John Gotaskie
@jgotaskie.bsky.social
Father | Husband | Friend | Lawyer | Problem Solver
he/him
he/him
Reposted by John Gotaskie
Reposted by John Gotaskie
This has gotten lost: Abigail Spanberger won big after vowing to RESCIND Glenn Youngkin's executive order directing local cooperation with ICE and voting AGAINST the anti-immigrant Laken Riley Act. Yet she gained bigly with working class.
New piece laying this out:
newrepublic.com/article/2030...
New piece laying this out:
newrepublic.com/article/2030...
November 12, 2025 at 6:49 PM
This has gotten lost: Abigail Spanberger won big after vowing to RESCIND Glenn Youngkin's executive order directing local cooperation with ICE and voting AGAINST the anti-immigrant Laken Riley Act. Yet she gained bigly with working class.
New piece laying this out:
newrepublic.com/article/2030...
New piece laying this out:
newrepublic.com/article/2030...
Reposted by John Gotaskie
On this Veterans Day
WE HONOR THOSE WHO FOUGHT AGAINST FASCISM AND AUTHORITARIANISM
Acknowledge their sacrifice
And pledge to fight
For Veteran's BENEFITS and HEALTHCARE
They deserve better
WE HONOR THOSE WHO FOUGHT AGAINST FASCISM AND AUTHORITARIANISM
Acknowledge their sacrifice
And pledge to fight
For Veteran's BENEFITS and HEALTHCARE
They deserve better
November 11, 2025 at 5:20 PM
On this Veterans Day
WE HONOR THOSE WHO FOUGHT AGAINST FASCISM AND AUTHORITARIANISM
Acknowledge their sacrifice
And pledge to fight
For Veteran's BENEFITS and HEALTHCARE
They deserve better
WE HONOR THOSE WHO FOUGHT AGAINST FASCISM AND AUTHORITARIANISM
Acknowledge their sacrifice
And pledge to fight
For Veteran's BENEFITS and HEALTHCARE
They deserve better
Reposted by John Gotaskie
Saquon chewing up 5 yards a clip, perfect time to throw twice. I cannot stand Patullo.
November 11, 2025 at 4:01 AM
Saquon chewing up 5 yards a clip, perfect time to throw twice. I cannot stand Patullo.
Do the @philadelphiaeagles.bsky.social do anything but run when Hurts is under center?
November 11, 2025 at 3:15 AM
Do the @philadelphiaeagles.bsky.social do anything but run when Hurts is under center?
Reposted by John Gotaskie
11 November 1927 | Czech Jewish boy, Felix Arnstein, was born in Prague.
He was deported to #Auschwitz from #Theresienstadt ghetto on 6 September 1943. He did not survive.
---
Children at Auschwitz
Lesson: https://lekcja.auschwitz.org/dzieci_EN/
Podcast: https://youtu.be/aYKx_zpLSqA
He was deported to #Auschwitz from #Theresienstadt ghetto on 6 September 1943. He did not survive.
---
Children at Auschwitz
Lesson: https://lekcja.auschwitz.org/dzieci_EN/
Podcast: https://youtu.be/aYKx_zpLSqA
November 11, 2025 at 3:00 AM
11 November 1927 | Czech Jewish boy, Felix Arnstein, was born in Prague.
He was deported to #Auschwitz from #Theresienstadt ghetto on 6 September 1943. He did not survive.
---
Children at Auschwitz
Lesson: https://lekcja.auschwitz.org/dzieci_EN/
Podcast: https://youtu.be/aYKx_zpLSqA
He was deported to #Auschwitz from #Theresienstadt ghetto on 6 September 1943. He did not survive.
---
Children at Auschwitz
Lesson: https://lekcja.auschwitz.org/dzieci_EN/
Podcast: https://youtu.be/aYKx_zpLSqA
Reposted by John Gotaskie
It’s wild to suggest this is a circular firing squad or something when it’s millions of citizen Democrats who hate it versus 47 elected Democrats who conspired to surrender for nothing.
We’re not fighting “each other,” we’re fighting you. There’s only a few dozen of you, but you hold all the power.
