Maureen Herman
@maureenherman.bsky.social
Writer, former musician (Babes in Toyland). Issues I prioritize: poverty, mental health, addiction recovery, disability, sexual assault & abuse, racism, punk rock, sexism, and our country’s decline into fascism (not necessarily in that order). #dystonia
Reposted by Maureen Herman
In a world where the incumbent president bowed to pressure and stepped aside, it doesn’t seem like such a monumental ask to switch minority leaders.
November 11, 2025 at 1:59 AM
In a world where the incumbent president bowed to pressure and stepped aside, it doesn’t seem like such a monumental ask to switch minority leaders.
Reposted by Maureen Herman
The shutdown deal includes a ban on hemp products that none of its negotiators debated in public.
Disappointing that only 24 senators voted against killing an amendment to strike that ban.
www.senate.gov/legislative/...
Disappointing that only 24 senators voted against killing an amendment to strike that ban.
www.senate.gov/legislative/...
November 11, 2025 at 2:04 AM
The shutdown deal includes a ban on hemp products that none of its negotiators debated in public.
Disappointing that only 24 senators voted against killing an amendment to strike that ban.
www.senate.gov/legislative/...
Disappointing that only 24 senators voted against killing an amendment to strike that ban.
www.senate.gov/legislative/...
As someone who translated “The Iliad” from Latin for a year in high school, I can tell you that Elon is full of shit. Also, that’s the cover of “The Odyssey” he posted (which I also spent a year translating). Joyce Carol Oates has wounded Musk in a way that torments him because he knows she’s right.
*maximum alpha at 1.25x speed* continuously lives on in my head, unfortunately.
November 11, 2025 at 11:56 AM
As someone who translated “The Iliad” from Latin for a year in high school, I can tell you that Elon is full of shit. Also, that’s the cover of “The Odyssey” he posted (which I also spent a year translating). Joyce Carol Oates has wounded Musk in a way that torments him because he knows she’s right.
Reposted by Maureen Herman
It was “NO” yesterday.
It’s “NO” today.
And it’ll be “NO” when it gets to the House.
I’m not voting for something that forces millions of Americans to choose between seeing a doctor and putting food on their table.
It’s “NO” today.
And it’ll be “NO” when it gets to the House.
I’m not voting for something that forces millions of Americans to choose between seeing a doctor and putting food on their table.
Senate passes shutdown-ending deal
Senate passes shutdown-ending deal
The House could clear the package for President Donald Trump’s signature by Wednesday.
dlvr.it
November 11, 2025 at 3:24 AM
It was “NO” yesterday.
It’s “NO” today.
And it’ll be “NO” when it gets to the House.
I’m not voting for something that forces millions of Americans to choose between seeing a doctor and putting food on their table.
It’s “NO” today.
And it’ll be “NO” when it gets to the House.
I’m not voting for something that forces millions of Americans to choose between seeing a doctor and putting food on their table.
Reposted by Maureen Herman
It snows one (1) day and they're looking to gtfo
(also I'll believe it when I see it)
(also I'll believe it when I see it)
Bovino and Co. are preparing to leave Chicago in the coming days, according to @chicagotribune.com reporting
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/10/f...
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/10/f...
Federal Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino and agents said to be leaving Chicago, sources say
Cmdr. Gregory Bovino was expected to depart Chicago within days, while most Border Patrol agents under this command would soon be redeployed elsewhere, three sources told the Tribune Monday.
www.chicagotribune.com
November 11, 2025 at 3:31 AM
It snows one (1) day and they're looking to gtfo
(also I'll believe it when I see it)
(also I'll believe it when I see it)
Reposted by Maureen Herman
The basic problem of health insurance: if you want sick people to be able to get insurance, then the insurance product ceases to be traditional insurance, bc the insurer cannot price risk. Once you accept that sick people should get insurance, you must accept some variety of a socialized system.
Rick Scott told me his plan would be to take all of the remaining ACA subsidies and redistribute them to HSA accounts and people can then buy whatever insurance a state certifies. Basically a repeal/replace.
