Bill Scher
@billscher.bsky.social
Politics Editor for @washingtonmonthly.com
The Supreme Court’s refusal to let Trump meddle with mail ballot validates the Founders’ rationale for the lifetime appointment: my @washingtonmonthly.bsky.social latest
washingtonmonthly.com/2026/09/18/s...
washingtonmonthly.com/2026/09/18/s...
The Supreme Court Still Works as the Founders Intended
Many Democrats are hot to remake the Supreme Court. But it’s the lifetime appointment that just kept Trump from meddling with the midterms.
washingtonmonthly.com
September 18, 2026 at 11:56 AM
The Supreme Court’s refusal to let Trump meddle with mail ballot validates the Founders’ rationale for the lifetime appointment: my @washingtonmonthly.bsky.social latest
washingtonmonthly.com/2026/09/18/s...
washingtonmonthly.com/2026/09/18/s...
Democrats are now at 50.3% in the RCP generic congressional ballot average www.realclearpolling.com/polls/state-...
Democrats NEVER cracked 50% in the 2018 RCP generic congressional ballot average www.realclearpolling.com/polls/state-...
Democrats NEVER cracked 50% in the 2018 RCP generic congressional ballot average www.realclearpolling.com/polls/state-...
2018 Generic Congressional Vote | RealClearPolling
2018 Generic Congressional Vote | RealClearPolling
www.realclearpolling.com
September 16, 2026 at 10:50 PM
Democrats are now at 50.3% in the RCP generic congressional ballot average www.realclearpolling.com/polls/state-...
Democrats NEVER cracked 50% in the 2018 RCP generic congressional ballot average www.realclearpolling.com/polls/state-...
Democrats NEVER cracked 50% in the 2018 RCP generic congressional ballot average www.realclearpolling.com/polls/state-...
“Never Forgetting 9/11 Means Learning Lessons” — my @washingtonmonthly.bsky.social look back at the Bush administration’s fateful obsession with national missile defense at the expense of counterterrorism
washingtonmonthly.com/2026/09/16/n...
washingtonmonthly.com/2026/09/16/n...
Never Forgetting 9/11 Means Learning Lessons
In the 48 hours before 9/11, the Bush administration was insisting we spend enough on counterterrorism and not enough on missile defense.
washingtonmonthly.com
September 16, 2026 at 11:34 AM
“Never Forgetting 9/11 Means Learning Lessons” — my @washingtonmonthly.bsky.social look back at the Bush administration’s fateful obsession with national missile defense at the expense of counterterrorism
washingtonmonthly.com/2026/09/16/n...
washingtonmonthly.com/2026/09/16/n...
NYT/Siena poll, fav-unfav
Mamdani 38-33
Ocasio-Cortez 30-41
Socialism 31-51
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Mamdani 38-33
Ocasio-Cortez 30-41
Socialism 31-51
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Cross-Tabs: September 2026 Times/Siena Poll of the Likely Electorate
Results of a New York Times/Siena poll conducted among 1,503 voters from Sept. 8 to 13, 2026.
www.nytimes.com
September 15, 2026 at 11:47 AM
NYT/Siena poll, fav-unfav
Mamdani 38-33
Ocasio-Cortez 30-41
Socialism 31-51
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Mamdani 38-33
Ocasio-Cortez 30-41
Socialism 31-51
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
We still have an independent judiciary that is a bulwark against authoritarianism
That doesn’t mean the individual justices are heroes & we should forget all of their terrible decisions
It means the Constitution’s lifetime judicial appointment continues to work as designed
That doesn’t mean the individual justices are heroes & we should forget all of their terrible decisions
It means the Constitution’s lifetime judicial appointment continues to work as designed
BREAKING: SCOTUS denies the Trump administration’s request to enforce the new U.S. Postal Service rule for the 2026 elections. Justices Alito and Thomas dissent.
More to come at Law Dork. www.lawdork.com
More to come at Law Dork. www.lawdork.com
![SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES
No. 26A305
UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE, ET AL. U.
CALIFORNIA, ET AL.
ON APPLICATION FOR STAY
[September 14, 2026]
The application for stay presented to JUSTICE JACKSON and by her referred to the Court is denied. The Government is unlikely to succeed on the merits of its challenge to the District Court's preliminary injunction. And the equitable factors applicable for obtaining emergency relief from this Court do not favor a stay.
