Matt Szafranski
@mszafranski.bsky.social
Attorney; Editor-in-Chief, @WMassPI.com; #Spfldpoli when you need it; #MaPoli when you want it. "Retweets" ≠ Seal of Approval. Likes = ??? Fasten your seatbelt, please.
"You must go on. I can't go on. I'll go on." -Samuel Beckett
Always Eccles. 1:9
"You must go on. I can't go on. I'll go on." -Samuel Beckett
Always Eccles. 1:9
He basically read my mind.
i think ezra is basically on the money here
Opinion | What Were Democrats Thinking?
www.nytimes.com
November 10, 2025 at 4:30 PM
He basically read my mind.
My sense is this is designed to take pressure off from…the refusal to swear her in sooner. Once there's more on the agenda besides the Pledge (which Dems won't preempt) and adjournment, which supersedes all business, Johnson won't have a choice but to swear her in.
November 10, 2025 at 4:27 PM
My sense is this is designed to take pressure off from…the refusal to swear her in sooner. Once there's more on the agenda besides the Pledge (which Dems won't preempt) and adjournment, which supersedes all business, Johnson won't have a choice but to swear her in.
Durbin deserves a lot of shit, but this was functionally already funded.
Dick Durbin just voted to fund this.
Astonishing: Bovino and his agents showed up at the Bean this morning to pose for pictures. While Border Patrol snapped photos, one agent shouted, “Everyone say, ‘Little Village!’” The neighborhood where they are least welcome and most acutely felt. blockclubchicago.org/2025/11/10/b...
November 10, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Durbin deserves a lot of shit, but this was functionally already funded.
Reposted by Matt Szafranski
Blaming AIPAC for the end of the shutdown is just completely unserious.
There are PLENTY of reasons to have issue with AIPAC. This ain’t one fam
There are PLENTY of reasons to have issue with AIPAC. This ain’t one fam
Amounts received from AIPAC. Do with that what you will.
1. Tim Kaine - $600,065
2. Dick Durbin -$1.1 million
3. Jeanne Shaheen - $547,295
4. John Fetterman - $370,171
5. Catherine Cortez Masto - $598,724
6. Jacky Rosen - $2.3 million
7. Maggie Hassan - $736,162
1. Tim Kaine - $600,065
2. Dick Durbin -$1.1 million
3. Jeanne Shaheen - $547,295
4. John Fetterman - $370,171
5. Catherine Cortez Masto - $598,724
6. Jacky Rosen - $2.3 million
7. Maggie Hassan - $736,162
November 10, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Blaming AIPAC for the end of the shutdown is just completely unserious.
There are PLENTY of reasons to have issue with AIPAC. This ain’t one fam
There are PLENTY of reasons to have issue with AIPAC. This ain’t one fam
Reposted by Matt Szafranski
This is not a surprise to anyone who was closely following this case. It *ought* to be, however, a moment to reflect upon the responsibility (or not) of media outlets that, deliberately or not, led folks to believe that a grant was a serious possibility (which it never was).
November 10, 2025 at 2:34 PM
This is not a surprise to anyone who was closely following this case. It *ought* to be, however, a moment to reflect upon the responsibility (or not) of media outlets that, deliberately or not, led folks to believe that a grant was a serious possibility (which it never was).
Johnson probably won't have Virginia Dems to rely on for this bill.
My statement on the Senate Republican plan to pass a Continuing Resolution. ⬇️
November 10, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Johnson probably won't have Virginia Dems to rely on for this bill.
Kash wants to be look/be important. That's all. Once the base wakes up to this, he'll be done.
November 10, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Kash wants to be look/be important. That's all. Once the base wakes up to this, he'll be done.
So much for a smooth thanksgiving travel season.
Wait did...they not get what they wanted last night? What is happening?
*TRUMP OFFICIALS SAY SUPREME COURT SHOULD KEEP FOOD AID ON HOLD
*TRUMP: ALL AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS MUST GET BACK TO WORK, NOW
*TRUMP: AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS NOT WORKING WILL BE 'DOCKED'
*TRUMP OFFICIALS SAY SUPREME COURT SHOULD KEEP FOOD AID ON HOLD
*TRUMP: ALL AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS MUST GET BACK TO WORK, NOW
*TRUMP: AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS NOT WORKING WILL BE 'DOCKED'
November 10, 2025 at 3:37 PM
So much for a smooth thanksgiving travel season.
Any day Trump's abuses are not corralled is bad and it's bad that an opportunity to leash him more was missed. I think it's incorrect to say he has gotten stronger, though.
I got back to my office after the vote last night and recorded this. There's no way to sugarcoat what happened. And my fear is that Trump gets stronger, not weaker, because of this acquiescence. I'm angry - like you. But I choose to keep fighting.
November 10, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Any day Trump's abuses are not corralled is bad and it's bad that an opportunity to leash him more was missed. I think it's incorrect to say he has gotten stronger, though.
Reposted by Matt Szafranski
dawg even sherilll hates the cave
not one bit, the actual voters of the democratic party are more moderate and more willing to work across the aisle. you dont get spanberger or sherrill winning by 10+ points cause a bunch of dsa loonies are mad
November 10, 2025 at 2:57 PM
dawg even sherilll hates the cave
Every Dem running in a primary will be asked about it and there's only one right answer.
… Shaheen’s daughter (running for congressional seat) is against her mom’s deal to end the shutdown:
November 10, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Every Dem running in a primary will be asked about it and there's only one right answer.
It was travel more than federal employees. This deal almost got done without the RIF language last week.
