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Aman Batheja

@amanbatheja.bsky.social
25K followers 1.1K following 2.5K posts

Senior Political Editor at TIME Magazine. Background in economics and TX politics. Formerly New York Times, Texas Tribune. Dad. #washingtondc @nytimes.com Signal: @amanbatheja.46

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Prem Thakker ツ @premthakker.bsky.social · 1h
New: Jasmine Crockett was offering government relations & lobbying services on a campaign-funded website. It was taken down after Zeteo reached out. Experts say they’d never seen something like this before. Rules bar members from lobbying and from using campaign funds for non-campaign purposes.
zeteo.com
Jasmine Crockett Offered Lobbying Services on Her Campaign-Funded Website – While in Office
The offering was removed after Zeteo contacted the Texas Democratic congresswoman’s office.
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Charlie Warzel @cwarzel.bsky.social · 9h
For a long time I've wanted a sense of how trump has or hasn't interacted with chatbots (we know he posts a lot of slop sure). And this TIME anecdote about Grok arguably leading Trump into war is just extremely bracing
Since returning to office, Trump has marveled at AI’s capabilities. He is increasingly in thrall to the tech executives courting him. In December 2025, Elon Musk returned to the Oval Office for a clandestine meeting. Trump spent hours asking Grok, Musk’s AI chatbot, questions about his presidency and legacy, according to an official present. At the time, Trump was ordering missile strikes against Venezuelan boats he alleged were smuggling drugs into the U.S. He asked Grok how Venezuelans would react if the U.S. captured Maduro. According to the official present, the chatbot responded that Maduro was a repressive and deeply unpopular dictator and that many Venezuelans would likely celebrate his downfall. After Trump ordered the mission to seize Maduro, the following month, celebrations broke out in the streets. Trump, according to officials, came away thinking Grok was ingenious.
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Karl Schamotta @karl-schamotta.bsky.social · 11h
Waller bragging about FRED this morning, and justifiably so: www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/s...
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Brian Stelter @brianstelter.bsky.social · 12h
Today's Reliable Sources lead: Trump's TIME interview is one giant media grievance It begins and ends with Trump’s complaints about the media. Even when asked about Iran or the Senate, he circles back around to his feelings about how his presidency is covered... www.cnn.com/newsletters/...
cnn.com
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LaCiuraRaffaele @laciuraraffaele.bsky.social · 23h
How James Talarico Made Texas Competitive Again time.com/article/2026...
time.com
How James Talarico Made Texas Competitive Again
The Texas Democrat is vying to build the broadest coalition possible to beat Ken Paxton. “Democrats should reclaim the principles of capitalism," he tells TIME
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Reposted by Aman Batheja
Taegan Goddard @politicalwire.com · 30/09/2026
How James Talarico Made Texas Competitive Again politicalwire.com/2026/09/30/how-ja…
politicalwire.com
How James Talarico Made Texas Competitive Again
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Aman Batheja @amanbatheja.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Talarico: “I think Democrats should reclaim the principles of capitalism...When corporations felt a responsibility to their workers and their community. That's the kind of capitalism we have to get back to.”
time.com
How James Talarico Made Texas Competitive Again
The Texas Democrat is vying to build the broadest coalition possible to beat Ken Paxton. “Democrats should reclaim the principles of capitalism," he tells TIME
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Aman Batheja @amanbatheja.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Talarico, on the prospect of working with Republicans in Congress: “If I can do it in the trenches of the Texas legislature, I can do it with Ted Cruz in Washington, D.C.”
time.com
How James Talarico Made Texas Competitive Again
The Texas Democrat is vying to build the broadest coalition possible to beat Ken Paxton. “Democrats should reclaim the principles of capitalism," he tells TIME
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Aman Batheja @amanbatheja.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Talarico: “I think Democrats should reclaim the principles of capitalism...When corporations felt a responsibility to their workers and their community. That's the kind of capitalism we have to get back to.”
