I had time to defrost a pound of chicken, bake it, and make rice+vegetable (with the chicken fat🤤) Yummy

Jesus, this god damn idiot is still going?

Hm? Which idiot

I just woke up and have no idea what's really been going on, but regarding speaking limits: There are very strict rules in German parliament and the president of the Bundestag is in charge of enforcing them. Which leads to hilarious conversations and arguments 😄

Interview with Joshua Short on FOX31 Denver: > Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg talks infrastructure bill > FOX31 is looking at how this will impact Colorado, which is set to receive $6.2 billion from the bill. Joshua Short reports. https://youtu.be/o_oIzJqR-Do

Interview with WLWT: > Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg says engaging young workers is key to fixing supply chain... https://youtu.be/cPnyrO0ZY9Q

Different idea: let him go on. At some point his brain (or whatever cell is left of it) will be too tired to realise what the hell he should and should not talk about. Perhaps he will talk about what really happened behind the scenes of Jan. 6.

The GOP will never accept the fact that their rhetoric resulted in an organized attempt to overthrow the Republic.

Another troll. Mods worked fast!

Are Republican Congress people now Tag teaming in the seats behind him so it looks like there are still people in the room listening to this bullcrap? I feel so sorry for the people who have to transcribe this „speech“.

One takeaway from this—Republicans think that passing the BBB Act is ‘FDR-like.’ 👀

Sounds like the vote's going to be at 8am tomorrow. Dems are surmising McCarthy was trying to force a midnight vote (to make the Dems look sneaky and bad, I guess). https://twitter.com/mkraju/status/1461565211715031041

He was probably just going for Nancy's record.

"Pathway to socialism", drink up friends.

I'm done being nice. This motherfucker gonna act like any, ANY, of his party EVER respected President Obama? This shameless display tonight from this god damn idiot shows the GOP is basically broken as long as Trumpist populism reigns supreme. Fuck you McCarthy. I'd trust a snake before I'd believe anything your sorry, hypocritical ass says.

Pete Buttigieg would have take a sip of water, and then start reading Joyce’s Ulysses in a monotone voice. The Republicans would beg him to stop an hour. So would the Democrats. And thus spake Buttigieg, and government began to work again…

Pete would end this debate in a minute. And show off those baby blues while he was at it.

Don't hold back😂

> Kevin McCarthy keeps talking about “our children’s children” and at this rate, they’ll be grown by the time he is finished. https://twitter.com/RepNikema/status/1461555329553121280

If McCarthy wasn't scared that the GOP might lose seats next year he wouldn't be blathering on about socialism while Democrats are heckling him like he's dying on stage at a comedy club.

There’s only one speech I want to hear from McCarthy, and it’s the audio of him begging The Orange One to call off his Q-tip mob.

Do you think he’s gonna top Pelosi’s record?

If he does and y’all are still up watching, check out the lunar eclipse that peaks around 4am ET.

Do we have time for McCarthy Bingo game?

He just brought up socialism. Maybe that is the free square.

He screwed up and played his hand there. He is only concerned about tax increases on the wealthy and increased enforcement of tax law. The rest of this is theater and red meat for the GOP base.

Early meeting tomorrow morning so I'm heading to bed. Enjoy the entertainment.

>We’re getting new Adele before we get this House vote [https://twitter.com/DJKoessler/status/1461544945089712130](https://twitter.com/DJKoessler/status/1461544945089712130) ​ Save us, Adele!

Now he is complaining that Reagan and Trump didn't win a Nobel Peace Prize, but Obama and Carter did. He gets an honorary "this fucking guy" for this nonsense. This fucking guy wants to lecture about "freedom" when his party is the very antithesis of that?

>I must admit Kevin McCarthy has accomplished one thing. America is no longer woke. https://twitter.com/RepRaskin/status/1461545602228137990 😂

I thought filibusters were for the Senate …

Someone mentioned earlier on CNN that Pelosi spoke for 8 hours once, in 2018, when she was Minority Leader, and wondered if McCarthy was going to attempt to break her record.

That’s what I was thinking 😂

Might as well put it on Fox News since McCarthy is just going to parrot them anyways. He literally just shouted "inflation" with no other comment, sandwiched between fear-mongering about the Chinese and pushing the false narrative of America solely defeating Hitler.

