Erik Paulson's Avatar

Erik Paulson

@epaulson.bsky.social

Madison, WI Infrequent blog posts (mostly about Madison local government) at https://posts.unit1127.com

211 Followers  |  464 Following  |  84 Posts  |  Joined: 26.10.2023  |  2.174

Latest posts by epaulson.bsky.social on Bluesky

New York post the red apple

New York post the red apple

Madisonโ€™s red mayor

Madisonโ€™s red mayor

Who did it better? Mamdani or Soglin?

08.11.2025 19:22 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Event graphic, showing an outline of the state of Wisconsin. Text: Save the date. State of the Map US is coming to... Somewhere in Wisconsin. Details to follow. June 11-13, 2026

Event graphic, showing an outline of the state of Wisconsin. Text: Save the date. State of the Map US is coming to... Somewhere in Wisconsin. Details to follow. June 11-13, 2026

I haven't seen @OpenStreetMapUS post about it yet, but there's exciting news for us map and geodata geeks in #Wisconsin: State of the Map US will be in our state in 2026, from June 11 to 13. The exact city is still TBA.

#SOTMUS #SOTMUS2026 #OpenStreetMap

31.10.2025 11:49 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Youโ€™d be a good brand ambassador for it

08.10.2025 03:46 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Matching Program Standards ActBlue supports legitimate matching programs that help amplify grassroots donations. To ensure transparency and protect donors from misleading claims, all matching programs must comply with these ...

@dwillis.bsky.social given your amusement with this in the past, I thought youโ€™d be interested in ActBlueโ€™s new guidelines on โ€œmatchingโ€ funds in donations: help.actblue.com/hc/en-us/art...

08.10.2025 02:42 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

I tried Baja Blast because of you (and really liked it) so thank you for your service!

08.10.2025 02:33 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Preview
Massive immigration raid on Chicago apartment building leaves residents reeling: 'I feel defeated' The Department of Homeland Security said federal agents with Border Patrol, the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives arrested 37 people in the raid.

My god.

โ€œWatson said she saw agents dragging residents, including kids, out of the building without any clothes on and into U-Haul vans. Kids were separated from their mothersโ€ฆโ€™It was heartbreaking to watchโ€ฆseeing kids coming out buck naked and taken from their mothers, it was horrible.โ€™โ€

02.10.2025 10:06 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 8729    ๐Ÿ” 5338    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 621    ๐Ÿ“Œ 803

Did yโ€™all ever get these records?

01.10.2025 22:56 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Preview
It's been 16 years. It's time to raise Madison Metro fares. A raise from $2 to $2.50 would help Madison find the money to staff the Imagination Center and the new homeless shelter

After 16 years, it's time for Madison to raise Metro fares, from $2 to $2.50. Metro fares don't count against the state expenditure restraint limits, and the extra room could help solve our 'how to staff the new homeless shelter and new library' problem.

posts.unit1127.com/p/its-been-1...

25.09.2025 15:21 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 3    ๐Ÿ” 3    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Preview
The Wisconsin Expenditure Restraint Program is the 2nd-dumbest municipal funding program and everyone involved should feel bad What is the State of Wisconsinโ€™s Expenditure Restraint Program and why is it stupid?

I wrote a blog post about how the WI Expenditure Restraint Program for funding cities is an obsolete program and how dumb it is. The Dems should have scrapped it in 2009 when they had the chance, but the GOP made it way worse in 2011 with Act 10.

posts.unit1127.com/p/the-wiscon...

22.09.2025 16:35 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

We've missed you!

14.09.2025 16:44 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

The sweet spot, which Trump identified, is slapping the press around while giving it lots of access.

The Dem approach of being respectful to the press but not giving access was pretty lousy.

05.09.2025 17:11 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 160    ๐Ÿ” 19    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 13    ๐Ÿ“Œ 6
A picture of me with a First Year Honoree banner.  The rest of the text says IB Power 100, Luke Diaz, Mayor, City of Verona.

A picture of me with a First Year Honoree banner. The rest of the text says IB Power 100, Luke Diaz, Mayor, City of Verona.

Cool to make this list with a lot of other influential people. I'm super proud of all the great things the City of Verona is accomplishing. www.ibmadison.com/galleries/we...

02.09.2025 16:39 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 6    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 2    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Preview
Madisonโ€™s independent police monitor ignores records requests, city attorney intervention The Office of the Independent Monitor, created to be a check on the Madison Police Department, has failed to fulfill records requests from Isthmus and ghosted the City Attorneyโ€™s Office as well.

NEW: Madisonโ€™s police oversight agency has failed to fulfill records requests submitted by @isthmusmadison.bsky.social and ignored attempts by the city attorneyโ€™s office and Madison Police Department to intervene.

isthmus.com/news/news/ma...

