Chris Oates
@chrisoates.bsky.social
Civic tech and making government accessible to policy professionals and #COYS
Pinned
Chris Oates
@chrisoates.bsky.social
· Nov 18
mapoli bluesky electeds
docs.google.com
The starter packs are great, but I'm trying to combine a list of all #mapoli electeds on Bluesky and was hoping a good old fashioned crowdsourced Google sheet might be easier since so many are joining.
Please add anyone who the voters put into office here: docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
Please add anyone who the voters put into office here: docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
Thanks to @gintautasd.bsky.social for including me in the @massterlist.com set of New Year’s resolutions.
Though apparently I made a mistake by giving an actual resolution when it looks like the thing to do is recite a policy agenda?
Though apparently I made a mistake by giving an actual resolution when it looks like the thing to do is recite a policy agenda?
January 2, 2026 at 12:46 PM
Thanks to @gintautasd.bsky.social for including me in the @massterlist.com set of New Year’s resolutions.
Though apparently I made a mistake by giving an actual resolution when it looks like the thing to do is recite a policy agenda?
Though apparently I made a mistake by giving an actual resolution when it looks like the thing to do is recite a policy agenda?
Just got an automated sales prospecting email from a SaaS company I already use. These things always clear me of any FOMO I have that my go to market efforts aren’t as good as billion dollar companies
December 30, 2025 at 10:32 PM
Just got an automated sales prospecting email from a SaaS company I already use. These things always clear me of any FOMO I have that my go to market efforts aren’t as good as billion dollar companies
You can pretend like you’re not 40, and then you extricate yourself from a blocked in parking situation and feel like you won the Super Bowl and realize time is inevitable
December 27, 2025 at 4:19 PM
You can pretend like you’re not 40, and then you extricate yourself from a blocked in parking situation and feel like you won the Super Bowl and realize time is inevitable
Was at the same restaurant as John Cena tonight and I have to give some credit to that guy’s tailor. Impeccable.
December 21, 2025 at 12:59 AM
Was at the same restaurant as John Cena tonight and I have to give some credit to that guy’s tailor. Impeccable.
Grinchmanji
Saving Private Grinch
Cool Hand Grinch
December 20, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Grinchmanji
Last normal #mapoli digest of the year. Send me questions for a post-Christmas mailbag issue.
And I get to end on a depressing note: the budgets for FY26 and FY27! With quotes from the hearing from Evan Horowitz, Alan Clayton-Matthews, and Sen. Rodrigues
open.substack.com/pub/massachu...
And I get to end on a depressing note: the budgets for FY26 and FY27! With quotes from the hearing from Evan Horowitz, Alan Clayton-Matthews, and Sen. Rodrigues
open.substack.com/pub/massachu...
Year ends with economic warnings
2026 is not looking great for the state budget
open.substack.com
December 19, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Last normal #mapoli digest of the year. Send me questions for a post-Christmas mailbag issue.
And I get to end on a depressing note: the budgets for FY26 and FY27! With quotes from the hearing from Evan Horowitz, Alan Clayton-Matthews, and Sen. Rodrigues
open.substack.com/pub/massachu...
And I get to end on a depressing note: the budgets for FY26 and FY27! With quotes from the hearing from Evan Horowitz, Alan Clayton-Matthews, and Sen. Rodrigues
open.substack.com/pub/massachu...
I really like the moments when you can tell that the politician themselves came up with an idea. Sometimes it's great, sometimes terrible, but it gives you a window into the person in office, rather than their team. No way a reference this obscure happens without Zohran himself pushing for it.
December 18, 2025 at 9:08 PM
I really like the moments when you can tell that the politician themselves came up with an idea. Sometimes it's great, sometimes terrible, but it gives you a window into the person in office, rather than their team. No way a reference this obscure happens without Zohran himself pushing for it.
I think we have a first mention of @thehorserace.bsky.social in one of the statements we're collecting for #mapoli. On an unrelated note, I discovered that email attachments get a different font than the normal one used and I have no idea why.
December 17, 2025 at 8:48 PM
I think we have a first mention of @thehorserace.bsky.social in one of the statements we're collecting for #mapoli. On an unrelated note, I discovered that email attachments get a different font than the normal one used and I have no idea why.
Saw a lot of #somerpoli at Winter Hill this morning to celebrate the demolition of Star Market. Which was great, but we should also acknowledge that a supermarket sitting vacant on Broadway for 17 years is a massive failure.
December 13, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Saw a lot of #somerpoli at Winter Hill this morning to celebrate the demolition of Star Market. Which was great, but we should also acknowledge that a supermarket sitting vacant on Broadway for 17 years is a massive failure.
