Ruthie Epstein
@ruthie-epstein.bsky.social
Alum: Community Change, ACLU, Human Rights First, david neumann/advanced beginner group. Nashville born & bred. Excellent stick-shift driver. She/her. This is my personal account.
The Joyce Theater to Receive $15 Million Gift www.nytimes.com/2025/11/04/a...
The Joyce Theater to Receive $15 Million Gift
www.nytimes.com
November 9, 2025 at 9:56 PM
The Joyce Theater to Receive $15 Million Gift www.nytimes.com/2025/11/04/a...
Reposted by Ruthie Epstein
Among many other takeaways: Spanberger will now inherit the power to decide whether Virginians returning from prison should have their voting rights restored. Youngkin has bucked his predecessors by using this power to deny voting rights to many thousands of people.
RESULT: Abigail Spanberger has been elected governor of Virginia, the AP has just called.
Her win flips this office for Democrats.
Virginia’s other statewide elections, for lieutenant governor and attorney general, have not yet been called at this time.
Her win flips this office for Democrats.
Virginia’s other statewide elections, for lieutenant governor and attorney general, have not yet been called at this time.
November 5, 2025 at 1:06 AM
Among many other takeaways: Spanberger will now inherit the power to decide whether Virginians returning from prison should have their voting rights restored. Youngkin has bucked his predecessors by using this power to deny voting rights to many thousands of people.
Reposted by Ruthie Epstein
This morning I ran the NYC Gaza 5K in Prospect Park for the third time, alongside the Harlem Run Club, to raise money for @unrwausa.bsky.social, which delivers critical humanitarian aid and services to Palestinians in Gaza.
I hope you'll join me in donating: unrwausa.org
I hope you'll join me in donating: unrwausa.org
October 13, 2025 at 12:04 AM
This morning I ran the NYC Gaza 5K in Prospect Park for the third time, alongside the Harlem Run Club, to raise money for @unrwausa.bsky.social, which delivers critical humanitarian aid and services to Palestinians in Gaza.
I hope you'll join me in donating: unrwausa.org
I hope you'll join me in donating: unrwausa.org
Tennessee Greenlit Elon Musk’s Tunnel for Teslas in Nashville Before Public Notice, Vote nashvillebanner.com/2025/08/01/e...
nashvillebanner.com
August 4, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Tennessee Greenlit Elon Musk’s Tunnel for Teslas in Nashville Before Public Notice, Vote nashvillebanner.com/2025/08/01/e...
Reposted by Ruthie Epstein
How a radio show born at a small college station in DC and dedicated to smooth, romantic love songs transformed black radio and reshaped love lives across the country.
The Quiet Storm
99% Invisible Presents: A Quiet Storm Party w/ DJ Ayanna Heaven Join us for an in-person 99PI event celebrating Quiet Storm. There will be drink specials, show swag, and dope music. When: Sunday, July 27th, 5-8 p.m. Where: Ace Hotel- Downtown Brooklyn, NY In the mid-1970s, the national media was reporting on the rise of a new socioeconomic group that was quickly gaining unprecedented access to jobs, education, backyard swimming pools - the good life.
99percentinvisible.org
July 22, 2025 at 6:05 PM
How a radio show born at a small college station in DC and dedicated to smooth, romantic love songs transformed black radio and reshaped love lives across the country.
Reposted by Ruthie Epstein
This is correct and it's why public opinion doesn't actually do anything on its own. It has to be mobilized. You have to DO politics.
My sense of things has always been that most people do not have strong, deeply felt opinions on a lot of policy issues, and so their opinions can change fairly quickly depending on what’s in the news.
Why do people's opinions on a single issue change with the direction of the wind?
July 11, 2025 at 1:16 PM
This is correct and it's why public opinion doesn't actually do anything on its own. It has to be mobilized. You have to DO politics.
Reposted by Ruthie Epstein
We should all be disgusted by the flood of anti-Muslim remarks spewed in the aftermath of Zohran Mamdani’s victory in the NYC mayoral primary — some blatant, others latent.
Shame on the members of Congress who have engaged in such bigotry and anyone who doesn’t challenge it.
Shame on the members of Congress who have engaged in such bigotry and anyone who doesn’t challenge it.
Attacks on Muslims flood mainstream after Mamdani win
Openly racist rhetoric has become normalized at the highest levels of American politics.
www.axios.com
June 29, 2025 at 1:54 PM
We should all be disgusted by the flood of anti-Muslim remarks spewed in the aftermath of Zohran Mamdani’s victory in the NYC mayoral primary — some blatant, others latent.
Shame on the members of Congress who have engaged in such bigotry and anyone who doesn’t challenge it.
Shame on the members of Congress who have engaged in such bigotry and anyone who doesn’t challenge it.
Reposted by Ruthie Epstein
This is serious, rigorous analysis and it should change the way the media has been covering these protests. These were, in the aggregate, *massive.*
Based on crowd-sourced records of No Kings Day event turnout, and extrapolating for the cities where we don't have data yet, it looks like roughly 4-6 million people protested Trump across the U.S. yesterday. That's nearly 2% of the U.S. pop!
