Ben Shute
@brsjr.bsky.social
Retired - Former Program Director - Democratic Practice at Rockefeller Brothers Fund
Reposted by Ben Shute
Harvard has set an example for other higher-ed institutions - rejecting an unlawful and ham-handed attempt to stifle academic freedom, while taking steps to make sure students can benefit from an environment of intellectual inquiry, rigorous debate and mutual respect. Let’s hope others follow suit.
April 15, 2025 at 3:52 AM
Harvard has set an example for other higher-ed institutions - rejecting an unlawful and ham-handed attempt to stifle academic freedom, while taking steps to make sure students can benefit from an environment of intellectual inquiry, rigorous debate and mutual respect. Let’s hope others follow suit.
Reposted by Ben Shute
The members of the Jan 6 Committee are all proud of our work.
Your threats will not intimidate us.
Or silence us.
Your threats will not intimidate us.
Or silence us.
March 17, 2025 at 3:16 PM
The members of the Jan 6 Committee are all proud of our work.
Your threats will not intimidate us.
Or silence us.
Your threats will not intimidate us.
Or silence us.
Reposted by Ben Shute
Reposted by Ben Shute
“The US spent 8 decades building an international system of rules, norms and values that has produced the longest period of great power peace and global prosperity in human history.” Fareed Zakaria on how upending the world order will only weaken America: www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
Opinion | Trump upending world order will cost America dearly
The decline of American influence is a gift to Russia and China.
www.washingtonpost.com
March 17, 2025 at 11:53 AM
“The US spent 8 decades building an international system of rules, norms and values that has produced the longest period of great power peace and global prosperity in human history.” Fareed Zakaria on how upending the world order will only weaken America: www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
Reposted by Ben Shute
BREAKING: In response to our lawsuit, the National Endowment for the Arts will no longer force grant applicants to certify that they won't promote "gender ideology."
This is a big step toward defeating the NEA's unconstitutional censorship.
This is a big step toward defeating the NEA's unconstitutional censorship.
March 7, 2025 at 11:46 PM
BREAKING: In response to our lawsuit, the National Endowment for the Arts will no longer force grant applicants to certify that they won't promote "gender ideology."
This is a big step toward defeating the NEA's unconstitutional censorship.
This is a big step toward defeating the NEA's unconstitutional censorship.
Reposted by Ben Shute
With his permission, I'm sharing Dean Treanor's response to Ed Martin's letter:
March 6, 2025 at 8:17 PM
With his permission, I'm sharing Dean Treanor's response to Ed Martin's letter:
Reposted by Ben Shute
My husband ran a successful business and used our local rural post office daily. My elderly neighbor’s meds come through the rural post office.
The post office is one of the only places left open in my rural community. Losing it could quite literally kill my town and my neighbors.
The post office is one of the only places left open in my rural community. Losing it could quite literally kill my town and my neighbors.
March 7, 2025 at 1:28 PM
My husband ran a successful business and used our local rural post office daily. My elderly neighbor’s meds come through the rural post office.
The post office is one of the only places left open in my rural community. Losing it could quite literally kill my town and my neighbors.
The post office is one of the only places left open in my rural community. Losing it could quite literally kill my town and my neighbors.
Reposted by Ben Shute
Reposted by Ben Shute
How hard would it be to ask "Why do you insist that foreign nations pay tariffs when it’s simply not true? That’s not how tariffs work. Domestic importers pay the tariffs – and typically pass along the added costs to American consumers. Do you not understand that?" presswatchers.org/2025/02/the-...
The White House press corps needs to prove its value if it wants people to care about its fate | Press Watch
Reporters with access to Trump need to confront him about his lies, or else what's the point?
presswatchers.org
March 3, 2025 at 8:07 PM
How hard would it be to ask "Why do you insist that foreign nations pay tariffs when it’s simply not true? That’s not how tariffs work. Domestic importers pay the tariffs – and typically pass along the added costs to American consumers. Do you not understand that?" presswatchers.org/2025/02/the-...
