Since this seems to be flying around again, to be clear she was talking about the other side. Garbage Old People.

Please delete the thread, then. Even if you didn't mean to spread misinformation, that's what it's become. Every day I see QTs of the op saying that the Democrats shouldn't exist, aren't opposing the GOP etc. It's effectively right wing propaganda.

Ok. But let’s be real, what have Democrats actually done to oppose any of this?

In the US Senate, they've slowed down proceedings somewhat, but could do more. In the US House, the minority party is basically powerless. State AGs are taking everything they can to court. City governments are blocking ICE. So, it's a mixed bag.

There's not a lot more they could really do in the Senate. The ability to stop nominations has been greatly limited in recent decades. They've got better ways to fight legislation.

They have literally done nothing in the last 4 years to prepare or stop any of this

Yeah, if they had just used some executive orders that couldn't be reversed or passed laws with slim majorities that couldn't be reversed with majorities. All with a SC far more sympathetic to Trump.

Then we could have safely let the fascists control all branches of government.

Now tell me, what does spreading misinformation do?

I thought it was pretty clear where the threats were coming from

I wish they’d *at the least* not vote to confirm nominees. Like why did Rubio get a unanimous?

What can they do when they don't have a majority in Congress? They filibustered Vought all night and the GOP still voted him in.

let's maybe start with "don't default immediately to being deferential cowards"

I think I take back what I said after reading this: www.axios.com/2025/02/12/d...

I'd say question why centrist/conservative rags are interviewing one or two of the worst Democrats and writing as if they speak for the whole party. Of course, if the 3 listed are your congressperson, call and complain about it.

They’re not going to get far with those willing to shoot back.

But who are they getting the threats from? Anonymous callers? Or muskrats/magats? Seems like a pretty big distinction.

And are they actually getting them or are they just afraid of what might happen... And projecting? We've seen this all too often from them...

Are you saying Gillibrand is lying?

Distinction without a difference.

Yes, a threat is a threat, but if it's maga leadership, ie muskrats or actual admin aids, that's a whole other thing, don't you think?

I suppose yes, if the official policy of this White House is to threaten the lives of sitting Congresspersons it would be worse. Excellent point.

I suspect "official policy" isn't something this "administration" particularly adheres to. Sure feels more like a mob operation to me. Threaten, sue, cheat, fire, give "subtle" nods to violence etc. "Nice country you have there. Sure would be a shame if something happened to it." Gaza

You're right. "Official policy" might be me giving more credit to their abilities for consistency than is fair. I agree that they are very much like a crime syndicate, specifically mob-like despotic rule of an autocratic dictator: all that is against their wish-of-the-moment is a treasonous crime.

Now, if our elected officials will have the stones to push back, and to hold them accountable to the Constitution, we might still have a country.

And for all their disdain for "3rd world countries", look at where they're at now because they couldn't shut that crap down years ago 😤

eh Hitler Youth are extremely well known for slinging death threats and even SWATing. looking at their turnout for Trump, i can easily imagine them sniveling behind their screens doing so

Threaten back

Yeah but now Rebecca Traister has amplified it as an attack on Gillibrand.

Grand Old Perverts

Did she say why she is falling in line? I was horrified when I saw how many of his nominees *she* was voting for.

Yeah, I did not expect to have to phone her office this much.

I don't doubt it. I don't doubt the people making the threats are serious, either. If that's a tactic that works, then it's never going to stop; it'll only get more refined/extreme. The only way to make it stop is either to get police to give a fuck, or to tell the threateners to go ahead and try.

Putin tosses people out of windows. Russia hacked the RNC back in 2016. The NRA fed rubles to politicians. There's kompromat and threats and lots of bribes if they just go along.

The way to stop it is to impeach trump and all his minions and let the FBI do it’s job hard with domestic terrorists.

The problem is that, while they can introduce articles of impeachment, they don't have the votes to impeach, much less to remove from office.

Shorter: threats are a tactic that works. That’s not a value statement, just an observation. One that Dems do not seem to fully grasp or grapple with. I don’t think it will stop if Ds continue to provide Rs with cover and safety.

You're forgetting option three: kill the threateners before they have the chance to follow through.

The police are the ones who will do it or allow it to happen. Come on.

Give up all the perks of the job, and resign in protest. Or don't...

Although now the leopards are coming to the FBI in the form of Emil Bove. Compiling a hit list from every FBI employee who worked on Jan 6 is not going well.

Can’t imagine that burning literally half the CIA in one move won’t produce blowback, to use their expression.

It started with the Capitol police, who are still pissed at being thrown under the bus. If there is anything you can reliably predict about DJT, it's that his "allies" will sooner or later get thrown under the bus

Which is why I am repeatedly shocked that people are willing to work with him. That people are willing to go to great personal expense to work with him. None of this is new. He's been the public face of predatory capitalism for most of his life. Why do people think he'll treat them differently?

Greed. They all think the benefit of being on his side, even temporarily, will benefit THEM

Hoping DC MPD is just as pissed — Fanone and his peers went through it

I almost feel a tiny bit sorry, but then I remember I dislike him greatly, Rudy Giuliani has really been hung out to dry by DJT. Not that he doesn’t need a good drying out…

It’s one of the few entertaining subplots in this whole sordid spectacle

and it couldn’t happen to any worthier fella 🙃

Then I guess the only thing to do is make sure that their security detail is tight, and tell the Republicans threatening their lives to get fucked.

