Courtney Balestier
@cfbalestier.bsky.social
Writer. Leftie, both handed and politically. PGH. Appalachia forever. 🌹
courtneybalestier.com for words
wmfapodcast.com for convos about words
courtneybalestier.com for words
wmfapodcast.com for convos about words
Pinned
I’m a writer working on a novel about Appalachian identity and a few other projects in that arena. Journalist in a past life. In a love-hate relationship with my home state of WV. I always want to talk about books, gardening, and dogs. Say hi! 🌹✊
Reposted by Courtney Balestier
Here's an example of a liberal (Klein) accepting as true the lies told by maga (in this case, lies told about Kirk) in the misbegotten belief that doing will make him seem reasonable. It isn't reasonable. It's part of the insanity, as it makes lies real.
WTF? Does “the right way” to “practice politics” include lying re factual matters (eg saying Black Women have too little brainpower to be “taken seriously”)? Mourning Kirk’s murder & defending his right to make his wild claims doesn’t excuse praising his political MO
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/11/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/11/o...
Opinion | Charlie Kirk Was Practicing Politics the Right Way
www.nytimes.com
September 11, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Here's an example of a liberal (Klein) accepting as true the lies told by maga (in this case, lies told about Kirk) in the misbegotten belief that doing will make him seem reasonable. It isn't reasonable. It's part of the insanity, as it makes lies real.
Reposted by Courtney Balestier
“Kirk & I were on different sides of most political arguments. We were on the same side of the continued possibility of American politics.”
So it’s personal? B/c if you were a Black woman or transgender, Kirk would not imagine you having any role in the future of American politics.
So it’s personal? B/c if you were a Black woman or transgender, Kirk would not imagine you having any role in the future of American politics.
September 11, 2025 at 3:04 PM
“Kirk & I were on different sides of most political arguments. We were on the same side of the continued possibility of American politics.”
So it’s personal? B/c if you were a Black woman or transgender, Kirk would not imagine you having any role in the future of American politics.
So it’s personal? B/c if you were a Black woman or transgender, Kirk would not imagine you having any role in the future of American politics.
Just realized my David Lynch button is sitting in a crystal ashtray, which feels about as good a way to say thank you as anything else.
January 16, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Just realized my David Lynch button is sitting in a crystal ashtray, which feels about as good a way to say thank you as anything else.
Reposted by Courtney Balestier
Honor his memory by doing something strange, unraveling a riddle within yourself, and working on your favorite projects.
January 16, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Honor his memory by doing something strange, unraveling a riddle within yourself, and working on your favorite projects.
Reposted by Courtney Balestier
Reposted by Courtney Balestier
“I don’t understand what produce in the Central Valley has to do with fires in LA” this is the subject of one of the most famous movies ever made, in which it is explained to Jack Nicholson at length by the director of The Maltese Falcon
January 12, 2025 at 8:51 PM
“I don’t understand what produce in the Central Valley has to do with fires in LA” this is the subject of one of the most famous movies ever made, in which it is explained to Jack Nicholson at length by the director of The Maltese Falcon
Reposted by Courtney Balestier
Occasional reminder that there’s no, “it’s too late, its over” for anthropogenic climate change. Every molecule of CO2 that doesn’t go into the atmosphere makes a difference. Preventing 0.1 degree of warming makes a difference. Every bit of climate resilience we build together makes a difference.
January 9, 2025 at 1:18 AM
Occasional reminder that there’s no, “it’s too late, its over” for anthropogenic climate change. Every molecule of CO2 that doesn’t go into the atmosphere makes a difference. Preventing 0.1 degree of warming makes a difference. Every bit of climate resilience we build together makes a difference.
Reposted by Courtney Balestier
FLAG:
The North Carolina Supreme Court has issued an order blocking state officials from certifying the Democratic candidate as the winner of the race for a seat on the Court.
All of the Republicans on the Court ruled against certification.
The North Carolina Supreme Court has issued an order blocking state officials from certifying the Democratic candidate as the winner of the race for a seat on the Court.
All of the Republicans on the Court ruled against certification.
January 7, 2025 at 9:55 PM
FLAG:
The North Carolina Supreme Court has issued an order blocking state officials from certifying the Democratic candidate as the winner of the race for a seat on the Court.
All of the Republicans on the Court ruled against certification.
The North Carolina Supreme Court has issued an order blocking state officials from certifying the Democratic candidate as the winner of the race for a seat on the Court.
All of the Republicans on the Court ruled against certification.
