Polly Cerkvenik
@pollycerk.bsky.social
Minnesotan. Democrat. Loyola Chicago Women’s Basketball Fan.
Any of her staff would have run through a wall for Speaker Hortman. In this terrible time after a terrible session and a terrible election, I appreciate how this article tries capture her in all of her imperfect human glory. She was respected and revered. It is still impossible that she is gone.
I met Melissa Hortman in October of 2024. She was smart and kind. I heard about her murder in a LA hotel room and it dropped me to my knees. So I went to Minnesota and talked to her kids, parents, and friends. This is not true crime, this is Melissa in real life. www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...
Melissa Hortman Died in a Shocking Act of Political Violence. This Is the Story of Her Life
Melissa Hortman died in a shocking act of political violence. This is her story
www.rollingstone.com
December 18, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Any of her staff would have run through a wall for Speaker Hortman. In this terrible time after a terrible session and a terrible election, I appreciate how this article tries capture her in all of her imperfect human glory. She was respected and revered. It is still impossible that she is gone.
Reposted by Polly Cerkvenik
The older I get, the more my politics mature from childish, naïve beliefs like "the world is complicated and leaders have to make hard decisions" to more serious, adult principles like "hurting people is bad and helping people is good."
December 15, 2025 at 4:51 PM
The older I get, the more my politics mature from childish, naïve beliefs like "the world is complicated and leaders have to make hard decisions" to more serious, adult principles like "hurting people is bad and helping people is good."
Reposted by Polly Cerkvenik
Most of this varsity boys team hails from immigrant families. This season, they learned to live and play as a team against the backdrop of a nationwide immigration crackdown.
In Willmar, a soccer field becomes a refuge from heated immigration debate
Most of this varsity boys team hails from immigrant families. This season, they learned to live and play as a team against the backdrop of a nationwide immigration crackdown.
bit.ly
November 3, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Most of this varsity boys team hails from immigrant families. This season, they learned to live and play as a team against the backdrop of a nationwide immigration crackdown.
Reposted by Polly Cerkvenik
Rest in peace to Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, the beloved chaplain of the Loyola Chicago Ramblers men’s basketball team, who has passed away at the age of 106.
October 10, 2025 at 4:25 AM
Rest in peace to Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, the beloved chaplain of the Loyola Chicago Ramblers men’s basketball team, who has passed away at the age of 106.
Reposted by Polly Cerkvenik
Set aside Sen. Mike Lee's storm of lies and incitement here. Lee literally made jokes on Twitter about the fmr Speaker of the Minnesota state house being murdered in her home by a right wing extremist. Hard to imagine any more twisted and malicious person in public life.
September 13, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Set aside Sen. Mike Lee's storm of lies and incitement here. Lee literally made jokes on Twitter about the fmr Speaker of the Minnesota state house being murdered in her home by a right wing extremist. Hard to imagine any more twisted and malicious person in public life.
Reposted by Polly Cerkvenik
“awful people don’t deserve to be killed, but they don’t deserve to be praised, either” is apparently a thought too complex for the pundit mind
September 11, 2025 at 1:47 PM
“awful people don’t deserve to be killed, but they don’t deserve to be praised, either” is apparently a thought too complex for the pundit mind
Reposted by Polly Cerkvenik
This is a remarkable, beautifully written story from @peterbaugh.bsky.social.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/657...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/657...
For the Gaudreau family, a year of incomprehensible grief — and immeasurable strength
NHL star John Gaudreau and his brother, Matty, died on Aug. 29, 2024, after being struck by an alleged drunk driver while riding bicycles.
www.nytimes.com
August 26, 2025 at 5:52 PM
This is a remarkable, beautifully written story from @peterbaugh.bsky.social.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/657...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/657...
