Eric Falquero
@ericfalquero.bsky.social
DC community journalist: ericfalquero[at]51st[dot]news.
Co-founder of the worker-led nonprofit @51st.news 📰. Past professional lives at WAMU/DCist and Street Sense Media.
Appalachian, Llanito, bird nerd 🦅, @footballclubgroup.com member / owner / fan ⚽
Co-founder of the worker-led nonprofit @51st.news 📰. Past professional lives at WAMU/DCist and Street Sense Media.
Appalachian, Llanito, bird nerd 🦅, @footballclubgroup.com member / owner / fan ⚽
Pinned
You can help build billionaire-free local news.
Repost this -> I give $1
Follow @51st.news -> I give $1
Follow me -> I give $1
Donate -> I match your gift
Let's fight misinformation, help good journalists to make a decent living, and stick a big ol' finger in Jeff Bezos' eye.
Repost this -> I give $1
Follow @51st.news -> I give $1
Follow me -> I give $1
Donate -> I match your gift
Let's fight misinformation, help good journalists to make a decent living, and stick a big ol' finger in Jeff Bezos' eye.
I'm so grateful @russ41.bsky.social is back to help us add local reporters covering DC. When Bezos fire, we hire!
Even if you've already supported or can't—you can help by sharing his challenge on other social media platforms: Every follow + repost=another $!
All details are in his thread here ⬇️
Even if you've already supported or can't—you can help by sharing his challenge on other social media platforms: Every follow + repost=another $!
All details are in his thread here ⬇️
Reposted by Eric Falquero
the first thing that comes to mind when i read this is accounting software for smb from companies like intuit pushing genAI on their customers. total disaster waiting to happen.
lol this is gonna burst so fucking hard
February 15, 2026 at 3:28 AM
the first thing that comes to mind when i read this is accounting software for smb from companies like intuit pushing genAI on their customers. total disaster waiting to happen.
Reposted by Eric Falquero
We're off to a great start, and we're more than a third of the way to our goal.
We don't have to settle for oligarch-owned, corporate-controlled news any more.
We don't have to settle for oligarch-owned, corporate-controlled news any more.
![Screenshot from the 51st fundraising page:
"Help grow DC's billionaire-free local news
[The 51st logo superimposed over a black and white image of a protest]
Worker-led, reader-funded, not for profit
(Ted Eytan/Flickr)
Support the 51st
$141,693 of $375,000"](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:tisp66r56nphvvy3fp5k7cam/bafkreigkvh743bcz3ei7gsh4whswz5o2zop7p5jusx2b3mljpi2o7af53y@jpeg)
February 14, 2026 at 5:53 PM
We're off to a great start, and we're more than a third of the way to our goal.
We don't have to settle for oligarch-owned, corporate-controlled news any more.
We don't have to settle for oligarch-owned, corporate-controlled news any more.
Reposted by Eric Falquero
The 51st is a worker-led nonprofit newsroom — so our team is deeply involved in both the day-to-day and major decisions involved in running the organization.
See if you can spot us in this @innovationrji.bsky.social research 👀
See if you can spot us in this @innovationrji.bsky.social research 👀
Worker-friendly newsrooms are not all the same
Co-ops, staff-run nonprofits and democratic newsrooms take a mix-and-match approach to how they operate.
rjionline.org
February 14, 2026 at 5:40 PM
The 51st is a worker-led nonprofit newsroom — so our team is deeply involved in both the day-to-day and major decisions involved in running the organization.
See if you can spot us in this @innovationrji.bsky.social research 👀
See if you can spot us in this @innovationrji.bsky.social research 👀
Reposted by Eric Falquero
I already do the latter three but I can always repost and maybe you can do them all!
The Post is only generating 3-4 local stories per day now. We can grow @51st.news to fill the void and do it even better.
The Post is only generating 3-4 local stories per day now. We can grow @51st.news to fill the void and do it even better.
You can help build billionaire-free local news.
Repost this -> I give $1
Follow @51st.news -> I give $1
Follow me -> I give $1
Donate -> I match your gift
Let's fight misinformation, help good journalists to make a decent living, and stick a big ol' finger in Jeff Bezos' eye.
Repost this -> I give $1
Follow @51st.news -> I give $1
Follow me -> I give $1
Donate -> I match your gift
Let's fight misinformation, help good journalists to make a decent living, and stick a big ol' finger in Jeff Bezos' eye.
February 14, 2026 at 10:53 PM
I already do the latter three but I can always repost and maybe you can do them all!
The Post is only generating 3-4 local stories per day now. We can grow @51st.news to fill the void and do it even better.
