Policy wonk & comms pro, Views are my own, posts and retweets are not necessarily endorsements. Now on Mastodon as @ericmasten@mastodon.social.
MD, Baltimore & DC Metro Areas
Joined July 2012
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Oh. My. Dog.
Are these actually going out to the district?
Washington has enough attack dogs. Long Island deserves a good boy. 🥵
Our new @ked_pac mailers for @_gallantny just landed in NY-1!
Bark once if you're voting for him. Twice if you also need a cold shower…
Eric Masten retweeted
Remembering the late, great Dolly, who brought joy, comfort and inspiration to so many - including the millions of children given free books through her Imagination Library. We will always ❤️ you.
Eric Masten retweeted
The time Dolly Parton and Kermit jammed to Sly and the Family Stone.
This is always how I will remember her.
"When the enemy is making a false movement, we must take good care not to interrupt him." Napoleon
SCOOP: The GOP midterm convention is turning into a “shit show,” leaving many campaign strategists fuming about how this Trump endeavor helps incumbents. Few lawmakers are going due to last minute invites, logistical hurdles and a whopping $25k minimum attendance fee for House members, with @LACaldwellDC puck.news/the-gops-cash-grab…
Eric Masten retweeted
It is now Day 36 of Senator Mitch McConnell’s hospitalization following a fall and a reported case of mild pneumonia, with no reported broken bones, concussion, heart attack, or stroke. So why is he still here?
No one seems to have a clear answer. What I do know is that Senate Republicans outside of leadership don’t appear to know what’s going on, Senate Democrats have remained silent, and Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear @AndyBeshearKY needs to come to Washington, D.C.
I have been in the ballroom at the Hinkley Hilton that the WHCD dinner is at many times. These appear to be the stairs into the ballroom.
There is no conceivable way that someone with a weapon could have gotten anywhere near that close to the ballroom this evening.
NEW: EXCLUSIVE images via a @scrippsnews @EWScrippsCo staffer showing the suspected gunman at the 2026 White House Correspondents' Dinner tackled to the ground by Secret Service at the Washington Hilton.
.@mkraju with the BREAKING NEWS that @RepTonyGonzales is resigning from Congress
That's two today, Swalwell and now Gonzalez
4.13.26
🤣
NOW AVAILABLE at DCMetrostore.com!
The Metro bed collection:
Bedtime Bus – SKU: MB-BUS003
Sweet Dream Access – SKU: MB-ACC002
7000 Series Sleeper – SKU: MB-RC7000
Each model is designed for a smooth journey to dreamland 🙂↕️💤🛏️ All orders ship Neveruary 1.
Shout-out to Yasir and Naomi on the 2115 @Amtrak train from WAS who helped me and another passenger get north after the @mtamaryland @marctrain 2110 conductors pulled out even after seeing us on the platform in time to make the train. Great service by those Amtrak conductors!
Absolutely gorgeous day to be on the Hill with the @butleru CSD students talking about professional degree loan limits.
Thank you to the CSD students from @butleru College of Communication for spending the day with ASHA Advocacy on Capitol Hill urging members of Congress to better support students pursuing audiology and speech-language pathology degrees. Join their call: at.asha.org/W4
ALT A group of 14 people, mostly Butler University CSD students with ASHA Advocacy staff and a professor holding a Butler banner smile in front of the Capitol
ALT Four female students sit in a congressional office
ALT Several Butler students, a professor, and and ASHA Advocacy staff member waiting in a congressional office
Eric Masten retweeted
Thanks @acialliance for partnering with us on #WorldHearingDay to build support for increasing access to hearing care for every child. Join our efforts by taking action now and encouraging Congress to pass critical legislation to help achieve that goal: ashaa.quorum.us/campaign/whd…
Comparing Noem to Umbridge is ridiculous. We all know Betsy DeVos has that locked in.
A sycophant is more than just a "yes-man."
It refers to someone who acts excessively servile toward someone important in order to gain an advantage. They aren't just being nice, they are using excessive flattery, often insincerely, to get what they want, whether that's a promotion, social status or favor.
Some characteristics: The motive is self-interest. They aren't praising you because they like you; they're doing it because you have something they want. The behavior is over the top fawning, or constant agreement (including when you're wrong).
Common Synonyms: toady, flunky, bootlicker.
Some parallels for movie buffs:
Grima Wormtongue (the Stephen Miller of Lord of the Rings) is an advisor to King Theoden. He uses whispers and false flattery to control the King’s decisions, all while secretly serving Saruman. He is a classic example of a sycophant who uses his position to poison a leader's standing for his own benefit.
Dolores Umbridge (the Kristi Noem of Harry Potter) is an example of a bureaucratic sycophant. She is terrifyingly sweet while she is around those she considers her superiors and she sucks up to authority to gain the power she needs to bully those "beneath" her.
