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Eric Schmeltzer

@ericschmeltzer.bsky.social
12K followers 7.8K following 3.7K posts

Creator of Build A Better Donkey (betterdonkey.substack.com). A digital nomad trying to find a home. By day, a political hack. By night, an exhausted dad. Tortured Philadelphia sports fan. Go Birds.

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Eric Schmeltzer @ericschmeltzer.bsky.social · 21m
... That a facility would not even confirm or deny that she was there, even though I was her son and can provide ample evidence of it. They do not play around with the sort of stuff. So the idea that you could just call and ask about somebody and they tell you he's been discharged is pretty low.
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Eric Schmeltzer @ericschmeltzer.bsky.social · 22m
And that is especially true after discharge because she wasn't on site to tell a nurse that it was okay or not okay to discuss something with somebody. There are so many protocols in place that once when I tried to reach my mom and she had not yet given a list of people who were authorized...
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Eric Schmeltzer @ericschmeltzer.bsky.social · 24m
The way it always went for me is that my mom would have to be there and accept a call from us. And she would have to give the doctors family members who had her permission to discuss anything covered by HIPAA. Never in my life that I call with a "code" to get around HIPAA without being on the list
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Eric Schmeltzer @ericschmeltzer.bsky.social · 35m
I'm loathe to give oxygen to a BS story but since the false Talarico thing is spreading let me say as the son of a mom who unfortunately had to do many trips to mental health facilities, there's absolutely no way any facility ever confirms to strangers that someone was / wasn't a patient. It's fake.
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The Washington Post @washingtonpost.com · 10/10/2026
Exclusive: Sen. Darline Graham, the Republican Senate candidate in South Carolina, has pledged to crack down on China. But her husband, Larry Nordone, has management roles in two companies that rely on Chinese manufacturing, company filings show.
washingtonpost.com
Darline Graham opposes Chinese manufacturing. Her husband’s job relies on it.
The senator and sister of the late Lindsey Graham has said the U.S. must “stop depending on Communist China for things America can make ourselves.”
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Eric Schmeltzer @ericschmeltzer.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Let's be clear what this is about. Both of them want to be POTUS and have been clawing at each other for months. So, the story here is that two Trump admin members are fighting about how big of an event to make of killing someone, because of 2028. Ghoul show. www.bbc.com/news/article...
bbc.com
JD Vance casts doubt on firing squad execution and says he won't watch it
The planned execution of Nidal Hasan by firing squad would be the first military execution in more than 60 years.
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Eric Schmeltzer @ericschmeltzer.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Before getting to the cost of living with policy solutions, let voters know that you hear them and you agree with them on the root cause of it all. And give Republicans nowhere to hide.
betterdonkey.substack.com
Here’s what the Democrats’ first bill should be if they win Congress
It’s not cost-of-living, but it’s very close -- and more important.
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Eric Schmeltzer @ericschmeltzer.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Great ad. As I've just hammered relentlessly in my writing, the corruption message and how it is the driver of pretty much all the problems we face, is the key this election. This is a perfect example of using it and tying the answer to anti-corruption.
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Eric Schmeltzer @ericschmeltzer.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
thank you! You posted even before I could!!
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Jeff Waid @jeffwaid.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
As the US now exists, power is a zero sum game. There is no compromise. Act and exist, or fail to act and disappear. This, from Eric Schmeltzer @ericschmeltzer.bsky.social : Here's what the Democrats' first bill should be if they win Congress www.dailykos.com/stories/2026...
dailykos.com
Here’s what the Democrats’ first bill should be if they win Congress
This edition of “Opinions” from Eric Schmeltzer asks if Democrats win Congress in November, what’s the first bill they should introduce?
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The Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
🔥 @anandwrites.bsky.social on Bill Maher: “Cities are unfairly labeled. A large % of (LGBTQ youth) homeless who end up in cities were failed in other parts of 🇺🇸 . Many families choose a verse in a Book over their child… cities are holding a lot of people you failed to love & take care of.”
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Acyn @acyn.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Sliwa getting a flu shot: This could be very embarrassing. I’m supposed to be a tough guy, right? Mamdani: I can hold your hand. Sliwa: What happens if I faint? Mamdani: I got you. Doctor: You’re in great hands, literally. New Yorkers can find free flu shots and locations at nyc.gov/healthmap
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Eric Schmeltzer @ericschmeltzer.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
"Add it up, and the only party the filibuster helps is the Republican one. It shields people from ever experiencing the GOP’s worst ideas, and it’s why people don’t ever experience the best Democratic ideas." betterdonkey.substack.com/p/kill-the-f...
betterdonkey.substack.com
Kill the filibuster and make Trump veto everything people want
And yes, let’s get into what the GOP would do without the filibuster, too.