Reposted by Polly Cerkvenik
A top staffer to Sen. Tina Smith emailed Sen. Mike Lee’s top staffers on Monday about “how much additional pain you’ve caused on an unspeakably horrific weekend”
Full emails below
Full emails below
June 16, 2025 at 10:44 PM
A top staffer to Sen. Tina Smith emailed Sen. Mike Lee’s top staffers on Monday about “how much additional pain you’ve caused on an unspeakably horrific weekend”
Full emails below
Full emails below
Reposted by Polly Cerkvenik
I am happy to announce that I’m now offering freelance #CopyEditing and #SensitivityReading services! I have several years of experience in copy editing, and my sensitivity reading is from an #ActuallyAutistic perspective.
linneapeterson.com/editing/
#WritingCommunity #BookSky #AmEditing
linneapeterson.com/editing/
#WritingCommunity #BookSky #AmEditing
June 16, 2025 at 9:00 PM
I am happy to announce that I’m now offering freelance #CopyEditing and #SensitivityReading services! I have several years of experience in copy editing, and my sensitivity reading is from an #ActuallyAutistic perspective.
linneapeterson.com/editing/
#WritingCommunity #BookSky #AmEditing
linneapeterson.com/editing/
#WritingCommunity #BookSky #AmEditing
Reposted by Polly Cerkvenik
The most consequential Speaker in state history.
June 15, 2025 at 1:24 PM
The most consequential Speaker in state history.
Reposted by Polly Cerkvenik
It should not be lost on anyone that Minnesota Rep Melissa Hortman, who was shot to death in her home last night by an assassin, was a gun safety advocate who worked tirelessly to protect her constituents from gun violence.
June 14, 2025 at 4:18 PM
It should not be lost on anyone that Minnesota Rep Melissa Hortman, who was shot to death in her home last night by an assassin, was a gun safety advocate who worked tirelessly to protect her constituents from gun violence.
Reposted by Polly Cerkvenik
Melissa Hortman, who was assassinated last night, was the Speaker of the Minnesota House in the 2023-2024 session, when Democrats ran the state government.
That means she had a leading role in shepherding the many landmark reforms that Dems adopted in that period—an important legacy. Brief 🧵.
That means she had a leading role in shepherding the many landmark reforms that Dems adopted in that period—an important legacy. Brief 🧵.
June 14, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Melissa Hortman, who was assassinated last night, was the Speaker of the Minnesota House in the 2023-2024 session, when Democrats ran the state government.
That means she had a leading role in shepherding the many landmark reforms that Dems adopted in that period—an important legacy. Brief 🧵.
That means she had a leading role in shepherding the many landmark reforms that Dems adopted in that period—an important legacy. Brief 🧵.
Reposted by Polly Cerkvenik
Quick reminder to the armchair analysists out there speculating over little #mnlege floor charts: Knock it off, you absolute goblins.
The legislative year just ended. A seat is the least important thing Minnesota lost to a bullet today.
The legislative year just ended. A seat is the least important thing Minnesota lost to a bullet today.
June 14, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Quick reminder to the armchair analysists out there speculating over little #mnlege floor charts: Knock it off, you absolute goblins.
The legislative year just ended. A seat is the least important thing Minnesota lost to a bullet today.
The legislative year just ended. A seat is the least important thing Minnesota lost to a bullet today.
Reposted by Polly Cerkvenik
I am heartbroken beyond words that Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark have died in a violent and politically motivated shooting. Melissa was an exceptional public servant. She was smart and funny and so dedicated to making Minnesota work better for all of us.
June 14, 2025 at 3:53 PM
I am heartbroken beyond words that Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark have died in a violent and politically motivated shooting. Melissa was an exceptional public servant. She was smart and funny and so dedicated to making Minnesota work better for all of us.
Reposted by Polly Cerkvenik
We simply had to intentionally destroy the world’s strongest economy while dismantling our scientific and educational infrastructure to ensure that a team with a trans girl would never finish second place in the Mountain West volleyball standings again
April 2, 2025 at 10:30 PM
We simply had to intentionally destroy the world’s strongest economy while dismantling our scientific and educational infrastructure to ensure that a team with a trans girl would never finish second place in the Mountain West volleyball standings again
Reposted by Polly Cerkvenik
Of the Chiefs of Staff, vice chiefs of staff, and judge advocates general of the three branches, Trump fired all the women and Black people.
