Steve Benen

I originally told myself that I'd abandon Twitter/X after my second book came out. Then I said I'd wait until after the election. I'm now out of excuses. See you at Bluesky. https://t.co/iJ8zBRIMO3

June 2024: Waltz falsely claims Trump wasn't responsible for Jan. 6: https://t.co/eRDB45o35s April 2024: Waltz inexplicably co-sponsors a bill to rename Dulles Airport after Trump: https://t.co/SNKlDloIWd November 2024:

The Associated Press @AP

BREAKING: Donald Trump asks Rep. Mike Waltz to be his national security adviser, putting the China hawk in a top foreign policy spot, AP source says. https://t.co/BXZl6DDQND

Trump's first administration was corrupt to a degree without modern precedent. Will his second be worse? Six days after Election Day, the early evidence makes it tough to be optimistic. https://t.co/YzREBzyxtx

Given Biden's and Kamala Harris' successes, all Trump has to do next year is avoid screwing up the conditions he's inheriting. It's hard to be optimistic. https://t.co/4fUERjnUMP

I suspect plenty of folks have forgotten what recess appointments are, but let's not miss the forest for the trees: Five days after he won a second term, one of Trump's early priorities was to take aim at a basic element of checks and balances. https://t.co/t0lI4uT42B

Trump's transition guy: Trump won't use the DOJ for "political purposes" or target his political opponents. Why this isn't reassuring: Trump already tried to use the DOJ for political purposes and already targeted his political opponents. https://t.co/4ZuRiUH8K2

As Jim Jordan sends special counsel Jack Smith a misguided demand, remember: House Republicans are a little too fond of their "investigate the investigation" tactic. https://t.co/DgG3D14J2X

As the dust settles on the election cycle, it's no small thing that progressive policy measures — from education to abortion rights, minimum wage to family leave — fared quite well in 2024, even in red states. https://t.co/8zupsxG4zc

Dems are getting plenty of advice about their "whiffs of condescension" and "implied" disdain for key groups of voters. But didn't Trump just make big gains with constituencies he's treated with unsubtle contempt? https://t.co/po1xyVOT7d

For what it's worth, we don't even have to wait: It was *last week* when Trump said the U.S. economy is in good shape — and he wanted credit: https://t.co/r9Po21gssY

Mehdi Hasan @mehdirhasan

How long do we give it till our president-elect takes credit for strong economic growth, rising real wages, falling inflation, and record low levels of unemployment?

The 2024 and 2020 presidential elections were nearly mirror images of each other. The big difference: the parties' willingness to accept the results. When it comes to democracy, the two parties are simply playing by different sets of rules. https://t.co/FFL9IKJgTH

Jan. 6 was the stain that would not wash off. It was the career-killer. It was the point from which there was no coming back. Or so we thought. https://t.co/4QyNGHGqZM

RT @LOLGOP: This is, I believe, the longest and best @stevebenen I've ever read. And I've read a lot. https://t.co/VAE2dmoop7

A thought for those hoping Trump's second term won't be worse than his first: It will definitely be worse than his first. https://t.co/zw9IDg6LdP

Retired Supreme Court Justice David Souter issued a warning in 2012 about a hypothetical candidate running on an authoritarian platform — and how "democracy dies." His comments came to mind again this morning. https://t.co/vw8cYQAvph

In February, Nikki Haley said there was "no way" Americans would elect a criminal to the White House. Nine months later, it's probably time to grapple with the "not who we are" argument. https://t.co/oyK54oZPdi

At the presidential debate, Kamala Harris said that people start leaving Trump's rallies early "out of exhaustion and boredom.” It's kind of hilarious that eight weeks later, he's *still* triggered by this. https://t.co/6mETr2hhvN