C.H. Romatowski
LightNews LightNews
banner
romatowski.bsky.social
C.H. Romatowski
@romatowski.bsky.social
5.9K followers 1.2K following 6.2K posts
Editor, translator, filmmaker. Recovering academic. Leftist. Perfumista. ME/CFS, MCAS, POTS. EN/FR. She/they. DMV. More some days than others.
Posts Replies Media Videos
romatowski.bsky.social
New WashPost food critic Elazar Sontag angling for the affections of DC readers.

I’m an easy mark; it struck me recently I have a real weakness for everyone who can see how much there is to love about DC.

wapo.st/3LTq2p9
my way across the country, I came to terms with the solitary nature of the work. Whether in New Orleans or Austin or Seattle, I was often the solo diner in a sea of two- and four-tops. So far, D.C. has been different. Wherever I go, I meet people who are proud of this region's restaurants and want to share in them. At Saint's Paradise Cafeteria, a popular longtime church cafeteria, a regular helped me perfect my order in the slow-moving line, then joined me for a lunch of fried whiting and candied yams. At Reveler's Hour, two neighboring diners leaned over to describe how the Adams Morgan restaurant's burger nights got them through the pandemic. Homegrown stars and newcomers alike are fueling a food scene that feels distinct, generous and so alive.
November 10, 2025 at 11:46 PM
romatowski.bsky.social
Completely. I take pics of the flowerbeds outside mine every time I go.
Closeup of a yellow pansy in mulch
November 10, 2025 at 9:54 PM
romatowski.bsky.social
👀 Interesting comment, considering the source.
November 10, 2025 at 5:46 AM
romatowski.bsky.social
On the multiplier effect of @socialists.nyc & allies’ electoral campaigns and the monster roster they’re bringing into 2026.

Really one for the @olufemiotaiwo.bsky.social files: I do not regret to inform you that we are going to win.

(w/alt text, this deserves reach!)
A selfie of Daniel gesturing toward a suitcase of clipboards. A young Zohran is standing next to him. Screenshot of an Instagram caption from @escargotpro This photo from 2019 when me Zohran and Taube were setting up a bunch of suitcases full of clipboards for a big Tiffany Caban canvass. That campaign had about 5000 volunteers & 30-40 leaders. You'll note that one very obviously is now the mayor of new york city (elect). Another is now State Senator Kristen Gonzalez, another was Kristen's campaign manager Steph Caballero. Another is now state assembly person Claire Valdez. Others were the folks who launched DREAM & the Sarahana campaign. Still others are leaders in DRUM today. Zohran 4 Mayor had 100000 volunteers & like 1000 leaders - insane to think about how much all of them are going to take over New York now.
November 8, 2025 at 9:54 PM
romatowski.bsky.social
This bit is even kind of exciting
The Harvard Crimson Ganz, whose role as a consultant was first reported by The New York Times, was first brought onto the team by field organizer Tascha Van Auken, also an Obama alum. Over the course of the campaign, Ganz ran training for Mamdani staffers. "The deep investment that they made in leadership development — nobody's done that since the Obama campaign," Ganz said.
November 8, 2025 at 9:00 PM
romatowski.bsky.social
Wrt NoVa, the deep blue exurban shift has me thinking about @prisonculture.bsky.social’s remark about how easily demagogued USians are. There was only room for Loudoun, Prince William, etc to shift so far left because of how far right they’d swung the year before. That susceptibility is worrying.
Map of DC metro area. Shift in margin from 2020 to 2024 Blue arrows are more Dem, red arrows are more Republican. The map has no blue arrows, and a bunch of large red arrows coming from the Virginia suburbs (and scattered other places). By The New York Times
November 5, 2025 at 11:32 PM
romatowski.bsky.social
A few examples of why I am so hyped about @controller.lacity.gov’s work.
A teal and white billboard has a Corgi in sunglasses. Text reads: DID YOU KNOW? ~40% OF CANNABIS BUSINESS TAXES GO TO LAPD kenneth mejia VOTE JUNE 7TH FOR LA CITY CONTROLLER White billboard with a teal chart. CITY OF LA BUDGET PRIORITIES YOUTH DEVELOPMENT - tiny sliver HOUSING - about a fifth of a billion dollars POLICE - $3 billion Vote Kenneth Mejia, CPA Nov 8th for LA City Controller White billboard with a teal chart Is Mayor Garcetti's Budget Good For You? MejiaForController.com Homeless - just under $1 billion Housing - maybe a fifth of a billion dollars Police - $3 billion kenneth mejia teal and blue logo
November 5, 2025 at 7:54 AM
romatowski.bsky.social
While we’re going full-bore election nerd—

