Conor P. Williams
@conorpwilliams.bsky.social
Writer and researcher in DC. Lotta ed policy and immigration issues. Just my views here. Dopily pro-America, stridently anti-fascist.
Also: Brewery magnate. Former stay-at-home dad. Primary caregiver.
Also: Brewery magnate. Former stay-at-home dad. Primary caregiver.
Pinned
What Families Want: New Data on Public Demand for Bilingual Education
This is an abbreviated version of the full report—to read it in full, click here. The United States has long benefited from its ability to attract and
tcf.org
Just published this new report at @tcfdotorg.bsky.social. Quick thread explaining what we found. tcf.org/content/repo...
Always read Traister.
Cannot believe that I got to profile an extraordinary filmmaker, who happens to be the mother of NYC’s new mayor, and think about intersections of art and politics, and how familial love might produce a buffer against the corrosive politics and cynicism of our time. My story about Mira Nair:
What Mira Nair Taught Zohran Mamdani
The mayor’s famous filmmaker mother reveals the origins of his ferocious ambition.
www.vulture.com
February 10, 2026 at 7:18 PM
Always read Traister.
This is true. It’s true now. It was true when folks tried to sell themselves on “unleashing” states to “innovate” under the Every Student Succeeds Act” in 2015. It’ll be true tomorrow and next year and beyond then.
When you strip education from federal protection, you get 50 versions of what a child is worth, set by 50 governors with 50 agendas.
Check out the full article: https://bit.ly/4rHQPV1
Check out the full article: https://bit.ly/4rHQPV1
February 10, 2026 at 7:09 PM
This is true. It’s true now. It was true when folks tried to sell themselves on “unleashing” states to “innovate” under the Every Student Succeeds Act” in 2015. It’ll be true tomorrow and next year and beyond then.
“At a very basic level, it is obviously true that laws consist of words, and, therefore, words matter. They have meaning, which in the context of the law, ensures predictability, stability, and fairness in application.”
BONUS RULING: Judge Thomas Johnston, a George W. Bush appoiintee in West Virginia, used a recent ruling to warn of the dangers of defying due process for immigrants because of what it could also mean for Americans. It's worth a read.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
February 10, 2026 at 7:05 PM
“At a very basic level, it is obviously true that laws consist of words, and, therefore, words matter. They have meaning, which in the context of the law, ensures predictability, stability, and fairness in application.”
Obviously we can’t do this all the time and for every issue. But we should absolutely be prioritizing proposals that save families 1) time, 2) headaches, AND 3) money.
February 10, 2026 at 4:37 PM
Obviously we can’t do this all the time and for every issue. But we should absolutely be prioritizing proposals that save families 1) time, 2) headaches, AND 3) money.
“We’re gonna make it easier and more affordable to have kids. We’re also not gonna waste your time and attention on a bunch of bureaucracy.”
February 10, 2026 at 4:35 PM
“We’re gonna make it easier and more affordable to have kids. We’re also not gonna waste your time and attention on a bunch of bureaucracy.”
Like, “the other guy wants to set up a website for you to input a bunch of your private data to see if you qualify for a tax credit but only if your kid is left handed and was born on a Thursday when Mercury was in retrograde.”
“I want to send you a check each month for each kid in your house,”
“I want to send you a check each month for each kid in your house,”
February 10, 2026 at 4:34 PM
Like, “the other guy wants to set up a website for you to input a bunch of your private data to see if you qualify for a tax credit but only if your kid is left handed and was born on a Thursday when Mercury was in retrograde.”
“I want to send you a check each month for each kid in your house,”
“I want to send you a check each month for each kid in your house,”
Progressives shouldn’t just run on making life more affordable. We should run on affordability solutions that make ppl’s lives *simpler.*
February 10, 2026 at 4:07 PM
Progressives shouldn’t just run on making life more affordable. We should run on affordability solutions that make ppl’s lives *simpler.*
My dude @jkuznicki.bsky.social is one of the (shining, principled) exceptions. I wanted to quote post him on this, but it's disabled. Suffice it to say that he's the sort of libertarian worth taking seriously.
