Kat O’Brien
@lavidagata.bsky.social
Iowa-born, NYC-influenced, Spain living. Former sports journalist working in sustainability. Runner, traveler, pro-democracy, love to read. My own opinions. Signal @Democracy.23
Pinned
I’m thrilled to announce - ahead of this week’s World Football Summit - that I am launching a business of sports tourism in Spain: Gata Sports Tours. This combines a few of my great loves: sports, España, travel, storytelling and helping people love España almost as much as I do. 1/
Reposted by Kat O’Brien
"We’re done waiting for Dems to find their spine. We can’t afford a weak & cowardly Democratic Party while the authoritarians invade our cities, terrorize our communities, & threaten our democracy. We get the party we demand, & we intend to demand a Democratic Party that fights.” — @indivisible.org
Indivisible Launches its Largest Primary Program in Response to Senate Democrats Surrendering on the Shutdown Vote
indivisible.org
November 10, 2025 at 11:08 PM
"We’re done waiting for Dems to find their spine. We can’t afford a weak & cowardly Democratic Party while the authoritarians invade our cities, terrorize our communities, & threaten our democracy. We get the party we demand, & we intend to demand a Democratic Party that fights.” — @indivisible.org
Reposted by Kat O’Brien
so, today I got the surgery center where I got my deviated septum fixed to send me an itemized bill so I could submit to my FSA for reimbursement
my out of pocket cost: $473
what my insurance paid: $4258
what they tried to charge my insurance (not a misprint): $173692
my out of pocket cost: $473
what my insurance paid: $4258
what they tried to charge my insurance (not a misprint): $173692
I was at an event yesterday where Rand Paul spoke via video and talked about how great it was to send ACA money "directly to the people" so that they could work collectively to get better deals on health care.
November 10, 2025 at 8:55 PM
so, today I got the surgery center where I got my deviated septum fixed to send me an itemized bill so I could submit to my FSA for reimbursement
my out of pocket cost: $473
what my insurance paid: $4258
what they tried to charge my insurance (not a misprint): $173692
my out of pocket cost: $473
what my insurance paid: $4258
what they tried to charge my insurance (not a misprint): $173692
Reposted by Kat O’Brien
I AM CRYING THE HAPPIEST TEARS
Remember that little boy who cried uncontrollably because he wanted A’ja Wilson to come to his house??? He got to MEET her and I cannot deal… 🥹😭❤️ #WNBA
November 10, 2025 at 10:02 PM
I AM CRYING THE HAPPIEST TEARS
My dad drove more than 2 hours to go to this town hall, the first one she’s had in person this year. She lives in the city my parents live in, which is the largest in her district, but the town hall was strategically organized far from any large population center or major media outlet.
November 10, 2025 at 10:46 PM
My dad drove more than 2 hours to go to this town hall, the first one she’s had in person this year. She lives in the city my parents live in, which is the largest in her district, but the town hall was strategically organized far from any large population center or major media outlet.
This is a beautiful and gut-wrenching piece.
Wishing you the best on your health journey (and navigating insurance), your family the best as you grieve your grandma, and Chicagoans and all Americans and people in the U.S. the best fighting off the racist fascists.
Wishing you the best on your health journey (and navigating insurance), your family the best as you grieve your grandma, and Chicagoans and all Americans and people in the U.S. the best fighting off the racist fascists.
In late September, my family and I lost our matriarch, my abuela. I've been a bit all over the place since. My abuela moved to our hometown in the 70s. She loved it even as one of the first Mexican families there.
It's been targeted every day by ICE. I wrote about it.
buttondown.com/camrodriguez...
It's been targeted every day by ICE. I wrote about it.
buttondown.com/camrodriguez...
11/5/25: On repacking your unpacked funeral clothes
an obituary I couldn’t bring myself to volunteer to write; a walk through Chicano history; thoughts about grief and the government; photos from reporting trips.
buttondown.com
November 10, 2025 at 7:30 PM
This is a beautiful and gut-wrenching piece.
Wishing you the best on your health journey (and navigating insurance), your family the best as you grieve your grandma, and Chicagoans and all Americans and people in the U.S. the best fighting off the racist fascists.
Wishing you the best on your health journey (and navigating insurance), your family the best as you grieve your grandma, and Chicagoans and all Americans and people in the U.S. the best fighting off the racist fascists.
El segundo club de futbol de LaLiga comprado por dueño estadounidense en un mes. Ahora el Atlético Madrid, siguiendo el Espanyol en octubre.
