Pete Davis
petedavis.bsky.social
Pete Davis
@petedavis.bsky.social
Neighbor | Org: DemocracyPolicy.network | Film: JoinOrDie.film | Book: DedicatedBook.org | Newsletter: PeteDavis.substack.com
The best next move for Dems (and America) is a 2-front project: (1) Maximalist (and justified) impeachment for every one of Trump’s hundreds of impeachable offenses (literally, it should be 100+ counts) to reign in the imperial Presidency and re-establish Congressional authority.
November 12, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Reposted by Pete Davis
"If you want THE history book for the Zohran era, read
@dlondonwortel.bsky.social's great "The Menace of Prosperity "— a history of various economic alternatives experimented with in New York’s history." @petedavis.bsky.social.

Check it out here: press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/bo...
The Menace of Prosperity
Upends entrenched thinking about cities, demonstrating how urban economies are defined—or constrained—by the fiscal imagination of policymakers, activists, and residents.   Many local policymakers mak...
press.uchicago.edu
November 5, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Reposted by Pete Davis
Tomorrow! Join us for “Broken Links: How Do Media Silos Undermine Social Solidarity?” on 10/21 at 7pm ET at GU's Capitol Campus (125 E Street NW Capitol View Convening Space, 9th floor) and online. RSVP: bit.ly/BrokenLinks_CST #BrokenLinksCST In person? Join the 6pm Happy Hour and 8pm Reception!
October 20, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Reposted by Pete Davis
How can young people build a culture of solidarity through embracing communication? Join us for the Salt and Light Gathering “Broken Links: How Do Media Silos Undermine Social Solidarity?” on 10/21 at 7pm ET at Georgetown’s Capitol Campus online. RSVP: bit.ly/BrokenLinks_CST #BrokenLinksCST
October 15, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Newest LOST PROPHETS out — on Fr. Daniel Berrigan, the "devout and dangerous" priest who took "blessed are the peacemakers" seriously: www.lostprophets.org/p/18-daniel-...
#18. Daniel Berrigan (ft. Fr. John Dear)
A lost prophet who worked to build "a solid wall of conscience" to "confront the death-makers"
www.lostprophets.org
October 10, 2025 at 2:43 PM
The best "digital team" for the Dems is a non-digital team embedded in every city, participating in local community life, serving neighbors while inviting them to co-create the party together—a local chapter! thenation.com/article/poli...
The US Is a Civic Desert. To Survive, the Democratic Party Needs to Transform Itself.
The party should jettison its consultant class and move toward a local-membership model that would help to rejuvenate civic life across the country.
thenation.com
September 26, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Much of political conversion is at the subconscious level (one might say "at the spiritual level") — the level which deals in particular wholes (like symbols and constellations of meaning) not modular parts (like specific issue positions).
September 26, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Reposted by Pete Davis
this was a great episode!
17th LOST PROPHETS just dropped—Elias Crim and I talk with historian @dlondonwortel.bsky.social about his new book about alternative visions of urban prosperity. Cameo appearances from Lost Prophets Jane Jacobs, Paul Goodman, and others: www.lostprophets.org/p/17-daniel-...
#17. Daniel Wortel-London on Alternative Visions of Urban Prosperity
A conversation about the folly of cities banking on billionaires.
www.lostprophets.org
August 16, 2025 at 1:13 PM
17th LOST PROPHETS just dropped—Elias Crim and I talk with historian @dlondonwortel.bsky.social about his new book about alternative visions of urban prosperity. Cameo appearances from Lost Prophets Jane Jacobs, Paul Goodman, and others: www.lostprophets.org/p/17-daniel-...
#17. Daniel Wortel-London on Alternative Visions of Urban Prosperity
A conversation about the folly of cities banking on billionaires.
www.lostprophets.org
August 15, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Want to learn more about how states can enable and empower the creation of municipally-owned, mixed-income housing developments? Check out DPN's kit on Social Housing at: democracypolicy.network/SocialHousing
June 10, 2025 at 2:03 PM
On Pope Francis and the God of surprises: petedavis.substack.com/p/on-francis
On Francis
“God is the God of Law, but he is also the God of surprises."
petedavis.substack.com
April 22, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Storefront county Republican community headquarters that I saw in Texas recently.