Want to flag that if you give $50 to the brilliant Kenneth Mejia’s reelection campaign for LA controller, not only do you get a free Corgi sweater, but also a personal email from Kenneth to thank you and get it to you??

www.mejiaforcontroller.com
Re: Donation from Catherine Romatowski of $50 (New Donor) Hi Catherine!! Thank you for donating to my re-election campaign for Controller! Would you like a free Mejia Corgi Pullover Sweater as seen in the image below? If so, please let us know what size you wear in unisex sizes. (A photo of a Corgi and a human; the human is wearing a white sweater that says Kenneth Mejia for city controller and has a picture of a Corgi wearing sunglasses) Thank you so much!! Kenneth Bigger version of the photo in the email
November 5, 2025 at 7:44 AM
romatowski.bsky.social
“In fact this is already happening.”
Tweet from Rafael Shimunov @rafaelshimunov One day in our lifetimes, fascists across the world will wake up and peer through their windows at a society that's moved completely beyond them and shrivel back up in bed and die to the sound of dancing singing fucking playing and building. In fact this is already happening 9:34 PM • 3/5/23 from Earth • 2,601 Views
November 5, 2025 at 4:53 AM
romatowski.bsky.social
The New York Times concedes.
New York City Mayoral Election Results WINNER Zohran Mamdani, a Democrat, wins the New York City mayoral race. Race called by The Associated Press. Latest results from 2m ago Candidate Zohran Mamdani Dem. 860,327 (50.4%) Andrew M. Cuomo Ind. 704,866 (41.3%) Curtis Sliwa Rep. 128,400 (7.5%) Total reported 75% OF VOTES IN
November 5, 2025 at 2:41 AM
romatowski.bsky.social
Well that’s not ideal lol
Page Not Found We were unable to find an election for the URL you provided
November 5, 2025 at 12:34 AM
romatowski.bsky.social
I had less than zero interest in this person until Naomi Klein’s superlative Doppelganger persuaded me she could be instructive by negative example—but really, holy moly WHAT is she talking about???
Tweet from Dr. Naomi Wolf. 8 NYT Bes... Follow ... @naomirwolf @LindseyBoylan respectfully if you are working for the Mamdani campaign, you need to disclose that fact and identify any footage or posts you make as contracted, as sponsored by the campaign. If you are just very enthusiastic about this guy with no resume and the worst attendance of any assembly member, of course, that's not necessary.
November 4, 2025 at 11:44 PM
romatowski.bsky.social
The miracle of Reach has me in real election sicko mode. Woke up this morning hoping @janeese4dc.bsky.social runs for mayor so we get to see what @mdcdsa.org can do with Reach city-wide lol

(…among so many reasons ofc!!)
Tweet from Daniel Catholics 4 Zohran @escargotpro_ Oct 31 Not canvassers, not phonebankers here just users of the "Zohran Reach App" who convince people already in their lives like cousins or neighbors to vote for Zohran - this app has almost 2000 users lol no one would ever do this for Cuomo - this is Beautiful Top 100 Leaderboard Elizabeth 792 Alvaro 51 Miranda 493 You 309 Miriam 271 Maria 266 Mohammed 230
November 1, 2025 at 9:55 PM
romatowski.bsky.social
I’m not so confident he’s not bringing him to the center. Here, for example, is messaging I received this week *to solicit me as a volunteer* :/
I think it's an opportunity - I could tell them things that I will and won't do. I will freeze the rent. I won't defund the police. I will make buses fast and free. I won't decriminalize misdemeanors.
November 1, 2025 at 8:05 PM
romatowski.bsky.social
Today in listen to organizers, not pundits
Two tweets from Daniel Catholics 4 Zohran First tweet reads: No one is operating on My Level It has a screenshot of a tweet from Zachary Donnini A massive turnout Halloween for Mamdani's base. Dem Voters Under 40 by day: 10/25 General EV: 28.0% 10/26 General EV: 32.5% 10/27 General EV: 27.6% 10/28 General EV: 33.3% 10/29 General EV: 35.6% 10/30 General EV: 37.9% 10/31 General EV: 46.6% (a hand drawn arrow points to this number 5:27 PM • 31 Oct 25 • 149 Views Below is a quoted tweet from Daniel on Oct 29 0 NYC political pundits talking about how many young people are planning to vote on Friday because you get a Halloween themed "I Voted" sticker
November 1, 2025 at 7:06 PM
romatowski.bsky.social
Best campaign + grassroots merch in my recollection. Go get that swag NYC.
Low-lit selfie of me in a Hot Girls for Zohran t-shirt
November 1, 2025 at 12:43 AM
romatowski.bsky.social
German word for the digital age mortification of an ad tracker absolutely having your number
diptyque Facebook ad Sponsored Discover the new Citrouille (Pumpkin) candle, embodying the season's ambiance of golden warmth, spiced as a pie, softened with vanilla. Photo shows lit diptyque candles amidst about a dozen pumpkins in different sizes. www.diptyqueparis.com Autumn, Embodied
October 30, 2025 at 10:44 PM
romatowski.bsky.social
Really appreciate seeing a politician say the a word. Especially a man.