The Post is only generating 3-4 local stories per day now. We can grow @51st.news to fill the void and do it even better.
Reposted by Eric Falquero
Yes it’s Valentine’s Day. But it’s also the chosen birthday of Frederick Douglass who was born in 1818 on a plantation in Talbot County, Maryland. He escaped from slavery & rose to become the most eloquent and forceful voice for the abolition of slavery & for Black voting rights in the U.S.
February 14, 2026 at 6:45 PM
Yes it’s Valentine’s Day. But it’s also the chosen birthday of Frederick Douglass who was born in 1818 on a plantation in Talbot County, Maryland. He escaped from slavery & rose to become the most eloquent and forceful voice for the abolition of slavery & for Black voting rights in the U.S.
Reposted by Eric Falquero
I've tried to get this point across myself. Here, @brianbeutler.bsky.social does a great job of it. Liberal bias is a political tool — not a critique of performance — and it will assert itself regardless of how well the newsroom does on truthtelling and fairness. www.offmessage.net/p/a-requiem-...
February 12, 2026 at 12:10 AM
I've tried to get this point across myself. Here, @brianbeutler.bsky.social does a great job of it. Liberal bias is a political tool — not a critique of performance — and it will assert itself regardless of how well the newsroom does on truthtelling and fairness. www.offmessage.net/p/a-requiem-...
Reposted by Eric Falquero
The @51st.news is great--here's an easy way to support their work!
You can help build billionaire-free local news.
Repost this -> I give $1
Follow @51st.news -> I give $1
Follow me -> I give $1
Donate -> I match your gift
Let's fight misinformation, help good journalists to make a decent living, and stick a big ol' finger in Jeff Bezos' eye.
Repost this -> I give $1
Follow @51st.news -> I give $1
Follow me -> I give $1
Donate -> I match your gift
Let's fight misinformation, help good journalists to make a decent living, and stick a big ol' finger in Jeff Bezos' eye.
February 13, 2026 at 8:03 PM
The @51st.news is great--here's an easy way to support their work!
Reposted by Eric Falquero
ME/CFS is debilitating enuf to tend to disappear those affected from public life, so many people have no idea what it looks like.
If you’re curious, this Sundance-premiered, Oscar-shortlisted doc streams free on YouTube and does a remarkable job making visible an illness usually obscured from view.
If you’re curious, this Sundance-premiered, Oscar-shortlisted doc streams free on YouTube and does a remarkable job making visible an illness usually obscured from view.
UNREST Feature Documentary (With Captions and Multilingual Subtitles)
YouTube video by Unrest Film
www.youtube.com
February 13, 2026 at 9:34 PM
ME/CFS is debilitating enuf to tend to disappear those affected from public life, so many people have no idea what it looks like.
If you’re curious, this Sundance-premiered, Oscar-shortlisted doc streams free on YouTube and does a remarkable job making visible an illness usually obscured from view.
If you’re curious, this Sundance-premiered, Oscar-shortlisted doc streams free on YouTube and does a remarkable job making visible an illness usually obscured from view.
Reposted by Eric Falquero
incredibly grateful to all of you for the nominations for the local Wammies music awards! see y'all at the award show next month
February 13, 2026 at 10:03 PM
incredibly grateful to all of you for the nominations for the local Wammies music awards! see y'all at the award show next month
I'm so grateful @russ41.bsky.social is back to help us add local reporters covering DC. When Bezos fire, we hire!
Even if you've already supported or can't—you can help by sharing his challenge on other social media platforms: Every follow + repost=another $!
All details are in his thread here ⬇️
Even if you've already supported or can't—you can help by sharing his challenge on other social media platforms: Every follow + repost=another $!
All details are in his thread here ⬇️
You can help build billionaire-free local news.
Repost this -> I give $1
Follow @51st.news -> I give $1
Follow me -> I give $1
Donate -> I match your gift
Let's fight misinformation, help good journalists to make a decent living, and stick a big ol' finger in Jeff Bezos' eye.
Repost this -> I give $1
Follow @51st.news -> I give $1
Follow me -> I give $1
Donate -> I match your gift
Let's fight misinformation, help good journalists to make a decent living, and stick a big ol' finger in Jeff Bezos' eye.
February 13, 2026 at 7:56 PM
I'm so grateful @russ41.bsky.social is back to help us add local reporters covering DC. When Bezos fire, we hire!
Even if you've already supported or can't—you can help by sharing his challenge on other social media platforms: Every follow + repost=another $!
