Congratulations, Virginia! Republicans are trying to tilt the midterm elections in their favor, but they haven’t done it yet. Thanks for showing us what it looks like to stand up for our democracy and fight back.

The verdict of a prominent conservative website and magazine:

"A 79-year-old man who has long dealt in chaos is now being consumed by that chaos. His episodes are becoming more frequent, his good days further apart. What he has lost is not a sense of decency or decorum—he never had those...

Sexual misconduct by lawmakers is widespread — but often goes unreported New data from the nonprofit National Women’s Defense League, shared first with The 19th, comes on the heels of the resignations of two members of Congress.

Exclusive: new research from the National Women’s Defense League and shared first with The 19th, has tracked 30 allegations of workplace sexual misconduct against members of Congress made since 2006 — a number the report’s authors say is likely 3-4x higher in reality 19thnews.org/2026/04/sexu...

This is an A+ map

Republicans right now:

Lot of people on the right crying about the Virginia redistricting vote.

We told you this would happen while you were celebrating the illegal off-cycle seat grab in Texas.

Stop playing stupid games if you don’t want to win stupid prizes.

Trump is really mad at the WSJ for pointing out that he’s getting rolled by Iran.

Chicago Public Schools, CTU agree to make May 1 day of civic action; school will remain in session Chicago Public Schools has agreed with the Chicago Teachers Union to declare May 1 a day of civic action, the union and the school district said.

May Day has been declared a day of civic action in Chicago schools, which means buses will be provided for students and educators to join the rally in Union Park.

Me: Isn't this great?

Democrats: Hell yeah. We didn't know we were supposed to fight back

Me: I know. I know...

Don’t start no shit. Won’t be no shit.

Virginia voters just handed Democrats another win in the Great Redistricting Wars Trump’s gerrymandering efforts are backfiring.

Trump thought he could steal the midterms by making MAGA minions rig the House maps.

They thought blue states would sit back and do nothing.

We proved them wrong. Thank you to VA Indivisibles and organizers across the commonwealth for this huge win and your commitment to protecting our democracy.

GOP - *gerrymanders*

DEMS - hey stop that no fair

GOP - *gerrymanders even more*

DEMS - we mean it we’re gonna sue

SCOTUS - *legalizes gerrymandering completely*

DEMS - *start gerrymandering*

GOP - HEY STOP THAT NO FAIR!!!! 😭

For the record: The Washington Post can go fuck itself.

Support pro-democracy media that doesn't have its head stuck up Donald Trump's ass. bit.ly/4qmEiFz

I can’t remember: did Texas even hold a vote to amend their constitution to add their five Republican seats?

Incredible shots of the exchange between Rep. AOC and RFK, Jr. at today’s congressional hearing.

(image credit: WSJ reporter @lizessleywhyte.bsky.social)

Settee down everyone, it's not that funny

"[Republicans] have overlooked [Trump's] mental disorders in the past— dismissed them. They've overlooked his depravity. They've overlooked the fact that he is an adjudicated sexual abuser. That he's a convicted criminal ... Because it served their purposes. It no longer serves their purposes."

This is also good stuff from @gtconway.bsky.social: He says only one of the major parties is functioning as an actor in a democracy, and that this is unsustainable.

"We can’t survive another 33 months of what we’ve seen for the last 15," he tells me.

newrepublic.com/article/2091...

In our discussion, @gtconway.bsky.social envisions two steps: Accountability for Trump and top officials first, then reforms to prevent future fascism second. It all amounts to a pretty good accountability agenda for the post-Trump era.

Here's the key exchange:

newrepublic.com/article/2091...

Why Trump Will Be Removed From Office Sooner Than You Think George Conway, the former GOPer turned Trump critic who’s running for Congress as a Democrat, lays out his case that Republicans will have no choice but to remove the president before his term ends.

On the pod, @gtconway.bsky.social lays out accountability agenda if Dems win House:

*Impeach Trump and top officials
*Criminal referrals to DOJ
*25th Amendment commission
*Fix Impoundment Act
*Codify DOJ independence

There's much more here. It's a good discussion:
newrepublic.com/article/2091...

Washington Examiner: Imagine it was someone other than President Donald Trump. Suppose a different leader were posting deranged rants in the small hours, insulting the spiritual leader of 1.3 billion Catholics, threatening entire civilizations with annihilation, and comparing himself to God. What would be the reaction?

trib.al/8NOOXa6

@marcelias.bsky.social, the great Democratic legal fighter for democracy, on me:

"We need more people like this guy in Congress…This guy's a fighter. And he's not just saying he's a fighter, he's got the receipts, because he has gone toe-to-toe with Donald Trump and the Republicans for years now...

The interesting thing about the current dynamic is that Trump said he would extend the ceasefire indefinitely, and Iran’s response was basically “fuck you, we’re winning”

They also threatened retaliation for any more vessels seized… which we just did.

Delusions of a perfect example of Dunning/Kruger...

As Trump’s lies get more egregious (and repetitive) I have at least noticed fewer mouth-breathing bootlickers willing to defend him in my comments.

And the administration is leaking about how he’s hurting negotiations and how they’re keeping him on the sidelines.

I’ll call that progress.

BREAKING:

WASHINGTON (AP) — Virginia voters approve new US House districts that could aid Democrats in midterm elections.

Reuters/Ipsos poll:

Just 36% of Americans approve of Trump's job performance

Only 26% said they consider Trump "even-tempered"

51% of Americans - including 14% of Republicans, 54% of independents and 85% of Democrats - said Trump's mental sharpness had gotten "worse" over the past year

Subpoenas were issued in probe of Russia ‘conspiracy,’ then DOJ clawed them back, sources say The Justice Department sent subpoenas to witnesses, and then withdrew them, in its investigation of former CIA Director John Brennan for his role in the Russia investigation.

Breaking MS NOW:

The Justice Department has begun withdrawing several subpoenas that had just been issued in the criminal probe of former CIA Director John Brennan — revealing the confusion and disorder within the controversial investigation.

Vance’s Trip to Islamabad on Hold as U.S. Says Iran Failed to Respond to Its Terms

Breaking NYT:

JD Vance's diplomatic trip to Islamabad has been put on hold after Tehran failed to respond to American negotiating positions, according to a U.S. official with direct knowledge of the situation.