Erik Ostrom
@erikostrom.bsky.social
Musician, improviser, urban biker, web developer, Minneapolitan.
Pinned
“People are not ok out here” seems like a valid and crucial operating principle for this whole era tbh
Which reminds me, a month or two ago I talked to a nurse friend who was thinking about moving to clinic work because he was pretty sure the US hospital system was on the brink of collapse.
Listen to those workers closest to day-to-day realities, so we don’t need a 50th anniversary remembrance of the next preventable disaster. 🚢🌊
SS Edmund Fitzgerald had a structural defect in its keel. Sailors on that ship had complained about the ship bending and flexing during storms, especially when it was overloaded, which it usually was. They had also found old keel weld breaks due to structural fatigue, which were never repaired
November 10, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Which reminds me, a month or two ago I talked to a nurse friend who was thinking about moving to clinic work because he was pretty sure the US hospital system was on the brink of collapse.
Reposted by Erik Ostrom
I am caucusing for @peggyflanagan.bsky.social on February 3 and you should too if you want a fighter in the US senate who wouldn’t have sold out working families.
Is she perfect? No, but politicians do not save us. We do.
We hold our leaders accountable to the promises they make.
Is she perfect? No, but politicians do not save us. We do.
We hold our leaders accountable to the promises they make.
November 10, 2025 at 5:00 AM
I am caucusing for @peggyflanagan.bsky.social on February 3 and you should too if you want a fighter in the US senate who wouldn’t have sold out working families.
Is she perfect? No, but politicians do not save us. We do.
We hold our leaders accountable to the promises they make.
Is she perfect? No, but politicians do not save us. We do.
We hold our leaders accountable to the promises they make.
Reposted by Erik Ostrom
Hi Minnesotan Bluesky:
The DFL has a well-known transphobia problem. I'm organizing to change the party platform in 2026 to be explicitly supportive of trans people in Minnesota. This will provide a basis for expelling transphobia from our party.
Join me: abetterdfl.org.
The DFL has a well-known transphobia problem. I'm organizing to change the party platform in 2026 to be explicitly supportive of trans people in Minnesota. This will provide a basis for expelling transphobia from our party.
Join me: abetterdfl.org.
November 9, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Hi Minnesotan Bluesky:
The DFL has a well-known transphobia problem. I'm organizing to change the party platform in 2026 to be explicitly supportive of trans people in Minnesota. This will provide a basis for expelling transphobia from our party.
Join me: abetterdfl.org.
The DFL has a well-known transphobia problem. I'm organizing to change the party platform in 2026 to be explicitly supportive of trans people in Minnesota. This will provide a basis for expelling transphobia from our party.
Join me: abetterdfl.org.
Reposted by Erik Ostrom
Today, LaTonya Reeves is announcing that she is primarying Ilhan Omar, my current representative.
When asked what LaTonay's pronouns are, LaTonya replies "Black/Queen" because Queen believes that being non-binary is a white thing.
This is a big part of why I'm working to unfuck the DFL.
When asked what LaTonay's pronouns are, LaTonya replies "Black/Queen" because Queen believes that being non-binary is a white thing.
This is a big part of why I'm working to unfuck the DFL.
A Better DFL
abetterdfl.org
November 9, 2025 at 11:37 PM
Today, LaTonya Reeves is announcing that she is primarying Ilhan Omar, my current representative.
When asked what LaTonay's pronouns are, LaTonya replies "Black/Queen" because Queen believes that being non-binary is a white thing.
This is a big part of why I'm working to unfuck the DFL.
When asked what LaTonay's pronouns are, LaTonya replies "Black/Queen" because Queen believes that being non-binary is a white thing.
This is a big part of why I'm working to unfuck the DFL.
Reposted by Erik Ostrom
Normalize "I don't know"
November 10, 2025 at 12:06 AM
Normalize "I don't know"
Reposted by Erik Ostrom
This thread is extremely funny, I hope you enjoy every part of it as much as I did
I can believe people musk has paid to fluff him up or i can believe reports on the team at space x who are paid to jangle keys in front of him so that he doesn’t get involved in any technical decisions
November 9, 2025 at 3:15 AM
This thread is extremely funny, I hope you enjoy every part of it as much as I did
Two undergrads next to me on what seems like a coffee date are listing everyone they know with a nickname. There are a lot of them!
