David Solimini
@commsdirector.bsky.social
Fear and bravery are contagious. Be brave. Leading @democracycomms.bsky.social. Previously Stimson Center, Truman Project, ICAN, others. Proudly SAIS Hopkins, William & Mary. Opinions are mine, not my employer's. Was @commsdirector at the bad bird place.
Reposted by David Solimini
i think this attitude — that all opposition is illegitimate and nothing we do can be questioned— is probably pervasive in the white house and helps explain why they keep making terrible political choices
Putin pioneered this. No opposition is legitimate. Regular, decent, “ordinary” people cannot possibly be against us because only we represent “the real people.”
Tell-tale sign of authoritarianism.
Tell-tale sign of authoritarianism.
January 25, 2026 at 3:02 PM
i think this attitude — that all opposition is illegitimate and nothing we do can be questioned— is probably pervasive in the white house and helps explain why they keep making terrible political choices
Reposted by David Solimini
This goes HARD
Statement from the Minnesota Timberwolves team chaplain with alt text (ht @gregolear.bsky.social)
January 26, 2026 at 12:04 AM
This goes HARD
Reposted by David Solimini
A lot of the Male Loneliness Epidemic can be traced back to the fact that most cis dudes don’t participate in communal logistics.
I think @sarahjeong.bsky.social said it's because they devalue women's labor and a LOT of this Scary Logistics stuff comes from people who don't understand that basically all of the civic life they enjoy is created with the help of free labor, largely by women.
Tho I will say, in his defense, he's not the first person to be confused by how quickly the romance authors & readers can whip up finely tuned logistics out of nothing. 😂
January 26, 2026 at 2:02 AM
A lot of the Male Loneliness Epidemic can be traced back to the fact that most cis dudes don’t participate in communal logistics.
Reposted by David Solimini
I do think that a possibly underrated dynamic in The Horrors is that the Right as it has reconstituted itself under Trump legitimately can’t understand sincere moral or physical courage
January 26, 2026 at 2:13 AM
I do think that a possibly underrated dynamic in The Horrors is that the Right as it has reconstituted itself under Trump legitimately can’t understand sincere moral or physical courage
Reposted by David Solimini
part of this is like, conservatives projecting; part of this is conservatives unable to imagine politics without money; and part of this is dudes who are so out of touch with feminized labor that they think children's birthday parties exist as a spontaneous act of parthogenesis
I mostly just stay off Twitter altogether but after double checking that the Walter Hudson post was still up I ran across this and just had to share so the Romancelandians who bought hand warmers could hear about the PROFESSIONAL GRADE LOGISTICS.
January 26, 2026 at 12:14 AM
part of this is like, conservatives projecting; part of this is conservatives unable to imagine politics without money; and part of this is dudes who are so out of touch with feminized labor that they think children's birthday parties exist as a spontaneous act of parthogenesis
Turns out you can get a lot done with a spreadsheets, cell phones, email, and hundreds of dedicated people.
these guys are LARPing like siege commanders talking about "supply lines"
rightoids literally cannot comprehend the idea of a community caring for their own; these people live in Minneapolis their supply line is a five minute drive to the grocery store
rightoids literally cannot comprehend the idea of a community caring for their own; these people live in Minneapolis their supply line is a five minute drive to the grocery store
January 26, 2026 at 1:45 AM
Turns out you can get a lot done with a spreadsheets, cell phones, email, and hundreds of dedicated people.
Reposted by David Solimini
Everyone who wants to next Dem president to prosecute ICE seems to be forgetting that the president is going to pardon all of these people.
January 25, 2026 at 11:40 PM
Everyone who wants to next Dem president to prosecute ICE seems to be forgetting that the president is going to pardon all of these people.
The shooter's going to say he thought Pretti had grabbed his gun and he didn't know it was actually the other ICE guy who grabbed it.
Our analysis at @bellingcat.com on the killing of Alex Pretti breaks down the video evidence.
He never reached for his gun.
Agents sprayed/tackled him while his hands were up.
He was disarmed before he was shot.
The first shot came from an agent firing at him.
www.bellingcat.com/news/2026/01...
He never reached for his gun.
Agents sprayed/tackled him while his hands were up.
He was disarmed before he was shot.
The first shot came from an agent firing at him.
www.bellingcat.com/news/2026/01...
Alex Pretti: Analysing Footage of Minneapolis CBP Shooting - bellingcat
Bellingcat has analysed video of the shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. The footage appears to contradict statements made by the Department of Homeland Security.
www.bellingcat.com
January 25, 2026 at 8:15 PM
The shooter's going to say he thought Pretti had grabbed his gun and he didn't know it was actually the other ICE guy who grabbed it.
Rauch is a good barometer for the centrist institutionalist insider.
"Recent events have brought Trump’s governing style into sharper focus," Jonathan Rauch argues. "'Fascist' best describes it, and reluctance to use the term has now become perverse." theatln.tc/wVq7MFaa
January 25, 2026 at 8:07 PM
Rauch is a good barometer for the centrist institutionalist insider.
No, it's not perfect. But it's the first real engagement by major corporations and that is an important step. Business has been on the sidelines thus far; engaging with them now is important to make clear to them who is working in good faith to make things better and who isnt.
INBOX: 60+ CEOs of Minnesota-based company call for "an immediate deescalation of tensions and for state, local and federal officials to work together to find real solutions."
No mention of ICE in the letter.
No mention of ICE in the letter.
