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Paul Blumenthal

@paulblumenthal.bsky.social
4.2K followers 410 following 1.6K posts

HuffPost. Reporter covering politics, courts, history and the crisis of democracy. Tips: Email: paulblumenthal@huffpost.com. Signal: PaulBlumenthal.37 Read me: huffpost.com/paul-blumentha…

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Paul Blumenthal @paulblumenthal.bsky.social · 7h
Pete Hegseth is a psychopath and he wants you to be one too www.huffpost.com/entry/nidal-...
huffpost.com
Trump And Hegseth Want To Remake America. Their Latest Tactic Is Chilling.
No country in the world livestreams executions. That’s something terrorists do.
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DC Council @councilofdc.bsky.social · 10h
This is clearly not acceptable
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Justin Levitt @justinlevitt.bsky.social · 10h
This is a big deal. DC fed judge says that DOJ's pursuit (and use) of the state voter files is unlawful, on a bunch of different grounds. And effectively confirms that for the 18 states that submitted files willingly, whoever collected the files at DOJ Civil Rights committed federal crimes.
storage.courtlistener.com
Memorandum & Opinion – #51 in COMMON CAUSE v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (D.D.C., 1:26-cv-01352) – CourtListener.com
MEMORANDUM OPINION re the 29 Motion for Partial Summary Judgment and the 32 Motion to Dismiss, or in the Alternative, for Summary Judgment. See the attached document for details. Signed by Judge Spark...
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Paul Blumenthal @paulblumenthal.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
ISIS shit
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Paul Blumenthal @paulblumenthal.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Furthermore, if this were to happen (and I don't think it's even possible, as Derek lays out) we'd be in a civil war. It's a much crazier and implausible scenario than what Trump attempted to do on Jan. 6.
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Paul Blumenthal @paulblumenthal.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
This is excellent. One thing to note is that this scenario could begin to make sense is in a world where Democrats win a bare majority (like the current GOP one). Derek does say all bets are off if its 217-217 with one close race. But it does not look like the election is going in that direction.
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Paul Blumenthal @paulblumenthal.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
I believe this stuff as much as a I believe that a rando in Florida discovered a secret passage in the Constitution that allows Trump to control elections (another bit of insanity these same people have floated).
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Paul Blumenthal @paulblumenthal.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
I will just say that this "plan" is not feasible logistically or physically. There are thousands of polling places and millions of ballots. They cannot seize ballots nationwide. It's just not possible. These are nutcases engaged in fanfiction.
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Paul Blumenthal @paulblumenthal.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
A super PAC just dropped $500K in negative ads on Bengs in his race against GOP Sen. Mike Rounds. More on this race here: www.huffpost.com/entry/south-...
huffpost.com
No One’s Paying Attention To This Senate Race. It Could Be The Future Of Politics In Deep-Red States.
Brian Bengs is one of several independent candidates running in deep-red states this year. He hopes his race can forge a new path for American politics.
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Adam Klasfeld @klasfeldreports.com · 07/10/2026
BREAKING A federal judge ordered the Kennedy Center's Trump-installed board to UNSEAL the 163-page report (with redactions) on the $250M+ renovation plan and two year closure. The Board also must unseal a related Powerpoint. Doc buff.ly/E6jyjGl
ORDERED that Plaintiff’s [74] Motion to Unseal is GRANTED IN PART. The Clerk of the Court shall unseal in full the [65-2] Delta PowerPoint. Defendants shall submit to Plaintiff and the Court any proposals for narrowly tailored redactions to the [65-1] JLL Plan, accompanied by particularized and substantial written justifications, no later than October 14, 2026. Plaintiff shall file any response to the proposed redactions no later than October 19, 2026. The Court will then review the proposals and rule by separate order.
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Paul Blumenthal @paulblumenthal.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
when you are the last man and you're end of history maxxing
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Paul Blumenthal @paulblumenthal.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Hey that's what John Roberts called "fear mongering on the basis of extreme hypotheticals"
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Paul Blumenthal @paulblumenthal.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Under 50. In your own internal. In Idaho. Look he'll probably win but that's not great
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Paul Blumenthal @paulblumenthal.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Independent candidates are trying to oust Republican incumbents in deep red territory. I decided to take a look at one less covered race in South Dakota and what it means for the present and future of politics www.huffpost.com/entry/south-...
huffpost.com
No One’s Paying Attention To This Senate Race. It Could Be The Future Of Politics In Deep-Red States.
Brian Bengs is one of several independent candidates running in deep-red states this year. He hopes his race can forge a new path for American politics.
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The Downballot @the-downballot.com · 01/10/2026
New graphics from AdImpact vividly illustrate something we've emphasized repeatedly: The GOP's massive spending advantage is *not* translating into a comparable *advertising* advantage. In #TXSen, e.g., the GOP has spent 66% of all ad money but aired just 54% of all ads adimpact.com/blogs/republ...
