David Mermin
@dmermin.bsky.social
(he/him) Pollster based in Berkeley, California. Empiricist, urbanist, egalitarian, cartophile. Fan of democracy, habitable planets, public transit, association football.
Reposted by David Mermin
DOGE was not a money-saving effort. It was an effort to chase down and prove right-wing conspiracy theories. They went after USAID to prove conspiracy theories about foreign aid. Then they went after SSA to, again, pursue conspiracy theories about Dems paying "illegals" to vote. 1/2
All DOGE accomplished was purging critical government staff, handing private data to outsiders, and sentencing thousands in developing countries to death by gutting USAID.
I don’t say this lightly: if there were any justice in this world, the people responsible for this devastation would be in jail
I don’t say this lightly: if there were any justice in this world, the people responsible for this devastation would be in jail
DOGE 'doesn't exist' with eight months left on its charter
U.S. President Donald Trump's Department of Government Efficiency has disbanded with eight months left to its mandate.
www.cnbc.com
November 25, 2025 at 2:47 PM
DOGE was not a money-saving effort. It was an effort to chase down and prove right-wing conspiracy theories. They went after USAID to prove conspiracy theories about foreign aid. Then they went after SSA to, again, pursue conspiracy theories about Dems paying "illegals" to vote. 1/2
Take notes, America. This will be on the test.
November 25, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Take notes, America. This will be on the test.
Reposted by David Mermin
A member of Congress could literally bet on their own vote and profit 10x. A White House aide could bet on a tariff decision before it’s announced. Theres ZERO oversight. This isn’t innovation, it’s legalized insider trading on democracy itself. Ban Kalshi politics
open.substack.com/pub/adamkinz...
open.substack.com/pub/adamkinz...
Kalshi Is a Corruption Time Bomb—and Congress Is Sitting on It
A platform that lets insiders (and legislators) gamble on their own behavior is a threat to democracy.
open.substack.com
November 25, 2025 at 4:14 PM
A member of Congress could literally bet on their own vote and profit 10x. A White House aide could bet on a tariff decision before it’s announced. Theres ZERO oversight. This isn’t innovation, it’s legalized insider trading on democracy itself. Ban Kalshi politics
open.substack.com/pub/adamkinz...
open.substack.com/pub/adamkinz...
It took 6 years, from 1965 to 1971, for US public support for the Vietnam War to drop from 59% to 30%. That's where this one *starts*.
November 25, 2025 at 2:21 AM
It took 6 years, from 1965 to 1971, for US public support for the Vietnam War to drop from 59% to 30%. That's where this one *starts*.
Reposted by David Mermin
Political scientists don’t really think about threats of violence as a constraint on elected officials but we really need to be thinking about it this way
#NEW: Gov. Mike Braun said he and his family are among the Republicans targeted in a wave of threats against state officeholders over Indiana redistricting. www.cnn.com/2025/11/21/…
Indiana’s governor and at least 8 lawmakers have been swatted or threatened as state Republicans...
Indiana Gov. Mike Braun said he and his family are among the Republicans targeted in a wave of threats against state officeholders this week as President Donald Trump pressures Hoosier State lawmak...
www.cnn.com
November 23, 2025 at 10:04 PM
Political scientists don’t really think about threats of violence as a constraint on elected officials but we really need to be thinking about it this way
Reposted by David Mermin
1) Start the worst European war since 1945 and commit every imaginable war crime
2) Decide how you want to be rewarded for your aggression
3) Leak the list of your desiderata to the US press
4) Wait for the US president to enforce your wish list on your victim.
Russian policy 2025
2) Decide how you want to be rewarded for your aggression
3) Leak the list of your desiderata to the US press
4) Wait for the US president to enforce your wish list on your victim.
Russian policy 2025
November 23, 2025 at 3:30 PM
1) Start the worst European war since 1945 and commit every imaginable war crime
2) Decide how you want to be rewarded for your aggression
3) Leak the list of your desiderata to the US press
4) Wait for the US president to enforce your wish list on your victim.