He denied when I asked wouldn’t that create two-tiered system where sick pay much more…
He denied when I asked wouldn’t that create two-tiered system where sick pay much more…
November 11, 2025 at 4:22 AM
The basic problem of health insurance: if you want sick people to be able to get insurance, then the insurance product ceases to be traditional insurance, bc the insurer cannot price risk. Once you accept that sick people should get insurance, you must accept some variety of a socialized system.
Reposted by Maureen Herman
Who uses SNAP?
My friend, who works, raising 5 kids, husband bailed and won’t pay child support
My neighbor battling cancer and her life-saving meds are so expensive, she chooses between meds or food
My friend who’s a vet and struggles with mental health issues.
Not one of them chose this.
My friend, who works, raising 5 kids, husband bailed and won’t pay child support
My neighbor battling cancer and her life-saving meds are so expensive, she chooses between meds or food
My friend who’s a vet and struggles with mental health issues.
Not one of them chose this.
Trump claims that food stamps "puts the country in jeopardy. People that are able-bodied can do a job, they leave their job because they figure they can pick this up, it's easier."
November 11, 2025 at 4:29 AM
Who uses SNAP?
My friend, who works, raising 5 kids, husband bailed and won’t pay child support
My neighbor battling cancer and her life-saving meds are so expensive, she chooses between meds or food
My friend who’s a vet and struggles with mental health issues.
Not one of them chose this.
My friend, who works, raising 5 kids, husband bailed and won’t pay child support
My neighbor battling cancer and her life-saving meds are so expensive, she chooses between meds or food
My friend who’s a vet and struggles with mental health issues.
Not one of them chose this.
Reposted by Maureen Herman
How it started/How it is going
November 11, 2025 at 4:41 AM
How it started/How it is going
Reposted by Maureen Herman
there's a moment in PARADISE LOST where Satan arrives in Eden and realizes Hell isn't a place; it's a thing he carries within him and it'll follow him wherever he goes. and i think about that when i see these awful rich men whose monstrous wealth has enriched them not at all
“whatever club he’s invited to join has been devalued by the invitation”
November 11, 2025 at 6:31 AM
there's a moment in PARADISE LOST where Satan arrives in Eden and realizes Hell isn't a place; it's a thing he carries within him and it'll follow him wherever he goes. and i think about that when i see these awful rich men whose monstrous wealth has enriched them not at all
Reposted by Maureen Herman
It is incredible — the blind spots you develop when you’ve never, ever been poor.
Trump claims that food stamps "puts the country in jeopardy. People that are able-bodied can do a job, they leave their job because they figure they can pick this up, it's easier."
November 11, 2025 at 12:34 AM
It is incredible — the blind spots you develop when you’ve never, ever been poor.
Reposted by Maureen Herman
Senate Democrats walked away empty-handed, and don’t let anyone tell you different.
Tim Kaine and the others bought the lie that Republicans would negotiate on extending the ACA subsidies. They won’t.
Dems got played, Schumer failed to keep his caucus together, and the American people got nothing.
Tim Kaine and the others bought the lie that Republicans would negotiate on extending the ACA subsidies. They won’t.
Dems got played, Schumer failed to keep his caucus together, and the American people got nothing.
November 11, 2025 at 12:47 AM
Senate Democrats walked away empty-handed, and don’t let anyone tell you different.
Tim Kaine and the others bought the lie that Republicans would negotiate on extending the ACA subsidies. They won’t.
Dems got played, Schumer failed to keep his caucus together, and the American people got nothing.
Tim Kaine and the others bought the lie that Republicans would negotiate on extending the ACA subsidies. They won’t.
Dems got played, Schumer failed to keep his caucus together, and the American people got nothing.
Reposted by Maureen Herman
After yesterday’s surrender, we’re launching the largest Democratic primary program that we’ve ever run.
We will not back any Senate primary candidate unless they call for Schumer to step down as Minority Leader.
If you’re as pissed as we are, join this campaign to rebuild the Democratic Party. 👇
We will not back any Senate primary candidate unless they call for Schumer to step down as Minority Leader.
If you’re as pissed as we are, join this campaign to rebuild the Democratic Party. 👇
Democratic leaders have failed us again. It's time to get new leaders.