All details are in his thread here ⬇️
Even if you've already supported or can't—you can help by sharing his challenge on other social media platforms: Every follow + repost=another $!
All details are in his thread here ⬇️
Reposted by Eric Falquero
"At least one member of the U.S. Marshals Service shot and killed a person in Northeast D.C.’s Mayfair neighborhood Wednesday afternoon, a law enforcement source told WTOP."
wtop.com/dc/2026/02/u...
wtop.com/dc/2026/02/u...
Member of US Marshals Service shoots, kills person in DC’s Mayfair neighborhood - WTOP News
Members of the U.S. Marshals Service shot and killed a person Wednesday afternoon in Northeast D.C.’s Mayfair neighborhood, a law enforcement source told WTOP.
wtop.com
February 12, 2026 at 3:54 PM
"At least one member of the U.S. Marshals Service shot and killed a person in Northeast D.C.’s Mayfair neighborhood Wednesday afternoon, a law enforcement source told WTOP."
wtop.com/dc/2026/02/u...
wtop.com/dc/2026/02/u...
Reposted by Eric Falquero
Help keep DC's local news alive by becoming a member or donating to the @51st.news.
51st.news/the-51st-is-...
51st.news/the-51st-is-...
The 51st is expanding
D.C. needs more local journalists. You can help us hire them.
51st.news
February 12, 2026 at 4:15 PM
Help keep DC's local news alive by becoming a member or donating to the @51st.news.
51st.news/the-51st-is-...
51st.news/the-51st-is-...
Reposted by Eric Falquero
NEWS: Congress has repealed a D.C. tax bill, potentially throwing tax-filing season into total chaos for residents and businesses. City officials could fight it, but it's unclear if they will. For @51st.news: 51st.news/republicans-...
Republicans just f*cked D.C.’s tax-filing season. City leaders could fight back.
Congress' repeal of a D.C tax bill will cost the city more than $600 million in revenue.
51st.news
February 12, 2026 at 9:37 PM
NEWS: Congress has repealed a D.C. tax bill, potentially throwing tax-filing season into total chaos for residents and businesses. City officials could fight it, but it's unclear if they will. For @51st.news: 51st.news/republicans-...
Reposted by Eric Falquero
📬 This week's special edition newsletter:
PROOF OF LIFE, in partnership with The Pack World
🍫 Is D.C. still Chocolate City?
✊🏾 Two D.C. natives fighting to preserve the city's Black culture
💃🏾 The history of D.C.'s official dance style
Get the next edition in your inbox: www.51st.news/signup
PROOF OF LIFE, in partnership with The Pack World
🍫 Is D.C. still Chocolate City?
✊🏾 Two D.C. natives fighting to preserve the city's Black culture
💃🏾 The history of D.C.'s official dance style
Get the next edition in your inbox: www.51st.news/signup
Is D.C. still Chocolate City?
These native Washingtonians have found "proof of life."
51st.news
February 12, 2026 at 10:03 PM
📬 This week's special edition newsletter:
PROOF OF LIFE, in partnership with The Pack World
🍫 Is D.C. still Chocolate City?
✊🏾 Two D.C. natives fighting to preserve the city's Black culture
💃🏾 The history of D.C.'s official dance style
Get the next edition in your inbox: www.51st.news/signup
PROOF OF LIFE, in partnership with The Pack World
🍫 Is D.C. still Chocolate City?
✊🏾 Two D.C. natives fighting to preserve the city's Black culture
💃🏾 The history of D.C.'s official dance style
Get the next edition in your inbox: www.51st.news/signup
Reposted by Eric Falquero
NEW: How are you getting involved around the city this week?
Our weekly Civics Roundup includes a film screening about D.C.'s gentrification, a general strike teach-in, and more ways to show love to your community.
More from @colleengrablick.bsky.social:
Our weekly Civics Roundup includes a film screening about D.C.'s gentrification, a general strike teach-in, and more ways to show love to your community.
More from @colleengrablick.bsky.social:
Dive deep into Chocolate City: Your weekly Civics Roundup
A film screening about D.C.'s gentrification, a general strike teach-in, and more ways to show love to your community.
51st.news
February 13, 2026 at 12:29 AM
NEW: How are you getting involved around the city this week?
Our weekly Civics Roundup includes a film screening about D.C.'s gentrification, a general strike teach-in, and more ways to show love to your community.
More from @colleengrablick.bsky.social:
Our weekly Civics Roundup includes a film screening about D.C.'s gentrification, a general strike teach-in, and more ways to show love to your community.
