Democrats Overhaul Party’s Primary Calendar, Upending a Political Tradition

By artappraiser on Sat, 02/04/2023 - 6:21pm |

This significantly increases the role of Black and Hispanic Democrats; it also increases the role of moderate Democrats since Black and Hispanic Democrats are on average more moderate than white Democrats. https://t.co/gLGS5ZdbPF
— Nate Silver (@NateSilver538) February 4, 2023

URL:

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/04/us/politics/democrats-vote-primary-calendar.html

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Left-wing Democrats are ideologically committed to the view that increasing Black and Hispanic representation is good, which gives moderates this opportunity to bolster their power inside the coalition. https://t.co/5THSjMDbP9
— Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias) February 4, 2023

by artappraiser on Sat, 02/04/2023 - 6:24pm

The new calendar elevates South Carolina to the first-place position in the primary calendar https://t.co/5t07ymF1iN
— POLITICO (@politico) February 4, 2023

by artappraiser on Sat, 02/04/2023 - 6:35pm

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris delivered an early preview of their reelection campaign Friday night, rallying the Democratic Party faithful ahead of an expected formal 2024 announcement https://t.co/4J2KCWobaK
— POLITICO (@politico) February 4, 2023

by artappraiser on Sat, 02/04/2023 - 6:38pm

a reminder:

House passes resolution denouncing socialism, vote splits Democrats https://t.co/BfAt78zPFS pic.twitter.com/lNhI4l8hpT
— The Hill (@thehill) February 4, 2023

by artappraiser on Sat, 02/04/2023 - 7:24pm

Andrew Yang:

The DNC voted to reorder the early primary states. Iowa is out and New Hampshire is essentially demoted. It’s particularly harsh to NH Dems given they didn’t do anything wrong and it’s an actual swing state. https://t.co/wWqLKZVc1S
— Andrew Yang (@AndrewYang) February 4, 2023

The fact that the National Democratic Party will now give up on the state of Iowa (and to a lesser extent Ohio) as too white and rural and Midwestern is a big emblem of why this system is polarized and broken. You don’t matter anymore.
— Andrew Yang (@AndrewYang) February 4, 2023

On the flip side elevating South Carolina is a big “Thank You” to James Clyburn and is meant to insulate Joe Biden from any challengers.
— Andrew Yang (@AndrewYang) February 4, 2023

by artappraiser on Sat, 02/04/2023 - 7:30pm

1/The Dem Party is on the cusp of becoming majority-minority. However, in my first @ManhattanInst issue brief, I argue that if current trends persist, it is likely to become a maj-min. party that is inordinately and indefinitely governed by a highly educated white minority.
— Zach Goldberg (@ZachG932) February 2, 2023

2/Researchers of American politics have noted a growing 'diploma divide', which is particularly pronounced among whites. Whereas a college degree (and vocab test scores) was traditionally positively associated with GOP identification among whites, this association has flipped. pic.twitter.com/ZNQkXCdj9E
— Zach Goldberg (@ZachG932) February 2, 2023

3/While this shift has been slowly brewing for some time (college educated whites tend to be more socially liberal, and the GOP has grown more outwardly socially conservative), it has accelerated with the rise of Trump..so much so that by 2020 (and for the 1st time ever)..
— Zach Goldberg (@ZachG932) February 2, 2023

4/…whites with college degrees outnumbered whites without among self-identified Democrats. They and non-college-educated non-whites now comprise the largest segment of the Dem coalition. Meanwhile, rates of degree attainment have flatlined and even declined among white Reps. pic.twitter.com/09cA6oF5Km
— Zach Goldberg (@ZachG932) February 2, 2023

5/ If you're a Dem, there is some reason to celebrate, as the college educated tend to give more political donations and are more politically active and sophisticated in general. However...
— Zach Goldberg (@ZachG932) February 2, 2023

6/ ...there is also a more uncomfortable side to this trend, which some might deem to be 'elephant in the room'. Specifically, this growing marriage of college educated whites with the Dem party is exacerbating socioeconomic inequalities within the coalition.
— Zach Goldberg (@ZachG932) February 2, 2023

7/ First, disparities in rates of degree attainment between white and non-white Dems are now larger than ever before. Rates have also risen overtime among non-whites, but at roughly half the rate as whites. Thus, slower growth rates + growing alignment of col whites=larger gaps pic.twitter.com/zvLAYgR0nY
— Zach Goldberg (@ZachG932) February 2, 2023

8/ The upshot is that even though the white share of Dems is in terminal decline, whites are now more overrepresented among Dem degree holders than ever before. pic.twitter.com/WXs2bh1kxi
— Zach Goldberg (@ZachG932) February 2, 2023

9/Second, and as one might expect (given that the college educated tend to earn more), gaps in earnings and measures of occupational standing have also been on the rise. And these extend even to subjective measures of social class. pic.twitter.com/53JaLJpfjn
— Zach Goldberg (@ZachG932) February 2, 2023

10/ Given the association between socioeconomic status and various forms of political engagement, the enlargement of socioeconomic inequalities risks the enlargement of political inequalities (including , ultimately, influence over the Dem Party agenda). By some measures, this.. pic.twitter.com/49z0mswBrH
— Zach Goldberg (@ZachG932) February 2, 2023

