Jake Schwitzer
@jakeschwitzer.bsky.social
Executive Director @northstarpolicy.org
Making Minnesota work for working people.
Making Minnesota work for working people.
Pinned
Jake Schwitzer
@jakeschwitzer.bsky.social
· Nov 17
Inspired by @banditelli.org to do some bird photography. Had some fun with this Downy Woodpecker.
It was pretty nutty reading the Chamber’s take on our economy and not seeing the word ‘tariff’ even ONCE.
The Minnesota Chamber’s new 2026 Business Benchmarks report offers a snapshot of the Minnesota economy but leaves out some major forces shaping what employers + workers are actually experiencing.
November 20, 2025 at 8:43 PM
It was pretty nutty reading the Chamber’s take on our economy and not seeing the word ‘tariff’ even ONCE.
Really loving the corporate humility in this quote. WE’RE HERE AND WE DON’T CARE IF YOU WANT US.
November 20, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Really loving the corporate humility in this quote. WE’RE HERE AND WE DON’T CARE IF YOU WANT US.
Reposted by Jake Schwitzer
A Black Hawk helicopter. SWAT teams repelling to the roof. 300 agents. Flash-bang grenades. A TV crew.
“It’s 20,000 of them running through my house like we got Saddam Hussein in the closet."
For all that, fed prosecutors filed no criminal charges against anyone who was arrested.
Stunning report.
“It’s 20,000 of them running through my house like we got Saddam Hussein in the closet."
For all that, fed prosecutors filed no criminal charges against anyone who was arrested.
Stunning report.
“I Lost Everything”: Venezuelans Were Rounded Up in a Dramatic Midnight Raid but Never Charged With a Crime
Authorities said Tren de Aragua “terrorists” had taken over the building. A ProPublica investigation found little evidence to back up the government’s claims. For the first time, the Venezuelans arres...
www.propublica.org
November 13, 2025 at 2:35 PM
A Black Hawk helicopter. SWAT teams repelling to the roof. 300 agents. Flash-bang grenades. A TV crew.
“It’s 20,000 of them running through my house like we got Saddam Hussein in the closet."
For all that, fed prosecutors filed no criminal charges against anyone who was arrested.
Stunning report.
“It’s 20,000 of them running through my house like we got Saddam Hussein in the closet."
For all that, fed prosecutors filed no criminal charges against anyone who was arrested.
Stunning report.
Reposted by Jake Schwitzer
Leave our breweries alone.
November 13, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Leave our breweries alone.
Reposted by Jake Schwitzer
Reminder that Starbucks’ CEO made 6,666x more than the company's median employee in 2024.
This was the widest CEO-to-Worker pay gap in the entire S&P 500.
And we're supposed to believe Starbucks can't afford to bargain a fair contract with its unionized workers?
This was the widest CEO-to-Worker pay gap in the entire S&P 500.
And we're supposed to believe Starbucks can't afford to bargain a fair contract with its unionized workers?
As of this morning, Starbucks workers across the country are officially ON STRIKE. And we're prepared for this to become the biggest and longest ULP strike in Starbucks history.
Say #NoContractNoCoffee with us: DON'T BUY STARBUCKS for the duration of our open-ended ULP strike! $SBUX
Say #NoContractNoCoffee with us: DON'T BUY STARBUCKS for the duration of our open-ended ULP strike! $SBUX
November 13, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Reminder that Starbucks’ CEO made 6,666x more than the company's median employee in 2024.
This was the widest CEO-to-Worker pay gap in the entire S&P 500.
And we're supposed to believe Starbucks can't afford to bargain a fair contract with its unionized workers?
This was the widest CEO-to-Worker pay gap in the entire S&P 500.
And we're supposed to believe Starbucks can't afford to bargain a fair contract with its unionized workers?
Reposted by Jake Schwitzer
What sick dogshit place are we living in where "child sex trafficking and pedophilia" is an "issue" and not a "put everyone in jail and throw away the whole jail" situation
Enten: "Trump is 39 below water on the Epstein case. 39 points in the negative! My goodness gracious. What Trump has been selling on the Epstein files, the Epstein case, the American people have not been buying at all ... less than half of Republicans are buying it. This is his worst issue by far"
November 13, 2025 at 3:45 PM
What sick dogshit place are we living in where "child sex trafficking and pedophilia" is an "issue" and not a "put everyone in jail and throw away the whole jail" situation
Reposted by Jake Schwitzer
As of this morning, Starbucks workers across the country are officially ON STRIKE. And we're prepared for this to become the biggest and longest ULP strike in Starbucks history.
