Ben Leland
@benlelandoh.bsky.social
Grants and contracts specialist | Organizer w/ Clintonville Area Progressives | An "up and comer" according to the Columbus Dispatch
Reposted by Ben Leland
This shutdown deal does nothing to help those in our state struggling with the cost of healthcare. Half a million Ohioans will face skyrocketing premiums because once again Washington politicians have made a mess.
November 10, 2025 at 2:00 AM
This shutdown deal does nothing to help those in our state struggling with the cost of healthcare. Half a million Ohioans will face skyrocketing premiums because once again Washington politicians have made a mess.
Reposted by Ben Leland
it was the best of times, it was the durst of times
November 7, 2025 at 7:37 PM
it was the best of times, it was the durst of times
When I see images like this I taste instant oatmeal because for weeks after this I would wake up before school and anxiously read the new recount developments in the Dispatch while eating breakfast. Days and days of that have inextricably linked the two in my brain.
November 7, 2025 at 6:29 PM
When I see images like this I taste instant oatmeal because for weeks after this I would wake up before school and anxiously read the new recount developments in the Dispatch while eating breakfast. Days and days of that have inextricably linked the two in my brain.
Reposted by Ben Leland
congrats to @lauramoldham.bsky.social for winning her council seat!!
November 5, 2025 at 7:00 PM
congrats to @lauramoldham.bsky.social for winning her council seat!!
A last reminder to vote for Jesse Vogel for Columbus City Council tomorrow, Tues Nov 4. Find your Election Day Polling place here: electionlink.franklincountyohio.gov/.../ViewPoll....
Polls Open 6:30am - 7:30pm.
Polls Open 6:30am - 7:30pm.
November 3, 2025 at 10:25 PM
A last reminder to vote for Jesse Vogel for Columbus City Council tomorrow, Tues Nov 4. Find your Election Day Polling place here: electionlink.franklincountyohio.gov/.../ViewPoll....
Polls Open 6:30am - 7:30pm.
Polls Open 6:30am - 7:30pm.
Eons ago I did a stint driving SUVs in the Kerry for President DC motorcades. They never let me drive the candidate himself, but it's still odd that they let a college kid do this.
Setti Warren was one of the staffers I drove, and he was kind and professional. RIP www.thecrimson.com/article/2025...
Setti Warren was one of the staffers I drove, and he was kind and professional. RIP www.thecrimson.com/article/2025...
Harvard Institute of Politics Director Setti Warren Dies Suddenly at 55 | News | The Harvard Crimson
Setti D. Warren, the director of Harvard’s Institute of Politics and former mayor of Newton, Mass., died suddenly at his home over the weekend. He was 55.
www.thecrimson.com
November 3, 2025 at 12:54 AM
Eons ago I did a stint driving SUVs in the Kerry for President DC motorcades. They never let me drive the candidate himself, but it's still odd that they let a college kid do this.
Setti Warren was one of the staffers I drove, and he was kind and professional. RIP www.thecrimson.com/article/2025...
Setti Warren was one of the staffers I drove, and he was kind and professional. RIP www.thecrimson.com/article/2025...
🎶i'm not like them, but I can pretend🎶
November 1, 2025 at 2:21 AM
🎶i'm not like them, but I can pretend🎶
They should invent a trick or treat that isn't pouring rain
October 30, 2025 at 12:36 PM
They should invent a trick or treat that isn't pouring rain
This thread is why the housing crisis is one of the very most important things to fix in America. Inexpensive housing in expensive cities helps people AND it builds political power. Plus it's one of the issues that Democrats have the most direct control over.
Everybody's talking about Dem strategy, so here's something to add to the mix.
I start with this premise: The best and most reliable indicator of whether someone will vote red or blue is the density of the place they live. More dense, more likely to be blue, & vice versa.
I start with this premise: The best and most reliable indicator of whether someone will vote red or blue is the density of the place they live. More dense, more likely to be blue, & vice versa.
