Norman Ornstein (@NormOrnstein) header
Norman Ornstein (@NormOrnstein) profile picture

Norman Ornstein

@NormOrnstein

Political scientist, contributing editor for the Atlantic, contributor to The Contrarian, cohost of the podcast Words Matter.

 Washington, DC
mornstein.org
Joined November 2013
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Photo by Norman Ornstein (@NormOrnstein)Photo by Norman Ornstein (@NormOrnstein)Photo by Norman Ornstein (@NormOrnstein)Photo by Norman Ornstein (@NormOrnstein)Photo by Norman Ornstein (@NormOrnstein)Photo by Norman Ornstein (@NormOrnstein)Photo by Norman Ornstein (@NormOrnstein)Photo by Norman Ornstein (@NormOrnstein)Photo by Norman Ornstein (@NormOrnstein)Photo by Norman Ornstein (@NormOrnstein)
In February 1977, I was staff director to a Senate committee on committee reform, and we had several days of debate on the Senate floor. I sat between Gaylord Nelson and Russell Long. The Senate tradition is that every senator using a desk signs it under the flip top. 1
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Long opened his desk to show me its history, and one signature leapt out to me-- Theodore Bilbo of Mississippi, who served in the 1930s and 1940s, one of the most vile open racists ever in the Senate. I thought of that today as I watched Scott Colom speak after his victory. 2
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I hope when he gets to the Senate, Colom requests and gets that desk. And signs it so that future senators can see the through line from Bilbo to Colom. The arc of the moral universe is long but it bends toward justice. This one took too long to do so-- but it did. Praise God
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Timothy Snyder (@TimothyDSnyder) profile picture
Timothy Snyder
@TimothyDSnyderNov 10
Again, nothing our enemies can do to us hurts as much as what Hegseth has done. Everyone around the world who wants America weak and laughable will hope Hegseth is not impeached and convicted.
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Moscow beckons
Justin Baragona (@justinbaragona) profile pictureJustin Baragona
@justinbaragona9h
This is so goddamned funny
Image from Justin Baragona (@justinbaragona)
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Mimi Rocah (@Mimirocah1) profile picture
Mimi Rocah
@Mimirocah15h
Legally dubious? I say legally absurd.
The New York Times (@nytimes) profile pictureThe New York Times
@nytimes14h
Breaking News: The White House threatened congressional Democrats, saying aggressive oversight of the Trump administration could be a crime, a threat that experts called legally dubious. nyti.ms/4iBTcHy
White House Threatens Congress, Saying Aggressive Investigations Could Be Crime

White House Threatens Congress, Saying Aggressive Investigations Could Be Crime

As Democrats prepared to begin oversight inquiries, it was not clear what legal basis could support the threat. The Constitution grants lawmakers immunity for legislative acts.

nytimes.com
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Norman Ornstein retweeted
Tom Engel (@TomEngel18) profile picture
Tom Engel@TomEngel18Nov 11
'We just want to play’: Ovechkin responds to Carney’s comments about World Juniors And Ukrainians just want to live, so tough shit. #Ovechkin #Putin ctvnews.ca/video/2026/11/10/… – at Edmonton, Alberta
'We just want to play’: Ovechkin responds to Carney’s comments about World Juniors

'We just want to play’: Ovechkin responds to Carney’s comments about World Juniors

Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin responds to questions on PM Carney saying Russian athletes won’t be allowed to represent their country at the World Juniors.

