Matilda Bliss
@matildabliss.bsky.social
Trans femme anarchist. Criminalized for the act of journalism. Suing. More at @avlblade.bsky.social where I cover city hall, grab photos, design graphics, and write a little here and there.
Bicycle rider, cat lover, and Star Wars and geology nerd
Bicycle rider, cat lover, and Star Wars and geology nerd
Reposted by Matilda Bliss
Our journalism co-op — all working class trans people — has faced an incredibly difficult year in a city that is still marked by disaster.
Our winter fund drive is almost halfway to our goal. Help us get there: www.gofundme.com/f/help-the-a...
Our winter fund drive is almost halfway to our goal. Help us get there: www.gofundme.com/f/help-the-a...
Donate to Help the Asheville Blade survive Helene's long aftermath, organized by Asheville Blade
Like many groups in our city, the Asheville Blade has faced … Asheville Blade needs your support for Help the Asheville Blade survive Helene's long aftermath
www.gofundme.com
December 27, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Our journalism co-op — all working class trans people — has faced an incredibly difficult year in a city that is still marked by disaster.
Our winter fund drive is almost halfway to our goal. Help us get there: www.gofundme.com/f/help-the-a...
Our winter fund drive is almost halfway to our goal. Help us get there: www.gofundme.com/f/help-the-a...
Reposted by Matilda Bliss
The APD's had its on the ground repressive powers falter as cops leave (due to public outrage and defiance). So city hall's poured cash into surveillance.
After Helene they inflicted a tax hike to ramp it up even more, with the support of every single city council member. #avlnews #avlgov
After Helene they inflicted a tax hike to ramp it up even more, with the support of every single city council member. #avlnews #avlgov
December 24, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Reposted by Matilda Bliss
Hey y'all, if you'd like to support trans journalism this year, here's two ways to do it.
Back @transnews.network
transnewsnetwork.networkforgood.com
Support @avlblade.bsky.social
www.gofundme.com/f/help-the-a...
Every dollar goes to support worker-run trans news orgs.
Back @transnews.network
transnewsnetwork.networkforgood.com
Support @avlblade.bsky.social
www.gofundme.com/f/help-the-a...
Every dollar goes to support worker-run trans news orgs.
Donate to Help the Asheville Blade survive Helene's long aftermath, organized by Asheville Blade
Like many groups in our city, the Asheville Blade has faced … Asheville Blade needs your support for Help the Asheville Blade survive Helene's long aftermath
www.gofundme.com
December 24, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Hey y'all, if you'd like to support trans journalism this year, here's two ways to do it.
Back @transnews.network
transnewsnetwork.networkforgood.com
Support @avlblade.bsky.social
www.gofundme.com/f/help-the-a...
Every dollar goes to support worker-run trans news orgs.
Back @transnews.network
transnewsnetwork.networkforgood.com
Support @avlblade.bsky.social
www.gofundme.com/f/help-the-a...
Every dollar goes to support worker-run trans news orgs.
Reposted by Matilda Bliss
Local mayor/city coincil candidate filing wrapped just before holidays hit. There's two mayoral candidates (Mayor Esther Manheimer and Council member Kim Roney) and *20* council candidates (for three seats) #avlnews #avlgov
List available here: www.buncombenc.gov/199/Election...
List available here: www.buncombenc.gov/199/Election...
Election Services | Buncombe County, NC
Information about election services in Buncombe County.
www.buncombenc.gov
December 26, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Local mayor/city coincil candidate filing wrapped just before holidays hit. There's two mayoral candidates (Mayor Esther Manheimer and Council member Kim Roney) and *20* council candidates (for three seats) #avlnews #avlgov
List available here: www.buncombenc.gov/199/Election...
List available here: www.buncombenc.gov/199/Election...
Reposted by Matilda Bliss
AVL local heroes. Please donate if you can.
Four years ago today, Asheville police arrested fellow Blade journalist Veronica Coit and me for doing our job covering the eviction of a homeless encampment in a city park. While our legal suit plays out, the Blade’s work as a co-op goes on. We’re raising money to survive in 2026. Support us here
Donate to Help the Asheville Blade survive Helene's long aftermath, organized by Asheville Blade
Like many groups in our city, the Asheville Blade has faced … Asheville Blade needs your support for Help the Asheville Blade survive Helene's long aftermath
gofund.me
December 25, 2025 at 10:05 PM
AVL local heroes. Please donate if you can.
