Husband, father; author (of books on FDR, Obama, Carter and Trump); lecturer; documentary filmmaker; columnist; founder, oldgoats.substack.com
- Tweets 33,764
- Following 890
- Followers 99,704
- Likes 192
BREAKING: 88 of Amy Coney Barrett’s faculty colleagues at Notre Dame have released a letter saying she should withdraw from consideration for the Supreme Court. teacher-scholar-activist.org…
9,184
35,952
92,199
If we “move on”, the GOP will refuse to concede future elections, then judge-shop until they steal one. There must be a price paid for sedition or we will lose our democracy. This is critically important work in the next couple of years.
915
12,849
67,770
A serious proposal: All major news organizations should temporarily replace their White House reporters with medical reporters so that the daily briefing is primarily about public safety. The political reporters can ask the press office about squabbles with governors etc.
697
7,792
36,446
The US admitted five states—Wyo. Montana, Idaho, N. Dakota & S.Dakota—to Union in 1889-90. The explicit aim was to give the GOP ten new senators. It’s a little rich watching senators from those lightly populated states argue that opposing DC statehood is a matter of principle.
505
6,766
26,258
Paging all lawyers who want to prevent Trump’s postal coup: Forget DOJ. All states have laws against election interference. Because mail-in ballots include candidates for state office, AGs and DAs have standing to bring criminal cases against USPS. Start with PA, WI and MI.
341
9,245
23,066
Here’s what Pelosi said when Rep. Scalise was shot at a cong. ballgame: “On days like today, there are no Democrats or Republicans, only Americans united in our hopes and prayers for the wounded.” Compare that to crickets from Trump.
1,063
6,124
20,736
In 1966, my late parents held a small fundraiser at our Chicago home for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (Total take: about $1,000). He gave a short, intimate version of his "I Have a Dream" speech in our living room. I was 8-years-old and got his autograph. It helped shape my life.
330
1,208
19,082
Why is it that almost none of the discussion of the Wall includes the fact that illegal immigration into the US peaked 11 years ago and has declined ever since? Seems kinda elemental.
649
4,709
18,306
This is mind blowing. The Republicans are literally stealing the election in state after state.
695
10,961
16,469
Biden--who is doing well now on CNN-- doesn't know it, but he won Michigan tonight. Trump said he told Pence not to call back governors like Whitmer who weren't "appreciative."The ad writes itself: "President Trump put himself and his pettiness ahead of Michigan, costing lives."
220
3,334
14,390
The Jan. 6 Committee is really throwing down the gauntlet to Merrick Garland. He will either act or have to explain why he isn’t doing so. Silence from DOJ is no longer possible.
318
2,368
13,784
Note to Democrats and media: Do not use ever use “chain migration.” It’s a loaded right wing phrase like “death taxes.” The proper phrase for the provision, according to the Immigration Act of 1965, is “family reunification.”
379
5,281
13,591
I’m ashamed that Newsweek—the magazine where I spent 28 good years (1983-2011)—would publish this piece of racist fact-free legal sophistry by a dude who ran against Harris for AG and didn’t disclose it. I must have missed this guy’s piece about Ted Cruz’ eligibility.
181
2,351
12,210
.@SenatorSinema might be interested to learn that John McCain’s economic adviser, Mark Zandi, just backed the Inflation Reduction Act. He joined 7 Nobelists and 2 treasury secretaries.
258
2,584
10,517
Breaking: obscure law requires Sen confirmation for WH aide like Bannon to serve on NSC. 50 U.S. Code § 3021 law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/…
665
8,321
10,285
The "Wall of Moms" in Portland is a brilliant tactic that may forever change social protest. If adopted everywhere--and protesters mostly stay behind it--this "good wall" (like non-violence) will reinforce that demonstrators have the moral high ground. It wrecks Trump's argument.
1,272
2,172
9,947
Mueller was FBI director for more than a decade and Gingrich always loved him. In 2016, he loved FBI Hillary probe. Now he calls FBI and Mueller “totally corrupt” because they’re investigating his team. Totally disgusting.