Say #NoContractNoCoffee with us: DON'T BUY STARBUCKS for the duration of our open-ended ULP strike! $SBUX
Say #NoContractNoCoffee with us: DON'T BUY STARBUCKS for the duration of our open-ended ULP strike! $SBUX
November 13, 2025 at 11:33 AM
As of this morning, Starbucks workers across the country are officially ON STRIKE. And we're prepared for this to become the biggest and longest ULP strike in Starbucks history.
Say #NoContractNoCoffee with us: DON'T BUY STARBUCKS for the duration of our open-ended ULP strike! $SBUX
Say #NoContractNoCoffee with us: DON'T BUY STARBUCKS for the duration of our open-ended ULP strike! $SBUX
Reposted by Jake Schwitzer
Viewing this as a mandate in favor of my “Stop making me hear about Ezra Klein” platform
November 5, 2025 at 2:27 AM
Viewing this as a mandate in favor of my “Stop making me hear about Ezra Klein” platform
Reposted by Jake Schwitzer
At this point, anyone—a university, a law firm, a corporation, a Democrat—bending the knee to Trump is doing it because they want to, not because of any political reality.
November 5, 2025 at 2:23 AM
At this point, anyone—a university, a law firm, a corporation, a Democrat—bending the knee to Trump is doing it because they want to, not because of any political reality.
Reposted by Jake Schwitzer
All of the pilfering, vandalism, and outright death caused by DOGE cuts, and all of the thefts from the future by illegally stopping research grants, didn't save a penny, Trump spent the money and more on corruption and incompetent ICE goons.
Total federal spending is up +7% in 2025 over 2024 year-to-date to Oct 20.
The story that the fed govt is tightening its belt is contradicted by its own real-time expenditure data. Admin spectacularly hammering some things but raising spending elsewhere.
Was -7% just after Inauguration Day.
The story that the fed govt is tightening its belt is contradicted by its own real-time expenditure data. Admin spectacularly hammering some things but raising spending elsewhere.
Was -7% just after Inauguration Day.
October 23, 2025 at 3:15 PM
All of the pilfering, vandalism, and outright death caused by DOGE cuts, and all of the thefts from the future by illegally stopping research grants, didn't save a penny, Trump spent the money and more on corruption and incompetent ICE goons.
Reposted by Jake Schwitzer
No, it’s just that we hate pedophiles
Mike Johnson: "Suddenly now, they've somehow convinced themselves that the Epstein files will be damaging to President Trump and Republicans in some way that they've imagined, and so they feign outrage."
October 21, 2025 at 3:06 PM
No, it’s just that we hate pedophiles
Reposted by Jake Schwitzer
If a "clean CR" spikes my constituents’ health insurance premiums, it’s not clean. It’s dirty and puts the interests of the richest Americans ahead of Minnesota and I won’t vote for it.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER.
October 20, 2025 at 5:43 PM
If a "clean CR" spikes my constituents’ health insurance premiums, it’s not clean. It’s dirty and puts the interests of the richest Americans ahead of Minnesota and I won’t vote for it.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER.
Reposted by Jake Schwitzer
Great story from @mprnews.org on our recent report release and efforts to end wage theft for non-unionized construction workers in Minneapolis. It's time to move from whack-a-mole reactive enforcement to across-the-board proactive compliance.
Labor groups are calling for Minneapolis to more proactively enforce the city’s regulations against worker wage theft and on-site harassment.
“The message is clear: For workers, the risks of reporting are greater than the rewards, while bad actors see the opposite,” said researcher Aaron Rosenthal.
“The message is clear: For workers, the risks of reporting are greater than the rewards, while bad actors see the opposite,” said researcher Aaron Rosenthal.
Advocates want the City of Minneapolis to do more to end wage theft, worker harassment
A report released by a progressive think tank recommends that the city use its permitting authority and independent audits to ensure that existing labor regulations are properly enforced.
www.mprnews.org
October 16, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Great story from @mprnews.org on our recent report release and efforts to end wage theft for non-unionized construction workers in Minneapolis. It's time to move from whack-a-mole reactive enforcement to across-the-board proactive compliance.
Reposted by Jake Schwitzer
Yesterday we stood with labor allies and released our new report, A Roadmap to Compliance: Strengthening Worker Protections in Minneapolis Construction.
We called on the city to take bold steps to eliminate wage theft, retaliation, sexual assault, and labor trafficking.
