Ellen Bender
ellenbnyc.bsky.social
Ellen Bender
@ellenbnyc.bsky.social
Co-Founder, Markers For Democracy, Postcards To Voters Writer, Retired Lawyer, Mom, Reader of Banned Books https://linktr.ee/markersfordemocracy
Reposted by Ellen Bender
This is a great podcast in that it shows how analysis of politics that is grounded in data and empiricism (Bouie) has an uphill battle in DC/NY against ideology and pure uncut reactionary ignorance (Cottle)
www.nytimes.com/2026/08/22/o...
Opinion | The Right Is Rethinking MAGA. The Left Is Rethinking ‘Woke.’
As primary results trickle in, both parties are wrestling with what they stand for — and where they’re headed.
www.nytimes.com
August 29, 2026 at 2:20 PM
The Radicals on the Ballot in 2026
julianzelizer.substack.com/p/the-radica...
The Radicals on the Ballot in 2026
Rogers, Collins, and the MAGA Squad
julianzelizer.substack.com
August 11, 2026 at 7:26 PM
Motivation Monday 3 Read Jason Paul on why we should all support Brian Poindexter, a great candidate, running against someone who has been accused of horrific domestic violence.
open.substack.com/pub/trenchwa...
Motivation Monday 3
While this is not a place primarily for bragging, I can’t resist noting that last week’s Motivation Monday candidate, Dwayne Romero, in Colorado 3rd got a good news poll from the pre-eminent Democrati...
open.substack.com
August 3, 2026 at 1:30 PM
Good interview/conversation between @anandwrites.bsky.social and @abdulelsayed.bsky.social. Also, I pre-ordered Anand's book.
open.substack.com/pub/anandwri...
Abdul El-Sayed speaks out
The Michigan Senate candidate on his case for "America first from the left," and why political moderation is a doomed tactic
open.substack.com
July 22, 2026 at 3:01 PM
Reposted by Ellen Bender
Good piece and thanks for gifting. Wasn't aware the extent of Stevens's capture. Very late primary date!
July 13, 2026 at 1:32 AM
Your Daily Cartoon!
Of course Trump changed his mind, again, but I'll post this anyway...
open.substack.com
July 14, 2026 at 5:25 PM
Read my law school classmate @deanobeidallah.bsky.social Meet AIPAC’s Top Target for the 2026 campaign: Abdul El-Sayed
open.substack.com/pub/deanobei...
Meet AIPAC’s Top Target for the 2026 campaign: Abdul El-Sayed
AIPAC is spending millions of $ to defeat him!
open.substack.com
July 12, 2026 at 3:49 PM
What I feel after our 250th Fourth of July: We need a young, vibrant, and sane president
open.substack.com/pub/luciantr...
What I feel after our 250th Fourth of July: We need a young, vibrant, and sane president
The 250th Anniversary of this country should have been a joyous affair, all of it, from the celebrations of our founding documents in the runup to the day itself, to the symbols in Washington D.C.
open.substack.com
July 6, 2026 at 12:12 AM
Reposted by Ellen Bender
Time update to accommodate workers:
5:30 PM today at the Stonewall National Monument in NYC 🏳️‍⚧️🗽
June 30, 2026 at 4:49 PM
I'm attending Christopher Street Project's event, “Pride Is Power Mass Call” - sign up now to join me! www.mobilize.us/csp/event/96...
Pride Is Power Mass Call · Christopher Street Project
Join Christopher Street Project, Planned Parenthood Action Fund, Popular Democracy, Our Revolution, and Interfaith Alliance for the Pride Is Power Mass Call. Organizers, elected officials, and specia...
www.mobilize.us
June 26, 2026 at 10:04 PM
Six Scenarios for NY-12
open.substack.com/pub/ghostrun...
Six Scenarios for NY-12
Some Debate Commentary, Plus a Deep Dive Into The Voter File
open.substack.com
June 14, 2026 at 3:51 PM
Reposted by Ellen Bender
“[Weiss’] project is essentially the same as Donald Trump’s project. She is a corrupter.

Weiss has attempted to do to journalism what Trump has done to American government: Transform an ancient, messy, imperfect—but basically functional—web of institutions into a corrupt gangland organization.”
It's funny that Bari's minion complained about Scott Pelley being "rude" b/c one of the lessons of the last decade is that authoritarianism exploits politesse. www.thebulwark.com/p/scott-pell...
Scott Pelley Is the Hero We Need
What we can learn from the ‘60 Minutes’ reporter who went to the mattresses.
www.thebulwark.com
June 2, 2026 at 4:43 PM
Morning Digest: GOP-linked group is meddling in a new Democratic primary
open.substack.com/pub/thedownb...
Morning Digest: GOP-linked group is meddling in a new Democratic primary
An obscure group is spending in Maine congressional race as Democrats decry its involvement in New Jersey
open.substack.com
May 28, 2026 at 12:29 PM
The False Comfort of Impeachment
open.substack.com/pub/ghostrun...
The False Comfort of Impeachment
Why George Conway's Absurd Impeachment Fantasy Captivates NY-12 Voters
open.substack.com
May 22, 2026 at 1:02 PM
Read about @nschwalbe.bsky.social, NY-12 candidate, with decades of experience in global public health when there is an outbreak of Ebola in Africa. Nina is also the most progressive on Israel Palestine, and should get more attention. Thanks @brigidbergin.bsky.social! gothamist.com/news/the-can...
The candidate trying to fight past the boys club vying for retiring Rep. Nadler's seat
Public health professional Nina Schwalbe lamented that "four dudes" have dominated the race.
gothamist.com
May 21, 2026 at 6:34 PM
Reposted by Ellen Bender
Mamdani: I cannot help but think of the words of our 40th president, Ronald Reagan. He famously said, “The nine most terrifying words in the English language are 'I'm from the govt & I'm here to help'"

I think nine more terrifying words are actually, "I worked all day and can't feed my family"
May 18, 2026 at 5:23 PM
A Very Authoritarian Semiquincentennial Celebration
open.substack.com/pub/writekat...
A Very Authoritarian Semiquincentennial Celebration
How the White House's Freedom 220 program is desecrating our remembrance of the nation's founding
open.substack.com
May 16, 2026 at 1:53 PM
Reposted by Ellen Bender
Undermining public health at home wasn’t enough—now the US is targeting Iran’s.

What’s happening to Iran’s medical system is unacceptable.

@hakeem-jeffries.bsky.social @schumer.senate.gov, speak up.
April 6, 2026 at 8:06 PM
Reposted by Ellen Bender
This is the kind of leadership we need. I support Nina Schwalbe to be the next Congresswoman from NYS CD #12.
April 7, 2026 at 1:51 PM
Reposted by Ellen Bender
Politics is a club. I'm not in it - and that's exactly the point.

I sat down with @‌ghostrunnerblog.bsky.social to talk about why NY-12 needs an outsider who actually has something to say.

Listen or read the full interview 👇

vist.ly/4x4tn
District Twelve (Ep. 9): Nina Schwalbe
District Twelve's Candidate Interview with Public Health Advocate Nina Schwalbe
www.ghostrunnerblog.com
April 2, 2026 at 6:37 PM