More from @colleengrablick.bsky.social:
Reposted by Eric Falquero
NEW: Hand dance goes back to 1950s. Today, Washingtonians are still trying to keep it alive.
I spoke with dancers of all ages, visited a school that teaches hand dance & dug through books/documentaries/oral histories to understand what makes DC's official dance so unique.
51st.news/dc-official-...
I spoke with dancers of all ages, visited a school that teaches hand dance & dug through books/documentaries/oral histories to understand what makes DC's official dance so unique.
51st.news/dc-official-...
After 75 years, hand dance is still bringing Washingtonians together
The history of D.C.'s official dance.
51st.news
February 12, 2026 at 9:02 PM
NEW: Hand dance goes back to 1950s. Today, Washingtonians are still trying to keep it alive.
I spoke with dancers of all ages, visited a school that teaches hand dance & dug through books/documentaries/oral histories to understand what makes DC's official dance so unique.
51st.news/dc-official-...
I spoke with dancers of all ages, visited a school that teaches hand dance & dug through books/documentaries/oral histories to understand what makes DC's official dance so unique.
51st.news/dc-official-...
Reposted by Eric Falquero
"Maybe all we do is frustrate," Star said. "Give someone one more day with their daughter or their dad.
"But if you lost your dad, or you lost your daughter, you would give anything to have one more day with them. And that’s what we can do.”
My latest for Slate
"But if you lost your dad, or you lost your daughter, you would give anything to have one more day with them. And that’s what we can do.”
My latest for Slate
Activists Are Fighting ICE Even Though It Could Get Them Killed. Here’s Why.
ICE is still trying to subjugate Minneapolis. It's still failing.
slate.com
February 11, 2026 at 3:18 PM
"Maybe all we do is frustrate," Star said. "Give someone one more day with their daughter or their dad.
"But if you lost your dad, or you lost your daughter, you would give anything to have one more day with them. And that’s what we can do.”
My latest for Slate
"But if you lost your dad, or you lost your daughter, you would give anything to have one more day with them. And that’s what we can do.”
My latest for Slate
Reposted by Eric Falquero
7/ Our goal is to become D.C.’s go-to source for local news, one where residents of all 8 wards feel seen, heard, and connected.
Help us get there by signing up as a monthly or annual member — or upping your recurring tax-deductible contribution, if you’re already on board. ⤵️
Thanks for reading!
Help us get there by signing up as a monthly or annual member — or upping your recurring tax-deductible contribution, if you’re already on board. ⤵️
Thanks for reading!
The 51st is expanding
D.C. needs more local journalists. You can help us hire them.
51st.news
February 11, 2026 at 1:31 PM
7/ Our goal is to become D.C.’s go-to source for local news, one where residents of all 8 wards feel seen, heard, and connected.
Help us get there by signing up as a monthly or annual member — or upping your recurring tax-deductible contribution, if you’re already on board. ⤵️
Thanks for reading!
Help us get there by signing up as a monthly or annual member — or upping your recurring tax-deductible contribution, if you’re already on board. ⤵️
Thanks for reading!
Reposted by Eric Falquero
6/ As a small team, we’re under no illusion that we alone can fill the void left by the journalists we’ve lost at The Post.
But we also know that we’re building in a steady and sustainable way, funded predominantly by reader support — far sturdier than a billionaire's whims.
But we also know that we’re building in a steady and sustainable way, funded predominantly by reader support — far sturdier than a billionaire's whims.
February 11, 2026 at 1:31 PM
6/ As a small team, we’re under no illusion that we alone can fill the void left by the journalists we’ve lost at The Post.
But we also know that we’re building in a steady and sustainable way, funded predominantly by reader support — far sturdier than a billionaire's whims.
But we also know that we’re building in a steady and sustainable way, funded predominantly by reader support — far sturdier than a billionaire's whims.
Reposted by Eric Falquero
5/ We want to be the newsroom D.C. needs — so we’re raising funds to triple (!!!) our reporting capacity, and beef up our editing team to support these writers.
More on our plans here, and how you can help 👇
More on our plans here, and how you can help 👇
The 51st is expanding
D.C. needs more local journalists. You can help us hire them.
51st.news
February 11, 2026 at 1:31 PM
5/ We want to be the newsroom D.C. needs — so we’re raising funds to triple (!!!) our reporting capacity, and beef up our editing team to support these writers.
More on our plans here, and how you can help 👇
More on our plans here, and how you can help 👇
Reposted by Eric Falquero
4/ The 51st grew out of the ashes of another catastrophic loss in WAMU’s decision to shutter DCist and lay off 16 people.