time.com
How James Talarico Made Texas Competitive Again
The Texas Democrat is vying to build the broadest coalition possible to beat Ken Paxton. “Democrats should reclaim the principles of capitalism," he tells TIME
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Aman Batheja @amanbatheja.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
New in TIME: How James Talarico made Texas competitive again "Talarico knows he needs to build a broader coalition than any other Senate candidate in the country. He needs to convince millions of Texans that not only this year is different, but that he’s different."
time.com
How James Talarico Made Texas Competitive Again
The Texas Democrat is vying to build the broadest coalition possible to beat Ken Paxton. “Democrats should reclaim the principles of capitalism," he tells TIME
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Aman Batheja @amanbatheja.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
“A number of students told me they’re less likely to rush sororities and fraternities. A young woman told me somebody handed her an open drink at a frat party Saturday. Her whole friend group panicked.”
nytimes.com
Cornell’s Sexual Assault Case
We talk to a reporter on campus about what we know.
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Aman Batheja @amanbatheja.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
“Fetterman has sent fundraising appeals through email addresses associated with Republican candidates and committees…Another fundraising email sent this month from the gopsquad handle came with Sen. Mike Lee…and began, ‘I just got an email from John. He's basically a Republican now.’”
time.com
'He's Basically a Republican Now': Fetterman Asks GOP Donors For Cash
John Fetterman, who Democrats fear might join the GOP, is argeting Republican donors with "reject Socialism" emails ahead of a possible re-election bid in 2028.
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Aman Batheja @amanbatheja.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Trump hosting a "Midterm Rally" on Thursday in Durant, Oklahoma
events.gop.com
Midterm Rally in Oklahoma featuring President Donald J. Trump
Sign up for a ticket TODAY!
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Aman Batheja @amanbatheja.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Washington Sun: The White House's app "contains a latent keylogger script sourced online from an amateur developer based in India...While it’s unlikely to work on mobile devices, Fields said, it’s still concerning that the White House is using a keylogger web-sourced from an foreign coder."
washingtonsun.com
White House Drove Users to Official App Fraught With Trackers
The White House app became the App Store’s most downloaded news app after the president barred three news outlets.
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Aman Batheja @amanbatheja.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Cattle associations say ICE is disrupting cattle operations in Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas, "and will make beef prices spike again."
texastribune.org
Cattle groups call out ICE operations for workforce disruptions
The beef industry has been under pressure recently from market disruptions, record high beef prices and small herd sizes. The groups say the ICE operations are another challenge for the industry.
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Aman Batheja @amanbatheja.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
From this weekend's Texas Tribune festival: Later in the evening, an audience question asked why Fetterman wouldn’t become an independent. "Because I’m a lifelong Republican,” he said, raising his hand to his head, embarrassed after he realized the slip.
texastribune.org
John Fetterman rejects claim that he's a bad senator, Democrat
The Pennsylvania senator has regularly criticized his party, sparking speculation he could caucus with Republicans after the 2026 midterms.
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Hugo Lowell @hugolowell.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
TRUMP will meet Anthropic’s Dario Amodei for one on one dinner tonight, per person familiar and confirming Axios
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Aman Batheja @amanbatheja.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
“It was the first time that the President of a country at war with the United States has been allowed to pay a visit.”
newyorker.com
Iran’s Bitterness and Bewilderment Over How to Make Peace with Trump
After a heated week at the U.N. General Assembly, a new ceasefire proposal between the U.S. and Iran came and apparently went.