We’re not fighting “each other,” we’re fighting you. There’s only a few dozen of you, but you hold all the power.
But there are real dangers out there that must be fought; and energy spent fighting each other is energy lost to that bigger fight.
November 11, 2025 at 1:27 AM
It’s wild to suggest this is a circular firing squad or something when it’s millions of citizen Democrats who hate it versus 47 elected Democrats who conspired to surrender for nothing.
We’re not fighting “each other,” we’re fighting you. There’s only a few dozen of you, but you hold all the power.
We’re not fighting “each other,” we’re fighting you. There’s only a few dozen of you, but you hold all the power.
Reposted by John Gotaskie
In response to this claim that the "strategy didn't work."
The people were on our side. We were building momentum to help save our democracy. We could have won - the premium increase notices were just starting.
And giving in now will embolden him. Things will likely get worse.
The people were on our side. We were building momentum to help save our democracy. We could have won - the premium increase notices were just starting.
And giving in now will embolden him. Things will likely get worse.
November 10, 2025 at 5:43 PM
In response to this claim that the "strategy didn't work."
The people were on our side. We were building momentum to help save our democracy. We could have won - the premium increase notices were just starting.
And giving in now will embolden him. Things will likely get worse.
The people were on our side. We were building momentum to help save our democracy. We could have won - the premium increase notices were just starting.
And giving in now will embolden him. Things will likely get worse.
Reposted by John Gotaskie
agreeing to make a terrible deal while your main opponent is quite literally being boo'd on live tv by an entire stadium of people is the kind of political instinct you'd normally only find in a 3 week old dead goldfish
November 10, 2025 at 12:36 AM
agreeing to make a terrible deal while your main opponent is quite literally being boo'd on live tv by an entire stadium of people is the kind of political instinct you'd normally only find in a 3 week old dead goldfish
Reposted by John Gotaskie
Democrats in office need to know: all of us with very few exceptions want all of you with very few exception to lose your god damn jobs because you refuse to do them.
November 10, 2025 at 11:13 AM
Democrats in office need to know: all of us with very few exceptions want all of you with very few exception to lose your god damn jobs because you refuse to do them.
Reposted by John Gotaskie
Great job, @schumer.senate.gov. You've changed the story from "GOP hurting millions of Americans to please unpopular, failing, delusional despot who's destroying his party" to "Dems are too weak and divided in the face of Trump's strength to take a stand and protect Americans"
November 10, 2025 at 11:49 AM
Great job, @schumer.senate.gov. You've changed the story from "GOP hurting millions of Americans to please unpopular, failing, delusional despot who's destroying his party" to "Dems are too weak and divided in the face of Trump's strength to take a stand and protect Americans"
Reposted by John Gotaskie
10 November 1921 | A Dutch Jew, Samuel Berclouw, was born in Amsterdam.
In #Auschwitz from 17 July 1942.
No. 47971
He perished in the camp on 30 September 1942.
---
Online lesson about Jewish prisoners at KL Auschwitz: https://lekcja.auschwitz.org/29_zydzi_en/
In #Auschwitz from 17 July 1942.
No. 47971
He perished in the camp on 30 September 1942.
---
Online lesson about Jewish prisoners at KL Auschwitz: https://lekcja.auschwitz.org/29_zydzi_en/
November 10, 2025 at 12:00 PM
10 November 1921 | A Dutch Jew, Samuel Berclouw, was born in Amsterdam.
In #Auschwitz from 17 July 1942.
No. 47971
He perished in the camp on 30 September 1942.
---
Online lesson about Jewish prisoners at KL Auschwitz: https://lekcja.auschwitz.org/29_zydzi_en/
In #Auschwitz from 17 July 1942.
No. 47971
He perished in the camp on 30 September 1942.
---
Online lesson about Jewish prisoners at KL Auschwitz: https://lekcja.auschwitz.org/29_zydzi_en/
Reposted by John Gotaskie
Harm to SNAP recipients, federal workers, and others is real. In a normal democracy it’d make sense to prioritize reducing that harm in the short term.
