Ben Raderstorf
@raders.bsky.social
defend democracy and build homes / policy advocate @protectdemocracy.org / author ifyoucankeep.it / co-prez @sacyimby.bsky.social / rash opinions my own
No kings but Sac Kings
📍Sacramento
No kings but Sac Kings
📍Sacramento
Pinned
Ben Raderstorf
@raders.bsky.social
· Jan 12
I can already tell social media is gonna be a heavy and stressful place this year.
Going to try to counteract it with an ongoing thread of moments, places, and scenes of thriving from my real world.
Here’s #1: Capitol Park rules. I love that the heart of California civic life is so peaceful
Going to try to counteract it with an ongoing thread of moments, places, and scenes of thriving from my real world.
Here’s #1: Capitol Park rules. I love that the heart of California civic life is so peaceful
Reposted by Ben Raderstorf
a) If you think undocumented people, w/ an average income of ~$37,000, are why housing in the United States is expensive you are a hopeless moron.
b) Why is he wearing his dad's make up
c) Mass deportations will cause housing prices to explode!
d) The economies these people fund would collapse
b) Why is he wearing his dad's make up
c) Mass deportations will cause housing prices to explode!
d) The economies these people fund would collapse
JD Vance: "A lot of young people are saying housing is way too expensive. Why is that? Because we flooded the country with 30 million illegal immigrants who were taking houses that ought by right go to American citizens."
November 13, 2025 at 10:14 PM
a) If you think undocumented people, w/ an average income of ~$37,000, are why housing in the United States is expensive you are a hopeless moron.
b) Why is he wearing his dad's make up
c) Mass deportations will cause housing prices to explode!
d) The economies these people fund would collapse
b) Why is he wearing his dad's make up
c) Mass deportations will cause housing prices to explode!
d) The economies these people fund would collapse
Reposted by Ben Raderstorf
look as someone who can be incapacitated for weeks by the fear that I put the wrong number of exclamation points into an email this has been a fascinating glimpse into a some brains that work extremely! differently! from! mine!
November 13, 2025 at 5:28 PM
look as someone who can be incapacitated for weeks by the fear that I put the wrong number of exclamation points into an email this has been a fascinating glimpse into a some brains that work extremely! differently! from! mine!
Reposted by Ben Raderstorf
Thanks to our friends at @protectdemocracy.org for furthering the fight against Brendan Carr's censorial FCC.
The FCC's News Distortion Policy should be rescinded
A bipartisan group of former FCC commissioners call for repeal of the News Distortion Policy, which chills broadcaster speech
protectdemocracy.org
November 13, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Thanks to our friends at @protectdemocracy.org for furthering the fight against Brendan Carr's censorial FCC.
Reposted by Ben Raderstorf
The gov has no business policing free speech & expression. That’s why we’re helping a bipartisan group of former FCC chairs + commissioners, & former senior-level FCC staff, file a petition to end the news distortion policy. Read why respected Republicans and Democrats agree it should be rescinded.
Former FCC chairs urge agency to repeal 'news distortion' policy invoked by Trump administration
The policy was directly referenced by FCC Chair Brendan Carr in disputes over Jimmy Kimmel and "60 Minutes."
www.nbcnews.com
November 13, 2025 at 4:01 PM
The gov has no business policing free speech & expression. That’s why we’re helping a bipartisan group of former FCC chairs + commissioners, & former senior-level FCC staff, file a petition to end the news distortion policy. Read why respected Republicans and Democrats agree it should be rescinded.
Reposted by Ben Raderstorf
single member districts are bad
I'm going to die on the hill that Utah's redistricting outcome is actually bad for democracy.
We don't have a single competitive congressional district which means parties can retreat to polarizing treatment of each other rather than build roots in communities in order to win close races.
We don't have a single competitive congressional district which means parties can retreat to polarizing treatment of each other rather than build roots in communities in order to win close races.
For decades, any Utah Democrat who wanted to go to Congress had to campaign as a moderate or conservative. Now that the state has a solidly blue congressional seat, though, running as a progressive is suddenly an effective strategy.
November 13, 2025 at 3:58 PM
single member districts are bad
More evidence for the “s-curve” theory of housing politics. Everywhere is going to have to make the hard transition from NIMBY to YIMBY. California is fast approaching the top of the curve, New York’s somewhere in the middle.
Chicago, sadly, still pretty close to the bottom.
Chicago, sadly, still pretty close to the bottom.
November 13, 2025 at 3:24 PM
More evidence for the “s-curve” theory of housing politics. Everywhere is going to have to make the hard transition from NIMBY to YIMBY. California is fast approaching the top of the curve, New York’s somewhere in the middle.
Chicago, sadly, still pretty close to the bottom.