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Tyler McBrien @tylermcbrien.com · 25/09/2026
Amid Trump admin plans to admit 17,500 more Afrikaners, this story making headlines in South Africa hasn't gotten much traction in the US: an Afrikaner family lost US refugee status after returning to South Africa to treat their sick child because they still had medical aid there
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Judy Berman @judyberman.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
The other list ain't so bad, but I do love my weird lil baby
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Senator Sheldon Whitehouse @whitehouse.senate.gov · 24/09/2026
My Budget reform proposal got rid of the debt ceiling, and instead required regular reporting of Debt-to-GDP ratios. The information is more useful, and it’s not a dangerous “bear trap in the bedroom” ready to go off and cause harm. time.com/article/2026...
time.com
A Debt Ceiling Fight Looms in 2027. Could a Democratic Congress Make it the Last One?
Trump wants to scrap the debt ceiling. Rep. Brendan Boyle sees a rare chance for bipartisan reform if Democrats win the House.
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Aman Batheja @amanbatheja.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Politico: Trump is airing a pro-Trump midterms ad on TV that -includes “paid for by the U.S. government” disclaimer text -features a song by an artist who says they didn’t approve it’s use and are now looking for a lawyer
politico.com
Trump administration launches pro-Trump TV ad ahead of midterms
The 30-second ad, apparently paid for by U.S. tax dollars, features photos and videos of Trump, the American flag and military aircraft.
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Aman Batheja @amanbatheja.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
New: "With less than six weeks to go until Election Day, the sentiment among Republicans is shifting from nervous to fatalistic...The warning signs are coming in quickly from across the map—much on it from red states where President Trump won comfortably just two years ago. "
time.com
Republican Panic Sets In Over Prospects of a Massive Blue Wave
Some of the biggest warning signs are coming from red states Trump easily won two years ago.
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Aman Batheja @amanbatheja.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Spotted in northwest DC. I have so many questions.
A severely broken piano on the curb in front of a fence
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Aman Batheja @amanbatheja.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Another high-stakes debt ceiling vote looms in 2027. Could it be the last one? A key House Democrat has a plan to end the debt ceiling if his party wins the House. “My next vote on the debt ceiling will only be to permanently reform it to end the dysfunction around it once and for all"
time.com
How Democrats Could Work With Trump to Kill the Debt Ceiling For Good
Trump wants to scrap the debt ceiling. Rep. Brendan Boyle sees a rare chance for bipartisan reform if Democrats win the House.
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Aman Batheja @amanbatheja.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
New NYT poll shows Susan Collins up by 3 over Troy Jackson: "For some perspective, Mr. Jackson’s ratings are even worse than Mr. Platner’s were in June, when he was fending off scandal before an allegation of sexual assault ended his run."
nytimes.com
Collins Leads in Maine in Our New Poll. Is That an Outlier or an Omen?
There’s nothing more uncomfortable for a pollster than a result that stands out from the pack, but it doesn’t mean it should be dismissed.
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Aman Batheja @amanbatheja.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
New: There will be another debt ceiling fight next year. A key Democrat has a plan to make it the last one if his party controls Congress
time.com
How Democrats Could Work With Trump to Kill the Debt Ceiling For Good
Trump wants to scrap the debt ceiling. Rep. Brendan Boyle sees a rare chance for bipartisan reform if Democrats win the House.
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Rep. Brendan Boyle @congressmanboyle.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
As the top Dem on @housebudgetdems.bsky.social, the next vote I'll take on the debt ceiling is to put an end to its dysfunction once and for all. My commonsense reform has bipartisan support. Even President Trump agrees reforms are needed to avoid economic catastrophe. time.com/article/2026...
time.com
How Democrats Could Work With Trump to Kill the Debt Ceiling For Good
Trump wants to scrap the debt ceiling. Rep. Brendan Boyle sees a rare chance for bipartisan reform if Democrats win the House.
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Karen Tumulty @ktumulty.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
WAPO EXCLUSIVE -- Sources: Architect McCrery "withdrew from the project last October after warning repeatedly that Trump was insisting on a preliminary design that did not provide adequate emergency exit routes or fire-containment measures." @Blaskey_S @jocwapo www.washingtonpost.com/investigatio...
washingtonpost.com
‘I am the code’: Trump clashed with ballroom architect over safety issues
James McCrery II resigned in October after warning that the president was insisting on designs that violated fire and safety codes.