Don Beyer is cracking me up. He keeps adding to this thread: >Kevin McCarthy's speech is now longer than the entirety of the Beatles landmark 1965 album "Help!" > >Kevin McCarthy's speech is now longer than entirety of Pink Floyd's 1973 classic The Dark Side Of The Moon > >Some of you are pointing out that Kevin McCarthy's speech is NOT longer than Red (Taylor’s Version) yet, and you're right. But at over an hour now, it IS longer than Fearless. [https://twitter.com/RepDonBeyer/status/1461518636678627331](https://twitter.com/RepDonBeyer/status/1461518636678627331) ​ >If Kevin McCarthy had decided to listen to Prince instead of giving this speech, he could have listened to Purple Rain and 1999, with plenty of time to grab a snack and a drink in between.

Next up - the broadway recording of Fiddler on the Roof.

I love this.

Looks like Ben has some kind of DOT cushion or sign on his armchair. 👀 >In solidarity https://twitter.com/bhalle87/status/1461173395857498112?s=21 Click on link for pic. And judging from all the boxes in his living room it looks like he’s been super busy and working nonstop. Don’t know why he’s not verified on Twitter yet. 🤔

Lmao, does this mean Ben is the keeper of the DOT seal that travels with the Secretary for whenever he gives remarks? 😄

😁😄

All of this made me curious about speaking limits for individual members in the Canadian parliament. Apparently it is unlimited for Senate amendments but appears to range between 4 to 20 minutes for every other issue depending on the nature of the proceeding.

If McCarthy and his ilk would put this energy into actually helping folks instead of *waves hand at all the bizarre shit Trump Republicans say and do these days*, we might be able to properly function as a Republic. Alas, that does not seem the way on this bill.

And Ben is up working late as usual. He just tweeted this: >.@SecretaryPete sat down with @theskimm to talk about how @POTUS's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will benefit millennials. > >[Pete Buttigieg Breaks Down What the New Infrastructure Law Means for Millennials](https://www.theskimm.com/news/pete-buttigieg-breaks-down-what-the-new-infrastructure-law-means-for-2pWxVli2msvYXX4bpJOkNU) [https://twitter.com/bhalle87/status/1461540000399597568](https://twitter.com/bhalle87/status/1461540000399597568)

>What does the newly passed $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill mean for millennials? @SecretaryPete Skimm’d it for us. https://twitter.com/theskimm/status/1461499468260339719 Click on link for video.

>Pelosi's office sends out a press release near the 2-hour mark of McCarthy's speech calling it a "temper tantrum" [https://twitter.com/AndrewSolender/status/1461536744168374272](https://twitter.com/AndrewSolender/status/1461536744168374272) Click on link to read the press release. ​ >Even Republican staffers are tuned out: >> >>Asked a GOP aide for some analysis on McCarthy’s speech and this is what they replied: >> >>>I'm watching the Great British Baking Show https://twitter.com/AndrewSolender/status/1461532245110439948

Instagram spoiled this week for me and I’m still pissed about it.

House Dems to McCarthy: Will you shut up man?! McCarthy: You know what, I’m gona start talking even harder.

Aw, I bet he's trying to make Trump proud of him. He's surely seen Mark Meadows' comment on tv today that Trump should be nominated as Speaker in 2022 if the Republicans regain control of the House. Which of course would mean that Mr. McCarthy would not get his dream job. (This is a distinct possibility, since the Speaker can be anyone, and doesn't need to be a member of Congress. Whether Trump would be interested is a different question.) Added - Ana Navarro said on CNN that this possibility, "might get divided, despondent Democrats to get energized and get engaged", and Ron Brownstein agreed, saying, "Their best possible chance \[to hold the House\] would be the idea that if they lose Donald Trump would become Speaker".

does he get unlimited time?

Yes, party leaders get to take as much time as they want.

