9/19/2014 11:54:57 AM
jeffrey E. ljeevacation@gmail.com]
Re:
Importance: High
Doesn't look like you are prioritizing your schedule very effeetively.....how are you going to manage all of that? this is unga week so the boss will be in town too....l'Il be here all week -- you may get sick of me....just sat down on the train so can't talk freely.
On Sep 19, 2014 7:48 AM, "jeffrey E." <jeevacation@gmail.com> wrote:
"girls?", careful i will renew an old habit, . this week, thiel, summers, bill burns, gordon brown, jagland, ( council of curope and nobel chairman). mongolia pres, hardeep puree (india), boris ( gates). jabor (qatar ). sultan (dubai, ), kosslyn (harvard), leon black, woody. you are a welcome guest at any... also if you think there are interesting people in town, everyone here for climate summit, clinton security council, holy shit im on
for next 30 minutes
On Fri, Sep 19, 2014 at 7:15 AM, Kathy Ruemmler -
> wrote:
Most girls do not have to worry about this crap.
On Sep 19, 20147:09 AM, "jeffrey E." <jeevacation@gmail.com> wrote:
understood. it comes down to high risk / reward / low risk / reward. professional, cmotional. and financial
On Fri, Sep 19, 2014 at 6:15 AM, Kathy Ruemmler
Agreed, but I need to be prepared to say yes before I talk to him.
wrote:
Sent from my iPad
On Sep 19,2014, at 1:21 AM, "jeffrey E." <jcevacation@gmail.com>wrote:](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:on5oeywiqx32fh2zau473wz6/bafkreidpc4aexgxfahdqvqgbocphszflpkdsfpldci2zeo7aqsjkzkbub4@jpeg)
November 12, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Lest there be any insinuation that Dems spared their own. It would be tough for Kathy Ruemmler—Obama’s WH Counsel from 2011 to mid-2014—to come off looking worse in these docs the committee Dems released. oversightdemocrats.house.gov/sites/evo-su...
There's a point in the dramatic arc of a bully where he weakens and the people he's abused turn on him, hastening his downfall. I can't wait.
November 12, 2025 at 9:28 PM
There's a point in the dramatic arc of a bully where he weakens and the people he's abused turn on him, hastening his downfall. I can't wait.
Yes yes yes
Trump as told by Hunter Thompson: ""We had all the momentum; we were riding the crest of a high & beautiful wave. So now..., you can go up on a steep hill in [Mar A Lago], & with the right kind of eyes you can almost see the high-water mark - that place where the wave finally broke and rolled back."
November 12, 2025 at 8:59 PM
Yes yes yes
Being called dirty by Epstein makes being called ugly by a frog seem like a compliment.
November 12, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Being called dirty by Epstein makes being called ugly by a frog seem like a compliment.
Jon Stewart gets it. youtu.be/eFI6MwlLJ08?...
November 11, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Jon Stewart gets it. youtu.be/eFI6MwlLJ08?...
Senate Democrats lack "muscle memory" of how to win in Senate. The filibuster is a tool to force majority to allow up or down votes on amendments to pending bills. 51 votes and it's in the bill: that's how the Senate worked for decades. If Dem Leadership won't fight for that, we need new leaders.
November 10, 2025 at 10:10 PM
Senate Democrats lack "muscle memory" of how to win in Senate. The filibuster is a tool to force majority to allow up or down votes on amendments to pending bills. 51 votes and it's in the bill: that's how the Senate worked for decades. If Dem Leadership won't fight for that, we need new leaders.
I'm sorry but I can't go along with self-congratulatory takes that 'the Dems really won.' No way. You win when you make a difference. This result does nothing. A vote on a bill that would die in the House is saving face, not making a difference. The American people deserve better.
November 10, 2025 at 8:57 PM
I'm sorry but I can't go along with self-congratulatory takes that 'the Dems really won.' No way. You win when you make a difference. This result does nothing. A vote on a bill that would die in the House is saving face, not making a difference. The American people deserve better.