Celeste Pewter
@celestepewter.bsky.social
Former Dem staffer. UCI, King's College London, Johns Hopkins. | INFINITE SKY (Bloomsbury 2026) + more | Many bylines. | AAJA/SCBWI | Rep: Molly Ker Hawn at David Higham and Uwe Stender at TriadaUS
Reposted by Celeste Pewter
"even if doing so strains the anti-interventionist identity once central to his political brand."
He was never an "anti-interventionist" and people writing things like this are at great risk of being scammed by the wallet inspector.
He was never an "anti-interventionist" and people writing things like this are at great risk of being scammed by the wallet inspector.
Once a critic of overseas entanglements, President Trump now appears willing to embrace regime change as a tool of American influence, raising questions about whether his “America First” doctrine is being redefined.
Trump’s Venezuela move pushes the limits of ‘America First’
Once a critic of entanglements abroad, Trump now appears willing to embrace regime change as a tool of American influence, risking a backlash from his MAGA base.
www.washingtonpost.com
January 4, 2026 at 12:02 AM
"even if doing so strains the anti-interventionist identity once central to his political brand."
He was never an "anti-interventionist" and people writing things like this are at great risk of being scammed by the wallet inspector.
He was never an "anti-interventionist" and people writing things like this are at great risk of being scammed by the wallet inspector.
Obligatory reminder of Maureen Dowd's 2016 piece too.
(Someone who still has X go tag her or something please)
(Someone who still has X go tag her or something please)
January 4, 2026 at 6:16 AM
Obligatory reminder of Maureen Dowd's 2016 piece too.
(Someone who still has X go tag her or something please)
(Someone who still has X go tag her or something please)
Reposted by Celeste Pewter
REP. GOLDMAN: “Trump promised oil executives if they gave him $1 billion for his campaign, he’d do right by them. They gave about $500 million. This is a massive gift in violation of international law, essentially just co-opting an entire country's natural resources for the benefit of 🇺🇸 Companies.”
January 4, 2026 at 4:16 AM
REP. GOLDMAN: “Trump promised oil executives if they gave him $1 billion for his campaign, he’d do right by them. They gave about $500 million. This is a massive gift in violation of international law, essentially just co-opting an entire country's natural resources for the benefit of 🇺🇸 Companies.”
Reposted by Celeste Pewter
i did this with just under 10 people in texas and we all used our strengths and set boundaries when we couldn’t show up and we blocked some bills. i’m just saying it’s absolutely possible bc i’ve done it.
January 4, 2026 at 4:39 AM
i did this with just under 10 people in texas and we all used our strengths and set boundaries when we couldn’t show up and we blocked some bills. i’m just saying it’s absolutely possible bc i’ve done it.
Reposted by Celeste Pewter
organizing can look like: finding a mutual in your state/city who also talks about the same bills as you and divvying up work on contacting your reps/senators. you can also share info about the responses you’re getting. i’ve even organized w/ folks who could visit the offices directly.
I agree with this entirely.
Talking about it locally also encourages local attention. Find your people w/in your communities.
Talking about it locally also encourages local attention. Find your people w/in your communities.
I would also add this - urge everyone to contact state elected officials, which include governor, state representatives, state senators, etc., as well as local officials. Ask them if they condone this or not, especially when some could be running for Congress in the 2026 midterm elections.
January 4, 2026 at 4:39 AM
organizing can look like: finding a mutual in your state/city who also talks about the same bills as you and divvying up work on contacting your reps/senators. you can also share info about the responses you’re getting. i’ve even organized w/ folks who could visit the offices directly.
If you need call tips, you can scroll down - the next post = tips.
I also have a more detailed carousel here: www.instagram.com/p/DCtS_F7xku...
I also have a more detailed carousel here: www.instagram.com/p/DCtS_F7xku...
January 4, 2026 at 4:31 AM
If you need call tips, you can scroll down - the next post = tips.
I also have a more detailed carousel here: www.instagram.com/p/DCtS_F7xku...
I also have a more detailed carousel here: www.instagram.com/p/DCtS_F7xku...
Reposted by Celeste Pewter
Boosting my call script again, since I think some people are only catching the second post, which is call tips.
