Robin Kaiser-Schatzlein
@robinks.com
Freelance journalist (NYT, Baffler, etc) / Writing a book about the American workplace for Harper Books / organizer with National Writers Union / Newsletter of updates: http://bit.ly/2YtKtND / robinks.com / Signal: robks.77
Pinned
Robin Kaiser-Schatzlein
@robinks.com
· Dec 10
This was announce May 2023, but for all my new followers on Blue Sky, here's the announcement for my forthcoming book "Tyranny at Work" from Harper. It's about the authoritarianism of the workplace, and by extension, American society. Very excited to eventually share it with you all!
Reposted by Robin Kaiser-Schatzlein
Signed
Conde Nast illegally fired union leaders, sign this petition demanding they reverse course. I did. actionnetwork.org/petitions/te...
Tell Condé bosses to reinstate the Fired Four, reverse the suspensions and end the union-busting
On Nov. 5, 2025 in an egregious attempt at union-busting, Condé Nast management illegally terminated four union members – Alma Avalle, Jake Lahut, Jasper Lo and Ben Dewey – for participating in federa...
actionnetwork.org
November 11, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Signed
Reposted by Robin Kaiser-Schatzlein
On Wednesday, Conde Nast management illegally fired four union leaders. While our union fights these illegal dismissals, the “Fired Four” have been left with no severance or COBRA coverage. Please donate to help cover their living expenses at the link below.
Donate to Support the Fired Four: Alma, Ben, Jake, Jasper, organized by Louryn Strampe
On November 5, 2025, Conde Nast management illegally fired four union l… Louryn Strampe needs your support for Support the Fired Four: Alma, Ben, Jake, Jasper
www.gofundme.com
November 10, 2025 at 11:36 PM
On Wednesday, Conde Nast management illegally fired four union leaders. While our union fights these illegal dismissals, the “Fired Four” have been left with no severance or COBRA coverage. Please donate to help cover their living expenses at the link below.
Conde Nast illegally fired union leaders, sign this petition demanding they reverse course. I did. actionnetwork.org/petitions/te...
Tell Condé bosses to reinstate the Fired Four, reverse the suspensions and end the union-busting
On Nov. 5, 2025 in an egregious attempt at union-busting, Condé Nast management illegally terminated four union members – Alma Avalle, Jake Lahut, Jasper Lo and Ben Dewey – for participating in federa...
actionnetwork.org
November 11, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Conde Nast illegally fired union leaders, sign this petition demanding they reverse course. I did. actionnetwork.org/petitions/te...
Reposted by Robin Kaiser-Schatzlein
The Social Security Administration used to have an incredible communications arm, including even a film unit. This was crucial in helping people understand the program, and how it would work. From 1936, 1939.
www.ssa.gov/history/puba...
www.ssa.gov/history/puba...
November 6, 2025 at 2:13 PM
The Social Security Administration used to have an incredible communications arm, including even a film unit. This was crucial in helping people understand the program, and how it would work. From 1936, 1939.
www.ssa.gov/history/puba...
www.ssa.gov/history/puba...
Requesting a government backstop for wasteful do-nothing data centers while SNAP benefits hang in the balance? You have got to be fucking kidding me. These people are shameless
"As OpenAI ramps up its spending on data center capacity to unheard of levels, the company is hoping the federal government will support its efforts by helping to guarantee the financing for chips behind its deals, Friar said."
www.wsj.com/tech/ai/open...
www.wsj.com/tech/ai/open...
Exclusive | OpenAI Isn’t Yet Working Toward an IPO, CFO Says
Sarah Friar says the AI giant could reach break-even quickly and would like government backstop on data-center investments.
www.wsj.com
November 6, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Requesting a government backstop for wasteful do-nothing data centers while SNAP benefits hang in the balance? You have got to be fucking kidding me. These people are shameless
Reposted by Robin Kaiser-Schatzlein
Dissatisfaction with the status quo leads people understandably to project every candidate that makes them feel a little excited - AOC, Mamdani, Bernie, whatever - to run for a higher office but it’s worth remembering they might be best suited for the jobs they already have, which are important.