Four years ago today, Asheville police arrested fellow Blade journalist Veronica Coit and me for doing our job covering the eviction of a homeless encampment in a city park. While our legal suit plays out, the Blade’s work as a co-op goes on. We’re raising money to survive in 2026. Support us here
Donate to Help the Asheville Blade survive Helene's long aftermath, organized by Asheville Blade
Like many groups in our city, the Asheville Blade has faced … Asheville Blade needs your support for Help the Asheville Blade survive Helene's long aftermath
gofund.me
December 25, 2025 at 9:57 PM
Four years ago today, Asheville police arrested fellow Blade journalist Veronica Coit and me for doing our job covering the eviction of a homeless encampment in a city park. While our legal suit plays out, the Blade’s work as a co-op goes on. We’re raising money to survive in 2026. Support us here
Reposted by Matilda Bliss
The Blade's faced an extraordinarily difficult year. Our local journalism co-op's still done incredible work. We'd like your help to keep doing it.
Here's how: ashevilleblade.com?p=5360
Our city needs independent journalism — not yet more tourism industry marketing — more than ever. #avlnews
Here's how: ashevilleblade.com?p=5360
Our city needs independent journalism — not yet more tourism industry marketing — more than ever. #avlnews
December 14, 2025 at 2:50 PM
The Blade's faced an extraordinarily difficult year. Our local journalism co-op's still done incredible work. We'd like your help to keep doing it.
Here's how: ashevilleblade.com?p=5360
Our city needs independent journalism — not yet more tourism industry marketing — more than ever. #avlnews
Here's how: ashevilleblade.com?p=5360
Our city needs independent journalism — not yet more tourism industry marketing — more than ever. #avlnews
Please, please keep sharing, and if you haven’t already and you can, please donate. We’ve received some donations in the last week that we are really grateful for, but we’re still lagging a bit behind where we want to be to keep leftist journalism alive in Asheville, NC. Please support our co-op.
Like many in our city, the Blade has struggled in Helene's ongoing aftermath. We're a local journalism co-op of working class trans people. It has not been an easy year.
Amid exhaustion, illness, poverty and trauma we've still done important work. Please help us keep doing it.
Amid exhaustion, illness, poverty and trauma we've still done important work. Please help us keep doing it.
Donate to Help the Asheville Blade survive Helene's long aftermath, organized by Asheville Blade
Like many groups in our city, the Asheville Blade has faced … Asheville Blade needs your support for Help the Asheville Blade survive Helene's long aftermath
www.gofundme.com
December 23, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Please, please keep sharing, and if you haven’t already and you can, please donate. We’ve received some donations in the last week that we are really grateful for, but we’re still lagging a bit behind where we want to be to keep leftist journalism alive in Asheville, NC. Please support our co-op.
Closing in on a quarter of our goal aint bad, but we still need a lot more support. We’re tired, too, but we aren’t done ensuring the Blade’s survival in 2026. Our quality reporting doesn’t happen automatically. So please consider the role of local leftist journalism in this time, & donate or share.
Like many in our city, the Blade has struggled in Helene's ongoing aftermath. We're a local journalism co-op of working class trans people. It has not been an easy year.
Amid exhaustion, illness, poverty and trauma we've still done important work. Please help us keep doing it.
Amid exhaustion, illness, poverty and trauma we've still done important work. Please help us keep doing it.
Donate to Help the Asheville Blade survive Helene's long aftermath, organized by Asheville Blade
Like many groups in our city, the Asheville Blade has faced … Asheville Blade needs your support for Help the Asheville Blade survive Helene's long aftermath
www.gofundme.com
December 19, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Closing in on a quarter of our goal aint bad, but we still need a lot more support. We’re tired, too, but we aren’t done ensuring the Blade’s survival in 2026. Our quality reporting doesn’t happen automatically. So please consider the role of local leftist journalism in this time, & donate or share.
Reposted by Matilda Bliss
Hey it seems like ten million years since Hurricane Helene devastated western North Carolina but unsurprisingly, folks there are still struggling. That especially includes marginalized southerners like the ones here, so lend a hand if you can.
Like many in our city, the Blade has struggled in Helene's ongoing aftermath. We're a local journalism co-op of working class trans people. It has not been an easy year.
Amid exhaustion, illness, poverty and trauma we've still done important work. Please help us keep doing it.
Amid exhaustion, illness, poverty and trauma we've still done important work. Please help us keep doing it.
Donate to Help the Asheville Blade survive Helene's long aftermath, organized by Asheville Blade
Like many groups in our city, the Asheville Blade has faced … Asheville Blade needs your support for Help the Asheville Blade survive Helene's long aftermath
www.gofundme.com
December 14, 2025 at 10:55 PM
Hey it seems like ten million years since Hurricane Helene devastated western North Carolina but unsurprisingly, folks there are still struggling. That especially includes marginalized southerners like the ones here, so lend a hand if you can.
