Sam G. Howard
@samghoward.riliberator.com
Rhode Islander, education union data organizer and Democratic ward committee member. Recovering comms pro, RI's leading vexillologist (probably). Occasionally blogs at riliberator.com
I don’t think 2026 was shaping up to be a good year for the RIGOP anyway, but the number of retreads and out-of-staters announcing runs for federal and statewide office is not a great sign of their party’s electoral health.
There's a chance next year a Raimondo will be on the ballot for governor, but not the one that you're thinking of.
Read more about the latest entry in next year's gubernatorial election: https://www.wpri.com/news/elections/a-new-raimondo-is-running-for-ri-governor-in-2026/
Read more about the latest entry in next year's gubernatorial election: https://www.wpri.com/news/elections/a-new-raimondo-is-running-for-ri-governor-in-2026/
November 20, 2025 at 1:55 AM
I don’t think 2026 was shaping up to be a good year for the RIGOP anyway, but the number of retreads and out-of-staters announcing runs for federal and statewide office is not a great sign of their party’s electoral health.
Reposted by Sam G. Howard
It’s hard to top the presidential immunity decision for sheer unconstitutional awfulness, and the campaign finance and voting rights decisions are also in serious contention for Worst Roberts Thing, but what he’s done with the shadow docket is definitely up there.
Of all the terrible things Roberts has done, this was the most shocking stat: "the right-wing majority has used the shadow docket to uphold Trump’s actions roughly 90 percent of the time, repeatedly bailing him out of any obligation to follow the law"
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...
November 19, 2025 at 10:07 PM
It’s hard to top the presidential immunity decision for sheer unconstitutional awfulness, and the campaign finance and voting rights decisions are also in serious contention for Worst Roberts Thing, but what he’s done with the shadow docket is definitely up there.
Reposted by Sam G. Howard
To quote @mcopelov.bsky.social, “‘Who was actually president in 2020?’ continues to be the central cleavage in American politics in 2025.”
NEW: House Republicans on a judiciary subcommittee are laying the groundwork for a law-defying mid-decade census, claiming counting noncitizens and statistical errors in the 2020 Census justifies a recount to give the GOP more congressional seats.
To Weaken Minority Voting Power, Republicans Push For Unprecedented Mid-Decade Census
Read more here.
www.democracydocket.com
November 19, 2025 at 9:21 PM
To quote @mcopelov.bsky.social, “‘Who was actually president in 2020?’ continues to be the central cleavage in American politics in 2025.”
Can the Dems nominate the Pope?
Net-Favorable Of:
Pope Leo: +29%
Mamdani: -9%
RFK Jr: -11%
Vance: -16%
Trump: -17%
Harris: -19%
Democratic Party: -17%
Republican Party: -17%
Xi Jinping: -49%
Kim Jong Un: -78%
Marquette / Nov 12, 2025
Pope Leo: +29%
Mamdani: -9%
RFK Jr: -11%
Vance: -16%
Trump: -17%
Harris: -19%
Democratic Party: -17%
Republican Party: -17%
Xi Jinping: -49%
Kim Jong Un: -78%
Marquette / Nov 12, 2025
November 19, 2025 at 10:16 PM
Can the Dems nominate the Pope?
Reposted by Sam G. Howard
It's not just you. News headlines have become more negative in the 21st century -- particularly in partisan outlets
THIS IS BAD!
THIS IS BAD!
November 19, 2025 at 6:18 PM
It's not just you. News headlines have become more negative in the 21st century -- particularly in partisan outlets
THIS IS BAD!
THIS IS BAD!
Reposted by Sam G. Howard
An FBI agent-in-training filed a lawsuit after he was handed a letter signed by the bureau’s director, Kash Patel, saying that he was being “summarily dismissed” because of “political signage.” The only thing that could be, he quickly realized, was a rainbow pride flag that had hung near his desk.
F.B.I. Trainee Sues After Being Abruptly Fired Over Display of Gay Pride Flag
He described his dismissal as the latest move by senior F.B.I. officials to play politics, damaging morale and hindering the bureau’s ability to carry out its public safety mission.
nyti.ms
November 19, 2025 at 6:20 PM
An FBI agent-in-training filed a lawsuit after he was handed a letter signed by the bureau’s director, Kash Patel, saying that he was being “summarily dismissed” because of “political signage.” The only thing that could be, he quickly realized, was a rainbow pride flag that had hung near his desk.
Reposted by Sam G. Howard
We are getting closer to the conditions where two Republicans slip through the top-two primary and into the general election for governor in California.
The polls show that as very possible now, before Steyer (and maybe Swalwell) split the field even more.