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Paul Blumenthal @paulblumenthal.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
More background on the case: www.batimes.com.ar/news/latin-a...
batimes.com.ar
From Mar-a-Lago to prison: The fall of Fernando Cerimedo in Bolivia
Nadia Beller accuses her former lover, political consultant Fernando Cerimedo, of organising a hit on her life.
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Paul Blumenthal @paulblumenthal.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Cerimedo was given an award as top Hispanic political consultant of the year at a ceremony at Mar-a-Lago earlier this year derechadiario.com.ar/us/argentina...
derechadiario.com.ar
Fernando Cerimedo won the award for Hispanic Political Consultant of the Year
Latino Wall Street organization highlighted its great advisory work in right-wing leaders' campaigns
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Paul Blumenthal @paulblumenthal.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
The Latin American MAGA operative involved with Bolsonaro, Milei and the Bolivian right wing government was arrested for trying to kill his girlfriend. Now there's audio that appears to show him coordinating payoffs to allow drug planes to land: www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwbC...
youtube.com
ÚLTIMO MOMENTO: El audio que acaban de encontrar de Cerimedo que lo complica aún más de lo que está
YouTube video by Revolución Popular Noticias
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Paul Blumenthal @paulblumenthal.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
as i wrote in april www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-...
huffpost.com
Trump Is So Cooked
The president has wriggled his way out of every political jam he's found himself in over the past 10 years, but this time it really may be different.
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Jessica Schulberg @jessicaschulberg.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
NEWS: Florida’s First District Court of Appeal reversed Rhonda Jewell’s third-degree felony murder conviction, as well as her underlying conviction of leaving a child unattended in a vehicle, finding that both charges required a finding of intent flcourts-media.flcourts.gov/content/down...
flcourts-media.flcourts.gov
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Paul Blumenthal @paulblumenthal.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
The designer of the bell beaker is killing themselves for not signing their name
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Paul Blumenthal @paulblumenthal.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Susan Collins is still receiving support from dark money contributions that "definitely" look similar to the one that sparked an FBI probe www.huffpost.com/entry/susan-...
huffpost.com
Susan Collins Faced An FBI Investigation Over Dark Money. It’s Still Flowing To Her Reelection Campaign.
The Maine Republican’s reelection campaign is backed by at least $7.4 million in dark-money contributions that resemble the shell donations that drew FBI scrutiny.
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Paul Blumenthal @paulblumenthal.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
these people are engaged in a form of khmer rouge thought
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Paul Blumenthal @paulblumenthal.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
i think there are valuable use cases for AI and then i see people like this and want to put everyone involved in it in a blender
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Paul Blumenthal @paulblumenthal.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Schmitt's defense of his fuck up is to call Jack Smith gay because he likes women's sports. Shows what they think about women's sports.
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Paul Blumenthal @paulblumenthal.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Ah the defenders of women's sports
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Paul Blumenthal @paulblumenthal.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
And this was the height of Caitlin Clark fever. Her last college season. This was heavily promoted in the area before the game www.baltimoresun.com/2024/02/01/c...
baltimoresun.com
The ‘Caitlin Clark Effect’ comes to College Park for Maryland women’s basketball vs. No. 3 Iowa
But for all of Caitlin Clark’s accomplishments, Saturday’s game at Maryland presents one hurdle she hasn’t overcome: winning at Xfinity Center, where she is 0-2.
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Paul Blumenthal @paulblumenthal.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
They didn't even get the team names mixed up, although Hawks/Hawkeyes is a funny screw up. They just didn't even think about women's bball at all.
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Paul Blumenthal @paulblumenthal.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
So it looks like Schmitt's staff saw the texts and then only looked up possible NBA and men's college games at that day and time and concluded it could only be the GS-ATL game. But they obviously didn't look at women's bball because they only notice that exists if they can whine about trans people.
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Paul Blumenthal @paulblumenthal.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
When you're a former Senate chief of staff witnessing one of the great staff fuck-ups of all time
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Paul Blumenthal @paulblumenthal.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
www.espn.com/womens-colle...
espn.com
Iowa 93-85 Maryland (Feb 3, 2024) Final Score - ESPN
Game summary of the Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Maryland Terrapins NCAAW game, final score 93-85, from February 3, 2024 on ESPN.
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Paul Blumenthal @paulblumenthal.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
That's one way to describe the most groyperized senator
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Paul Blumenthal @paulblumenthal.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
MAGA goons mad that Sarah Huckabee Sanders isn't being racist enough www.huffpost.com/entry/right-...
huffpost.com
Far-Right Commentators Rage Over GOP Welfare Fraud Ad Featuring White Male Gamer
A new ad by Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders put white men at the center of her state welfare work requirement policy.