JUSTICE KAVANAUGH, concurring.
In my view, based on the briefing the Court has received at this interim stage, there is at least a fair prospect that the final rule falls within the Postal Service's statutory authority. See 39 U. S. C. §401(2). But applying the rule in the 2026 elections would be arbitrary and capricious in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act because state and local election officials do not have sufficient time to reasonably implement the rule before the elections. See 39
U. S. C. §3001(m); 5 U. S. C. §706(2)(A). For that reason, I concur in the denial of the application for stay.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:36eqtmzysqf7wsslczw4uxcd/bafkreicqn5lewxb2bkaazujt77bmsjfq4ultwu2alo3emhvgsnpkotnwoy)
September 15, 2026 at 1:33 AM
We still have an independent judiciary that is a bulwark against authoritarianism
That doesn’t mean the individual justices are heroes & we should forget all of their terrible decisions
It means the Constitution’s lifetime judicial appointment continues to work as designed
That doesn’t mean the individual justices are heroes & we should forget all of their terrible decisions
It means the Constitution’s lifetime judicial appointment continues to work as designed
The generic congressional ballot average of polls sampled in Sept (at least in part) is D+7.75.
2018 final RCP average was D+7.3 and actual popular vote margin was D+8.4
2018 final RCP average was D+7.3 and actual popular vote margin was D+8.4
September 13, 2026 at 2:21 PM
The generic congressional ballot average of polls sampled in Sept (at least in part) is D+7.75.
2018 final RCP average was D+7.3 and actual popular vote margin was D+8.4
2018 final RCP average was D+7.3 and actual popular vote margin was D+8.4
Reposted by Bill Scher
Democrats should at least take the House, but will it be a blue wave? @billscher.bsky.social crunches the data.
Will It Be a Blue Wave?
With limited data, exactly how many Republican incumbents are in trouble is hard to know. But Democrats have good reason to expect a blue wave
washingtonmonthly.com
September 9, 2026 at 3:07 PM
Democrats should at least take the House, but will it be a blue wave? @billscher.bsky.social crunches the data.
From my latest
Median House district: PVI R+3
In ‘18 Ds flipped most seats R+3 & bluer (29 total) + 14 in redder districts (up to R+13)
This year, 19 GOP seats in districts R+3 & bluer, and 21 from R+4->8 considered Tossup/Lean/Likely R
washingtonmonthly.com/2026/09/09/w...
Median House district: PVI R+3
In ‘18 Ds flipped most seats R+3 & bluer (29 total) + 14 in redder districts (up to R+13)
This year, 19 GOP seats in districts R+3 & bluer, and 21 from R+4->8 considered Tossup/Lean/Likely R
washingtonmonthly.com/2026/09/09/w...
Will It Be a Blue Wave?
With limited data, exactly how many Republican incumbents are in trouble is hard to know. But Democrats have good reason to expect a blue wave
washingtonmonthly.com
September 9, 2026 at 4:55 PM
From my latest
Median House district: PVI R+3
In ‘18 Ds flipped most seats R+3 & bluer (29 total) + 14 in redder districts (up to R+13)
This year, 19 GOP seats in districts R+3 & bluer, and 21 from R+4->8 considered Tossup/Lean/Likely R
washingtonmonthly.com/2026/09/09/w...
Median House district: PVI R+3
In ‘18 Ds flipped most seats R+3 & bluer (29 total) + 14 in redder districts (up to R+13)
This year, 19 GOP seats in districts R+3 & bluer, and 21 from R+4->8 considered Tossup/Lean/Likely R
washingtonmonthly.com/2026/09/09/w...
“Will It Be a Blue Wave?” — my House midterm election previews for @washingtonmonthly.bsky.social
washingtonmonthly.com/2026/09/09/w...
washingtonmonthly.com/2026/09/09/w...
Will It Be a Blue Wave?
With limited data, exactly how many Republican incumbents are in trouble is hard to know. But Democrats have good reason to expect a blue wave
washingtonmonthly.com
September 9, 2026 at 12:04 PM
“Will It Be a Blue Wave?” — my House midterm election previews for @washingtonmonthly.bsky.social
washingtonmonthly.com/2026/09/09/w...
washingtonmonthly.com/2026/09/09/w...