Mobilized anti-Trump resistance is exceeding 2017 levels
Mobilized anti-Trump resistance is exceeding 2017 levels
"No Kings Day" protests turn out millions
Our unofficial estimate is that around 4 million people attended a protest event yesterday. Anti-Trump resistance is outpacing 2017.
www.gelliottmorris.com
June 15, 2025 at 1:39 PM
This is serious, rigorous analysis and it should change the way the media has been covering these protests. These were, in the aggregate, *massive.*
Reposted by Ruthie Epstein
BREAKING: The Episcopal Church has announced it will end its decades-old partnership with the government to resettle refugees, citing moral opposition to resettling white Afrikaners from South Africa who have been classified as refugees by the Trump admin. religionnews.com/2025/05/12/e...
Episcopal Church refuses to resettle white Afrikaners, ends partnership with US government
(RNS) — In light of our church’s steadfast commitment to racial justice and reconciliation and our historic ties with the Anglican Church of Southern Africa, we are not able to take this step,' the pr...
religionnews.com
May 12, 2025 at 4:13 PM
BREAKING: The Episcopal Church has announced it will end its decades-old partnership with the government to resettle refugees, citing moral opposition to resettling white Afrikaners from South Africa who have been classified as refugees by the Trump admin. religionnews.com/2025/05/12/e...
Reposted by Ruthie Epstein
The biggest beneficiary of prison labor isn't a private company. It's the prisons themselves:
April 30, 2025 at 7:15 PM
The biggest beneficiary of prison labor isn't a private company. It's the prisons themselves:
everything's going great. www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Law firms refuse to represent Trump opponents in the wake of his attacks
The result has been called an extraordinary threat to the constitutional rights of due process and representation, as well as a far weaker effort to challenge Trump’s actions in court than during his ...
www.washingtonpost.com
March 25, 2025 at 11:52 PM
everything's going great. www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Ruthie Epstein
BREAKING: Chief Judge Boasberg issues a classwide, nationwide temporary restraining order, blocking removal of any noncitizens in U.S. custody who are subject to today's AEA order for the next 14 days.
With planes leaving, he says, "I am required to act immediately."
With planes leaving, he says, "I am required to act immediately."
In the Alien Enemies Act-related case in which Chief Judge Boasberg issued a TRO this morning, he is holding his class certification hearing now.
Background at Law Dork: www.lawdork.com/p/alien-enem...
Background at Law Dork: www.lawdork.com/p/alien-enem...
Federal judge temporarily blocks Trump admin from deporting several Venezuelans
The ACLU and Democracy Forward filed suit early Saturday in advance of Trump's expected effort to invoke the Alien Enemies Act. DOJ is appealing the TRO.
www.lawdork.com
March 15, 2025 at 10:46 PM
BREAKING: Chief Judge Boasberg issues a classwide, nationwide temporary restraining order, blocking removal of any noncitizens in U.S. custody who are subject to today's AEA order for the next 14 days.
With planes leaving, he says, "I am required to act immediately."
With planes leaving, he says, "I am required to act immediately."
Reposted by Ruthie Epstein
The understaffed Social Security Administration faces further cuts and office closures at the same time as retiring Baby Boomers have caused a surge in the number of people receiving benefits.
https://propub.li/4ia5PX5
https://propub.li/4ia5PX5
Anxiety Mounts Among Social Security Recipients as DOGE Troops Settle In
Elon Musk’s team has descended on an already understaffed Social Security Administration, which now faces further workforce cuts and closures of vital local offices. The consequences could be…
propub.li
February 23, 2025 at 9:00 PM
The understaffed Social Security Administration faces further cuts and office closures at the same time as retiring Baby Boomers have caused a surge in the number of people receiving benefits.
https://propub.li/4ia5PX5
https://propub.li/4ia5PX5
Reposted by Ruthie Epstein
The White House has designated Mr. Musk’s office, United States DOGE Service, as an entity insulated from public records requests or most judicial intervention until at least 2034 (Important reporting here by NYT Minho Kim)
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/10/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/10/u...
Trump’s Declaration Allows Musk’s Efficiency Team to Skirt Open Records Laws (Gift Article)
Government watchdog groups say they will challenge the Trump administration’s decision to put the initiative under the Presidential Records Act, which shields its work from public disclosure.
www.nytimes.com
February 12, 2025 at 6:40 PM
The White House has designated Mr. Musk’s office, United States DOGE Service, as an entity insulated from public records requests or most judicial intervention until at least 2034 (Important reporting here by NYT Minho Kim)
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/10/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/10/u...
Reposted by Ruthie Epstein
The biggest threat right now is Musk taking over Treasury data & IT with an aim to usurp congressional power of the purse. This is a real constitutional crisis, a coup happening before our eyes. www.thenation.com/article/soci...
Who Will Stop Elon Musk’s Coup?
Society / February 3, 2025 Who Will Stop Elon Musk’s Coup? The world’s richest man now has the power to override congressional spending decisions and access to private information about every US taxpa...
www.thenation.com
February 3, 2025 at 5:19 PM
The biggest threat right now is Musk taking over Treasury data & IT with an aim to usurp congressional power of the purse. This is a real constitutional crisis, a coup happening before our eyes. www.thenation.com/article/soci...
