Valerie Russ
@vruss.bsky.social
Journalist and writer. Bison. Former Philadelphia Inquirer reporter. Broke story on the controversy over Philadelphia's Harriet Tubman statue being commissioned without a public call for artists. The city reversed course; issued the call.
Reposted by Valerie Russ
The far right is obsessed with Lord of the Rings and Musk keeps posting about "hobbits" because modern scientific racism owes more to fantasy worlds and gaming systems than genetic science, and they see both as effective mediums for right-wing propaganda www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
Why Elon Musk Needs Dungeons and Dragons to Be Racist
The fantastical roots of “scientific racism”
www.theatlantic.com
November 11, 2025 at 2:42 PM
The far right is obsessed with Lord of the Rings and Musk keeps posting about "hobbits" because modern scientific racism owes more to fantasy worlds and gaming systems than genetic science, and they see both as effective mediums for right-wing propaganda www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
Important story of a life well lived from @natefile.bsky.social share.inquirer.com/ldM59E
James Newton, a WWII veteran who forged his mother’s signature to join the Army, has died at 99
Newton joined the Army when he was 17 years old, and served in Guam and Okinawa, Japan during World War 2. He lived in North Philadelphia since the 1950s with his wife Bernice and their children.
share.inquirer.com
November 11, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Important story of a life well lived from @natefile.bsky.social share.inquirer.com/ldM59E
Reposted by Valerie Russ
Trump has asked the US Supreme Court to let him deny SNAP benefits to 42 million hungry Americans after a federal appeals court ordered him to release the money.
Trump Appeals to Supreme Court After Judges Block Bid to Curtail Food Stamp Aid
www.nytimes.com
November 8, 2025 at 12:12 AM
Trump has asked the US Supreme Court to let him deny SNAP benefits to 42 million hungry Americans after a federal appeals court ordered him to release the money.
Reposted by Valerie Russ
The government shutdown has thrown multiple industries into disarray, including this health-related "major challenge." www.huffpost.com/entry/govern...
Experts Warn The Government Shutdown Is Affecting You In A Major, Unexpected Way
This lapse is leaving doctors and the public dangerously in the dark.
www.huffpost.com
November 7, 2025 at 9:29 PM
The government shutdown has thrown multiple industries into disarray, including this health-related "major challenge." www.huffpost.com/entry/govern...
Reposted by Valerie Russ
Credit where credit is due: Pelosi read the room
November 7, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Credit where credit is due: Pelosi read the room
Reposted by Valerie Russ
"We must at all costs shun any propaganda that instills fear of other people in the public mind." #PopeFrancis #Hope
November 6, 2025 at 12:21 PM
"We must at all costs shun any propaganda that instills fear of other people in the public mind." #PopeFrancis #Hope
Reposted by Valerie Russ
This morning, ICE officers abducted a Chicago teacher from the daycare where she works. “One might call it domestic terrorism, and it would be correct," Alderperson Andre Vasquez said at a press conference held today with other local leaders.
www.thecarceralreport.com/p/federal-of...
www.thecarceralreport.com/p/federal-of...
Federal Officers Abduct Teacher from Chicago Daycare
“One might call it domestic terrorism, and it would be correct," Alderperson Andre Vasquez said.
www.thecarceralreport.com
November 5, 2025 at 8:41 PM
This morning, ICE officers abducted a Chicago teacher from the daycare where she works. “One might call it domestic terrorism, and it would be correct," Alderperson Andre Vasquez said at a press conference held today with other local leaders.
www.thecarceralreport.com/p/federal-of...
www.thecarceralreport.com/p/federal-of...
Reposted by Valerie Russ
During his campaign, Mamdani often remarked on the huge amounts of money being spent to defeat him.
“They’re spending more money than I would even tax them,” he said in an interview with MSNBC last week.
time.com/7331119/zohr...
“They’re spending more money than I would even tax them,” he said in an interview with MSNBC last week.
time.com/7331119/zohr...
The Billionaires Who Tried—and Failed—to Stop Zohran Mamdani
Over 20 billionaires donated to super PACs supporting Cuomo or in opposition to the next mayor, Zohran Mamdani.
time.com
November 5, 2025 at 3:30 PM
During his campaign, Mamdani often remarked on the huge amounts of money being spent to defeat him.
“They’re spending more money than I would even tax them,” he said in an interview with MSNBC last week.
time.com/7331119/zohr...
“They’re spending more money than I would even tax them,” he said in an interview with MSNBC last week.
time.com/7331119/zohr...