November 8, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Two undergrads next to me on what seems like a coffee date are listing everyone they know with a nickname. There are a lot of them!
Reposted by Erik Ostrom
Happy Four Seasons Total Landscaping day to those who celebrate.
reposting here bc it’s only on the other site but…
5 years ago, I worked at Four Seasons Total Landscaping.
5 years ago, I worked at Four Seasons Total Landscaping.
November 7, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Happy Four Seasons Total Landscaping day to those who celebrate.
Reposted by Erik Ostrom
For me Jazz was also helpful because he reminded me there are centrists who want to do work and make change. Like Im so used to Frey, Schaffer, Millard who are straight up lying, it was an important reframe to have someone I didn’t fully agree with but could vote for without feeling gross
November 7, 2025 at 6:04 PM
For me Jazz was also helpful because he reminded me there are centrists who want to do work and make change. Like Im so used to Frey, Schaffer, Millard who are straight up lying, it was an important reframe to have someone I didn’t fully agree with but could vote for without feeling gross
One thing I do when I’m not being mad about local elections is improvise a live orchestral score for Star Trek: The Next Improvisation. We’re live in Saint Paul for the next three weekends!
Tickets: www.thehivecollaborativemn.com/events/star-...
Tickets: www.thehivecollaborativemn.com/events/star-...
November 7, 2025 at 3:27 PM
One thing I do when I’m not being mad about local elections is improvise a live orchestral score for Star Trek: The Next Improvisation. We’re live in Saint Paul for the next three weekends!
Tickets: www.thehivecollaborativemn.com/events/star-...
Tickets: www.thehivecollaborativemn.com/events/star-...
Reposted by Erik Ostrom
"World's first potential trillionaire has killed 600,000 people, including 400,000 children" is the only headline that anyone should ever read about Elon Musk
One analytical model shows that, as of November 5th, the dismantling of U.S.A.I.D. has already caused the deaths of 600,000 people, two-thirds of them children. https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/jUzNSc
The Shutdown of U.S.A.I.D. Has Already Killed Hundreds of Thousands
The short documentary “Rovina’s Choice” tells the story of what goes when aid goes.
newyorkermag.visitlink.me
November 7, 2025 at 1:33 AM
"World's first potential trillionaire has killed 600,000 people, including 400,000 children" is the only headline that anyone should ever read about Elon Musk
Reposted by Erik Ostrom
friendly reminder that socialist mayors governed Milwaukee for nearly half a century from 1910-1960
during this time Milwaukee achieved milestones such as being the healthiest, safest, and best-governed city in America
during this time Milwaukee achieved milestones such as being the healthiest, safest, and best-governed city in America
November 6, 2025 at 2:43 PM
friendly reminder that socialist mayors governed Milwaukee for nearly half a century from 1910-1960
during this time Milwaukee achieved milestones such as being the healthiest, safest, and best-governed city in America
during this time Milwaukee achieved milestones such as being the healthiest, safest, and best-governed city in America
Reposted by Erik Ostrom
the work continues but also like ughhhhh
jacob frey won
November 5, 2025 at 5:39 PM
the work continues but also like ughhhhh
This is really great
and also I’m bummed out that my ward wants a city council that undermines labor, cuts youth programming, and doesn’t take climate seriously
but it really is great about the park board.
and also I’m bummed out that my ward wants a city council that undermines labor, cuts youth programming, and doesn’t take climate seriously
but it really is great about the park board.