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TizzyWoman @tizzywoman.bsky.social · 04/05/2025
Todays #CupOfJoe, or in this case, hot cocoa, goes to this NJ 4th grader. He’s using his voice to speak out against RFK Jr.’s comments about autism. Bravo to this child, his parents, & community! Complete video ➡️ tiktok.com/t/ZTjSCn7PU/
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Eric Schmeltzer @ericschmeltzer.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Kill it. Kill it as soon as Dems take the House and Senate. And -- yes -- the piece addresses the "what about all the horrible things the GOP would pass when they have the majority." www.dailykos.com/stories/2026...
dailykos.com
Kill the filibuster and make Trump veto everything people want
Try telling a voter you had the majority, that you control the rules, and let a rule beat you anyway. See how that goes.
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Eric Schmeltzer @ericschmeltzer.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
LOL
Eric Schmitt looking stupid with "What a Schmittiot!" text.
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Eric Schmeltzer @ericschmeltzer.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
It all comes down to something the GOP showed us in 1994 and 2010, and that Democrats didn't do in 2018, but should have. And it's actually really simple! betterdonkey.substack.com/p/dems-can-t...
betterdonkey.substack.com
Dems can turn a wave into a nuclear-level event. Here’s how.
A New Hampshire voter asked a question Democrats don’t have one answer for.
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Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani @mayor.nyc.gov · 29/09/2026
Today, we opened the Jobs NYC Center at 2 Lafayette Street — a walk-in hub where New Yorkers can find city job opportunities, get application support, and connect with hiring agencies.
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Ann Telnaes @anntelnaes.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Speaking of "throwing up in one's mouth", Sen. Kennedy is a disgrace and Trump apologist. www.c-span.org/event/senate... (cartoon detail from the archives)
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Eric Schmeltzer @ericschmeltzer.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
not even close to a top issue but I think the WH probably did need a helipad but also the one Trump made is a ridiculous eyesore. I reckon we'll need $1b just to reverse all the damage he's done to the WH (including the East Wing).
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Abdul El-Sayed @abdulelsayed.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Mike Rogers is a corporate sellout who moves back to Michigan every few years to run for office to take another swing at the revolving door of corporate politics.
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Eric Schmeltzer @ericschmeltzer.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
"No, no, dig up, stupid!"
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Headquarters @headquartersnews.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Ken Paxton: The criticism has been that I let a child predator out after one day. Well guess what? They served 60 days.
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Eric Schmeltzer @ericschmeltzer.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
1. Pass big, transformative stuff through reconciliation to force it to Trump's desk and make him veto 2. Kill the filibuster to get other big stuff to Trump's desk and make him veto 3. Run on everything that passed but just needs a Dem POTUS to make it a reality www.dailykos.com/stories/2026...
dailykos.com
Democrats are about to win a majority. Here’s how they can keep it.
Democrats are poised to win the House and Senate, but we’ll need to keep the momentum going.
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Eric Schmeltzer @ericschmeltzer.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
A couple of weeks after @mayor.nyc.gov released the 9/11 air quality documents, @arimelber.bsky.social is having Christine Todd Whitman on, who was key to lying to NYers who died from horrible cancers and more as a result. It's so insanely frustrating and angering that she has any platform.
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Eric Schmeltzer @ericschmeltzer.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Haha or even worse, "YOU LEFT NATALIE ON THE HELIPAD?! I DON'T CARE WHAT MELANIA TOLD YOU!"
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Eric Schmeltzer @ericschmeltzer.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
"ARE YOU THAT KID WHO CUTS MY LAWN?!!!??"
Trump yelling at Marine One's pilot
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Amee Vanderpool @girlsreallyrule.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
This is a very basic, common sense, rational clip of Michigan Senate Candidate Abdul El-Sayed making really solid points about how Trump can't read a room and just do his job to lower the price of gas, but the fact that Fox News is playing this is pretty amazing.
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Eric Schmeltzer @ericschmeltzer.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
I know, I know, AI slop but I'd pay someone right now to make a video of Trump taking out Jaxson Dart and posting it all over Truth Social.
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Eric Schmeltzer @ericschmeltzer.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Ha! Yep.
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Eric Schmeltzer @ericschmeltzer.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
I can't believe Bari Weiss is about to take this over too, and will cave to every demand of Trump, and he'll welcome the "new" CNN back.
