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Steve Benen@stevebenen.bsky.social |
2526 followers 50 following 712 posts
Rachel Maddow Show producer, MaddowBlog author, MSNBC contributor, and author of THE IMPOSTORS
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Steve Benen
@stevebenen.bsky.social
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In 2013, Orrin Hatch asked, "Is Heritage going to go so political that it really doesn’t amount to anything anymore?" Yesterday, the Heritage Foundation's president said, “We are in the process of the second American Revolution, which will remain bloodless ― if the left allows it to be.”
4 replies 4 reposts 20 likes
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Steve Benen
@stevebenen.bsky.social
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Trump has an underappreciated tell: Every time he claims to have been "exonerated," he's lying.
The latest installment in the nine-part franchise — he claims the Supreme Court exonerated him in the hush-money case — is a doozy. www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
2 replies 3 reposts 14 likes
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Steve Benen
@stevebenen.bsky.social
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I don't care about Michelle Obama's double-digit polling lead over Trump because I think she'll run. (I'm quite certain she won't.)
I care about it because of what it tells us about the weakness of Trump's support. www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
2 replies 1 reposts 20 likes
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Steve Benen
@stevebenen.bsky.social
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Lloyd Doggett is the first Democratic member to call on Biden to withdraw, but stepping back, the party hasn't exactly shown the incumbent an unyielding wall of solid support over last 48 hours. www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
5 replies 1 reposts 7 likes
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Steve Benen
@stevebenen.bsky.social
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In light of the Trump v. U.S. ruling, perhaps we should be chatting a bit more about the Republican's eagerness to amplify messages about "treason" and "military tribunals" for his perceived political foes? www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
3 replies 11 reposts 23 likes
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Steve Benen
@stevebenen.bsky.social
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There's something oddly fitting about the name of the immunity case: Trump v. the United States.
The ruling roughly coinciding with July 4th — when we rejected the idea that we would be ruled by an accountable king — is also special. www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
0 replies 15 reposts 36 likes
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Steve Benen
@stevebenen.bsky.social
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Why is Biden under pressure to pass the torch, while Trump faces no comparable pressure? What explains the asymmetry?
In part because Biden’s backers fear voters will turn on him, while Trump’s backers are confident they won’t. tinyurl.com/3uhfmnea
4 replies 6 reposts 17 likes
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Steve Benen
@stevebenen.bsky.social
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As the prison sentence starts for Steve Bannon (who is not me), a recent line from historian Douglas Brinkley comes to mind:
"With Lincoln, they had a team of rivals. With Trump, you have a team of felons." www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
3 replies 21 reposts 157 likes
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Steve Benen
@stevebenen.bsky.social
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I'm mindful of the fact "gaslighting" is overused, but as congressional Republicans insist that Trump wasn't responsible for Jan. 6, it's tough to think of a better word. www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
6 replies 9 reposts 27 likes
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Steve Benen
@stevebenen.bsky.social
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If we're being charitable, there are a few different ways to interpret Trump's line on Evan Gershkovich, but they all have something in common:
Every interpretation is quite awful. www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
1 replies 1 reposts 5 likes
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Steve Benen
@stevebenen.bsky.social
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Three days after Trump pitched having migrants fight each other for sport, and a week after he said executives should be fired unless they endorse him, a GOP senator argued that Trump represents a "return to normalcy."
No, really. www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
2 replies 3 reposts 16 likes
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Steve Benen
@stevebenen.bsky.social
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When Adam Kinzinger launched his career, he welcomed Sarah Palin's and Tea Party groups' backing. The idea that he'd end up endorsing a Democratic president 14 years later seemed far-fetched.
But here we are. www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
2 replies 22 reposts 96 likes
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Steve Benen
@stevebenen.bsky.social
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For Trump, the power of his endorsement is supposed to be — indeed, it *must* be — the stuff of legend.
It's why it matters when several Trump-backed candidates lose in Republican primaries. www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
0 replies 3 reposts 21 likes
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Steve Benen
@stevebenen.bsky.social
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One of the most striking parts of Trump talking about cutting federal education spending:
He concedes this would leave some states worse off. www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
1 replies 2 reposts 9 likes
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Steve Benen
@stevebenen.bsky.social
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Trump's approach to debates, elections, and court fights shares a common thread:
He's defined by a belief in preemptive delegitimization. www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
1 replies 3 reposts 21 likes
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Steve Benen
@stevebenen.bsky.social
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If you missed it over the weekend, Trump twice talked up the idea of having migrants fight each other in a ring for sport. Among the lingering questions:
Who thinks like this? www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
5 replies 9 reposts 25 likes
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Steve Benen
@stevebenen.bsky.social
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I mentioned Gaetz in the piece!