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Jenn @jennburrill.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Episcopal priest pledges to become temporary guardian to 31 kids if their parents are arrested by ICE “I feel a lot of responsibility, and a very heavy weight" time.com/article/2026...
time.com
This Priest Pledges to Care For 31 Kids If ICE Detains Their Parents
A Maryland priest has agreed to become the standby guardian for 31 children whose immigrant parents fear arrest and deportation.
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Aman Batheja @amanbatheja.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
“What’s happening in Richardson is about to happen all over the country, and people are finally going to believe us that having all these drones flying around is actually a big, big problem” –president of a homeowners’ association in a Texas neighborhood residents say is now a drone highway
nytimes.com
It’s Raining Boxes: Amazon Drones Overwhelm a Texas Suburb (Gift Article)
In Richardson, a fleet of drones has started to deliver goods quickly. But the noise is drowning out life for some residents: ‘We can’t live like this.’
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Aman Batheja @amanbatheja.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
In suburban Maryland, where many Salvadorans fear the Trump Administration is about to target them for deportation, an Episcopal priest has pledged to become temporary guardian to 31 kids if their parents are arrested by ICE. “I feel a lot of responsibility, and a very heavy weight."
time.com
This Priest Pledges to Care For 31 Kids If ICE Detains Their Parents
A Maryland priest has agreed to become the standby guardian for 31 children whose immigrant parents fear arrest and deportation.
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Aman Batheja @amanbatheja.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
In suburban Maryland, where many Salvadorans fear the Trump Administration is about to target them for deportation, an Episcopal priest has pledged to become temporary guardian to 31 kids if their parents are arrested by ICE. “I feel a lot of responsibility, and a very heavy weight."
time.com
This Priest Pledges to Care For 31 Kids If ICE Detains Their Parents
A Maryland priest has agreed to become the standby guardian for 31 children whose immigrant parents fear arrest and deportation.
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Aman Batheja @amanbatheja.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Stunning: “Most damningly, Kao told FBI agents and prosecutors, the company’s work for the government was of no real value. Navatek’s research under his stewardship never resulted in products the military wanted to buy, ProPublica found.”
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Aman Batheja @amanbatheja.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
It was not immediately clear whether the White House would enforce the prohibition. Despite Trump’s announcement that the ban was effective immediately, reporters from CNN remained at the White House and were continuing to cover the Administration on Friday."
time.com
Trump Announces Ban of CNN, Politico and MS Now From White House
Trump said there were no particular stories that prompted the decision. It was not immediately clear if the White House intended to enforce the prohibition.
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Aman Batheja @amanbatheja.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Post on Washington DC subreddit tonight titled “The Kennedy Center is still here” is tagged as “News”
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Martin Austermuhle @maustermuhle.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Federal agents and the National Guard – assisted by a U.S. Park Police helicopter – flooded into Park View this morning, scaring parents of kids at Bruce-Monroe Elementary School. Federal officials say it's to help fight crime; critics say it's overkill: www.washingtonsun.com/metro/dc-fed...
washingtonsun.com
Neighbors Upset Over Federal Agents’ Presence at D.C. School
Agents and National Guard troops handed out fliers outside a Northwest elementary school, as a helicopter hovered overhead.
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Aman Batheja @amanbatheja.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Washington Sun: “Trump administration officials are preparing to launch an AI-driven website as a clearinghouse for Americans to get services from the federal government…The aim is for a chatbot feature to be the main way Americans use the website”
washingtonsun.com
Trump Aides Are Prepping an AI Takeover of Government Services
Former DOGE operatives are working on a website that could offer services like direct tax filing — similar to a Biden-era program the Trump administration killed.
