Fast Politics with Molly Jong-Fast Ali Vitali & Daniel Nichanian
Oct 11, 2025
Ali Vitali, MSNBC journalist and host of Way Too Early, shares insights on the chaos in Congress as the government shutdown continues. She discusses Republican strategies, highlighting her interview with Speaker Mike Johnson. Daniel Nichanian, editor at Bolts Magazine, emphasizes the importance of local races, analyzing key contests like New Jersey’s gubernatorial vote and its implications for Democrats. They highlight how school board elections and sheriff races reflect broader political dynamics and shape the national landscape.
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Threat To Label Political Groups As Terrorists
- The administration's effort to label leftist groups as domestic terrorists stretches legal norms and targets groups like ActBlue and Indivisible.
- Molly Jong Fast warns this escalation aims to chill political organizing and faces likely legal pushback.
Quit If You’re Enabling Authoritarian Mechanics
- Mark Elias advised administration staff to quit because staying normalizes authoritarian mechanics.
- He urged quitting to avoid helping build systems that erode democratic norms.
Discharge Petitions Bite Leadership
- A discharge petition can force a vote around leadership's wishes if it hits 218 signatures and survives procedural waits.
- That tool can embarrass Republicans and pressure Mike Johnson to bring members back to start the clock.