For the #mapoli crowd. We're starting an automated statements feed to make it easier to follow the informational flow of public policy here and set up keyword alerts on them.
RT/like/comment and I'll send you a link to it.
If you want your releases included, statements@legislata.com
RT/like/comment and I'll send you a link to it.
If you want your releases included, statements@legislata.com
December 11, 2025 at 8:43 PM
For the #mapoli crowd. We're starting an automated statements feed to make it easier to follow the informational flow of public policy here and set up keyword alerts on them.
RT/like/comment and I'll send you a link to it.
If you want your releases included, statements@legislata.com
RT/like/comment and I'll send you a link to it.
If you want your releases included, statements@legislata.com
Boy it is frustrating that Massachusetts residency requirements are so strict that I’m not even allowed to run to succeed Sen Jehlen in 2026 because I lived in New York from 2021-2023.
Anyway, good luck to whoever runs and I hope the winner supports housing production statewide
Anyway, good luck to whoever runs and I hope the winner supports housing production statewide
December 9, 2025 at 9:47 PM
Boy it is frustrating that Massachusetts residency requirements are so strict that I’m not even allowed to run to succeed Sen Jehlen in 2026 because I lived in New York from 2021-2023.
Anyway, good luck to whoever runs and I hope the winner supports housing production statewide
Anyway, good luck to whoever runs and I hope the winner supports housing production statewide
Question for anyone who knows. Could you FOIA ChatGPT chats from a government employee? Or is it like a Google search in that it would only be released under a subpoena?
December 4, 2025 at 8:16 AM
Question for anyone who knows. Could you FOIA ChatGPT chats from a government employee? Or is it like a Google search in that it would only be released under a subpoena?
I’m one of the biggest AI bulls on Bluesky (which also makes me one of the biggest AI bears on LinkedIn) but this is concerning
November 28, 2025 at 8:02 PM
I’m one of the biggest AI bulls on Bluesky (which also makes me one of the biggest AI bears on LinkedIn) but this is concerning
Saw a journalist tout an AI feature on LinkedIn and say that it works because "it's magic."
NO!
It's an API call to OpenAI or Anthropic's latest LLM model. That has benefits but also big limitations, and if you don't lead with that, your readers may very well be led astray
NO!
It's an API call to OpenAI or Anthropic's latest LLM model. That has benefits but also big limitations, and if you don't lead with that, your readers may very well be led astray
November 24, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Saw a journalist tout an AI feature on LinkedIn and say that it works because "it's magic."
NO!
It's an API call to OpenAI or Anthropic's latest LLM model. That has benefits but also big limitations, and if you don't lead with that, your readers may very well be led astray
NO!
It's an API call to OpenAI or Anthropic's latest LLM model. That has benefits but also big limitations, and if you don't lead with that, your readers may very well be led astray
Looking to make this into a bit more of an entertaining place for #mapoli. Quote tweet or reply with a fun fact about politics, politicians, or government here.
I'll start. The last time a mayor of Boston lost re-election when running, it was 1949 and the incumbent had spent 5 months in jail
I'll start. The last time a mayor of Boston lost re-election when running, it was 1949 and the incumbent had spent 5 months in jail
November 21, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Looking to make this into a bit more of an entertaining place for #mapoli. Quote tweet or reply with a fun fact about politics, politicians, or government here.
I'll start. The last time a mayor of Boston lost re-election when running, it was 1949 and the incumbent had spent 5 months in jail
I'll start. The last time a mayor of Boston lost re-election when running, it was 1949 and the incumbent had spent 5 months in jail
Is AI the next threat vector for democracy? I think yes.
massachusettsdigest.substack.com/p/what-if-ai...
massachusettsdigest.substack.com/p/what-if-ai...
What if AI tells us how to vote?
The next fight for misinformation
massachusettsdigest.substack.com
November 21, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Is AI the next threat vector for democracy? I think yes.
massachusettsdigest.substack.com/p/what-if-ai...
massachusettsdigest.substack.com/p/what-if-ai...
Can’t recommend cricket enough to Americans suffering baseball withdrawal. England v Australia starting now has 5 matches, 5 days each, and England may have already blown it.
November 21, 2025 at 3:11 AM
Can’t recommend cricket enough to Americans suffering baseball withdrawal. England v Australia starting now has 5 matches, 5 days each, and England may have already blown it.
Getting a duck to start the ashes has to be one of the worst feelings in sport. You travel around the world for this, wait more than two years for it, and you’re out in 3 minutes.
November 21, 2025 at 2:33 AM
Getting a duck to start the ashes has to be one of the worst feelings in sport. You travel around the world for this, wait more than two years for it, and you’re out in 3 minutes.