That's just it. They have no security detail. No secret service. They have to pay it out of their own pocket. Only wealthy people like Romney could afford 24/7 private security.

They're all wealthy, they can afford it.

Yep, they're going to need to dig deep and look across oceans for people who look like them who weathered the threats. Black folks already know these risks. It's in our history.

The reason these hate groups are threatening Republicans now is because it has worked out better for them than threatening Democrats!

Think it through. Anyone really feeling a death threat would just resign from public office and not have to worry about it. OR, join the Dem Party. It would be insane to think giving in once won't just keep more death threats coming, harder and MORE often. Like cutting off fingers one at a time.

Joining the Dem party doesn't end the death threats. Any Republican who changed parties would paint a HUGE target on his back. And Democrats get death threats too.

Not as much as staying and failing to toe the line. The felon and MAGA aren't fixated with Chris Christie or Murkowski. They go after Collins because she stays GOP and fails to obey. It's all about obediance and control for them. They are sociopaths and some, psychopaths.

When the hell has Collins not obeyed? Give me a break!

Ohhhh! Thanks for clarifying. I’m not surprised if Dems get them as well so it made sense regardless!

And that has long been the "pro-life" party's tactic. I actually know someone who got death threats for making Obamacare work in their state.

Susan Wicklund is a friend. She spent most of her adult life in a bulletproof vest, keeping her home address secret, moving way too often, flying in to take over for murdered abortion doctors. www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/susan...

Clinical staff get death threats all the time too, but it seems the 5' 95lbs woman has bugger balls then a bunch of dudes with fucking private security

Sorry, don't see this linked yet. Not always just a threat: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barnett...

Now the #domesticterrorists are winning.

Dems probably should have done something about that when the FBI formally warned about it, or at any of the many times they've had power to do so over the last several decades But hey, gotta reach that hand across the aisle because bipartisanship or whatever. Literally negotiating with terrorists

Friendly reminder to centrist libs who want to play white knight for the people who allowed this to happen just because they're on the blue team: the Block button is extremely effective on Bluesky. Use it on me if you want, or reply with some bad faith nonsense and I'll use it on you

I’m a centrist lib who agrees 100% with what you said.

The vast majority of non-Trumpers, for 14 years, have coddled Trumpers. We have forgiven them in advance, and invited them over for the usual social functions. And this is permission. We've been giving them permission all along. We're complicit with normalizing this depravity.

Hundreds of thousands of Americans died while murdering Nazis to defend this country and our allies. The least we could do is not invite them to Thanksgiving. Too many non-Trumper friends and family defended "friends and family" over "politics". The rot is culture wide. It isn't just Trumpers.

Yea, the party of Democracy forgot that the First Amendment 'Freedom of Expression' sometimes means stepping on some terrorists throats.

Dems need a good house cleaning, out with the old guard and in with some young minds. No lifetime elected representatives. #TermLimits

…so they are cowards. got it. Thanks.

For now. But change will come! It always does.

Tick-tock, tick-tock

Almost as though negotiating with and giving into terrorists only helps them.

i feel like if you're a politician getting death threats is part of your job description since time immemorial fuckin resign and let somebody with the mettle for the work take over

This is not normal. It’s not some off the rockers lone wolf you can just have more courage than. This is more like a dark web cartel with the power to inflict unimaginable harm on you and yours.

then they need to resign and let somebody with more courage actually resist

This feels like an unhinged ask. Politics are not a blood sport we need ufc fighters for.

You’re right it’s definitely better to just have worthless fucks who let shitty republicans walk all over them and fuck us all in the process. Seems like a great plan

well then you don't believe trump is a fascist and there's no problem

Lmao how on earth could you get here from anything I said? That’s crazy

saying it's unhinged to expect politicans to risk their lives fighting a fascist is in itself unhinged. Either he's a fascist so everyone resisting is risking their lives or he isn't

they are now

they're normalizing this by not resisting with everything they've got

-looks up at all the graves of their friends killed by policy decisions over the last 40 years and starts looking around for that astronaut meme-

Report the threats or maybe that’s hard when you report them to an agency they are taking over .

Anybody who has ever had convictions and is serious about solving a major issue in this country knows that it has always come with the territory. The fact that she is shock and afraid is because she never intended to do anything meaningful while holding office.

oh no, they gotta take their defense into their own hands just like the rest of us 😩

yea but she was looking for an excuse to cave in anyway.

"I'm a coward" is not actually a good explanation for moral failing. I'm not sure if they know that

i think its a very good explaniation. terrible excuse though

if you don't got the stomach for it i understand accepting that something is important enough it's worth dying for is hard but for real, RESIGN

seems like it's going around bsky.app/profile/mx0x...

disabling quotes for this because so far it's been exclusively people going "BUT THEY DIDN'T ACTUALLY USED TO HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT DYING, YOU WOULDN'T STICK YOUR NECK OUT LIKE THAT" and lol; lmao

JFK and Abraham Lincoln would like a word

Teddy Roosevelt is on Line 2

*touches earpiece I'm getting word that President Garfield had a bit of a tussle with someone named Charles Guiteau

Pretty sure politicians are the safest they've ever been in human history. You just know if there was an ancient Roman social media app monitored by empire-spanning police, at least one of the conspirators would've slipped up and posted something completely ruining the whole "Ides of March" thing.

idk, are we sure there wasn't graffiti about it? 👀

I'm not an expert in ancient Roman graffiti, so all I know is the raunchy stuff from Pompeii that managed to make its way into public consciousness.

