Besides comity, there is absolute no reason for Governor Hochul to schedule the special election for the congressional seat vacated by Elise Stefanik any earlier than absolutely necessary. And we all know how mutual the Republican Party’s sense of comity is!
Trump’s approval rating is already 15–20 percent lower than the approval Joe Biden enjoyed at this point of his presidency. And although Stefanik won her Red district with 61 percent of the vote, with Trump’s plummeting popularity, who knows how "safely Red" NY-21 will be when her aspiring Republican successor faces voters.
Please, we need to make Speaker Mike Johnson’s job of herding rabid cats as difficult as possible.
Trump's approval is already falling fairly preciptiously over just the past month . . .it's fallen a lot quicker than I would've anticipated, but he's also governed much more extreme than most anticipated as well.
Yeah, looking at 538, the crossover to unfavorable has occurred. It remains insane to me that he's at 47% favorable. But at least we have some public sentiment moving against him.
And Arab Americans living in Michigan seem to think after Trump's position on Gaza that they may have made a mistake voting for Trump or sitting it out.
They should have known who he is. My sympathy is dried up here. Same with Politico getting blacklisted by the whole administration. As a lunatic once said, "You get what you f***ing deserve."
They should join the "We voted for Trump but hope he won't cut our benefits" people at a concert by the Symphony of the World's Smallest Violins. That show will need a big venue.
His approval, unfortunately, is still net positive on 538. (I don't know all the polling details of how approval is different from favorability, but it is tracked separately.)
It's probably puffed up by older and/or partisan polls, or those with dubious methodology (ActiVote only polling its own users?), though I don't know the exact weighting especially as polling especially outside of an election season has been erratic in both quality and quantity. Most of the nonpartisan recent ones have roughly an even approval/disapproval split.
One that sticks out negatively but humourously is TIPP "Insights". The results aren't too bad (46 approve 41 disapprove, with substantial undecideds, which is generally expected for a new president in a divided country), but the writeup is flat-out comical: "The Shining City on the Hill has a new sheriff—and Americans are behind him. Optimism is rising as voters rally behind President Trump, backing his leadership.." Do they expect anyone outside of MAGAland to take them seriously? They almost certainly didn't say the same of Biden or Obama whose initial approval was much higher and dispproval lower.
In January last year, Tesla was the most sold car brand in Norway. This January, almost 40 percent fewer Teslas were sold, dropping their sales to third place behind Volkswagen and Toyota.
Also in the rest of Europa, Tesla has lost significant market share. In Germany as well as France, Tesla sales so far in 2025 have seen roughly a 60-percent drop compared to last year.
It would be a delusional overstatement to say that Elon Musk’s open support of the neo-Nazi AfD party in Germany, and his recent "Heil Trump!" Fascist salute at a rally in DC, is endearing Europeans to Musk and his car company.
We're seeing similar drops in Tesla's biggest US market, California. Additional there have been cases of vandalism of Teslas everywhere. Spray painting "Fuck Elon" on Teslas seems to be a popular Friday night activity.
It also hurts sales when you develop a company in California, are given a lot by the state, then move to Texas and bad mouth California because you want to be somewhere where labor and environmental laws aren't enforced as well.
Trump had initially also declared war on TikTok. His opinion has changed and he is now delaying ByteDance’s (the parent company) Congressionally- and court-ordered deadline for selling off TikTok.
The reason is simple: A major shareholder of ByteDance is Jeff Yass, one of the largest donors to Trump’s re-election campaign.
Yet, despite his alliance with Musk, Trump has not softened his attacks on electric vehicles. In fact, just yesterday, he halted the $5 billion initiative to build electric vehicle charging stations by instructing states not to spend federal funds previously allocated to them under the Biden administration program.
I bought one many years ago when the EV market was basically that, the Bolt, or the Leaf. The financial hit of selling to replace isn't something I can justify for myself. I think it'd be a net of >$10k for me to do the sell+replace process if I got something that still met all my needs. Especially harder with the reliability of the EV rebate being in doubt.
It's not a trivial amount of money to take the hit on, especially when I also need to save up to hopefully become a homeowner.
Comments like these are my favorite because, as a long-time daily lurker, the content on the website has never fundamentally changed. I guess these one-time commenters are seeing something we don't lol
Some? Maybe. But I know a great many who are well aware of it yet are unfortunately absent. Probably because there are more avenues than forums these days. But still it's lonely all the same. I always valued the insight of those who had their local political scene down to a science
A lot of people are experiencing PTSD from the election and the first two weeks. I personally am spending less time here and more getting involved in local politics and writing to politicians.
Around this time 8 years back the comment sections were much livelier. Obviously plenty have moved on, including plenty I know personally. It just makes the whole scene look lonely
Ellen L. Weintraub, the chairwoman of the Federal Election Commission, said on Thursday that President Trump had moved to fire her.