Dems should build a meeting hall in every county in America. There are ~3,000 counties in America — a $3 billion fund could build them all. Much better long-term use of party funds than more ads.
March 7, 2025 at 2:02 PM
You don’t rebuild a majority by having the best reactions to power. Even the cleverest reply reinforces the deeper message: They act, we just react. You can only rebuild by taking action yourself: having a vision, advancing that vision with courage…and forcing them to react.
January 21, 2025 at 1:20 AM
Reposted by Pete Davis
If you enjoy a good documentary, I watched "Join or Die" on Netflix after I filed the draft above. It's a great watch, and it explains the arc of Robert Putnam's research on community before and after "Bowling Alone." www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKgQ...
OFFICIAL TRAILER | JOIN OR DIE
YouTube video by Abramorama
www.youtube.com
November 26, 2024 at 3:34 PM
Reposted by Pete Davis
Highly recommend watching the documentary Join or Die www.joinordiefilm.com. Helped me understand how we got to where we are now. Maybe it's not too late.
JOIN OR DIE: A film about why you should join a club
A feature documentary on the life and work of civic guru Robert Putnam.
www.joinordiefilm.com
November 26, 2024 at 10:48 AM
Reposted by Pete Davis
Watching the documentary Join or Die on Netflix this morning. It's based on Robert Putnam's life work on civil decline à la Bowling Alone.

Makes you want to join a club.
November 24, 2024 at 2:06 PM
Reposted by Pete Davis
I am watching Join or Die, a documentary about the significance of clubs. Stumbling upon this just now was kind of a wow for me.
It's likely related to the Overalls club movement of that time;
www.appalachianhistory.net/2017/12/over...
November 20, 2024 at 11:52 PM
Reposted by Pete Davis
The documentary “Join or Die” delivers exactly what its tagline promises: a compelling case for why joining a club could save your life — and democracy.
Social Bonds May Save Our Lives
“Join or Die” is part of a cresting wave of cultural production circling around the intertwined issues of loneliness, divisiveness, and our political right turn.
hyperallergic.com
November 23, 2024 at 2:32 PM
Reposted by Pete Davis
So happy I watched “Join or Die” on Netflix. Highly recommend… and join a club!

www.joinordiefilm.com
JOIN OR DIE: A film about why you should join a club
A feature documentary on the life and work of civic guru Robert Putnam.
www.joinordiefilm.com
November 19, 2024 at 5:32 AM
Reposted by Pete Davis
Watch Join Or Die on Netflix to see why we love bringing people together! buff.ly/48eRgxW
Watch Join or Die | Netflix
This documentary examines social scientist Robert Putnam's "Bowling Alone" theory of how declining community engagement created an American civic crisis.
buff.ly
November 20, 2024 at 4:59 PM
Reposted by Pete Davis
I also recommend this, from @petedavis.bsky.social , with sharp-eyed history & optimistic hopes. Which I share—& yet, the tides pulling against, and weird whirlpools they create when people/groups try to push upstream [very! mixed! metaphor!] are also real
www.thenation.com/article/poli...
The US Is a Civic Desert. To Survive, the Democratic Party Needs to Transform Itself.
The party should jettison its consultant class and move toward a local-membership model that would help to rejuvenate civic life across the country.
www.thenation.com
November 19, 2024 at 9:17 PM
Reposted by Pete Davis
Hoping that "clubs!" will be a bit more of the reflexive answer now in 2024.

See @petedavis.bsky.social @joinordiefilm.bsky.social for more.

But my 2 cents is clubs are really needed that are:
- neighborhood level
- politically multi-issue
- mostly other than politics i.e. fun, care, community
November 17, 2024 at 1:14 PM
Reposted by Pete Davis
"Apathy and cynicism could be combated as more of the civic creativity and energy of members is unleashed as local Democrats are invited to not only donate and vote but actually create the party together." Very interesting Pete Davis piece. www.thenation.com/article/poli...
The US Is a Civic Desert. To Survive, the Democratic Party Needs to Transform Itself.
The party should jettison its consultant class and move toward a local-membership model that would help to rejuvenate civic life across the country.
www.thenation.com
November 15, 2024 at 7:33 PM
Reposted by Pete Davis
If you haven't seen JOIN OR DIE on Netflix do yourself a favor and watch it. Finally I found hope that there is something positive I can do to help heal the US one tiny step at a time. And joining actually makes me happy. Join a club! Get involved!
November 17, 2024 at 4:06 PM
Reposted by Pete Davis
Want to be a stop on #JoinOrDieFilm's Join Up! Tour? Head over to our website and click "Host a Screening" to get more info on how to bring the film to your community: joinordiefilm.com
November 15, 2024 at 1:49 PM