We called on the city to take bold steps to eliminate wage theft, retaliation, sexual assault, and labor trafficking.
Labor groups are calling for Minneapolis to more proactively enforce the city’s regulations against worker wage theft and on-site harassment.
“The message is clear: For workers, the risks of reporting are greater than the rewards, while bad actors see the opposite,” said researcher Aaron Rosenthal.
“The message is clear: For workers, the risks of reporting are greater than the rewards, while bad actors see the opposite,” said researcher Aaron Rosenthal.
Advocates want the City of Minneapolis to do more to end wage theft, worker harassment
A report released by a progressive think tank recommends that the city use its permitting authority and independent audits to ensure that existing labor regulations are properly enforced.
www.mprnews.org
October 16, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Yesterday we stood with labor allies and released our new report, A Roadmap to Compliance: Strengthening Worker Protections in Minneapolis Construction.
We called on the city to take bold steps to eliminate wage theft, retaliation, sexual assault, and labor trafficking.
We called on the city to take bold steps to eliminate wage theft, retaliation, sexual assault, and labor trafficking.
Reposted by Jake Schwitzer
Labor groups are calling for Minneapolis to more proactively enforce the city’s regulations against worker wage theft and on-site harassment.
“The message is clear: For workers, the risks of reporting are greater than the rewards, while bad actors see the opposite,” said researcher Aaron Rosenthal.
“The message is clear: For workers, the risks of reporting are greater than the rewards, while bad actors see the opposite,” said researcher Aaron Rosenthal.
Advocates want the City of Minneapolis to do more to end wage theft, worker harassment
A report released by a progressive think tank recommends that the city use its permitting authority and independent audits to ensure that existing labor regulations are properly enforced.
www.mprnews.org
October 16, 2025 at 12:59 AM
Labor groups are calling for Minneapolis to more proactively enforce the city’s regulations against worker wage theft and on-site harassment.
“The message is clear: For workers, the risks of reporting are greater than the rewards, while bad actors see the opposite,” said researcher Aaron Rosenthal.
“The message is clear: For workers, the risks of reporting are greater than the rewards, while bad actors see the opposite,” said researcher Aaron Rosenthal.
Reposted by Jake Schwitzer
c'mon mn say hell no to Waymo
Well, here it comes: @toreyvanoot.bsky.social reports that Waymo has hired lobbyists in Minnesota and been talking to state lawmakers, looking for legislative approval to operate in MN
www.axios.com/local/twin-c...
www.axios.com/local/twin-c...
October 8, 2025 at 1:28 PM
c'mon mn say hell no to Waymo
Reposted by Jake Schwitzer
Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill just raised health insurance rates by an average of $2,000 a year for middle class Minnesotans.
He’s prioritizing the pocketbooks of the wealthy - leaving rural communities, middle class families, and small businesses out in the dust.
He’s prioritizing the pocketbooks of the wealthy - leaving rural communities, middle class families, and small businesses out in the dust.
October 1, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill just raised health insurance rates by an average of $2,000 a year for middle class Minnesotans.
He’s prioritizing the pocketbooks of the wealthy - leaving rural communities, middle class families, and small businesses out in the dust.
He’s prioritizing the pocketbooks of the wealthy - leaving rural communities, middle class families, and small businesses out in the dust.
Reposted by Jake Schwitzer
Why would any legislator vote for a budget the executive will ignore?
In that situation, a yes vote conveys one thing and nothing else: validation for the White House’s blatantly unconstitutional actions.
In that situation, a yes vote conveys one thing and nothing else: validation for the White House’s blatantly unconstitutional actions.
The White House is canceling food research funding popular with the GOP despite budget chief Russell Vought's promise to leave that money untouched.
Trump cancels food research funding popular with Republicans
Budget chief Russell Vought proposed cutting $72 million for universities after promising lawmakers the funding would remain untouched.
www.politico.com
September 30, 2025 at 11:36 PM
Why would any legislator vote for a budget the executive will ignore?
In that situation, a yes vote conveys one thing and nothing else: validation for the White House’s blatantly unconstitutional actions.
In that situation, a yes vote conveys one thing and nothing else: validation for the White House’s blatantly unconstitutional actions.