November 5, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Dissatisfaction with the status quo leads people understandably to project every candidate that makes them feel a little excited - AOC, Mamdani, Bernie, whatever - to run for a higher office but it’s worth remembering they might be best suited for the jobs they already have, which are important.
Reposted by Robin Kaiser-Schatzlein
Under Trump, the draconian future of homelessness policy is coming into focus: mass internment. Utah is building a 16-acre site to detain up to 1,300 homeless people inside locked "accountability centers." This is profoundly alarming.
Vital reporting from @ellenbarry.bsky.social and Jason DeParle:
Vital reporting from @ellenbarry.bsky.social and Jason DeParle:
In Utah, Trump’s Vision for Homelessness Begins to Take Shape
www.nytimes.com
October 29, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Under Trump, the draconian future of homelessness policy is coming into focus: mass internment. Utah is building a 16-acre site to detain up to 1,300 homeless people inside locked "accountability centers." This is profoundly alarming.
Vital reporting from @ellenbarry.bsky.social and Jason DeParle:
Vital reporting from @ellenbarry.bsky.social and Jason DeParle:
"The Times needs to discredit academic research because that research has reached an inconvenient consensus: the electoral benefits of moderation have largely disappeared."
data4democracy.substack.com/p/the-new-yo...
data4democracy.substack.com/p/the-new-yo...
The New York Times’ “Moderation Advantage” Is a Statistical Illusion
After accounting for money and incumbency the supposed electoral bonus for moderate candidates vanishes entirely.
data4democracy.substack.com
October 25, 2025 at 2:28 PM
"The Times needs to discredit academic research because that research has reached an inconvenient consensus: the electoral benefits of moderation have largely disappeared."
data4democracy.substack.com/p/the-new-yo...
data4democracy.substack.com/p/the-new-yo...
Reposted by Robin Kaiser-Schatzlein
The NYT editorial board told Democrats that they must discard populism be more “centrist” to win. Stanford’s @adambonica.bsky.social ran the data that the NYT used and shows that the entire premise is false.
The New York Times’ “Moderation Advantage” Is a Statistical Illusion
After accounting for money and incumbency the supposed electoral bonus for moderate candidates vanishes entirely.
open.substack.com
October 25, 2025 at 2:18 PM
The NYT editorial board told Democrats that they must discard populism be more “centrist” to win. Stanford’s @adambonica.bsky.social ran the data that the NYT used and shows that the entire premise is false.
Reposted by Robin Kaiser-Schatzlein
Millionaires are again threatening to flee NYC if Zohran Mamdani is elected, but progressives are calling their bluff. “It is sort of stunning how little people making over a million dollars a year migrate out of New York state.” From @robinks.com: trib.al/AVPxdDQ
The Myth That Mamdani Will Cause New York City’s Richest to Leave - The American Prospect
Millionaire tax flight would devastate a future Mamdani administration. If the rich leave, how could anything be financed? But research shows that wealthy individuals move at lower rates than others, even in response to higher personal income taxes.
trib.al
October 23, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Millionaires are again threatening to flee NYC if Zohran Mamdani is elected, but progressives are calling their bluff. “It is sort of stunning how little people making over a million dollars a year migrate out of New York state.” From @robinks.com: trib.al/AVPxdDQ
I do believe this explains a lot of chaos in Chicago, it's just a bunch of poorly vetted thugs doing whatever they want
NBC News finds that:
-- ICE has shortened its training from 13 weeks to six.
-- Nearly half of recruits couldn’t pass an open-book written exam.
-- Recruits "are supposed to attest" they can pass the physical-fitness test, which requires them to run ... 6 mph.
www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcn...
-- ICE has shortened its training from 13 weeks to six.
-- Nearly half of recruits couldn’t pass an open-book written exam.
-- Recruits "are supposed to attest" they can pass the physical-fitness test, which requires them to run ... 6 mph.
www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcn...