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Adam Sternbergh @sternbergh.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
my household has been doing a full GILMORE GIRLS watch — I've never seen it and, I have to say, watching the final season now, which aired in 2007 and in which a college-age Rory pines to become an online journalist, is like watching someone celebrate the fact they booked a ticket on the Titanic
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Aman Batheja @amanbatheja.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Ahead of the Texas primary March primary, strategist Chris LaCivita “was practically begging” Trump to endorse Cornyn, a senior White House official tells TIME. Trump refused, as allies warned that rescuing Cornyn could damage his standing with the base.
time.com
How Trump Helped Put a Texas Senate Seat In Play
Democrats may be within reach of their first statewide win in decades
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Aman Batheja @amanbatheja.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Steve Bannon: “I don’t think they fully understand what’s going to happen when we lose the House and Senate…subpoenas, investigations, impeachments, criminal referrals—the Democrats are perfecting the playbook they ran starting under Pelosi and Biden. Get ready for a near-death experience “
time.com
How Trump Helped Put a Texas Senate Seat In Play
Democrats may be within reach of their first statewide win in decades
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Aman Batheja @amanbatheja.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
New: CBO report estimates Iran War cost $40 billion through Aug. 1, growing $2-3 billion every month it goes on time.com/article/2026...
time.com
Iran War Has Cost Nearly U.S. $40 Billion and Fueled Inflation, CBO Finds
The report from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates the war will cost the country another $2 billion to $3 billion each month it continues.
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Aman Batheja @amanbatheja.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
The new TIME Cover out this morning: The AI Tipping Point
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Aman Batheja @amanbatheja.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Axios: Fetterman told no one on his team about his intro video for the Republican convention, and decided to do it because "of his friendship with McCormick, not a desire to help Republicans, said a source...Fetterman 'had no interest in being a pawn in a larger Republican play,' the source said."
axios.com
How Republicans secretly got Fetterman for their convention
The idea for Fetterman to appear at the convention came as organizers sought an "Oh sh*t" moment.
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Aman Batheja @amanbatheja.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
“It’s not clear why Kremlev helped pay for Trump Jr.’s wedding. The men appear to have met only recently.”
propublica.org
Donald Trump Jr.’s Wedding Bankrolled by Putin-Linked Russian Oligarch
The oligarch, Umar Kremlev, spent hundreds of thousands on expenses like renting out a private island. He appears to have met Trump Jr. only recently, but he attended the intimate wedding with a large...
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Aman Batheja @amanbatheja.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
“The Bureau of Land Management has asked its state directors to identify public land ripe for data center development…Interior leadership gave state leaders just three days to produce the lists and told its directors the issue was a top priority, according to a former BLM official”
washingtonsun.com
Inside Trump’s Aggressive Push to Build Data Centers on Public Lands
The Interior secretary is quietly meeting with AI hyperscalers while seeking to accommodate them on his department’s land.
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Aman Batheja @amanbatheja.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
New Cook Political Report poll of likely Hispanic voters in Texas finds Democrats in the state’s Senate and gubernatorial contests leading GOP opponents by a 2-1 margin, a near full reversal of their swing toward Trump in 2024
cookpolitical.com
Exclusive New Poll of Hispanic Texas Voters Shows a Collapse of the GOP’s 2024 Coalition in the State
A new survey of Texas Hispanic likely voters, conducted for The Cook Political Report and TelevisaUnivision, finds the Democratic candidates in the state’s Senate and gubernatorial contests leading th...
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Aman Batheja @amanbatheja.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
I remember seeing this in a packed NYC theater in 2002. When the “you mess with one of us, you mess with all of us” line came, the entire room exploded. Many cheering but some also crying
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Phil Lewis @phillewis.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani and former Mayor Rudy Giuliani shaking hands at the Sept. 11 ceremony via ABC7NY
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Nolan Hicks @ndhapple.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
I'm sorry, the 'City of Miami' a single beat?!
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