677
3,799
9,786
Infestation in Baltimore? Yes, in many of the 20,000 crappy apartments owned by Jared Kushner. nytimes.com/2017/05/23/magaz…
178
3,657
9,455
Trump attacks Pelosi and lies about her in CBS interview to air during the Super Bowl. CBS should either run that part only on “Face the Nation” where it can be corrected by the panel or give Pelosi equal time. The latter would set a good precedent for respecting Congress.
439
2,825
9,345
Kelly must go. He knew that Porter’s interim security clearance expired Jan 15 and that the FBI had a serious problem with Porter handling top secret material. politico.com/magazine/story/…
521
3,885
8,555
Any pundit who ever again praises Paul Ryan's brain and policy chops after this pathetically inept health care bill should leave journalism.
308
3,272
8,612
Reporters should cut through the noise and ask GOPs a simple question: “Why do you want to make it harder to vote?” When they answer with blather about “ballot integrity,” reporters shld stand firm, explain that 2020 was an historically clean election—and ask the question again.
497
2,128
8,601
About 130 years ago, my great-grandfather, Jacob Alter, fled anti-Semitism in Hungary. 75 years ago, Hungary gladly offered up its Jews to Hitler’s ovens. Today, Orban has made Hungary the most anti-Semitic country in Europe. The GOP response to Trump’s praise of Orban? Crickets.
245
3,586
8,506
This myth that a sitting president cannot be indicted is getting tiresome. That is nowhere in the Constitution and the Supreme Court has never ruled on it. A DOJ guidance policy has no legal standing. Mueller has said his mandate isn't to indict but fed prosecutors in NY could.
196
2,543
7,972
Hakim Jeffries just made a key point: “At no time was there a federal investigation of the Bidens.” The U.S. never sub-contracts corruption investigations of Americans to foreigners.
75
1,742
6,791
The Tara Reade story is now officially dead. With her credibility shot, any reporters asking Biden about it or mentioning it in Biden stories should include similar accusations against Trump in the same sentence or, preferably, not mention Reade at all. politico.com/news/2020/05/15…
414
1,899
6,764
Sexual assault claim against Biden makes me skeptical: Ex-prosecutor. Pretty convincing. usatoday.com/story/opinion/2…
534
1,776
6,742
In commentary, I will no longer refer to them as “detention centers”. In the spirit of “Hoovervilles”—a brilliant coinage by a DNC official in 1931—they should be called “Trump Hotels”—which will drive Trump nuts. If that’s too subtle, “baby jails” and “kid cages” will do.
488
2,329
6,690
Putin must have amazing leverage for Trump to feel obliged to give back the staging areas for their assault on the United States.
241
3,052
5,905
Let's see--8 golf dates and 11 rallies in the period when ANY other president would have been replenishing stockpiles, rolling out testing & preparing the country for a crisis. Other world leaders did that, but not Trump, who golfed and rage tweeted while 100,000 American died.
128
2,517
5,913
As we learned from Mein Kampf, when a demagogue tells you what he is going to do, believe him. Reporters must ask all GOP candidates for all offices if they endorse these views. If the reporters don’t, they are failing at their jobs. washingtonpost.com/politics/…
426
1,717
5,142
317,683
This was the point I made on MSNBC the day after the election. A huge number of Republicans are misogynists. Full stop.
Nearly 60 percent of Republicans don't want a woman president in their lifetime, poll finds bit.ly/2JzpCyZ
246
1,659
5,146
This is fascistic. First the White House goon cuts @Yamiche 's mic, then he grabs it from her. This isn't the first time the White House has cut mics. Why isn't this a bigger issue?
164
1,310
5,196
2. GOP starting to realize that Obamacare Medicaid folks aren't poor blacks they've demonized for so long. They're older white Trump voters.
222
2,726
4,970
Trump doesn’t understand that the White House is not his house. The flag there represents the people, not his pathetic jealousy and bitterness. The guy better never, ever lecture us again on NFL players respecting the flag, and if he does, NFL owners must ignore him. @tombrokaw
pres trump - you are commander in chief by law, duty bound to honor sen mccain
ignoring his death is a disgrace
81
1,406
4,853
Voters need to think hard about Bernie's decision to launch a conspiracy theory claiming something suspicious in the timing of today's Washington Post piece saying the Russians are intervening in the election on his behalf. Really? The editors and reporters timed it? Trumpish.
