Steve Benen (@stevebenen) header
Steve Benen (@stevebenen) profile picture

Steve Benen

@stevebenen

Rachel Maddow Show producer, editor of The MaddowBlog, and author of Ministry of Truth: Democracy, Reality, and the Republicans' War on the Recent Past

maddowblog.com/
Joined March 2009
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Photo by Steve Benen (@stevebenen)Photo by Steve Benen (@stevebenen)Photo by Steve Benen (@stevebenen)Photo by Steve Benen (@stevebenen)Photo by Steve Benen (@stevebenen)Photo by Steve Benen (@stevebenen)Photo by Steve Benen (@stevebenen)Photo by Steve Benen (@stevebenen)Photo by Steve Benen (@stevebenen)Photo by Steve Benen (@stevebenen)
My new book — Ministry of Truth: Democracy, Reality, and the Republicans' War on the Recent Past — has a new landing page at MSNBC, complete with links to video clips, reviews, an audiobook sample, the works. msnbc.com/ministryoftruth
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Part I: Trump heard about people seeking asylum and assumed it had to do with people who’d been institutionalized in asylums. Part II:
James Surowiecki (@JamesSurowiecki) profile pictureJames Surowiecki
@JamesSurowieckiMar 12
There's no question someone in the White House told Trump to call the war in Iran an "incursion," but he heard it as "excursion" and now he keeps calling it that - making the war sound like a holiday getaway - because no one around him ever corrects him when he makes a mistake.
Image from James Surowiecki (@JamesSurowiecki)
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I've switched over to Bluesky, but this is a periodic tweet to ensure that my account isn't deleted.
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I've switched over to Bluesky, but this is a periodic tweet to make sure that my account isn't deleted.
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This is a periodic tweet to ensure that my account isn't deleted.
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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. bsky.app/profile/stevebenen.…
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June 2024: Waltz falsely claims Trump wasn't responsible for Jan. 6: tinyurl.com/bdcssyw2 April 2024: Waltz inexplicably co-sponsors a bill to rename Dulles Airport after Trump: tinyurl.com/82a4j7c7 November 2024:
The Associated Press (@AP) profile pictureThe Associated Press
@AP12 Nov 2024
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. apnews.com/article/trump-nat…
Trump asks Rep. Mike Waltz, China hawk, to be his national security adviser

Trump asks Rep. Mike Waltz, China hawk, to be his national security adviser

President-elect Donald Trump has asked U.S. Rep. Michael Waltz, a retired Army National Guard officer and war veteran, to be his national security adviser, a person familiar with the matter says.

apnews.com
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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. msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show…
In Trump’s second term, evidence suggests corruption will be worse, not better

In Trump’s second term, evidence suggests corruption will be worse, not better

Donald Trump’s first term was astonishingly corrupt. There’s already reason to believe his second will be worse.

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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. msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show…
Can Trump avoid screwing up what he’s inheriting from Biden?

Can Trump avoid screwing up what he’s inheriting from Biden?

Given Joe Biden’s and Kamala Harris’ successes, all Donald Trump has to do next year is avoid screwing up the conditions he’s inheriting.

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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. msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show…
Trump targets checks and balances less than a week after winning

Trump targets checks and balances less than a week after winning

Five days after he won a second term, one of Donald Trump’s first priorities was to take aim at a basic element of checks and balances.

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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. msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show…
Key GOP lawyer: Trump can dictate Justice Department actions

Key GOP lawyer: Trump can dictate Justice Department actions

Post-Watergate firewalls — built to prevent undue political influence over the Justice Department’s decisions — will face new challenges under Trump.

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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. msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show…
Jim Jordan advances investigation into Jack Smith’s investigation

Jim Jordan advances investigation into Jack Smith’s investigation

The special counsel’s cases appear to be ending, but Jordan's investigation into the investigation is apparently still advancing.

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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. msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show…

Ballot measures deliver big wins for progressive policy priorities

From education to abortion rights, minimum wage to family leave, progressive policy measures fared quite well in 2024, even amid Republican victories.

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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? msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show…
Democrats get post-election advice that Trump routinely ignores

Democrats get post-election advice that Trump routinely ignores

“It’s difficult,” The New York Times’ Nicholas Kristof wrote, “to win votes from people you’re disparaging.” Doesn’t Donald Trump help prove the opposite?

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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: tinyurl.com/4ek6emay
The better the economy becomes, the more Trump struggles to talk about it

The better the economy becomes, the more Trump struggles to talk about it

On Monday, Trump said the economy is good, and he wants credit. On Wednesday, he said the economy is “a disaster” and that Harris deserves the blame.

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Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) profile pictureMehdi Hasan
@mehdirhasan7 Nov 2024
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?
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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. msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show…
In defeat, Democratic leaders show how democracy is supposed to work

In defeat, Democratic leaders show how democracy is supposed to work

The 2024 and 2020 presidential elections were nearly mirror images of each other. The biggest difference: Democrats accepted the results, and Trump didn’t.

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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. msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show…
On Trump’s Jan. 6 record, Republicans chose to simply surrender

On Trump’s Jan. 6 record, Republicans chose to simply surrender

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.

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This is, I believe, the longest and best @stevebenen I've ever read. And I've read a lot. msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show…
Why the worst president ever will be even worse in a second term

Why the worst president ever will be even worse in a second term

I suppose some observers might think Donald Trump’s first term represented rock bottom. My advice for those thinking along those lines: Just wait.

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A thought for those hoping Trump's second term won't be worse than his first: It will definitely be worse than his first. msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show…
Why the worst president ever will be even worse in a second term

Why the worst president ever will be even worse in a second term

I suppose some observers might think Donald Trump’s first term represented rock bottom. My advice for those thinking along those lines: Just wait.

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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. msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show…
David Souter’s prescient remarks ring true 12 years later

David Souter’s prescient remarks ring true 12 years later

Retired Supreme Court Justice David Souter issued a warning about how democracy could die in the United States. It’s worth revisiting now.

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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. msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show…
As Trump prevails, it’s time to grapple with the ‘who we are’ question

As Trump prevails, it’s time to grapple with the ‘who we are’ question

Americans have heard a lot in recent years about “who we are” as a people. As Donald Trump returns to power, perhaps it’s time for a reassessment.

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