11/...is already happening. For instance, differences in the shares of white vs. non-white Dems that report high levels of attention to political information are larger than ever. pic.twitter.com/6sQpGj5IIH
— Zach Goldberg (@ZachG932) February 2, 2023

12/ Further, when asked about the news they follow most closely, White Dems. are far more likely to select ‘national politics’ pic.twitter.com/K0uC7wsJ97
— Zach Goldberg (@ZachG932) February 2, 2023

13/ And, unsurprisingly, they are significantly more likely to report being exposed to high levels of political content on social media, and on twitter in particular, where they are likely responsible for an outsized share of political tweets pic.twitter.com/3130hq1uHF
— Zach Goldberg (@ZachG932) February 2, 2023

14/They also consistently score higher on measures of basic political knowledge; and, at least on some indicators, this gap may be growing (though it's recently shrinking vis-a-vis Asians). pic.twitter.com/trlyddsMwx
— Zach Goldberg (@ZachG932) February 2, 2023

15/Interestingly, even gaps in subjective/self-related measures of political sophistication are on the rise pic.twitter.com/zkAOnJcb2d
— Zach Goldberg (@ZachG932) February 2, 2023

16/Needless to say, those more psychologically engaged with and knowledgeable about politics are more likely to engage in (especially influential) forms of political participation, such as contacting elected officials and donating to political campaigns.
— Zach Goldberg (@ZachG932) February 2, 2023

17/ And, as it happens, disparities in rates of contacting elected officials are larger now than ever. pic.twitter.com/TY80kXKAtH
— Zach Goldberg (@ZachG932) February 2, 2023

18/Perhaps most striking, though, is that despite the white share of Dems declining 24 points between 1980-2020, whites are now more overrepresented among large donors (while holding their ground among small donors) to Dem congressional candidates than ever before pic.twitter.com/12QLcMcwYz
— Zach Goldberg (@ZachG932) February 2, 2023

19/ But the truth is that disparities have been growing in even more basic forms of political participation, such as voting (which is clear when you actually validate respondents' self-reported voting behavior) pic.twitter.com/VKctqBypjV
— Zach Goldberg (@ZachG932) February 2, 2023

20/ Given how easy it was to vote in 2020, that this is the year of the series in which the disparity is somewhat surprising.
— Zach Goldberg (@ZachG932) February 2, 2023

21/ But the truth is that turnout rates didn't decline among non-white Dems, they just increased much more among white Dems (which, incidentally, is similar to recent trends in degree attainment).
— Zach Goldberg (@ZachG932) February 2, 2023

22/ All told, the increasing Dem-alignment of college educated whites is allowing--and will continue to allow--white Dems to punch above their otherwise diminishing share of the party. In essence, they have traded quantity for quality. The upshot is that the means..
— Zach Goldberg (@ZachG932) February 2, 2023

23/… for exercising effective political influence is increasingly disproportionately concentrated within a socially progressive white ‘Brahmin’ class.
— Zach Goldberg (@ZachG932) February 2, 2023

24/ To the extent that the issue priorities and preferences of educated white Dems entirely overlap with those of less educated non-whites, there’s arguably less reason for concern. But given that those of higher socioeconomic status tend to...
— Zach Goldberg (@ZachG932) February 2, 2023

25/...prioritize post-material issue concerns (so-called 'luxury beliefs'), whereas those of lower SES tend to care more about kitchen-table/quality-of-life issues, divergences in preferences and priorities are inevitable. pic.twitter.com/eeDqZ7rGMi
— Zach Goldberg (@ZachG932) February 2, 2023

by artappraiser on Sun, 02/05/2023 - 2:48am

26/ And where divergence occurs, the advantages of white Dems afford them a better chance of having their priorities reflected in the agenda and rhetoric of Dem leaders and candidates.
— Zach Goldberg (@ZachG932) February 2, 2023

27/ One of the consequences then is that the Democratic Party spends far more time and political capital on progressive pet causes than they would if the influence of white Dems were commensurate with their (declining) share of the party. pic.twitter.com/ogJhfigIwf
— Zach Goldberg (@ZachG932) February 2, 2023

28/While these trends hardly portend a mass exodus of socially conservative working class non-whites from the Dem Party, they do create a vulnerability that the GOP could exploit to pry away a small but electorally consequential subset. pic.twitter.com/v0DyCjnWmC
— Zach Goldberg (@ZachG932) February 2, 2023

29/ In fact, there were some signs of such movement in the last election. pic.twitter.com/0vnZea3Vg7
— Zach Goldberg (@ZachG932) February 2, 2023

30/ Whether Reps. can continue to capitalize on and sustain or further such shifts is an open question. But unless they plan on re-ingratiating themselves with col-ed whites by abandoning or moderating their social conservatism, their political survival may depend on it. pic.twitter.com/27rB0q7raV
— Zach Goldberg (@ZachG932) February 2, 2023

31/ Note that there's a lot I've left out in this thread, so I encourage you to read the full article https://t.co/kRLUNwUTNu
— Zach Goldberg (@ZachG932) February 2, 2023

by artappraiser on Sun, 02/05/2023 - 2:53am

NYT story on Kamala being written off by Dem insiders shouldn't come as a surprise to my followers, who've been hearing it for 2 yrs

But it may surprise a few pundits (@Noahpinion, eg) whose perverse refusal to attend to my every post leaves them hopelessly behind on US politics https://t.co/zsh5mJETxY pic.twitter.com/w18TgT2D1S
— Basically Satan (@AliceFromQueens) February 6, 2023

by artappraiser on Tue, 02/07/2023 - 6:49am

Well that's surprising. I mean, being VP really helped Pence transform into a contender, and I'm pretty sure Joe would've still won even if Clyburne hadn't rescued his campaign and COVID hadn't limited campaigning. I mean, look at Gore, the VP-ship set him up well. Except, well, that he lost. But then Gerald Ford, how about it - he got to be Přez, amirite? Mondale coulda if he'd only won about 25-28 more states.