Chicago, sadly, still pretty close to the bottom.
Just logged on to vichy twitter out of curiosity and, yep, not a whiff of Epstein anywhere.
I'm sure this is completely on the level!
I'm sure this is completely on the level!
November 12, 2025 at 11:48 PM
Just logged on to vichy twitter out of curiosity and, yep, not a whiff of Epstein anywhere.
I'm sure this is completely on the level!
I'm sure this is completely on the level!
There are clear policies to fight climate change. And equally good ones on affordability.
Thankfully though, we don't have to choose. They're the same policies:
1. Legalize infill, multi-family housing in every city.
2. Streamline renewable energy & storage.
3. Invest in good, reliable transit.
Thankfully though, we don't have to choose. They're the same policies:
1. Legalize infill, multi-family housing in every city.
2. Streamline renewable energy & storage.
3. Invest in good, reliable transit.
November 12, 2025 at 11:36 PM
There are clear policies to fight climate change. And equally good ones on affordability.
Thankfully though, we don't have to choose. They're the same policies:
1. Legalize infill, multi-family housing in every city.
2. Streamline renewable energy & storage.
3. Invest in good, reliable transit.
Thankfully though, we don't have to choose. They're the same policies:
1. Legalize infill, multi-family housing in every city.
2. Streamline renewable energy & storage.
3. Invest in good, reliable transit.
Small insight from the Epstein emails that — in my limited personal experience with rich/powerful people — is 100% true:
Yes, they really do spend huge chunks of their day writing each other weird, poorly punctuated emails on their ipads
Yes, they really do spend huge chunks of their day writing each other weird, poorly punctuated emails on their ipads
November 12, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Small insight from the Epstein emails that — in my limited personal experience with rich/powerful people — is 100% true:
Yes, they really do spend huge chunks of their day writing each other weird, poorly punctuated emails on their ipads
Yes, they really do spend huge chunks of their day writing each other weird, poorly punctuated emails on their ipads
The reason why more people won’t say the obvious here is a (normally very well-founded) instinctive fear of defamation.
Folks, I can promise he is never going to sue and open himself up to discovery on this one
Folks, I can promise he is never going to sue and open himself up to discovery on this one
People really need to stop framing it is a question of getting more evidence. I mean, sure, that too. But we know. We all know. The president of the United States raped children. Say that. When they get mad at you for saying it, say it again and treat them like an idiot for pretending they doubt it.
November 12, 2025 at 4:28 PM
The reason why more people won’t say the obvious here is a (normally very well-founded) instinctive fear of defamation.
Folks, I can promise he is never going to sue and open himself up to discovery on this one
Folks, I can promise he is never going to sue and open himself up to discovery on this one
Reposted by Ben Raderstorf
Trump’s military takeover of US cities has already cost taxpayers nearly $500M
Trump’s military takeover of US cities has already cost taxpayers nearly $500M
www.independent.co.uk
November 12, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Trump’s military takeover of US cities has already cost taxpayers nearly $500M
Even if he does this, an oil company would have to navigate literally hundreds of Byzantine state and local hurdles for every other aspect of making drilling happen. Every terminal, every support dock, every mile of pipeline. In 36 months.
Good luck!
Good luck!
November 12, 2025 at 4:51 AM
Even if he does this, an oil company would have to navigate literally hundreds of Byzantine state and local hurdles for every other aspect of making drilling happen. Every terminal, every support dock, every mile of pipeline. In 36 months.
Good luck!
Good luck!
My most insane wish is that someone would write a Guns Germs & Steel-style grand unified theory of culinary empires
November 12, 2025 at 3:22 AM
My most insane wish is that someone would write a Guns Germs & Steel-style grand unified theory of culinary empires
First photo is Friday, second photo is today.
I know modular has a thousand obstacles still, but we really could end the housing crisis in a year if we truly wanted to
I know modular has a thousand obstacles still, but we really could end the housing crisis in a year if we truly wanted to
November 12, 2025 at 1:44 AM
First photo is Friday, second photo is today.
I know modular has a thousand obstacles still, but we really could end the housing crisis in a year if we truly wanted to
I know modular has a thousand obstacles still, but we really could end the housing crisis in a year if we truly wanted to
Reposted by Ben Raderstorf
*than anyone in Washington wants to understand*
November 7, 2025 at 5:36 AM
*than anyone in Washington wants to understand*
Reposted by Ben Raderstorf
Pierrot, by Jean-Antoine Watteau, 1718-19, 📸 by @andyharnik
November 7, 2025 at 5:27 AM
Pierrot, by Jean-Antoine Watteau, 1718-19, 📸 by @andyharnik
Americans are so much more open to paradigm-shifting electoral reform than almost anyone in Washington understands
48% yes, 19% no, 32% don't know for proportional representation. That's with very little public campaign for PR so far.