The polls show that as very possible now, before Steyer (and maybe Swalwell) split the field even more.
Tom Steyer enters California governor's race
Tom Steyer enters California governor's race
The Democratic megadonor laid a foundation to run by spending millions for Proposition 50.
dlvr.it
November 19, 2025 at 5:22 PM
We are getting closer to the conditions where two Republicans slip through the top-two primary and into the general election for governor in California.
The polls show that as very possible now, before Steyer (and maybe Swalwell) split the field even more.
The polls show that as very possible now, before Steyer (and maybe Swalwell) split the field even more.
Reposted by Sam G. Howard
Exact opposite of the message the Comey prosecution was supposed to send; instead of "Cross me and I'll make your life hell!" it's turning into "Cross me and I'll repeatedly trip over my own feet and land bare-ass-up in public! Just see if I won't!"
HUGE development IN hearing for Comey selective prosecution motion, It turns out that the grand jury NEVER saw the operative indictment. Whole separate basis for dismissal. Standby for more.
November 19, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Exact opposite of the message the Comey prosecution was supposed to send; instead of "Cross me and I'll make your life hell!" it's turning into "Cross me and I'll repeatedly trip over my own feet and land bare-ass-up in public! Just see if I won't!"
Reposted by Sam G. Howard
wrote about the president’s flagrant and destructive corruption in a column that references street fighter, the simpsons, machiavelli, and a host of revolutionary-era americans (gift link)
Opinion | The White House Gold Rush Is On
www.nytimes.com
November 19, 2025 at 11:51 AM
wrote about the president’s flagrant and destructive corruption in a column that references street fighter, the simpsons, machiavelli, and a host of revolutionary-era americans (gift link)
Reposted by Sam G. Howard
The “canceled people” database listing victims of cancel culture, which includes oft-repeated cases such as Bret Weinstein (Evergreen State College) and James Damore (Google), has a little over 200 entries across 18 years.
canceledpeople.org
canceledpeople.org
New: Reuters has tallied job losses, suspensions and investigations stemming from the reaction to Charlie Kirk's Sept. 10 assassination. Its findings: More than 600 Americans have been punished, and the figure is likely to be an under-count.
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
November 19, 2025 at 1:04 PM
The “canceled people” database listing victims of cancel culture, which includes oft-repeated cases such as Bret Weinstein (Evergreen State College) and James Damore (Google), has a little over 200 entries across 18 years.
canceledpeople.org
canceledpeople.org
Reposted by Sam G. Howard
my wife and her entire team were fired over Zoom from their program manager jobs at a local nonprofit Seattle hospital this Spring because Trump just stopped paying Medicaid reimbursements. and this is a relatively affluent urban center
we're really not prepared for what's coming
we're really not prepared for what's coming
As a direct result of President Trump's Big Ugly Bill, almost 300 jobs will be cut from Providence Swedish's First Hill, Cherry Hill, Ballard, and Issaquah hospitals and clinics. These are not the only layoffs we've seen in our health care system in Washington state in recent months.
Providence Swedish to eliminate nearly 300 positions
The cuts will affect jobs at Providence Swedish’s First Hill, Cherry Hill, Ballard and Issaquah hospitals and nearby clinics.
www.seattletimes.com
November 19, 2025 at 3:49 PM
my wife and her entire team were fired over Zoom from their program manager jobs at a local nonprofit Seattle hospital this Spring because Trump just stopped paying Medicaid reimbursements. and this is a relatively affluent urban center
we're really not prepared for what's coming
we're really not prepared for what's coming
Reposted by Sam G. Howard
Reposted by Sam G. Howard
This! 👇
It is also a good reminder that we are not experiencing polarization but right-wing radicalization!
It is also a good reminder that we are not experiencing polarization but right-wing radicalization!
Marjorie Taylor Greene has been disliked by the left for years and years and had never had to fear for her life. She's been disliked by the right for 1 day and now has to hire security.
November 19, 2025 at 12:50 PM
This! 👇
It is also a good reminder that we are not experiencing polarization but right-wing radicalization!
It is also a good reminder that we are not experiencing polarization but right-wing radicalization!
Reposted by Sam G. Howard
Meanwhile the President just yesterday said an assassinated journalist deserved it and celebrated his killer
New: Reuters has tallied job losses, suspensions and investigations stemming from the reaction to Charlie Kirk's Sept. 10 assassination. Its findings: More than 600 Americans have been punished, and the figure is likely to be an under-count.
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
November 19, 2025 at 12:53 PM
Meanwhile the President just yesterday said an assassinated journalist deserved it and celebrated his killer
With the Dems being 14 points ahead a year out, it’s important that punditry now focuses on the issues that really matter: anything and everything that divides the Democratic Party.