And then there's Dukakis vs Jackson - Jackson presenting a natural ceiling, especially in 1988, and Dukakis only inspiring so far (definitely not in a tank). Kamala's more Dukakis than Jackson (or Obama), and while race was an inspiring aspect to '88 and 2008, it's a negative with gun shootings and anti-woke sentiment.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/1988_United_States_presidential_election

by PeraclesPlease on Tue, 02/07/2023 - 1:41pm

I think Gore's a bad example. Even though I know from reading about what he did as V.P. that he would have made a great president, I think his manner was extremely off-putting to a lot of people who ended up voting for him based only on "the better of two bad choices." A tiny bit more congenial candidate would have made it much less of a nail biter, and then Roger Stone et.al. couldn't have done what they did.

by artappraiser on Tue, 02/07/2023 - 3:20pm

He had his share of awkwardness, but the Maur to n Dowds were out to play horserace and turn everything he said into a question. Just for a reality check, Clinton only got 42% of the vote in 1992, and in 1996 ihe basically tied with Dole+Perot (if Perot hadn't come across unhinged round 2 it would've been much lower).

The press had to make Bradley a contest much like they made Bernie a contest (tho Bernie was more inspiring than basketball Bill, who made Gore look animated & endearing in comparison).. But for sure Gore's robotic ways of explaining things didn't help.

by PeraclesPlease on Tue, 02/07/2023 - 3:34pm

reality check backatcha: people liked Clinton + Perot just fine, heck one could even say enough people still liked GHW Bush better than Al Gore once he got going with his arrogant schoolmarm persona. It was: shit I guess I have to vote for the arrogant schoolmarm or maybe I'll give the Bush kid a try, he's got a lot to learn but at least I could have a beer with him.

You have a tendency to blame the big time pundits like Dowd as if they made stuff up to influence the country - on that we totally disagree. I think it's just the opposite, that only the elites read them and those pundits had a talent for seeing the pulse of what's really going on with Joe Sixpack and were are informing the elites of what they see. You think they were early influencers, I don't at all. Heck SNL's writers also saw an arrogant ass when they looked at Al Gore, they didn't need Dowd to tell them to make that character.

NOW social media has changed the situation somewhat, but it's still pretty much the case that pundits are not creating their people/followers, but grifting on telling them what they want to hear.

If you want a big win, run somebody more charming than Al Gore or Hillary Clinton, it's really that simple. If you want a result that is so much like a tie that it can be manipulated, run problematic personalities.

by artappraiser on Tue, 02/07/2023 - 5:08pm

What the fuck are you talking about?

" But for sure Gore's robotic ways of explaining things didn't help."

Like I'm not denying Gore came across like a school ma'arm. So get off my back.

by PeraclesPlease on Tue, 02/07/2023 - 5:59pm

Oddly 2 things can happen at once. So while some candidate can have flaws, some dumb cunt like Gayle Collins can abuse her position as prime columnist to rake over a candidate for some past offense like putting his dog on the roof - over and over and over again more than 2 dozen times. What a bitch.

Did Gore's transgressions exceed the stupidity of complaints about his father's lodgings or his summers in Tennessee or his statement about Love Canal even?

No, they were just being dicks. Yes, to survive in politics you must put up with newspaper dicks and pretend they don't bother you. Gayle Collins always a cunt, but a well-supported one, so don't cross her. Maureen Died as well, who else?

If The Squad can be assholes, so can the press.

https://www.americamagazine.org/content/all-things/seamus-dog-again

by PeraclesPlease on Tue, 02/07/2023 - 7:31pm

on SOTU, Rick Wilson retweeted:

This is the most fascinating #SOTU. I am mesmerized by the back and forth. Biden is edgy, clever. It has got a real "in the arena" feel and as close to what the constitution probably intended that I've seen in my lifetime.
— Juliette Kayyem (@juliettekayyem) February 8, 2023

And he knew exactly how the Republicans would react. Then played them like a cheap fiddle in live TV.
— Lee Belote (@Akula_KorAh) February 8, 2023

McCarthy pleading for #Jesus to take him now. #BidenHarris2024 pic.twitter.com/C1CySy2Jaa
— Glen Webb (@GreenTechVoyage) February 8, 2023

Marjorie Taylor Greene single-handedly negotiated away any cuts to Social Security and Medicare tonight. pic.twitter.com/LGEQxVI55X
— (@SundaeDivine) February 8, 2023

Marge was trying to earn a Fox news clip, instead she fired Joe up and made him give one of the best speeches if his life All Trumpsters do is lose and cry and lose more. https://t.co/xpo0rMBP4k
— Joe’s Centrosaurus (@ElectSanePeople) February 8, 2023