There was a LOT of political stuff as well. Both supporters and detractors of various local officials scribbled on walls.

There's also the case of Constantinople where chariot racing got INTENSELY political and you had graffiti about "official so-and-so claims to be a man of the people but he supports the red team!"

There is/was. In 2018, in a bookstore in Santa Fe NM, women's bathroom. The walls surrounding a dimly lit mirror told an angry story. A population of locals and travelers consistently Scrawled the message "fuck Trump" in full colors that luminated that otherwise dark,shabby, historic loo.

They have been winning for a decade.

Decades because no one wanted to call out Christian nationalists- the mainstream Christian’s bring all their shit to bear as well- making the cartel behavior look more widespread and backed than it is

Winning longer than that. Since 2000

I remember thinking "this isn't a good precedent" during the 2014 Bundy standoff. I think we are now seeing the consequences of coddling RW terrorists again and again.

This. My previous expectations if I did what Bundy or J6ers did was I would probably get shot by police.

If you did what they did for left wing or liberal goals, you absolutely would be. This tolerance of violence goes one way and one way only

I agree. The responses to the "Black Lives Matter" protests and the covid mask/lockdown protests were polar opposites.

I remember thinking the same thing when I read about how America didn't execute the leaders of the confederacy. We didn't put them down and now they are flying their flag in the White House.

Lol, you should pair that with a deep dive down an Operation Paperclip search.

I’d also recommend this. The Dulles brothers were essential for spreading the religion of capitalism around the world.

The Devil's Chessboard: Allen Dulles, the CIA, and the Rise of America's Secret Government a.co/d/5oKgSNs

YES!!! Excellent recommendation!

this one is incredible and so is Operation Gladio www.amazon.com/Operation-Gl...

I read that one too! Agreed 👍🏻

📌

Totally agree—BOTH Bundy standoffs. DOJ actually fxxked up the case in 14 too. The standoff and the case were seriously mishandled from start to finish.

the standoff was good. The cops should not be in the business of killing anyone. However, the FBI intentionally botching the prosecution was bad and something no politician is willing to address

they have been winning since Reconstruction

History proves time and time again that peaceful protestors only ever get what they ask for when it is the only way to appease the violent protestors who are cutting off the heads of the powerful. Power was never, ever, surrendered willingly. That's why democracy was seen as such a radical idea.

Churchill is... an ironic person to have said that quote, considering.

He didn't. It's a misquote attributed to the wrong person.

Who is the correct person to attribute this quote to?

winstonchurchill.hillsdale.edu/americans-wi...

If I’m reading this article correctly, it’s saying that there is no evidence that Churchill said the quote.

Hillsdale is very very right-wing. Distrust anyone turning to them for any actual facts. www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcn...

Here's a good explainer having sifted through endless sites misattributing it to Churchill. The internet is just an amplifier of myth these days.

If I remember correctly it was an Israeli ambassador or maybe PM on a visit to Japan and it wasn't directed specifically at America?

Commenting that the passage of time offered the best hope of an end to the problems of Israel and her neighbors, he said: “Men and nations behave wisely when they have exhausted all other resources.” Abba Eban, Israeli politician/diplomat, 1967

One of my (many) hot takes is that 99% of the time, protesting does absolutely nothing. When you're shouting in front of the capitol building, the people inside don't even know you're out there. Sometimes it does less than nothing, because some people think protesting is a substitute for voting.

And it exhausts people, leaves many with arrest records etc

The only effective protest today is a Luigi protest simply because the GOP approves of political violence.

Bootlicker

I'm licking no boots. I'm just realistic about what actually gets crap done. And protests don't get crap done. At least, none that are orderly and polite. We're in this situation directly because of the results of votes. No amount of angrily waving signs is gonna fix that.

oRdErLy & pOLiTe pRoTeStS dO nOtHiNg

You can point to a SMALL NUMBER of protests that actually had a measurable influence on something. And usually, that influence only happened because they were backed up by voting in people who were actually willing to do what the protesters wanted. So in the end, VOTES get stuff done, not protest.

Protests & marches have affected congressional votes ib the past.

Discouraging people grin civil discourse supports the oppressor.

Both are necessary

Historically, no peaceful protest has ever made a difference in America without someone killing a rich person or a group of more violent protestors doing so much damage to property that the wealthy gave the peaceful protestors what they wanted just to calm down the violent ones.

Angry sign waving brings community, increased moral and the media. Without major protests the oppressors think everyone is compliant.

Angry sign waving has never once convinced a person with power to give up that power. Historically, there has only been one effective solution to stopping fascism and rich people have spent generations telling poor people it's never okay.

Those things mean nothing if the oppressors just do whatever they want anyway. I live in a blue city in a red state. Liberals are constantly organizing protests outside of the capitol about the terrible legislation happening here. You know what that does? Nothing. Zip. Nada. Votes are power.

We all respond differently. I see blue dots gathering and making their voices heard and it gives me hope that if they have the bravery to get out there in the face of shitty rulers then the rest of us have zero excuse. Reds are trying to take over NY. They gained ground this election. #complacency

Yeah but your voice is mean nothing to these people in charge. They don't care what you think. They just want their money and power. Unless there is a direct threat to their lives, money, or power, nothing will ever change. That has always been true at every point in human history.