November 19, 2025 at 12:18 PM
With the Dems being 14 points ahead a year out, it’s important that punditry now focuses on the issues that really matter: anything and everything that divides the Democratic Party.
Good advertising for Wesleyan and terrible advertising for Dartmouth.
NARRATOR: Roth quite clearly did not name call & we need our leaders to stop granting <every bad faith premise> of the far right authoritarians' lawless assault on higher education before we push back.
November 19, 2025 at 3:01 AM
Good advertising for Wesleyan and terrible advertising for Dartmouth.
Reposted by Sam G. Howard
If the President can impose his own taxes and use the proceeds to spend on his own projects, all without Congress, we have a dictatorship not a constitutional republic.
BREAKING: Deputy White House Chief of Staff James Blair said the administration is eyeing ways to give millions of Americans $2,000 dividend checks from tariff revenue without congressional approval, per Bloomberg.
November 19, 2025 at 2:46 AM
If the President can impose his own taxes and use the proceeds to spend on his own projects, all without Congress, we have a dictatorship not a constitutional republic.
Reposted by Sam G. Howard
Man, CBS must feel really stupid right now!
Just kidding, CBS wasn't settling a lawsuit. They were paying a bribe and they knew it.
Just kidding, CBS wasn't settling a lawsuit. They were paying a bribe and they knew it.
Eleventh Circuit throws out Trump's suit against CNN in a per curiam unpublished ruling. Meaning Trump's arguments were totally meritless, not even worthy of a published opinion. s3.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
November 18, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Man, CBS must feel really stupid right now!
Just kidding, CBS wasn't settling a lawsuit. They were paying a bribe and they knew it.
Just kidding, CBS wasn't settling a lawsuit. They were paying a bribe and they knew it.
Reposted by Sam G. Howard
One Republican voted against releasing the Epstein files: Rep. Clay Higgins of Louisiana.
November 18, 2025 at 7:47 PM
One Republican voted against releasing the Epstein files: Rep. Clay Higgins of Louisiana.
For all its failings, the New York Times ran multiple stories about how Trump was going to do exactly that.
Ben Shapiro: “When the president said deport all the illegal immigrants, I never thought that he meant that literally”
November 18, 2025 at 7:49 PM
For all its failings, the New York Times ran multiple stories about how Trump was going to do exactly that.
Reposted by Sam G. Howard
Shame on this administration.
Their latest attempt to dismantle the Dept of Education—during American Education Week—is illegal and immoral. Not only do they want to starve and steal from our students—they want to rob them of their futures.
Anyone who claims to care about children should be livid.
Their latest attempt to dismantle the Dept of Education—during American Education Week—is illegal and immoral. Not only do they want to starve and steal from our students—they want to rob them of their futures.
Anyone who claims to care about children should be livid.
November 18, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Shame on this administration.
Their latest attempt to dismantle the Dept of Education—during American Education Week—is illegal and immoral. Not only do they want to starve and steal from our students—they want to rob them of their futures.
Anyone who claims to care about children should be livid.
Their latest attempt to dismantle the Dept of Education—during American Education Week—is illegal and immoral. Not only do they want to starve and steal from our students—they want to rob them of their futures.
Anyone who claims to care about children should be livid.
Reposted by Sam G. Howard
let the good times roll
November 18, 2025 at 7:35 PM
let the good times roll
Reposted by Sam G. Howard
personally like 30 percent responsible for the Republican sweep in 2010, and yet was a Dem in good standing up until the latest Epstein thing. and he might be again! bsky.app/profile/choa...
summers is such a uniquely corrosive force in democratic politics. it beggars belief that he has been so central to left-of-center economic policy for such a long time given his absolutely rancid beliefs and conduct
November 18, 2025 at 7:13 PM
personally like 30 percent responsible for the Republican sweep in 2010, and yet was a Dem in good standing up until the latest Epstein thing. and he might be again! bsky.app/profile/choa...
Reposted by Sam G. Howard
Reposted by Sam G. Howard
A lot of people didn’t like the Washington Post journalist who was tortured and dismembered with a bone saw for writing critically about the man sitting next to me
Trump suggests Khashoggi had it coming: "You're mentioning someone that was extremely controversial. A lot of people didn't like that gentleman that you're talking about. Whether you like him or didn't like him, things happen. But he knew nothing about it. You don't have to embarrass our guest."
November 18, 2025 at 5:51 PM
A lot of people didn’t like the Washington Post journalist who was tortured and dismembered with a bone saw for writing critically about the man sitting next to me