I wrote a guest post for Meidas about the illegal boat strike. I was taught in the Marines that the law was about discipline, and leading by example. America is safer in a world where the rule of law means something. (1/5)

open.substack.com/pub/meidastouc… The strike could never satisfy the legal principle of military necessity. If we knew enough to know there were illegal drugs on this boat, how could this strike be necessary, since we could so easily convict these people in court? And we don’t sentence drug dealers to death.

I have been following the emergence of Stephen Miller’s beliefs about the law. Remarkably, he thinks:

-Jan 6 defendants did not get due process despite trials, juries, etc.

-Abrego Garcia did get due process despite admin lies, violation of judicial orders, gulag. /1 This is only possible if you believe the Jan 6 defendants occupy such an elevated moral position that they have an entirely different set of rights, such as the right to storm government buildings. But we don’t believe that in our country, we believe we are created equal. /2

It is under-appreciated how many Catholics support @KamalaHarris. Neither candidate is preferred officially by our Church and our tradition does not compel loyalty to either party.

If you’re an undecided Catholic voter, hear me out: Single issues like abortion are not the whole story for our Church. They all matter: poverty, immigration, the environment, opposition to firing squads.

The very word “catholic” comes from a Greek word meaning roughly “through the whole.”

I entered this believing PA Dems needed a real debate, and I’m proud of the campaign we gave you. Today, voters made it clear that John is their choice. I respect their decision and congratulate John on his victory. I hope he recovers quickly from his stoke and today’s surgery. Our entire democracy is on the line in Nov. Democrats need to be unequivocally united in our defense of this democracy, & we will be. John’s vote in the Senate is essential to protect this democracy, & he will have my vote in Nov. I will do everything I can to help Democrats win.

Voted for $768B for defense — the price to start beating China.

Let's talk about paying for it, like we did with BBB (less than $2T/decade vs $8T for defense)

I'd vote for @RonWyden's Billionaire Tax, & propose a special fund for military & tech competition with China. THREAD: We’ve never faced a threat like China. They’re far larger than us or Soviets ever were, & their theft of our tech has let them surpass us in key technologies like hypersonic missiles & AI, among others.

They're constantly expanding & improving the reach of their military. (2/8)

Getting lots of questions about what’s happening in DC.

I don’t control the order of votes. But here's what I tell my colleagues internally about why I support BOTH bills & why we need to build enough trust to pass both without making one the victim of the other.

THREAD: First, re: means-testing vs. universal programs:

I've talked to thousands of conservative-leaning people in western PA about Social Security & Medicare, & those programs enjoy near-universal support. Precisely *because* they are universal. (2/5)

Yesterday made things really clear.



I believe the filibuster has to go. Short thread explaining why: The police who fought for their lives & ours on 1/6 deserved better than this.

5 months & the public STILL doesn’t know why police & military leadership mounted such a poor response to the insurrection, & left those officers fending for themselves.

Short thread on Biden's COVID relief plan vs. GOP Senators' plan:

Median income here in western PA is around 60K, meaning half our people make that or less. If you're in/close to that group, there's no question which COVID release proposal is better for you. (1/) Biden's proposal gives you:

-$400 more right away
-at least $1K more in child tax credit
-$100 more in unemployment for 3 months longer
-Protection from getting foreclosed or evicted
(2/)

I support impeaching President Trump.

I'm sure people have reasonable, practical questions about why we should do this when it's difficult to remove him from office any faster than January 20th.

I get that. But here's why I decided it must be done immediately.

THREAD: First & foremost, he committed an impeachable offense, & a horrible one.

He created The Big Lie & helped incite an invasion of the Capitol of the COUNTRY THAT HE SUPPOSEDLY LEADS, resulting in several deaths, including the murder of a police officer.

On a call today w/ FEMA supply chain task force, a Senator repeatedly asked: How many testing components & PPE do you expect we'll need going forward, & is there a plan to get there?

They had no numbers — at all. Not even an estimate, which means no specific manufacturing goals. A Republican Representative said: You must have a need. How many masks did you need 3 weeks ago, & how many do you need today?

Again, no numbers.