October 29, 2025 at 9:27 PM
This thread is why the housing crisis is one of the very most important things to fix in America. Inexpensive housing in expensive cities helps people AND it builds political power. Plus it's one of the issues that Democrats have the most direct control over.
Reposted by Ben Leland
“Politics is not something that you have, it’s something that you do.” @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social on the importance of canvassing in his campaign for New York City mayor
October 28, 2025 at 5:59 PM
“Politics is not something that you have, it’s something that you do.” @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social on the importance of canvassing in his campaign for New York City mayor
Reposted by Ben Leland
Sticker shock for ACA recipients:
Clint and Cindy Kittrell, Oregon: $305/month --> $2,500/month.
Chad and Tara Smith, Idaho: $710/month --> $1,000/month.
Jessica Bunger, Florida: New premiums quadruple to $1,100/month. "I’ve never felt so powerless in my life"
www.wsj.com/health/healt...
Clint and Cindy Kittrell, Oregon: $305/month --> $2,500/month.
Chad and Tara Smith, Idaho: $710/month --> $1,000/month.
Jessica Bunger, Florida: New premiums quadruple to $1,100/month. "I’ve never felt so powerless in my life"
www.wsj.com/health/healt...
Americans Are Getting a Look at Next Year’s ACA Premiums and Many Don’t Like It
Many Affordable Care Act enrollees could pay hundreds of dollars more if they stick with their health plans.
www.wsj.com
October 28, 2025 at 10:25 PM
Sticker shock for ACA recipients:
Clint and Cindy Kittrell, Oregon: $305/month --> $2,500/month.
Chad and Tara Smith, Idaho: $710/month --> $1,000/month.
Jessica Bunger, Florida: New premiums quadruple to $1,100/month. "I’ve never felt so powerless in my life"
www.wsj.com/health/healt...
Clint and Cindy Kittrell, Oregon: $305/month --> $2,500/month.
Chad and Tara Smith, Idaho: $710/month --> $1,000/month.
Jessica Bunger, Florida: New premiums quadruple to $1,100/month. "I’ve never felt so powerless in my life"
www.wsj.com/health/healt...
Reposted by Ben Leland
Hey Columbus, Ohio, please attend or donate to Jesse Vogel's campaign for City Council. Let's get a progressive in office. It's the Moment for the Movement.
October 28, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Hey Columbus, Ohio, please attend or donate to Jesse Vogel's campaign for City Council. Let's get a progressive in office. It's the Moment for the Movement.
It was an unbelievable honor to host Dr. Amy Acton at one of Saturday's canvasses for Jesse Vogel for Columbus City Council.
Momentum is on our side, but we need your help to get Jesse over the top.
Donate: secure.actblue.com/donate/jesse...
Volunteer: www.mobilize.us/friendsofjes...
Momentum is on our side, but we need your help to get Jesse over the top.
Donate: secure.actblue.com/donate/jesse...
Volunteer: www.mobilize.us/friendsofjes...
October 27, 2025 at 10:53 PM
It was an unbelievable honor to host Dr. Amy Acton at one of Saturday's canvasses for Jesse Vogel for Columbus City Council.
Momentum is on our side, but we need your help to get Jesse over the top.
Donate: secure.actblue.com/donate/jesse...
Volunteer: www.mobilize.us/friendsofjes...
Momentum is on our side, but we need your help to get Jesse over the top.
Donate: secure.actblue.com/donate/jesse...
Volunteer: www.mobilize.us/friendsofjes...
Reposted by Ben Leland
This video from Portland is a metaphor for what is going on in America. ICE trying so hard to get Americans to cross a line and if they don't, dragging them across the line and violently attacking.
October 26, 2025 at 7:17 PM
This video from Portland is a metaphor for what is going on in America. ICE trying so hard to get Americans to cross a line and if they don't, dragging them across the line and violently attacking.
Vote @lauramoldham.bsky.social for Upper Arlington City Council!
October 25, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Vote @lauramoldham.bsky.social for Upper Arlington City Council!