Great reporting from @jenndotsmith.bsky.social and Chris Lisinski. But I can't help but think that this is happening because our policy process in the state is in some ways broken. Ballot questions are inherently blunt instruments
commonwealthbeacon.org/politics/the...
commonwealthbeacon.org/politics/the...
‘They're making a huge bet’: Rent control referendum splits progressives - CommonWealth Beacon
If a campaign to instate rent control across the Commonwealth makes it to the ballot, voters will need to weigh whether every municipality should adopt a measure more stringent than earlier attempts b...
commonwealthbeacon.org
November 19, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Great reporting from @jenndotsmith.bsky.social and Chris Lisinski. But I can't help but think that this is happening because our policy process in the state is in some ways broken. Ballot questions are inherently blunt instruments
commonwealthbeacon.org/politics/the...
commonwealthbeacon.org/politics/the...
Let’s give credit to the Democrats who voted to censure Chuy Garcia for robbing his constituents of a real election. It might not be the biggest news happening today but that kind of BS insidery games should be drummed out of politics.
November 19, 2025 at 12:48 AM
Let’s give credit to the Democrats who voted to censure Chuy Garcia for robbing his constituents of a real election. It might not be the biggest news happening today but that kind of BS insidery games should be drummed out of politics.
Great coverage by @gintautasd.bsky.social on public funds for the World Cup, and issue that could have slipped through the crack.
The consensus from the parents at soccer practice was that the prices are too high for any of us to go. So why is my government spending money on it?
The consensus from the parents at soccer practice was that the prices are too high for any of us to go. So why is my government spending money on it?
November 18, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Great coverage by @gintautasd.bsky.social on public funds for the World Cup, and issue that could have slipped through the crack.
The consensus from the parents at soccer practice was that the prices are too high for any of us to go. So why is my government spending money on it?
The consensus from the parents at soccer practice was that the prices are too high for any of us to go. So why is my government spending money on it?
Look like FIFA has got ahead of this threat for the World Cup by pricing the tickets as absurdly expensive to begin with
November 17, 2025 at 10:42 PM
Look like FIFA has got ahead of this threat for the World Cup by pricing the tickets as absurdly expensive to begin with
Reposted by Chris Oates
My piece on the next big threat to American democracy was published yesterday by @cwbeacon.bsky.social
Fingers crossed I’m being a Chicken Little but I don’t think I am
commonwealthbeacon.org/opinion/what...
Fingers crossed I’m being a Chicken Little but I don’t think I am
commonwealthbeacon.org/opinion/what...
What if AI tells us how to vote? - CommonWealth Beacon
With a little coaxing, ChatGPT chose my candidates. This feels like the next disinformation front in politics.
commonwealthbeacon.org
November 14, 2025 at 4:16 PM
My piece on the next big threat to American democracy was published yesterday by @cwbeacon.bsky.social
Fingers crossed I’m being a Chicken Little but I don’t think I am
commonwealthbeacon.org/opinion/what...
Fingers crossed I’m being a Chicken Little but I don’t think I am
commonwealthbeacon.org/opinion/what...
Multiple parents at my son’s soccer practice talked about trying to get tickets for the World Cup and then choosing not to because of the high ticket prices.
Not sure what FIFA’s plan is, but if people can’t afford to go to the games, what’s the point of having them in places with fans?
Not sure what FIFA’s plan is, but if people can’t afford to go to the games, what’s the point of having them in places with fans?
November 15, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Multiple parents at my son’s soccer practice talked about trying to get tickets for the World Cup and then choosing not to because of the high ticket prices.
Not sure what FIFA’s plan is, but if people can’t afford to go to the games, what’s the point of having them in places with fans?
Not sure what FIFA’s plan is, but if people can’t afford to go to the games, what’s the point of having them in places with fans?
My piece on the next big threat to American democracy was published yesterday by @cwbeacon.bsky.social
Fingers crossed I’m being a Chicken Little but I don’t think I am
commonwealthbeacon.org/opinion/what...
Fingers crossed I’m being a Chicken Little but I don’t think I am
commonwealthbeacon.org/opinion/what...
What if AI tells us how to vote? - CommonWealth Beacon
With a little coaxing, ChatGPT chose my candidates. This feels like the next disinformation front in politics.
commonwealthbeacon.org
November 14, 2025 at 4:16 PM
My piece on the next big threat to American democracy was published yesterday by @cwbeacon.bsky.social
Fingers crossed I’m being a Chicken Little but I don’t think I am
commonwealthbeacon.org/opinion/what...
Fingers crossed I’m being a Chicken Little but I don’t think I am
commonwealthbeacon.org/opinion/what...