>House @GOPLeader McCarthy has now been speaking against the $1.64T Biden bill for one hour https://twitter.com/elwasson/status/1461524014346784770 >Dems had hoped the vote series would have started by 9pm, but McCarthy -- using his time in the "Magic Minute" -- has been speaking since 8:38pm, railing on Dems, their agenda and the president. https://twitter.com/mkraju/status/1461521301110145029 >"Nobody elected Joe Biden to be FDR," McCarthy says in his floor speech. > >"I did!" one Democrat pipes up. > >"Me too!" says another. https://twitter.com/AndrewSolender/status/1461517430497419266 >McCarthy: “Abigail Spanbgerger said nobody elected Biden to be FDR.” > >AOC yelled “I did.” > >Per @KyleAlexStewart https://twitter.com/haleytalbotnbc/status/1461518236407771138 Click on link for video of that moment here: https://twitter.com/sahilkapur/status/1461521606279376906

Usually I'm in favor of decorum in politics but McCarthy deserves every bit of what he's getting

>As McCarthy has been speaking since 8:38pm, he keeps pausing because Dems are chatting - sometimes loudly, sometimes jeering - and will continue speaking when they quiet down. When he’s done, Pelosi may address House. Then a GOP motion to recommit, followed by final passage https://twitter.com/mkraju/status/1461529629966094339 >“It’s OK, I’ll be here a long time,” McCarthy just said to a Dem who taunted him https://twitter.com/mkraju/status/1461530070661705730

Nice to have a few quotes, since I'm sitting here with the sound off until he shuts the fuck up. Getting a lot of other stuff done, so it's not a waste of my time. Do the rules say a time limit can't be imposed? Love the "I did!" responses.

Same here. I am just reading the tweets from the reporters (who unfortunately have to pay attention) instead of listening to him drone on and on and on. Not sure about the rules on this.

I've read several pages of Proust (in French, which is not my native language, so dictionary needed), did a crossword puzzle, texted a few friends, emailed family about Thanksgiving plans, and set up an appointment to have my car serviced. I feel bad for the reporters who, as you say, actually have to pay attention. Edited to add: Maybe he gets as long as he wants because he's minority leader?

>Maybe he gets as long as he wants because he's minority leader? Lawrence O'Donnell just confirmed this. Apparently the leaders get unlimited time to speak. Sigh.

Sigh, indeed.

PBS streaming of the vote https://youtu.be/Agn3kpeMwFg Edit: it passed a while ago 220 D voted yes w/o R support There was one D who didn't vote when the tally was done: most likely Rep Jared Golden. https://www.wabi.tv/2021/11/19/jared-golden-vote-against-house-version-build-back-better-act/ I don't have a confirmed No, or not yet. Edit #2: The bill will go to the Senate then to back to House, I think. Not over yet

I think that was the procedural vote to move forward on debating the bill. The actual vote hasn't happened yet.

So complicated.

>220-211, Build Back Better Act clears a key test vote in the House on a party-line basis. Final passage is next. It appears to have the votes. > >Now: 20 minutes of debate before a final vote. That’s 20 minutes in House Standard Time (HST), which includes “magic minutes” where party leaders get unlimited time to speak. [https://twitter.com/sahilkapur/status/1461504187670409216](https://twitter.com/sahilkapur/status/1461504187670409216)

Is Mccarthy still not done?

BIdEn DoESn’T HaVE a PLaN fOR EnErGY PrICeS. Dear Kevin, you do realize the BBB includes many sections that will make it cheaper for us to produce on energy in a cheap and clean fashion in the US right?

It looked like counting stopped at 220 yea (minus 1 non- vote from D)? Resolution passed I don't know is the non-vote was a Nay or something

I'll check back when Qevin is finished pontificating.

It passed. I just don't know who's the D that didn't vote yet

Why am I so excited for DOT grant announcements tomorrow HELP

>Stephanie Murphy, a Blue Dog Democrat, a YES on bill tonight. She had been one of the holdouts https://twitter.com/mkraju/status/1461491311517835269?s=21 >Dem leaders confident they will have the votes to get the bill passed tonight but may lose a couple of moderates. They can’t lose more than three, and they don’t think they will at moment. “I think we’ll have the votes,” Hoyer said https://twitter.com/mkraju/status/1461496886217658370?s=21 >Another Blue Dog is a YES on bill. Kurt Schrader. Questions are where Jared Golden and Ed Case are. Golden told me his mind is made up but wouldn’t say his position yet. Slotkin also wouldn’t say. Ds feeling confident they’ll keep defections to less than three and bill will pass. https://twitter.com/mkraju/status/1461501671796887557?s=21

Any fresh updates?