Reposted by Ruthie Epstein
🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨 Trump's DHS just invoked a never-before-used authority which permits the federal government to deputize any state or local law enforcement officer to have the same powers as an ICE or Border Patrol agent.
January 24, 2025 at 7:22 PM
🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨 Trump's DHS just invoked a never-before-used authority which permits the federal government to deputize any state or local law enforcement officer to have the same powers as an ICE or Border Patrol agent.
Reposted by Ruthie Epstein
States like Tennessee have been laboratories for fascism for years but this is next-level out of control.
Among a list of other immigration policies, Gov. Bill Lee is proposing a felony charge and removal from office for local elected officials who vote in favor of sanctuary city policies in Tennessee.
Story: @sarahgracetaylor.bsky.social
nashvillebanner.com/2025/01/23/t...
Story: @sarahgracetaylor.bsky.social
nashvillebanner.com/2025/01/23/t...
Tennessee proposes bill to crack down on sanctuary cities - Nashville Banner
Tennessee's Republican leadership introduces an immigration bill that threatens to jail or remove local officials for supporting sanctuary cities.
nashvillebanner.com
January 23, 2025 at 3:32 PM
States like Tennessee have been laboratories for fascism for years but this is next-level out of control.
Reposted by Ruthie Epstein
Trump 2.0 immigration policy changes will begin momentarily. You can track all of them—and check the status of immigration policy changes implemented during Trump’s first term—at this website.
Bookmark it. t.co/NgfS0ioyrh
Bookmark it. t.co/NgfS0ioyrh
https://immpolicytracking.org/home/
t.co
January 20, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Trump 2.0 immigration policy changes will begin momentarily. You can track all of them—and check the status of immigration policy changes implemented during Trump’s first term—at this website.
Bookmark it. t.co/NgfS0ioyrh
Bookmark it. t.co/NgfS0ioyrh
Reposted by Ruthie Epstein
I'm uneasy. I hope that comes cross. We are on a brink. newrepublic.com/article/1902...
January 16, 2025 at 2:54 PM
I'm uneasy. I hope that comes cross. We are on a brink. newrepublic.com/article/1902...
Please consider donating to Siwatu and his family. Siwatu's been a friend since my earliest years in NYC, when we were both babies, creating our new lives almost from scratch. He's all about building community, and I'd love to help his (extended) community give back. www.gofundme.com/f/support-si...
Donate to Support Siwatu & His Family After Total Loss from Eaton Fire, organized by Gregory Epstein
Help Siwatu rebuild after losing his home in the Eaton Fire
… Gregory Epstein needs your support for Support Siwatu & His Family After Total Loss from Eaton Fire
www.gofundme.com
January 14, 2025 at 10:45 PM
Please consider donating to Siwatu and his family. Siwatu's been a friend since my earliest years in NYC, when we were both babies, creating our new lives almost from scratch. He's all about building community, and I'd love to help his (extended) community give back. www.gofundme.com/f/support-si...
Reposted by Ruthie Epstein
Spent a while this week digging into California’s insurance industry. It’s worth being skeptical of the industry’s crisis narrative about its prospects there, and what that should entail for customers newrepublic.com/article/1900...
January 10, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Spent a while this week digging into California’s insurance industry. It’s worth being skeptical of the industry’s crisis narrative about its prospects there, and what that should entail for customers newrepublic.com/article/1900...
Reposted by Ruthie Epstein
@chrislhayes.bsky.social says President Joe Biden is “leaving a disgraceful legacy” by ignoring Israel’s human rights abuses in Gaza. “A liberal president doing untold damage to the liberal international order,” says Hayes.
January 11, 2025 at 1:43 AM
@chrislhayes.bsky.social says President Joe Biden is “leaving a disgraceful legacy” by ignoring Israel’s human rights abuses in Gaza. “A liberal president doing untold damage to the liberal international order,” says Hayes.
On the Chinese Exclusion Act, from @michaelluo.bsky.social
History’s Lessons on Anti-Immigrant Extremism
Even Donald Trump’s recent assertion that he would use executive action to abolish birthright citizenship has a historical link to the Chinese American experience.
www.newyorker.com
January 9, 2025 at 11:35 PM
On the Chinese Exclusion Act, from @michaelluo.bsky.social
Reposted by Ruthie Epstein
As wildfires blaze in California, we're reminded of the incarcerated people who are deployed to fight them – an extremely dangerous job that pays just dollars per day.
January 8, 2025 at 4:15 PM
As wildfires blaze in California, we're reminded of the incarcerated people who are deployed to fight them – an extremely dangerous job that pays just dollars per day.
the passing of eras www.nytimes.com/2025/01/04/t...
Richard Foreman, Iconoclastic Playwright and Impresario, Dies at 87
The Ontological-Hysteric Theater, which he founded in 1968, presented more than 50 of his plays, among them “My Head Was a Sledgehammer” and “Permanent Brain Damage.”
www.nytimes.com
January 5, 2025 at 6:46 PM
the passing of eras www.nytimes.com/2025/01/04/t...