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
The coordinated nature of this—none are facing voters in 2026—means that either Schumer approved it or failed in his job as Senate Majority Leader to stop it.
Dems voting "no" get zero credit until they demand a change in leadership. Schumer out as Leader, Durbin out as Whip.
Dems voting "no" get zero credit until they demand a change in leadership. Schumer out as Leader, Durbin out as Whip.
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 2:43 AM
The coordinated nature of this—none are facing voters in 2026—means that either Schumer approved it or failed in his job as Senate Majority Leader to stop it.
Dems voting "no" get zero credit until they demand a change in leadership. Schumer out as Leader, Durbin out as Whip.
Dems voting "no" get zero credit until they demand a change in leadership. Schumer out as Leader, Durbin out as Whip.
Fire the generals.
November 10, 2025 at 4:38 AM
Fire the generals.
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...
Folks, it's officially a revolution
November 5, 2025 at 9:35 PM
Folks, it's officially a revolution
"Yes, Spanberger won by 15+ points but that's nothing compared to Youngkin's <2% squeaker because woke."
November 5, 2025 at 6:19 PM
"Yes, Spanberger won by 15+ points but that's nothing compared to Youngkin's <2% squeaker because woke."
Reposted by Ben Raderstorf
I hope Nithya Raman ( @cd4losangeles.bsky.social ) saw a young progressive with a smart housing policy vision win in NYC last night and decides this week that maybe Los Angeles has suffered under the deadwood of its decrepit, geriatric Democratic Party for too long as well.
November 5, 2025 at 4:22 PM
I hope Nithya Raman ( @cd4losangeles.bsky.social ) saw a young progressive with a smart housing policy vision win in NYC last night and decides this week that maybe Los Angeles has suffered under the deadwood of its decrepit, geriatric Democratic Party for too long as well.
Reposted by Ben Raderstorf
serious note: they're gonna try 5x harder to sabotage the midterms after tonight and we're gonna have to organize on a literally historic scale to stop them
really obvious now why trump and the republican party have been working so hard to prevent fair elections lol they know
November 5, 2025 at 4:41 AM
serious note: they're gonna try 5x harder to sabotage the midterms after tonight and we're gonna have to organize on a literally historic scale to stop them
Reposted by Ben Raderstorf
time for a lil upzone friends
November 5, 2025 at 4:06 AM
time for a lil upzone friends
Reposted by Ben Raderstorf
Obviously not the biggest news of the night but all the pro-housing charter amendments are cruising despite the Council Speaker running a scorched earth campaign against them
November 5, 2025 at 5:19 AM
Obviously not the biggest news of the night but all the pro-housing charter amendments are cruising despite the Council Speaker running a scorched earth campaign against them
Reposted by Ben Raderstorf
Some very early results show Maine’s Question 1, a Republican measure to restrict mail voting and require voter ID, running well behind Trump in 2024, when he lost Maine by 7.
For example… Newry was Harris +11, but opposed Q1 +30. Dixmont was Trump +28, but supported Q1 only +7.
For example… Newry was Harris +11, but opposed Q1 +30. Dixmont was Trump +28, but supported Q1 only +7.
November 5, 2025 at 1:25 AM
Some very early results show Maine’s Question 1, a Republican measure to restrict mail voting and require voter ID, running well behind Trump in 2024, when he lost Maine by 7.
For example… Newry was Harris +11, but opposed Q1 +30. Dixmont was Trump +28, but supported Q1 only +7.
For example… Newry was Harris +11, but opposed Q1 +30. Dixmont was Trump +28, but supported Q1 only +7.
Reposted by Ben Raderstorf
Bluesky might hate hearing this but both Spanberger and Sherrill talked about trans rights precisely as Sarah McBride said they should
And they both preserved their policies while just changing their rhetoric
And now are trouncing Republicans
🤷🏻♀️
And they both preserved their policies while just changing their rhetoric
And now are trouncing Republicans
🤷🏻♀️
November 5, 2025 at 1:35 AM
Bluesky might hate hearing this but both Spanberger and Sherrill talked about trans rights precisely as Sarah McBride said they should
And they both preserved their policies while just changing their rhetoric
And now are trouncing Republicans
🤷🏻♀️
And they both preserved their policies while just changing their rhetoric
And now are trouncing Republicans
🤷🏻♀️
Spanberger is on track to win by 12-15 points, which would be the largest win by a Democrat in Virginia since 1961 (which is to say, since racial partisan realignment).
November 5, 2025 at 1:12 AM
Spanberger is on track to win by 12-15 points, which would be the largest win by a Democrat in Virginia since 1961 (which is to say, since racial partisan realignment).
Reposted by Ben Raderstorf
BREAKING: @padilla.senate.gov will *not* run for California governor in 2026.
November 4, 2025 at 8:17 PM
BREAKING: @padilla.senate.gov will *not* run for California governor in 2026.
Grocery prices keep going up! It’s bad!
In order to deal with this food affordability crisis, many cities have created an “affordable groceries fee” that will be added to all future food sales. Revenues from the fee will be used to subsidize groceries for people with low incomes.
In order to deal with this food affordability crisis, many cities have created an “affordable groceries fee” that will be added to all future food sales. Revenues from the fee will be used to subsidize groceries for people with low incomes.
November 4, 2025 at 6:52 AM
Grocery prices keep going up! It’s bad!
In order to deal with this food affordability crisis, many cities have created an “affordable groceries fee” that will be added to all future food sales. Revenues from the fee will be used to subsidize groceries for people with low incomes.
In order to deal with this food affordability crisis, many cities have created an “affordable groceries fee” that will be added to all future food sales. Revenues from the fee will be used to subsidize groceries for people with low incomes.
Reposted by Ben Raderstorf
To sum up: it's almost impossible to convey just how made-up and unserious the Administration's legal rationales are for the extrajudicial killings it is conducting in the Caribbean. Now it's blowing off the War Powers Resolution requirements as well. [Andrew McCarthy] /2, end
November 3, 2025 at 11:12 PM
To sum up: it's almost impossible to convey just how made-up and unserious the Administration's legal rationales are for the extrajudicial killings it is conducting in the Caribbean. Now it's blowing off the War Powers Resolution requirements as well. [Andrew McCarthy] /2, end