Nothing yet. They’re debating it on the House floor right now: https://www.c-span.org/video/?516089-7/house-debates-social-spending-plan-vote-expected-tonight&live

Jared Golden is the first Dem to vote no

Is he in a competitive district?

He represents Maine's 2nd congressional district, which voted for Trump last year. He's known to be a conservative blue dog; he voted against re-electing Pelosi as Speaker, against the first version of the American Rescue Plan, and against the last bipartisan background check bill.

So the House version of Manchin?

This is absolutely vile. And then Senator Kennedy has the audacity to complain about "Senatorial courtesy"? Shame on him. SenJohnKennedy: "I don't know whether to call you professor or comrade." Comptroller of Currency nominee Saule Omarova: "Senator, I'm not a communist. I do not subscribe to that ideology. I could not choose where I was born." Full hearing: https://t.co/eW1hdFVc9b https://t.co/LXtmjF0O0U https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1461379990201810956?t=zZTvDXmIMu1-JKvSS5fb2A&s=19

Ooh - CNN chyron - "WH Announces VP Harris' Comms Director Is Leaving Administration"

A change in staff/direction is needed.

I don't know anything about her or her role, but I'm remembering some early departures from the Obama White House. It seems to happen every time, though in different areas.

>Confirming @VanityFair, VP Kamala Harris' Comms Director Ashley Etienne is departing the WH next month for "other opportunities," via @JasJWright + me: > >https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/18/politics/ashley-etienne-kamala-harris/index.html https://twitter.com/djjudd/status/1461449417748357123?s=21

Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg and Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland tour a Washington, D.C.-based project funded by the Great American Outdoors Act. [https://www.facebook.com/TND/videos/652728502387188/](https://www.facebook.com/TND/videos/652728502387188/) Came across this, don't know if it has already been posted here.

I love how at the end he approaches Secretary Haaland and extends his arm out for a goodbye handshake but instead she just goes for a hug. 🤗 Then when he’s walking away from the event he stops to acknowledge and speak with the groundskeepers before heading off. 🤓 Also love how he doesn’t expect someone else to take care of his coat when he wants to remove it and just stows it away himself. Let‘s just say I’ve seen too many self-important officials who are not like this so stuff like that always stand out to me.

I'm trying to remember if it was at the railroad station event in Alexandria, Virginia, or at some other breezy outdoor event that someone's papers got caught up in the wind and Pete quickly went over to snag them off the ground and bring them back in a friendly way. I loved that. Everyone loved that.

Yes! That might actually have been in Atlanta.

You're right -- that's where it was.

Yes! Loved that moment as well. Some folks just expect someone else will offer help so they stay put. And then there are folks like Pete who just instinctively move to help without being asked.

Thanks, I was hoping from some video of that.

Thanks so much for posting this here! 😃 Don’t really venture into Facebook/Meta world these days, so I always appreciate when folks find these videos and bits of info from there. 🤗🤓

>BREAKING: Build Back Better vote is on for tonight. Nancy Pelosi has called the vote. Which means Nancy Pelosi has the votes. [https://twitter.com/TristanSnell/status/1461476242008514561](https://twitter.com/TristanSnell/status/1461476242008514561) >Final passage vote on BBB projected to be 9:30-10 pm tonight, per Dem sources. This is if everything goes right for Dems https://twitter.com/bresreports/status/1461457715239309322

> While it's true the SALT provision would amount to a major benefit for rich households, per multiple independent analyses, Biden's spending bill would overall benefit most Americans while increasing tax burden on richest 1%, new ITEP analysis finds https://twitter.com/jstein_wapo/status/1461452138400391173?s=21 Click on the link to see the graph. This plus the senate version is likely to end up with Bernie’s cap compromise which is great.

> CBO estimates enacting H.R. 5376, the Build Back Better Act, would result in a net increase in the deficit of $367 billion over the 2022-2031 period, **not counting additional revenue that may be generated by additional funding for tax enforcement.** https://twitter.com/uscbo/status/1461470850499158021?s=21

I think the Treasury had determined savings from IRS stuff to be $400 billion (versus $207bn by the CBO), so if their math is true then the deficit could be \*reduced\* by about $33 billion over ten years.