Reposted by Matilda Bliss
We cover a lot of ground in these short essays, but among other things I think they're a particularly honest look at our city post-Helene. With a lot of determination from folks otg, alongside immense grief...all while facing elites more openly greedy and exploitative than ever.
Hey y'all, our A Word About Our City radio essays — a collaboration with Asheville Community News on @ashevillefm.bsky.social — are now in one collection. #avlnews
If you want a radical, honest look at what's going on in our city, have a listen: www.patreon.com/collection/1...
If you want a radical, honest look at what's going on in our city, have a listen: www.patreon.com/collection/1...
December 18, 2025 at 7:21 PM
We cover a lot of ground in these short essays, but among other things I think they're a particularly honest look at our city post-Helene. With a lot of determination from folks otg, alongside immense grief...all while facing elites more openly greedy and exploitative than ever.
Reposted by Matilda Bliss
We're a co-op of working class trans reporters in a city that remains, despite the marketing, still a disaster zone in so many ways.
Independent, hard-hitting local journalism is more important than ever. Please share and support this so we can keep doing it.
Independent, hard-hitting local journalism is more important than ever. Please share and support this so we can keep doing it.
Like many in our city, the Blade has struggled in Helene's ongoing aftermath. We're a local journalism co-op of working class trans people. It has not been an easy year.
Amid exhaustion, illness, poverty and trauma we've still done important work. Please help us keep doing it.
Amid exhaustion, illness, poverty and trauma we've still done important work. Please help us keep doing it.
Donate to Help the Asheville Blade survive Helene's long aftermath, organized by Asheville Blade
Like many groups in our city, the Asheville Blade has faced … Asheville Blade needs your support for Help the Asheville Blade survive Helene's long aftermath
www.gofundme.com
December 11, 2025 at 2:05 PM
We're a co-op of working class trans reporters in a city that remains, despite the marketing, still a disaster zone in so many ways.
Independent, hard-hitting local journalism is more important than ever. Please share and support this so we can keep doing it.
Independent, hard-hitting local journalism is more important than ever. Please share and support this so we can keep doing it.
Reposted by Matilda Bliss
McBride's pr hacks are nonetheless, trying to jump on this failure and revive "she did so much lobbying behind the scenes!" (To...what end?)
Seriously, this is just blatant propaganda for a nepobaby pol with a terrible record. You should think less of any journalist or figure who falls for it.
Seriously, this is just blatant propaganda for a nepobaby pol with a terrible record. You should think less of any journalist or figure who falls for it.
This isn't even a case like the defeat of the trans medicaid ban earlier this year, where her pr flacks could try to jump on an actual grassroots victory and claim she made it happen with behind the scenes magic or some such hokum. This was a flat out loss due to Dems siding with the far-right.
December 19, 2025 at 12:25 AM
McBride's pr hacks are nonetheless, trying to jump on this failure and revive "she did so much lobbying behind the scenes!" (To...what end?)
Seriously, this is just blatant propaganda for a nepobaby pol with a terrible record. You should think less of any journalist or figure who falls for it.
Seriously, this is just blatant propaganda for a nepobaby pol with a terrible record. You should think less of any journalist or figure who falls for it.
Though my work with the Blade is mostly limited to graphic design & city council coverage these days, being a member of this co-op means so much to me. We play an essential role in keeping Asheville informed. Help preserve local leftist journalism by donating. At minimum, please spread the word!
Hey y'all, making some solid progress on this but still a good ways to go to make sure our local journalism co-op can survive in 2026. Please share and support as you can.
Like many in our city, the Blade has struggled in Helene's ongoing aftermath. We're a local journalism co-op of working class trans people. It has not been an easy year.
Amid exhaustion, illness, poverty and trauma we've still done important work. Please help us keep doing it.
Amid exhaustion, illness, poverty and trauma we've still done important work. Please help us keep doing it.
December 16, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Though my work with the Blade is mostly limited to graphic design & city council coverage these days, being a member of this co-op means so much to me. We play an essential role in keeping Asheville informed. Help preserve local leftist journalism by donating. At minimum, please spread the word!
Reposted by Matilda Bliss
Asheville city hall directing to $7 million in federal relief dollars to renovating the golf course, and county gov funding sidewalks for tourists in storm-devastated Swannanoa show how the post-Helene "recovery" is only for the rich.
Our latest A Word About Our City segment #avlnews #avlgov
Our latest A Word About Our City segment #avlnews #avlgov
A Word About Our City: Recovery only for the rich | The Asheville Blade
Get more from The Asheville Blade on Patreon
www.patreon.com
December 15, 2025 at 9:56 PM
Support our leftist local journalism co-op made up entirely of working class trans people. It’s not an easy time to be a trans person. It’s not an easy time to be a journalist either, and yet we’re going to keep bringing you the news. Help us do it for yet another year.