ctvnews.ca
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I want every putative 2028 candidate to pledge that on January 20, 2029 he or she will sign an executive order to tear down this monstrosity
James E. Clyburn (@RepJamesClyburn) profile pictureJames E. Clyburn
@RepJamesClyburn7h
I hope everyone takes a good hard look at this picture. Trump’s under-construction ballroom is now bigger than the rest of the White House. Much bigger. The contrast says everything you need to know about this President and his priorities.
Image from James E. Clyburn (@RepJamesClyburn)
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Maybe time to prosecute Gabbard?
Caroline Orr Bueno, Ph.D (@RVAwonk) profile pictureCaroline Orr Bueno, Ph.D
@RVAwonk7h
This is big: Newly revealed records from the hacked computer of Russian propagandist John Mark Dougin confirm that former DNI Tulsi Gabbard used information from Russia's GRU to peddle disinformation about Ukrainian biolabs.
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Wondering if he sent a similar letter to Jim Comer
Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) profile pictureAaron Rupar
@atrupar7h
White House Counsel Will Scharf: "What we're asking for is nothing more than that everybody plays the rules and that everybody follows the law. That's the only thing we're asking for. That's the only thing my letter asked for."
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On the other hand, good news for Catholicism
S.E. Cupp (@secupp) profile pictureS.E. Cupp
@secupp8h
How incredibly sad.
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Norman Ornstein retweeted
Michael Beschloss (@BeschlossDC) profile picture
Michael Beschloss
@BeschlossDC7h
Tonight Medgar Evers Lives!
Image from Michael Beschloss (@BeschlossDC)
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NYTPitchbot (@DougJBalloon) profile picture
NYTPitchbot
@DougJBalloon7h
Jensen Huang has learned his lesson. by Susan Collins
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Norman Ornstein retweeted
squeeks ☻ (@KingSqueeksIII) profile picture
squeeks ☻@KingSqueeksIII17h
Kyler had a chance and squandered it
Dr. Ken (@Kenny_mn) profile pictureDr. Ken@Kenny_mnNov 10
Hilarious franchise Also feel bad for Kyler. He was sold a dream
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Norman Ornstein retweeted
Arif Hasan, but NFL 🏈 (@ArifHasanNFL) profile picture
Arif Hasan, but NFL 🏈
@ArifHasanNFL7h
Kwesi gives the 2nd, no doubt in my mind
Sam Monson (@SamMonsonNFL) profile pictureSam Monson
@SamMonsonNFLNov 11
The Vikings negotiating the Raiders down from a 2nd rounder, through the higher of the 3rd-rounders to their own 3rd, given their presumed level of desperation after MNF and the total lack of other options, is really amazing.
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Grifter
Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) profile pictureShannon Watts
@shannonrwatts7h
Marco Rubio has spent over $1.2m of taxpayers’ money on personal trips to the Gainesville, Florida, where his son Anthony has a walk-on role as a college running back. Rubio has made 23 total trips made to Gainesville on military aircraft, at least 15 of which were “personal” in nature. theguardian.com/us-news/2026…
Marco Rubio reportedly spent over $1.2m of taxpayer money traveling to son’s football games

Marco Rubio reportedly spent over $1.2m of taxpayer money traveling to son’s football games

Ethics watchdogs question necessity of the US secretary of state flying between DC and Gainesville so often

theguardian.com
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Norman Ornstein retweeted
Armando (@ArmandoNDK) profile picture
Armando
@ArmandoNDK8h
So norms are a thing of the past. Remember that in 2029
Jennifer Bendery (@jbendery) profile pictureJennifer Bendery@jbenderyNov 10
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) is blowing up the committee's bipartisan norms to jam through Trump's court picks in the lame duck, ahead of the GOP losing their Senate majority in Jan. huffpost.com/entry/live-upda…
Chuck Grassley Ditches Committee Norms To Jam Through Trump Court Picks

Chuck Grassley Ditches Committee Norms To Jam Through Trump Court Picks

huffpost.com
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Norman Ornstein retweeted
Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) profile picture
Robert Griffin III
@RGIIINov 10
The Vikings are sitting at 6-2with one of the best defenses in the NFL and Kirk Cousins has an opportunity to rewrite the narratives about him by beating Jordan Love, Jared Goff and Caleb Williams to win the best division in the NFL and go on a Super Bowl run.
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A lesser known story: Democrat Dan McDow jsut flipped Florida State House seat for Palm Bay after a recount. McDow won by 286 votes becoming the first Democrat elected to represent Brevard County in the Florida legislature in more than 30 years. #HoldTheCrooksAccountable
Image from Bryan Dawson🇺🇸 (@BryanDawsonUSA)
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Norman Ornstein retweeted
Rep. Jack Kimble (@RepJackKimble) profile picture
Rep. Jack Kimble
@RepJackKimble7h
After CBS came in dead last for election night ratings, Skydance had no choice but to fire James Gunn
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