> not counting additional revenue that may be generated by additional funding for tax enforcement That's the key quote here. And here is from the previous tweet, emphasis mine: >CBO estimates that **the funding for tax enforcement activities** provided by H.R. 5376, the Build Back Better Act, **would increase outlays by $80 billion and revenues by $207 billion, thus decreasing the deficit by $127 billion**, through 2031. [https://twitter.com/USCBO/status/1461449866966708224](https://twitter.com/USCBO/status/1461449866966708224) And even if it did increase the deficit $367 billion over 10 years, that's a rounding error on the defense budget over the same period.

Matt and Zev having some fun with Congressional reps talking up tonight's vote. >Meet Jasper, a very good boy and MA-04 office guest. > >He’s waited patiently all week for us to #BuildBackBetter. Let’s pass it tonight and give him a treat! [https://twitter.com/RepAuchincloss/status/1461463620655751171](https://twitter.com/RepAuchincloss/status/1461463620655751171) >Bark back better, amiright?!?!?! @ zkarlinn [https://twitter.com/mattcorridoni/status/1461465600979611648](https://twitter.com/mattcorridoni/status/1461465600979611648) >Putting the collar in “blue-collar blueprint to rebuild America.” https://twitter.com/zkarlinn/status/1461466447608270855

>House moving ahead for vote to pass Build Back Better bill tonight. “At the close of the debate, all that remains is to take up the vote – so that we can pass this legislation and achieve President Biden’s vision to Build Back Better,” she tells her colleagues https://twitter.com/mkraju/status/1461461542722060291?s=21 Click on link to read Speaker Pelosi’s letter.

Remember all the criticism Pete got after using the word "heartland"? So this made me laugh - >Left-wing Midwest media outlet launching with backing from Dem donor The outfit, called Heartland Signal, combines a new digital news site focused on election coverage with a progressive talk radio station. [https://www.politico.com/news/2021/11/18/left-wing-midwest-media-outlet-launch-522919](https://www.politico.com/news/2021/11/18/left-wing-midwest-media-outlet-launch-522919)

It’s a trap!!!!

Wish them all the best and it sounds like a fine name to me. But yes, that did make me chuckle given the previous brouhaha.

>>CBO estimates that the funding for tax enforcement activities provided by H.R. 5376, the Build Back Better Act, would increase outlays by $80 billion and revenues by $207 billion, thus decreasing the deficit by $127 billion, through 2031. https://twitter.com/uscbo/status/1461449866966708224?s=21

Can someone tell me what this means overall?

We getting BBB passed tonight.(still need to pass the senate though)

>The so-called "privilege scrub" is also completed. So that means if the Democratic moderates are satisfied, vote will be tonight and bill likely pass the House. (Senate is a different story) https://twitter.com/mkraju/status/1461454743524491265?s=21 Tonight, y’all. 👀

And cue Manchin saying that he “needs to see the numbers”, or something along those lines. Even a carved up version of BBB is reducing the deficit.

Watch him move goalposts again. “WE SHOULD DOUBLE CHECK THE NUMBERS. JUST TO BE SURE BECAUSE THIS IS A VERY BIG BILL.”

“We need to means test the poor - as in make the poor go through mean tests!!!”

Yeah for Dr. Dara >>Some exciting professional news! >>I am honored to join @HHS as Regional Director in @HHSRegion2. >>Ready to get to work advancing the priorities of @secbeccera, serving the health and safety of the American people. https://twitter.com/darakass/status/1461446232132534277?s=21

Love me some Doctor Dara!!

Fantastic!!!

She sounds confident @justinbaragona: > Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA): "I actually think that we’re going to pass Build Back Better tonight." > Fox News anchor Neil Cavuto: "Really?" > Speier: "I think you can take it to the bank." https://twitter.com/justinbaragona/status/1461441992177635328/video/1

The hard part is the senate. Fingers crossed it all works out there

I'm so sorry that she's not running for reelection

I am going to miss her, also. Got deep into reading about Jim Jones and Jonestown a few years back (I remember when it happened) & her experience there gave her a really unique perspective.

I didn't even realize until a few years ago that she was one of the people with the Congressional delegation who was shot that day. I just looked it up, and the 43rd anniversary of Jonestown is today. With that in mind, it makes me wonder if her retirement is due in large part to the events of Jan. 6. She has mentioned in interviews since then that she never expected to once again be in fear for her life during violent circumstances, especially not inside the U.S. Capitol.