No, in fact, protesting isn't a substitute for voting. You still have to vote, or you wind up ignored.

Churchillian Drift: it’s a thing www.forbes.com/2009/08/12/n...

No - they want you to think that they are - fight back! Watched the movie Number 24 last night. Inspiring - plan and resist!

It's really funny, which domestic terrorists they just keep letting win, And which peaceful protestors get labeled domestic terrorists and that's all the justification needed to retaliate with impunity. I wonder why the discrepancy /s

Society is a pretense exploited by abusers and fascists.

See also: bsky.app/profile/theo...

Wait - I thought The Onion was FAKE news...

They're really leaning into the Lathe of Heaven/Hit by the Dodgeball of Prophecy thing

Maybe that should be Dogeball...

I thought about that, but I can't make that kind of libelous comparison without risking a smiting from Apollo (even worse than the dodge ball).

It used to be. But we now live in a post-satire world.

That’s literally the playbook.

The liberal response:

Terminal Murc's Law brain

The problem with this twisted thing is: a politician job is voting laws not sheriff them.

True. And the Executive Branch is to carry out those laws - “faithfully execute” them. But MAGA thinks electing someone as President means they get to just rule, do whatever they want. And GOP complicity is now complete. They’re too afraid do anything much less stand up to him. It’s mob rule.

🎯🎯🎯

Their 40 year terror campaign against abortion worked pretty damn well

If only a dozen of them stepped forward as a group to push back! There are rich Dems that would pay for their security.

Worked for an abortion clinic in the early 1980’s in DC. It was quite the scene 5 blocks from the WH. Limousines, Elizabeth Arden red doors, newly homeless everywhere and bomb threats. Evacuated 3 times at least.

I probably watch too much TV, but have long assumed that Congresspeople regularly receive envelopes w/ pics of their kids or grandkids in rifle sights & other plausible threats. With that much at stake & ruthless murderous creeps involved, I'd expect it. So they need enough cover to do what's right.

About 25 years ago my mother in laws OB/Gyn was assassinated in his livingroom by a pro- lifer

I mean, this demonstrates their weakness. If a sitting United States senator is afraid of getting killed with all their resources for protection and they can’t stand up against the HHS secretary nominee who will bring biblical plagues down upon us then what is the point of them?

If they won't represent you then you shouldn't have to pay taxes. No taxation without representation.

A tiny anti-death penalty protest I regularly attended in Oklahoma 25 years ago received death threats on occasion. Police always stationed a car nearby for our protection.

bsky.app/profile/jofr...

Doll, everyone in the public eye gets death threats. It's the American way.

That’s so fucking sad you just accept thats the way it is & should be. This country is so fucked.

LOL! You poor child. When you're worn out from changing things you can't maybe you'll learn how to deal with them. Homo sapiens are not the delightful creature you imagine them to be.

They are not now, nor have they ever been, “pro-life,” only pro-birth. After that, you’re on your own until you kick it.

Abortion providers have faced very real death threats for decades

If we had a functioning FBI, this could be investigated.

Undermining institutions that are best equipped to protect you because “states rights,” was an incredibly poor strategy. 🤷🏽

I wouldn't say it was poor, looks to me like it's working just as intended?

I am sure they didn’t want the leopard to eat their faces

Not to minimize this, but of course they are - that was predictable. If they can't take it, they need to get out of the way for a leader who can.

You keep safe now, Senator. We’ll be fine living in our new dictatorship.

Some of the people who enabled Hitler ended up in the concentration camps.

Holy shit.

Sorry but if bullying & threats are going to scare you into not doing your job you are too much of a coward to be in congress. I’m so sick of the never ending excuses from do nothing moderates.

So if I was a R and getting death threats then my only real recourse is to threaten those with switching parties from R to D or Independent. That won't stop the bullets but at least you have a spine.

Ruling by fear is what despots do.

Who’s surprised about that Trump released 1600 murderess insurrectionists from prison What do we think their job is now

They could just resign.

They could resign.

Totally agree. Hard the fuck up, or get the fuck out.

Yes.

I blame the Founding Fathers. If they had caved to the king’s death threats, we wouldn’t even be in this predicament to begin with.

Well, we would have gained independence in the future anyway due to the natural course of progression.

Nice

👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👍🏼✌️

So they save their own skins while the rest of the country suffers? If they’re afraid they should just resign & go back to private life.

Welp the longer they keep that a secret -the less time people have to devote to shutting that shit down

Rep. Eric Swawell said as much to Marc Elias on Democracy Docket. Swawell has heard it directly from his colleagues. Their spouses are telling them it's not worth it. They are worried about their families.

"spouses are telling them it's not worth it" my fucking god

Then they should resign.

Then resign, and let someone with less to lose take their place.

this reminds me of my boss acting like she’s the only person in kidlit ever called a pornographer.

And? Threats are nothing new. Grow a spine!!!

Too f'n bad. If they're afraid they need to get another job. We need leaders and courageous patriots.

then resign

Well don't be pussy ass bitches. Start screaming from the rooftops that this is happening and demand protection. You get a cave and let the rest of America get fucked? I'm sorry I voted for any of you

This is predictable. The only place where we will be able to protect ourselves from an authoritarian leader is in blue states. That is why Pence suddenly went and inspected military facilities in blue states after Jan 20 when it still looked like Trump might try to continue his attempted coup.

