Mary Sisson

Mary Sisson

@msisson.bsky.social

Writer and mostly just a reply person here on Bsky. Hopeful this platform doesn't go kablooey. marysisson.com Evelyn Normielib by ‪Ryan Geddie.

229 followers137 following2.2K posts

Mary Sisson reposted

Brandon Friedman
@brandonfriedman.bsky.social

Voter suppression in Texas is working exactly as it was designed to work. Republicans closed 92 voting locations in the state's largest swing county and now voters are waiting in line two hours to vote.

Mary Sisson
@msisson.bsky.social

I want to make an observation on the Bo French situation: French, a racist pig, is Texan. These kids in this photo, who he hates? Are ALSO Texan. When you decide that French equals ALL Texans, =you are supporting him.= You are buying into his world view, and you are erasing these kids for him.

Mary Sisson
@msisson.bsky.social

The job is to fight oppression. The job is not to hive off a little kingdom (Texit!) where the oppressors are free to oppress to their little hearts' content.

Mary Sisson reposted

Michael Barajas
@michaelbarajas.bsky.social

Tarrant County officials have now arrested and charged two different people for speaking out during last week’s meeting over a plan to cut nearly half of election day polling sites—a local activist and a former state rep fortworthreport.org/2026/08/12/f...

fortworthreport.orgFort Worth activist arrested a week after his removal from Tarrant County Commissioners CourtEJ Carrion was charged with disrupting a public meeting for directing an expletive at commissioners.
Michael Barajas@michaelbarajas.bsky.social

The GOP county exec in Tarrant Co (Fort Worth) often kicks people out for speaking up to protest county govt actions at public meetings. Today he shut it down amid outrage over the plan to cut nearly half of election day polling places this year (as he himself faces a heated race for county exec)

Mary Sisson reposted

Robert Downen
@robertdownen.bsky.social

🧵🧵 After 16 months on the sidelines, far-right billionaire Tim Dunn is getting involved in the Texas race for US Senate. Dunn's entry comes as Ken Paxton, whose political life he once bankrolled, trails in some polls and is getting killed in spending by James Talarico.

texasmonthly.comKen Paxton’s Far-Right Billionaire Backer Has ReturnedTim Dunn, once among Paxton’s biggest donors, seemed to pull back from financially supporting the candidate in 2025. A recent campaign-finance report shows he’s finally getting involved in the Senate ...

Mary Sisson reposted

Jen Rice
@jenrice.bsky.social

Replying to @jenrice.bsky.social

Lon Burnam, a former state lawmaker representing Tarrant County from 1997 to 2015, was carried out of the room by four sheriff deputies, who held him by his hands and feet: fortworthreport.org/2026/08/04/t...

fortworthreport.orgTarrant County judge removes attendees during public meeting about voting site reductionsFormer state lawmaker Lon Burnam was carried out of the courtroom by sheriff deputies after O’Hare called speakers disruptive.
Mary Sisson
@msisson.bsky.social

I was having a discussion here last night about a notion I see often but that I think is wrong: Gerrymandering has no impact on state-wide elections. I feel like people don't appreciate the wider effects of partisan gerrymandering and how it feeds into the authoritarian "politics of the inevitable."

View full thread
Mary Sisson
@msisson.bsky.social

"Don't vote for the feminine soy boy f slur! Vote for a red-meat eating manly man!" The GOP candidate has power and can help you (for a price, but anyway). The Dem candidate has no power at all and will never be capable of helping you out.

Mary Sisson
@msisson.bsky.social

The message (once again) is that it's simply inevitable that the GOP will hold power. Change is impossible. You might as well not even try. Straight-up authoritarian playbook, people. They do it because it works.

Mary Sisson
@msisson.bsky.social

I was having a discussion here last night about a notion I see often but that I think is wrong: Gerrymandering has no impact on state-wide elections. I feel like people don't appreciate the wider effects of partisan gerrymandering and how it feeds into the authoritarian "politics of the inevitable."

View full thread
Mary Sisson
@msisson.bsky.social

"[T]oday's Republican Party . . . is a cartel that exists to elect Republicans. There is no organized, coherent purpose other than the acquisition and maintenance of power." --Stuart Stevens, "It Was All A Lie"

Mary Sisson
@msisson.bsky.social

If you look at the Texas Senate race, this also influences the GOP messaging around Talarico. He is presented as a trans woman and a vegan not simply because they are hoping people see him as odd--they are hoping people see him as feminized & underfed. As weak, in other words. As powerless.

