Fetterman is exactly right -- it's a stupid exercise in theater and a waste of time. The only possible R's that matter are going to cave. I don't like Fetterman's take on Israel either but you guys should critique him when he's wrong not when he's right.
He shouldn't be there, so he needs to resign. While I sympathize with wanting to be at the beach because I'd like to be there myself, he needs to grow up. My goodness, does he even realize the magnitude of his position? He is not a serious person and never has been. For example, his insistence on not dressing appropriately for his office. Many think it's a small thing, but big things are made up of small things. His lack of understanding or care about what this bill will do to people disqualifies him IMO from being in his position at all.
And just to add, I worked for a healthcare facility owned by an insurance company (UPMC) and had to take a FLMA leave because of my job and they were NOT supportive at all.
As a RN, I understand the possible physiological impacts of post stroke life…AND that there is no assurance of everyone recovering identically. I was willing to go with giving him some space and time for his health. After all, I would expect my employer do the same. But, enough!! If he only wants to serve one term then he’s doing an outstanding job.
This Fetterman response is kind of illuminating. He’s not the only senator who acts like they have no power or control over anything. There are only 100 of them. If this bill is so unpalatable to them, including GOP members, they could have come out and simply said they refuse to meet an arbitrary deadline and will do this after hearings and deliberation. Instead Tillis quits, Murkowski and Collins and Hawley performatively suffer, and act like they have no more power than your average voter. Fetterman is just another example. Sam is 100% correct. He should do what he is able to do.
📢 Grandparents, We Must Sound the Alarm: Our Tax Dollars Are Funding a Police State
Dear Beloved Grandparents,
It’s time we speak plainly.
As we sit around our kitchen tables, our children and grandchildren are being forced to grow up in a country that is sliding closer and closer to authoritarian rule — and we are being made to fund it.
⚠️ The Senate’s version of Trump’s “Big Beautiful Reconciliation Bill” includes massive ICE funding — funneling billions of our tax dollars into:
Masked federal agents in unmarked vans
Coordinated, abusive raids in communities across the country
The kidnapping of long-time residents — including legal immigrants — under vague suspicions
A growing federal police force operating with no transparency or civil rights oversight
This is not border security. This is state-sponsored terror, paid for by working Americans like you and me.
And it gets worse.
During a recent visit with El Salvador’s president, Trump boasted about plans to deport “homegrown” people — a chilling phrase that should strike fear in any true patriot. It implies citizens — born and raised here — could be targeted for political reasons, ethnicity, activism, or simple dissent.
Let us be clear: this is the language of fascism.
We’ve read about this in history books. Hitler’s party didn’t start with death camps. It started by vilifying immigrants, imprisoning critics, and passing laws that funded paramilitary forces while silencing opposition — all under the guise of “order.”
That is the road we are now on.
🛑 But we can still turn around — if we act now.
✅ Call your U.S. Senators and Representatives. Demand they vote no on this ICE expansion buried in Trump’s reconciliation bill.
✅ Support independent media — they are uncovering what corporate outlets are ignoring. Share, subscribe, and spread the truth.
✅ Educate your family and neighbors — especially young voters and those raised on right-wing news.
✅ Remind your communities: We’ve seen this before. We must never be silent again.
📣 Grandparents — we are the protectors of memory and the guardians of democracy.
Let us honor that duty now.
🇺🇸 Peaceful resistance. Public truth. People before power.
The recovery and long term side effects after a stroke are varied, but having deficits after the event are real, so I’m really sympathetic to his medical issues. However, maybe it does mean he isn’t really up to the job. He doesn’t seem happy either.
Always good to see Tim and Sam, they're like the Bert and Ernie of the Bulwark.
It's frustrating to see the turn in Fetterman, because you thought the Democrat party finally saw the end of Kirstyn Sinema, only to have this bitch take her place. But seriously, it would be one thing if his policies were changing to align more with Republican's but his personality hadn't done such a huge turn, or vice versa, but to see both is troubling. Maybe its just the real him, but given the previous background on how much he has changed, who the heck knows.
And all of that could even be overlooked as something bad, but, okay... but then you have the cozying up to Trump and Maga, and its less of a "big party" that we'd like to see the embrace of folks like Slotkin alongside AOC, etc, and more... why the heck did you come to the party, when no one here likes you, dude.
And Tim—I wish I shared your relentless hope that this bill might fail, but even if by some miracle, one more Republican gets picked off, we’ve been given the Collins runaround enough times by now to know that she’ll fall in line. Trump made an example out of Tillis to send the others a clear message about what their fate will be if they dare to defy him. The odds of this thing NOT passing are worse than the odds of being struck by lightning on a sunny day. So I’m not going to hold Fetterman’s cynicism against him.
That said, I agree that Democrats should TRY, if for no other reason than to be able to say they did everything they could and use it against their opponents in the midterms. Politics is mostly theater these days, so Dems may as well put on a show.
Fetterman is exactly right -- it's a stupid exercise in theater and a waste of time. The only possible R's that matter are going to cave. I don't like Fetterman's take on Israel either but you guys should critique him when he's wrong not when he's right.
Contrast Fetterman's laziness and mental incompetence to Senator Whitehouse's hard work and effort. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d94S2O0VdLw
love Sheldon.
