Elana Levin

This was so good

The National Guard is still patrolling DC, carrying handguns & long rifles, patrolling vibrant community spaces in packs to intimidate residents, especially Black residents, of the city.

Keep that in mind as you see the videos of them handing out pizza & coffee in MN.

I am speaking from many years of experience, as someone who hasn't burnt out and bailed when many others have. Celebrating every win, celebrating your co-strugglers, celebrating the fellowship that unites you — it doesn't just help you win, it sustains you. It reminds you of what's possible and why.

I share Tobita's read of the moment, especially the key point made in this post in the middle of the thread

When a falcon gets a bird, all you see is an explosion of feathers on the ground. But one time I saw a hawk grab a pigeon out of the sky.
That was pretty wild

I assume the bluebirds used to be more prevalent than they are now. Have you ever seen one here? But Cities are really good places to spot birds of prey. Folks don’t realize this— the entire city is just food for them and they think skyscrapers are Cliff faces. We have falcons too.

You know, I had thought that the New York State bird was the eagle.. We do have eagles— I’ve seen them. Not as common as our red tail hawks though, who hang out on skyscrapers and trees and dive bomb the pigeons. But the NY state bird is actually the eastern bluebird which I have only seen in GA.

A person wearing a blue winter coat and gloves holds a cardboard sign that reads, “Denied the right to defend ourselves bc the state thinks we have no legit selves to defend.” Snow covers the ground and nearby bushes.

A friend shared this picture of someone holding this sign as part of yesterday's Chicago protests. I'm always humbled when people bring my ideas along with them.

….. how does Maryland have 141 delegates?!?! That’s a ridiculous number. NY has 150 for a landmass roughly the size of England. Maryland is densely populated but that’s almost New Hampshire levels chaotic for you…

OK, this is the good stuff. Thank you.

On Oct 4, Border Patrol agent, Charles Exum, shot Martinez five times resulting in seven wounds, & later bragged “put that in your book boys” in a text message.

Even though charges were dropped against Martinez, she is described to this day on the Homeland Security website as a “domestic terrorist”

I definitely see people wearing masks in MD and I’ve never experienced hostility for wearing a mask there. I never experience hostility for masking here in nyc, yet the NY political environment is hostile to acknowledging the ongoing pandemic, even Zohran. Malfunctioning Trauma response.

I personally don't tell people who have been fighting their hearts out daily for weeks not to celebrate wins of any size. I certainly don't do that when I've been nowhere near the place where the fight has been happening and have done little more than make some donations from miles away.

Do you think it’s a sort of thing that has a shot of getting funded? I think the angle about it being supportive of local jobs feels particularly regionally relevant given industry. But people literally hear the word Covid and put their fingers in their ears.

Oh sorry should state I have lots of family there. I’m having them submit online testimony.

The distinction does mater though I put it on a continuum. Mobilizing CAN lead to organizing but not necessarily— not when the drop the ball on follow ups. I see the word litmus test in his piece though so how far does he get before he says we should throw trans people or immigrants under the bus?

Ahem @casten.house.gov @duckworth.senate.gov and especially, @durbin.senate.gov

I put the loner on my second big Halloween playlist.

The National AFGE isn’t on Bluesky but follow the locals that are: @704afge.bsky.social @afgelocal17.bsky.social @nehafge3403.bsky.social @afgelocal1969.bsky.social @afge476.bsky.social

Very Online Democrats and Leftists:

Bovino down. Noem on the ropes. Go for Stepher Miller:

AFGE:

Imagine editing union videos after 7PM and *NOT* for work. smh.

Do folks know is debut solo album? Took me too long to get it considering my childhood was basically nonstop CSNY open.qobuz.com/track/2127079

Only if @schumer.senate.gov and @hakeem-jeffries.bsky.social had this kind of instinct (or Nancy Pelosi had operated with the same sense of urgency after J6 - instead of wasting an entire weekend to move).

Bill Kristol offering pinpoint counsel to Dems - who could have seen this?

The heart of gold was Neil’s all along..

One time when Michael Shellenberger wrote some lies about me one of his followers said that he’d like to throw acid on my face.

He’s clearly a very peace loving man. (He was given the chance to denounce the threat and did not.)

Would love to get your thoughts on how to get this MD bill passed bsky.app/profile/solv...

Good evening & welcome to another week of #NotableMarylandBills. Even with this massive snowstorm delaying the start of the legislative week, we’ve got a moderate amount of big bills to cover but some of them are REALLY big so let’s get started…

gonna start blocking soon. you are probably lovely people and I hate to block. but jesus christ, do you think I do not understand the larger situation? do you think I do not spend every waking moment thinking about it?

And what's more -- now that the people did it, the politicians are noticing and starting to follow suit.

Reminds me of the old line (attributed to various figures):

"There go the people. I must follow them, for I am their leader."

YouTube video by Billy Bragg BILLY BRAGG - CITY OF HEROES

I wrote this yesterday about the hero city of Minneapolis

www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKOW...