"Even the smallest act of insurrection [(and compassion)] pushes our lines forward"

Would love to know the story of how they became friends because that is so random

Or Larry Fitzgerald!

Oh I didn't even realize that was considered a conspiracy theory anymore.

I did NOT know that was such a specific regional thing. I assumed everyone called them that!

It's just all so arbitrary! Zero consistency in what he's calling.

And then doesn't card Van Hecke

This is not to take away from Rep Tlaib, but Rep Sara Jacobs has been very, very active on Sudan as well (as the ranking member on the Africa subcommittee) and I believe authored the legislation Rep Tlaib is talking about. Not a detraction, just want to give credit where it's due.

I appreciate that gentrification is a really complicated and emotional issue (especially for one's own neighborhood), but rezoning Gowanus, as a former resident, seems pretty uncontroversial to me? Every time I'm there now, businesses seem to be doing well and the streets are bustling.

Lived on 4th Ave for 3 years a decade ago (as a transplant, like the rest of the residents of my building) and my bedroom wall collapsed 6 months after I moved out, so that's what the buildings were like before. A lot of the high-rises were also built on vacant lots or derelict buildings, so like...

It's a confusing phenomenon that I've been knocked off-balance by many times. I've walked into quite a few DC meetings where I expected to be the least smart person in the room (or most ignorant on a given subject) and found the opposite to be true, but that everyone else was just confident and loud

That, to me, is a massive question. At a BBQ when I first moved to DC in '21, I somewhat jokingly mentioned that I thought USAJobs was one of the greatest threats to US national security, and the overwhelming response was laughter but also folks from the IC/DoD saying "no, but actually though..."

I'd also say that being a Hill staffer (something I have studiously avoided for financial reasons) pays absolutely terribly unless you're more senior. If you work your way up to GS-12 at a NatSec agency, do you really want to take a step backwards in salary to work in a House office?

I (and I would say most of my fellow Americans in the Intl Security Program at SIPA) wanted to get frontline experience coming out of grad school. We all applied for every entry level job and fellowship under the sun - the only folks who succeeded were either PMFs or vets leaving the military.

So I hear all this, and I'm sympathetic to it (I also don't disagree that there are too many lawyers) but in the interest of playing devil's advocate: there are many, MANY young dem-aligned people who would love to get that career exp, but have run straight into the brick wall that is USAJobs.

Exactly. And I mean, look, were they the key funders/conveners for the broader far-right internationale? Absolutely. But it was a little more subtle - various $10k/mo fellowships and sinecures for US and Euro commentators and future candidates, events and jobs on college campuses, etc

So I could be wrong, but I think Magyar meant CPAC Hungary (the edition in Budapest) was state funded by funneling taxpayer money through the Lajos Batthyany Foundation into the Centre for Fundamental Rights, which ran the Budapest event. They definitely do fund a lot of non-Hungary stuff though!

My god. Essential, horrifying reporting here.

Because of the way USAID's merch vendor was set up, a colleague and I realized you could order basically any kind of clothing in their catalog with the logo on it. One of my great regrets is not ordering a USAID-branded balaclava when I had the chance, which I think would have given Benz an aneurysm

He also popped up quite a bit in the new crypto documentary I saw last night looking like a credulous fool (re: SBF and others).

Big thanks to @marisakabas.bsky.social for signal boosting this important story. In the events that Democrats do regain the gavel in Congress, we're going to need many, many hearings to get justice for what was done to USAID.

Caught @benmckenzie.bsky.social’s new crypto doc (and Q&A!) at the IFC tonight. Recommended viewing for everyone who thinks they “don’t get” crypto (spoiler: you’re right and it’s as fraudulent as you think!) and mandatory viewing for my fellow Dem staffers getting sold a BS story by lobbyists.

It’s profoundly ignorant to suggest that the Pope should be fighting crime on behalf of the Catholic Church. Anyone who was remotely familiar with Roman Catholicism would know that that’s what Daredevil is for

I very rarely post on Instagram, but you better believe I put that screed about the pope in my Insta stories so all my relatives could see it.

Well now I need to worry about my grandmother rising from her grave and whooping his ass with a wooden spoon.

Did somebody say anti-corruption campaign?

Yep. Anti-LGBTQ+ groups, anti-women groups, anti-immigrant groups, anti-science groups...but enough about the Heritage Foundation.

A great day for freedom-loving people across Europe. And a bad day for corrupt autocrats, Vladimir Putin, and JD Vance, which I think we can all celebrate.

This is true (and I think the scope of his operations is not fully appreciated by most people). It will be fascinating to see what happens once the tap is shut off (assuming Magyar reins in the Danube Insitute, MCC, Centre for Fundamental Rights, Lajos Batthyany Foundation, etc)

*Brobbey hits Kinsky with a metal chair*

"That's a little bit naughty from Brobbey."