Reposted by Ben Shute
"None of us should let Congress off the hook. The key constitutional crisis here is if Congress does not do its job of standing up to abuse of power." — @mawaldman.bsky.social on @ayman.msnbc.com
March 3, 2025 at 10:14 PM
"None of us should let Congress off the hook. The key constitutional crisis here is if Congress does not do its job of standing up to abuse of power." — @mawaldman.bsky.social on @ayman.msnbc.com
Reposted by Ben Shute
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NEW: A source tells me that response teams for FEMA set to deploy to the South Carolina wildfires are unable to travel because their government issued travel cards have had their limits reduced to $1. FEMA response team cards were supposed to be exempt.
March 4, 2025 at 1:59 AM
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Reposted by Ben Shute
Leaders of the free world stand united in London
The United States is not among them
The United States is not among them
March 2, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Leaders of the free world stand united in London
The United States is not among them
The United States is not among them
Reposted by Ben Shute
i am reading an analysis of john yoo’s work justifying unilateral presidential authority over foreign affairs when he was in the bush OLC, and i am once again struck by shoddy dishonesty of his output! he moves as close as you can to just making stuff up without fully crossing the line.
March 2, 2025 at 3:07 PM
i am reading an analysis of john yoo’s work justifying unilateral presidential authority over foreign affairs when he was in the bush OLC, and i am once again struck by shoddy dishonesty of his output! he moves as close as you can to just making stuff up without fully crossing the line.
Reposted by Ben Shute
Nobody should be surprised that our Secretary of State is a pathetic, weak, cowardly piece of shit.
February 28, 2025 at 11:19 PM
Nobody should be surprised that our Secretary of State is a pathetic, weak, cowardly piece of shit.
Reposted by Ben Shute
You would not treat a guest in your home — even one you really didn’t like — the way Trump and Vance treated Zelensky today.
March 1, 2025 at 4:15 AM
You would not treat a guest in your home — even one you really didn’t like — the way Trump and Vance treated Zelensky today.
Reposted by Ben Shute
Reposted by Ben Shute
Never forget this day, February 28, 2025, when an American president abused and betrayed a democratic ally in the midst of a barbaric war with Russia. This grotesque stain will never wash away.
February 28, 2025 at 10:08 PM
Never forget this day, February 28, 2025, when an American president abused and betrayed a democratic ally in the midst of a barbaric war with Russia. This grotesque stain will never wash away.
Reposted by Ben Shute
That press conference was the most disgraceful act of betrayal I’ve ever seen.
February 28, 2025 at 11:39 PM
That press conference was the most disgraceful act of betrayal I’ve ever seen.
The Department of Government Ineptitude
open.substack.com/pub/contrari...
open.substack.com/pub/contrari...
The Department of Government Ineptitude
Elon Musk's DOGE team is violating every basic principle of good management.
open.substack.com
March 1, 2025 at 4:14 AM
The Department of Government Ineptitude
open.substack.com/pub/contrari...
open.substack.com/pub/contrari...
Reposted by Ben Shute
How do we reform the FBI? Join the Brennan Center for a Reddit AMA on the FBI with expert @rethinkintel.bsky.social on Friday, Feb 28, 1-3pm ET.
February 28, 2025 at 12:47 AM
How do we reform the FBI? Join the Brennan Center for a Reddit AMA on the FBI with expert @rethinkintel.bsky.social on Friday, Feb 28, 1-3pm ET.
"Before Trump took office, the number of people employed by the U.S. government was at about the same level it was 50 years ago, although the U.S. population has increased by about two thirds…” Source: Heather Cox Richardson, Letters from an American.
February 27, 2025 at 7:17 PM
"Before Trump took office, the number of people employed by the U.S. government was at about the same level it was 50 years ago, although the U.S. population has increased by about two thirds…” Source: Heather Cox Richardson, Letters from an American.
Reposted by Ben Shute
“Unlike Nixon, who moved China toward our corner, at least for 30 years, Trump is moving America toward Russia’s corner, while betraying an ally and breaking the Atlantic alliance.” This U.N. vote, and this presidency, will haunt us for decades.
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/25/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/25/o...
Opinion | America’s Most Shameful Vote Ever at the U.N.
What happens when we stop “living within the truth.”
www.nytimes.com
February 26, 2025 at 12:04 PM
“Unlike Nixon, who moved China toward our corner, at least for 30 years, Trump is moving America toward Russia’s corner, while betraying an ally and breaking the Atlantic alliance.” This U.N. vote, and this presidency, will haunt us for decades.
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/25/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/25/o...
Reposted by Ben Shute