Reposted by Courtney Balestier
Over the past 4–5 years, Facebook has sunset tools (chiefly CrowdTangle) used by researchers and journalists, made data difficult and expensive to get, and iced out academics studying disinformation.
Now, it's shutting down the fact checking on its platform.
Now, it's shutting down the fact checking on its platform.
January 7, 2025 at 1:28 PM
Over the past 4–5 years, Facebook has sunset tools (chiefly CrowdTangle) used by researchers and journalists, made data difficult and expensive to get, and iced out academics studying disinformation.
Now, it's shutting down the fact checking on its platform.
Now, it's shutting down the fact checking on its platform.
Reposted by Courtney Balestier
Also - please spend time deciding how you are going to engage with the content this administration and the complicit media are going to be putting out from here on out.
Our nervous systems are precious resources and keeping them in a hyper-reactive state is BAD-real bad. We need to be intentional.
Our nervous systems are precious resources and keeping them in a hyper-reactive state is BAD-real bad. We need to be intentional.
January 7, 2025 at 5:58 PM
Also - please spend time deciding how you are going to engage with the content this administration and the complicit media are going to be putting out from here on out.
Our nervous systems are precious resources and keeping them in a hyper-reactive state is BAD-real bad. We need to be intentional.
Our nervous systems are precious resources and keeping them in a hyper-reactive state is BAD-real bad. We need to be intentional.
Reposted by Courtney Balestier
BREAKING: The biggest strike against Amazon in U.S. history is happening right now.
The Teamsters are picketing facilities across the country.
The union has organized workers at 10 Amazon locations AND they're putting up picket lines at hundreds of other Amazon sites nationwide.
The Teamsters are picketing facilities across the country.
The union has organized workers at 10 Amazon locations AND they're putting up picket lines at hundreds of other Amazon sites nationwide.
December 19, 2024 at 2:05 PM
BREAKING: The biggest strike against Amazon in U.S. history is happening right now.
The Teamsters are picketing facilities across the country.
The union has organized workers at 10 Amazon locations AND they're putting up picket lines at hundreds of other Amazon sites nationwide.
The Teamsters are picketing facilities across the country.
The union has organized workers at 10 Amazon locations AND they're putting up picket lines at hundreds of other Amazon sites nationwide.
Reposted by Courtney Balestier
Lots of clarity today
December 19, 2024 at 9:34 PM
Lots of clarity today
Reposted by Courtney Balestier
"The election of a new slate of DNC officers is an opportunity to change the course of the Democratic Party and to center its purpose and messaging around the economic and social needs of working people. It’s time to stop doing business as usual."
aflcio.org/press/releas...
aflcio.org/press/releas...
Labor Movement Principles for a Worker-Centered DNC | AFL-CIO
The following is a statement from Liz Shuler, President of the AFL-CIO:
aflcio.org
December 10, 2024 at 8:03 PM
"The election of a new slate of DNC officers is an opportunity to change the course of the Democratic Party and to center its purpose and messaging around the economic and social needs of working people. It’s time to stop doing business as usual."
aflcio.org/press/releas...
aflcio.org/press/releas...
I remember Nikki Giovanni at the Appalachian Writers Workshop, the brilliant, dizzying arcs of her words. iirc, she rewrote poems onstage, as she recited them. She was profound, and hilarious. I don't even remember if I met her, or if I just feel like I did bc the place was so full with her. 💜
December 10, 2024 at 6:49 PM
I remember Nikki Giovanni at the Appalachian Writers Workshop, the brilliant, dizzying arcs of her words. iirc, she rewrote poems onstage, as she recited them. She was profound, and hilarious. I don't even remember if I met her, or if I just feel like I did bc the place was so full with her. 💜
Reposted by Courtney Balestier
The operative principle is not that political violence is not allowed. It is that it is allowed only by some actors, for some ends, and forbidden to others.
December 9, 2024 at 4:50 PM
The operative principle is not that political violence is not allowed. It is that it is allowed only by some actors, for some ends, and forbidden to others.
Wait as a West Virginian I actually don't know how to not be furious at Manchin, help.
Sens. Welch and Manchin have introduced a constitutional amendment that would establish term limits for Supreme Court justices.
The amendment would impose 18-year limits on new justices appointed to the court, with, eventually, a new term starting about every two years.
The amendment would impose 18-year limits on new justices appointed to the court, with, eventually, a new term starting about every two years.
December 9, 2024 at 8:12 PM
Wait as a West Virginian I actually don't know how to not be furious at Manchin, help.