1 replies 0 reposts 1 likes
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Steve Benen
@stevebenen.bsky.social
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As the FBI raids the Oakland mayor's home, a neutral observer might start to wonder whether the Justice Department has been “weaponized” to hurt Democrats.
- Hunter Biden
- Bob Menendez
- Henry Cuellar
- Cori Bush
- Sheng Thao www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
2 replies 8 reposts 16 likes
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Steve Benen
@stevebenen.bsky.social
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Among the many problems with Trump endorsing government-sponsored Ten Commandments displays:
We already know the Republican has broken most of them. www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
3 replies 8 reposts 20 likes
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Steve Benen
@stevebenen.bsky.social
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The NYT reports that two of Judge Cannon's colleagues urged her to hand off Trump's classified documents case to someone else. The Trump-appointed conservative refused.
I'm reminded anew of a Roy Cohn quote: “Don’t tell me what the law is, tell me who the judge is.” www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
2 replies 13 reposts 35 likes
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Steve Benen
@stevebenen.bsky.social
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That's a very good point, Hilary.
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Steve Benen
@stevebenen.bsky.social
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Republicans, from Congress to the campaign trail, are *still* arguing that Barack Obama is secretly controlling the White House, pulling the strings from the shadows.
Even by 2024 standards, it's a bit much. www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
6 replies 3 reposts 11 likes
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Steve Benen
@stevebenen.bsky.social
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I wish I'd thought of this.
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Steve Benen
@stevebenen.bsky.social
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In theory, Louisiana Republicans already know their new law mandating Ten Commandments displays in classrooms is at odds with the First Amendment and Supreme Court precedent.
In practice, they expect to get away with it anyway. www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
6 replies 34 reposts 109 likes
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Steve Benen
@stevebenen.bsky.social
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The existence of cheapfakes is a problem, but the real problem is who's helping disseminate them:
It's one thing when random folks peddle deceptive videos, it's something else when powerful Republicans and conservative media outlets do the same thing. www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
0 replies 8 reposts 20 likes
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Steve Benen
@stevebenen.bsky.social
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When it comes to the stakes in the 2024 elections, Trump's commitment to defunding schools with vaccine mandates should be high on the "things that matter" list. www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
1 replies 5 reposts 16 likes
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Steve Benen
@stevebenen.bsky.social
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It's a fair point, and I went back and forth on the phrasing. The trouble was with the details of Trump's message: He said executives should “be 100% behind” him or face termination, which creates a broad scope.
2 replies 0 reposts 2 likes
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Steve Benen
@stevebenen.bsky.social
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Trump has picked foolish and unnecessary fights with private-sector leaders before, but saying executives should be fired for failing to support his campaign seems like a real escalation. www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
19 replies 49 reposts 122 likes
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Steve Benen
@stevebenen.bsky.social
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Several Jan. 6 convicts have tried to parlay their experiences into Republican campaigns. They haven't fared well.
The losing streak grew longer yesterday. www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
0 replies 9 reposts 23 likes
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Steve Benen
@stevebenen.bsky.social
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It wasn't that long ago when a bump stock ban enjoyed significant GOP support.
Senate Republicans nevertheless derailed the idea today in the wake of a tough-to-defend ruling from Republican appointed Supreme Court justices. www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
5 replies 9 reposts 18 likes
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Steve Benen
@stevebenen.bsky.social
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The Reagan Legacy Project was unfortunate. The new Republican drive to name a bunch of stuff after Trump, however, seems significantly more ridiculous. www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
5 replies 6 reposts 16 likes
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Steve Benen
@stevebenen.bsky.social
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Thanks for the shout-out, @amptsuper.bsky.social. Just to clarify, the bill to overhaul the Electoral Count Act ended up passing and becoming law in late 2022: www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
1 replies 1 reposts 4 likes
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Steve Benen
@stevebenen.bsky.social
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Reality makes clear that Biden-era crime rates are going down. Republicans nevertheless keep telling voters to believe that Biden-era crime rates are going up.
