Sam Tracy
@samtracyme.bsky.social
Progressive activist & policy nerd living in Portland, Maine. Top priorities: sustainability, cooperative economics, voting rights, & civil liberties. Many org affiliations, but this is a personal account. #mepolitics
Pinned
Sam Tracy
@samtracyme.bsky.social
· Apr 8
Hey, Bluesky! Thought I'd introduce myself here.
I'm a lefty activist living in Portland, Maine. I spent 15 years legalizing cannabis, defended voting rights for the 2024 election, & now work in sustainability.
I also love sci-fi, board games, & sketch comedy (but post mainly about politics).
I'm a lefty activist living in Portland, Maine. I spent 15 years legalizing cannabis, defended voting rights for the 2024 election, & now work in sustainability.
I also love sci-fi, board games, & sketch comedy (but post mainly about politics).
Reposted by Sam Tracy
It’s important to remember there are two scandals here:
1. The Administration has likely committed war crimes.
2. But the entire operation - which now includes two dozen attacks - is illegal. In our democracy, the President CANNOT wage war without the consent of the people.
1. The Administration has likely committed war crimes.
2. But the entire operation - which now includes two dozen attacks - is illegal. In our democracy, the President CANNOT wage war without the consent of the people.
BERMAN: Did you see any evidence of them trying to use a radio in the video you saw?
TOM COTTON: Well I saw lots of evidence of them standing on the boat that had been capsized
BERMAN: That wasn't my question. Did you see any evidence?
COTTON: No, I didn't
TOM COTTON: Well I saw lots of evidence of them standing on the boat that had been capsized
BERMAN: That wasn't my question. Did you see any evidence?
COTTON: No, I didn't
December 7, 2025 at 6:26 PM
It’s important to remember there are two scandals here:
1. The Administration has likely committed war crimes.
2. But the entire operation - which now includes two dozen attacks - is illegal. In our democracy, the President CANNOT wage war without the consent of the people.
1. The Administration has likely committed war crimes.
2. But the entire operation - which now includes two dozen attacks - is illegal. In our democracy, the President CANNOT wage war without the consent of the people.
Reposted by Sam Tracy
The changes suggested by this CDC Panel are going to kill thousands of Americans
Senator Bill Cassidy-who’s a Dr-could've stopped RFK Jr from inflicting his warped anti-vaccine ideas on the US
All he had to do was vote against Kennedy's confirmation
But he didn’t have the courage to oppose Trump
Senator Bill Cassidy-who’s a Dr-could've stopped RFK Jr from inflicting his warped anti-vaccine ideas on the US
All he had to do was vote against Kennedy's confirmation
But he didn’t have the courage to oppose Trump
December 5, 2025 at 8:53 PM
The changes suggested by this CDC Panel are going to kill thousands of Americans
Senator Bill Cassidy-who’s a Dr-could've stopped RFK Jr from inflicting his warped anti-vaccine ideas on the US
All he had to do was vote against Kennedy's confirmation
But he didn’t have the courage to oppose Trump
Senator Bill Cassidy-who’s a Dr-could've stopped RFK Jr from inflicting his warped anti-vaccine ideas on the US
All he had to do was vote against Kennedy's confirmation
But he didn’t have the courage to oppose Trump
Reposted by Sam Tracy
I'd rather we just build a lot of housing and risk some ugly apartments going up than spend months and months deliberating over stuff like articulated facades while thousands of San Franciscans languish on the streets.
December 5, 2025 at 4:40 PM
I'd rather we just build a lot of housing and risk some ugly apartments going up than spend months and months deliberating over stuff like articulated facades while thousands of San Franciscans languish on the streets.