Reposted by Jake Schwitzer
Key part of funding negotiations that's underdiscussed: Ds want to add provisions to ensure any agreement they come to is *actually followed* (unlike what's happening now)
But Trump says that's a red line he won't accept - that he wants the ability to come to an agreement & immediately break it
But Trump says that's a red line he won't accept - that he wants the ability to come to an agreement & immediately break it
September 29, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Key part of funding negotiations that's underdiscussed: Ds want to add provisions to ensure any agreement they come to is *actually followed* (unlike what's happening now)
But Trump says that's a red line he won't accept - that he wants the ability to come to an agreement & immediately break it
But Trump says that's a red line he won't accept - that he wants the ability to come to an agreement & immediately break it
Trump doesn’t care about you if you’re not a billionaire saying nice things about him on the teevee.
September 26, 2025 at 3:04 AM
Trump doesn’t care about you if you’re not a billionaire saying nice things about him on the teevee.
Reposted by Jake Schwitzer
Trump is absolutely cratering in new Quinnipiac poll:
Overall approval: 38-54
Approval on economy: 39-56
Approval on trade: 39-54
On National Guard into cities: 42-55
On immigration, his "best" issue: 41-55
Trump is weak, unpopular, and failing. Treat him that way:
Overall approval: 38-54
Approval on economy: 39-56
Approval on trade: 39-54
On National Guard into cities: 42-55
On immigration, his "best" issue: 41-55
Trump is weak, unpopular, and failing. Treat him that way:
Trump/MAGA are trying to gaslight us into believing that anti-Jimmy Kimmel America is vast and deep, that MAGA's grip on the culture is unshakable, that mobilization is futile.
But this episode has demonstrated the opposite. Let's not forget it.
Thoughts on this:
newrepublic.com/article/2008...
But this episode has demonstrated the opposite. Let's not forget it.
Thoughts on this:
newrepublic.com/article/2008...
September 25, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Trump is absolutely cratering in new Quinnipiac poll:
Overall approval: 38-54
Approval on economy: 39-56
Approval on trade: 39-54
On National Guard into cities: 42-55
On immigration, his "best" issue: 41-55
Trump is weak, unpopular, and failing. Treat him that way:
Overall approval: 38-54
Approval on economy: 39-56
Approval on trade: 39-54
On National Guard into cities: 42-55
On immigration, his "best" issue: 41-55
Trump is weak, unpopular, and failing. Treat him that way:
Reposted by Jake Schwitzer
We love to brag when Minnesota is the best. This isn’t a list we want to be high on.
Minnesota has the fourth largest teacher pay penalty in the country. Our teachers make 33% less than other workers with a college degree.
Nationwide, the gap is the largest it’s ever been and growing.
Minnesota has the fourth largest teacher pay penalty in the country. Our teachers make 33% less than other workers with a college degree.
Nationwide, the gap is the largest it’s ever been and growing.
In 2024, teachers earned 73 cents for every dollar their similarly educated peers made, on average—a record low.
In 1996, the gap was much smaller: teachers earned 94 cents for every dollar.
We need to pay teachers more! How? By investing in public education.
www.epi.org/publication/...
In 1996, the gap was much smaller: teachers earned 94 cents for every dollar.
We need to pay teachers more! How? By investing in public education.
www.epi.org/publication/...
The teacher pay penalty reached a record high in 2024: Three decades of leaving public school teachers behind
Over the past three decades, stagnant weekly wages of public school teachers have fallen further and further behind those of college graduates who chose other careers, resulting in an ever increasing ...
www.epi.org
September 24, 2025 at 4:24 PM
We love to brag when Minnesota is the best. This isn’t a list we want to be high on.
Minnesota has the fourth largest teacher pay penalty in the country. Our teachers make 33% less than other workers with a college degree.
Nationwide, the gap is the largest it’s ever been and growing.
Minnesota has the fourth largest teacher pay penalty in the country. Our teachers make 33% less than other workers with a college degree.
Nationwide, the gap is the largest it’s ever been and growing.
Reposted by Jake Schwitzer
Anything we do has to include breaking up corporate and media monopolies. The tools are there to dismantle this horseshit, you just have to find the people willing to use them.
September 18, 2025 at 3:55 AM
Anything we do has to include breaking up corporate and media monopolies. The tools are there to dismantle this horseshit, you just have to find the people willing to use them.
Reposted by Jake Schwitzer
Reposted by Jake Schwitzer
if youre a ceo and didn’t see this coming then you should be fired for being a dumb stupid gullible moron and also gross negligence
September 18, 2025 at 11:36 AM
if youre a ceo and didn’t see this coming then you should be fired for being a dumb stupid gullible moron and also gross negligence