With your help, we’re fighting back *again* against the destruction of journalism — creating news that makes people’s lives better, funded by readers + led by local journalists.
With your help, we’re fighting back *again* against the destruction of journalism — creating news that makes people’s lives better, funded by readers + led by local journalists.
February 11, 2026 at 1:31 PM
4/ The 51st grew out of the ashes of another catastrophic loss in WAMU’s decision to shutter DCist and lay off 16 people.
With your help, we’re fighting back *again* against the destruction of journalism — creating news that makes people’s lives better, funded by readers + led by local journalists.
With your help, we’re fighting back *again* against the destruction of journalism — creating news that makes people’s lives better, funded by readers + led by local journalists.
Reposted by Eric Falquero
3/ Less than 3 days after the layoffs, we had 700+ new paying members — with more joining every day to say loudly and clearly: D.C. needs local news.
🥳 To those who’ve helped us spread the word about The 51st: Thank you!
🤗 To our new members and followers: Welcome!
🫵 You can join us today:
🥳 To those who’ve helped us spread the word about The 51st: Thank you!
🤗 To our new members and followers: Welcome!
🫵 You can join us today:
The 51st is expanding
D.C. needs more local journalists. You can help us hire them.
51st.news
February 11, 2026 at 1:31 PM
3/ Less than 3 days after the layoffs, we had 700+ new paying members — with more joining every day to say loudly and clearly: D.C. needs local news.
🥳 To those who’ve helped us spread the word about The 51st: Thank you!
🤗 To our new members and followers: Welcome!
🫵 You can join us today:
🥳 To those who’ve helped us spread the word about The 51st: Thank you!
🤗 To our new members and followers: Welcome!
🫵 You can join us today:
Reposted by Eric Falquero
2/ One week ago, The Washington Post's billionaire owner fired the majority of the paper's local reporters.
It's a brutal blow to D.C.’s ability to hold elected officials accountable, make informed decisions, and feel connected to our neighbors.
But this is a city of people who get the job done.
It's a brutal blow to D.C.’s ability to hold elected officials accountable, make informed decisions, and feel connected to our neighbors.
But this is a city of people who get the job done.
February 11, 2026 at 1:31 PM
2/ One week ago, The Washington Post's billionaire owner fired the majority of the paper's local reporters.
It's a brutal blow to D.C.’s ability to hold elected officials accountable, make informed decisions, and feel connected to our neighbors.
But this is a city of people who get the job done.
It's a brutal blow to D.C.’s ability to hold elected officials accountable, make informed decisions, and feel connected to our neighbors.
But this is a city of people who get the job done.
Reposted by Eric Falquero
🧵 1/ It’s hard to find hope amidst so much collapse.
But in the wreckage of today’s crises, people are also powering solutions — and The 51st, backed by the community of D.C., is one of them.
Will you help us build a local newsroom that a billionaire can’t break?
But in the wreckage of today’s crises, people are also powering solutions — and The 51st, backed by the community of D.C., is one of them.
Will you help us build a local newsroom that a billionaire can’t break?
February 11, 2026 at 1:31 PM
🧵 1/ It’s hard to find hope amidst so much collapse.
But in the wreckage of today’s crises, people are also powering solutions — and The 51st, backed by the community of D.C., is one of them.
Will you help us build a local newsroom that a billionaire can’t break?
But in the wreckage of today’s crises, people are also powering solutions — and The 51st, backed by the community of D.C., is one of them.
Will you help us build a local newsroom that a billionaire can’t break?
Reposted by Eric Falquero
The 51st has produced so much valuable reporting in just a single year, with only one full-time reporter. Can you imagine what a second year could look like if this newsroom had triple the reporting capacity?
The good news is that we don't have to imagine — we can make it happen. ⬇️⬇️⬇️
The good news is that we don't have to imagine — we can make it happen. ⬇️⬇️⬇️
5/ We want to be the newsroom D.C. needs — so we’re raising funds to triple (!!!) our reporting capacity, and beef up our editing team to support these writers.
More on our plans here, and how you can help 👇
More on our plans here, and how you can help 👇
The 51st is expanding
D.C. needs more local journalists. You can help us hire them.
51st.news
February 11, 2026 at 8:26 PM
The 51st has produced so much valuable reporting in just a single year, with only one full-time reporter. Can you imagine what a second year could look like if this newsroom had triple the reporting capacity?
The good news is that we don't have to imagine — we can make it happen. ⬇️⬇️⬇️
The good news is that we don't have to imagine — we can make it happen. ⬇️⬇️⬇️