February 9, 2026 at 8:03 PM
My dude @jkuznicki.bsky.social is one of the (shining, principled) exceptions. I wanted to quote post him on this, but it's disabled. Suffice it to say that he's the sort of libertarian worth taking seriously.
I had some Spanish friends ask me about “dumpster diving” last year. They’d come across the term somewhere and were incredulous about it.
February 9, 2026 at 7:22 PM
I had some Spanish friends ask me about “dumpster diving” last year. They’d come across the term somewhere and were incredulous about it.
This is one reason why even symbolic shows of opposition now (and earlier) to autocracy matter. Staking your claim as an anti-autocrat NOW is important for your place in the better democracy we need to build LATER.
you're going to see a LOT of this sort of retconning (I was always on the right side of history) by all the very loud people who were on the wrong side of history. Especially as Trump's health fails. we need a big tent to dismantle fascism, but a little accountability might be nice as a treat
February 9, 2026 at 7:19 PM
This is one reason why even symbolic shows of opposition now (and earlier) to autocracy matter. Staking your claim as an anti-autocrat NOW is important for your place in the better democracy we need to build LATER.
Reposted by Conor P. Williams
I heard a lot of "he'll keep us out of war" stuff from my local libertarians. "hE'S nON-inTERvEnTioNiSt!!!"
February 9, 2026 at 6:13 PM
I heard a lot of "he'll keep us out of war" stuff from my local libertarians. "hE'S nON-inTERvEnTioNiSt!!!"
At the end of the day, most of these guys (b/c they're overwhelmingly guys) were more interested in how "libertarian" let them live in a big, progressive city but not have to opt into earnest embrace of the policies that made that city's cosmopolitan, urbane, pluralist lifestyle possible.
February 9, 2026 at 6:20 PM
At the end of the day, most of these guys (b/c they're overwhelmingly guys) were more interested in how "libertarian" let them live in a big, progressive city but not have to opt into earnest embrace of the policies that made that city's cosmopolitan, urbane, pluralist lifestyle possible.
The modal DC libertarian grew up in a conservative household and/or community where the glidepath was to become a Republican, but they were hipstery about that and/or discovered that they sounded cooler/edgier/etc by opting into "libertarianism."
February 9, 2026 at 6:20 PM
The modal DC libertarian grew up in a conservative household and/or community where the glidepath was to become a Republican, but they were hipstery about that and/or discovered that they sounded cooler/edgier/etc by opting into "libertarianism."
There are a few exceptions, but the "libertarians" I've met in official DC were mostly enthusiastic about Trump's ascension. They were—again, almost to a person—glibly confident that "he'll be gauche, but will govern like a standard GOP president."
this is a subject that's near and dear to my heart
1. no you didn't, you retconning fucks
2. your decades of anti-governance "free market" "government never functions" propaganda paved the way for the complete authoritarian decimation of labor, consumer, environmental protections
1. no you didn't, you retconning fucks
2. your decades of anti-governance "free market" "government never functions" propaganda paved the way for the complete authoritarian decimation of labor, consumer, environmental protections
February 9, 2026 at 6:12 PM
There are a few exceptions, but the "libertarians" I've met in official DC were mostly enthusiastic about Trump's ascension. They were—again, almost to a person—glibly confident that "he'll be gauche, but will govern like a standard GOP president."
Reposted by Conor P. Williams
Somebody in the replies mentioned this, and it has weight: They're basically stripping our memories for parts.
February 9, 2026 at 6:09 PM
Somebody in the replies mentioned this, and it has weight: They're basically stripping our memories for parts.
Oh, also: this is a very solid place to eat well. Near a lot of tourist stuff, but not horribly touristed: www.elnacionalbcn.com/en/the-resta...