28.08.2025 20:39 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

The Onion will be available in almost every Barnes & Noble in the country starting this month! โ€œRFK Jr. Fires Piss Czarโ€ will be a visible headline sitting directly next to Bon Appetit and Guns & Ammo.

21.08.2025 16:41 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 5724    ๐Ÿ” 609    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 99    ๐Ÿ“Œ 18

Maple Bluff?

19.08.2025 15:50 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
07.08.2025 03:04 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 769    ๐Ÿ” 81    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 17    ๐Ÿ“Œ 1
Why These Updates Matter

 

The digital fundraising landscape has evolved dramatically, and with it, we've seen practices emerge that undermine donor trust and hurt all of us. When donors encounter misleading solicitations, impersonation, or excessive spam, they lose confidenceโ€”not just in bad actors, but in our entire movement.


These policy updates are designed to protect the ecosystem we've all worked hard to build. By establishing clear standards for responsible fundraising, we're helping ensure that:

Donors feel confident their contributions are being used effectively
Legitimate organizations can build sustainable, long-term fundraising programs
Bad actors can't undermine the trust you've earned with your supporters

Why These Updates Matter The digital fundraising landscape has evolved dramatically, and with it, we've seen practices emerge that undermine donor trust and hurt all of us. When donors encounter misleading solicitations, impersonation, or excessive spam, they lose confidenceโ€”not just in bad actors, but in our entire movement. These policy updates are designed to protect the ecosystem we've all worked hard to build. By establishing clear standards for responsible fundraising, we're helping ensure that: Donors feel confident their contributions are being used effectively Legitimate organizations can build sustainable, long-term fundraising programs Bad actors can't undermine the trust you've earned with your supporters

3. Donor Relations

We've all seen how excessive solicitations and aggressive fundraising tactics can drive donors away from our movement. When supporters feel bombarded or misled, they don't just unsubscribe from one organizationโ€”they often stop giving altogether. That's why we're establishing clearer standards for respectful donor engagement.

If an entity becomes the subject of repeated donor complaints about excessive or aggressive solicitations, we'll investigate and work with them on corrective action. This isn't about policing every email, it's about addressing patterns of behavior that damage donor relationships across our ecosystem.

All entities using our platform are expected to maintain respectful and transparent fundraising practices. By holding each other to these standards, we protect the donor relationships that sustain our collective work.

3. Donor Relations We've all seen how excessive solicitations and aggressive fundraising tactics can drive donors away from our movement. When supporters feel bombarded or misled, they don't just unsubscribe from one organizationโ€”they often stop giving altogether. That's why we're establishing clearer standards for respectful donor engagement. If an entity becomes the subject of repeated donor complaints about excessive or aggressive solicitations, we'll investigate and work with them on corrective action. This isn't about policing every email, it's about addressing patterns of behavior that damage donor relationships across our ecosystem. All entities using our platform are expected to maintain respectful and transparent fundraising practices. By holding each other to these standards, we protect the donor relationships that sustain our collective work.

2. Responsible Stewardship & Transparency

To help ensure donor contributions are being used effectively and as promised, we've introduced new provisions that allow us to request documentation when needed. These aren't blanket requirements - they're tools we can use to verify that funds are being stewarded responsibly and that fundraising claims are accurate in response to donor complaints.

Impact documentation: We may request statements showing how contributions have been used to advance your stated mission

Matching program verification: If you advertise matching programs, you must be able to provide documentation verifying your matching program upon request

2. Responsible Stewardship & Transparency To help ensure donor contributions are being used effectively and as promised, we've introduced new provisions that allow us to request documentation when needed. These aren't blanket requirements - they're tools we can use to verify that funds are being stewarded responsibly and that fundraising claims are accurate in response to donor complaints. Impact documentation: We may request statements showing how contributions have been used to advance your stated mission Matching program verification: If you advertise matching programs, you must be able to provide documentation verifying your matching program upon request

Key Changes That May Impact Your Operations:

 

1. Solicitation Standards

We have strengthened our policies around impersonation, barring outside groups from using the name or likeness of any candidate, elected official, or organization in a way that falsely implies endorsement, affiliation, or authorization without documented written permission. Entities must not misleadingly suggest that donations will directly benefit specific individuals or entities without proper authorization, or misrepresent the destination or intended use of donor funds.

We're also explicitly prohibiting false claims in solicitations, including references to fake voting records, non-existent memberships, or unverified matching programs. These changes ensure donors are making informed choices about their giving.

