Josh S. Pumpkins
@jgee.bsky.social
You can save the world, but first, lunch! He/him. At Work for America getting the best people into State and Local Government. Former digital services at MTA, City of Boston. Politics before that. Mass Oyster Project. Write about food and tech.
Reposted by Josh S. Pumpkins
What if – windows that kept sound out?
Zoning Practice magazine devotes an entire issue to *checks notes* pickleball noise
November 11, 2025 at 1:31 AM
What if – windows that kept sound out?
Reposted by Josh S. Pumpkins
Reposted by Josh S. Pumpkins
John Woo: ‘Someone who is good at the economy please help me budget this. my film is dying.’
November 10, 2025 at 11:23 PM
John Woo: ‘Someone who is good at the economy please help me budget this. my film is dying.’
Reposted by Josh S. Pumpkins
I wrote about what I see as the real lesson of Mamdani's victory: not that Democrats needs to move left (or right, for that matter), but that they should try to build real-world relationships with normal voters. publiccomment.blog/p/mamdani-th...
Mamdani the Party Builder
Partyism in action
publiccomment.blog
November 10, 2025 at 10:31 PM
I wrote about what I see as the real lesson of Mamdani's victory: not that Democrats needs to move left (or right, for that matter), but that they should try to build real-world relationships with normal voters. publiccomment.blog/p/mamdani-th...
Reposted by Josh S. Pumpkins
Why is the "we must be united!" hectoring directed at people who are mad at the Cavers and not to the Cavers? Everyone who's mad was united, then the Cave Caucus walked across the aisle and betrayed what the public had been told was the Dem position.
The sooner we get past internal recriminations and back to fighting united, the better off we all are — the likelier our victory next November.
November 10, 2025 at 10:11 PM
Why is the "we must be united!" hectoring directed at people who are mad at the Cavers and not to the Cavers? Everyone who's mad was united, then the Cave Caucus walked across the aisle and betrayed what the public had been told was the Dem position.
Reposted by Josh S. Pumpkins
Pretty much all affordability discourse could benefit from just posting this chart.
If you're in the better off America, all the luxury goods you want in excess are for the most part much cheaper. If you're in the poorer America, most of the shit you need to live/grow is more expensive.
If you're in the better off America, all the luxury goods you want in excess are for the most part much cheaper. If you're in the poorer America, most of the shit you need to live/grow is more expensive.
November 10, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Pretty much all affordability discourse could benefit from just posting this chart.
If you're in the better off America, all the luxury goods you want in excess are for the most part much cheaper. If you're in the poorer America, most of the shit you need to live/grow is more expensive.
If you're in the better off America, all the luxury goods you want in excess are for the most part much cheaper. If you're in the poorer America, most of the shit you need to live/grow is more expensive.
Reposted by Josh S. Pumpkins
do you love SLEEP and hate HAVING COLDS ALL THE TIME
then BEING PARENT OF PRESCHOOLER may not be for you
then BEING PARENT OF PRESCHOOLER may not be for you
November 10, 2025 at 8:36 PM
do you love SLEEP and hate HAVING COLDS ALL THE TIME
then BEING PARENT OF PRESCHOOLER may not be for you
then BEING PARENT OF PRESCHOOLER may not be for you
Reposted by Josh S. Pumpkins
Meanwhile, '3rd world' India has almost electrified all of its vast network in record time. infra.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/railway...
Over 99% electrification of Indian Railways network complete
Indian Railways Electrification: The Indian Railways has completed over 99% electrification of its broad-gauge network, with a significant push towards renewable energy, including rooftop solar panels...
infra.economictimes.indiatimes.com
November 9, 2025 at 11:44 AM
Meanwhile, '3rd world' India has almost electrified all of its vast network in record time. infra.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/railway...
