Beth DeSombre
@bethdesombre.bsky.social
Songwriter, professor (Wellesley College, ES), activist, dog mom, runner. Songs that are “smart and uplifting...focusing on the quiet meaning to be found in ordinary life." Last year at the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences at Stanford.
Reposted by Beth DeSombre
Barack Obama *ILL-ADVISEDLY* ran against Bobby Rush in 2000. He lost by 30%. Many of us absolutely knew he would lose at the time in Chicago. 3 years later he was running for Senate. Anyway, "waiting your turn" in politics is ridiculous. You run when you want to run & failure is fine.
November 17, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Barack Obama *ILL-ADVISEDLY* ran against Bobby Rush in 2000. He lost by 30%. Many of us absolutely knew he would lose at the time in Chicago. 3 years later he was running for Senate. Anyway, "waiting your turn" in politics is ridiculous. You run when you want to run & failure is fine.
Reposted by Beth DeSombre
the Democratic Party should have 2 major goals for the next time it holds power: (1) completely rebuild the destroyed federal government capacity, and (2) crush the GOP, which enabled so much corruption and immiseration. destroy their funding, jail their leaders, make it so a new party has to emerge
November 15, 2025 at 2:02 PM
the Democratic Party should have 2 major goals for the next time it holds power: (1) completely rebuild the destroyed federal government capacity, and (2) crush the GOP, which enabled so much corruption and immiseration. destroy their funding, jail their leaders, make it so a new party has to emerge
Reposted by Beth DeSombre
NEW: The first two years of Massachusetts' millionaire tax has raised $3 billion more than expected.
And rather than driving the rich away, IPS researchers found that the number of millionaires has *increased.*
Tax the rich. Greg Ryan in @bloomberg.com:
And rather than driving the rich away, IPS researchers found that the number of millionaires has *increased.*
Tax the rich. Greg Ryan in @bloomberg.com:
Millionaire Tax That Inspired Mamdani Fuels $5.7 Billion Haul in Massachusetts
A millionaire levy in Massachusetts that New York City mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani holds up as a model for taxing the rich has generated $3 billion more in revenue than expected without forcing...
www.bloomberg.com
November 12, 2025 at 4:01 PM
NEW: The first two years of Massachusetts' millionaire tax has raised $3 billion more than expected.
And rather than driving the rich away, IPS researchers found that the number of millionaires has *increased.*
Tax the rich. Greg Ryan in @bloomberg.com:
And rather than driving the rich away, IPS researchers found that the number of millionaires has *increased.*
Tax the rich. Greg Ryan in @bloomberg.com:
Reposted by Beth DeSombre
"We can have democracy in this country, or we can have great wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, but we can't have both."
Justice Louis Brandeis, born on this day in 1856
Justice Louis Brandeis, born on this day in 1856
November 13, 2025 at 11:08 AM
"We can have democracy in this country, or we can have great wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, but we can't have both."
Justice Louis Brandeis, born on this day in 1856
Justice Louis Brandeis, born on this day in 1856
Reposted by Beth DeSombre
We’ve served our country in uniform. Now we are stepping up to serve again.
We are The Hell Cats — four female veterans that are going to flip the House in 2026.
Join the mission → www.hellcats.us/
We are The Hell Cats — four female veterans that are going to flip the House in 2026.
Join the mission → www.hellcats.us/
November 12, 2025 at 7:12 PM
We’ve served our country in uniform. Now we are stepping up to serve again.
We are The Hell Cats — four female veterans that are going to flip the House in 2026.
Join the mission → www.hellcats.us/
We are The Hell Cats — four female veterans that are going to flip the House in 2026.
Join the mission → www.hellcats.us/
Reposted by Beth DeSombre
Stop me if you've heard this before:
If the NYT still had a public editor, that person would have official standing to ask, WTF???
They axed the public editor. So it's up to the rest of us to ask, unofficially, WTF???
If the NYT still had a public editor, that person would have official standing to ask, WTF???
They axed the public editor. So it's up to the rest of us to ask, unofficially, WTF???
To recap: Jeffrey Epstein offered a NY Times reporter photos taken in Epstein's kitchen of Donald Trump and girls in bikinis *and* implored the NYT reporter to put this information in the public discourse in 2015
What did the NY Times editors know about this offer?
What did the NY Times editors know about this offer?
“would you like photos of donald and girls in bikinis in my kitchen?” -Jeffrey Epstein
November 12, 2025 at 10:53 PM
Stop me if you've heard this before:
If the NYT still had a public editor, that person would have official standing to ask, WTF???
They axed the public editor. So it's up to the rest of us to ask, unofficially, WTF???
If the NYT still had a public editor, that person would have official standing to ask, WTF???
They axed the public editor. So it's up to the rest of us to ask, unofficially, WTF???
Reposted by Beth DeSombre
Right, the answer isn't to abandon the party to these weasels.
The answer is to flood the party with people who will take it over and transform it.
The answer is to flood the party with people who will take it over and transform it.
Hey, a lot of people are talking about changing affiliation from Democratic to Independent.