The second soccer team in LaLiga bought by a U.S. owner in a month. Now Atlético Madrid, following Espanyol in October. elpais.com/economia/202...
The second soccer team in LaLiga bought by a U.S. owner in a month. Now Atlético Madrid, following Espanyol in October. elpais.com/economia/202...
El fondo Apollo toma la mayoría accionarial del Atlético de Madrid
La firma estadounidense adquiere el 57% del club con una valoración que ronda los 2.500 millones por el 100%
elpais.com
November 10, 2025 at 5:35 PM
El segundo club de futbol de LaLiga comprado por dueño estadounidense en un mes. Ahora el Atlético Madrid, siguiendo el Espanyol en octubre.
The second soccer team in LaLiga bought by a U.S. owner in a month. Now Atlético Madrid, following Espanyol in October. elpais.com/economia/202...
The second soccer team in LaLiga bought by a U.S. owner in a month. Now Atlético Madrid, following Espanyol in October. elpais.com/economia/202...
Reposted by Kat O’Brien
OSCAR ISAAC, on whether he'd return to "Star Wars":
".. Yeah. I mean, I’d be open to it, although right now I’m not so open to working with Disney. But if they can kinda figure it out and, you know, not succumb to fascism, that would be great."
@variety.com $DIS
variety.com/2025/film/ne...
".. Yeah. I mean, I’d be open to it, although right now I’m not so open to working with Disney. But if they can kinda figure it out and, you know, not succumb to fascism, that would be great."
@variety.com $DIS
variety.com/2025/film/ne...
Oscar Isaac Was ‘Not So Open to Working With Disney’ After Jimmy Kimmel Suspension, Said He’d Return to ‘Star Wars’ if Disney Does ‘Not Succumb to Fascism’
Oscar Isaac was not open to working with Disney after Jimmy Kimmel's suspension and will only return to 'Star Wars' if the studio avoids fascism.
variety.com
November 10, 2025 at 3:28 PM
OSCAR ISAAC, on whether he'd return to "Star Wars":
".. Yeah. I mean, I’d be open to it, although right now I’m not so open to working with Disney. But if they can kinda figure it out and, you know, not succumb to fascism, that would be great."
@variety.com $DIS
variety.com/2025/film/ne...
".. Yeah. I mean, I’d be open to it, although right now I’m not so open to working with Disney. But if they can kinda figure it out and, you know, not succumb to fascism, that would be great."
@variety.com $DIS
variety.com/2025/film/ne...
Reposted by Kat O’Brien
🚨BREAKING: In a case with major implications for voting access, the U.S. Supreme Court will soon decide whether a mail-in ballot must be received by Election Day to count, or if it merely must be sent by then. www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/...
SCOTUS to Hear GOP Lawsuit That Could Radically Restrict Mail Voting
Read more here.
www.democracydocket.com
November 10, 2025 at 2:35 PM
🚨BREAKING: In a case with major implications for voting access, the U.S. Supreme Court will soon decide whether a mail-in ballot must be received by Election Day to count, or if it merely must be sent by then. www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/...
Reposted by Kat O’Brien
The US Supreme Court has declined an opportunity to overturn its landmark precedent that recognised the constitutional right to same-sex marriage.
A huge relief for the LGBTQ+ community.
A huge relief for the LGBTQ+ community.
Supreme Court declines to revisit landmark same-sex marriage precedent | CNN Politics
The Supreme Court on Monday declined an opportunity to overturn its landmark precedent recognizing a constitutional right to same-sex marriage, tossing aside an appeal that had roiled LGBTQ advocates ...
edition.cnn.com
November 10, 2025 at 2:38 PM
The US Supreme Court has declined an opportunity to overturn its landmark precedent that recognised the constitutional right to same-sex marriage.
A huge relief for the LGBTQ+ community.
A huge relief for the LGBTQ+ community.
Reposted by Kat O’Brien
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.
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 Kat O’Brien
What it’s like living in Chicago during ICE’s Operation Midway Blitz.
November 10, 2025 at 12:14 PM
What it’s like living in Chicago during ICE’s Operation Midway Blitz.
Reposted by Kat O’Brien
Kyle Kingsbury is not a journalist. He is not an op-ed writer.
He is a computer safety researcher.
And he has written one of the most compelling, comprehensive accounts of the ongoing hell in Chicago that you could possibly imagine.
In under 1600 words.
aphyr.com/posts/397-i-...
He is a computer safety researcher.
And he has written one of the most compelling, comprehensive accounts of the ongoing hell in Chicago that you could possibly imagine.
In under 1600 words.
aphyr.com/posts/397-i-...
