fireworks abolitionist
@merylscreech.bsky.social
Cajun baby, union lady. Organizing with TNG-CWA Local 38061 @pghguild.com + editing news and features @post-gazette.com 🌈🇵🇸✊ she/her
Pinned
NEW: Publishers of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette announce they are shutting down the newspaper on May 3, 2026.
Hours ago, the Supreme Court of the US declined to extend a stay on a court order for the paper to pay its journalists following the end of a 3-year strike.
Hours ago, the Supreme Court of the US declined to extend a stay on a court order for the paper to pay its journalists following the end of a 3-year strike.
I've dedicated 9 years of my life to Pittsburgh journalism, including 3 years on strike. I'm gutted by this, and I truly hope this means the Blocks will leave Pittsburgh for good. They've done immeasurable damage to our city.
Also, hit me up if you need a good copy editor or writer.
Also, hit me up if you need a good copy editor or writer.
Reposted by fireworks abolitionist
Rep. Delia Ramirez to DHS officials: "I have as much respect for you as I do for the last white men who put on masks to terrorize communities of color. I have no respect for the inheritors of the Klanhood and the slave patrol. Those activities were criminal and so are yours."
February 10, 2026 at 5:11 PM
Rep. Delia Ramirez to DHS officials: "I have as much respect for you as I do for the last white men who put on masks to terrorize communities of color. I have no respect for the inheritors of the Klanhood and the slave patrol. Those activities were criminal and so are yours."
Reposted by fireworks abolitionist
BREAKING: Workers at Volkswagen’s Chattanooga plant just secured a landmark union contract — a major labor win in the South!
This historic win shows what’s possible when workers organize: higher standards, real protections, and a stronger voice on the job.
https://seiu.co/4rIneeh
This historic win shows what’s possible when workers organize: higher standards, real protections, and a stronger voice on the job.
https://seiu.co/4rIneeh
Unions Can Win in the South
Volkswagen workers in Chattanooga, Tennessee, just struck an agreement that will instantly change their lives for the better. It’s a lesson for other workers in the region.
seiu.co
February 10, 2026 at 12:09 AM
BREAKING: Workers at Volkswagen’s Chattanooga plant just secured a landmark union contract — a major labor win in the South!
This historic win shows what’s possible when workers organize: higher standards, real protections, and a stronger voice on the job.
https://seiu.co/4rIneeh
This historic win shows what’s possible when workers organize: higher standards, real protections, and a stronger voice on the job.
https://seiu.co/4rIneeh
Reposted by fireworks abolitionist
Former Washington Post journalists have launched a GoFundMe to help repatriate fired staff members who are effectively stranded in foreign countries.
One of the richest men in the world fired them from the paper and didn’t even pay to ensure they got home.
Abolish the billionaire class:
One of the richest men in the world fired them from the paper and didn’t even pay to ensure they got home.
Abolish the billionaire class:
Donate to Support for Washington Post international employees, organized by Michelle Lee
Among the hundreds of journalists laid off by The Washington Post on … Michelle Lee needs your support for Support for Washington Post international employees
www.gofundme.com
February 8, 2026 at 4:37 AM
Former Washington Post journalists have launched a GoFundMe to help repatriate fired staff members who are effectively stranded in foreign countries.
One of the richest men in the world fired them from the paper and didn’t even pay to ensure they got home.
Abolish the billionaire class:
One of the richest men in the world fired them from the paper and didn’t even pay to ensure they got home.
Abolish the billionaire class:
🙏🏻Cajun Manna from heaven🙏🏻
February 8, 2026 at 3:03 AM
🙏🏻Cajun Manna from heaven🙏🏻
Reposted by fireworks abolitionist
This is bleak: Jes Staley, currently CEO of Barclays, reassuring Epstein that popular revolt against financial elites is unlikely because capitalism and pop culture have defanged social movements, leaving people more invested in consumption than justice.
February 6, 2026 at 10:23 PM
This is bleak: Jes Staley, currently CEO of Barclays, reassuring Epstein that popular revolt against financial elites is unlikely because capitalism and pop culture have defanged social movements, leaving people more invested in consumption than justice.
Reposted by fireworks abolitionist
we’re not doing this under Woke 2 sorry not sorry
February 6, 2026 at 10:49 PM
we’re not doing this under Woke 2 sorry not sorry
Reposted by fireworks abolitionist
Reposted by fireworks abolitionist
I think it's best for everyone to understand that the unified class project of billionaires right now is to do to white collar workers what globalization and neoliberalism did to blue collar workers.
February 4, 2026 at 7:41 PM
I think it's best for everyone to understand that the unified class project of billionaires right now is to do to white collar workers what globalization and neoliberalism did to blue collar workers.