Marjorie Taylor Greene doesn’t know the difference between the State of the Union Address and the Rocky Horror Picture Show. She just showed everyone how ridiculous MAGA is. And why did she keep yelling “liar” at George Santos? That wasn’t nice.
— Jamie Raskin (@jamie_raskin) February 8, 2023

My God, it's just poetry, watching Biden tussle with Marje Greene as she does her best imitation of that famous Real Housewives of New Jersey scene. pic.twitter.com/KDSauuGUqS
— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) February 8, 2023

He led y’all into a box canyon like Butch Cassidy. https://t.co/HLN3UQRvEt
— Reed Galen (@reedgalen) February 8, 2023

pic.twitter.com/Y1tUTJDqDx
— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) February 8, 2023

pic.twitter.com/wDAxbPQcgJ
— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) February 8, 2023

by artappraiser on Tue, 02/07/2023 - 11:06pm

p.s. High praise

He’s crushing this speech.
— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) February 8, 2023

I thought it good, but honestly wouldn't have gone that far. He would know better, though, as far as politically!

by artappraiser on Wed, 02/08/2023 - 1:56am

if you missed any of Biden's #SOTU and want to get up to speed, my video thread covering his speech and Sarah Huckabee Sanders's reaction to it begins here https://t.co/4BMjzxQfyR
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 8, 2023

by artappraiser on Tue, 02/07/2023 - 11:09pm

New —> Key takeaways: Biden boasts about his wins and lays out populist 2024 themes

on the State of the Union tonight https://t.co/Tz4C8bzXRV
— Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) February 8, 2023

A TENSE moment in the House chamber as Biden trashes unnamed Republicans for wanting to sunset Social Security and Medicare — not naming Rick Scott. Rs erupted in boos and jeers. MTG yelled “liar!” Scott now responds to the president >>https://t.co/Tz4C8bzXRV
— Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) February 8, 2023

he tweeted during the speech, I especially like stuff like this:

Biden needles Republicans who voted against the infrastructure law but take the money. "I want to thank my Republican friends who voted for the law. And my Republicans friends who voted against it as well. I still get asked to fund the projects in those districts as well." 1/2
— Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) February 8, 2023

Biden, continued, on Republicans and infrastructure: "But don't worry, I'll promised I'd be a president for all Americans. We'll fund these projects. And I'll see you at the groundbreaking." 2/2
— Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) February 8, 2023

by artappraiser on Tue, 02/07/2023 - 11:17pm

From CNN's excellent team of beat reporters and from me, 12 State of the Union fact check items and counting in our rolling file here: https://t.co/xHpT7wNTQR
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) February 8, 2023

by artappraiser on Tue, 02/07/2023 - 11:19pm

on foreign policy, pretty damn good for a forner stutterer:

“It’s never been a good bet to bet against America”.
Open threat to China and others in Biden’s State of the Union Address to Congress.
Here’s the short segment where Biden reasserts US global leadership in Europe and Asia.
Vows to cooperate with China when possible. pic.twitter.com/Pq9O6mwC69
— Michaela Kuefner (@MKuefner) February 8, 2023

by artappraiser on Tue, 02/07/2023 - 11:32pm

Yglesias:

It was a bit awkward as rhetoric but the upshot was he got all the Republicans to endorse his position on the issue, which seems pretty good. https://t.co/1vUE07pHGK
— Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias) February 8, 2023

When I was an intern in Schumer's office we did a Sunday presser on hidden *66 and *69 fees and it was a big hit so we ended up doing localizations in Buffalo, Syracuse, Binghamton, etc https://t.co/acJYkCSt5C
— Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias) February 8, 2023

Mixing it up with hecklers à la British question time is a good step forward for this program.
— Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias) February 8, 2023

Biden saying he wants continued financial investment in domestic oil production got kinda weird, but he's right!
— Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias) February 8, 2023

Also just a lot of pep and vim from a guy who keeps getting written off as too old. https://t.co/QKxuDGV2p4
— Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias) February 8, 2023

by artappraiser on Tue, 02/07/2023 - 11:45pm

Dark Brandon is now trending on Twitter; examples:

Dark Brandon, just baited Republicans into saying they wouldn’t repeal Social Security or Medicare ! pic.twitter.com/kwCVvLon4A
— Blue Crew (@AnthonyResists) February 8, 2023

Dark Brandon forcing Republicans to loudly promise that they won't cut Medicare or Social Security is the most effective use of the SOTU address I've ever seen.
— Ian Millhiser (@imillhiser) February 8, 2023

WOW. President Biden just called out Republicans for trying to repeal the Inflation Reduction Act and promises that if that happens, he will VETO it. We need more of Dark Brandon calling out these Republicans for what they're trying to do to hurt American families.
— Victor Shi (@Victorshi2020) February 8, 2023

Damn.
Dark Brandon is a badass.
I would have melted under that audience anger in front of the world. He went right at it. Protected #SocialSecurity and Medicare from the greed of the rich and powerful. Amazing. #SOTU pic.twitter.com/DZ1n816k7B
— Trussia (@yogaskidogs) February 8, 2023

BREAKING: Dark Brandon gets Lauren Boebert & Matt Gaetz to look like Grinches as he calls on Billion dollar corporations to pay their fair share of taxes during the State of the Union.

Remember this video when you go to vote!