284
1,160
4,816
I took a home Covid test today and tested positive, though I only have a super-mild sniffle. As a 64-year-old with a cancer history of immuno-suppression, I have little doubt I'd be in trouble if I wasn't triple-vaxxed. Those anti-vaxxers on TV have blood on their hands.
262
542
4,768
It’s time we start calling Trump’s behavior what it is—UnAmerican.
Nothing funny about tired Saturday Night Live on Fake News NBC! Question is, how do the Networks get away with these total Republican hit jobs without retribution? Likewise for many other shows? Very unfair and should be looked into. This is the real Collusion!
116
683
4,296
Message to Fox Repubs: Our country was attacked by a hostile foreign power. Full stop. Imagine if you learned that in 2012 the government of Iran had intervened massively in our election to help re-elect Obama. Are you really telling me if he hadn’t colluded you wouldn’t care?
207
1,305
4,341
As someone who has argued publicly that Biden is too old to run for reelection, I must admit: He sure wasn't too old tonight.
91
330
4,529
212,662
Sanders just said he won’t release his medical records. That’s Trumpish. Letters from his doctors are not the same. He also said if he’s the nominee he won’t need Bloomberg’s $500 million to beat Trump. Really? Do Democrats want a nominee without the money to win?
676
1,052
4,348
Hi, @MeghanMcCain We're old friends and colleagues (from the old Newsweek) but you're wrong on this one. Even a VPOTUS must answer the question with something other than insults or it will be asked again. That's just good journalism.
137
533
5,755
94,056
The Comm. on Pres. Debates should announce tomorrow that the vice presidential debate will proceed but the next two presidential debates will be cancelled because the president will not observe the rules and show common decency. It will be no loss. There’s nothing left to learn.
119
930
4,374
Those kids and others with high SATs didn’t mobilize a national movement and land on the cover of TIME. Based on their scores, they should be smart enough to know that using test scores alone is a stupid way to select an interesting class of freshmen.
152
499
3,962
Democrats will rue the day they demanded @alfranken resign. They’ve given into the conflation of crimes (Weinstein, Moore) and power abuse (bosses) with boorishness. It won’t get more women voters and will lose more anti- PC men. Sucker’s game.
531
1,074
3,858
Mind blowing @jaketapper interview moments ago with unhinged Stephen Miller. Must be watched in its entirety. Tapper did the best he could with a stupid, obsequious Roy Cohn wannabe.
160
859
3,738
It looks like Trump could go down on felony bank fraud for inflating the value of a Bedford estate by six-fold to get a loan from Deutsche Bank to buy the Buffalo Bills.
194
648
3,717
Mike Holmgren, former Green Bay Packer coach, delivers serious blow to Trump in WI. fox11online.com/news/electio…
63
985
3,703
I strongly agree with @ron_fournier on this. Past press secretaries have all said the only thing they have is their credbility. Sanders’ is shot. No White House reporter should ever ask her a question again. It’s a total waste of time.
124
756
3,594
No smoking gun? To the contrary, Volume II is a smoking artillery range. It depicts 11 cases of clear obstruction of justice, establishes criminal intent, and recommends that Congress act on the voluminous evidence to “uphold the principle that no person is above the law.”
76
1,111
3,617
Mind-blowing ignorance. The president who is destroying 230 years of liberal democracy and fulfilling decades of predictions of the decline of the West doesn't know what either even means. @gtconway3d @peterbakernyt
As his lack of comprehension of the words used in @peterbakernyt’s question shows, the President of the United States is breathtakingly ignorant.
66
714
3,670
Collins is apparently worried about a 2020 primary challenge if she votes no. But she’ll lose the general if she votes yes. Obvious solution: Follow Angus King example and run and win as an independent. If she lets McConnell bully her, she deserves to lose.
129
730
3,553
Taken as a whole, the McCain civic rites show America’s consistent capacity for renewal. Today makes me think the good guys will win. The only question is when and how much damage will be done in the meantime.