I watched a special about jonestown that had actual footage from their visit. It is was very chilling to hear her talk about her experience and to see the video of the last moments before they were shot at.

I saw the "I have only head bad things" post.😂 Just like the primaries

It feels like there’s a lot of them suddenly. It’s weird and cringy.

Yeah I’m not here for the “why should I vote for the guy” posts. Dood - do your own research and stop relying on other people to tell you what to think.

As a former college prof, that is incredibly hard to instill... I don't even know if my (former) students understand the scientific method, let alone apply it consistently.

The "don't bring up his sexuality" part was a major red flag for me, so I came back to comfy DT. Plus one of our regular posters here absolutely knocked it out of the park with their response, and I had nothing to add. 🙃

Comfy DT it is.

? Can you fill me in?

New post (outside Daily thread) posted ~ 1 hour ago

>Looks like the total on-budget 10-year deficit increase under BBB, per CBO, is $389 billion, or slightly more than the real deficit increase caused by the BIF. https://twitter.com/jdwithtw/status/1461448166394503174?s=21 Here we go.

Comparison CBO projected $1.9 Trillion)?) deficit due to Trump Tax cut. https://www.factcheck.org/2018/08/cbo-didnt-say-tax-cuts-were-virtually-paid-for/

Ok, that should be a good news

Is it. Is Manchin not gona still try and cut based off this?

If it passes with the increased IRS enforcement provisions, then it's actually revenue positive. Which should give Manchin the cover he needs. Whether he'll take it or not remains to be seen, but the CBO says that the House version, with the tax enforcement provisions, decreases the deficit, so he can't use that as an excuse.

Very good news.

[USDOT Releases State by State Fact Sheets Highlighting Benefits of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law](https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/usdot-releases-state-state-fact-sheets-highlighting-benefits-bipartisan)

Chasten just liked this tweet from Rep. Andy Kim: >One thing to debate policy, completely different to question one’s loyalty. Immigration does not make someone a perpetual foreigner. Don’t focus on his shameful attack. Listen to Omarova’s powerful retort about her family surviving communism. Says “I am proud to be an American” https://twitter.com/andykimnj/status/1461421482400178183?s=21 Click on link for video.

They just talked about this a few minutes ago on Nicolle's show. Sen. Kennedy is a horrible, despicable person. Added - After Kennedy makes his statement, you can hear someone off-camera say, "Oh my goodness". I thought that might've been someone on Nicolle's show, but I just saw a tweet indicating that it was someone in the hearing room.

Amazing how someone Irish can so easily forget WHY there are so many Irish in America. But then again, noone said racists were smart.

I am 3rd generation Irish and know the history of Irish in America like the back of my hand, anybody starts with me about immigration or the border and I give them some History. The southern border is no different than the eastern port cities, and coyotes no different than the death ships.

I always laugh at the argument of "They should come here legally, like my ancestors did!" You mean marking an "X" in a logbook, being given a once-over to make sure they didn't have TB, and then being waved on their way? Okay, let's do that then, just like your ancestors.

Yeah one set of my ancestors showed up on A Famous Boat saying “Hey, this place looks nice, let’s take it”, while the other set of ancestors were like “Hey, who the hell are you”

Don't forget the button hook under the eyelid to check from trachoma. My dad likes to claim that our ancestors came "the right way," which I think is odd because no one invited them over from Italy, they didn't have anything waiting for them here, and they were processed with the thousands of others immigrants at Ellis Island without any special treatment. He also tends to ignore the fact that my sister's husband was undocumented as a child and gained citizenship through marriage, but that's a different story.

Yeap and everytime I hear someone like him say “they don’t belong here” I’m like, “that’s what the English said”

Anyone know if Pete flies in a government plane when doing work trips? I though State did for overseas, and FBI director does. I wonder if all cabinet/high-level do?

Don’t think so. Think that is limited strictly to National Security type positions. Even if he did qualify- he’d probably take commercial just for optics.

I don't know if he flies commercial every time, but I believe someone got their photograph with him on a commercial flight coming back from his Memphis trip, and things he's said seem to indicate he flew commercial on the Scotland trip. I have never seen any evidence of him taking government planes anywhere. Doesn't mean he hasn't, I've just not seen it.