How the hell can anyone vote for these people? pic.twitter.com/G3suUqNYK4
— Brian Krassenstein (@krassenstein) February 8, 2023

It was fuckin epic. Never seen someone that can make extreme assholes like them stand tf up and applaud lol You go Dark Brandon! lol https://t.co/CGDAJawTC1
— M (@smxo77) February 8, 2023

This rather savvy usage of the public bully pulpit, in a nutshell, is the argument for continuing to have and televise SOTU.

Those men are PISSED. Dark Brandon forced a concession on live television. https://t.co/FPmgNxyozy
— A Shady Dame From Seville (@SorayaMcDonald) February 8, 2023

Dark Brandon has had just about enough of that GOP malarkey.
— The USA Singers (@TheUSASingers) February 8, 2023

by artappraiser on Tue, 02/07/2023 - 11:58pm

nice short video recap right after the speech, trying to be objective, by the reporter for Bloomberg in the room:

To recap what happened at the State of the Union, politics reporter @elwasson describes the atmosphere during Biden’s address.

Latest: https://t.co/sNW3sWCn9o pic.twitter.com/95qz64cjah
— Bloomberg (@business) February 8, 2023

by artappraiser on Wed, 02/08/2023 - 12:57am

a professor of marketing:

I underestimated Joe Biden
— Scott Galloway (@profgalloway) February 8, 2023

by artappraiser on Wed, 02/08/2023 - 9:19pm

SOTU POLL: Whopping 72 Percent Approved of Biden Speech — Including 43% of Republicans https://t.co/apvNP2u4Go via @mediaite
— Tommy moderna-vaX-Topher (@tommyxtopher) February 8, 2023

Note: is a poll of viewers, of course

by artappraiser on Thu, 02/09/2023 - 6:27pm

"That's not a white, black or brown problem. That's everybody's problem." Mho, if Democrats want to win some national races, they need to steal back this messaging from the GOP who stole it from Dem centrists:

Postcard from a very different time in American discoursehttps://t.co/ap5CedIws7 pic.twitter.com/9W6sMCF4rw
— Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias) February 9, 2023

They REALLY got to stop with the Identify Politics!!! Really now,it's really past time to Sister Souljah those people! The only identity that should be allowed in the Dem party: American.

by artappraiser on Thu, 02/09/2023 - 6:52pm

AOC v. Pelosi:

Couldn’t think of a more divisive candidate for the job! https://t.co/TJM51rZzWz
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) February 9, 2023

by artappraiser on Fri, 02/10/2023 - 12:04am

NEW: Democrats win control of the Pennsylvania state House for the first time in 12 years following victories in 3 special elections. This victory will likely thwart Pennsylvania's GOP-led state Senate from further restricting access to abortion and voting.https://t.co/5rUjV6M0DT
— Democracy Docket (@DemocracyDocket) February 8, 2023

by artappraiser on Fri, 02/10/2023 - 12:07am

Hispanic Caucus chair fires executive director; group’s staff down to zero

BY RAFAEL BERNAL - @TheHill.com, 02/09/23 8:32 PM ET

The Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) has no political staffers on the active payroll after Chairwoman Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-Calif.) fired Executive Director Jacky Usyk on Thursday.

The news of the firing was first reported by Dear White Staffers, an Instagram account run by anonymous Congressional staff that keeps tabs on alleged workplace abuses in the Capitol.

A half-dozen sources confirmed the news to The Hill; no CHC members returned requests for comment on the firing.

A spokesperson for Barragán did not return a request for comment.

“This debacle unfolding at the CHC doesn’t bode well for the Caucus and for Congresswoman Barragán, who fired a well-liked staffer a month into the start of the new Congress,” a Democratic strategist with knowledge of the situation said.

Usyk’s firing came just a day after the last of four political CHC staffers left the organization, and a month to the day after the CHC officially announced her hiring.

The other three political staff who worked at the CHC prior to Barragán’s appointment as chairwoman left between December and January.

The staff exodus comes as Barragán settles into her position at the head of the 42-member organization, a group with significant sway over policy choices in the broader Democratic Caucus [....]

by artappraiser on Fri, 02/10/2023 - 3:44am

Californians have told me—on the doors, at events, even at the grocery store!—they have trouble trusting government officials to put the public's interests before their own. Congress can and should start addressing this common concern by banning top officials from trading stocks. pic.twitter.com/SyPYDwxKu7
— Katie Porter (@katieporteroc) February 10, 2023

by artappraiser on Fri, 02/10/2023 - 7:52pm

New study by @ZachG932 shows widening economic gap between Democrat elites and the "people of color" they claim to speak for. https://t.co/A68YaGvE46 pic.twitter.com/8EmxM1ydGq
— Balaji (@balajis) February 16, 2023

"These demographic trends beget an awkward paradox: the Democratic Party will likely become a majority-minority party relatively soon, but one that is still largely and disproportionately steered by liberal college-educated whites." https://t.co/A68YaGvE46
— Balaji (@balajis) February 16, 2023

@bungarsargon has a good (albeit paywalled) analysis here. https://t.co/GKbJ6mE1iN
— Balaji (@balajis) February 16, 2023

by artappraiser on Thu, 02/16/2023 - 4:11am

Just a reminder of the old days and ways:

Thank you for the kind words, President Clinton. https://t.co/Nnh8UGPBtw
— The Carter Center (@CarterCenter) February 20, 2023

by artappraiser on Tue, 02/21/2023 - 2:00am

The re-purposing of the Brandon meme into the Dark Brandon meme is one of the best things to happen on twitter.
— (@LxF77) February 22, 2023

a few of my favorites from the last 24 hrs.:

Dark, dark Brandon. pic.twitter.com/dIUPLJorp8
— No Malarkey (@Ziphrodes) February 21, 2023

Whipping out my Dark Brandon a lot today. pic.twitter.com/c2SVwY6Uxy
— Anemia:JAACK! PLEASE UNFUCK THE FUCKERY. (@Thebb69143357) February 21, 2023

I'll be sure to speak with Dark Brandon about this right after he's home from church services.