Russian policy 2025
2) Decide how you want to be rewarded for your aggression
3) Leak the list of your desiderata to the US press
4) Wait for the US president to enforce your wish list on your victim.
Russian policy 2025
Reposted by David Mermin
This is not a peace plan. It is a proposal that weakens Ukraine and divides America from Europe, preparing the way for a larger war in the future. In the meantime, it benefits unnamed Russian and American investors, at the expense of everyone else.
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
Trump Has a Recipe for War and Corruption, Not Peace
Who would benefit from the White House’s 28-point proposal for Ukraine?
www.theatlantic.com
November 22, 2025 at 11:11 AM
This is not a peace plan. It is a proposal that weakens Ukraine and divides America from Europe, preparing the way for a larger war in the future. In the meantime, it benefits unnamed Russian and American investors, at the expense of everyone else.
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
A little rounding error
Oopsie.
Trump tariffs to reduce US deficits by $1 trillion less than previous estimate, CBO says reut.rs/3LT5Ofm
November 21, 2025 at 3:54 AM
A little rounding error
Reposted by David Mermin
"Kids will get sick because of what the CDC just did. Some of them will die. But the even bigger story is that the U.S. government is no longer a reliable source of information"
@jvl.bsky.social's latest Triad on RFK Jr. and his cranks. Only @thebulwark.com: www.thebulwark.com/p/is-rfk-jr-...
@jvl.bsky.social's latest Triad on RFK Jr. and his cranks. Only @thebulwark.com: www.thebulwark.com/p/is-rfk-jr-...
What If the Most Dangerous Man in the Administration Isn’t Donald Trump?
The U.S. government is now pushing misinformation.
www.thebulwark.com
November 20, 2025 at 8:44 PM
"Kids will get sick because of what the CDC just did. Some of them will die. But the even bigger story is that the U.S. government is no longer a reliable source of information"
@jvl.bsky.social's latest Triad on RFK Jr. and his cranks. Only @thebulwark.com: www.thebulwark.com/p/is-rfk-jr-...
@jvl.bsky.social's latest Triad on RFK Jr. and his cranks. Only @thebulwark.com: www.thebulwark.com/p/is-rfk-jr-...
Reposted by David Mermin
He already sent a lynch mob to chase Congress out of the Capitol and it was a skin-of-their-teeth miracle they didn't manage to get their hands on any of them.
It's a big deal, but shouldn't be framed as shockingly new. It is his longtime position that murdering his political opponents is good.
It's a big deal, but shouldn't be framed as shockingly new. It is his longtime position that murdering his political opponents is good.
November 20, 2025 at 6:14 PM
He already sent a lynch mob to chase Congress out of the Capitol and it was a skin-of-their-teeth miracle they didn't manage to get their hands on any of them.
It's a big deal, but shouldn't be framed as shockingly new. It is his longtime position that murdering his political opponents is good.
It's a big deal, but shouldn't be framed as shockingly new. It is his longtime position that murdering his political opponents is good.
Reposted by David Mermin
Stephen Miller said the Chicago building was “filled with TdA terrorists.”
DOJ prosecutors have not filed criminal charges or shown evidence that anyone arrested in the raid belonged to the Tren de Aragua gang.
With @frontlinepbs.bsky.social & @blockclubchi.bsky.social
DOJ prosecutors have not filed criminal charges or shown evidence that anyone arrested in the raid belonged to the Tren de Aragua gang.
With @frontlinepbs.bsky.social & @blockclubchi.bsky.social
“I Lost Everything”: Venezuelans Were Rounded Up in a Dramatic Midnight Raid but Never Charged With a Crime
Authorities said Tren de Aragua “terrorists” had taken over the building. A ProPublica investigation found little evidence to back up the government’s claims. For the first time, the Venezuelans arres...
www.propublica.org
November 20, 2025 at 2:40 AM
Stephen Miller said the Chicago building was “filled with TdA terrorists.”
