Tag: Mark Pocan

Wisconsin Congressman reveals what the government shutdown is actually about

Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)

Wisconsin Congressman reveals what the government shutdown is actually about

Oct 15, 2025: “Complete baloney.” US Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Black Earth) wants Wisconsinites to know that the recurring Republican claim that Democrats are holding out on the federal budget because they want undocumented immigrants to receive health benefits is “manure.” What Democrats really want? Tax credits that provide subsidies for most people who buy health insurance on the federal marketplace—making health insurance more affordable. Pocan says people in Wisconsin and all over the country will find out in the next couple of weeks what insurance premium hikes will look like as they buy their health insurance through the federal HealthCare.gov marketplace under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Pocan says with premiums going up and losing subsidies, “a couple, 60 years old, making $85,000 in my district could see somewhere between a $16,000 and $17,000 increase next year in their premiums.” Pocan hosted town halls throughout Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District this week—that’s not his own district—since Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Prairie du Chien), who represents the 3rd, hasn’t been doing them. Pocan says he wants to give people a voice, let them know what’s happening, and answer questions. ✏️ 🎥 Salina Heller

China vs. the US: shipbuilding, subsidies, and the Jones Act

Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)

Hypocrisy thrives where double standards prevail.

Earlier, I stupidly tweeted out an article about the Jones Act and shipbuilding and Colin Grabow, from the Cato Institute, liked it (he was quoted in the article). I looked him up and decided to listen to this video on the shipbuilding competition between China and the US, where he and a lawyer for United Steelworkers were on the panel. China is eating their lunch, and it’s the ruling elites’ own fault, yet they scapegoat China for it. The double standards over China’s “unfair economic practices” AKA the subsidizing of their shipbuilding industry irritates me (liars irritate me even more). States give subsidies, grants, and tax breaks to corporations, all the time. Fincantieri Marinette Marine is just one example, but Wisconsin had done the same for Foxconn. Foxconn received tax breaks and $3B in subsidies, which was “the largest ever subsidy provided by a state to a foreign company”, despite not living up to their promises.

Rumble

Colin Grabow wants to end the Jones Act. I’ve made at least three video clips regarding the Jones Act, two with Sal Mercogliano from What’s Going On With Shipping and one from the government-funded CSIS (I’ve posted them, below). Spoiler alert: Sal says that the problem isn’t the Jones Act. Meanwhile, both CSIS and the Cato Institute (part of the Atlas Network) blame the Jones Act. Deregulation is a wet dream of big corporations (which fund both the Cato Institute and CSIS).

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‘I Don’t Give a F*ck About AIPAC,’ Says Mark Pocan

Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)

🙄

‘I Don’t Give a F*ck About AIPAC,’ Says Mark Pocan

Pocan was drawn into the fracas between progressive lawmakers and AIPAC last month after the group falsely accused him and other representatives of “trying to keep Hamas in power.” The attack came after 10 members of Congress—nine Democrats and Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.)—voted against an October 25 resolution pledging unconditional support for Israel’s war on Gaza.

Massie joined progressive Democrats in pushing back against AIPAC, posting on social media that “this baseless smear is meant to intimidate me into voting to send $14+ billion of your money to a foreign country.”

Pocan—who did not vote against the resolution—wrote: “AIPAC is not good at telling the truth. We don’t support Hamas. We just don’t support killing kids, which it seems you do.”

Related:

The Lobbyists Who Don’t Want A Ceasefire (transcript)

TikTok defenders emerge in Congress

Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)

TikTok defenders emerge in Congress

The other side: Reps. Mary Miller (R-Ill.), Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) and Troy Nehls (R-Texas) are holding a competing “Moms Against TikTok” press conference at the Capitol on Thursday to press for a ban.

The speakers include a staffer for the conservative Heritage Foundation and Chaya Raichik, the operator of “Libs of TikTok.”

Source: Twitter

Related Notes:

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‘To Save Money, Maybe You Should Skip Breakfast’ WSJ Headline

Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)

‘To Save Money, Maybe You Should Skip Breakfast’ WSJ Headline

Related:

To Save Money, Maybe You Should Skip Breakfast

Breakfast lovers might be better off just having a cup of coffee—but go with roasted, not instant. Prices for roasted coffee declined by 0.1% last month, but instant coffee rose by a 3.6% monthly increase for instant coffee.

I thought that breakfast was the most important meal of the day?!

“They’re going to call you socialists anyways”: Progressives slam 109 Dems for backing GOP stunt

Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)

“They’re going to call you socialists anyways”: Progressives slam 109 Dems for backing GOP stunt

Here’s what this is really about: More and more members on the other side of the aisle are calling for cuts to Social Security and Medicare, and many have referred to these programs as “socialism” throughout their existence. The other night in the Rules Committee they showed their cards. Republicans refused an amendment to declare that Social Security and Medicare is not socialism. This resolution is little about intelligent discourse and everything to do about laying the groundwork to cut Social Security and Medicare.

‘Socialism’ for me, but not for thee?!