“Amy Acton Won’t Debate. It’s Worked Before”
My @washingtonmonthly.bsky.social latest washingtonmonthly.com/2026/09/04/a...
My @washingtonmonthly.bsky.social latest washingtonmonthly.com/2026/09/04/a...
Amy Acton Won’t Debate. It’s Worked Before
Many pundits wrote off Katie Hobbs when she wouldn’t debate Kari Lake, but now she’s Arizona’s governor on the verge of winning reelection.
washingtonmonthly.com
September 4, 2026 at 12:26 PM
“Amy Acton Won’t Debate. It’s Worked Before”
My @washingtonmonthly.bsky.social latest washingtonmonthly.com/2026/09/04/a...
My @washingtonmonthly.bsky.social latest washingtonmonthly.com/2026/09/04/a...
I joined the Politics Politics Politics podcast to discuss the midterms, check it out! www.politicspoliticspolitics.com/p/could-hasa...
Could Hasan Piker Cost El-Sayed the Michigan Senate Race? (with Bill Scher)
And Hakeem Jeffries gets a taste of the speaker life...
www.politicspoliticspolitics.com
September 4, 2026 at 12:58 AM
I joined the Politics Politics Politics podcast to discuss the midterms, check it out! www.politicspoliticspolitics.com/p/could-hasa...
First MA-SEN Worcester drop (est. 44% of total vote) is Markey 70 Moulton 30
In 2020 Markey LOST Worcester 52-48.
I’ve seen enough
In 2020 Markey LOST Worcester 52-48.
I’ve seen enough
September 2, 2026 at 12:18 AM
First MA-SEN Worcester drop (est. 44% of total vote) is Markey 70 Moulton 30
In 2020 Markey LOST Worcester 52-48.
I’ve seen enough
In 2020 Markey LOST Worcester 52-48.
I’ve seen enough
For quick & dirty MA primary benchmarking tonight, 2020 primary results by municipality for
MA-SEN (Markey-Kennedy): www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
MA-01 (Neal-Morse) www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
MA-08 (Lynch-Goldstein) www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
MA-SEN (Markey-Kennedy): www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
MA-01 (Neal-Morse) www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
MA-08 (Lynch-Goldstein) www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Massachusetts U.S. Senate Primary Election Results (Published 2020)
See full results and maps from the Massachusetts primaries.
www.nytimes.com
September 1, 2026 at 2:57 PM
For quick & dirty MA primary benchmarking tonight, 2020 primary results by municipality for
MA-SEN (Markey-Kennedy): www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
MA-01 (Neal-Morse) www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
MA-08 (Lynch-Goldstein) www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
MA-SEN (Markey-Kennedy): www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
MA-01 (Neal-Morse) www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
MA-08 (Lynch-Goldstein) www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
My latest for @washingtonmonthly.bsky.social, in which I explore the difference between the Obama/Dean big tent strategy and the Platner/Piker big tent strategy
washingtonmonthly.com/2026/09/01/h...
washingtonmonthly.com/2026/09/01/h...
How to Build a Big Tent
Socialist and left populists have argued that a Democratic big tent should include figures like Hasan Piker. But the Democrats’ best coalition builder of the last 60 years, Barack Obama, had a differe...
washingtonmonthly.com
September 1, 2026 at 11:18 AM
My latest for @washingtonmonthly.bsky.social, in which I explore the difference between the Obama/Dean big tent strategy and the Platner/Piker big tent strategy
washingtonmonthly.com/2026/09/01/h...
washingtonmonthly.com/2026/09/01/h...
Dolly Parton deserved an Oscar for singing on screen with Sylvester Stallone with a straight face www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfTL...
Rhinestone Movie End Song Stay Out of My Bedroom
YouTube video by Hyrulecommander
www.youtube.com
September 1, 2026 at 2:25 AM
Dolly Parton deserved an Oscar for singing on screen with Sylvester Stallone with a straight face www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfTL...
Reposted by Bill Scher
The @washingtonmonthly.bsky.social 2026 College Guide and Rankings are now live! See which schools are doing the best at what higher education is for: expanding knowledge and promoting opportunity.