The Blade's faced an extraordinarily difficult year. Our local journalism co-op's still done incredible work. We'd like your help to keep doing it.
Here's how: ashevilleblade.com?p=5360
Our city needs independent journalism — not yet more tourism industry marketing — more than ever. #avlnews
Here's how: ashevilleblade.com?p=5360
Our city needs independent journalism — not yet more tourism industry marketing — more than ever. #avlnews
December 14, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Support our leftist local journalism co-op made up entirely of working class trans people. It’s not an easy time to be a trans person. It’s not an easy time to be a journalist either, and yet we’re going to keep bringing you the news. Help us do it for yet another year.
Reposted by Matilda Bliss
Hey y'all, please share or support this if you can. Our trans local journalism co-op's facing a lot right now. This city is still a disaster zone in many ways and, well, it ain't exactly easy to be trans.
Any help is appreciated.
Any help is appreciated.
Like many in our city, the Blade has struggled in Helene's ongoing aftermath. We're a local journalism co-op of working class trans people. It has not been an easy year.
Amid exhaustion, illness, poverty and trauma we've still done important work. Please help us keep doing it.
Amid exhaustion, illness, poverty and trauma we've still done important work. Please help us keep doing it.
Donate to Help the Asheville Blade survive Helene's long aftermath, organized by Asheville Blade
Like many groups in our city, the Asheville Blade has faced … Asheville Blade needs your support for Help the Asheville Blade survive Helene's long aftermath
www.gofundme.com
December 12, 2025 at 5:46 PM
Hey y'all, please share or support this if you can. Our trans local journalism co-op's facing a lot right now. This city is still a disaster zone in many ways and, well, it ain't exactly easy to be trans.
Any help is appreciated.
Any help is appreciated.
Donations support local journalism doing what local journalism does best. And that’s speaking back at power, yall 🏴
Like many in our city, the Blade has struggled in Helene's ongoing aftermath. We're a local journalism co-op of working class trans people. It has not been an easy year.
Amid exhaustion, illness, poverty and trauma we've still done important work. Please help us keep doing it.
Amid exhaustion, illness, poverty and trauma we've still done important work. Please help us keep doing it.
Donate to Help the Asheville Blade survive Helene's long aftermath, organized by Asheville Blade
Like many groups in our city, the Asheville Blade has faced … Asheville Blade needs your support for Help the Asheville Blade survive Helene's long aftermath
www.gofundme.com
December 12, 2025 at 10:28 PM
Donations support local journalism doing what local journalism does best. And that’s speaking back at power, yall 🏴
Howdy yall! The co-op that I am part of needs support with funding another year of hard hitting local journalism. If you can, please send us a few dollars, and if you can’t, even shares alone are much appreciated 💖 Thanks yall
Like many in our city, the Blade has struggled in Helene's ongoing aftermath. We're a local journalism co-op of working class trans people. It has not been an easy year.
Amid exhaustion, illness, poverty and trauma we've still done important work. Please help us keep doing it.
Amid exhaustion, illness, poverty and trauma we've still done important work. Please help us keep doing it.
Donate to Help the Asheville Blade survive Helene's long aftermath, organized by Asheville Blade
Like many groups in our city, the Asheville Blade has faced … Asheville Blade needs your support for Help the Asheville Blade survive Helene's long aftermath
www.gofundme.com
December 12, 2025 at 12:33 AM
Howdy yall! The co-op that I am part of needs support with funding another year of hard hitting local journalism. If you can, please send us a few dollars, and if you can’t, even shares alone are much appreciated 💖 Thanks yall
Reposted by Matilda Bliss
Like they all decided, after Helene, to ignore the communities demanding serious rental aid and eviction moratoriums. Everyone on that dais voted for a crippling tax hike on locals this year to bankroll more cops and appease wealthy investors. City hall and the gentry are the housing crisis
December 9, 2025 at 11:19 PM
Like they all decided, after Helene, to ignore the communities demanding serious rental aid and eviction moratoriums. Everyone on that dais voted for a crippling tax hike on locals this year to bankroll more cops and appease wealthy investors. City hall and the gentry are the housing crisis
Reposted by Matilda Bliss
Watching Asheville city council — and Roney's no exception — bemoan high cost of housing is like a giant version of that "we're all trying to find the guy who did this" meme. They made the crisis. Roney voted in favor of letting airbnb landlords rewrite the rules. Hundreds lost their housing #avlgov
Councilmember Kim Roney, who voted to make airbnbs easier to install in 2021, now bringing up that YIMBYs tonight did not bring up how airbnbs factor into housing availability. She's running for mayor again and, at least rhetorically, appears to want to improve on past errors #avlgov
December 9, 2025 at 11:16 PM
Watching Asheville city council — and Roney's no exception — bemoan high cost of housing is like a giant version of that "we're all trying to find the guy who did this" meme. They made the crisis. Roney voted in favor of letting airbnb landlords rewrite the rules. Hundreds lost their housing #avlgov
Thanks @davidforbes.bsky.social
Current commenter is talking about medicaid cuts pushing group home residents recovering from addiction out on the street. Pleads for #avlgov action.