In an unprecedented purge of the military’s senior leadership, President Donald Trump fired the top US general just moments before his defense secretary fired the chief of the US Navy and the vice chief of the Air Force.
Trump administration fires top US general and Navy chief in unprecedented purge of military leadership | CNN Politics
In an unprecedented purge of the military’s senior leadership Friday night, President Donald Trump fired the top US general just moments before his defense secretary fired the chief of the US Navy and...
www.cnn.com
February 22, 2025 at 2:57 AM
Of the Chiefs of Staff, vice chiefs of staff, and judge advocates general of the three branches, Trump fired all the women and Black people.
Reposted by Polly Cerkvenik
This is a good time to remind everyone that this administration hasn't done anything for anyone. It has literally only taken away things we've already paid for and fired and sued people. Oh and the quid pro quo with Adams. That's the extent of what they have done. Kinda nuts.
Trump on the EU possibly banning food imports from the US: "I don't mind. Let them do it. Let them do it."
February 16, 2025 at 10:42 PM
This is a good time to remind everyone that this administration hasn't done anything for anyone. It has literally only taken away things we've already paid for and fired and sued people. Oh and the quid pro quo with Adams. That's the extent of what they have done. Kinda nuts.
Reposted by Polly Cerkvenik
The United States Military Academy has just eliminated all Cadet clubs and activities for POC. Most of these have existed for decades like the Society of Black Engineers. They were there when I was a Cadet in 1987. All of the religious ones remain. This isn’t DEI. It’s white Christian Nationalism.
February 5, 2025 at 2:27 PM
The United States Military Academy has just eliminated all Cadet clubs and activities for POC. Most of these have existed for decades like the Society of Black Engineers. They were there when I was a Cadet in 1987. All of the religious ones remain. This isn’t DEI. It’s white Christian Nationalism.
Reposted by Polly Cerkvenik
In the space of half a day, the new administration has trashed the Constitution, subverted the independence of the DOJ, granted a broad amnesty to traitors, abandoned the global community on climate and public health, and launched a wide-ranging attack on minority rights.
January 21, 2025 at 2:45 AM
In the space of half a day, the new administration has trashed the Constitution, subverted the independence of the DOJ, granted a broad amnesty to traitors, abandoned the global community on climate and public health, and launched a wide-ranging attack on minority rights.
Reposted by Polly Cerkvenik
Minnesota lost a fierce fighter for the North Country with the passing of Mary Murphy.
Mary was the longest serving woman in the MN legislature, serving for 46 years. I counted her a friend & advisor for many years, with her strong opinions, curly white hair and tomato red coat.
We will miss her.
Mary was the longest serving woman in the MN legislature, serving for 46 years. I counted her a friend & advisor for many years, with her strong opinions, curly white hair and tomato red coat.
We will miss her.
December 26, 2024 at 4:38 PM
Minnesota lost a fierce fighter for the North Country with the passing of Mary Murphy.
Mary was the longest serving woman in the MN legislature, serving for 46 years. I counted her a friend & advisor for many years, with her strong opinions, curly white hair and tomato red coat.
We will miss her.
Mary was the longest serving woman in the MN legislature, serving for 46 years. I counted her a friend & advisor for many years, with her strong opinions, curly white hair and tomato red coat.
We will miss her.
Reposted by Polly Cerkvenik
Reposted by Polly Cerkvenik
Reposted by Polly Cerkvenik
NYT Games and Cooking are BEHIND THE PICKET LINE. Please don’t play or engage with Games or Cooking content while the strike lasts!
News coverage — including election coverage — is NOT behind the picket line. It’s okay to read and share that, though the site and app may very well have problems.
News coverage — including election coverage — is NOT behind the picket line. It’s okay to read and share that, though the site and app may very well have problems.
November 4, 2024 at 12:41 PM
NYT Games and Cooking are BEHIND THE PICKET LINE. Please don’t play or engage with Games or Cooking content while the strike lasts!
News coverage — including election coverage — is NOT behind the picket line. It’s okay to read and share that, though the site and app may very well have problems.
News coverage — including election coverage — is NOT behind the picket line. It’s okay to read and share that, though the site and app may very well have problems.