Call your reps + please read the thread. Do it now, please.
Script.
Script.
January 4, 2026 at 2:52 AM
Boosting my call script again, since I think some people are only catching the second post, which is call tips.
This is a question worth asking and thinking about.
I saw so many deliberately contrarian small accounts today that seemed hellbent on sewing dissent in every single discussion thread, and it struck me that Bluesky probably has no idea just how many bots and disruptive foreign actors are running around here.
January 4, 2026 at 4:24 AM
This is a question worth asking and thinking about.
Look, after what happened on CBS tonight + Semafor's reporting about NYT and WaPo?
I'm putting this out there again. Publishing friends, so many of you have been so great about this - I'd appreciate another boost.
Because I'm worried. 😕
I'm putting this out there again. Publishing friends, so many of you have been so great about this - I'd appreciate another boost.
Because I'm worried. 😕
Also: I've said it before, and I'll say it again:
Publishing, let me write a media literacy book, I am begging you. I keep being told that there's no appetite for this...
But how can there NOT be, when it's an urgent and pressing issue, especially with how we aggregate news + use of AI?
Publishing, let me write a media literacy book, I am begging you. I keep being told that there's no appetite for this...
But how can there NOT be, when it's an urgent and pressing issue, especially with how we aggregate news + use of AI?
January 4, 2026 at 4:06 AM
Look, after what happened on CBS tonight + Semafor's reporting about NYT and WaPo?
I'm putting this out there again. Publishing friends, so many of you have been so great about this - I'd appreciate another boost.
Because I'm worried. 😕
I'm putting this out there again. Publishing friends, so many of you have been so great about this - I'd appreciate another boost.
Because I'm worried. 😕
Reposted by Celeste Pewter
This evening, President Trump shared a video on his Truth Social platform, which spread lies about the assassination of Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman.
My statement:
My statement:
January 4, 2026 at 3:05 AM
This evening, President Trump shared a video on his Truth Social platform, which spread lies about the assassination of Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman.
My statement:
My statement:
Reposted by Celeste Pewter
You know folks are angry when they do a freeway protest in LA IN THIS RAIN
NO ILLEGAL WARS
WTF
It's time to IMPEACH.
@kittywestmeow.bsky.social
@hcrichardson.bsky.social
@reptedlieu.bsky.social
@schiff.senate.gov
@padilla.senate.gov
@citizensimpeachment.com
@indivisible.org
NO ILLEGAL WARS
WTF
It's time to IMPEACH.
@kittywestmeow.bsky.social
@hcrichardson.bsky.social
@reptedlieu.bsky.social
@schiff.senate.gov
@padilla.senate.gov
@citizensimpeachment.com
@indivisible.org
January 4, 2026 at 1:39 AM
You know folks are angry when they do a freeway protest in LA IN THIS RAIN
NO ILLEGAL WARS
WTF
It's time to IMPEACH.
@kittywestmeow.bsky.social
@hcrichardson.bsky.social
@reptedlieu.bsky.social
@schiff.senate.gov
@padilla.senate.gov
@citizensimpeachment.com
@indivisible.org
NO ILLEGAL WARS
WTF
It's time to IMPEACH.
@kittywestmeow.bsky.social
@hcrichardson.bsky.social
@reptedlieu.bsky.social
@schiff.senate.gov
@padilla.senate.gov
@citizensimpeachment.com
@indivisible.org
Reposted by Celeste Pewter
(Semafor) - The New York Times and Washington Post learned of a secret US raid on Venezuela soon before it was scheduled to begin Friday night — but held off publishing what they knew to avoid endangering US troops ..
@semafor.com
www.semafor.com/article/01/0...
@semafor.com
www.semafor.com/article/01/0...
January 4, 2026 at 1:45 AM
(Semafor) - The New York Times and Washington Post learned of a secret US raid on Venezuela soon before it was scheduled to begin Friday night — but held off publishing what they knew to avoid endangering US troops ..
@semafor.com
www.semafor.com/article/01/0...
@semafor.com
www.semafor.com/article/01/0...