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ryan cooper @ryanlcooper.com · 26/09/2026
great piece. man social media is a cancer themomoftheyear.substack.com/p/im-the-mom...
themomoftheyear.substack.com
I’m the Mom in That Viral Giants Clip. Let Me Tell You About My Husband.
You saw me carrying our baby and food. There was more happening in our family that night.
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Paul Blumenthal @paulblumenthal.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
I don't think eating live worms is going to be worth it when you eventually die anyways.
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Paul Blumenthal @paulblumenthal.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Republicans really have nothing to run on
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Paul Blumenthal @paulblumenthal.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
UNH poll has Phil Scott down 6. Probably the wildest poll of the year scholars.unh.edu/survey_cente...
scholars.unh.edu
Partisan Headwinds Hamper Scott in Race With Janoo for Governor of Vermont 9/24/2026
Democratic nominee for governor Amanda Janoo has increased her support significantly since winning the Democratic Primary last month and is now in a statistical tie with Republican incumbent Phil Scot...
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Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Incredible. First Secretary Mullin claimed that DHS had identified 15,903 noncitizens on Nevada’s voter roll. Then DHS officials told a skeptical Nevada, no no no, that’s just people we flagged. Here are the names of 185 people we KNOW aren’t citizens. All 185 were citizens. DHS got 100% wrong.
When the Department of Homeland Security sent Nevada a list of 185 names last month that it claimed identified noncitizens who had been improperly allowed to register to vote, state election officials got to work.
On Tuesday, the state sent a strongly worded rebuke to the federal government: Every single person on the list was a lawful citizen.
"As for the 185 individuals, our records indicate that they were citizens," Greg D. Ott, a deputy attorney general in Nevada, wrote, according to a copy of a letter sent to Department of Homeland Security officials obtained through open records requests.
"You have provided nothing of substance to suggest otherwise."Following the meeting, Ms. Vogt sent a clarifying email to Nevada officials. "I also wanted to be sure I clarified that we did not reduce the 15,903 to 185," she wrote. "We've manually reviewed some of the 15,903 and confirmed 185 are not U.S. Citizens."
Now, Nevada officials are saying even that 185 number is wrong. They also took issue with a letter D.H.S. sent them in early September, in which the agency reiterated its initial claims about nearly 16,000 noncitizens on the rolls and pressured state officials to review each case in a letter to Nevada officials in early September.
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Chris Geidner @chrisgeidner.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
NOTE: This lawsuit — storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us... — has been listed by the DSCC as related to both the LULAC — storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us... — and NAACP — storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us... — lawsuits filed recently. Notice: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
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Brandi Buchman @brandibuchman.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
NOW: Judge Kelly gives the DOJ until 12:30 p.m. ET to respond to the media outlets' claim that they are being denied entry this morning after the TRO was already issued.
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Paul Blumenthal @paulblumenthal.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Sounds like that W MA lesbian bar is actually more stop and stare than laissez-faire
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Paul Blumenthal @paulblumenthal.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
The bosses saw "wokeness" as a labor issue. They saw their white collar workers seizing on the post-George Floyd moment to obtain a greater say in the operation of their businesses and in talking up and asserting power in meetings against the bosses.
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Paul Blumenthal @paulblumenthal.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
They've already speed run to posadism
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Paul Blumenthal @paulblumenthal.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
He's obsessed with desecrating sites connected to assassinated presidents so we'll just give him a little treat and rename a site where someone sort of tried to kill him
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Paul Blumenthal @paulblumenthal.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Compromise: we'll call it the Hinkley-Trump Hilton
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Taniel @taniel.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
A post that’s so eye-opening because this is exactly what liberals will say is GOP distraction tactics, almost as a parody— and here it really is what Gaetz is saying unironically as his GOP message.
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Paul Blumenthal @paulblumenthal.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
As Justice Kennedy wrote in Citizens United: "independent expenditures, including those made by corporations, do not give rise to corruption or the appearance of corruption." How's that looking?
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HuffPost @huffpost.com · 21/09/2026
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Arthur Delaney @delaneyrules.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Crypto's gunning for Sherrod Brown as punishment for Democrats voting down the Clarity Act www.huffpost.com/entry/big-cr...
huffpost.com
Big Crypto Moves To Sink Sherrod Brown
The digital asset industry is looking to sink Sherrod Brown’s campaign after Democrats sank the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act.
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Jen Bendery @jbendery.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Morning! ☕️ ICYMI from the weekend: I spent a few days talking to dozens of Alaskans about who they're gonna support in their state's competitive Senate race, and why. Indie voters have huge sway in this state. Most I spoke to like Mary Peltola. 👀 www.huffpost.com/entry/alaska...
huffpost.com
Alaska’s Independent Streak Rears Its Head At The Wrong Moment For GOP
Voters say they’re tired of political division and greed. They’re worried about their fish. And one Senate candidate seems to be winning them over.
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