The restaurant | El Nacional Barcelona
El Nacional Barcelona represents an innovative concept in culinary trends. 4 restaurants, 4 bars and a thousand ways to feed the soul. Open all year round.
www.elnacionalbcn.com
February 9, 2026 at 6:09 PM
Oh, also: this is a very solid place to eat well. Near a lot of tourist stuff, but not horribly touristed: www.elnacionalbcn.com/en/the-resta...
Reposted by Conor P. Williams
The cuts at the @washingtonpost.com are shameful, damaging to democracy, and bad for the District as a community.
If you know this and are mad about it...do something. Subscribe to the @51st.news. We can rebuild a media landscape that actually serves our community.
51st.news/membership/
If you know this and are mad about it...do something. Subscribe to the @51st.news. We can rebuild a media landscape that actually serves our community.
51st.news/membership/
Join The 51st
The 51st is a worker-led nonprofit news source for D.C. Our reporting is rooted in our conviction that local journalism is meant to make people’s lives better — no paywalls, ever. But that's only poss...
51st.news
February 6, 2026 at 10:48 PM
Be an America that loves fun more than it loves a scold
February 9, 2026 at 1:31 PM
Be an America that loves fun more than it loves a scold
Imagine looking at that kind of party and thinking, “ugh, not for me, not for my country.”
February 9, 2026 at 12:27 PM
Imagine looking at that kind of party and thinking, “ugh, not for me, not for my country.”
This isn’t just Great, this isn’t just American…it’s the kind of thing we should want more of in—and from—America.
#BadBunny's performers continued to dance and party outside the stadium after the #SuperBowl #HalftimeShow
February 9, 2026 at 12:26 PM
This isn’t just Great, this isn’t just American…it’s the kind of thing we should want more of in—and from—America.
Can confirm. Also a city with a great baseball team who could make a run
Seattle is a great city of great people, and good for them.
February 9, 2026 at 3:27 AM
Can confirm. Also a city with a great baseball team who could make a run
Reposted by Conor P. Williams
Halftime performance showed how most Latinos love America, even if some parts of America do not love them back.
It showed the reality that Latinos and Spanish are part of America's culture, its history, present & future.
As references to salsa show, this is not a new phenomenon but a good reminder.
It showed the reality that Latinos and Spanish are part of America's culture, its history, present & future.
As references to salsa show, this is not a new phenomenon but a good reminder.
Bad Bunny brought Puerto Rico to the Bay during his Super Bowl LX halftime show on Sunday.
Check out the latest updates from on and off the field at the link in our bio.
@sfchronicle.com
📸: @scottstrazzante @stephenlamphoto.bsky.social
Check out the latest updates from on and off the field at the link in our bio.
@sfchronicle.com
📸: @scottstrazzante @stephenlamphoto.bsky.social
February 9, 2026 at 3:13 AM
Halftime performance showed how most Latinos love America, even if some parts of America do not love them back.
It showed the reality that Latinos and Spanish are part of America's culture, its history, present & future.
As references to salsa show, this is not a new phenomenon but a good reminder.
It showed the reality that Latinos and Spanish are part of America's culture, its history, present & future.
As references to salsa show, this is not a new phenomenon but a good reminder.
Christian Gonzalez’ dad is an immigrant from Colómbia, fwiw.
February 9, 2026 at 2:41 AM
Christian Gonzalez’ dad is an immigrant from Colómbia, fwiw.
Reposted by Conor P. Williams
I'm hardly the first person to note this, but it's enormously instructive that our President and his followers saw the message "THE ONLY THING MORE POWERFUL THAN HATE IS LOVE" and understood it, correctly, as an attack on them
February 9, 2026 at 2:11 AM
I'm hardly the first person to note this, but it's enormously instructive that our President and his followers saw the message "THE ONLY THING MORE POWERFUL THAN HATE IS LOVE" and understood it, correctly, as an attack on them