Reposted by Valerie Russ
Dr. Patricia Bath overcame sexism, racism, and poverty and saved the sight of millions of people.
In 1986, she invented the Laserphaco Probe for cataract treatment. It was patented in 1988. She was born #OTD in 1942. #WomenInSTEM
cfmedicine.nlm.nih.gov/physicians/b...
In 1986, she invented the Laserphaco Probe for cataract treatment. It was patented in 1988. She was born #OTD in 1942. #WomenInSTEM
cfmedicine.nlm.nih.gov/physicians/b...
November 4, 2025 at 11:34 PM
Dr. Patricia Bath overcame sexism, racism, and poverty and saved the sight of millions of people.
In 1986, she invented the Laserphaco Probe for cataract treatment. It was patented in 1988. She was born #OTD in 1942. #WomenInSTEM
cfmedicine.nlm.nih.gov/physicians/b...
In 1986, she invented the Laserphaco Probe for cataract treatment. It was patented in 1988. She was born #OTD in 1942. #WomenInSTEM
cfmedicine.nlm.nih.gov/physicians/b...
Reposted by Valerie Russ
MAMDANI: "We will leave mediocrity in our past. No longer will we have to open a history book for proof that Democrats can dare to be great."
November 5, 2025 at 4:42 AM
MAMDANI: "We will leave mediocrity in our past. No longer will we have to open a history book for proof that Democrats can dare to be great."
Reposted by Valerie Russ
This victory speech from Zohran Mamdani is the most profound Dem speech of its kind since Obama at the DNC in 2004.
November 5, 2025 at 4:44 AM
This victory speech from Zohran Mamdani is the most profound Dem speech of its kind since Obama at the DNC in 2004.
Reposted by Valerie Russ
Mandani: Too many among us have turned to the right for answers to why they've been left behind . We will leave mediocrity in our past. No longer will we have to open a history book for proof that Democrats can dare to be great.
November 5, 2025 at 4:44 AM
Mandani: Too many among us have turned to the right for answers to why they've been left behind . We will leave mediocrity in our past. No longer will we have to open a history book for proof that Democrats can dare to be great.
Reposted by Valerie Russ
Mamdani: Whether you are an immigrant, a member of the trans community, one of the many black women that Donald Trump has fired from a federal job, a single mom still waiting for the cost of groceries to go down, or anyone else with their back against the wall—your struggle is ours too
November 5, 2025 at 4:35 AM
Mamdani: Whether you are an immigrant, a member of the trans community, one of the many black women that Donald Trump has fired from a federal job, a single mom still waiting for the cost of groceries to go down, or anyone else with their back against the wall—your struggle is ours too
Reposted by Valerie Russ
In his victory speech, Zohran Mamdani shouts out Richard, a taxi driver he went on a hunger strike with.
“My brother, we are in City Hall now,” he said.
Revisit the story from Nov. 2021, including Mamdami’s quote which is quite striking in this moment.
www.thecity.nyc/2021/11/03/n...
“My brother, we are in City Hall now,” he said.
Revisit the story from Nov. 2021, including Mamdami’s quote which is quite striking in this moment.
www.thecity.nyc/2021/11/03/n...
Taxi Drivers Savor Victory as Medallion Debt Bailout Deal Ends Hunger Strike
Cabbies danced outside of City Hall, chanting “No more suicides,” after the de Blasio administration agreed to restructure the crushing debt that’s devastated many taxi medallion owners. Some went hun...
www.thecity.nyc
November 5, 2025 at 4:35 AM
In his victory speech, Zohran Mamdani shouts out Richard, a taxi driver he went on a hunger strike with.
“My brother, we are in City Hall now,” he said.
Revisit the story from Nov. 2021, including Mamdami’s quote which is quite striking in this moment.
www.thecity.nyc/2021/11/03/n...
“My brother, we are in City Hall now,” he said.
Revisit the story from Nov. 2021, including Mamdami’s quote which is quite striking in this moment.
www.thecity.nyc/2021/11/03/n...
Reposted by Valerie Russ
Mamdani:
“We won because we insisted that no longer would politics be something that is done to us.
Now, it is something that we do.”
“We won because we insisted that no longer would politics be something that is done to us.
Now, it is something that we do.”
November 5, 2025 at 4:30 AM
Mamdani:
“We won because we insisted that no longer would politics be something that is done to us.
Now, it is something that we do.”