Fucking seditious gaslighter. pic.twitter.com/UgW3A53ydW
— Qpublican f*ckery detected (@adelpreore) February 19, 2023

Dark Brandon is a national hero. pic.twitter.com/5wBIovEF4l
— All SHOULD Be Equal Before THEE Law (@EqualUnderLaw12) February 21, 2023

As the legend of Dark Brandon grows... https://t.co/vhfPQnoS0j
— Ragnarok Lobster (@eclecticbrotha) February 21, 2023

Dark Brandon is making them soooo sadddddd pic.twitter.com/b6dQ3uhJ2m
— Vlada Knowlton (@VladaKnowlton) February 22, 2023

and from a few days ago

For the MAGATS wanting to blame Biden. Might want to start with Vance and DeWine. Dark Brandon delivers. pic.twitter.com/6vn72nQWvz
— Lisa (@Lisa55049122) February 16, 2023

by artappraiser on Wed, 02/22/2023 - 2:08am

NEW: House Democrats' main super PAC says it will pour a record $45 million into New York to try to flip back 5+ seats and with them, the House majority.

HMP's Mike Smith on the centrality of NY in '24: “It’s not just us seeing it."https://t.co/m2gfqB2DRV
— Nicholas Fandos (@npfandos) February 22, 2023

by artappraiser on Wed, 02/22/2023 - 6:04pm

^ mho, all the money in the world won't help if the state party doesn't disavow the woke lefties of manhattan/brooklyn, especially on law & order, but other culture wars things, like oh, gas stoves, pronoun policing over math in schools, 'transing' children and dissing white & Asian people

get back the Dem and swing votes that went to Zeldin over Hochl for governor, that's all you gotta do. Oh and tell AOC to STFU, buckle down and just pay attention to her own district.

by artappraiser on Wed, 02/22/2023 - 6:16pm

tell em how it is, Carl

This will never cease to anger me. NYC progressives, mostly white, who call for defunding the police live in safe neighborhoods where they have nearly zero chance of being killed. Their policies would hurt poor black neighborhoods that they never visit.
1/https://t.co/IhxCvLp4OO pic.twitter.com/Wyr6CuPLuc
— Carl (@HistoryBoomer) February 22, 2023

Of the 488 NYC murder victims in 2021:
Black (and black Hispanic)-359
Hispanic-81
White-28
Asian-17
Unknown-3
The difference is stark. I wonder how many anti-police white progressives are aware of this disparity?
(Killed by the NYPD in 2021? Five men.)
2/xhttps://t.co/1hjWyem42z
— Carl (@HistoryBoomer) February 22, 2023

P.S. That means 90% of those murdered in NYC were black or Hispanic, and only 6% were white. That's a white murder rate of about 1 per 100,000, comparable to European countries. I live in a very safe city. A few miles away, it's a very different story.
3/xx
— Carl (@HistoryBoomer) February 22, 2023

Pisses me off too. To the point where if Adams hadn't run, I probably would have voted for the Republican.

Few see the true awfulness of 'the white well-off woke' like New Yorkers do. Including up-staters - they get it, they are normies who see the deluded charades.

edit to add:

For reference police killed about 5 people in NYC in that time.
— AT (@notelpmeTy_A) February 22, 2023

In the 2022 Minneapolis city election, a defund the police measure was on the ballot. The Black neighborhoods strongly voted against. The white progressive areas supported it. The measure failed.
— William B Stahl (@WStahl09) February 22, 2023

by artappraiser on Wed, 02/22/2023 - 7:45pm

he's not even asking for money!!!

I'm the most vulnerable Democratic Senator up in 2024—which means I'm gonna need your help.

Can you give me a follow and retweet to spread the word?
— Jon Tester (@jontester) February 22, 2023

by artappraiser on Wed, 02/22/2023 - 9:08pm

Education polarization has gifted Republicans an advantage in the senate, but Democrats an advantage in low-salience elections. https://t.co/LEx0aj9Zou
— Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias) February 22, 2023

I think the same underlying factor is driving a lot of the "misinformation" anxiety — Republicans used to have clearly higher levels of political knowledge but the GOP has been picking up low-info voters and losing high-info ones. https://t.co/kKcTLjR41Z
— Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias) February 22, 2023

If "people who care a lot about politics" tend to break your way, then you get really focused on information as a virtue (Limbaugh used to complain about low-information Obama voters) whereas if it goes the other way you become romantic about mobilization and turnout.
— Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias) February 22, 2023

by artappraiser on Thu, 02/23/2023 - 8:31pm

^ So Dems should stop getting "romantic about mobilization and turnout"? That Black guy or female Hispanic business owner may no longer be a sure Democratic vote?

by artappraiser on Thu, 02/23/2023 - 8:35pm

one guy who'd rather the party pick somewhere else for its convention:

FWIW the New York Democratic Party's 2022 collapse cost Joe Biden a second trifecta and the nation a ton of good policy. https://t.co/wjYIeEt9nr https://t.co/XY1EMHdegU pic.twitter.com/gLNzaSCMs4
— Lakshya Jain (@lxeagle17) February 24, 2023

by artappraiser on Fri, 02/24/2023 - 7:54pm

note the nonpartisan messaging:

Because the people of this nation are strong – the state of our Union is strong.