Reposted by Celeste Pewter
For Californians, I was able to leave a vm for all of my Reps, including Senator Padilla who, for the longest time, did not have VMs available on weekends and Holidays.
Please make the call. The only one to say something so far (among my Reps) is Adam Schiff and his response...is pretty weak sauce.
Please make the call. The only one to say something so far (among my Reps) is Adam Schiff and his response...is pretty weak sauce.
Boosting my call script again, since I think some people are only catching the second post, which is call tips.
Call your reps + please read the thread. Do it now, please.
Script.
Script.
January 4, 2026 at 3:39 AM
For Californians, I was able to leave a vm for all of my Reps, including Senator Padilla who, for the longest time, did not have VMs available on weekends and Holidays.
Please make the call. The only one to say something so far (among my Reps) is Adam Schiff and his response...is pretty weak sauce.
Please make the call. The only one to say something so far (among my Reps) is Adam Schiff and his response...is pretty weak sauce.
Reposted by Celeste Pewter
I call Lindsay Graham’s office all the time and I know he doesn’t give a shit but spite sustains me. They have to pick up the phone and have to pretend they give a shit and that motherfucker WORKS FOR ME. Sometimes I have to really work myself up to it; their contacts in my phone have mean names.
January 4, 2026 at 3:33 AM
I call Lindsay Graham’s office all the time and I know he doesn’t give a shit but spite sustains me. They have to pick up the phone and have to pretend they give a shit and that motherfucker WORKS FOR ME. Sometimes I have to really work myself up to it; their contacts in my phone have mean names.
Reposted by Celeste Pewter
Excerpt from WaPo: “‘They actually built a house which was identical to the one they went into with all the safes and all the steel all over the place,’ Trump told ‘Fox & Friends.’”
CIA would probably have preferred that Trump not say that.
CIA would probably have preferred that Trump not say that.
January 4, 2026 at 1:21 AM
Excerpt from WaPo: “‘They actually built a house which was identical to the one they went into with all the safes and all the steel all over the place,’ Trump told ‘Fox & Friends.’”
CIA would probably have preferred that Trump not say that.
CIA would probably have preferred that Trump not say that.
Reposted by Celeste Pewter
I have a democratic house rep and while she's fairly solid, on the rare occasions I do call her to complain (instead of to thank her) I am a lot more precise with that because i DO think she is listening and cares.
But I reframed my job with my senators. I am just stealing time & peace from them.
But I reframed my job with my senators. I am just stealing time & peace from them.
January 4, 2026 at 3:24 AM
I have a democratic house rep and while she's fairly solid, on the rare occasions I do call her to complain (instead of to thank her) I am a lot more precise with that because i DO think she is listening and cares.
But I reframed my job with my senators. I am just stealing time & peace from them.
But I reframed my job with my senators. I am just stealing time & peace from them.
Reposted by Celeste Pewter
I did a thread about my calls to Tuberville today! I promise I'm not fancy, but my goal is not to win but to just continue to annoy the shit out of them.
bsky.app/profile/most...
bsky.app/profile/most...
My attitude on this is that I'm not calling them because I think I can change their minds.
I'm calling them because it is unthinkable to let them do this without hearing how evil and awful they are.
My spite powers me. If I can get just 500 people a day to join me, we could fuck up their day.
I'm calling them because it is unthinkable to let them do this without hearing how evil and awful they are.
My spite powers me. If I can get just 500 people a day to join me, we could fuck up their day.
I call Tommy Tuberville every fucking week, multiple times a week, because he can be evil but I don't have to let him do it without pushback.
So I don't need to hear excuses. I call the dumbest senator in the country. 😂
So I don't need to hear excuses. I call the dumbest senator in the country. 😂
January 4, 2026 at 3:22 AM
I did a thread about my calls to Tuberville today! I promise I'm not fancy, but my goal is not to win but to just continue to annoy the shit out of them.
bsky.app/profile/most...
bsky.app/profile/most...
Reposted by Celeste Pewter
My latest with @ichotiner.bsky.social.
January 4, 2026 at 1:14 AM
My latest with @ichotiner.bsky.social.
He's probably getting tired of me tagging him, but hah - follow @markstout.bsky.social.