Some new ICE recruits have shown up to training without full vetting
The recruits have had criminal backgrounds or failed drug tests or were unable to meet physical or academic standards, raising concerns about the agency’s rush to hire immigration officers, sources to...
www.nbcnews.com
October 23, 2025 at 3:40 PM
I do believe this explains a lot of chaos in Chicago, it's just a bunch of poorly vetted thugs doing whatever they want
Reposted by Robin Kaiser-Schatzlein
Zohran Mamdani will be New York City's next mayor. Will that cause the wealthy to flee the city in droves? Recent history says absolutely not. In fact, the rich typically move less than any other income group. @robinks.com has the story:
prospect.org/2025/10/23/m...
prospect.org/2025/10/23/m...
The Myth That Mamdani Will Cause New York City’s Richest to Leave - The American Prospect
Millionaire tax flight would devastate a future Mamdani administration. If the rich leave, how could anything be financed? But research shows that wealthy individuals move at lower rates than others, ...
prospect.org
October 23, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Zohran Mamdani will be New York City's next mayor. Will that cause the wealthy to flee the city in droves? Recent history says absolutely not. In fact, the rich typically move less than any other income group. @robinks.com has the story:
prospect.org/2025/10/23/m...
prospect.org/2025/10/23/m...
The rich want us to think that they will leave New York City if taxes increase, but extensive research shows that opposite is true: the rich migrate less than any other income group.
I wrote about the myth of millionaire tax flight for
@prospect.org
prospect.org/2025/10/23/m...
I wrote about the myth of millionaire tax flight for
@prospect.org
prospect.org/2025/10/23/m...
The Myth That Mamdani Will Cause New York City’s Richest to Leave - The American Prospect
Millionaire tax flight would devastate a future Mamdani administration. If the rich leave, how could anything be financed? But research shows that wealthy individuals move at lower rates than others, ...
prospect.org
October 23, 2025 at 3:27 PM
The rich want us to think that they will leave New York City if taxes increase, but extensive research shows that opposite is true: the rich migrate less than any other income group.
I wrote about the myth of millionaire tax flight for
@prospect.org
prospect.org/2025/10/23/m...
I wrote about the myth of millionaire tax flight for
@prospect.org
prospect.org/2025/10/23/m...
Reposted by Robin Kaiser-Schatzlein
Add Cincinnati to the rapidly expanding list of cities where homeless students sleep in parking lots because their families can't afford a place to live.
www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2...
www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2...
October 22, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Add Cincinnati to the rapidly expanding list of cities where homeless students sleep in parking lots because their families can't afford a place to live.
www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2...
www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2...
Just for the record, Fetterman's red flag that people ignored in order to see him as a left wing populist was that he was a fucking insurance executive, not a fucked up Marine
October 22, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Just for the record, Fetterman's red flag that people ignored in order to see him as a left wing populist was that he was a fucking insurance executive, not a fucked up Marine
For New York Times Magazine, I wrote about the ethical complexity of one of the most irritating shows on television... SuperKitties.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/22/m...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/22/m...
The Villains on Pre-K TV Are Cuddly, Annoying and … Morally Interesting
www.nytimes.com
October 22, 2025 at 5:06 PM
For New York Times Magazine, I wrote about the ethical complexity of one of the most irritating shows on television... SuperKitties.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/22/m...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/22/m...
I think you can say that Platner has (at best) exhibited a history of really poor judgement, which makes him a bad candidate, without gloating, "See! He LOOKED like a reactionary because of his muscles!" The I-told-you-so tone about your arm-chair profiling is so pointless.
October 21, 2025 at 5:58 PM
I think you can say that Platner has (at best) exhibited a history of really poor judgement, which makes him a bad candidate, without gloating, "See! He LOOKED like a reactionary because of his muscles!" The I-told-you-so tone about your arm-chair profiling is so pointless.
This is really cool. I've known a lot of people who've struggled with union-disillusionment and just resorted to cynicism.