DOJ prosecutors have not filed criminal charges or shown evidence that anyone arrested in the raid belonged to the Tren de Aragua gang.
With @frontlinepbs.bsky.social & @blockclubchi.bsky.social
DOJ prosecutors have not filed criminal charges or shown evidence that anyone arrested in the raid belonged to the Tren de Aragua gang.
With @frontlinepbs.bsky.social & @blockclubchi.bsky.social
Reposted by David Mermin
There’s one person squarely to blame for Trump’s corruption, authoritarianism & assault on democracy: John Roberts. He’s enabled so much of Trump’s lawlessness while somehow escaping accountability for it
New cover story from @pemalevy.bsky.social & me
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
New cover story from @pemalevy.bsky.social & me
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
This is all John Roberts’ fault
Trump owes his corrupt and abusive reign to one man.
www.motherjones.com
November 19, 2025 at 3:27 PM
There’s one person squarely to blame for Trump’s corruption, authoritarianism & assault on democracy: John Roberts. He’s enabled so much of Trump’s lawlessness while somehow escaping accountability for it
New cover story from @pemalevy.bsky.social & me
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
New cover story from @pemalevy.bsky.social & me
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Reposted by David Mermin
"It’s impossible to imagine today’s crisis without the Roberts court having first undermined the foundations of our democracy."
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
November 19, 2025 at 7:36 PM
"It’s impossible to imagine today’s crisis without the Roberts court having first undermined the foundations of our democracy."
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Reposted by David Mermin
Unsatisfied with norm-busting mid-decade partisan gerrymanders, House Republicans are now laying down the intellectual groundwork for an unlawful mid-decade census. www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/...
To Weaken Minority Voting Power, Republicans Push For Unprecedented Mid-Decade Census
Read more here.
www.democracydocket.com
November 19, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Unsatisfied with norm-busting mid-decade partisan gerrymanders, House Republicans are now laying down the intellectual groundwork for an unlawful mid-decade census. www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/...
Entire US GDP in a year is $29 trillion, so no. Making shit up.
Trump to MBS: "$21 trillion will be the amount invested in the United States, or committed to invest, in one year." ("Committed" is doing heavy lifting there)
November 18, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Entire US GDP in a year is $29 trillion, so no. Making shit up.
Reposted by David Mermin
USAID represented 0.3% of the federal budget.
Anybody who thinks thousands of agonizing deaths is a fine price to pay for saving a fractional amount of government spending is unworthy of being listened to, let alone being given political power www.thebulwark.com/p/this-may-b...
This May Be the Cruelest, Most Senseless Thing Trump Has Done
A conversation with Atul Gawande about the human toll of the dismantling of foreign aid.
www.thebulwark.com
November 18, 2025 at 4:09 AM
USAID represented 0.3% of the federal budget.
Always finds a new low
"Quiet! Quiet, Piggy."
November 18, 2025 at 2:58 AM
Always finds a new low
Mass murder by Trump, Musk, and Vought. And they brag about it.
US and European aid cuts could result in 22.6 million deaths worldwide, study finds reut.rs/4oJp7Gm
US and European aid cuts could result in 22.6 million deaths worldwide, study finds
Abrupt cuts to development aid by major donor countries could cause up to 22.6 million additional deaths in developing countries by 2030, including 5.4 million children under five, according to a new study by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) and other organizations.
reut.rs
November 17, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Mass murder by Trump, Musk, and Vought. And they brag about it.
Reposted by David Mermin
Greg Bovino is leading a rebel cavalry terrorizing America—and it's important to recognize that it's in retreat. While the trauma and terror Bovino’s raiders instill is real and damaging, it’s remarkable to note how ineffective the force has turned out to be. www.doomsdayscenario.co/p/trump-bord...