Reposted by Courtney Balestier
Leak. It. Come on, democrats, some of you are outgoing. It’s not even illegal, I don’t think. Walk right up to one of the many reporters in the building. Say it into a mic during a session. Have any evidence of backbone, whatsoever.
December 6, 2024 at 4:37 AM
Leak. It. Come on, democrats, some of you are outgoing. It’s not even illegal, I don’t think. Walk right up to one of the many reporters in the building. Say it into a mic during a session. Have any evidence of backbone, whatsoever.
Reposted by Courtney Balestier
Every other democracy on Earth is doing s better job facing down the existential threat posed by Russian election interference, disinformation, and the far right authoritarianism than the US. Why are we so uniquely bad at this? apnews.com/article/roma...
Romania's top court annuls first round of presidential vote won by far-right candidate
A top Romanian court has annulled the first round of the country’s presidential election, days after declassified intelligence alleged Russia ran a coordinated online campaign to promote the far-right...
apnews.com
December 6, 2024 at 2:19 PM
Every other democracy on Earth is doing s better job facing down the existential threat posed by Russian election interference, disinformation, and the far right authoritarianism than the US. Why are we so uniquely bad at this? apnews.com/article/roma...
Reposted by Courtney Balestier
There’s no such thing as working productively with MAGA nihilists like Elon, Vivek and RFK, Jr. They want to bring down our Republic. Don’t normalize them by pointing out a few of their good ideas.
You can’t play nice with the leopards. Let them into your house and they will eat your face.
You can’t play nice with the leopards. Let them into your house and they will eat your face.
December 6, 2024 at 11:47 AM
There’s no such thing as working productively with MAGA nihilists like Elon, Vivek and RFK, Jr. They want to bring down our Republic. Don’t normalize them by pointing out a few of their good ideas.
You can’t play nice with the leopards. Let them into your house and they will eat your face.
You can’t play nice with the leopards. Let them into your house and they will eat your face.
Reposted by Courtney Balestier
for context NYC offered a $10k reward for any critical information about the homocide which is about the cost of a single 15 minute ambulance ride after UnitedHealthcare denies coverage bc the EMTs responding to the call were out of network
As police hunted for the missing gunman in a fatal “targeted attack” on the CEO of UnitedHealthcare in Manhattan on Wednesday morning, social media erupted with contempt for the health insurance industry he represented—and his company in particular:
Americans Have Little Sympathy for Murdered Health Insurance Exec
Americans expressed virtually no sympathy for the apparently targeted killing of UnitedHealthcare's CEO by mystery gunman in New York.
www.rollingstone.com
December 5, 2024 at 12:19 AM
for context NYC offered a $10k reward for any critical information about the homocide which is about the cost of a single 15 minute ambulance ride after UnitedHealthcare denies coverage bc the EMTs responding to the call were out of network
Reposted by Courtney Balestier
states rights unless its parents rights unless the parents are wrong in which case its states rights unless the state is wrong in which case its federal rights unless the feds are democrats in which case its parents rights unless the parents are wrong in which case
December 4, 2024 at 7:30 PM
states rights unless its parents rights unless the parents are wrong in which case its states rights unless the state is wrong in which case its federal rights unless the feds are democrats in which case its parents rights unless the parents are wrong in which case
Reposted by Courtney Balestier
"remaining silent about issues of race, gender, and origin that Republicans keep introducing does not make them go away. It guarantees that all voters hear is the hate peddling of the opposition."
The Electoral Problem for Democrats: It's the Neoliberalism, Stupid
In the 2024 contest between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, voters rejected the status quo — as our polls and focus groups warned would happen.
www.rollingstone.com
November 25, 2024 at 2:12 AM
"remaining silent about issues of race, gender, and origin that Republicans keep introducing does not make them go away. It guarantees that all voters hear is the hate peddling of the opposition."
Reposted by Courtney Balestier
Not just civil rights, everything. I can’t think of a single front on which democrats are mounting any kind of fight. Climate change? Nah. Guns? Nah. Covid? Nah. Healthcare? Nah.
The real trap here is that the Republicans have made defending civil rights seem like a frivolous thing and a whole lot of liberals are falling in line. Even if it was a culture war, so what? This would be a war worth fighting. What are we even doing here, people? Get it together.
November 21, 2024 at 5:09 AM
Not just civil rights, everything. I can’t think of a single front on which democrats are mounting any kind of fight. Climate change? Nah. Guns? Nah. Covid? Nah. Healthcare? Nah.