Tracks similar results we found a couple of years ago polling various reforms in Wyoming. It's not some wonky thing only nerds get. The concept is intuitive and naturally popular.
Tracks similar results we found a couple of years ago polling various reforms in Wyoming. It's not some wonky thing only nerds get. The concept is intuitive and naturally popular.
Wow! That's a lot higher support level than I expected. And that 32%"don't know" means there's a high ceiling
November 7, 2025 at 4:47 AM
Americans are so much more open to paradigm-shifting electoral reform than almost anyone in Washington understands
Reposted by Ben Raderstorf
Today, w/ @democracyforward.org & @kekerllp.bsky.social, we filed suit on behalf of unions AFGE, @afscme.bsky.social, & NAGE over the Trump admin’s politicization of the fed hiring process via its “Merit Hiring Plan,” which we allege exists to seek political loyalty to POTUS. 🔗 protdem.org/47OVPz5
November 6, 2025 at 10:11 PM
Today, w/ @democracyforward.org & @kekerllp.bsky.social, we filed suit on behalf of unions AFGE, @afscme.bsky.social, & NAGE over the Trump admin’s politicization of the fed hiring process via its “Merit Hiring Plan,” which we allege exists to seek political loyalty to POTUS. 🔗 protdem.org/47OVPz5
Reposted by Ben Raderstorf
It's so funny that the White House has decided, since Tuesday evening, that its big focus will be costs — after eight months of splattering gold paint all over the White House and after a big Roaring '20s party at the private club the president bought from a Post cereals heiress.
November 6, 2025 at 2:34 PM
It's so funny that the White House has decided, since Tuesday evening, that its big focus will be costs — after eight months of splattering gold paint all over the White House and after a big Roaring '20s party at the private club the president bought from a Post cereals heiress.
Extremely big deal
VICTORY: Judge Ellis granted the most powerful rebuke of the Trump admin’s immigration enforcement tactics yet — a preliminary injunction to more permanently stop the violent and lawless tactics federal agents have deployed against protestors, press, and clergy in the Chicago area.
November 6, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Extremely big deal
Reposted by Ben Raderstorf
incredible photo that's definitely worth at least 1,000 words from Andrew Harnik of Getty
November 6, 2025 at 6:10 PM
incredible photo that's definitely worth at least 1,000 words from Andrew Harnik of Getty
Plus, honestly these proposals—important as they are—are such weak tea.
Sacramento has:
-Ministerial, staff-level streamlined approvals by staff for ALL multifamily under 200 units, affordable and market rate.
-multifamily by-right on every lot in the city
-average of about 90 days to approval
Sacramento has:
-Ministerial, staff-level streamlined approvals by staff for ALL multifamily under 200 units, affordable and market rate.
-multifamily by-right on every lot in the city
-average of about 90 days to approval
it’s actually absurd that people who consider themselves progressives are still siding with the Staten Island Republican Party over Zohran on the pro-housing ballot measures
November 6, 2025 at 7:16 AM
Plus, honestly these proposals—important as they are—are such weak tea.
Sacramento has:
-Ministerial, staff-level streamlined approvals by staff for ALL multifamily under 200 units, affordable and market rate.
-multifamily by-right on every lot in the city
-average of about 90 days to approval
Sacramento has:
-Ministerial, staff-level streamlined approvals by staff for ALL multifamily under 200 units, affordable and market rate.
-multifamily by-right on every lot in the city
-average of about 90 days to approval
This is extremely catty, but the Free Press, which is ostensibly worth $150 million, has some pretty weak sauce "like & comment" numbers.
@jvl.bsky.social and @thebulwark.com have like 3-4x their engagement
@jvl.bsky.social and @thebulwark.com have like 3-4x their engagement
November 6, 2025 at 1:06 AM
This is extremely catty, but the Free Press, which is ostensibly worth $150 million, has some pretty weak sauce "like & comment" numbers.
@jvl.bsky.social and @thebulwark.com have like 3-4x their engagement
@jvl.bsky.social and @thebulwark.com have like 3-4x their engagement
Reposted by Ben Raderstorf
Zohran wasn’t the only big winner yesterday. Housing has a great day at the ballot box. my latest for @dwell.bsky.social www.dwell.com/article/affo...
Affordable Housing Plans Were the Real Winners of the 2025 Election
Zohran Mamdani’s proposed rent freeze contributed to his watershed win as New York City’s mayor-elect, part of a national trend to address the housing crisis with the ballot.
www.dwell.com
November 5, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Zohran wasn’t the only big winner yesterday. Housing has a great day at the ballot box. my latest for @dwell.bsky.social www.dwell.com/article/affo...