After yet another capitulation by Chuck Schumer and Senate Democrats, it's clear we need new leadership capable of mounting a serious opposition to Trump's authoritarian regime. We're launching our la...
www.indivisible2026.org
November 11, 2025 at 12:00 AM
After yesterday’s surrender, we’re launching the largest Democratic primary program that we’ve ever run.
We will not back any Senate primary candidate unless they call for Schumer to step down as Minority Leader.
If you’re as pissed as we are, join this campaign to rebuild the Democratic Party. 👇
We will not back any Senate primary candidate unless they call for Schumer to step down as Minority Leader.
If you’re as pissed as we are, join this campaign to rebuild the Democratic Party. 👇
Reposted by Maureen Herman
Senators look at Trump's shameless corruption and say "give us some of that"
Buried inside the deal to reopen government is a provision that would give Senators private right of action to sue for millions in damages over their phone records being analyzed by Jack Smith's team.
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
Shutdown Deal Would Let Senators Sue Over Jack Smith Searches
Senators whose phone records were sought by Special Counsel Jack Smith would gain authority to sue for millions in damages under a provision buried in the Senate-advanced deal to reopen the government...
news.bloomberglaw.com
November 10, 2025 at 10:28 PM
Senators look at Trump's shameless corruption and say "give us some of that"
Reposted by Maureen Herman
Just getting dinner onto the table for the kiddos, will deal with this later.
Trump: "We had a guy named Buttigieg. Boot-edge-edge they say is the best way. Just say two 'edges' like off the edge of a cliff — which is where they were taking us, by the way."
November 10, 2025 at 10:45 PM
Just getting dinner onto the table for the kiddos, will deal with this later.
Reposted by Maureen Herman
this meeting could have been me hitting you with my car
November 10, 2025 at 10:55 PM
this meeting could have been me hitting you with my car
Reposted by Maureen Herman
Democrats are so amateurish and naive to act on a promise of behavior in the future by people who shamelessly lie about their behavior in the past every single day.
November 10, 2025 at 11:07 PM
Democrats are so amateurish and naive to act on a promise of behavior in the future by people who shamelessly lie about their behavior in the past every single day.
Reposted by Maureen Herman
The people showed up in the streets for "No Kings."
They did their part.
The people showed up at the polls on Tuesday.
They did their part.
8 Democrats in the Senate surrendered last night.
They did not do their part.
They did their part.
The people showed up at the polls on Tuesday.
They did their part.
8 Democrats in the Senate surrendered last night.
They did not do their part.
November 10, 2025 at 5:07 PM
The people showed up in the streets for "No Kings."
They did their part.
The people showed up at the polls on Tuesday.
They did their part.
8 Democrats in the Senate surrendered last night.
They did not do their part.
They did their part.
The people showed up at the polls on Tuesday.
They did their part.
8 Democrats in the Senate surrendered last night.
They did not do their part.
Reposted by Maureen Herman
Standing up to a tyrant - who is willing to impose pain as leverage to compel loyalty or acquiescence - is hard. You can convince yourself that yielding stops the pain and brings you back to "normal".
But there is no "normal". Submission emboldens the tyrant. The threat grows.
But there is no "normal". Submission emboldens the tyrant. The threat grows.
November 10, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Standing up to a tyrant - who is willing to impose pain as leverage to compel loyalty or acquiescence - is hard. You can convince yourself that yielding stops the pain and brings you back to "normal".
But there is no "normal". Submission emboldens the tyrant. The threat grows.
But there is no "normal". Submission emboldens the tyrant. The threat grows.
Reposted by Maureen Herman
BREAKING: We won!
Today the 3rd Circuit Court ordered the @post-gazette.com to restore our contract it illegally tore up 5 years ago. That’s our health care, PTO, right to a 40-hr. work week, short-term disability and so much more we’ve struck for 3+ years.
pghguild.com/2025/11/10/p...
Today the 3rd Circuit Court ordered the @post-gazette.com to restore our contract it illegally tore up 5 years ago. That’s our health care, PTO, right to a 40-hr. work week, short-term disability and so much more we’ve struck for 3+ years.
pghguild.com/2025/11/10/p...