84
751
3,549
Minor point but Philbin just repeated that Mueller Report found "there was no collusion." That is NOT what Mueller found. He said there was not enough for a CONSPIRACY charge, which is not the same thing. And he found 11 examples of obstruction of justice.
117
917
3,463
U.S. vs. Nixon was 8-0 in favor of requiring president to respond to a subpoena. Rehnquist recused himself because he served in Nixon Admn. Kavanaugh was nominated by Trump (equivalent to serving) and has declared his views on relevant case (Morrison vs. Olsen). He must recuse.
86
987
3,431
Words matter. It’s essential that new money for physical and human infrastructure be called what it is—INVESTMENT, not “spending,” which is pejorative and imprecise.
60
712
3,290
Great line by @RepRaskin : Trump may not have known a lot about the framers, but they knew a lot about him."
23
565
3,165
Why can't the Dems vote 51-50 to require a "talking filibuster" on the 1/6 commission? That way, GOPs on the floor--sleeping on cots where the Natl Guard just did--will have to explain around the clock to the Capitol Police why they are betraying the very people protecting them.
100
786
3,087
An important piece by a former Secretary of State. I can’t think of an historical precedent of someone of Albright’s stature warning of fascism in the United States. nytimes.com/2018/04/06/opini…
119
1,677
3,079
Kavanaugh has this rep in clubby Washington legal world of being a nice guy. But when he gets out in the real world, where the consequences of court decisions are felt, he turns into a rude physical coward.
Father of Slain Parkland Teen (Fred Guttenberg) Says Not Only Did Kavanaugh Turn Away As Soon As He Mentioned His Murdered Daughter. But Kavanaugh Himself Asked Security to Remove Guttenberg and ID'd Him to Security By the Bracelets He Wears for His Daughter.
79
1,016
2,930
Thanks, @donwinslow My late father, Jim Alter, who flew 31 combat missions in a B-24 over Europe during WWII (and was shot down) is smiling somewhere. He despised what he called “Phony Rightwing Patriots” and liked to point out that few saw action.
Donald Trump does not own the flag. The American people do. 🇺🇸
This new video from @donwinslow is absolutely spot on 🔥
#DemocratsStandTall
#NotTrumpsFlag
33
970
2,814
A Fla. prosecutor on MSNBC just called Trump’s call the “Four Seasons Landscaping version of the ‘perfect’ Ukrainian call.”
29
344
2,945
This is an utterly terrifying column from former top official. It suggests that next month the GOP may try to sneak through a huge court packing scheme that—my words—amounts to a judicial coup attempt by Trump.
Trump is packing the courts. And that's just the start of the court packing. It could get ALOT worse. My latest for the @washingtonpost washingtonpost.com/opinions/…
173
2,832
2,685
Obama just delivered an historic and terrifying speech about the stakes in 2020 for American democracy. He waited four years—then threw the shade of a mighty oak.
29
556
2,856
Hard to imagine Labor Secry Acosta can keep his job after this devastating piece. And the House next year needs to find out exactly when Trump was on Jeffrey Epstein’s yacht and who else was aboard that day. While they’re at it, let’s find out when Bill Clinton was aboard, too.
Multimillionaire Jeffrey Epstein was accused of sexually assaulting dozens of teen girls. Their stories were dismissed by prosecutors, who cut Epstein a lenient deal. His victims have never had a voice, until now.
Part 1 of #PerversionofJustice: miamiherald.com/news/local/a…
167
942
2,651
What part of “shall furnish” tax returns to the House does Mitt think is moronic—the “shall” or the “furnish”? The law is the law. Nothing ambiguous here. @Lawrence
What @MittRomney said about Trump's tax returns is, to use his word, "moronic." Like most Republicans, he and his new senate staff don't know the law.
95
535
2,672
If Trump yanks ANY credentials, the entire White House press corps must walk out and say it won't return until he restores the credentials. Anything short of that is craven capitulation to a dictator.
The Fake News is working overtime. Just reported that, despite the tremendous success we are having with the economy & all things else, 91% of the Network News about me is negative (Fake). Why do we work so hard in working with the media when it is corrupt? Take away credentials?