Current commenter is talking about medicaid cuts pushing group home residents recovering from addiction out on the street. Pleads for #avlgov action.
Handing things over to @matildabliss.bsky.social to cover the last part of this Asheville city council meeting. #avlgov
Support @avlblade.bsky.social and subscribe: patreon.com/AvlBlade
Or donate: paypal.me/AshevilleBlade
Support @avlblade.bsky.social and subscribe: patreon.com/AvlBlade
Or donate: paypal.me/AshevilleBlade
Get more from The Asheville Blade on Patreon
creating hard-hitting journalism
patreon.com
December 9, 2025 at 10:31 PM
Thanks @davidforbes.bsky.social
Current commenter is talking about medicaid cuts pushing group home residents recovering from addiction out on the street. Pleads for #avlgov action.
Current commenter is talking about medicaid cuts pushing group home residents recovering from addiction out on the street. Pleads for #avlgov action.
Reposted by Matilda Bliss
Asheville city council meeting at 5 p.m. Light agenda for their last meeting of the year, with only main item considering a new member for the planning commission to replace the ousted Jared Wheatley.
@matildabliss.bsky.social and @davidforbes.bsky.social will cover live #avlnews #avlgov
@matildabliss.bsky.social and @davidforbes.bsky.social will cover live #avlnews #avlgov
City Council Agenda - The City of Asheville
To access documents from previous city council meetings, go to our Meeting Materials page. Please note: Agenda items are current at time of posting. Items may be changed, updated or added after initia...
www.ashevillenc.gov
December 9, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Asheville city council meeting at 5 p.m. Light agenda for their last meeting of the year, with only main item considering a new member for the planning commission to replace the ousted Jared Wheatley.
@matildabliss.bsky.social and @davidforbes.bsky.social will cover live #avlnews #avlgov
@matildabliss.bsky.social and @davidforbes.bsky.social will cover live #avlnews #avlgov
Reposted by Matilda Bliss
Hey y'all, I am proud as hell of the amazing journalism our worker-run newsroom @transnews.network's done this year.
Now we need y'all's help to keep doing it. Please support or share as you can.
Now we need y'all's help to keep doing it. Please support or share as you can.
This Giving Tuesday, consider a tax-deductible donation to support TNN (and get a lovely gift).
Our reporting is in-depth, hard-hitting and unrepentantly radical.
Every dollar goes towards keeping trans journalists out of poverty and informing the public about what our communities are facing.
Our reporting is in-depth, hard-hitting and unrepentantly radical.
Every dollar goes towards keeping trans journalists out of poverty and informing the public about what our communities are facing.
This Giving Tuesday, consider a tax-deductible donation in support of trans journalism.
TNN’s reporting is in-depth, hard-hitting and unrepentantly radical. Every dollar goes towards keeping trans journalists out of poverty and informing the public about what our communities are facing. ...
transnewsnetwork.networkforgood.com
December 2, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Hey y'all, I am proud as hell of the amazing journalism our worker-run newsroom @transnews.network's done this year.
Now we need y'all's help to keep doing it. Please support or share as you can.
Now we need y'all's help to keep doing it. Please support or share as you can.
Reposted by Matilda Bliss
The myth is circulating again that it was more radical otg activists and assimilationist gays ("boots and suits") teaming up that was responsible for queer communities' gains late '60s on.
The history doesn't back this up. What actually happened is more revealing. 🧵
Let's start with Stonewall...
The history doesn't back this up. What actually happened is more revealing. 🧵
Let's start with Stonewall...
November 21, 2025 at 3:50 PM
The myth is circulating again that it was more radical otg activists and assimilationist gays ("boots and suits") teaming up that was responsible for queer communities' gains late '60s on.
The history doesn't back this up. What actually happened is more revealing. 🧵
Let's start with Stonewall...
The history doesn't back this up. What actually happened is more revealing. 🧵
Let's start with Stonewall...