Mary Sisson
@msisson.bsky.social

I was having a discussion here last night about a notion I see often but that I think is wrong: Gerrymandering has no impact on state-wide elections. I feel like people don't appreciate the wider effects of partisan gerrymandering and how it feeds into the authoritarian "politics of the inevitable."

View full thread
Mary Sisson
@msisson.bsky.social

(And if they don't, of course the GOP tries to strip that office of power. This no only keeps the pesky Dems out of the way, it reinforces the notion that only the GOP can possibly have power.)

Mary Sisson
@msisson.bsky.social

I was having a discussion here last night about a notion I see often but that I think is wrong: Gerrymandering has no impact on state-wide elections. I feel like people don't appreciate the wider effects of partisan gerrymandering and how it feeds into the authoritarian "politics of the inevitable."

View full thread
Mary Sisson
@msisson.bsky.social

If you're a business or a profession organization that is fairly neutral politically, you're going to donate GOP & not the Dems because the GOP are the ones actually affecting policy. If you don't like voting GOP, you don't vote--Texas has one of the lowest voter participation rates in the country!

Mary Sisson
@msisson.bsky.social

Short-term ways of coping with gerrymandering (not bothering to run Dems at all, registering GOP so you can at least affect things in the primary) feed into this politics of inevitability--the Dems =aren't even there.=

Mary Sisson
@msisson.bsky.social

I was having a discussion here last night about a notion I see often but that I think is wrong: Gerrymandering has no impact on state-wide elections. I feel like people don't appreciate the wider effects of partisan gerrymandering and how it feeds into the authoritarian "politics of the inevitable."

View full thread
Mary Sisson
@msisson.bsky.social

Gerrymandering is about power and the =display= of power. Want something done in your community? Want a change in policy? Well, if you live in a GOP gerrymandered district, you must go to the GOP for help with any of this. Don't go to the Democrats! They can't help you!

Mary Sisson
@msisson.bsky.social

This is essentially a form of indoctrination. Eventually the politics of inevitability take over--of course you're not going to vote for Democrats, what's the point? It's the GOP or nothing. You might not like what they do, but at least they're able to get things done.

Mary Sisson
@msisson.bsky.social

I was having a discussion here last night about a notion I see often but that I think is wrong: Gerrymandering has no impact on state-wide elections. I feel like people don't appreciate the wider effects of partisan gerrymandering and how it feeds into the authoritarian "politics of the inevitable."

View full thread
Mary Sisson
@msisson.bsky.social

From last night bsky.app/profile/msis...

Mary Sisson@msisson.bsky.social

I certainly agree that it’s not the only factor, but creating an environment where you cannot elect Dems at a district level has a larger effect. It makes Dema powerless—if you want to affect things where you live, then your vote, money & efforts need to benefit the GOP, otherwise it’s a waste.

Mary Sisson
@msisson.bsky.social

I was having a discussion here last night about a notion I see often but that I think is wrong: Gerrymandering has no impact on state-wide elections. I feel like people don't appreciate the wider effects of partisan gerrymandering and how it feeds into the authoritarian "politics of the inevitable."

Mary Sisson reposted

Joey Fishkin
@fishkin.bsky.social

I appreciate @natecohn.bsky.social & Eve Washington's NYT piece pointing out that random simulations of nonpartisan districting tend to produce many minority opportunity districts, perhaps as many as we have now. But although the subhead comes close, the authors do not ever quite say the key point—

Mary Sisson
@msisson.bsky.social

Are they racist? Are they not? Does it matter? It's kind of like the movie "Get Out"--when they're all psychos, and it really doesn't make a whole lot of difference the exact flavor of psycho each person might be.

Mary Sisson
@msisson.bsky.social

They are either 1. racist, or 2. willing to embrace racism if it gets them what they want (which of course is also racist). Hopefully crossing this particular red line will wake people up to the fact that cities have been disappearing from district maps for years and years now.

