Matthew Stiegler
@matthewstiegler.bsky.social
Appellate lawyer, president of Third Circuit Bar Association, former prosecutor, fellow of American Academy of Appellate Lawyers. Boring until fascism.
Views here: just mine.
Views here: just mine.
Pinned
🧵 Authoritarianism, Democratization, and Coalition Politics.
The consensus around here is, more or less, that the United States is currently a consolidating authoritarian regime controlled by a mix of reactionary populists and fascists.
The consensus around here is, more or less, that the United States is currently a consolidating authoritarian regime controlled by a mix of reactionary populists and fascists.
We lose it all if we don’t unite in time.
Reposted by Matthew Stiegler
I have come to believe this as well. The list is too strange. I don’t think a majority wanted to cave, but many more than the 8.
I think that these 8 Senators are falling on the sword for Schumer and other Senators who wanted the shutdown to end. This allows the majority of Senators to save face; and only retiring or not up for reelection Senators take the heat.
It’s a ruse.
It’s a ruse.
November 10, 2025 at 4:31 PM
I have come to believe this as well. The list is too strange. I don’t think a majority wanted to cave, but many more than the 8.
Reposted by Matthew Stiegler
Schumer needs to resign
KILMEADE: Schumer says he's voting no. Did you do this outside leadership?
SHAHEEN: No. We kept leadership informed throughout.
SHAHEEN: No. We kept leadership informed throughout.
November 10, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Schumer needs to resign
Mad as I am today, I still believe this.
I believe Schumer and the Senate Dems and their ilk are dinosaurs 20 minutes after the meteor hit. Doomed already.
I believe the emergence of determined anti-authoritarian opposition leadership is inevitable.
That’s not optimism about us.
It’s grim realism about them.
I believe the emergence of determined anti-authoritarian opposition leadership is inevitable.
That’s not optimism about us.
It’s grim realism about them.
November 10, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Mad as I am today, I still believe this.
🫨
The Supreme Court did grant review of one case today, Watson v. Republican National Committee, and it's a big one over state laws allowing the counting of ballots cast by Election Day but received after Election Day.
Here's the docket: www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docke...
And question presented:
Here's the docket: www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docke...
And question presented:
November 10, 2025 at 2:48 PM
🫨
Senators, do you realize how fucking bad you have to be at your jobs for lawyers under 55 to criticize you?
The 7 of us not holding out hope of a judicial nomination for ourselves still dream of getting to tell you who to pick.
We’re the absolute least-brave Senator critics on this earth.
The 7 of us not holding out hope of a judicial nomination for ourselves still dream of getting to tell you who to pick.
We’re the absolute least-brave Senator critics on this earth.
November 10, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Senators, do you realize how fucking bad you have to be at your jobs for lawyers under 55 to criticize you?
The 7 of us not holding out hope of a judicial nomination for ourselves still dream of getting to tell you who to pick.
We’re the absolute least-brave Senator critics on this earth.
The 7 of us not holding out hope of a judicial nomination for ourselves still dream of getting to tell you who to pick.
We’re the absolute least-brave Senator critics on this earth.
The cowardice of Senate Democrats is stupefying.
Their chamber was invaded on January 6. They had to flee the maga mob for their lives. That experience should have transformed them into democracy zealots. Into THE people in government who’ve HAD it.
Instead, it turned them all into twerps.
Their chamber was invaded on January 6. They had to flee the maga mob for their lives. That experience should have transformed them into democracy zealots. Into THE people in government who’ve HAD it.
Instead, it turned them all into twerps.
November 10, 2025 at 2:02 PM
The cowardice of Senate Democrats is stupefying.
Their chamber was invaded on January 6. They had to flee the maga mob for their lives. That experience should have transformed them into democracy zealots. Into THE people in government who’ve HAD it.
Instead, it turned them all into twerps.
Their chamber was invaded on January 6. They had to flee the maga mob for their lives. That experience should have transformed them into democracy zealots. Into THE people in government who’ve HAD it.
Instead, it turned them all into twerps.
Reposted by Matthew Stiegler
The full clip may be even worse. He explains that it “didn’t work” bc Trump took advantage of it to do a bunch of unlawful things. This is the same elite cowardice that has gotten us exactly nowhere. “Gosh, Trump is breaking the law and hurting people. Guess we’d better cave.”