Key Changes That May Impact Your Operations: 1. Solicitation Standards We have strengthened our policies around impersonation, barring outside groups from using the name or likeness of any candidate, elected official, or organization in a way that falsely implies endorsement, affiliation, or authorization without documented written permission. Entities must not misleadingly suggest that donations will directly benefit specific individuals or entities without proper authorization, or misrepresent the destination or intended use of donor funds. We're also explicitly prohibiting false claims in solicitations, including references to fake voting records, non-existent memberships, or unverified matching programs. These changes ensure donors are making informed choices about their giving.

These are promising policy changes from the @actblueorg.bsky.social team that show they're taking the spam PACs and aggressive fundraising practices seriously. There are other levers we need to pull as a party to stop treating supporters like shit but this is a start.

06.08.2025 18:35 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 251    ๐Ÿ” 55    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 9    ๐Ÿ“Œ 5

It has been the honor of my life to serve as Commissioner of BLS alongside the many dedicated civil servants tasked with measuring a vast and dynamic economy. It is vital and important work and I thank them for their service to this nation.

02.08.2025 02:18 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 21986    ๐Ÿ” 4387    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1173    ๐Ÿ“Œ 263
Curtis Yarvin tweets:

"Hereโ€™s how the libs got the USG to spend $2T a year on libbery. They greased the road with their OWN MONEY FIRST. Thatโ€™s where this NGO empire came from. Before WW2 it was all private.

Do you know what it took to raise a mil or so for Doug Mackey? I wasnโ€™t involved. But I saw it"

Then a second tweet from him:

"No. We have only one problem. The problem is: our billionaires are nโ€”ers. 

They may be rich. But theyโ€™re nโ€”er rich. The nature and function of their wealth is profoundly negrous.

You can probably name exceptions. I can too. But in every way, the exceptions prove the rule"

Curtis Yarvin tweets: "Hereโ€™s how the libs got the USG to spend $2T a year on libbery. They greased the road with their OWN MONEY FIRST. Thatโ€™s where this NGO empire came from. Before WW2 it was all private. Do you know what it took to raise a mil or so for Doug Mackey? I wasnโ€™t involved. But I saw it" Then a second tweet from him: "No. We have only one problem. The problem is: our billionaires are nโ€”ers. They may be rich. But theyโ€™re nโ€”er rich. The nature and function of their wealth is profoundly negrous. You can probably name exceptions. I can too. But in every way, the exceptions prove the rule"

Some utter nonsense, really just drivel, the conclusion of which is edgy racism - this is the essence of Curtis Yarvin, the purest distillation of who he is as a person.

30.07.2025 19:48 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1858    ๐Ÿ” 294    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 153    ๐Ÿ“Œ 153

An electrified train from Chicago to Milwaukee should be called the Hiawatta

27.07.2025 00:03 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 13    ๐Ÿ” 3    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Post image

Helsinki (pop 657,000) has not had a single traffic death during the last twelve months.

poliisi.fi/-/helsingin-...

26.07.2025 11:15 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1421    ๐Ÿ” 392    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 26    ๐Ÿ“Œ 85

Madison to Ashland is a thing of beauty! But fuck it, we have to fight fire with fire.

26.07.2025 20:42 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Post image

Here's a first draft of a 5-1-2 map, showing Sen 2022 partisanship. Barnes lost the 8th here by 5. Evers won the district by 0.4.

This also keeps the Black part of Milwaukee together and ensure Black representation

26.07.2025 20:28 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Thanks!

26.07.2025 19:59 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

@citizenmke.bsky.social what's the most Dem map for WI you've seen for Congress? Has anyone tried to make like a 6-2 Dem map that still meets VRA requirements?

26.07.2025 19:09 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 3    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

The result will be that the federal government will end up paying millions for โ€œBobโ€™s Anti-Woke AIโ€ system thatโ€™s definitely not a contracting scam.

24.07.2025 00:53 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 14    ๐Ÿ” 2    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 2    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

While being interviewed on CNN the other day, Cindy McCain was asked about looting. Sure, she said, sometimes people take things. But theyโ€™re hungry. They need food.

It would not be that hard to echo her tone and talking points and theyโ€™re choosing not to.

24.07.2025 01:20 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 344    ๐Ÿ” 86    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 3    ๐Ÿ“Œ 2

I hate this, the ROI is basically zero, they're donors' number one complaint, what we need is some heroic campaign aides to start giving out the personal phone numbers of the text spam consultants publicly so we can complain to them personally every time we get a text.

24.07.2025 01:40 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 607    ๐Ÿ” 66    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 19    ๐Ÿ“Œ 4

Mike Pompeo was once described as โ€œlike a heat-seeking missile for Trumpโ€™s assโ€ but he was Mr. Magoo compared to Lutnick

24.07.2025 01:45 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1988    ๐Ÿ” 245    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 118    ๐Ÿ“Œ 10

@epaulson is following 20 prominent accounts