1,887
806
2,569
This has now become a character test for every host and analyst on Fox. Are they journalists like Chris Wallace and Shep Smith or in-the-tank bootlicking shills like Sean Hannity, Tucker Carlson and Laura Ingraham?
Here's Fox News' Chris Wallace saying that "the spinning that's been done by the president's defenders over the last 24 hours since this very damaging whistleblower complaint came out ... [is] not surprising but it is astonishing and I think deeply misleading." 👀
235
583
2,638
This is sad, @hughhewitt. You know perfectly well that Trump walked away from a deal to protect Dreamers in exchange for more for border security. Trump admitted to Schumer in the Oval Office TV mtg that he would take responsibility for the shutdown. Why won't you let him?
Bottom line: @chuckschumer is closing the government and creating genuine hardship for hundreds of thousands of federal employees b/c he’s afraid of his “base” which wants zero border security funding. It’s all on @chuckschumer, period. rollcall.com/news/politics/l…
272
659
2,537
This is a weak @politico story, which leaves out that both @RepJimBanks and Rep. Jim Jordan reject the whole idea of investigating 1/6 and see the probe as entirely anti-Trump. Of course @SpeakerPelosi had to prevent them from serving on a committee they intended to subvert.
116
608
2,583
Trump lawyer just said Rockefeller not subjected to this when he became VP in 1974. False. He released his taxes.
45
1,628
2,611
Republicans saying Mueller is biased because some of his subordinates are Democrats. But Mueller is from the president’s party. Ken Starr was from the opposite party, as were ALL of his prosecutors of Clinton. Didn’t hear Repubs yelling bias then.
70
887
2,523
Maybe the most malign force in the Republican caucus—@jim_jordan —is exposed as a liar in a case where he apparently turned a blind eye to sex molestation (like the Penn State coaches who were prosecuted) He has always been a smear artist and should be pressed to resign pronto. nitter.app/aravosis/status/101434…
111
1,027
2,449
Over ten days, @RepAdamSchiff performance was a tour de force.
After two and half centuries of our nation's history, it's come to this:
The President's lawyers argue on the Senate floor that he can withhold aid, coerce an ally, and try to cheat in an election,
And there's nothing we can do about it.
Our Founders would be aghast.
72
569
2,453
He just lied again. He WAS at home on summer weekends in 1982, as the FBI would have learned, which is why he didn’t want the FBI to investigate. BK is melting down.
45
561
2,519
Democracy is crumbling much faster than in Weimar Germany. People of good will must answer the call and do anything they can to stomp the Republicans in the next two elections.
52
525
2,303
I had stage 4 mantle cell lymphoma—a nasty variant— in 2004 and am here to tell the tale. Hang in there. cnn.com/2020/10/19/entertain…
50
203
2,440
The Democratic senators realize the managers won something big today: Once the defense attys said House witnesses didn’t talk directly to Trump, they opened selves up in Q session to why not call Bolton and Mulvaney for direct evidence?
31
502
2,252
Trump acts as if we don't have any vetting now and "anyone" can come in. It's another lie. #socalledpresident
What is our country coming to when a judge can halt a Homeland Security travel ban and anyone, even with bad intentions, can come into U.S.?
98
1,002
2,387
July 27, 2016: A future president asks a hostile foreign power to commit crimes and attack the United States at the core of our democracy, and by evening that hostile power complies. A day that will live in infamy.
49
855
2,257
The idea that Democrats as a whole will suffer if they impeach Trump is fallacious and a misreading of 1998 history. Their pres. candidates can lay out a positive vision while the House performs its constitutional duty. A Senate trial is a necessary part of repairing democracy.
85
553
2,138
I’ve known Tucker a bit for nearly 30 years and this is 100 percent true.
"Tucker Carlson wasn't a zealot who held extreme beliefs. He was a con man who held no beliefs. He was singularly, besides Donald Trump, the most cynical performer on all of television."