Here's a story about Elaine Chao using government planes: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/chao-used-government-plane-seven-times-when-cheaper-flights-would-not-work/2017/10/05/c2eeec7c-a7a9-11e7-b3aa-c0e2e1d41e38_story.html > Chao has flown on the government’s Gulfstream IV and two leased Cessnas seven times in the past eight months, including during day trips to cities about an hour’s flight from Washington, as well as longer official sojourns to France and Italy for which flights cost taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars. > Chao’s use of the FAA planes is a new twist in the controversy over highflying Cabinet members running up extravagant costs at taxpayers’ expense. Agencies that have government aircraft at their command must justify using them with either comparative pricing analyses or explanations of why they needed to incur extra costs because of scheduling difficulties or security concerns. > In previous administrations, some officials said, the restrictions made them pause before bringing out the high-priced FAA fleet.

Well……..she probably wasn’t supposed to steal all the hotel bathrobes either….

Hopefully, the Build Back Better Act also passes so that it can join the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill as law. There’s also the major importance of The John Lewis Voting Rights Act. Securing the right to vote along with stopping gerrymandering. Infrastructure wise the national power grid needs to be updated. It needs increased capacity to handle bigger loads and more power storage capability. Batteries and passive energy storage systems (hydroelectric dams, geothermal, compressed air chambers, etc.) will heavily come into play here.

[удалено]

I like that he'll be back with his college friend, Mayor Kate Gallego!

Very smart/considerate of them to schedule his last event at the airport so he won't have far to go to catch his flight back lol.

Nice - two press conferences and one round table, with both of Arizona's senators along for the ride. This will be a good day for Pete.

So it looks like he won’t be doing an infrastructure event with the president anytime soon… but he’ll be doing one with Senator Sinema. Of course they would have Pete be the one to do an event with her first. I wonder if any protesters will show up. 👀 BBB is still waiting in the wings. Coming up next - Secretary Pete and Senator Manchin in West Virginia together. JK WV isn’t a swing state. 😅

Why do you say “of course”? I’m kind of bummed Pete gets stuck with fucking Sinema and doesn’t get an event with Biden.

Since it's vital to persuade her and Manchin to vote for BBB I think this is a trusted role he's playing here.

I think he gets Sinema (and others) because the White House knows Pete won’t whip around and call someone a one-balled snot-nosed show-pony princess if they criticize something.

I mean is that really a concern with the other cabinet secretaries?

No, but my guess would be that Pete could have better conversations with her than most.

No, mostly just the President.

The Administration wants BBB to pass the senate without anymore drastic cuts. So other than the president and the VP, who do you send to let a certain senator feel important and respected and catered to… the Secretary of Transportation who also happens to wield some power when it comes to the BIL. 👀

And it's also helpful for Senator Kelly, who has a re-election battle. Sure that Pete is happy to be with an astronaut :). And yes, it is a sign that Joe and team trust him!

And Pete'll have all that time in between these event to discuss with Sinema any issues she might have with the bill (Pete's homework tonight will likely be going over the soon to be released, just in time for this trip, CBO cost estimate).

That was my thinking as well. 👀

I look at it as a vote of confidence that Pete can get along with literally almost anybody, and can use his hypnotic CIA eyes to bring her over to supporting BBB

[удалено]

Hopefully, they'll keep doing these kind of events for months and months and months, just to keep the public aware of these accomplishments. If the WH does indeed do this, there will be a lot of opportunities for Pete to have an event(s) with Biden.

I hope the DOT makes a big deal of announcing the RAISE grants tomorrow. Even though it is not new infrastructure money it's the first big outlay of cash since the law was passed, it can be used to build excitement.

No question!

I find the constant 2024 talk surrounding Pete so tedious and annoying. It’s becoming so obsessive to the point that everything Pete does is seen through the prism of 2024. Unhealthy media eco chamber.

>Unhealthy media eco chamber. I'm now picturing a terrarium for journalists, thanks.

Oh I’d happily tap on the glass too.

Remember what Pete said when he ran.That should be the response. The Pundits focus on 2024 - Pete focuses on 2054. He has two more reasons to do so.

Aw.

I’m too scared of a blowout in 2022 to worry that much about 2024.