Reposted by Sam Tracy
Also, I care about aesthetics but I care even more about homelessness and affordability. One reason we have a housing shortage is cities trying to micromanage the architectural style of every new apartment building. (2/2)
December 5, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Also, I care about aesthetics but I care even more about homelessness and affordability. One reason we have a housing shortage is cities trying to micromanage the architectural style of every new apartment building. (2/2)
Reposted by Sam Tracy
This is a million times worse than anything Hunter Biden was accused of doing in even the most fevered right-wing conspiracy dream
UPDATE: Trump Jr.-backed startup receives $620 million Pentagon loan
In October, Popular Information reported that the Pentagon awarded a contract to Unusual Machines, an obscure drone company that President Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr., joined as an advisor in Novemb...
popular.info
December 4, 2025 at 4:00 PM
This is a million times worse than anything Hunter Biden was accused of doing in even the most fevered right-wing conspiracy dream
Reposted by Sam Tracy
Trump dozes while Marco Rubio speaks to him directly next to him. Just insane optics.
December 2, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Trump dozes while Marco Rubio speaks to him directly next to him. Just insane optics.
House Republicans voted to repeal Obamacare dozens of times even though they knew it had zero chance of actually happening. Democrats should be doing the same with anything they can.
For some reason Democratic leaders seem to prefer telling voters what they won’t be able to do, rather than what they’d like to do.
If Hegseth ordered a war crime and lied about it, shouldn’t Ds try for impeachment? Put Rs on the spot. They might get a few defections.
www.axios.com/2025/12/01/j...
If Hegseth ordered a war crime and lied about it, shouldn’t Ds try for impeachment? Put Rs on the spot. They might get a few defections.
www.axios.com/2025/12/01/j...
Jeffries says not to expect Democrats to pursue Hegseth impeachment over boat strikes
"Republicans will never allow articles of impeachment to be brought to the floor," he said.
www.axios.com
December 2, 2025 at 1:29 AM
House Republicans voted to repeal Obamacare dozens of times even though they knew it had zero chance of actually happening. Democrats should be doing the same with anything they can.
Reposted by Sam Tracy
"The middle class is taught... ...to identify more with the rich than the poor. This class misalignment keeps them striving for the upward mobility our economic mythology promises them, even though so many are just one medical emergency or car crash away from poverty".
Excited to show you this feature from @emmarjanssen.bsky.social on why plutocracy is a driver of the affordability crisis. It manifests in a number of different ways: 🧵
prospect.org/2025/12/01/p...
prospect.org/2025/12/01/p...
Selling the Poor on Spending Like They’re Rich - The American Prospect
How plutonomy, premiumization, and social media squeeze the middle class.
prospect.org
December 1, 2025 at 2:54 PM
"The middle class is taught... ...to identify more with the rich than the poor. This class misalignment keeps them striving for the upward mobility our economic mythology promises them, even though so many are just one medical emergency or car crash away from poverty".
Reposted by Sam Tracy
Trains have long been underutilized in Maine despite advantages in freight and passenger capabilities. Passenger capabilities are particularly important as we look to better connect all of Maine. Especially for those who cannot drive and need services offered in other parts of the state. (1/2)
November 28, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Trains have long been underutilized in Maine despite advantages in freight and passenger capabilities. Passenger capabilities are particularly important as we look to better connect all of Maine. Especially for those who cannot drive and need services offered in other parts of the state. (1/2)
When I first read about @theonion.com's print edition, I thought it was a bit. Turns out it's real, & it's awesome! I love sitting down and reading a hard copy of the best news parody out there. Makes it feel even more surreal. Highly recommend!
Hi everybody,
It's Black Friday, a big day for us at The Onion, since we rely almost entirely on your memberships.
Our goal for 2026? More print subscribers than the Washington Post.
This is, somehow, feasible.
So sign up! A year of print is $75 for the year today. Help us do a very funny thing.
It's Black Friday, a big day for us at The Onion, since we rely almost entirely on your memberships.
Our goal for 2026? More print subscribers than the Washington Post.
This is, somehow, feasible.
So sign up! A year of print is $75 for the year today. Help us do a very funny thing.
Join The Onion
Don’t just read the news. Feel it. Be among the first to feel the news.
membership.theonion.com
November 29, 2025 at 12:10 AM
When I first read about @theonion.com's print edition, I thought it was a bit. Turns out it's real, & it's awesome! I love sitting down and reading a hard copy of the best news parody out there. Makes it feel even more surreal. Highly recommend!