Let me tell you why you shouldn’t do that in Colorado.
One of the main ways to get a primary challenge candidate on a ballot is to caucus for your party. You need to be registered as a Dem to caucus.
Let me tell you why you shouldn’t do that in Colorado.
One of the main ways to get a primary challenge candidate on a ballot is to caucus for your party. You need to be registered as a Dem to caucus.
November 10, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Right, the answer isn't to abandon the party to these weasels.
The answer is to flood the party with people who will take it over and transform it.
The answer is to flood the party with people who will take it over and transform it.
Reposted by Beth DeSombre
instead of saying this was good strategy, maybe senate dems should say: "the republicans were going to kill people by starving them to death, and because we aren't monsters, we decided to let this fight go. We'll keep fighting. Stop electing monsters."
November 11, 2025 at 1:42 PM
instead of saying this was good strategy, maybe senate dems should say: "the republicans were going to kill people by starving them to death, and because we aren't monsters, we decided to let this fight go. We'll keep fighting. Stop electing monsters."
Reposted by Beth DeSombre
If only Chuck Schumer could be just 5% Mitch McConnell and not 100% Charlie Brown.
November 9, 2025 at 8:35 PM
If only Chuck Schumer could be just 5% Mitch McConnell and not 100% Charlie Brown.
Reposted by Beth DeSombre
Hey @hakeem-jeffries.bsky.social and @schumer.senate.gov: compromising with fascists is compliance. Read the room. Do your jobs. Protect your constituents.
November 9, 2025 at 10:58 PM
Hey @hakeem-jeffries.bsky.social and @schumer.senate.gov: compromising with fascists is compliance. Read the room. Do your jobs. Protect your constituents.
Reposted by Beth DeSombre
Call them:
Jeanne Shaheen (202) 224-2841
Gary Peters (202) 224-6221
Jon Ossoff 202-224-3521
Mark Kelly (202) 224-2235
Peter Welch 202-224-4242
Tammy Baldwin (202) 224-5653
Elissa Slotkin 202-224-4822
John Fetterman (202) 224-4254
Catherine Cortez Masto (202) 224-3542
Angus King (202) 224-5344
Jeanne Shaheen (202) 224-2841
Gary Peters (202) 224-6221
Jon Ossoff 202-224-3521
Mark Kelly (202) 224-2235
Peter Welch 202-224-4242
Tammy Baldwin (202) 224-5653
Elissa Slotkin 202-224-4822
John Fetterman (202) 224-4254
Catherine Cortez Masto (202) 224-3542
Angus King (202) 224-5344
November 9, 2025 at 9:50 PM
Call them:
Jeanne Shaheen (202) 224-2841
Gary Peters (202) 224-6221
Jon Ossoff 202-224-3521
Mark Kelly (202) 224-2235
Peter Welch 202-224-4242
Tammy Baldwin (202) 224-5653
Elissa Slotkin 202-224-4822
John Fetterman (202) 224-4254
Catherine Cortez Masto (202) 224-3542
Angus King (202) 224-5344
Jeanne Shaheen (202) 224-2841
Gary Peters (202) 224-6221
Jon Ossoff 202-224-3521
Mark Kelly (202) 224-2235
Peter Welch 202-224-4242
Tammy Baldwin (202) 224-5653
Elissa Slotkin 202-224-4822
John Fetterman (202) 224-4254
Catherine Cortez Masto (202) 224-3542
Angus King (202) 224-5344
Reposted by Beth DeSombre
I’ve said this before but I couldn’t get insurance when I was pregnant due to my pre existing condition…pregnancy.
For anyone too young to remember what it was like before ACA…
IT WAS A FUCKING NIGHTMARE.
IT WAS A FUCKING NIGHTMARE.
One of the most important provisions of the ACA was eliminating pre-existing conditions exclusions from insurance plans.
Folks need to be reminded that if the ACA goes away, so does that provision.
Folks need to be reminded that if the ACA goes away, so does that provision.
November 9, 2025 at 11:01 PM
I’ve said this before but I couldn’t get insurance when I was pregnant due to my pre existing condition…pregnancy.
Reposted by Beth DeSombre
⬇️if anyone needs an additional reason to boycott Target 🎯
ICE out of Target! The Target on Peterson Ave in Chicago allows CBP & ICE to park in its parking lot and arrest people.
November 9, 2025 at 9:35 PM
⬇️if anyone needs an additional reason to boycott Target 🎯
Reposted by Beth DeSombre
So it turns out... the US air travel system was incredibly, deeply dependent on federal funding to just run day-to-day all this time, to the benefit of private airline shareholders, when everyone thinks that state-run trains are leeching off the government. Weird!
November 9, 2025 at 12:10 AM
So it turns out... the US air travel system was incredibly, deeply dependent on federal funding to just run day-to-day all this time, to the benefit of private airline shareholders, when everyone thinks that state-run trains are leeching off the government. Weird!
Reposted by Beth DeSombre
Senate update: Republicans are now trying to sneak a backdoor national abortion ban into their government funding bill. Republicans will stop at nothing to control women's health care decisions.