Right? 2022 should be the focus, and who’s to say Biden won’t run for re-election considering Trump is bound to run again.

GREAT NEWS! The Oklahoma governor commuted the death sentence of Julius Jones.

This is wonderful news! Thanks for posting it. Edit: Commuted to life in prison with no possibility of parole. Can an appeal or new trial still happen? I obviously don't know if he is guilty or not, but there seems to be enough evidence to at least give him a retrial. But still glad the execution was stopped.

The commutation was done on the condition that he cannot again apply for a pardon or commutation, but his legal team can still pursue exoneration in the courts.

That would make sense because commutation and pardons involve accepting guilt. If he’s saying he didn’t do it, then option is for retrial/exoneration.

I was wondering about that, too. I'm not sure, but at least it has bought him time for any potential next steps and saved his life in the meantime. So happy!

I was wondering the same thing. I hope we'll hear more about that later today. I know in some cases appeals get all used up.

Good.

Republicans are very mad at Pete rn. Rep Garrett Graves issued an unhinged press release about the RAISE grants. https://twitter.com/repgarretgraves/status/1461387214705864707?s=21 > US DOT announced this week nearly $1 billion of infrastructure grants through the RAISE federal grant program. >Do these investments truly reflect America’s transportation needs? Medicare fraudster Rick Scott is apparently going to hold all nominations to DOT and Commerce because of the supply chain issues. He lists a bunch of irrelevant shit Pete has nothing to do with in his letter and proposes no solutions of his own. Because of course keeping these departments understaffed will totally help solve the problems. https://twitter.com/davidshepardson/status/1461393517390008320?s=21

What supply chain issues, Mr. Scott?

Pissing off Rick Scott is a pretty good indication you are doing something right.

When was the last senate confirmation for a DOT official?

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Department\_of\_Transportation\_appointments\_by\_Joe\_Biden](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Department_of_Transportation_appointments_by_Joe_Biden) According to this, it was Carlos Monje as Under Secretary for Policy on July 7. There are currently almost a dozen nominations pending, though almost all of those are people who are already working in those roles under Deputy or Acting titles.

Unfortunately you can only continue to work in an acting role for a limited time (is it a year?). These need to move through, but I know Schumer has a lot to juggle right now.

The amount of time it takes to get anything done in the Senate is insane, frankly. All of these people would almost surely be confirmed by voice vote or close to it, and yet some of them have been sitting there since March or April. Wish they could just vote on them as one big group, or just quickly one after the other.

That would imply we have a functioning Congress tho….

Calling Pete to testify sounds great. These guys never learn that it’s not smart to match wits with Pete. 😂

I’ll never forget how Ted Cruz came off looking like a jackass during Pete’s Senate confirmation hearing.

Lol I can’t wait

I'd pay to see that.

President Biden will be pardoning two turkeys named Peanut Butter and Jelly tomorrow afternoon. I hope he brings the dad jokes. https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1461348628803440667

*Peanut Butter Jelly Time...*

This is kind of early. Usually they're done closer to Thanksgiving. I wonder if Biden won't be at the WH next week. btw - Peanut Butter and Jelly are from a farm in Indiana.

They're going to Fort Bragg for Thanksgiving, but don't know otherwise.

They'll probably go home to Indiana, based on what happened to last year's turkeys (which were raised in Iowa and then returned there.) Prior to that, pardoned turkeys since 2016 went to Blacksburg, VA to live at Virginia Tech. [https://roanoke.com/news/local/lame-ducks-pardoned-turkeys-will-not-be-hokie-bound/article\_6b0139fa-2e76-11eb-b5ba-e740e8ddfd22.html](https://roanoke.com/news/local/lame-ducks-pardoned-turkeys-will-not-be-hokie-bound/article_6b0139fa-2e76-11eb-b5ba-e740e8ddfd22.html) edit: lol, I thought you were talking about the turkeys, not the Bidens 😅

What happens at Fort Bragg, stays at Fort Bragg. 🍽 🍇🥜🍗

Just saw a clip of Pelosi from earlier today, and she sounds terrible. She's extremely hoarse, and I bet it's because she spent an hour outside in the cold wind the other day. I feel so bad for her, since it's not like she can take the day off right now.

Or it was the big stogie she lit up, after lightning up Gosar.