In a rapidly backsliding democracy, harm is happening no matter what. Preventing authoritarian consolidation is the most harm-reducing move.
In a rapidly backsliding democracy, harm is happening no matter what. Preventing authoritarian consolidation is the most harm-reducing move.
two contradictory ideas that i hold in my head at the same time: 1) i think the threat to both SNAP recipients and federal workers is significant enough now that even bad deals are worth making to prevent further harm, and, 2) everyone who caves now should retire in shame
November 10, 2025 at 2:54 AM
Harm to SNAP recipients, federal workers, and others is real. In a normal democracy it’d make sense to prioritize reducing that harm in the short term.
In a rapidly backsliding democracy, harm is happening no matter what. Preventing authoritarian consolidation is the most harm-reducing move.
In a rapidly backsliding democracy, harm is happening no matter what. Preventing authoritarian consolidation is the most harm-reducing move.
Reposted by John Gotaskie
If any Dem is dumb or blinkered enough to say "let's stick it to health insurance CEOs by just having everyone pay cash out of pocket direct to docs and hospitals" then by god we deserve what will be coming.
I dunno if other "big insurance sucks!" Dems are thinking the same thing -- Bernie? -- but eliminating insurance for HSAs is INSANE. THat's basically the most extreme Republican idea from the past. You can't possibly expect people, let alone needy, to self-insure against catastrophic illness!
November 9, 2025 at 10:34 PM
If any Dem is dumb or blinkered enough to say "let's stick it to health insurance CEOs by just having everyone pay cash out of pocket direct to docs and hospitals" then by god we deserve what will be coming.
Reposted by John Gotaskie
I don't know what the Senate is going to do. But if they do in fact fold in exchange for nothing, they will be living up to past performance. To expect the Senate to carry out the will of the American people is to misunderstand why it was created in the first place.
November 9, 2025 at 9:55 PM
I don't know what the Senate is going to do. But if they do in fact fold in exchange for nothing, they will be living up to past performance. To expect the Senate to carry out the will of the American people is to misunderstand why it was created in the first place.
Reposted by John Gotaskie
If only Chuck Schumer could be just 5% Mitch McConnell and not 100% Charlie Brown.
November 9, 2025 at 8:35 PM
If only Chuck Schumer could be just 5% Mitch McConnell and not 100% Charlie Brown.
Reposted by John Gotaskie
For @teenvogue.com I wrote about the death of trans athlete Lia Smith and how trans youth kind themselves with central pillars of their lives being constantly ripped away from them because of politics. www.teenvogue.com/story/politi...
Politicizing Transgender Athletes Is Dangerous. Lia Smith Deserved Better.
"Let her passing be an inflection point for how you think about trans rights and trans people more generally."
www.teenvogue.com
November 9, 2025 at 1:23 AM
For @teenvogue.com I wrote about the death of trans athlete Lia Smith and how trans youth kind themselves with central pillars of their lives being constantly ripped away from them because of politics. www.teenvogue.com/story/politi...
Reposted by John Gotaskie
Freedom to think or believe is something entirely separate from freedom to impose your thoughts or beliefs on others. If freedom is to mean anything, then government should protect not the right to impose, but the freedom from that imposition.
November 8, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Freedom to think or believe is something entirely separate from freedom to impose your thoughts or beliefs on others. If freedom is to mean anything, then government should protect not the right to impose, but the freedom from that imposition.
Reposted by John Gotaskie
8 November 1934 | A Dutch Jewish boy, Benjamin Raphaël Pais, was born in Harlingen.
In November 1942, he was deported to #Auschwitz with his sister Jansje. After the selection, they were murdered in a gas chamber together with their mother Roosje.
In November 1942, he was deported to #Auschwitz with his sister Jansje. After the selection, they were murdered in a gas chamber together with their mother Roosje.
November 8, 2025 at 9:05 AM
8 November 1934 | A Dutch Jewish boy, Benjamin Raphaël Pais, was born in Harlingen.
In November 1942, he was deported to #Auschwitz with his sister Jansje. After the selection, they were murdered in a gas chamber together with their mother Roosje.