Trump, Border Patrol Retreat in Failure from Chicago
Five important lessons of the first six months of Trump’s immigration raids — and why CBP’s Greg Bovino is the Nathan Bedford Forrest of the Trump era.
www.doomsdayscenario.co
November 17, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Greg Bovino is leading a rebel cavalry terrorizing America—and it's important to recognize that it's in retreat. While the trauma and terror Bovino’s raiders instill is real and damaging, it’s remarkable to note how ineffective the force has turned out to be. www.doomsdayscenario.co/p/trump-bord...
Reposted by David Mermin
Published today in Earth System Science Data: The Global Carbon Budget 2025
essd.copernicus.org/preprints/es...
essd.copernicus.org/preprints/es...
Global Carbon Budget 2025
Abstract. Accurate assessment of anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and their redistribution among the atmosphere, ocean, and terrestrial biosphere in a changing climate is critical to bette...
essd.copernicus.org
November 13, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Published today in Earth System Science Data: The Global Carbon Budget 2025
essd.copernicus.org/preprints/es...
essd.copernicus.org/preprints/es...
Just crossed below 40%! This president is very, very unpopular. Source: fiftyplusone.news
November 12, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Just crossed below 40%! This president is very, very unpopular. Source: fiftyplusone.news
Reposted by David Mermin
Trump is a liar. Tear gassing kids in peaceful neighborhoods makes no one safer.
He cannot steal credit from our violence prevention and law enforcement efforts that have reduced crime for four years straight — long before his masked agents showed up. www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...
He cannot steal credit from our violence prevention and law enforcement efforts that have reduced crime for four years straight — long before his masked agents showed up. www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...
DHS takes credit for crime being down in Chicago. Data shows that was happening before they arrived.
Immigration officials on Tuesday said a drop in crime numbers was thanks to their work. Police data show the decrease was taking place before federal agents arrived in the city.
www.nbcnews.com
November 12, 2025 at 3:27 AM
Trump is a liar. Tear gassing kids in peaceful neighborhoods makes no one safer.
He cannot steal credit from our violence prevention and law enforcement efforts that have reduced crime for four years straight — long before his masked agents showed up. www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...
He cannot steal credit from our violence prevention and law enforcement efforts that have reduced crime for four years straight — long before his masked agents showed up. www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...
Reposted by David Mermin
The CFPB was created. The Trump administration is seeking to eliminate it, despite the fact that Congress has passed no law enabling it to do so.
US consumer watchdog says it is legally blocked from accessing funds reut.rs/4p5bX6x
US consumer watchdog says it is legally blocked from accessing funds
The top U.S. consumer watchdog said on Monday it was legally prohibited from drawing cash from the Federal Reserve to support continuing operations, but that its current funding should last through the end of this year "at least."
reut.rs
November 11, 2025 at 4:46 AM
The CFPB was created. The Trump administration is seeking to eliminate it, despite the fact that Congress has passed no law enabling it to do so.
Reposted by David Mermin
“These most recent pardon recipients appear to have given Trump approximately $250,000 in combined political donations through 2025.”
@alisond64.bsky.social for @forbes.com
@alisond64.bsky.social for @forbes.com
Trump pardoned more than 70 people who helped him try to overturn the 2020 election—the latest in a string of pardons to people who have benefited the president.
Trump’s Pardon List: Here Are The Big-Time Donors And Allies He’s Sprung Free
Trump pardoned more than 70 people who helped him try to overturn the 2020 election—the latest in a string of pardons to people who have benefited the president.
www.forbes.com
November 11, 2025 at 3:24 AM
“These most recent pardon recipients appear to have given Trump approximately $250,000 in combined political donations through 2025.”
@alisond64.bsky.social for @forbes.com
@alisond64.bsky.social for @forbes.com
Reposted by David Mermin
Trump has legalized crime if you’re a prominent Republican or married to one.
November 11, 2025 at 3:43 AM
Trump has legalized crime if you’re a prominent Republican or married to one.