Together, we’re going to finish the job. pic.twitter.com/xOIPlnZhqZ
— President Biden (@POTUS) February 25, 2023

by artappraiser on Sun, 02/26/2023 - 12:36am

Talking points that are partisan:

Republicans on the Hill are trying to hold the economy hostage. They just won’t say what for.

But we’re starting to get a picture.

It’s not just your social security that may hang in the balance — it’s your health care, too.

I’ll have more to say this week. https://t.co/qjEkwZ25gU
— President Biden (@POTUS) February 27, 2023

Today he's doing the jobs jobs jobs thing - I wonder at the wisdom of that since so many seem to be into capitalist gambling these days one way or another-

My economic plan invests in families like the one I grew up in.

Families that rely on their paychecks, not their stock portfolios, to put food on the table. pic.twitter.com/fddOwvaPZC
— President Biden (@POTUS) February 27, 2023

by artappraiser on Mon, 02/27/2023 - 2:39pm

noted that Hakeem Jeffries is being more specific about who the political enemy is:

We were sent to Washington to solve problems for everyday Americans.

Extreme MAGA Republicans spend their time creating them.
— Hakeem Jeffries (@RepJeffries) February 23, 2023

by artappraiser on Mon, 02/27/2023 - 2:42pm

p.s. noted that first reply to him is a lefty needling him!

You lost the child tax credit.
No student loan forgiveness.
What have you accomplished, exactly?
— US Minimum Wage is still $7.25 an hour (@IncognitaBonk) February 23, 2023

by artappraiser on Mon, 02/27/2023 - 2:46pm

He's a savvy guy in Atlanta:

Oh please no https://t.co/ygcCTQY6wE
— Ryan Campbell (@BanUnsweetTea) March 16, 2023

by artappraiser on Fri, 03/17/2023 - 1:15am

Not that i was impressed with what she brought/didn't bring to the Nigerian election...

Stacey should have taken a job with the Biden administration instead of running again. Now she should listen to GA voters, they’re just not interested in her as a governor. She should put her considerable talents to use elsewhere.
— Mark Beasley (@BeasleyMark) March 16, 2023

I don't see Hillary out running for office a 3rd time...

Imagine Bernie's had enough too.

Is Abrams a better executive or legislator? Or in an administration somewhere? At some point the Harry & Meghan routine of just being in the news a lot wears thin.

by PeraclesPlease on Fri, 03/17/2023 - 3:26am

In the News

Russia plays weak hand in Palestine
Russia plays weak hand in Palestine

submitted by PeraclesPlease 9 months ago

The intra-Palestinian meeting in Moscow has precedent

Russia's hosted such meetings in the past, most recently Feb 2019

Russia has long lamented the US' "monopolization" of the peace process & tried to carve out a niche for itself: mediating among the disunited Palestinians/2
— Hanna Notte (@HannaNotte) February 29, 2024

Read the article at https://twitter.com/HannaNotte/status/1763116222256701787

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Mother Jones is Reaching out to Alternative Party Voters
Mother Jones is Reaching out to Alternative Party Voters

submitted by HSG 10 months ago

Here's what I told them: https://halginsberg.com/vote-for-jill-stein-again/

Read the article at https://halginsberg.com/vote-for-jill-stein-again/

2 comments

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Controversial Brazil law curbing Indigenous rights comes...
Controversial Brazil law curbing Indigenous rights comes into force

submitted by artappraiser 11 months ago

Controversial Brazil law curbing Indigenous rights comes into force https://t.co/pCoDg05irX
— Gareth Harris (@garethharr) December 28, 2023

Read the article at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/dec/28/brazil-law-indigenous-land-rights-claim-time-marker?CMP=share_btn_tw

1 comment

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Security Alert: U.S. Embassy Port-au-Prince, Haiti (...
Security Alert: U.S. Embassy Port-au-Prince, Haiti (December 25, 2023)

submitted by artappraiser 11 months ago

Location: U.S. Embassy and residential compounds

Events: Heavy gunfire is occuring around the area of the U.S. Embassy and residential compounds adjacent to the Trutier area of Tabarre. All Embassy personnel have been instructed to remain indoors and shelter-in-place until further notice. All others should avoid the area.

Actions to take:

Avoid the area;

Avoid demonstrations and any large gatherings of people;

Do not attempt to drive through roadblocks; and

If you encounter a roadblock, turn around and get to a safe area.

Read the article at https://ht.usembassy.gov/security-alert-u-s-embassy-port-au-prince-haiti-december-25-2023/

3 comments

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Pakistan Is Creating the World’s Next Refugee Crisis
Pakistan Is Creating the World’s Next Refugee Crisis

submitted by artappraiser 1 year ago

By The Editorial Board @ Bloomberg.com, December 8, 2023

A mass expulsion of Afghan migrants could destabilize the region and fuel radicalization. The West should pressure Islamabad to change course.