November 10, 2025 at 1:49 PM
The full clip may be even worse. He explains that it “didn’t work” bc Trump took advantage of it to do a bunch of unlawful things. This is the same elite cowardice that has gotten us exactly nowhere. “Gosh, Trump is breaking the law and hurting people. Guess we’d better cave.”
The next march should be No Twerps.
November 10, 2025 at 1:51 PM
The next march should be No Twerps.
Reposted by Matthew Stiegler
Any Democratic senator, at any moment, could've derailed this by calling for Schumer's replacement and casting their colleagues as MAGA collaborators, thereby shifting the Overton window. But they're all in on it. This was always a team effort.
November 10, 2025 at 2:39 AM
Any Democratic senator, at any moment, could've derailed this by calling for Schumer's replacement and casting their colleagues as MAGA collaborators, thereby shifting the Overton window. But they're all in on it. This was always a team effort.
Reposted by Matthew Stiegler
I admire what @design-law.bsky.social and other lawyers here are doing demanding Schumer be replaced. Speaking up against a sitting Senate leader isn’t some clever legal career move. Shows a lot more than being the 185th lawyer to call a university cowardly.
March 21, 2025 at 12:22 PM
I admire what @design-law.bsky.social and other lawyers here are doing demanding Schumer be replaced. Speaking up against a sitting Senate leader isn’t some clever legal career move. Shows a lot more than being the 185th lawyer to call a university cowardly.
8 months ago
Accountability for today’s votes matters, it’s an important signal.
But, for me, the real line isn’t who voted yes or no today, it’s who publicly commits to replacing Schumer with a no voter as minority leader now.
But, for me, the real line isn’t who voted yes or no today, it’s who publicly commits to replacing Schumer with a no voter as minority leader now.
my read: he was a yes the entire time, he lied, and we should assume many of those who were hemming and hawing and saying no position or talking about the amendment deal were potential yes’s too, and this lack of clarity was all about figuring out who was falling on the grenade for the rest of them
November 10, 2025 at 2:37 AM
8 months ago
Reposted by Matthew Stiegler
The average SNAP benefit per month is $177 a person.
The average ACA benefit per month is up to $550 a person.
People want us to hold the line for a reason. This is not a matter of appealing to a base. It’s about people’s lives.
And working people want leaders whose word means something to them.
The average ACA benefit per month is up to $550 a person.
People want us to hold the line for a reason. This is not a matter of appealing to a base. It’s about people’s lives.
And working people want leaders whose word means something to them.
November 10, 2025 at 1:49 AM
The average SNAP benefit per month is $177 a person.
The average ACA benefit per month is up to $550 a person.
People want us to hold the line for a reason. This is not a matter of appealing to a base. It’s about people’s lives.
And working people want leaders whose word means something to them.
The average ACA benefit per month is up to $550 a person.
People want us to hold the line for a reason. This is not a matter of appealing to a base. It’s about people’s lives.
And working people want leaders whose word means something to them.
Reposted by Matthew Stiegler
They call caved. It was not just the moderate Democrats.
Senate reaches deal to reopen government after moderate Democrats cave
Senate Reaches Deal To Reopen Government After Moderate Democrats Cave
Republicans found enough Democrats willing to drop their party's demand to extend soon-to-expire health care subsidies for millions of people.
www.huffpost.com
November 10, 2025 at 1:48 AM
They call caved. It was not just the moderate Democrats.
Reposted by Matthew Stiegler
Agree he needs to go.
For what it’s worth, I think The best interpretation of that result would be that Schumer is getting others to carry his water for him, not that he lost control.
For what it’s worth, I think The best interpretation of that result would be that Schumer is getting others to carry his water for him, not that he lost control.
If Schumer votes AGAINST this but enough Ds vote FOR it that it passes, he needs to RESIGN immediately.
He will have shown himself to be absolutely ineffective as a minority leader. He has to go.
Literally resign tonight.
He will have shown himself to be absolutely ineffective as a minority leader. He has to go.
Literally resign tonight.
November 10, 2025 at 1:22 AM
Agree he needs to go.