Ms. Weintraub, who has served as a Democratic commissioner on the bipartisan panel since 2002, posted a short letter signed by Mr. Trump on social media that said she was “hereby removed” from the commission effective immediately. She said in an interview that she did not see the president’s move as legally valid, and that she was considering her options on how to respond.
“There’s a perfectly legal way for him to replace me,” Ms. Weintraub said on Thursday evening. “But just flat-out firing me, that is not it.”
I'm not serious in that I think the Republican Presidential nominee will win DC's three electoral votes in 2028, but I am saying that its electorate is poised to look a whole lot different in the coming years.
What do you mean its electorate is expected to look a lot different in the coming years? Race demographics wise?
About the only thing that has substantially changed over the years since day the 70’s has been the black population. It’s gone down towards a bit low than 50% as of 2020 compare to 1970 when it was at 71% per the Census.
All other demographics have increased in population over the years. This may have to do with cost of living in the city but I don’t know for sure. It’s not unique to DC though as cities like Oakland and San Francisco have also seen their black population population shrink over the years
However, while DC has seen its black population shrink since the 70’s, for the first time in it’s presidential election voting history beginning in 2008 for Barack Obama it began to vote for the Democratic Presidential Candidate in the 90% mark. Since then, no Democratic Presidential Candidate has gotten lower than 90.2% of the votes in DC. In fact, back last year Trump got 6.47% of the votes, down from McCain in 2008 and Romney in 2012.
I wouldn’t sweat over DC’s demographics over voting at the presidential level.
If I was an attorney (and didn't have a family to displace) I'd literally go find some sublet in the DC metro and camp out for the next few years . . . (DC lawyers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqWc0B1-ZR4)
Brian Tyler Cohen has a very interesting interview with Ken Martin, the new Chair of the DNC. One key focus of their conversation is Democratic messaging. Imho, this is encouraging and worth 14 minutes of your time.
The first Emerson College Polling/PIX11/The Hill survey of the 2025 New York City Democratic Primary for mayor finds former Governor Cuomo with 33% support, while 10% support incumbent Mayor Adams, 8% former Comptroller Scott Stringer, and 6% State Senator Jessica Ramos, Comptroller Brad Lander, and State Senator Zellnor Myrie respectively; 25% are undecided.
BREAKING: In a trio of rulings, North Carolina state court REJECTS Republican effort to overturn the results of the 2024 state Supreme Court election by throwing out 60,000 lawful ballots.
That's great, unfortunately that's the Wake County Superior Court and not the NC Supreme Court, so we're not out of the woods yet. Still, this is a good step for us.
LET MIKE HERD RABID CATS!
Besides comity, there is absolute no reason for Governor Hochul to schedule the special election for the congressional seat vacated by Elise Stefanik any earlier than absolutely necessary. And we all know how mutual the Republican Party’s sense of comity is!
Trump’s approval rating is already 15–20 percent lower than the approval Joe Biden enjoyed at this point of his presidency. And although Stefanik won her Red district with 61 percent of the vote, with Trump’s plummeting popularity, who knows how "safely Red" NY-21 will be when her aspiring Republican successor faces voters.
Please, we need to make Speaker Mike Johnson’s job of herding rabid cats as difficult as possible.
and of course we don't know the Republicans nominee yet; where as the Democratic party put up a very viable alternative
Trump's approval is already falling fairly preciptiously over just the past month . . .it's fallen a lot quicker than I would've anticipated, but he's also governed much more extreme than most anticipated as well.
Yeah, looking at 538, the crossover to unfavorable has occurred. It remains insane to me that he's at 47% favorable. But at least we have some public sentiment moving against him.
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/02/06/trump-arab-americans-dearborn-michigan-00203018
And Arab Americans living in Michigan seem to think after Trump's position on Gaza that they may have made a mistake voting for Trump or sitting it out.
May have?
No shit
They should have known who he is. My sympathy is dried up here. Same with Politico getting blacklisted by the whole administration. As a lunatic once said, "You get what you f***ing deserve."
They should join the "We voted for Trump but hope he won't cut our benefits" people at a concert by the Symphony of the World's Smallest Violins. That show will need a big venue.
who was that MI congresswoman railing against Biden/Harris?
His approval, unfortunately, is still net positive on 538. (I don't know all the polling details of how approval is different from favorability, but it is tracked separately.)
It's probably puffed up by older and/or partisan polls, or those with dubious methodology (ActiVote only polling its own users?), though I don't know the exact weighting especially as polling especially outside of an election season has been erratic in both quality and quantity. Most of the nonpartisan recent ones have roughly an even approval/disapproval split.