There's a lot of counting to be done. But one thing is very clear, Minneapolis wants a Park Board that takes climate SERIOUSLY! That refuses to cut youth programming! And stands by our labor allies!!!
a man holding a banana says " pretty pretty pretty pretty pretty good "
ALT: a man holding a banana says " pretty pretty pretty pretty pretty good "
media.tenor.com
November 5, 2025 at 5:03 PM
This is really great
and also I’m bummed out that my ward wants a city council that undermines labor, cuts youth programming, and doesn’t take climate seriously
but it really is great about the park board.
and also I’m bummed out that my ward wants a city council that undermines labor, cuts youth programming, and doesn’t take climate seriously
but it really is great about the park board.
Reposted by Erik Ostrom
Katie Cashman has been a fantastic council member and I hope she will continue to contribute to our beloved city after tonight's sad defeat.
November 5, 2025 at 3:54 AM
Katie Cashman has been a fantastic council member and I hope she will continue to contribute to our beloved city after tonight's sad defeat.
WHY IS IT STILL HAPPENING
My Hulu subscription survived the Kimmel suspension and survived the reported ICE recruitment ads (which I haven’t seen), but I just got an Elizabeth Shaffer ad and maybe it’s over
November 5, 2025 at 2:34 AM
WHY IS IT STILL HAPPENING
Reposted by Erik Ostrom
Colorful Bryant Avenue bikeway and Lake Street at Lyndale Avenue.
South Minneapolis, November 2025
South Minneapolis, November 2025
November 5, 2025 at 1:56 AM
Colorful Bryant Avenue bikeway and Lake Street at Lyndale Avenue.
South Minneapolis, November 2025
South Minneapolis, November 2025
this one’s optimistic
November 5, 2025 at 1:11 AM
this one’s optimistic
Reposted by Erik Ostrom
Reminder that Corner Coffee is run by AoG
I grew up attending Assemblies of God churches and went to an AoG college. Sadly a lot of this is not surprising knowing the culture of penicostal churches. Thoughts and prayers for the victims and hope some sort of justice for them.
www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...
www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...
How Assemblies of God churches shielded accused predators as they abused children
NBC News uncovered a 50-year pattern of sex abuse, silence and cover-up in the world’s largest Pentecostal denomination.
www.nbcnews.com
November 4, 2025 at 8:32 PM
Reminder that Corner Coffee is run by AoG
Reading James Baldwin and highlighting half of every other paragraph, is that a normal ratio?
November 4, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Reading James Baldwin and highlighting half of every other paragraph, is that a normal ratio?
Left the house wearing an Elizabeth Warren t-shirt for Election Day, but somebody thought it said Elizabeth Shaffer, so I guess I’m topless until I get home
November 4, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Left the house wearing an Elizabeth Warren t-shirt for Election Day, but somebody thought it said Elizabeth Shaffer, so I guess I’m topless until I get home
The golden age of American journalism is over.
I was laid off from Teen Vogue today along with multiple other staffers, and today is my last day.
certainly more to come from me when the dust has settled more, but to my knowledge, after today, there will be no politics staffers at Teen Vogue.
certainly more to come from me when the dust has settled more, but to my knowledge, after today, there will be no politics staffers at Teen Vogue.
November 3, 2025 at 9:42 PM
The golden age of American journalism is over.
Somehow Frey is even worse than I thought.
I’m asking everyone to vote for a new Mayor by Tuesday and rank all 3 of Omar Fateh, Dewayne Davis, and Jazz Hampton in whichever order you prefer. I’ve worked at City Hall for the last 4 years and from my personal experiences I believe the City desperately needs a new mayor.
Long thread 🧵
Long thread 🧵
November 3, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Somehow Frey is even worse than I thought.
Reposted by Erik Ostrom
open.substack.com/pub/caraleto...
I did not know that Minneapolis, has, once before, elected a Socialist mayor.
I did not know that Minneapolis, has, once before, elected a Socialist mayor.
Something’s Happening Here
What the races for mayor in New York, Seattle, and my own Minneapolis tell us about the generational divide within the Democratic Party coalition, and how we can unite for a better future.
open.substack.com
November 3, 2025 at 3:27 PM
open.substack.com/pub/caraleto...
I did not know that Minneapolis, has, once before, elected a Socialist mayor.
I did not know that Minneapolis, has, once before, elected a Socialist mayor.