He shouldn't be there, so he needs to resign. While I sympathize with wanting to be at the beach because I'd like to be there myself, he needs to grow up. My goodness, does he even realize the magnitude of his position? He is not a serious person and never has been. For example, his insistence on not dressing appropriately for his office. Many think it's a small thing, but big things are made up of small things. His lack of understanding or care about what this bill will do to people disqualifies him IMO from being in his position at all.
And just to add, I worked for a healthcare facility owned by an insurance company (UPMC) and had to take a FLMA leave because of my job and they were NOT supportive at all.
As a RN, I understand the possible physiological impacts of post stroke life…AND that there is no assurance of everyone recovering identically. I was willing to go with giving him some space and time for his health. After all, I would expect my employer do the same. But, enough!! If he only wants to serve one term then he’s doing an outstanding job.
He should go to the beach and find a new job.
This Fetterman response is kind of illuminating. He’s not the only senator who acts like they have no power or control over anything. There are only 100 of them. If this bill is so unpalatable to them, including GOP members, they could have come out and simply said they refuse to meet an arbitrary deadline and will do this after hearings and deliberation. Instead Tillis quits, Murkowski and Collins and Hawley performatively suffer, and act like they have no more power than your average voter. Fetterman is just another example. Sam is 100% correct. He should do what he is able to do.
Hail Mary! Organize a beach party with graham, Ernst, Britt, j. Kennedy, at the Jaws watering hole.
A Spielberg reality sequel. Thank you very much.
He could have just said “People are gonna die anyway, so I’d rather be at the beach with my family”.
Pathetic!
After a stroke a person sometimes has exasperated features of the core personality.
You remarked, his approach of boldly advocating for issues is missed. I admire the Senator standing ground when his position may be unpopular.
Fetterman sold his soul after his stroke cuz he needs his family to take care of.
🧵 SUBSTACK POST 🧵
📢 Grandparents, We Must Sound the Alarm: Our Tax Dollars Are Funding a Police State
Dear Beloved Grandparents,
It’s time we speak plainly.
As we sit around our kitchen tables, our children and grandchildren are being forced to grow up in a country that is sliding closer and closer to authoritarian rule — and we are being made to fund it.
⚠️ The Senate’s version of Trump’s “Big Beautiful Reconciliation Bill” includes massive ICE funding — funneling billions of our tax dollars into:
Masked federal agents in unmarked vans
Coordinated, abusive raids in communities across the country
The kidnapping of long-time residents — including legal immigrants — under vague suspicions
A growing federal police force operating with no transparency or civil rights oversight
This is not border security. This is state-sponsored terror, paid for by working Americans like you and me.
And it gets worse.
During a recent visit with El Salvador’s president, Trump boasted about plans to deport “homegrown” people — a chilling phrase that should strike fear in any true patriot. It implies citizens — born and raised here — could be targeted for political reasons, ethnicity, activism, or simple dissent.
Let us be clear: this is the language of fascism.
We’ve read about this in history books. Hitler’s party didn’t start with death camps. It started by vilifying immigrants, imprisoning critics, and passing laws that funded paramilitary forces while silencing opposition — all under the guise of “order.”
That is the road we are now on.
🛑 But we can still turn around — if we act now.
✅ Call your U.S. Senators and Representatives. Demand they vote no on this ICE expansion buried in Trump’s reconciliation bill.
✅ Support independent media — they are uncovering what corporate outlets are ignoring. Share, subscribe, and spread the truth.
✅ Educate your family and neighbors — especially young voters and those raised on right-wing news.
✅ Remind your communities: We’ve seen this before. We must never be silent again.
📣 Grandparents — we are the protectors of memory and the guardians of democracy.
Let us honor that duty now.
🇺🇸 Peaceful resistance. Public truth. People before power.
In Solidarity,
Clarissa Sr, an American Grandma
#GrandparentsForDemocracy #IndependentMediaMatters #DefundICE #StopThePoliceState #GoodTrouble #ProtectOurFuture
Hey Fetterman; if you don't like your job, get the hell out. Leave and spare us.
The recovery and long term side effects after a stroke are varied, but having deficits after the event are real, so I’m really sympathetic to his medical issues. However, maybe it does mean he isn’t really up to the job. He doesn’t seem happy either.
Always good to see Tim and Sam, they're like the Bert and Ernie of the Bulwark.
It's frustrating to see the turn in Fetterman, because you thought the Democrat party finally saw the end of Kirstyn Sinema, only to have this bitch take her place. But seriously, it would be one thing if his policies were changing to align more with Republican's but his personality hadn't done such a huge turn, or vice versa, but to see both is troubling. Maybe its just the real him, but given the previous background on how much he has changed, who the heck knows.
And all of that could even be overlooked as something bad, but, okay... but then you have the cozying up to Trump and Maga, and its less of a "big party" that we'd like to see the embrace of folks like Slotkin alongside AOC, etc, and more... why the heck did you come to the party, when no one here likes you, dude.
And Tim—I wish I shared your relentless hope that this bill might fail, but even if by some miracle, one more Republican gets picked off, we’ve been given the Collins runaround enough times by now to know that she’ll fall in line. Trump made an example out of Tillis to send the others a clear message about what their fate will be if they dare to defy him. The odds of this thing NOT passing are worse than the odds of being struck by lightning on a sunny day. So I’m not going to hold Fetterman’s cynicism against him.
That said, I agree that Democrats should TRY, if for no other reason than to be able to say they did everything they could and use it against their opponents in the midterms. Politics is mostly theater these days, so Dems may as well put on a show.
More republicans need to retire (hopefully due to their conscious screaming at them)