New this year: Best colleges for rural students.
washingtonmonthly.com/2026/08/30/a...
New this year: Best colleges for rural students.
washingtonmonthly.com/2026/08/30/a...
A Different Kind of College Ranking
When you stop grading by snob appeal, the truly excellent ones shine. Plus, our new ranking of the best colleges for rural America.
washingtonmonthly.com
August 31, 2026 at 11:45 AM
The @washingtonmonthly.bsky.social 2026 College Guide and Rankings are now live! See which schools are doing the best at what higher education is for: expanding knowledge and promoting opportunity.
New this year: Best colleges for rural students.
washingtonmonthly.com/2026/08/30/a...
New this year: Best colleges for rural students.
washingtonmonthly.com/2026/08/30/a...
My unofficial Northampton MA-SEN primary lawn sign count:
Markey: 2
Moulton: 1
Markey: 2
Moulton: 1
August 31, 2026 at 1:05 PM
My unofficial Northampton MA-SEN primary lawn sign count:
Markey: 2
Moulton: 1
Markey: 2
Moulton: 1
If Richie Neal wins the MA-01 primary on Tuesday I’m going to credit his social media strategy which was to do absolutely nothing for the last two years
August 31, 2026 at 3:07 AM
If Richie Neal wins the MA-01 primary on Tuesday I’m going to credit his social media strategy which was to do absolutely nothing for the last two years
Sunday banjo noodling
August 30, 2026 at 6:13 PM
Sunday banjo noodling
Sunday banjo noodling
August 30, 2026 at 6:12 PM
Sunday banjo noodling
“America’s ballooning debt has…made us less attractive to creditors, who are now demanding higher returns …Higher Treasury rates in turn mean higher interest rates on consumer loans, including mortgages, car loans, and credit cards.” @anne-s-kim.bsky.social washingtonmonthly.com/2026/08/30/l...
Liberals Need to Care About the National Debt
The U.S. national debt recently surpassed $40 trillion. Reining it in is the only way to achieve progressive goals.
washingtonmonthly.com
August 30, 2026 at 3:36 PM
“America’s ballooning debt has…made us less attractive to creditors, who are now demanding higher returns …Higher Treasury rates in turn mean higher interest rates on consumer loans, including mortgages, car loans, and credit cards.” @anne-s-kim.bsky.social washingtonmonthly.com/2026/08/30/l...
It was brave of Abdul El-Sayed to defend gender-affirming care for minors on Fox News
It was foolish bravado to compare circumcision to castration, neither of which are gender-affirming care
My @washingtonmonthly.bsky.social latest: washingtonmonthly.com/2026/08/28/f...
It was foolish bravado to compare circumcision to castration, neither of which are gender-affirming care
My @washingtonmonthly.bsky.social latest: washingtonmonthly.com/2026/08/28/f...
On Fox News, El-Sayed Bravely Defended Gender-Affirming Care, Then Took a Weird, Wrong Turn
The U.S. Senate candidate crossed over into bravado when he compared trans surgery to circumcision in an interview with Jesse Watters.
washingtonmonthly.com
August 28, 2026 at 11:40 AM
It was brave of Abdul El-Sayed to defend gender-affirming care for minors on Fox News
It was foolish bravado to compare circumcision to castration, neither of which are gender-affirming care
My @washingtonmonthly.bsky.social latest: washingtonmonthly.com/2026/08/28/f...
It was foolish bravado to compare circumcision to castration, neither of which are gender-affirming care
My @washingtonmonthly.bsky.social latest: washingtonmonthly.com/2026/08/28/f...
Full debate here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvkM...
August 26, 2026 at 6:42 PM
Full debate here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvkM...
The lone MA-01 debate is live now www.wwlp.com/watch-live/
Watch 22News
The 22News newscasts are live in the player below. Where to watch 22News Channel numbers and access to specific streaming platforms will depend on your area ofresidence in Hampden, Hampshire, and F…
www.wwlp.com
August 26, 2026 at 4:30 PM
The lone MA-01 debate is live now www.wwlp.com/watch-live/
Time to play some classics
August 25, 2026 at 9:13 PM
Time to play some classics