Reposted by fireworks abolitionist
8/ This is also a chance to take a big swing. Do you want to create local journalism jobs in D.C.? Or know someone who has the money to? We want to be the place to do it. Please reach out. hello@51st.news
February 4, 2026 at 7:21 PM
8/ This is also a chance to take a big swing. Do you want to create local journalism jobs in D.C.? Or know someone who has the money to? We want to be the place to do it. Please reach out. hello@51st.news
Reposted by fireworks abolitionist
🧵 1/ We’re devastated about the layoffs at The Washington Post, which are gutting D.C. reporting. These journalists are an incalculable loss for our city. The 51st’s mission has always felt urgent, but now we know it needs to kick into high gear.
February 4, 2026 at 7:21 PM
🧵 1/ We’re devastated about the layoffs at The Washington Post, which are gutting D.C. reporting. These journalists are an incalculable loss for our city. The 51st’s mission has always felt urgent, but now we know it needs to kick into high gear.
Reposted by fireworks abolitionist
Democracy dies in oligarchy.
"Those who were laid off include Caroline O’Donovan, the Post’s beat reporter covering Amazon"
Jeff Bezos’ Washington Post Cuts 30% of Staff, Laying Off More Than 300 Employees Including Amazon Beat Reporter
The Washington Post, owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, is enacting layoffs that will eliminate "hundreds" of jobs.
variety.com
February 4, 2026 at 7:07 PM
Democracy dies in oligarchy.
Reposted by fireworks abolitionist
journalists are workers who deserve to be paid fairly for our labor and I think that far too few consumers of media recognize or even care about this fact
February 4, 2026 at 5:20 PM
journalists are workers who deserve to be paid fairly for our labor and I think that far too few consumers of media recognize or even care about this fact
Reposted by fireworks abolitionist
Incredible. They destroyed a great newspaper because they hated the people who actually paid for it and read it so much that they'd rather scrap the paper if they couldn't get Tucker Carlson's audience bsky.app/profile/maxt...
Speaking to WaPo employees, editor Matt Murray says cuts are about “positioning ourselves to become more essential to people's lives, and what is becoming a more crowded, competitive and complicated media landscape, and after some years when, candidly, the Post has had struggles to do that."
February 4, 2026 at 3:46 PM
Incredible. They destroyed a great newspaper because they hated the people who actually paid for it and read it so much that they'd rather scrap the paper if they couldn't get Tucker Carlson's audience bsky.app/profile/maxt...
Reposted by fireworks abolitionist
Mackenzie Scott and Melinda Gates both have the opportunity to do the funniest things, respectively.
February 4, 2026 at 3:27 PM
Mackenzie Scott and Melinda Gates both have the opportunity to do the funniest things, respectively.
Reposted by fireworks abolitionist
Seconding this, with perhaps adding in some room for arts/books coverage.
I still think the best idea for progressive donors is to just revive every alt-weekly in the country and staff them with 10 reporters each.
I wrote a bit about the misguided effort by Democrats to replicate Joe Rogan the right-wing podcast ecosystem.
February 4, 2026 at 4:36 PM
Seconding this, with perhaps adding in some room for arts/books coverage.
Reposted by fireworks abolitionist
Terrible day for many amazing, hard-working, intelligent journalists at the Washington Post. I'm still here and trying to figure out how to best support my colleagues who have lost their jobs.
If you feel able to share or contribute, please do:
www.gofundme.com/f/standing-t...
If you feel able to share or contribute, please do:
www.gofundme.com/f/standing-t...
Donate to Washington Post 2026 layoff fund, organized by Rachel Siegel
On Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026, The Washington Post laid off hundreds of journalists. We ar… Rachel Siegel needs your support for Washington Post 2026 layoff fund
www.gofundme.com
February 4, 2026 at 4:37 PM
Terrible day for many amazing, hard-working, intelligent journalists at the Washington Post. I'm still here and trying to figure out how to best support my colleagues who have lost their jobs.
If you feel able to share or contribute, please do:
www.gofundme.com/f/standing-t...
If you feel able to share or contribute, please do:
www.gofundme.com/f/standing-t...
Reposted by fireworks abolitionist
this whole thing is on Bezos, a perfect example of why billionaires will not save us
for years he supported the Post and then he decided destroying it utterly at the altar of a wannabe dictator better served his personal ambitions, so he did
institutions shouldn’t live or did at one man’s whim
for years he supported the Post and then he decided destroying it utterly at the altar of a wannabe dictator better served his personal ambitions, so he did
institutions shouldn’t live or did at one man’s whim
WASHINGTON (AP) — Washington Post says one-third of its staff across all departments, not just the newsroom, is being laid off.