Mary Sisson
@msisson.bsky.social

Am I in a Community of Interest with the people living 90 minutes away? No--it's a very different area! Am I in a Community of Interest with the people who live a block away from me? I would think so!

Mary Sisson
@msisson.bsky.social

It's just not defensible on any good government grounds! The only people it benefits are (you guessed it) the GOP. And basically that's what the Supreme Court has been aiming at all these years. They've been dismantling barrier after barrier for this one goal.

Mary Sisson
@msisson.bsky.social

I live in a minority-majority city of 300K that was disappeared off the Congressional map many years ago. I vote in the same Congressional district as people living a 90-minute drive away in a town that I have never visited. I don't vote in the same district as the people who live one block over.

Mary Sisson
@msisson.bsky.social

Just wanted to point out that Angela Paxton's name also appears as a donor here--TTP is a hate group, if you were unaware. Looks like Angela got Tim Dunn in the divorce!

Bud Kennedy@budkennedy.bsky.social

County Judge Tim O’Hare, other local officials were donors to the True Texas Project event.

Mary Sisson reposted

The Bi of Hormuz
@joshstein.bsky.social

Replying to @joshstein.bsky.social

I will say, seeing astroturf campaigns on BSKY suggests that the platform is viewed by the groups that run these operations as a legitimate source of political discussion that influences and moves voters.

Mary Sisson
@msisson.bsky.social

I know that there's a lot of controversy over whether or not it's worthwhile to attempt to flip Texas, which I assume will pop up again because of Rehmet's win in SD9. If you're from out of state, I wanted to point out that Rehmet's win (and any Dem win) blunts the power of billionaire Tim Dunn.

propublica.orgA Pair of Billionaire Preachers Built the Most Powerful Political Machine in Texas. That’s Just the Start.Tim Dunn and Farris Wilks are poised to take their Christian nationalist agenda nationwide.
View full thread
Mary Sisson
@msisson.bsky.social

Just adding because I'm seeing some concern that Christian = Christian nationalist. If you are a Christian nationalist, these days there is an openly Christian nationalist political party in Texas--it is the Texas GOP. They don't try to hide it.

Mary Sisson
@msisson.bsky.social

If you're wondering if it's true that Dunn has withdrawn from politics this year...nope. When one of his efforts gets bad press, he keeps it quiet for a bit, maybe changes a name or two, maybe establishes a new shell company, but never goes away. bsky.app/profile/robe... bsky.app/profile/papo...

Robert Downen@robertdownen.bsky.social

Much more on Bo French, who is being funded by Defend Texas Liberty, the PAC that far-right billionaire Tim Dunn mothballed after I reported that its leader met with Nick Fuentes:

texasmonthly.comHe Wants to Deport 100 Million “Third World Savages.” He May Win Statewide Office in Texas.He calls his opponents “gay” and “retarded,” and he wants to deport 100 million “third world savages.” Naturally, he’s running for railroad commissioner.
Mary Sisson
@msisson.bsky.social

I know that there's a lot of controversy over whether or not it's worthwhile to attempt to flip Texas, which I assume will pop up again because of Rehmet's win in SD9. If you're from out of state, I wanted to point out that Rehmet's win (and any Dem win) blunts the power of billionaire Tim Dunn.

propublica.orgA Pair of Billionaire Preachers Built the Most Powerful Political Machine in Texas. That’s Just the Start.Tim Dunn and Farris Wilks are poised to take their Christian nationalist agenda nationwide.
View full thread
Mary Sisson
@msisson.bsky.social

Dunn is an ENORMOUS bigot--Nick Fuentes visiting the Texas GOP was his doing--and again, VERY AMBITIOUS. He is certainly a problem for Texas, but not just Texas. Reining in his influence in politics is well worth the effort, even if you live elsewhere.

Mary Sisson
@msisson.bsky.social

I know that there's a lot of controversy over whether or not it's worthwhile to attempt to flip Texas, which I assume will pop up again because of Rehmet's win in SD9. If you're from out of state, I wanted to point out that Rehmet's win (and any Dem win) blunts the power of billionaire Tim Dunn.

propublica.orgA Pair of Billionaire Preachers Built the Most Powerful Political Machine in Texas. That’s Just the Start.Tim Dunn and Farris Wilks are poised to take their Christian nationalist agenda nationwide.