But we only have a limited window to do this. The U.S. military is a threat, but is not strong enough to fight blue states. The real problem will be if we allow the FBI to come and arrest our political leaders and install regime friendly figures like Adam’s.

it won’t save them. might as well still work toward what you believe in

Oh, you ran for office without knowing assassination and threats of assassination were part of the deal? Boo-fucking-hoo. Sorry you never bothered to read a single book about governance in your entire life before you ran. Seriously. It comes with the job. Quit if you can't handle it.

They threaten their KIDS. Their elderly parents. They’re not afraid for themselves…. but rather for their loved ones.

And? It's part of the gig. Don't want to deal with it, don't take the job. I don't blame people who don't want to. Fuck knows I don't. Being an elected official brings duties and obligations. And risks. Don't want to accept them? Quit. Don't complain about them when the cost of the oath comes due.

It was never a “part of the job” until Trump and his thugs. It’s how he keeps the R’s in line… it’s how he keeps *everybody* in line: kompromat. Threats. So civil servants with families bend to his will: even hardened politicians don’t want to be exposed or killed. This is TrumpsWorld.

You're wrong. It's always been a very real threat. And even granting that premise, yes, having a job that requires you to put yourself and your family at risk is a big ask. No one is requiring them to do it. If elected representatives don't want to fulfill their oath, they should resign.

This all day ☝️

It occurs to me that perhaps this should tell you something about the people who 'support' you.

Who is the they?

Time for personal courage from everyone. Every day. Never give in, never give up.

So have I working in EMS Gillibrand but guess what you still have to do your fucking job

A senator and her colleagues should know it is infinitely better for the country that fearful politicians quit rather than keep their jobs fall in line.

So did the Founding Fathers

As if death threats are new. If you are not willing to stand up and do what is right, get out of the way for someone who will. You get protection from capitol police and have the funds for private security and preferential treatment from law enforcement. What do the rest of us get to protect us?

Please be more clear on who you mean by “they”. A lot of people seem to think you mean Democrats rather than Republicans.

I'm concerned that this is another tactic - it lets the GOP off the hook totally, and they are the experts in no accountability.

These miserable POS are here because they thought they could control this. They should remember Robespierre.

They obviously don’t fear the American voters enough in that case.

What a bunch of cowards. Wait until they’re slaving away for Elon the rest of their career and still getting death threats.

That's been my suspicion for quite some time.

So why is Gillibrand voting for any of his nominees?

Exactly

The bitch won in Albany, Very white, very Conservative, that should tell all.

fucking cowards, these rubes are all bark and no bite

Yeah but it's not as if their Democratic colleagues haven't been getting death threats for years.

Cowardice is not just a moral defect, it’s a betrayal—it displaces the threat onto those with the courage to speak up and act with integrity. That said, is that Gillibrand’s excuse? I’m skeptical they’re really physical cowards to that degree. I think they’re compromised in other ways.

Maga are angry, dangerous people. How do we deal with mass insanity?

That's what I thought.

What I hear is "lack of courage"

We are well aware that they are cowards.

Grow a spine or resign

People who like to preen about how important they are to civilization might have the spine to deal with murder threats. If they can't stand the heat they should resign rather than let others suffer the consequences. Shame on our reps! They need to be a Christine Blasey Ford not an Eric Adams.

Bring back the Secret Ballot in Congress. Seriously, that's the cure to this kind of intimidation.

Too fucking bad. They were hired to do this job. If they don't want it, get tf out of the way so someone willing to DO SOMETHING can step up.

Obviously not enough of them.

So... they're letting the terrorists win?

Then why is the job worth it? Quit.

These gutless Republicans should call their bluff.

Especially since so many ran on that "hard-ass law and order" platform.

That’s why it isn’t just Trump and/or Musk. The entire foundation of the GOP has been rotting since Goldwater and Atwater’s Southern Strategy.

Then fight to the death

Quite frankly that is a danger and has been a danger for elected officials for quite a while now. I know that’s easy for me to say but since the Giffords shooting and beyond, especially since covid that’s a risk if you get into office. IMO it’s maybe not a reason to just fall in line. If you run.

[Ah! Cowardice! How utterly expected.

Didn’t Michael Flynn basically threatened the entire Republican Party if nominees weren’t confirmed?

Everybody wants to be a leader until it's time to be a leader. Does she think that Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, Frederick Douglass, Ida B. Wells, and leaders of the Civ. Rts. Mov't lived w/out threats to their lives? STAND. UP!

Is that what needs doing to get them to fucking grow a pair?

If you're not up for the job don't apply for the job.

Either stand up or retire

Boo-fucking-hoo. If they're not willing to take those kinds of risks, why the fuck are we letting them tell us what to do?

Fuck, I got death threats when I wrote a TV trivia column.

I've been saying this.

I dunno what shes worried about. Have they considered making their briefcases transparent and funding more cops?

Wah. The price of patriotism. What would George Washington say?

From Chernobyl: "And this, at last, is the gift of Chernobyl. Where I once would fear the cost of truth, now I only ask: What is the cost of lies?" If you fear the cost of truth, ask yourself what the cost of continued lies will be for your children.

I get death threats too, for buying comic books and queer fiction for the public library. Hasn't stopped me. And I didn't take an oath to defend the Constitution. Gillibrand and others can suck it up, or resign and let someone else do the job.

bsky.app/profile/jswe...