November 9, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Kyle Kingsbury is not a journalist. He is not an op-ed writer.
He is a computer safety researcher.
And he has written one of the most compelling, comprehensive accounts of the ongoing hell in Chicago that you could possibly imagine.
In under 1600 words.
aphyr.com/posts/397-i-...
He is a computer safety researcher.
And he has written one of the most compelling, comprehensive accounts of the ongoing hell in Chicago that you could possibly imagine.
In under 1600 words.
aphyr.com/posts/397-i-...
Reposted by Kat O’Brien
The insurrection succeeded
NEW: Donald Trump has pardoned a long list of allies in his bid to subvert the 2020 election including:
-Rudy Giuliani
-John Eastman
-Mark Meadows
-Sidney Powell
-Ken Chesebro
-Christina Bobb
-Kelli Ward
-Jenna Ellis
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
-Rudy Giuliani
-John Eastman
-Mark Meadows
-Sidney Powell
-Ken Chesebro
-Christina Bobb
-Kelli Ward
-Jenna Ellis
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
November 10, 2025 at 12:37 PM
The insurrection succeeded
Reposted by Kat O’Brien
Every single person in Little Village fighting ICE/BP this week, each one of those people had more courage than the entire party leadership put together. Every single person in the street resisting in LA, Portland, Chicago, they're ALL showing more backbone than useless top tiers of Dem apparatus
I keep seeing regular Americans taking more risks every day to fight tyranny, want, and cynicism than I see from the opposition party, and I imagine many of those regular Americans are asking themselves what the value proposition of such an opposition party is, really
November 10, 2025 at 5:30 AM
Every single person in Little Village fighting ICE/BP this week, each one of those people had more courage than the entire party leadership put together. Every single person in the street resisting in LA, Portland, Chicago, they're ALL showing more backbone than useless top tiers of Dem apparatus
Reposted by Kat O’Brien
Interesting that NY gov Kathy Hochul felt compelled to put out a statement against Dems' deal to end the shutdown
November 10, 2025 at 3:45 AM
Interesting that NY gov Kathy Hochul felt compelled to put out a statement against Dems' deal to end the shutdown
Reposted by Kat O’Brien
Important to understand this. There's a reasonable chance that your Dem Senator who voted against it and is acting mad now was in on the play. It's the same reason why they scheduled the surrender for AFTER the election this week. They didn't want people pissed at Dems right before an election.
The caucus meeting was just to orchestrate who would fall on the sword but not be up for a vote in 2026.
so currently defectors are:
Kaine (2030)
Shaheen (Retiring)
Hasan (2028)
Fetterman (2028)
Durbin (Retiring)
CCM (2028)
Rosen (2030)
King (2030)
Kaine (2030)
Shaheen (Retiring)
Hasan (2028)
Fetterman (2028)
Durbin (Retiring)
CCM (2028)
Rosen (2030)
King (2030)
November 10, 2025 at 2:11 AM
Important to understand this. There's a reasonable chance that your Dem Senator who voted against it and is acting mad now was in on the play. It's the same reason why they scheduled the surrender for AFTER the election this week. They didn't want people pissed at Dems right before an election.
Reposted by Kat O’Brien
My statement on the proposed Senate deal
November 10, 2025 at 1:14 AM
My statement on the proposed Senate deal
Reposted by Kat O’Brien
This “deal” is a surrender that all congressional Democrats should reject out of hand. It’s bad policy that will raise healthcare prices and bad politics that gives the regime more power to do more harm. Make no mistake: As some Senate Democrats consider surrender, Republicans are losing this fight.
🚨 We’re hearing that Senate Democrats are on the verge of caving to Trump in another “Schumer Surrender.”
That means your Democratic senators need to hear from you right now.
Call: indivisible.org/resource/cal...
Email: act.indivisible.org/sign/funding...
That means your Democratic senators need to hear from you right now.
Call: indivisible.org/resource/cal...
Email: act.indivisible.org/sign/funding...
November 10, 2025 at 1:29 AM
This “deal” is a surrender that all congressional Democrats should reject out of hand. It’s bad policy that will raise healthcare prices and bad politics that gives the regime more power to do more harm. Make no mistake: As some Senate Democrats consider surrender, Republicans are losing this fight.
Reposted by Kat O’Brien
I’ve voted 7 times to reopen the government in a way that holds Trump accountable for his lawlessness and prevents a health care crisis.
I’m prepared to work toward a compromise, but this “deal” before us does not come close to meeting those terms. Voting NO.