I think it is increasingly obvious that federal workers in the beltway + inconveniences at airports were the determinants of this shutdown. You can try to spin 5D logic on this but ultimately it was the dems willing to sellout everyone else for that.
November 10, 2025 at 2:53 PM
It was travel more than federal employees. This deal almost got done without the RIF language last week.
Reposted by Matt Szafranski
I’m afraid this may be correct now that the Senate morons have gone on TV this morning.
I think it is increasingly obvious that federal workers in the beltway + inconveniences at airports were the determinants of this shutdown. You can try to spin 5D logic on this but ultimately it was the dems willing to sellout everyone else for that.
November 10, 2025 at 2:50 PM
I’m afraid this may be correct now that the Senate morons have gone on TV this morning.
Correct. The shutdown serves as evidence of Trump's growing impotence. Its end doesn't reverse that, but rather shows very bad poker playing.
The shutdown did not make Trump “more powerful,” he and his party were getting blamed for everything while the president and his allies on Hill were bickering over the filibuster
November 10, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Correct. The shutdown serves as evidence of Trump's growing impotence. Its end doesn't reverse that, but rather shows very bad poker playing.
Given how much Israeli organized labor had rolled over for Netanyahu, it's not surprising this happened.
Histadrut chief Bar-David’s detention extended until Thursday in corruption probe https://www.timesofisrael.com/histadrut-chief-bar-davids-detention-extended-until-thursday-in-corruption-probe/
Histadrut chief Bar-David’s detention extended until Thursday in corruption probe
Judge says in decision that labor federation operated 'like a private business'; police representative says Bar-David admitted to taking cash from insurance agent as a loan
www.timesofisrael.com
November 10, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Given how much Israeli organized labor had rolled over for Netanyahu, it's not surprising this happened.
This. This. This. And I'd argue there was a lot more they could have gotten. The RIF reversals aren't nothing. They're just insufficient.
💯. It wasn't about just the ACA subsides—it was about those and … everything else.
November 10, 2025 at 2:42 PM
This. This. This. And I'd argue there was a lot more they could have gotten. The RIF reversals aren't nothing. They're just insufficient.
The most generous interpretation is the cavers couldn't believe the public didn't blame Democrats and that it was inevitable that they would when things like a disastrous holiday transportation season would change that. This is of course wrong.
A govt shutdown is like a strike in the sense that before you start it you MUST have a concrete idea of what your leverage is and what will cause your opponent to fold. Ironically the Dems' strongest leverage point was probably "fucked up Thanksgiving travel" and they folded just before it came.
November 10, 2025 at 2:41 PM
The most generous interpretation is the cavers couldn't believe the public didn't blame Democrats and that it was inevitable that they would when things like a disastrous holiday transportation season would change that. This is of course wrong.
If even Thomalito can't summon a dissent for Davis, it's hard to imagine three more votes would manifest for a less contemptible appellant.
#BREAKING: Over no public dissents, #SCOTUS denies Kim Davis's petition asking the justices to overturn Obergefell v. Hodges (which recognized federal constitutional protections for same-sex marriage):
www.supremecourt.gov/orders/court...
www.supremecourt.gov/orders/court...
www.supremecourt.gov
November 10, 2025 at 2:36 PM
If even Thomalito can't summon a dissent for Davis, it's hard to imagine three more votes would manifest for a less contemptible appellant.
Reposted by Matt Szafranski
While I think well north of half the Senate Dem caucus has disabused themselves of this notion, the perpetuation of the idea of the Senate as a place of debate and consensus is so wildly out of step from how it has operated for decades now, one has to wonder if its adherents have cognitive issues.
I yap a lot about institutional culture. It’s why I knew beforehand that federal judges wouldn’t easily cave to Trump or Scotus.
I don’t know how or why, but the institutional culture of the Senate seems irredeemably wrecked. It’s rendered them all a pack of sniveling ninnies.
I don’t know how or why, but the institutional culture of the Senate seems irredeemably wrecked. It’s rendered them all a pack of sniveling ninnies.
November 10, 2025 at 2:17 PM
While I think well north of half the Senate Dem caucus has disabused themselves of this notion, the perpetuation of the idea of the Senate as a place of debate and consensus is so wildly out of step from how it has operated for decades now, one has to wonder if its adherents have cognitive issues.
Correct. What I don't think helps is lots of people, including too many who follow @charlesgaba.com, think the whole ACA was undone. This misapprehension also conceals how the opportunity to reverse a lot of lawlessness was reversed.
Not to keep thinking rationally about the dynamics at work here, but my impression from reporting was that the higher healthcare cost issue was already hitting escape velocity, right? Rs stonewalled long enough on this that higher rates on the exchanges/open enrollment was already being implemented?
November 10, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Correct. What I don't think helps is lots of people, including too many who follow @charlesgaba.com, think the whole ACA was undone. This misapprehension also conceals how the opportunity to reverse a lot of lawlessness was reversed.
That's a non-answer.
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 1:47 PM
That's a non-answer.
A claim belied by the fact that Republicans made Trump-approved concessions.
November 10, 2025 at 1:46 PM
A claim belied by the fact that Republicans made Trump-approved concessions.
The ACA wasn't destroyed, but yes there is likely to be a body count from this. No, it probably wasn't avoidable, but also no, that's not why this deal is bad.
I sympathize with furloughed workers, and the snap situation was going to become untenable, but people are also going to die because of the destruction of the ACA
November 10, 2025 at 6:40 AM
The ACA wasn't destroyed, but yes there is likely to be a body count from this. No, it probably wasn't avoidable, but also no, that's not why this deal is bad.