That’s the job now. Buck up.

Any news on why she's falling in line?

That's the job

they wouldnt last a minute as a trans woman

Awww, poor things. She could remind them that people are already dying. Of course, the GOP doesn't care about others, particularly brown others in other countries.

For all the semi literate dimwits in the comments bsky.app/profile/xiru...

I love all the unhinged dimwits in the comments thinking she is talking about herself being frightened and falling in line.

Then they should resign.

They could resign. Their margin is so slim, it wouldn’t take many to flip the balance.

yeah. I’ve been saying this for a year. they’re terrified. literal political terrorism. bsky.app/profile/elli...

Replace them all with 20-30 year olds who remember school shooter drills and still show up every day and get stuff done.

Literally was about to type exactly this!

Living with death threats since they were 5 years old.

Exactly. And I had to write a reply to you here bc I could not click a “like” heart on that brutal truth. We are a shameful, disgraceful, cruel culture. 😔

We are. Even our arts support violence and lawlessness.

they should do what everyone else does in this situation and get a gun.

Then resign. If you can't do the right thing as a Senator. Resign. So many Republicans resigned "for family reasons" under Trump 1.0. The current cowards can do that as well.

We all know this .. but oligarchs in Russia got death threats fell in line and are now paying millions in their money to Putin to stay alive If these threats scare them into folding them now they will always be threatened to do anything trump wants! #AmericanAutocracy

Scared of death threats, but not scared enough to quit.

Precisely.

I’ve gotten death threats for being openly trans. These weak little pukes need to up their game.

That's the horror of singling out trans -- how high the homicide rate is & now the government is attacking too. Othering. So cruel. Witnesses can safely intervene if knowledgeable: www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1...

I’d rather just [REDACTED] the bully in the face with a [REDACTED].

Me too!

At some point we have to not react with “no big deal, I’ve been bullied by worse.” This needs to be amplified and they need to know people have their backs if they come forward

They're standing by twiddling their thumbs as peoples existences are made illegal, and they want sympathy? Please

If they cant stay in the fight in the mess that they created with their pandering to the right and unwillingness to address peoples needs legislatively over the past 4 years then they need to resign immediately

Unacceptable. Get out of politics if you can’t handle it. Someone else will gladly do your job

Well so are some of us! At what point do we start saving ourselves? After it's too late? Good strategy there!

Everyone gets death threats on Twitter. Be ffr

Buckle up, buttercup. It won't get easier if you don't resist NOW

Meh, it's all just Elon's AI bots making the threats, they need to quit being little babies

This administration is a daily death threat! People want leaders to lead, and if they won't, then move so others can! The warnings have been repeated countless times in all the fundraising emails yet they are tucking their tails.......lead dammit!!!!

God she is useless. She can afford security. Other people are stepping up.

Waaaaa! We're losers! Waaaaaa! We're scared!

All the more reason to stand up more fiercely. Falling in line like that won’t keep you alive. And bonus, it will kill many of us.

If you're scared, quit or fund the Capitol Police enough to provide round the clock protection for members of Congress. If you're not scared, vote your conscious.

congress cheated for trump. defund all federal troops.

Honestly they’re all multimillionaires so if you can’t do the right thing then resign and walk away. You’re not forced to be there.

They’ve been getting them non-stop for 12 years. Guess we’ll primary her and find someone that is not uncomfortable exercising the full extent of their political power

Gillibrand was talking about the Republicans, like Cassidy and Tillis.

Oh shit. Thanks for catching that.

Then they shouldn't be in public life.

Agreed!

And let this be a lesson to all of you to make sure and read the whole article before going off 🤦‍♂️

Longer than that.

Being silent won’t stop the threats, it will only embolden the threat makers.

Doesn't the FBI or the Capitol Hill cops handle that stuff? The message would be "terrorism works".

Bull shit. No one is going to murder a US Senator. Especially for a vote on a nominee. It’s an excuse and Dems should stop saying it. It only serves to provide them cover for their atrocious actions.

A guy attempted to shoot and kill several congressman (almost killed the current majority leader) back in 2017. Romney has had to pay for his own family’s security because of death threats from his impeachment vote. It can be both cowardly but at the same time a serious and legit threat.

So your proof that it’s “legit & serious” is a billionaire *saying* he had to hire security but w/no one ever being stopped or detained to prevent even an attempt on his life & an event where it was a mass shooting where no one died demonstrating how difficult it is to even do. Your examples prove

my point & don’t even come close to showing there are currently - right now - any serious or legit threats. A crank sending a threat neither makes it serious or legit. That’s not how any of this works. Even these monsters understand the gravity of assassinating a member of Congress.

Largely because those cranks are arrested or stopped before they act (one of the reasons political violence nowadays is rare). It’s what makes screw ups like the Scalise shooting and Jan 6 notable.

It’s relevant rareness is why I still think it’s cowardly to hide behind it btw.

Exactly the death threat excuse is PRETEND

How scary! Live my life, falling in line pssie posse.

Giving in only makes the people threatening them more bold. How have they gotten this far in politics without understanding the fact you can't give these shitheads an inch? Once you do let them wield power over you they won't give it up.

From their constituents? All politicians get death threats, there are stupid angry people everywhere. Say it out loud: republican senators are afraid of being murdered by trump or musk.

So?

bitch needs to get hard. did they not know what timeline we're in?