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Eric Schmeltzer @ericschmeltzer.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
In modern times, generally, two things have been true about the Democratic Party. We don't support discrimination against groups of people and we don't punch down on communities already going through a hard time. It's still what should define us. betterdonkey.substack.com/p/democrats-...
betterdonkey.substack.com
Democrats Are Running From What Made Them Great
We're at our best when we hold the moral line (not duck it) and talk like normal people.
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Eric Schmeltzer @ericschmeltzer.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
There's an aristocrats joke in there with Kash Patel and a goat and JD Vance and a couch, but I'm not gonna make it! (Though I kinda just did)
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Eric Schmeltzer @ericschmeltzer.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Amen
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glennmrobinson.bsky.social @glennmrobinson.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Publicly funded general election campaigns only!!
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Eric Schmeltzer @ericschmeltzer.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Reason 5934 corruption and campaign finance overhaul is really the top issue facing the US.
Politico headline that Dem advisers are warning candidates to not go too hard on AI out of fear that they'll spend against them.
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Cousin Barry @cousinbarry.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
The Accounts I Look at First on Bluesky. A Starter Pack in-progress. More to be added. 1/4 @anneapplebaum.wsocial.eu @atrupar.com @brianstelter.bsky.social @chrislhayes.bsky.social @davidcorn.bsky.social @davmicrot.bsky.social @donmoyn.bsky.social @ericschmeltzer.bsky.social
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Eric Schmeltzer @ericschmeltzer.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
thank you thank you!!
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Eric Schmeltzer @ericschmeltzer.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
I'm sadly just going to accept as fact that Trump will bring out a wrecking ball the day after the midterms and demolish the Kennedy Center without warning, like he did with the East Wing. Hell, he might not even wait until then. Just absolutely horrible.
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Eric Schmeltzer @ericschmeltzer.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Me, the guy with the 5 year adjustable mortgage in the mid-5% range with just 2 years left. 😭
economists say 7% mortgage will be the new normal
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Eric Schmeltzer @ericschmeltzer.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Mamdani and Shapiro could make a great buddy comedy, but also, they're both doing one thing the same way that could and should be part of the Democratic brand more widely. www.dailykos.com/stories/2026...
dailykos.com
Mamdani and Shapiro show how Democrats can build a big tent brand
The guy the left holds up as the future of the party, and the moderate guy the governors and the donors hold up as the future of the party, have the same calling card!
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Eric Schmeltzer @ericschmeltzer.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
New poll doesn't spare Democrats but also presents them with a real opportunity. More on the poll that everyone's talking about, today, here: betterdonkey.substack.com/p/poll-ameri...
betterdonkey.substack.com
Poll: Americans Tie Prices to Corruption
Team “Tear It All Down” has another data point
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Eric Schmeltzer @ericschmeltzer.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
"Now, Mr. Director.... I'm not sayin' someone necessarily wants to see this, but did y'all at the FBI ever consider that people into this might have to do a pornhub search, and if so what exactly are the terms the FBI thinks they put in there?"
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Eric Schmeltzer @ericschmeltzer.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
LOL good point!
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Eric Schmeltzer @ericschmeltzer.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
I have no idea what part of the convo I walked into here but I'm turning around and leaving the room.
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Eric Schmeltzer @ericschmeltzer.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
LOL
At a court hearing ahead of the judge’s order on Tuesday, William S. Jankowski, a Justice Department lawyer, said it was possible the center could end up approaching bankruptcy if it continued to operate with reduced revenue.

Judge Cooper asked if it was possible for a charitable trust to declare bankruptcy; the Justice Department lawyers did not have an answer.
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Eric Schmeltzer @ericschmeltzer.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Very glad to be wrong about SCOTUS. Strongly felt they'd dick around and let USPS implement it, then eventually rule the scheme was unconstitutional but too late to stop. So, happy to eat crow.
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Eric Schmeltzer @ericschmeltzer.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
AND as someone noted, they're allowing Kanye to perform who professed a love of Hitler, went on rants against Jews and said he was a black Nazi, before meeting a rabbi, apologizing, and going back to make money.
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ℳatt @matttomic.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Worth noting, as Macklemore was banned by NFL owners in what will be dubbed "fighting antisemitism", that Kanye, who - sold merch with swastikas - said on Alex Jones that he idolizes Hitler - tweeted he was "going Defcon 3 on Jewish people" is currently on a multi-city tour of NFL stadiums
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Eric Schmeltzer @ericschmeltzer.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Um, so where can we get one of those?
Trump says a Smart President is All That's Needed to Rein in A.I. - New York Times
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