“We won because we insisted that no longer would politics be something that is done to us.
Now, it is something that we do.”
Reposted by Valerie Russ
The throughline of Mamdani’s campaign was a willingness to meet people where they were, in physical and ideological ways.
Zohran Mamdani drags the Democratic Party into the future
This was a local race with national implications, whether the party's leaders liked it or not.
www.motherjones.com
November 5, 2025 at 3:50 AM
The throughline of Mamdani’s campaign was a willingness to meet people where they were, in physical and ideological ways.
Reposted by Valerie Russ
More great news: Democratic councilwoman Mary Sheffield will become the first woman elected mayor of Detroit. 💙👏
November 5, 2025 at 3:36 AM
More great news: Democratic councilwoman Mary Sheffield will become the first woman elected mayor of Detroit. 💙👏
Reposted by Valerie Russ
Our next Mayor
November 5, 2025 at 3:42 AM
Our next Mayor
Reposted by Valerie Russ
Inbox— next cover of the New Yorker: “Mayor Mamdani,” by Edel Rodriguez
November 5, 2025 at 3:19 AM
Inbox— next cover of the New Yorker: “Mayor Mamdani,” by Edel Rodriguez
Reposted by Valerie Russ
well, well, well...
BREAKING: Pennsylvania voters approve to retain three state Supreme Court justices, NBC News projects, preserving Democrats’ 5-2 majority on the state’s high court.
Pennsylvania voters retain three state Supreme Court justices, preserving Democrats' 5-2 majority
NBC News projects the incumbents survived an up-or-down vote to keep their seats on the battleground state’s high court.
nbcnews.to
November 5, 2025 at 2:04 AM
well, well, well...
This is gift article from The New York Times. You can read it for free without a subscription. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/04/s...
In Search of the Simpsonville Massacre
www.nytimes.com
November 4, 2025 at 6:41 PM
This is gift article from The New York Times. You can read it for free without a subscription. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/04/s...
Reposted by Valerie Russ
Teen Vogue is getting folded into Vogue and losing most of its staff. It’s the end of one of the only publications that allowed young people to share their own stories and took them seriously as political actors.
talkingpointsmemo.com/cafe/what-we...
talkingpointsmemo.com/cafe/what-we...
What We Lost When Condé Nast Unceremoniously Shuttered Teen Vogue
This article is part of TPM Cafe, TPM’s home for opinion and news...
talkingpointsmemo.com
November 4, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Teen Vogue is getting folded into Vogue and losing most of its staff. It’s the end of one of the only publications that allowed young people to share their own stories and took them seriously as political actors.
talkingpointsmemo.com/cafe/what-we...
talkingpointsmemo.com/cafe/what-we...
Reposted by Valerie Russ
Here's @sulliview.bsky.social on that stealth edit by Washpost Opinion, as they endorsed Trump's ballroom project:
"Best practices would have made the editing change transparent, but we’re not really in best-practices territory here. We’re in 'oops, maybe no one will notice' territory."
"Best practices would have made the editing change transparent, but we’re not really in best-practices territory here. We’re in 'oops, maybe no one will notice' territory."
November 4, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Here's @sulliview.bsky.social on that stealth edit by Washpost Opinion, as they endorsed Trump's ballroom project:
"Best practices would have made the editing change transparent, but we’re not really in best-practices territory here. We’re in 'oops, maybe no one will notice' territory."
"Best practices would have made the editing change transparent, but we’re not really in best-practices territory here. We’re in 'oops, maybe no one will notice' territory."
Explore this gift article from The New York Times. You can read it for free without a subscription. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/01/a...
Marcyliena Morgan, Founder of Harvard’s Hip-Hop Archive, Dies at 75
www.nytimes.com
November 4, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Explore this gift article from The New York Times. You can read it for free without a subscription. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/01/a...
Reposted by Valerie Russ
Thinking again about Melissa Hortman's assassination in the summer. This article from last week talks about how she fought to have Muslim women's voices taken seriously by her colleagues. She was so generous with her time and energy and compassion.
Remembering Representative Melissa Hortman
Former senator Patricia Torres Ray pointed out: “There was one specific thing that resonated with a lot of people about Melissa, and that was her ability to elevate women and to give women of color th...
www.womenspress.com
November 3, 2025 at 10:45 PM
Thinking again about Melissa Hortman's assassination in the summer. This article from last week talks about how she fought to have Muslim women's voices taken seriously by her colleagues. She was so generous with her time and energy and compassion.