Got one from the wife. This morning. I was stirring my coffee too loud. Also,i don't trust the cat. It's plotting something.

What? All 99 of them who confirmed Rubio?

Rubio's also easily the most qualified of all of them. That's not exactly a high bar, I know.

He is still a subservient, honorless asshole not deserving of a 99-0 confirmation.

I'm not defending his nomination.

I'm making absolutely certain. Not one inch...

I just feel bad for American citizens caught in this crossfire. It's especially bad when conservative politicians in Canada are scared shitless!

We Americans brought this on ourselves. The MAGAts are responsible, but the rest of us didn't do enough. It'll be at least a generation if we're to recover.

It just sucks that Canadians are suffering because of this too. We didn't ask for any of it.

But this is a test of your character. You'll be disappointed, I'm afraid, when you find an unexpectedly high number of fascist-adjacent in your citizenry.

The PPC is an official part here, and has been for years. Fascist sentimentality already exists.

The Premier of Ontario, where I live, called a snap election to get a four-year mandate so "he can stay on top of this". That's how spooked we are right now.

I remember speaking to the woman running in our riding over the snap election yesterday afternoon. She reiterated that.

If they're so scared they need to resign and let some Dem with courage (like AOC) take their place. No one's going to miss Gillibrand.

Now is not the time to be fragile. Buck up and be a leader.

This is the risk of leadership. There are generations before them who were threatened or paid the ultimate price for freedom

God help us

Someone should tell the senator that stopping this s*** at the door would go a lot farther toward getting rid of it all together than falling in line.

I got death threats as a reporter. So fucking what? It's the job. Cowardly shitheels

Came here to say this same thing. Like, welcome to the club, Senator. My very first death threat was a month into my first reporting job — and I still had deadline to make. Job doesn't stop just because you get spooked.

Got one from the wife. This morning. I was stirring my coffee too loud. Also,i don't trust the cat. It's plotting something.

Profiles in Cowardice with the Caucus of the Craven

This has been obvious for at least half a decade, but somehow few had to stomach to admit it.

Wish we would have known this worked a while back…

Repubs are lying. They’re doing this because they’re afraid of losing power and they want to do it. But they’re giving all their power to Trump anyway.

So Cassidy Hutchinson has ten times more spine than Bill Cassidy. Great look, Sen. Cassidy.

Cassidy like 95% of today's GOP wants the federal government sand blasted into oblivion. Musk is doing for them without going thru the tedious parts I Congress where compromise doesn't get the desired results.

Given what NIH funding loss will cost his state (what it will cost *just* Tulane), he should be tarred and feathered

It’s what a mob boss does.

This is disturbing. Our Senate and House members are being subjected to death threats, and it's GOT TO STOP!!!!

I believe it. I see what these folks post to randos on the internet. They are unhinged.

Boo fucking hoo. They signed up for the job.

I work in Healthcare, how many HCWs get death threats everyday. One of our recently passed patients made it his Thing to threaten to shoot his doctor every time he came in for an appointment. And he saw said doctor for 20 years. I'm surprised there wasn't a posthumous death threat in his obit.

boo hoo

The we need to replace them with people who are willing to get the job done

The way you deal with death threats is to EXPOSE them. Post and publish them EVERYWHERE. And then do the actual job you were elected to do.

while true, I think Democratic voters and donors right now want a bit more transparency and plans. If this is the reason, say it loud, and you'll get people helping and speaking out. But frankly she hasn't been fighting that much.

Now they know how the other half lives

Maybe Congress needs its own protection service.

Watch Severance. They (Republicans) have been severed.

I thought they all had guns to protect them, though. Funny, they weren’t scared of the evil government, but they are scared of their own racist mob. Tells you two things; 1) they know their mob would eat them alive if Trump told them to and 2) they are immense cowards beneath their tactical cosplay.

Maybe they should just get bulletproof backpacks and get back to work. They'll be fine.

The NRA suffocated between the thighs of a Honey Pot

Psh, they don’t do oral.

😂😂😂😂 didn’t say they knew what they were doing

I got death threats for selling out “Wicked” tickets in a Salt Lake City theatre. Hell, I got a death threat once at my office job, for telling somebody they called the wrong office…

Plenty of Democrats also receive those threats yet somehow they (mostly) don’t chicken out because of them

What did Black Leaders go through in the 60s. Was MLK threatened? Why wont they resign and let someone else fight.

Fair point. And Dems are supposed to be the gutless ones. Altho the Garbage Old People may have real reason to fear the people they know best.

Yep. The Republicans are wimps. Most Democrats have gotten death threats but Dems don't wimp out because of them.

Or, Republicans are lying about the impact of the threats. Easier to say I get death threats to Dems than I’m a white nationalist that agrees with all of this…but not sure how long that will last. In the end, it’s a distinction without a difference and I don’t know why Dems keep bringing it up.

So they're acknowledging terrorism, *and* that it's working, but just letting us know they won't do anything about it except capitulate, cool.

So step the fuck down if you’re scared. They chose this career, they chose to put themselves in the spotlight, they need to do their jobs.

Quit or do the job.

That’s why Trump needs the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers. He needs thugs and criminals to do his dirty work.

*racks brain for historical parallels*

We all get death threats because you fall in line,

Cowards. Expose the death threats in the news media, loudly. Pin the death threats to trump’s forehead, and stand strong in opposition. We need more heroes.