Reposted by Josh S. Pumpkins
Democrats Sick Of Being Blamed For Cowardice On Issues They Actually Just Don’t Care About
Democrats Sick Of Being Blamed For Cowardice On Issues They Actually Just Don’t Care About
WASHINGTON—Having thus far caved on eliminating the filibuster, advancing an adequate climate change agenda, and protecting voting rights, congressional Democrats told reporters Wednesday they were si...
theonion.com
November 10, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Democrats Sick Of Being Blamed For Cowardice On Issues They Actually Just Don’t Care About
Reposted by Josh S. Pumpkins
“This thing is definitely bad for us but no one can say what it is”
The evidence that ultra-processed foods are bad for us is piling up. But efforts to reduce their role in our diets face a big hurdle: experts can't agree on what they are and which to target. n.pr/4qMrN7P
People want to avoid ultra-processed foods. But experts struggle to define them
The evidence that ultra-processed foods are bad for us is piling up. But efforts to reduce their role in our diets face a big hurdle: experts can't agree on what they are and which to target.
n.pr
November 10, 2025 at 7:52 PM
“This thing is definitely bad for us but no one can say what it is”
Reposted by Josh S. Pumpkins
its cool how two of the biggest tech companies are also the global leader in enabling scams (Meta) and the global leader in fencing stolen goods and selling counterfeit ones (Amazon)
If 10% of my business was based on defrauding and scamming people, and was called a "pillar of the global fraud economy", I would have some serious moral qualms about my business. Not our friends at Meta though.
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
Meta is earning a fortune on a deluge of fraudulent ads, documents show
Meta projected 10% of its 2024 revenue would come from ads for scams and banned goods, and it internally estimates that its platforms show users 15 billion scam ads a day, company documents show.
www.reuters.com
November 10, 2025 at 5:54 PM
its cool how two of the biggest tech companies are also the global leader in enabling scams (Meta) and the global leader in fencing stolen goods and selling counterfeit ones (Amazon)
Reposted by Josh S. Pumpkins
Ms Rachel says The New York Times asked her if she’s funded by Hamas
November 10, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Ms Rachel says The New York Times asked her if she’s funded by Hamas
Reposted by Josh S. Pumpkins
This is what's so aggravating — yes, it was not working in extracting a policy concession but it was working in *driving down trump's numbers and provoking GOP infighting* which is what's important if you take Dem rhetoric about the perils of MAGA remotely seriously.
weirdly honest messaging from the breakaway mod/institutionalist leaders who blew up the party strategy
they're explicitly giving up. "It wasn't working so we quit" that's the message
they're explicitly giving up. "It wasn't working so we quit" that's the message
November 10, 2025 at 2:06 PM
This is what's so aggravating — yes, it was not working in extracting a policy concession but it was working in *driving down trump's numbers and provoking GOP infighting* which is what's important if you take Dem rhetoric about the perils of MAGA remotely seriously.
Reposted by Josh S. Pumpkins
no matter what the circumstances, democrats are always saving their energy for a mythical future situation where they will do something good
March 14, 2025 at 12:55 AM
no matter what the circumstances, democrats are always saving their energy for a mythical future situation where they will do something good
“There were no good options” is both a defense of caving and a defense of sticking it out.
November 10, 2025 at 1:50 PM
“There were no good options” is both a defense of caving and a defense of sticking it out.
Reposted by Josh S. Pumpkins
good Klein piece on the contradictions of the Democratic shutdown position that fed into yesterday's idiotic cave
the "shutdown for ACA credits" was a chimera position that served to unify the conference (good!) but wasn't the actual position of either libs or mods www.nytimes.com/2025/11/10/o...
the "shutdown for ACA credits" was a chimera position that served to unify the conference (good!) but wasn't the actual position of either libs or mods www.nytimes.com/2025/11/10/o...
Opinion | Democrats Were on a Roll. Why Stop Now?
www.nytimes.com
November 10, 2025 at 1:33 PM
good Klein piece on the contradictions of the Democratic shutdown position that fed into yesterday's idiotic cave
the "shutdown for ACA credits" was a chimera position that served to unify the conference (good!) but wasn't the actual position of either libs or mods www.nytimes.com/2025/11/10/o...
the "shutdown for ACA credits" was a chimera position that served to unify the conference (good!) but wasn't the actual position of either libs or mods www.nytimes.com/2025/11/10/o...
Reposted by Josh S. Pumpkins
Beginning concussion protocol after slapping my forehead so hard. bsky.app/profile/atru...
November 10, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Beginning concussion protocol after slapping my forehead so hard. bsky.app/profile/atru...