Well, this is huge. Join me and *Amy Acton* for a canvass for Jesse Vogel this Sunday.
Sign up here: www.mobilize.us/friendsofjes...
Sign up here: www.mobilize.us/friendsofjes...
October 23, 2025 at 9:58 PM
Well, this is huge. Join me and *Amy Acton* for a canvass for Jesse Vogel this Sunday.
Sign up here: www.mobilize.us/friendsofjes...
Sign up here: www.mobilize.us/friendsofjes...
Reposted by Ben Leland
Central Ohio folks, we have this in Jesse Vogel for Columbus city council and @lauramoldham.bsky.social for Upper Arlington city council.
Early voting is open, and (from what I’ve observed) turnout is pretty low, so it’s both quick and your vote can make a big difference.
And you get a sticker!
Early voting is open, and (from what I’ve observed) turnout is pretty low, so it’s both quick and your vote can make a big difference.
And you get a sticker!
I’d genuinely love to see more progressive, Green, etc. candidates running for local office so we can build a base of experienced, vetted folks with track records so that the next time we have a crucial Senate race we don’t end up rallying around black-box unknowns with shiny campaign announcements.
October 22, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Central Ohio folks, we have this in Jesse Vogel for Columbus city council and @lauramoldham.bsky.social for Upper Arlington city council.
Early voting is open, and (from what I’ve observed) turnout is pretty low, so it’s both quick and your vote can make a big difference.
And you get a sticker!
Early voting is open, and (from what I’ve observed) turnout is pretty low, so it’s both quick and your vote can make a big difference.
And you get a sticker!
It's unpleasant to (lightly) root against Shane Bieber for the first time in my life.
October 21, 2025 at 1:20 AM
It's unpleasant to (lightly) root against Shane Bieber for the first time in my life.
Reposted by Ben Leland
First, it staves off apathy, cynicism, and despair.
Second, it demonstrates to those who might use violence against innocent civilians that they would be doing so against grannies, kids, neighbors.
Third, it shows allies and partners that the America they need is alive.
Second, it demonstrates to those who might use violence against innocent civilians that they would be doing so against grannies, kids, neighbors.
Third, it shows allies and partners that the America they need is alive.
Here is my question, and it’s an earnest one I promise: whose mind will it change and to what end?
I don’t have any answers about what we need to do. But like, we did protests in 2017, and 2020. Among the biggest in NATIONAL HISTORY. Voting in my opinion has a much more direct effect than this.
I don’t have any answers about what we need to do. But like, we did protests in 2017, and 2020. Among the biggest in NATIONAL HISTORY. Voting in my opinion has a much more direct effect than this.
The numbers I am seeing, and the breadth of people and places with basically no arrests and so forth, seem to me an unqualified political loss for them. It is a show of strength rather than the fight itself, but you can’t downplay it.
October 19, 2025 at 1:54 AM
First, it staves off apathy, cynicism, and despair.
Second, it demonstrates to those who might use violence against innocent civilians that they would be doing so against grannies, kids, neighbors.
Third, it shows allies and partners that the America they need is alive.
Second, it demonstrates to those who might use violence against innocent civilians that they would be doing so against grannies, kids, neighbors.
Third, it shows allies and partners that the America they need is alive.
Reposted by Ben Leland
Here’s a great reason to insta-block, directly from them!
October 17, 2025 at 11:15 PM
Here’s a great reason to insta-block, directly from them!
Following Mamdani is fun and exciting but please don't do it at the expense of focusing on the elections in your own backyard.
It's wild how much a nation of 350 million people is paying attention to a mayoral race.
(About 2% of the population lives in NYC.)
(About 2% of the population lives in NYC.)
October 17, 2025 at 10:05 PM
Following Mamdani is fun and exciting but please don't do it at the expense of focusing on the elections in your own backyard.
Reposted by Ben Leland
Vote Jesse Vogel
Ride COTA 😌
Ride COTA 😌
October 17, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Vote Jesse Vogel
Ride COTA 😌
Ride COTA 😌