#VAPOL
Facebook post from Jay Jones • 10h As Attorney General, I'll do everything I can to protect a woman's right to an abortion, because the decision belongs to her - not the government.
October 26, 2025 at 5:05 AM
romatowski.bsky.social
@rafaelshimunov.bsky.social has me a smidge worried about this honestly
Tweet from Rafael Shimunov @rafaelshimunov I don't agree much with @CurtisSliwa but everywhere I go people are talking about him. Every day people I would never expect. Something in my gut makes me worry about an upset, and his victory. He's just wildly popular and polls aren't good at measuring wildcards. 10:07 PM • Oct 7, 2025 • 2,028 Views
October 20, 2025 at 10:18 PM
romatowski.bsky.social
Lfg!!
Tweet from Meagan Flynn @Meagan_Flynn Spoke to @Janeese4DC this afternoon and she confirms she is considering running for mayor. 4:43 PM • Oct 10, 2025 • 13.1K Views
October 10, 2025 at 11:04 PM
romatowski.bsky.social
I hate to betray the war on cars but I do have a weakness for the old Benz W123s. In high school my best friend totaled one that was prob already 20 years old, but beautifully preserved, and the older I get the more I regret the loss.
Maroon Mercedes Benz W123 sedan from circa 1980
October 4, 2025 at 10:06 PM
romatowski.bsky.social
Thinking of Greta.

From Naomi Klein’s Doppelganger:
Then she spoke a lot, to all kinds of audiences, and you could tell by the care she put into those speeches that a part of her believed they might yield action. What was interesting about the version of Greta that showed up in Glasgow is that she had clearly lost that earlier faith-lost faith in the spectacle of herself giving speeches to shame leaders for doing nothing. So she started making speeches that were less about climate change and more about the absurdity of the whole charade. "Build back better. Blah, blah, blah. Green economy. Blah, blah, blah. Net zero by 2050. Blah, blah, blah," she said in the run-up to the summit. "This is all we hear from our so-called leaders. Words, words that sound great but so far has led to no action. Our hopes and dreams drown in their empty words and promises." Asked by the BBC two days later what she thought of the final agreement to come out of Glasgow, Greta replied, "They even succeeded in watering down the blah, blah, blah, which is quite an achievement." This is far more scathing than what Greta used to do at such esteemed gatherings. She used to scold. She used to plead. She used to cry. And though she was harsh to the leaders listening to her, her words still implied a kind of faith in them. But it would seem that Greta no longer believes in that theory of change. She has come to the place at which so many of us have arrived: the realization that no one is coming to save us but us, and whatever action we can leverage through our cooperation, organization, and solidarities.
October 4, 2025 at 3:35 AM
romatowski.bsky.social
Taco Bamba is doing a free taco for federal employees
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES BUY ONE, GET ONE FREE TACO During the federal government shutdown, enjoy one free taco with the purchase of any taco when you show a valid federal ID. Orders must be placed in person for dine-in or carryout. Free taco must be of equal or lesser value. Limit one free taco per guest per visit. Photo of four tacos with some lime wedges and salsas.
October 2, 2025 at 12:58 AM
romatowski.bsky.social
Oh that is quite an acquisition—a rival to the time @tricialockwood.bsky.social inscribed a copy of Priestdaddy for me by illustrating the line:

“She is enjoying herself with all the immensity of a recently inseminated elephant.”
Photo of the title page of Priestdaddy with a line drawing of an elephant (viewed from behind) as it is inseminated by turkey baster.
October 1, 2025 at 12:19 AM
romatowski.bsky.social
I’m three days in but it’s worth it
Level 26 Parallel Parking A computer illustration of four cars parked along a street and a fifth driving past them.
September 24, 2025 at 6:36 AM