November 10, 2025 at 5:48 PM
BREAKING: We won!
Today the 3rd Circuit Court ordered the @post-gazette.com to restore our contract it illegally tore up 5 years ago. That’s our health care, PTO, right to a 40-hr. work week, short-term disability and so much more we’ve struck for 3+ years.
pghguild.com/2025/11/10/p...
Today the 3rd Circuit Court ordered the @post-gazette.com to restore our contract it illegally tore up 5 years ago. That’s our health care, PTO, right to a 40-hr. work week, short-term disability and so much more we’ve struck for 3+ years.
pghguild.com/2025/11/10/p...
Reposted by Maureen Herman
Meta earns $3.5 billion every six months from showing Faceboon and Instagram users 15 billion “higher legal risk” scam ad impressions a day, internal documents state.
That haul vastly exceeds how much the company expects regulators
To fine it for running scam ads.
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
That haul vastly exceeds how much the company expects regulators
To fine it for running scam ads.
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
www.reuters.com
November 6, 2025 at 11:46 AM
Meta earns $3.5 billion every six months from showing Faceboon and Instagram users 15 billion “higher legal risk” scam ad impressions a day, internal documents state.
That haul vastly exceeds how much the company expects regulators
To fine it for running scam ads.
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
That haul vastly exceeds how much the company expects regulators
To fine it for running scam ads.
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
Reposted by Maureen Herman
yes senator they're roasting you on Bluesky, sir
yes full roast sir, the communists, the wine moms, Bill Kristol, they're all roasting you, sir
no, sir, I haven't seen him in Waiting for Godot, but he's roasting you, too, sir
yes full roast sir, the communists, the wine moms, Bill Kristol, they're all roasting you, sir
no, sir, I haven't seen him in Waiting for Godot, but he's roasting you, too, sir
November 10, 2025 at 12:34 AM
yes senator they're roasting you on Bluesky, sir
yes full roast sir, the communists, the wine moms, Bill Kristol, they're all roasting you, sir
no, sir, I haven't seen him in Waiting for Godot, but he's roasting you, too, sir
yes full roast sir, the communists, the wine moms, Bill Kristol, they're all roasting you, sir
no, sir, I haven't seen him in Waiting for Godot, but he's roasting you, too, sir
Reposted by Maureen Herman
agreeing to make a terrible deal while your main opponent is quite literally being boo'd on live tv by an entire stadium of people is the kind of political instinct you'd normally only find in a 3 week old dead goldfish
November 10, 2025 at 12:36 AM
agreeing to make a terrible deal while your main opponent is quite literally being boo'd on live tv by an entire stadium of people is the kind of political instinct you'd normally only find in a 3 week old dead goldfish
Reposted by Maureen Herman
This is not a deal — it's an empty promise.
Trump and his Republican Congress are making healthcare more expensive for the middle class and ending it for working families.
Time for Democrats to stand tall for affordable healthcare. www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
Trump and his Republican Congress are making healthcare more expensive for the middle class and ending it for working families.
Time for Democrats to stand tall for affordable healthcare. www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
Senate reaches deal on ending the shutdown
Democrats are coalescing around a bipartisan agreement to fund the government.
www.politico.com
November 10, 2025 at 12:50 AM
This is not a deal — it's an empty promise.
Trump and his Republican Congress are making healthcare more expensive for the middle class and ending it for working families.
Time for Democrats to stand tall for affordable healthcare. www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
Trump and his Republican Congress are making healthcare more expensive for the middle class and ending it for working families.
Time for Democrats to stand tall for affordable healthcare. www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
Reposted by Maureen Herman
Unacceptable. There are 189,000 people in my district who will be paying 50–300% more for the same, and in many cases worse, healthcare.
I won’t do that to the people I represent. I’m a NO on this “deal.”
I won’t do that to the people I represent. I’m a NO on this “deal.”
November 9, 2025 at 9:47 PM
Unacceptable. There are 189,000 people in my district who will be paying 50–300% more for the same, and in many cases worse, healthcare.
I won’t do that to the people I represent. I’m a NO on this “deal.”
I won’t do that to the people I represent. I’m a NO on this “deal.”