February 4, 2026 at 3:55 PM
this whole thing is on Bezos, a perfect example of why billionaires will not save us
for years he supported the Post and then he decided destroying it utterly at the altar of a wannabe dictator better served his personal ambitions, so he did
institutions shouldn’t live or did at one man’s whim
for years he supported the Post and then he decided destroying it utterly at the altar of a wannabe dictator better served his personal ambitions, so he did
institutions shouldn’t live or did at one man’s whim
Reposted by fireworks abolitionist
anyone who defends this as a business decision is simply lying
Bezos personally made the decision to kill the paper's endorsement before the election, Bezos chose to gut the opinion section, he's the one who told the paper's audience they should leave
so they did, and now he burns down what's left
Bezos personally made the decision to kill the paper's endorsement before the election, Bezos chose to gut the opinion section, he's the one who told the paper's audience they should leave
so they did, and now he burns down what's left
February 4, 2026 at 4:00 PM
anyone who defends this as a business decision is simply lying
Bezos personally made the decision to kill the paper's endorsement before the election, Bezos chose to gut the opinion section, he's the one who told the paper's audience they should leave
so they did, and now he burns down what's left
Bezos personally made the decision to kill the paper's endorsement before the election, Bezos chose to gut the opinion section, he's the one who told the paper's audience they should leave
so they did, and now he burns down what's left
Reposted by fireworks abolitionist
The Washington-Baltimore News Guild strongly condemns the layoffs announced today at The Washington Post. These cuts represent yet another blow to a newsroom that has already been pushed to its limits and a disservice to the readers who rely on The Post for rigorous, independent journalism.
February 4, 2026 at 2:24 PM
The Washington-Baltimore News Guild strongly condemns the layoffs announced today at The Washington Post. These cuts represent yet another blow to a newsroom that has already been pushed to its limits and a disservice to the readers who rely on The Post for rigorous, independent journalism.
Reposted by fireworks abolitionist
One of the throughlines in this Post news (that anyone working in journalism will recognize) is how the people at the top take no responsibility for what is happening.
February 4, 2026 at 3:15 PM
One of the throughlines in this Post news (that anyone working in journalism will recognize) is how the people at the top take no responsibility for what is happening.
the fourth-richest person in the entire world. he could fund countless Washington Posts if he wanted to with his pocket change. but it's not about money for any of these people. it's about control.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Washington Post says one-third of its staff across all departments, not just the newsroom, is being laid off.
February 4, 2026 at 3:18 PM
the fourth-richest person in the entire world. he could fund countless Washington Posts if he wanted to with his pocket change. but it's not about money for any of these people. it's about control.
Reposted by fireworks abolitionist
This is the pattern. Purchase/Take Over a media source that has informed the public. Then dismantle them to the lowest form:
1. Twitter
2. Meta
3. Washington Post
4. CBS-60 Minutes/News
5. Public Broadcasting
6. Tik Tok
We are up to our necks in state run media.
1. Twitter
2. Meta
3. Washington Post
4. CBS-60 Minutes/News
5. Public Broadcasting
6. Tik Tok
We are up to our necks in state run media.
February 4, 2026 at 3:08 PM
This is the pattern. Purchase/Take Over a media source that has informed the public. Then dismantle them to the lowest form:
1. Twitter
2. Meta
3. Washington Post
4. CBS-60 Minutes/News
5. Public Broadcasting
6. Tik Tok
We are up to our necks in state run media.
1. Twitter
2. Meta
3. Washington Post
4. CBS-60 Minutes/News
5. Public Broadcasting
6. Tik Tok
We are up to our necks in state run media.
Reposted by fireworks abolitionist
The war on work from home is in large part a war on women having a career btw
Roughly half a million women in the US exited the workforce in 2025, and 42% of those who voluntarily left cited their caregiving responsibilities as the main reason, according to a recent survey from Catalyst.
www.hr-brew.com/stories/2026...
www.hr-brew.com/stories/2026...
42% of women are leaving the workforce over lack of caregiver support
In a tight employment market, employers that offer less flexibility risk losing working caregivers, according to a Catalyst report.
www.hr-brew.com
February 4, 2026 at 3:10 PM
The war on work from home is in large part a war on women having a career btw
Reposted by fireworks abolitionist
74% of Democrats support abolishing ICE, with 53% *strongly* supporting it, according to YouGov polling from last month.
Weak calls for "reform" are coming from *elected* Democrats like Chuck, not the average Democratic voter.
Weak calls for "reform" are coming from *elected* Democrats like Chuck, not the average Democratic voter.
Democrats want commonsense reform for ICE:
End the roving patrols and racial profiling.
Take accountability and abide by the same rules as local police.
Masks need to come off, body cameras need to stay on—no secret police in the United States of America.
End the roving patrols and racial profiling.
Take accountability and abide by the same rules as local police.
Masks need to come off, body cameras need to stay on—no secret police in the United States of America.
February 3, 2026 at 10:36 PM
74% of Democrats support abolishing ICE, with 53% *strongly* supporting it, according to YouGov polling from last month.
Weak calls for "reform" are coming from *elected* Democrats like Chuck, not the average Democratic voter.
Weak calls for "reform" are coming from *elected* Democrats like Chuck, not the average Democratic voter.
Reposted by fireworks abolitionist
A friendly reminder that this has been a universally agreed-upon standard for millennia. Don’t let rich people convince you that it’s changed.
February 2, 2026 at 10:24 PM
A friendly reminder that this has been a universally agreed-upon standard for millennia. Don’t let rich people convince you that it’s changed.