Reposted by Josh S. Pumpkins
weirdly honest messaging from the breakaway mod/institutionalist leaders who blew up the party strategy
they're explicitly giving up. "It wasn't working so we quit" that's the message
they're explicitly giving up. "It wasn't working so we quit" that's the message
November 10, 2025 at 12:34 PM
weirdly honest messaging from the breakaway mod/institutionalist leaders who blew up the party strategy
they're explicitly giving up. "It wasn't working so we quit" that's the message
they're explicitly giving up. "It wasn't working so we quit" that's the message
Reposted by Josh S. Pumpkins
"Democratic capitulators whose seats would be filled by Democratic governors in the event of vacancy (Durbin, Fetterman, Kaine, King) should be under immense pressure to resign mid-session. Now, even. Or in Kaine’s case, after Abigail Spanberger is sworn in. If your senator fits that bill, get loud"
Thoughts on Dems throwing a game they were winning. www.offmessage.net/p/16-thought...
16 Thoughts On The Dem Shutdown Cave
Another disgrace, and a new path forward.
www.offmessage.net
November 10, 2025 at 11:49 AM
"Democratic capitulators whose seats would be filled by Democratic governors in the event of vacancy (Durbin, Fetterman, Kaine, King) should be under immense pressure to resign mid-session. Now, even. Or in Kaine’s case, after Abigail Spanberger is sworn in. If your senator fits that bill, get loud"
Reposted by Josh S. Pumpkins
@schumer.senate.gov so what’s the punishment for this defection?
so currently defectors are:
Kaine (2030)
Shaheen (Retiring)
Hasan (2028)
Fetterman (2028)
Durbin (Retiring)
CCM (2028)
Rosen (2030)
King (2030)
Kaine (2030)
Shaheen (Retiring)
Hasan (2028)
Fetterman (2028)
Durbin (Retiring)
CCM (2028)
Rosen (2030)
King (2030)
November 10, 2025 at 1:57 AM
@schumer.senate.gov so what’s the punishment for this defection?
Reposted by Josh S. Pumpkins
It shows Schumer no longer has the caucus.
It doesn't actually matter if Chuck Schumer votes for this or not.
If he can't keep his caucus unified to protect healthcare for over 10 million Americans, he should resign as leader.
If he can't keep his caucus unified to protect healthcare for over 10 million Americans, he should resign as leader.
November 10, 2025 at 1:50 AM
It shows Schumer no longer has the caucus.
Reposted by Josh S. Pumpkins
This sucks dude. EVEN if Thune isn’t lying to you about the vote, the House won’t hold a vote.
You got nothing, and just proved to the public that the shutdown was your fault.
And you proved to Republicans that they can weaponize hunger. You negotiated with terrorists
You got nothing, and just proved to the public that the shutdown was your fault.
And you proved to Republicans that they can weaponize hunger. You negotiated with terrorists
My statement on the funding deal to reopen government, protect federal employees, and vote to protect health care:
November 10, 2025 at 1:22 AM
This sucks dude. EVEN if Thune isn’t lying to you about the vote, the House won’t hold a vote.
You got nothing, and just proved to the public that the shutdown was your fault.
And you proved to Republicans that they can weaponize hunger. You negotiated with terrorists
You got nothing, and just proved to the public that the shutdown was your fault.
And you proved to Republicans that they can weaponize hunger. You negotiated with terrorists
Reposted by Josh S. Pumpkins
Yeah, I'm sorry, but you do not keep the government shut for more than a month and then NOT get a deal on the main item you have been messaging on without completely shifting the blame dynamic.
Major concession from Democrats here is enhanced ACA funds aren’t extended. Preserving them was Dems’ central demand in this fight. They secured a promise of a vote (which Thune has been offering for weeks), but that could still fail. Even if it passes, Johnson has made no promise of a House vote.
Tentative Senate deal to end shutdown, multiple sources tell me & @frankthorp.bsky.social:
—CR through Jan 30
—Approps minibus
—Fully funds SNAP
—Reverses Trump’s shutdown RIFs
—Promise of Senate vote on ACA subsidies by Dec second week (details/outcome uncertain)
—Led by King/Shaheen/Hassan
—CR through Jan 30
—Approps minibus
—Fully funds SNAP
—Reverses Trump’s shutdown RIFs
—Promise of Senate vote on ACA subsidies by Dec second week (details/outcome uncertain)
—Led by King/Shaheen/Hassan
November 10, 2025 at 1:24 AM
Yeah, I'm sorry, but you do not keep the government shut for more than a month and then NOT get a deal on the main item you have been messaging on without completely shifting the blame dynamic.