🚨TODAY (Tuesday, Oct. 21), 7 p.m. Eastern
There's still time to sign up! labornotes.org/events/2025/...
There's still time to sign up! labornotes.org/events/2025/...
October 21, 2025 at 3:41 PM
This is really cool. I've known a lot of people who've struggled with union-disillusionment and just resorted to cynicism.
Kamala Harris on MSNBC: "I always believed that if push came to shove, those titans of industry would be guardrails for our democracy, for the importance of sustaining democratic institutions."
The doomed, magical thinking of the ruling class: undemocratic actors would protect democracy.
The doomed, magical thinking of the ruling class: undemocratic actors would protect democracy.
October 21, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Kamala Harris on MSNBC: "I always believed that if push came to shove, those titans of industry would be guardrails for our democracy, for the importance of sustaining democratic institutions."
The doomed, magical thinking of the ruling class: undemocratic actors would protect democracy.
The doomed, magical thinking of the ruling class: undemocratic actors would protect democracy.
most police departments cannot find people to fill their ranks, what makes anyone think that ICE can?
Lecturing active soldiers about being too fat while dropping standards so low for the ICE deportation force that a third of their recruits can't handle the easiest PT test I've ever heard of www.theatlantic.com/politics/arc...
October 21, 2025 at 2:29 PM
most police departments cannot find people to fill their ranks, what makes anyone think that ICE can?
Stir in the resentment over NAFTA and I agree this explains a lot
IMO promising people hope & change & then bailing out bank donors as they foreclosed on 10 million families was the defining political moment that birthed this era & IMO liberals/Dems still refusing to reckon with this & discard the politics that led to it is part of why this descent persists.
🧵
🧵
October 21, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Stir in the resentment over NAFTA and I agree this explains a lot
Reposted by Robin Kaiser-Schatzlein
The most common form of argumentation online is getting outraged at straw-people in order to feel embattled and outraged and punch down. e.g. when anyone tweets an argument refuting what "the left" is saying, I do not take them seriously because they aren't talking about anything
unclear what criticism exactly the related thread is referring to
A lot of leftists will discount everything about the ACA because they view it as "dissipating" the energy for single-payer, just like they dismiss No Kings for being insufficiently radical. That requires them to ignore the tangible material benefits to tens of millions.
October 20, 2025 at 5:54 PM
The most common form of argumentation online is getting outraged at straw-people in order to feel embattled and outraged and punch down. e.g. when anyone tweets an argument refuting what "the left" is saying, I do not take them seriously because they aren't talking about anything
It is heartening to see how poorly things can go when cronies are put into positions of power
Last weekend, @annabower.bsky.social started to receive Signal messages from the U.S. attorney who is leading the prosecution of Letitia James.
Throughout the exchange, Lindsay Halligan complained about Bower’s tweets and reporting on the indictment–but never once asked to be off the record.
Throughout the exchange, Lindsay Halligan complained about Bower’s tweets and reporting on the indictment–but never once asked to be off the record.
“Anna, Lindsey Halligan Here.”
My Signal exchange with the interim U.S. attorney about the Letitia James grand jury.
www.lawfaremedia.org
October 21, 2025 at 12:18 AM
It is heartening to see how poorly things can go when cronies are put into positions of power
Really makes you wonder about the whole DNC big-brained strategy to drop the working class votes in favor of Republicans
EXCLUSIVE: Embattled Trump nominee Paul Ingrassia told Republicans that the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday should be “tossed into the seventh circle of hell” and that he has “a Nazi streak,” according to a group chat viewed by POLITICO.
Trump nominee says he has a ‘Nazi streak,’ bashes MLK Jr. Day, according to texts
Paul Ingrassia’s bid to lead a whistleblower agency is set for a Senate confirmation hearing Thursday.
www.politico.com
October 20, 2025 at 8:25 PM
Really makes you wonder about the whole DNC big-brained strategy to drop the working class votes in favor of Republicans