November 8, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Senate update: Republicans are now trying to sneak a backdoor national abortion ban into their government funding bill. Republicans will stop at nothing to control women's health care decisions.
Reposted by Beth DeSombre
Reposted by Beth DeSombre
Caving to Trump before November 5th, 2025 could have been strategic cowardice. Now, you’re just pledging allegiance to authoritarianism.
November 7, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Caving to Trump before November 5th, 2025 could have been strategic cowardice. Now, you’re just pledging allegiance to authoritarianism.
Reposted by Beth DeSombre
November 5, 2025 at 11:09 PM
Reposted by Beth DeSombre
WOW. 81% of women 18-29 voted for Mamdani, 80% for Sherril, and 78% for Spanberger.
Gen Z women aren't playing around.
Gen Z women aren't playing around.
November 5, 2025 at 4:07 AM
WOW. 81% of women 18-29 voted for Mamdani, 80% for Sherril, and 78% for Spanberger.
Gen Z women aren't playing around.
Gen Z women aren't playing around.
Reposted by Beth DeSombre
We're all going to write pieces about what you can learn from tonight but it's actually pretty simple: The frontier of the Rebellion is everywhere. And even the smallest act of insurrection pushes our lines forward.
November 5, 2025 at 4:34 AM
We're all going to write pieces about what you can learn from tonight but it's actually pretty simple: The frontier of the Rebellion is everywhere. And even the smallest act of insurrection pushes our lines forward.
Reposted by Beth DeSombre
Came here to say this, but Jamelle Bouie has this covered. 👇
When the Democratic tent includes candidates like Spanberger and Mamdani, there is no crisis, or fight, for the party. IT’S A COALITION, NOT A POINT ESTIMATE.
When the Democratic tent includes candidates like Spanberger and Mamdani, there is no crisis, or fight, for the party. IT’S A COALITION, NOT A POINT ESTIMATE.
i want to repeat this: mamdani and spanberger have run similar campaigns tailored to their respective electorates and it is maddening to watch political journalists attempt to create some broad contrast where none exist
the other thing about this is that there is no reason to pit these candidates against each other? each are good fits for their respective electorates and each shows the value of vigorous campaigns focused on the stated material problems of voters.
November 5, 2025 at 2:12 AM
Came here to say this, but Jamelle Bouie has this covered. 👇
When the Democratic tent includes candidates like Spanberger and Mamdani, there is no crisis, or fight, for the party. IT’S A COALITION, NOT A POINT ESTIMATE.
When the Democratic tent includes candidates like Spanberger and Mamdani, there is no crisis, or fight, for the party. IT’S A COALITION, NOT A POINT ESTIMATE.
Reposted by Beth DeSombre
It's a great night to be a Democrat!
a blue button with the words proud democrat written on it
ALT: a blue button with the words proud democrat written on it
media.tenor.com
November 5, 2025 at 1:51 AM
It's a great night to be a Democrat!
Worth it for the title alone
Short piece in @consletters.bsky.social exploring social, cultural, political and ecological apsects of illicit and unregulated species translocations - what others (not me, due to homophone errors) might call guerilla rewilding. conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Who Let the Frogs out? Illicit and Unregulated Species Translocations
Click on the article title to read more.
conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
November 4, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Worth it for the title alone
Reposted by Beth DeSombre
It doesn’t matter what I think. Also, none of this would ever happen. But if I had a zillion dollars:
1. Run a “we do hard things” campaign across southern and rust belt states. Invest heavily in local, state and regional social infrastructure. Sponser later hours at a library, build a skate park…
1. Run a “we do hard things” campaign across southern and rust belt states. Invest heavily in local, state and regional social infrastructure. Sponser later hours at a library, build a skate park…
If I were to sum up my advice to the Democratic party leadership about how to defeat Trumpism, it would be to set aside policy for now and focus instead on articulating a vision of what American society should look like and what role the US should play in a rapidly changing world today.
November 3, 2025 at 12:46 AM
It doesn’t matter what I think. Also, none of this would ever happen. But if I had a zillion dollars:
1. Run a “we do hard things” campaign across southern and rust belt states. Invest heavily in local, state and regional social infrastructure. Sponser later hours at a library, build a skate park…
1. Run a “we do hard things” campaign across southern and rust belt states. Invest heavily in local, state and regional social infrastructure. Sponser later hours at a library, build a skate park…
Reposted by Beth DeSombre
It is not possible to use LLMs in any applied way without outsourcing and, as a consequence, degrading critical thinking.
The process becomes circular and self-reinforcing: Critical thinking is required to understand the risks and harms of 'AI'.
The process becomes circular and self-reinforcing: Critical thinking is required to understand the risks and harms of 'AI'.
November 2, 2025 at 10:37 AM
It is not possible to use LLMs in any applied way without outsourcing and, as a consequence, degrading critical thinking.
The process becomes circular and self-reinforcing: Critical thinking is required to understand the risks and harms of 'AI'.
The process becomes circular and self-reinforcing: Critical thinking is required to understand the risks and harms of 'AI'.