Explanation in thread, and everything he's shared today has sharpened my perspective on what's happening. Also, he's just a good guy. ⬇️
Explanation in thread, and everything he's shared today has sharpened my perspective on what's happening. Also, he's just a good guy. ⬇️
Consider this another reminder to follow Dr. Stout.
He was my advisor at Hopkins and ex intel, and if you've followed me long enough to see me say follow expertise, follow him.
He knows what to look for/what to track in this mess of a situation.
He was my advisor at Hopkins and ex intel, and if you've followed me long enough to see me say follow expertise, follow him.
He knows what to look for/what to track in this mess of a situation.
To me, this sounds like the first tangible sign of things going wrong for Trump’s (non) plan.
But I’m a former intelligence analyst and this a glass half empty kind of guy.
But I’m a former intelligence analyst and this a glass half empty kind of guy.
January 4, 2026 at 3:10 AM
He's probably getting tired of me tagging him, but hah - follow @markstout.bsky.social.
Explanation in thread, and everything he's shared today has sharpened my perspective on what's happening. Also, he's just a good guy. ⬇️
Explanation in thread, and everything he's shared today has sharpened my perspective on what's happening. Also, he's just a good guy. ⬇️
Reposted by Celeste Pewter
We can hold compassion for the range of emotions Venezuelans may be experiencing — including positive emotions — and also be clear that regime change by a fascist superpower is dangerous, destabilizing, and sets precedents that will not stop at Venezuela. Those aren’t contradictory positions.
January 4, 2026 at 2:35 AM
We can hold compassion for the range of emotions Venezuelans may be experiencing — including positive emotions — and also be clear that regime change by a fascist superpower is dangerous, destabilizing, and sets precedents that will not stop at Venezuela. Those aren’t contradictory positions.
Reposted by Celeste Pewter
It seems to me that democracy is kind of like Tinkerbell. We simply all have to clap our hands and believe that democracy is real, and it will be real. But if we al decide it won't work, it won't.
January 4, 2026 at 3:03 AM
It seems to me that democracy is kind of like Tinkerbell. We simply all have to clap our hands and believe that democracy is real, and it will be real. But if we al decide it won't work, it won't.
Ok.
First Trump administration Celeste would have tried to coax and persuade these people, but 2026 Celeste is just calling this out.
If you are an account who claims to love our democracy, don't spread this type of energy around. Your apathy is YOUR problem.
First Trump administration Celeste would have tried to coax and persuade these people, but 2026 Celeste is just calling this out.
If you are an account who claims to love our democracy, don't spread this type of energy around. Your apathy is YOUR problem.
January 4, 2026 at 3:02 AM
Ok.
First Trump administration Celeste would have tried to coax and persuade these people, but 2026 Celeste is just calling this out.
If you are an account who claims to love our democracy, don't spread this type of energy around. Your apathy is YOUR problem.
First Trump administration Celeste would have tried to coax and persuade these people, but 2026 Celeste is just calling this out.
If you are an account who claims to love our democracy, don't spread this type of energy around. Your apathy is YOUR problem.
I agree with this entirely.
Talking about it locally also encourages local attention. Find your people w/in your communities.
Talking about it locally also encourages local attention. Find your people w/in your communities.
I would also add this - urge everyone to contact state elected officials, which include governor, state representatives, state senators, etc., as well as local officials. Ask them if they condone this or not, especially when some could be running for Congress in the 2026 midterm elections.
January 4, 2026 at 3:00 AM
I agree with this entirely.
Talking about it locally also encourages local attention. Find your people w/in your communities.
Talking about it locally also encourages local attention. Find your people w/in your communities.
Reposted by Celeste Pewter
if you are lucky enough to be represented in Congress, you should do this
Call your reps + please read the thread. Do it now, please.
Script.
Script.
January 4, 2026 at 2:59 AM
if you are lucky enough to be represented in Congress, you should do this
Boosting my call script again, since I think some people are only catching the second post, which is call tips.
Call your reps + please read the thread. Do it now, please.
Script.
Script.
January 4, 2026 at 2:52 AM
Boosting my call script again, since I think some people are only catching the second post, which is call tips.