Full statement:
I’m prepared to work toward a compromise, but this “deal” before us does not come close to meeting those terms. Voting NO.
Full statement:
November 10, 2025 at 12:48 AM
I’ve voted 7 times to reopen the government in a way that holds Trump accountable for his lawlessness and prevents a health care crisis.
I’m prepared to work toward a compromise, but this “deal” before us does not come close to meeting those terms. Voting NO.
Full statement:
I’m prepared to work toward a compromise, but this “deal” before us does not come close to meeting those terms. Voting NO.
Full statement:
Reposted by Kat O’Brien
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
Amidst talk he wants the new Commanders stadium to be named after him 😳, if I were that owner, I would shut down my team rather than do that.
Of course, I would never get to be an NFL owner, but … imagine having so much money and capping for fascists! I can’t.
Of course, I would never get to be an NFL owner, but … imagine having so much money and capping for fascists! I can’t.
November 9, 2025 at 11:19 PM
Amidst talk he wants the new Commanders stadium to be named after him 😳, if I were that owner, I would shut down my team rather than do that.
Of course, I would never get to be an NFL owner, but … imagine having so much money and capping for fascists! I can’t.
Of course, I would never get to be an NFL owner, but … imagine having so much money and capping for fascists! I can’t.
Reposted by Kat O’Brien
A future vote on the ACA tax credits is not enough.
The American people about to lose their health care need results, not votes.
The American people about to lose their health care need results, not votes.
November 9, 2025 at 10:35 PM
A future vote on the ACA tax credits is not enough.
The American people about to lose their health care need results, not votes.
The American people about to lose their health care need results, not votes.
Call your Senators.
I told mine - @schumer.senate.gov & @kirstengillibrand.bsky.social - they should resign if they vote for this, as should any cowardly Democrat who gives in at this point.
Call. Call the United States Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121
I told mine - @schumer.senate.gov & @kirstengillibrand.bsky.social - they should resign if they vote for this, as should any cowardly Democrat who gives in at this point.
Call. Call the United States Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121
I'm hearing the same thing. Dems are nearing a surrender. I'm shocked. Largest protest in history + best election night in years + polling showing we're kicking their ass in public opinion. And now Dems may cave.
It ain't over til it's over, so please do call if you've got a Dem senator.
It ain't over til it's over, so please do call if you've got a Dem senator.
Sounds like the squishes in the senate caucus are ready to pull the plug with no ACA changes. This is real. If you want to register your opinion you shld call yr senator in the next hour. They not only want to reopen w/nothing. They want cover from their colleagues who still want to hold out.
November 9, 2025 at 10:41 PM
Call your Senators.
I told mine - @schumer.senate.gov & @kirstengillibrand.bsky.social - they should resign if they vote for this, as should any cowardly Democrat who gives in at this point.
Call. Call the United States Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121
I told mine - @schumer.senate.gov & @kirstengillibrand.bsky.social - they should resign if they vote for this, as should any cowardly Democrat who gives in at this point.
Call. Call the United States Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121
Reposted by Kat O’Brien
Call the United States Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and they will connect you with your senator's office.
If you're represented by one of the squishier centrists, be sure to make a call. Now.
If you're represented by one of the squishier centrists, be sure to make a call. Now.
Sounds like the squishes in the senate caucus are ready to pull the plug with no ACA changes. This is real. If you want to register your opinion you shld call yr senator in the next hour. They not only want to reopen w/nothing. They want cover from their colleagues who still want to hold out.
November 9, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Call the United States Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and they will connect you with your senator's office.
If you're represented by one of the squishier centrists, be sure to make a call. Now.
If you're represented by one of the squishier centrists, be sure to make a call. Now.
Reposted by Kat O’Brien
I'm hearing the same thing. Dems are nearing a surrender. I'm shocked. Largest protest in history + best election night in years + polling showing we're kicking their ass in public opinion. And now Dems may cave.
It ain't over til it's over, so please do call if you've got a Dem senator.
It ain't over til it's over, so please do call if you've got a Dem senator.
Sounds like the squishes in the senate caucus are ready to pull the plug with no ACA changes. This is real. If you want to register your opinion you shld call yr senator in the next hour. They not only want to reopen w/nothing. They want cover from their colleagues who still want to hold out.
November 9, 2025 at 9:04 PM
I'm hearing the same thing. Dems are nearing a surrender. I'm shocked. Largest protest in history + best election night in years + polling showing we're kicking their ass in public opinion. And now Dems may cave.
It ain't over til it's over, so please do call if you've got a Dem senator.
It ain't over til it's over, so please do call if you've got a Dem senator.