One that sticks out negatively but humourously is TIPP "Insights". The results aren't too bad (46 approve 41 disapprove, with substantial undecideds, which is generally expected for a new president in a divided country), but the writeup is flat-out comical: "The Shining City on the Hill has a new sheriff—and Americans are behind him. Optimism is rising as voters rally behind President Trump, backing his leadership.." Do they expect anyone outside of MAGAland to take them seriously? They almost certainly didn't say the same of Biden or Obama whose initial approval was much higher and dispproval lower.
TIPP has always been an ok pollster with absolute Republican hack writeups.
MUSK THROWS TESLA UNDER THE BUS
In January last year, Tesla was the most sold car brand in Norway. This January, almost 40 percent fewer Teslas were sold, dropping their sales to third place behind Volkswagen and Toyota.
Also in the rest of Europa, Tesla has lost significant market share. In Germany as well as France, Tesla sales so far in 2025 have seen roughly a 60-percent drop compared to last year.
It would be a delusional overstatement to say that Elon Musk’s open support of the neo-Nazi AfD party in Germany, and his recent "Heil Trump!" Fascist salute at a rally in DC, is endearing Europeans to Musk and his car company.
Plus some Tesla products are illegal in parts of Europe
We're seeing similar drops in Tesla's biggest US market, California. Additional there have been cases of vandalism of Teslas everywhere. Spray painting "Fuck Elon" on Teslas seems to be a popular Friday night activity.
Telling your core consumer, loudly, how much you hate them and their values does in the end maybe have an effect on your sales
It also hurts sales when you develop a company in California, are given a lot by the state, then move to Texas and bad mouth California because you want to be somewhere where labor and environmental laws aren't enforced as well.
It doesn't help that #47 has declared war on EVs.
Trump had initially also declared war on TikTok. His opinion has changed and he is now delaying ByteDance’s (the parent company) Congressionally- and court-ordered deadline for selling off TikTok.
The reason is simple: A major shareholder of ByteDance is Jeff Yass, one of the largest donors to Trump’s re-election campaign.
Yet, despite his alliance with Musk, Trump has not softened his attacks on electric vehicles. In fact, just yesterday, he halted the $5 billion initiative to build electric vehicle charging stations by instructing states not to spend federal funds previously allocated to them under the Biden administration program.
I saw a sticker on a Tesla a few days ago which said: "I bought this before I knew"
For the life of me, I can't see how any Democrat can continue to own one of those. If I did, I'd sell it, take the hit, and buy something else.
I bought one many years ago when the EV market was basically that, the Bolt, or the Leaf. The financial hit of selling to replace isn't something I can justify for myself. I think it'd be a net of >$10k for me to do the sell+replace process if I got something that still met all my needs. Especially harder with the reliability of the EV rebate being in doubt.
It's not a trivial amount of money to take the hit on, especially when I also need to save up to hopefully become a homeowner.
Yeah, not everyone can afford to base their car ownership of current vehicles on political reasons.
Just get one or those bumper stickers! :P
I actually have been meaning to get one of those! Looked into it the other night, probably going to order one soon.
On an unpolitical note, one of the best bumper stickers I ever saw was many years ago on a gorgeous Jaguar MK II:
"My other car is a Lada."
I'm convinced Musk doesn't really care about Tesla anymore; he's all-in on his dumb-ass mission to Mars.
Who else would we like to see join him on his expedition to Mars?
What happened to this place?
Comments like these are my favorite because, as a long-time daily lurker, the content on the website has never fundamentally changed. I guess these one-time commenters are seeing something we don't lol
I remember many vibrant discussions had by people who taught me a great deal. I just miss seeing their inputs is all. Among other things
I think a lot of people may have missed the transition to substack tbh
Some? Maybe. But I know a great many who are well aware of it yet are unfortunately absent. Probably because there are more avenues than forums these days. But still it's lonely all the same. I always valued the insight of those who had their local political scene down to a science
A lot of people are experiencing PTSD from the election and the first two weeks. I personally am spending less time here and more getting involved in local politics and writing to politicians.
I understand all of that. I'm just saying I remember it differently
You’re surprised at the lack of comments on an election site when there are no imminent elections?
Around this time 8 years back the comment sections were much livelier. Obviously plenty have moved on, including plenty I know personally. It just makes the whole scene look lonely
Actually, some days bring a very lively discussion; imo your criticism is not warranted
Maybe so. I've just seen it quiet for a while
Be the change and start some discussions about the elections topics you want to hear more about!
a lot of people hate losing
Get in the Discord. The water is warm
imo the Minnesota recalls are performance art only; but if the Republicans are that strategically stupid; I say, 'carry on governor'
You mean "please proceed Governor"?
Yup..nice call
I still drop that line once in a while. Occasionally, people even get the reference.
Ellen L. Weintraub, the chairwoman of the Federal Election Commission, said on Thursday that President Trump had moved to fire her.