Get my reaction to Fox parting ways with Tucker Carlson: piped.video/4KX9veSUahM
67
490
2,183
172,790
The next step is obvious: the US Senate must immediately censure the President of the United States. Every senator should be asked today if he or she supports censure. Impeachment and removal is a longer process but censure can be done this week.
55
741
2,193
Elizabeth Warren on Maddow now and making a completely convincing argument for impeachment.
58
305
2,023
Durbin just eviscerated Barrett for a horrible double standard: She is arguing that the 2nd amendment is more important than the right to vote.
102
710
2,169
I’ve learned that the decision to announce Rosalynn Carter’s dementia was made by Rosalynn herself in the interest of helping others, especially the caregivers she has long championed. The word only dates to the 1970s and the role was largely unappreciated—until Rosalynn.
19
315
2,151
107,494
Putin is elected, too, @MeghanMcCain , as are most authoritarians. The issue is how they choose to govern when granted that power--with democratic restraint, as required by law, or regal impunity? With Trump, it's the latter.
I don’t understand how Trump is a King when he won every single swing state, the electoral college and popular vote in a democratic election.
256
377
2,863
210,155
If reporters and others were offended by Michelle Wolf—fine. But after rationalizing vicious insults for two years, all Trump supporters have forfeited all claims of outrage.
45
483
2,141
Tough letters from House and Senate Democrats to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy telling him to cut the crap are fine but he's a Trump donor and lap dog with a business that competes with USPS. The House may have to impeach him. Maybe his Senate trial will get his attention.
93
640
2,068
What should Republicans of good will do next? It’s obvious. Form “McCain Republicans for O’Rourke,” “McCain Republicans for McGrath,” “McCain Republicans for Lamb,” “McCain Republicans for Harbaugh” etc. for every Democrat McCain would support. Remember “Democrats for Reagan”?
66
482
2,069
Sorry @hughhewitt —the last 21 months under Obama were better than the first 21 months under Trump. Facts are stubborn things, my friend. Respect them.
“America now has the best economy in the history of our country. I knew it was going to happen. I just didn’t know it would happen this fast.” —@realDonaldTrump
76
534
2,002
Sorry, @marcorubio but you’re trivializing the anti-Trump argument.Very few people are saying Trump directly caused a deranged man to act. But many are rightly saying he created a climate where it’s more likely. Attacks on Jews are up 57% since he took office. Coincidence? Nope.
Why is it so hard to accept that a clearly deranged man carried out deranged acts? The “false flag” conspiracy theories on one side & the “it’s Trump’s fault” on the other shows how unhinged politics has become. This isn’t incivility. It’s a society that has lost common sense.
84
537
2,007
Biden’s answer to that Second Grader and her fears of Covid was pitch perfect because it was an entirely authentic reflection of who he is.
19
170
2,102
Note how @mercedesschlapp spoke up on behalf of Sadler after she slimed the dying McCain. Schlapp is the same pious hypocrite who walked out of the WHCD because a comedian joked about Sarah Saunders’ makeup. axios.com/white-house-sarah-…
105
734
1,955
My father, too, cast his first vote in 1944 from an air base in southern Italy where he was flying a B-24 over the Reich. It was by the absentee ballot Lincoln established during the Civil War. @KBAndersen
My dad and mom at age 23 and 22 cast their first votes in a presidential election not at their Nebraska polling places but by mail, because it was 1944, and he was on a boat in the South Pacific and she was working at a cryotography office outside D.C., both fighting fascism.
29
455
2,056
This should be new standard for ALL of journalism. Don’t quote Trump if he’s lying. Just because he says it doesn’t make it news. The stories can be covered by other sound bites, including the rare times he opens his mouth without lying.
62
708
1,944
Every Republican must decide: Am I a McCain Republican or a Trump Republican? Do you think ten years from now you’ll want to tell your grandchildren you preferred the lying draft dodger to the principled war hero? What will they think that says about you?
Sen. Chris Coons calls on Pres. Trump to "apologize" for tweets attacking the late Sen. John McCain: "I've long thought that his personal and direct attacks on Sen. McCain was one of the most detestable things about Pres. Trump's conduct as a candidate" abcn.ws/2TTUKC2
92
459
1,962