I agree that if death threats are happening, they should be disclosed. Call out who is making them. Connect them to Trump. Disagree that we need 'heroes'. What we need are regular people, standing up for what is right. Tons of them. Regular people, calling out corruption, right now.

My first death threat came from a stranger in 2012 on Facebook who said he knew where I lived and would shoot me in the head with his 9mm because I beat him in a game of online Scrabble.

Seriously, who hasn't? Women get death threats for posting on Twitter, or for turning some rando down. People get death threats for posting videos. For writing books. For moderating fora on the internet, not even controversial ones (that would be me). Fall in line? Nope.

"death" or "primary"? Because apparently Cassidy was worried about 2026

Death threats from Trump's CULT PRIMARY THREATS FROM ELON

If Democrats can't institutionally protect people who get death threats, EVEN WHEN THEY HAVE EVERY SELFISH REASON TO DO SO, what good are they? I had this question in 2016 when the women who accused Trump of rape were threatened.

Guess what? We are all on the receiving end. Some of us are t lucky enough to have congressional privilege & protection when we get those threats.

Getting death threats is doubly a reason to oppose the fascist takeover of the government.

If they really meant it, they wouldn't have made threats. People who make death threats are cowards who can't admit it and the only language they associate with courage is violence. So they communicate their fear by trying to make all of us afraid.

Felon knows incorporating threats and violence into his brand is how you *do fascism*. It was mobsters before he had nazis, it’s all been second nature for him… If the GOP “normals” had half the bravery of others who have stood up for democracy, we wouldn’t be here

…well, that and the rubles.

If voting based on death threats isn't fascism, what is?

"i regret that, because i have only one life to give for my country, the country can go to hell" would not have helped us to remember nathan hale very much

Patrick Henry is rolling in his grave rn

then they should ask for secret service protection, or if they don't trust it, the Dem caucus should pool funds to hire private security to every member. Btw AOC and Omar get death threats regularly and they don't cave so maybe she should consider talking to them about how to cope.

Does getting death threats from their own constituents make them want to reconsider their life choices?

I'm a nobody who posts my feelings and views. I've always been open to reasonable discussion. Over the years I have received death threats from unknown and anonymous accounts which did little to sway me. When a high school friend threatened, it shook me. This person knew me and my family!

Have some balls! Ur either in it to do what’s right for the American people or you aren’t. Get out and make room for people who take a stand everyday without security.

They're gonna get more than just threats if they don't find some resolve asap to stand up for sanity...the way this is going, this situation is not going to end peacefully and nobody in the Capitol will be safe.

They should go public with these death threats and demand protection. Or get out of govt if you feel too scared to fulfill your duties.

I do not want to pay for protection for them. Quarter million a year! Let them pay. And she is married to a British Venture Capitalist. Senator AOC sounds good to me. Gillibrand is the bitch that demand Al Franken resign. He was becoming more popular than her in her conservative Albany, District.

I see your point that many of them are wealthy...but it's also a job-related hazard. They're not being threatened in their personal capacity. If safety allowed some of these people to not feel cowed into being obedient to Trump, that might be worth it!

and Dems don't?

That’s a terrible thing. This is a five alarm fire for everyone. They should be sending their families to safe places and confronting the enemy using their power in Congress. If they don’t stand up to MuskTrump now, this country will be unrecognizable in four years

It will be unrecognizable in four weeks.

I think she’s saying that Republican Senators are afraid. Get the fuck out of the way then.

I got death threats for opposing the Iraq War and US torture. It's scary, but you don't belong in public life if you are going to give in to the bullies.

Then they're fucking cowards

Unfortunately that’s part of the job they signed up for. Quit making excuses. Develop a spine or resign.

The war is on and the cowards have moved themselves out of the line of fire, replacing themselves and their families, with all of us. It’s called selling out the country. Cowards unfit to serve.

They’ve been getting death threats from Maga for years now.

Cowards. Trans people get death threats every day just for existing.

Abortion providers all over this country would like them to hold their collective 🍻

Hmm. sounds punkass.

Does @aoc.bsky.social need to do a seminar to teach these invertebrates how to stand up straight?

Well countless people around the globe will actually die from the actions of these monsters, so zero sympathy about their death "threats."

Letting death threats affect your official actions should be disqualifying for a legislator. Basic “go down with the ship” stuff.

agree. if they're too fearful of losing their lives to do their jobs (and i completely understand) they need to resign and allow someone with the courage to do the job correctly to fill the seat.

The media needs to question likely candidates of both parties if their families are up to the challenge. Party leaders need to address this. What can be done to make them feel safe. Or is it just an excuse?

Poor babies. Now they know what it’s like to be a visible person of color or a woman on any media. Or a doctor who supports repro care and vaccinations. Assholes. Stand the fuck up. Be a woman for once in your lives.

Oh….well we could have fucking nipped this in the bud after the first Trump impeachment…….fuck all the way off

“I do solemnly swear ... that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; ...and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God.” I don't see 'except when...' anywhere.

Reminder that the racist felon in chief didn't even lay his hand on the Bible to be sworn in this time & it was all normalized. Oath, schmoath.

You don't have to swear on a Bible. You don't even have to swear (you can affirm). Not that there aren't a ton of other issues, but that one isn't one.

I hadn't even heard that yet, wow. All I know about the inauguration is that they're weren't a lot of people there. God, can you imagine if Obama did that? They'd have shot him right there.