January 25, 2026 at 7:43 PM
No, it's not perfect. But it's the first real engagement by major corporations and that is an important step. Business has been on the sidelines thus far; engaging with them now is important to make clear to them who is working in good faith to make things better and who isnt.
Reposted by David Solimini
A reminder to the news media: “conflicting accounts” is what you say BEFORE the incontrovertible video evidence appears. After that, your job is to ask why one side is lying, not to repeat the lie and pretend no one knows the truth.
January 25, 2026 at 12:28 PM
A reminder to the news media: “conflicting accounts” is what you say BEFORE the incontrovertible video evidence appears. After that, your job is to ask why one side is lying, not to repeat the lie and pretend no one knows the truth.
About once a year or so I make a point of reading something about WW2. Usually Ambrose or similar. I'd encourage anyone who is feeling despair tonight to pick up a copy of D-Day or Band of Brothers. Or John Lewis' Walk with the Wind. Remind yourself of the lengths Americans have gone. It will help.
January 25, 2026 at 3:54 AM
About once a year or so I make a point of reading something about WW2. Usually Ambrose or similar. I'd encourage anyone who is feeling despair tonight to pick up a copy of D-Day or Band of Brothers. Or John Lewis' Walk with the Wind. Remind yourself of the lengths Americans have gone. It will help.
Reposted by David Solimini
This is correct. This is what everyone needs to hear and know in their hearts, especially right now.
January 25, 2026 at 3:37 AM
This is correct. This is what everyone needs to hear and know in their hearts, especially right now.
Reposted by David Solimini
well look who's pissed at ICE: www.notus.org/trump-white-...
Gun Rights Advocates Want Answers About the Minneapolis Shooting
The Trump administration said federal agents were justified in their actions in part because the man possessed a firearm. “What he has or didn’t have isn’t the issue,” said a former NRA spokesperson.
www.notus.org
January 25, 2026 at 3:43 AM
well look who's pissed at ICE: www.notus.org/trump-white-...
As a pollster colleague often says, look for the places where Is and Ds are moving together. Go there.
YouGov is out with a new poll after ICE killed another person in Minnesota today. Abolishing ICE is now +5 among all adults, and **+12 among independents**
substack.com/@gelliottmor...
substack.com/@gelliottmor...
January 25, 2026 at 2:35 AM
As a pollster colleague often says, look for the places where Is and Ds are moving together. Go there.
Reposted by David Solimini
The Hype House Theory by @reckless.bsky.social on the Vergecast.
January 23, 2026 at 4:55 PM
The Hype House Theory by @reckless.bsky.social on the Vergecast.
Reposted by David Solimini
we will be tread upon and like it
January 25, 2026 at 1:27 AM
we will be tread upon and like it
Reposted by David Solimini
A video of Alex Pretti reading out the final salute of an unnamed veteran he cared for until the end of his life in the ICU, posted to Facebook by his son.
January 25, 2026 at 1:18 AM
A video of Alex Pretti reading out the final salute of an unnamed veteran he cared for until the end of his life in the ICU, posted to Facebook by his son.
Reposted by David Solimini
I want as may off-ramps as possible because I want Trump, Miller, Vance and I others to feel very alone when they reach the end of this road.
If you ask me today, "do you want to be right or do you want to win," my answer is we need to win.
There will be time to be right later. That time is not now.
If online conservatives start to oppose ICE for online conservative reasons — fine. So long as we win, so be it.
There will be time to be right later. That time is not now.
If online conservatives start to oppose ICE for online conservative reasons — fine. So long as we win, so be it.
Interesting to watch online conservatives look for an offramp without handing it to the libs and they appear to be landing on the Second Amendment.
January 25, 2026 at 1:20 AM
I want as may off-ramps as possible because I want Trump, Miller, Vance and I others to feel very alone when they reach the end of this road.
Reposted by David Solimini
“Please get the truth out about our son. He was a good man. Thank you."
— Michael and Susan Pretti, whose son Alex died amid a barrage of gunfire from federal agents, and whose reputation is being smeared by top federal officials.
— Michael and Susan Pretti, whose son Alex died amid a barrage of gunfire from federal agents, and whose reputation is being smeared by top federal officials.
January 25, 2026 at 1:55 AM
“Please get the truth out about our son. He was a good man. Thank you."
— Michael and Susan Pretti, whose son Alex died amid a barrage of gunfire from federal agents, and whose reputation is being smeared by top federal officials.
— Michael and Susan Pretti, whose son Alex died amid a barrage of gunfire from federal agents, and whose reputation is being smeared by top federal officials.
Reposted by David Solimini
Glad to see the parents highlight something I felt was overlooked: Alex Pretti’s “interference” with border patrol agents was standing in the way while they were roughing up a woman.
January 25, 2026 at 1:15 AM
Glad to see the parents highlight something I felt was overlooked: Alex Pretti’s “interference” with border patrol agents was standing in the way while they were roughing up a woman.
Watch this and understand why he was out there on the street today.
A video of Alex Pretti reading out the final salute of an unnamed veteran he cared for until the end of his life in the ICU, posted to Facebook by his son.
January 25, 2026 at 2:20 AM
Watch this and understand why he was out there on the street today.
Wow
Beyond helping establish DHS itself in 2003, Mr. Mitnick was a senate-confirmed Trump choice for General Counsel for DHS in his first term. I've talked with him a few times, and he's not a man for hyperbole. So bear that in mind when you see him calling out DHS's "lawlessness, fascism, and cruelty."
January 25, 2026 at 2:16 AM
Wow
Gin.
what are people stress eating?
January 25, 2026 at 2:16 AM
Gin.