For what it’s worth, I think The best interpretation of that result would be that Schumer is getting others to carry his water for him, not that he lost control.
For what it’s worth, I think The best interpretation of that result would be that Schumer is getting others to carry his water for him, not that he lost control.
We deserve better, you twerp.
My statement on the funding deal to reopen government, protect federal employees, and vote to protect health care:
November 10, 2025 at 1:19 AM
We deserve better, you twerp.
Reposted by Matthew Stiegler
in any case it is wild that voters just sent a huge message and a bunch of senate democrats are all, “it doesn’t look like anything to me”
November 10, 2025 at 1:02 AM
in any case it is wild that voters just sent a huge message and a bunch of senate democrats are all, “it doesn’t look like anything to me”
If @fetterman.senate.gov feels so strongly that surrendering on the shutdown is good, he should hold a couple town halls around the state to explain it to the people who elected him, and see what they think.
C’mon, tough guy, do it. Next week.
C’mon, tough guy, do it. Next week.
November 10, 2025 at 1:02 AM
If @fetterman.senate.gov feels so strongly that surrendering on the shutdown is good, he should hold a couple town halls around the state to explain it to the people who elected him, and see what they think.
C’mon, tough guy, do it. Next week.
C’mon, tough guy, do it. Next week.
Reposted by Matthew Stiegler
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Run for Something
Find offices you can run for
runforwhat.net
November 10, 2025 at 12:38 AM
Want a party that actually fights back? Run for office. We’ll help you. runforwhat.net
Reposted by Matthew Stiegler
I think Senate folders are significantly underestimating how fucking angry Democratic voters are at them
November 10, 2025 at 12:40 AM
I think Senate folders are significantly underestimating how fucking angry Democratic voters are at them
This week Democratic voters pulled off a miracle. (Again.). What do we get, immediately? First Cornell capitulates. Now Schumer & Co. appear about to.
The problem isn’t us, it’s them.
The problem isn’t us, it’s them.
This is part of the tragedy of a surrender now. It invites more pain and suffering by emboldening the regime. Why should they listen to a weak opposition?
Schumer and the Dems are about to teach Trump the lesson that they’ll cave whenever he abuses power to sufficiently hurt people.
November 10, 2025 at 12:06 AM
This week Democratic voters pulled off a miracle. (Again.). What do we get, immediately? First Cornell capitulates. Now Schumer & Co. appear about to.
The problem isn’t us, it’s them.
The problem isn’t us, it’s them.
Primary-ageddon 2026. And 2028.
I'm hearing the same thing. Dems are nearing a surrender. I'm shocked. Largest protest in history + best election night in years + polling showing we're kicking their ass in public opinion. And now Dems may cave.
It ain't over til it's over, so please do call if you've got a Dem senator.
It ain't over til it's over, so please do call if you've got a Dem senator.
Sounds like the squishes in the senate caucus are ready to pull the plug with no ACA changes. This is real. If you want to register your opinion you shld call yr senator in the next hour. They not only want to reopen w/nothing. They want cover from their colleagues who still want to hold out.
November 9, 2025 at 11:36 PM
Primary-ageddon 2026. And 2028.
Reposted by Matthew Stiegler
Following up on this. This remains a ‘cave is minutes or hours away’ situation. If you want to impact how this plays out you need to contact senators literally now. I want to add additional points of context. What I’m relaying is what I’ve picked up from highly reliable sources.
Sounds like the squishes in the senate caucus are ready to pull the plug with no ACA changes. This is real. If you want to register your opinion you shld call yr senator in the next hour. They not only want to reopen w/nothing. They want cover from their colleagues who still want to hold out.
November 9, 2025 at 10:42 PM
Following up on this. This remains a ‘cave is minutes or hours away’ situation. If you want to impact how this plays out you need to contact senators literally now. I want to add additional points of context. What I’m relaying is what I’ve picked up from highly reliable sources.
Instead the stadium should be named for E. Jean Carroll instead. Or Brian Sicknick, the capitol police officer who died the day after J6. Or George freaking Soros.
November 9, 2025 at 10:17 PM
Instead the stadium should be named for E. Jean Carroll instead. Or Brian Sicknick, the capitol police officer who died the day after J6. Or George freaking Soros.