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Jared Bernstein
@econjared
, 4 tweets, 2 min read Read on Twitter
I’ve had it w/ the shutdown, but feel helpless as to what to do about it. When I first glanced at the @DLeonhardt piece about how a stronger progressive movement could make a difference, I was skeptical. Trump/McC won't be moved on this by a march. [thrd]
nytimes.com/2019/01/20/opi…
But then I saw his key point: the one thing that could end this idiocy tomorrow would be a nationwide strike by federal workers, especially the TSA. Shutdown air travel and you un-shutdown the gov’t. Progressives, as he says, could join the strikers on the picket lines.
No question, it’s easy to tell others to engage in an illegal strike, though being forced to work without pay is a strongly mitigating factor. And this is civil disobedience, which has a storied history in this country, one particularly worth considering on MLK day.
So, at this moment, the only way I see to bring this craziness to a quick end is to make a lot more people feel its pain, also undermining the Trump admin's strategy of cherry picking gov't services to turn back on.
Gov't workers, if you strike, WE WILL SUPPORT YOU. [end]
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More from @econjared see all

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Jared Bernstein
@econjared
Suppose party D believes that a functional, amply-funded gov't is essential to meet the challenges we face--inequality, climate, rent-seeking, infrastructure, retirement security, hth care. Party D's success depends on the electorate sharing its views. On the other hand--[thread]
Suppose party R wants to shrink and discredit gov’t, so as to deregulate industry, return tax revenues to R’s donor base, and discourage the electorate from supporting pro-gov’t Ds.
Clearly, shutdown serves R’s goal and thwarts D’s. It amps R’s message: “gov’t is broken!" (Ignore that we’re the ones doing the breaking…)
Eventually, shutdown will end, but its damage to gov't is lasting and asymmetric. [end]
Read 3 tweets
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Jared Bernstein
@econjared
As a late holiday gift, I’ll summarize 3 excellent articles evaluating the tax cut after 1 yr. (The quality of tax journalism is moving inversely to tax policy.) Still, all 3 miss 1 key point IMHO. [thread]
wsj.com/articles/one-y…
nytimes.com/2018/12/27/us/…
slate.com/business/2018/…
All 3 pieces document 3 clear impacts of the cuts so far (Slate summary below):
--big revenue loss
--surge in after-tax corp profits & stock buybacks
--short-term economic stimulus
For the cuts to have more than near-term growth impacts, they’d have to boost biz investment a lot more than we’ve seen so far, though these are early days. Both WSJ and Slate show “muted” investment results, especially controlling for energy prices, which are set globally.
Read 9 tweets

Related threads

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Tom G Stark ⭐⭐⭐
@TomStark913
If I was a federal employee, I would have minimal 4 months of bills in reserves. Period. It's call PLANNING.
Seeing how this happened 19 prior times since 1976, stands to reason yes?
Then, once I get my back pay, replace the depleted funds.
Don't expect me to get all upset for people that fail to plan for obvious potential issues.
Only excuse is a newer hire that didn't have the opportunity just yet to tuck away the funds.
Save the "but the contractors". These federal contracts are some freaking windfalls. VERY GENEROUS. Why do you think so many dream of landing a governments contact? They pay $500 for hammers!
They'll be just fine.

If I'm fine... They're better than fine. Trust me. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Read 8 tweets
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Liz Borkowski
@LizBorkowski
So much great reporting and commentary about how the #shutdown is affecting science within and well beyond federal agencies! A thread (1/many):
EPA has furloughed inspectors who detect illegal levels of contaminants in air and water, @CoralMDavenport reports. Eric Schaeffer of @EnviroInegrity recalls damaging impact of 1995-6 shutdown on inspections & enforcement. nytimes.com/2019/01/09/cli… #ScienceNotShutdown 2/
With FDA surveillance of drugs & pharmacies down to a "bare minimum," workers in agency labs are concerned about slow responses if problems arise, @vyurkevich & @jechristensen report. #ScienceNotShutdown #ScienceShutdown #ShutdownStories
cnn.com/2019/01/08/hea… 3/
Read 23 tweets
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B.Hive
@safepolitics
This is the most important buried headline & content related to the #shutdown for us all to reflect upon.

No one properly framed the truth of the tax return sleight of hand the way @laurapdavison framed it.

Follow her. She knows how to tell the truth.

bloomberg.com/amp/news/artic…
"The policy change also removes a major political incentive for lawmakers and the White House to reach a deal in the coming weeks. (1/2)
If refunds won’t be held hostage, the shutdown effects will be felt much less widely, relieving some of the strain on Congress and Trump to resolve the current impasse over money for a wall on the Mexican border"(2/2)
Read 24 tweets
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Kenneth P. Vogel
@kenvogel
NEW: It's not just Democrats who want more information about the TRUMP administration's move to lift sanctions on Russian oligarch OLEG DERIPASKA's businesses. The GOP staff of the Senate Banking Committee is working with Dems to review the decision. nytimes.com/2019/01/04/us/…
But the TRUMP administration's sanctions relief for OLEG DERIPASKA's companies was timed to make it all-but-impossible for Congress to block. And even if it were announced at a different time, it's highly unlikely that Senate Republicans would block it. nytimes.com/2019/01/04/us/…
I asked the @USTreasury about challenges to its sanctions relief for the PUTIN-allied oligarch OLEG DERIPASKA.
Treasury referred me to a spokesman who handles sanctions. His email said he was “currently out of the office on furlough." #shutdown nytimes.com/2019/01/04/us/…
Read 3 tweets
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Rich Weinstein
@phillyrich1
Follow up to yesterday's posts regarding Alexandria Ocasio- Cortez, Brand New Congress and Justice Democrats.

Some tweeters have brought up good points regarding yesterday's posts that I did not cover.

Here we go:

1/
First, here's a link to yesterday's post


Yesterday we established she’s result of the “Brand New Congress” and that she’s a “Justice Democrat"

Here's what appears to be Alexandria Ocasio- Cortez's image being used in a "Justice Democrat" study.

2/
So what exactly is the Justice Democrat’s game? Here’s the study.

futureoftheparty.com

They don’t care if they split the Dem party. They believe they can take over the party by mobilizing non-voters.

Read the study for yourself.

3/
Read 8 tweets
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Human Santapede 🎅🎅🎅
@EchoVIII
So as famous alt right accounts are getting the banhammer today, I feel like it's an opportune moment to share some things I learned from catfishing Russian troll @ten_gop's followers as one of his alts.

The basic premise for the anonymous accounts is the following: 1/
1. Set up plausible backups, and encourage people to block other backups.

2. Since the accounts are unverified, it's your word against theirs. People ask for proof, but people who follow these accounts are very susceptible to claims that the proof is doctored.

2/
Rinse, repeat. You can squat on valuable real estate for usernames and disrupt their brand quite a bit.

I would highly recommend setting up anonymous email accounts and two factor for anyone looking to do this.

3/
Read 5 tweets

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