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bensolis1.bsky.social
Staff Writer for Gongwer News Service Michigan covering the state's Supreme Court and the departments of Attorney General and State Police. Nerd of All Trades. Recovering redistricting head. Politics feeds my family but gives me heartburn at night.
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Doing another playthrough of Spider-Man: Miles Morales. I love the early mission where he goes home for Christmas dinner and his mom is cooking all this dank 🇵🇷 soul food. Sabrozo! #Spiderman

Unmatched.

His MODOK chunk is kind of offensive, tbh.

Everyone, and with good cause, now in full freak mode over the historical nature of 2026 in #Michigan due to Gary Peters bowing out. Meanwhile, I'm at home like:

8 And the word of the Lord came again to Zechariah: 9 This is what the Lord Almighty said: "Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. 10 Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. Do not plot evil against each other."

His sinister, surreal vision of America made him a leading counterculture auteur — with movies such as "Blue Velvet," "Wild at Heart" and "Mulholland Drive," and the groundbreaking TV series "Twin Peaks."

Eavesdropping on two crunchy moms in an Ann Arbor Starbucks discussing the Druid cult they're in (and how they are trying to usurp another member) is an experience, y'all.

With a 5-2 Democratic majority, the Michigan #SupremeCourt has unanimously reelected the GOP-nominated Chief Justice Elizabeth Clement to yet again lead the bench. Clement is the seventh woman to serve as chief justice, and this term is the fifth time the court has a majority of women.

They are one in the same. Bruce has a duplicity issue with his psyche. Kal wouldn't be Kal without Clark's and Superman's joint moral compass & life experiences. You could argue the same for Bruce, but there was a period after training where the Batman identity drove the bus.

I know my boss, an REM superfan, will have have opinions on this, but this is by far my favorite song on my favorite REM album. @remhq.bsky.social

Happy birthday to Patti Smith. The Godmother of Punk turns 78 years old today. Photo by Jim Dyson / Getty

That shirt said everything I ever needed to know about Carter, his moral compass and his view of the world. RIP

What an omega level healing factor looks like

Happy Festivus everyone. Always amazed this crazy episode birthed a real celebration that seems to be enjoyed by so many around the world. So may your feats be strong and your grievances few. Enjoy.

#Christmas vibes are jumping in Casa Solis.

If #ChappellRoan really wants to make a splash on her next album, she'd do a cover of this #Replacements deep track. open.spotify.com/track/3fnL2J...

82 yards on that Jared Goff dime to Jameson Williams #ProBowlVote  | #OnePride

“Thank you for applying, Captain Rogers, but can you explain this gap in your resume?”

Die Hard is a Christmas movie.

Dispatch from the Senate in a 24+ hour push to legislate. Speaker-elect/current H Minority Ldr. Matt Hall on the Sen floor moments earlier talking to S Majority Ldr. Winnie Brinks. Much different vibe than the stalemate we saw the last few days between Hall & H Speaker Joe Tate.

Major kudos to Mat Ishbia and the Suns. All teams should do this.

Lame duck in Michigan has me like... #MiLeg #LameDuck

Here at the Capitol today in the Senate chambers to watch 15 electors for President-elect Donald Trump cast their votes. A few memorable faces here, including party fixtures and some of the electors charged in the 2020 GOP electors case (Choate, Facchinello, Maddock, King, Sheridan, Haggard).

After 13 hours on the House floor Friday, Rep. Karen Whitsett put her foot down. bit.ly/3VB1ouT

There are still at least two full session days on the schedule this week, but following 72 hours of turmoil in the House, the only question on anyone's mind Monday was whether anything other than the sine die adjournment resolution can pass. bit.ly/4fuAX20

Fractures in the Michigan House Democratic caucus are immerging in the final days of legislative lame duck, one Democrat telling @gongwermichigan.bsky.social Sunday she's no longer confident in House Speaker Joe Tate's ability to lead.(w/ @bridgemichigan.bsky.social) www.bridgemi.com/michigan-gov...

"The strategy targets kids covered through the company’s state-contracted Medicaid plans, funded by the government for the nation’s poorest and most vulnerable patients." via @propublica.org www.propublica.org/article/unit...

As I’ve been saying 👇👇

Me in the Gongwer offices waiting for the Michigan Senate to pass a single bill so I can go home...

EVENING UPDATE: The reality that time is running out to keep policy priorities alive before the Legislature adjourns for the year and total Democratic control ends is setting in tonight at the Capitol. And pressure is mounting.

Posted this at the old place, but thought folks on @bsky.app might like to know I finally met my "mother".

“Ohio State AD Ross Bjork confirmed that there will be a light and drone show at Ohio Stadium prior to the playoff game”

My sense is authorities and many in the media deliberately chose the word “manifesto” early on because it sounds nutty and annoying. Whereas “a note justifying his actions” seems reasonable and something one may read with an open mind

Otis Redding passed away on this day in 1967. He wrote and recorded 'Respect,' gave us 'Dock of the Bay,' and redefined soul music forever—all before the age of 26. Imagine the music we missed, but cherish the legacy he left behind.

The Justice Department has filed a lawsuit against approximately two dogs.