In November 1942, he was deported to #Auschwitz with his sister Jansje. After the selection, they were murdered in a gas chamber together with their mother Roosje.
Just another day of SCOTUS enabling cruelty in plain view.
November 6, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Just another day of SCOTUS enabling cruelty in plain view.
Reposted by John Gotaskie
Esplen. Saginaw Street. If you misplaced your fully loaded AK-47 somewhere outside, the cops found it in someone's yard.
November 6, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Esplen. Saginaw Street. If you misplaced your fully loaded AK-47 somewhere outside, the cops found it in someone's yard.
@matthew.flux.community is right. @espiers.bsky.social is an excellent writer, and this piece is characteristically concise, illuminating, and insightful.
PS: @espiers.bsky.social has a very good recap of the Mamdani campaign that you should read.
Campaigning has changed forever because of Trump. Democrats must keep up and surpass to actually protect democracy. newrepublic.com/article/1972...
Campaigning has changed forever because of Trump. Democrats must keep up and surpass to actually protect democracy. newrepublic.com/article/1972...
Mamdani Did All the Things the Establishment Hates. He Won Anyway.
There’s a growing appetite for something new and innovative growing among the electorate—and an opportunity for Democrats to grow that electorate, as well.
newrepublic.com
November 6, 2025 at 2:16 AM
@matthew.flux.community is right. @espiers.bsky.social is an excellent writer, and this piece is characteristically concise, illuminating, and insightful.
Reposted by John Gotaskie
PS: @espiers.bsky.social has a very good recap of the Mamdani campaign that you should read.
Campaigning has changed forever because of Trump. Democrats must keep up and surpass to actually protect democracy. newrepublic.com/article/1972...
Campaigning has changed forever because of Trump. Democrats must keep up and surpass to actually protect democracy. newrepublic.com/article/1972...
Mamdani Did All the Things the Establishment Hates. He Won Anyway.
There’s a growing appetite for something new and innovative growing among the electorate—and an opportunity for Democrats to grow that electorate, as well.
newrepublic.com
November 5, 2025 at 11:50 AM
PS: @espiers.bsky.social has a very good recap of the Mamdani campaign that you should read.
Campaigning has changed forever because of Trump. Democrats must keep up and surpass to actually protect democracy. newrepublic.com/article/1972...
Campaigning has changed forever because of Trump. Democrats must keep up and surpass to actually protect democracy. newrepublic.com/article/1972...
Reposted by John Gotaskie
“Democrats clearly won young men last night [and] they didn’t do it by pandering to young men. They didn’t do it by begging in broken fratboy speak. They didn’t do it by treating young men like special little boys who need their hands held. They didn’t do it by abandoning women and trans people.”
"All of these candidates who won last night didn’t shy away from talking about gender equality and LGBTQ rights. They didn’t buy the theory that doing so would alienate young men. And they were right. Stick that in your pipe and smoke it, Mr. Carville."
charlotteclymer.substack.com/p/what-young...
charlotteclymer.substack.com/p/what-young...
What Young Men Problem?
Democrats won clear majorities of this constituency.
charlotteclymer.substack.com
November 5, 2025 at 8:12 PM
“Democrats clearly won young men last night [and] they didn’t do it by pandering to young men. They didn’t do it by begging in broken fratboy speak. They didn’t do it by treating young men like special little boys who need their hands held. They didn’t do it by abandoning women and trans people.”
Reposted by John Gotaskie
this is a strong confirmation of Seth Masket's point abt how Ds and Rs respond differently to losses. Ds panic and rush to jettison core values; Rs shrug and imply people who voted against them don't matter or aren't real Americans.
Johnson: What happened last night was blue states and blue cities voted blue. We all saw that coming. No one should read too much into last night's election results. Off year elections are not indicative of what's to come. That’s what history teaches us.
November 5, 2025 at 7:10 PM
this is a strong confirmation of Seth Masket's point abt how Ds and Rs respond differently to losses. Ds panic and rush to jettison core values; Rs shrug and imply people who voted against them don't matter or aren't real Americans.