The lies, alas, are having the intended effect. www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
1 replies 5 reposts 11 likes
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Steve Benen
@stevebenen.bsky.social
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A not-so-subtle pattern:
- Right targets mifepristone, goes to Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk
- Right wants to protect gun-show loophole, goes to Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk
- Right targets appliance efficiency standards, goes to Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
1 replies 10 reposts 33 likes
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Steve Benen
@stevebenen.bsky.social
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It's one of Trump's standard talking points: International respect for the United States was stronger when he was in the White House.
The latest data shows the degree to which he has it backwards: Our standing rebounded after Biden was elected. www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
3 replies 13 reposts 26 likes
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Steve Benen
@stevebenen.bsky.social
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On the one hand, Republicans keep claiming to support IVF access. On the other hand, they also keep voting against federal IVF protections — as they did again today in the Senate.
Watch what they do, not what they say. www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
1 replies 16 reposts 31 likes
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Steve Benen
@stevebenen.bsky.social
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It was obvious that House Republicans planned to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt as part of a partisan stunt.
GOP members did it anyway. www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
0 replies 2 reposts 12 likes
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Steve Benen
@stevebenen.bsky.social
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Removing medical debt from consumer credit reports might not be a front-page story, but it's another example — the latest in a series of examples — of the Biden administration taking meaningful steps to help consumers. www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
2 replies 18 reposts 56 likes
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Steve Benen
@stevebenen.bsky.social
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In the recent past, Paul Ryan was a defining far-right voice in Republican politics.
In 2024, he's calling Trump "unfit for office," being labeled a "RINO," and hearing from a GOP member who wants to kick Ryan out of the party altogether. www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
2 replies 9 reposts 30 likes
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Steve Benen
@stevebenen.bsky.social
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So you're saying that MIT might want to sever its "relationship" with the former president?
0 replies 0 reposts 4 likes
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Steve Benen
@stevebenen.bsky.social
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Some billionaires are looking at the 2024 race and putting aside concerns about democracy.
But to quote @crampell.bsky.social, "U.S. business titans might think they're trading democracy for financial gain. In reality, they're gambling both." www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
2 replies 5 reposts 19 likes
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Steve Benen
@stevebenen.bsky.social
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As Biden's son is successfully prosecuted by the Justice Department, the idea of a "two-tiered" and "weaponized" system lies in tatters.
Indeed, if Biden were trying to corrupt the process, he's proven himself to be incredibly bad at it. www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
3 replies 7 reposts 23 likes
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Steve Benen
@stevebenen.bsky.social
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One of the key things to remember about Trump's aspiring running mates being asked if they have criminal backgrounds:
The former president himself would never pass his own team's vetting process. www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
1 replies 1 reposts 10 likes
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Steve Benen
@stevebenen.bsky.social
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U.S. job growth across the first five months of 2024 is better than the first five months of any year of Trump’s presidency.
No wonder Republican leaders have found themselves literally at a loss for words. www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
5 replies 36 reposts 125 likes
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Steve Benen
@stevebenen.bsky.social
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As we digest Trump's utterly bizarre comments about boats, batteries, and sharks, spare a thought for the White House staffers who'd be assigned to work on this in a prospective second term. www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
2 replies 2 reposts 6 likes
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Steve Benen
@stevebenen.bsky.social
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If Biden hoped to put Trump on the defensive over the Republican's disparaging remarks about fallen U.S. troops, the plan is working very well.
Making matters worse, Trump's denials are literally unbelievable. www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
2 replies 10 reposts 25 likes
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Steve Benen
@stevebenen.bsky.social
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So let me see if I have this straight: A convicted criminal, who's surrounded himself with other convicted criminals, is running on a platform of championing the interests of convicted Jan. 6 criminals? www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
3 replies 3 reposts 17 likes
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Steve Benen
@stevebenen.bsky.social
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Remember in 2017 when NPR tweeted the Declaration of Independence, and Trump followers were outraged because they thought they were anti-Trump messages?
It came to mind watching the right's reaction to Biden's D-Day remarks. www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
1 replies 22 reposts 54 likes
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Steve Benen
@stevebenen.bsky.social
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Trump to Mike Johnson: Put unqualified, scandal-plagued loyalists on the Intelligence Committee, giving them access to many of the nation's most sensitive secrets.
Johnson to Trump: Sure thing.
Everyone else: You've got to be kidding me. www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
3 replies 12 reposts 31 likes
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Steve Benen
@stevebenen.bsky.social
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Historically, nothing good follows when a politician convinces himself that his own country's domestic foes are "evil" enemies and more serious threats than foreign adversaries. www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
1 replies 2 reposts 11 likes