Read the article at https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2023-12-08/pakistan-s-expulsion-of-afghan-refugees-risks-another-crisis

6 comments

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Internet shut down in Chad
Internet shut down in Chad

submitted by artappraiser 1 year ago

All eyes on #Chad right now
Chad has two internet trunks coming into the country: One from the Red Sea via Sudan; the other from Cameroon. Not possible for the totality of the country's internet network to be shut unless done centrally. A lot of rumors swirling; few facts. https://t.co/N6bDJZ2ixO

Read the article at https://x.com/_hudsonc/status/1732891968709992511?s=20

2 comments

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[Economy] where Joe's success falls short
[Economy] where Joe's success falls short

submitted by PeraclesPlease 1 year ago

Read the article at

3 comments

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[CRIME News] 3 loss-prevention employees in Macy’s across...
[CRIME News] 3 loss-prevention employees in Macy’s across the street from Philadelphia City Hall stabbed

submitted by artappraiser 1 year ago

BREAKING: Three loss prevention employees in Macy’s across the street from Philadelphia City Hall stabbed, one of them has died from stab wounds, @PhillyPolice sources tell me. Police converged on the store as the three workers were rushed to Jefferson Hospital. pic.twitter.com/4U1eKycL4W

Read the article at https://x.com/KeeleyFox29/status/1731713272942940365?s=20

38 comments

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Former U.S. Ambassador Arrested, Charged With Working As...
Former U.S. Ambassador Arrested, Charged With Working As Secret Agent For Cuba

submitted by artappraiser 1 year ago

Former US Ambassador Arrested, Charged With Working As Secret Agent For Cuba https://t.co/LDwo4ZJI1K
— HuffPost (@HuffPost) December 4, 2023

Read the article at https://www.huffpost.com/entry/manuel-rocha-ambassador-arrested-cuba_n_656d1e2ae4b028b0f3d07478

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[War in Israel, Chapter II] UNRWA under scrutiny
[War in Israel, Chapter II] UNRWA under scrutiny

submitted by artappraiser 1 year ago

[Chapter I news is HERE, Oct. 7 til today]

You don’t get it.
It’s not about an UNRWA teacher who held an Israeli kid hostage in his house.
It’s all about how for 75 years you have destroyed the future of generations of Palestinians, including my family.
My cousins in Arab countries are still not citizens - not even the… https://t.co/nv6anubGhc
— George Deek (@GeorgeDeek) December 2, 2023

Note 'Community Notes' attached to UNWRA's statement.

Read the article at https://x.com/GeorgeDeek/status/1731020551328579863?s=20

58 comments

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Maduro, Under Pressure, Holds Vote to Annex Territory From...
Maduro, Under Pressure, Holds Vote to Annex Territory From a Neighbor

submitted by artappraiser 1 year ago

Imperialism for me but not for thee?

It's wild that Venezuela is now holding a vote on whether 2/3 of Guyana actually belongs to them! Analysts suggest that Modoru may want military action to pump up his sinking popularity.

Could we have a war in South America?!?

"The people who live in Essequibo are largely… pic.twitter.com/QvMEjkkgwy

Read the article at https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/03/world/americas/maduro-vote-essequibo-guyana.html

6 comments

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[Where is the GOP headed?] Divisions leave Florida’s House...
[Where is the GOP headed?] Divisions leave Florida’s House Republicans powerless

submitted by artappraiser 1 year ago

The lack of a cohesive delegation has allowed attention-seeking lawmakers to act on their own.

McCarthy: “You have [Rep. Matt] Gaetz, who belongs in jail…”

Gaetz: “Tough words from a guy who sucker punches people in the back. The only assault I committed was against Kevin’s fragile ego.”https://t.co/LctPuz6Pcf

Read the article at https://www.politico.com/news/2023/11/29/divisions-leave-floridas-house-republicans-powerless-00129200

10 comments

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‘She got so mad at me’: book on the ‘Squad’ details AOC-...
‘She got so mad at me’: book on the ‘Squad’ details AOC-Pelosi clashes

submitted by artappraiser 1 year ago

By Martinn Pengelly in Washington DC for TheGuardian.com, Nov. 30

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tells Ryan Grim life in Congress ‘completely transformed’ after Democratic leader stepped down

Read the article at https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/nov/30/squad-book-aoc-nancy-pelosi?CMP=share_btn_tw

15 comments

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US health insurers Humana, Cigna in talks to merge -source
US health insurers Humana, Cigna in talks to merge -source

submitted by artappraiser 1 year ago

@ Reuters, Nov. 29

Read the article at https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/us-health-insurers-humana-cigna-talks-merge-wsj-2023-11-29/

3 comments

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Central Africa’s dinosaur regimes and the art of coup-...
Central Africa’s dinosaur regimes and the art of coup-proofing

submitted by artappraiser 1 year ago

"Both the AU and the intl community place more weight on whether elections are held than whether they are free and fair. Sanctions/expulsions occur when there is a coup but not necessarily when elections are rigged or if an “institutional coup” occurs." https://t.co/m9dNimJP0D
— Cameron Hudson (@_hudsonc) November 28, 2023

Read the article at https://africanarguments.org/2023/11/central-africas-dinosaur-regimes-and-the-art-of-coup-proofing/

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