Ms. Weintraub, who has served as a Democratic commissioner on the bipartisan panel since 2002, posted a short letter signed by Mr. Trump on social media that said she was “hereby removed” from the commission effective immediately. She said in an interview that she did not see the president’s move as legally valid, and that she was considering her options on how to respond.
“There’s a perfectly legal way for him to replace me,” Ms. Weintraub said on Thursday evening. “But just flat-out firing me, that is not it.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/06/us/politics/federal-election-commission-weintraub-trump.html
Lawyer up time for MS weintraub
This administration is a bonanza for Washington lawyers.
yup
Make Attorneys Get Attirneys
Billable hours are undefeated.
With the federal worker turnover going on, the District of Columbia could be a battleground in 2028. Only partly kidding.
You can’t be even partly serious about this, come on.
I'm not serious in that I think the Republican Presidential nominee will win DC's three electoral votes in 2028, but I am saying that its electorate is poised to look a whole lot different in the coming years.
What do you mean its electorate is expected to look a lot different in the coming years? Race demographics wise?
About the only thing that has substantially changed over the years since day the 70’s has been the black population. It’s gone down towards a bit low than 50% as of 2020 compare to 1970 when it was at 71% per the Census.
All other demographics have increased in population over the years. This may have to do with cost of living in the city but I don’t know for sure. It’s not unique to DC though as cities like Oakland and San Francisco have also seen their black population population shrink over the years
However, while DC has seen its black population shrink since the 70’s, for the first time in it’s presidential election voting history beginning in 2008 for Barack Obama it began to vote for the Democratic Presidential Candidate in the 90% mark. Since then, no Democratic Presidential Candidate has gotten lower than 90.2% of the votes in DC. In fact, back last year Trump got 6.47% of the votes, down from McCain in 2008 and Romney in 2012.
I wouldn’t sweat over DC’s demographics over voting at the presidential level.
If I was an attorney (and didn't have a family to displace) I'd literally go find some sublet in the DC metro and camp out for the next few years . . . (DC lawyers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqWc0B1-ZR4)
She should just keep coming to work. So should all these fired people q
Brian Tyler Cohen has a very interesting interview with Ken Martin, the new Chair of the DNC. One key focus of their conversation is Democratic messaging. Imho, this is encouraging and worth 14 minutes of your time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwBqk8aKB18
Grade-A trolling from Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker: Renaming Lake Michigan to Lake Illinois.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DFyJ-WZBVT9/
I guess he's running for a third term?
When will Cuomo announce for Mayor and likely sew up the nomination?
Right after Andrew Yang does.
Cuomo is a slightly better known politician in NY than Andrew Yang was.
Sew? He's getting low thirties in the primary? The trip to 50 will be a struggle
Polls have him at about 40% in a wide open field.
The first Emerson College Polling/PIX11/The Hill survey of the 2025 New York City Democratic Primary for mayor finds former Governor Cuomo with 33% support, while 10% support incumbent Mayor Adams, 8% former Comptroller Scott Stringer, and 6% State Senator Jessica Ramos, Comptroller Brad Lander, and State Senator Zellnor Myrie respectively; 25% are undecided.
https://emersoncollegepolling.com/new-york-city-mayoral-poll-cuomo-leads-primary-adams-faces-low-support-amid-high-unfavorability/
Hoping the 57% that aren't cool with crimes and sex pests unite behind someone.
Most polls have him getting over 50% in the 6th round, with the opposition way behind.
As expected, Maura Healey is running for Governor again next year. https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/theres-a-lot-more-to-do-gov-healey-says-she-plans-to-seek-reelection-in-2026/3626468/
Trump-appointed federal judge in Washington DC says he will temporary BLOCK placement of approx. 2200 USAID employees on leave.
https://bsky.app/profile/marcelias.bsky.social/post/3lhmlg6o5mk2j
Oh man, Trump just handed Democrats a gift for the 2026 midterms.
*Trump appoints federal judge*
*Trump gets elected once again as POTUS*
*Trump issues an executive order putting 2,200 USAID employees on leave*
*Same judge blocks executive order*
TRUMP: “The system is rigged!”
Poor Donald, he can’t even buy loyal judges these days.
Excellent. Keep the losing streak in court going as long as we can.
Of note - Carl Nichols is probably the most conservative DC district judge
BREAKING: In a trio of rulings, North Carolina state court REJECTS Republican effort to overturn the results of the 2024 state Supreme Court election by throwing out 60,000 lawful ballots.
https://bsky.app/profile/marcelias.bsky.social/post/3lhmnmzmk2s2l
That's great, unfortunately that's the Wake County Superior Court and not the NC Supreme Court, so we're not out of the woods yet. Still, this is a good step for us.