Reposted by Sam Tracy
Every single congressional Democrat needs to be out there, right now, insisting that Pete Hegseth resign right now and announcing that he will be held accountable for committing war crimes.
If you do not demand accountability here and now, they will only become more emboldened.
If you do not demand accountability here and now, they will only become more emboldened.
Exclusive: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gave an order to “kill everybody” in the first strike on suspected drug boats in the Caribbean. After two men survived, the mission commander ordered a second strike to comply with Hegseth’s instructions, according to two sources.
Hegseth order on first Caribbean boat strike, officials say: Kill them all
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a verbal order to kill all crew members in the Sept. 2 strike on a suspected drug boat. Navy SEALs fired a second missile.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 28, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Every single congressional Democrat needs to be out there, right now, insisting that Pete Hegseth resign right now and announcing that he will be held accountable for committing war crimes.
If you do not demand accountability here and now, they will only become more emboldened.
If you do not demand accountability here and now, they will only become more emboldened.
Reposted by Sam Tracy
Tobacco will kill more than 480,000 people in the US this year according to the CDC. That’s SIX times more than ALL drug overdose deaths. Does that mean Trump is going to drone strike the homes of tobacco executives in the US? Can other countries target them? Why not?🤔
President Donald Trump say the United States will soon expand efforts to tackle Venezuelan drug trafficking. "We warn them, stop sending poison to our country,” says Trump.
November 28, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Tobacco will kill more than 480,000 people in the US this year according to the CDC. That’s SIX times more than ALL drug overdose deaths. Does that mean Trump is going to drone strike the homes of tobacco executives in the US? Can other countries target them? Why not?🤔
Reposted by Sam Tracy
This is the scandal. Trump isn’t targeting dangerous people. He’s targeting peaceful immigrants. Almost exclusively.
November 26, 2025 at 2:10 PM
This is the scandal. Trump isn’t targeting dangerous people. He’s targeting peaceful immigrants. Almost exclusively.
Inspiring story about a new resident-owned community in MA! #Coops are awesome and it's great to see the movement spreading.
cdi.coop/mass-residen... #ROC #mapoli #cooperatives
cdi.coop/mass-residen... #ROC #mapoli #cooperatives
Mass. residents rally to purchase community, overcoming out-of-state developer – Cooperative Development Institute
Pittsfield, MA — The residents of Lake Onota Village mobile home park organized together to purchase their 119-home community, the land underneath their homes, for $5.5 million, overcoming an out-of-s...
cdi.coop
November 24, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Inspiring story about a new resident-owned community in MA! #Coops are awesome and it's great to see the movement spreading.
cdi.coop/mass-residen... #ROC #mapoli #cooperatives
cdi.coop/mass-residen... #ROC #mapoli #cooperatives
Reposted by Sam Tracy
@senangusking.bsky.social voted Yes for Rubio, yet another time Angus King voted to help aid support Republican fascist regime #Maine #Mepolitics
King: According to Secretary Rubio, this plan is not the administration’s position — it is essentially the Russians’ wish list that is now being presented to the Europeans and to the Ukrainians.
November 23, 2025 at 4:04 AM
@senangusking.bsky.social voted Yes for Rubio, yet another time Angus King voted to help aid support Republican fascist regime #Maine #Mepolitics
Reposted by Sam Tracy
X rolled out a new feature overnight showing where accounts are based. This network of “Trump-supporting independent women” that claimed to be “real Americans” are based in Thailand.
The photos were stolen from European models & posts pushed pro-Trump lines while targeting Islam and LGBTQ people.
The photos were stolen from European models & posts pushed pro-Trump lines while targeting Islam and LGBTQ people.
November 23, 2025 at 12:55 PM
X rolled out a new feature overnight showing where accounts are based. This network of “Trump-supporting independent women” that claimed to be “real Americans” are based in Thailand.
The photos were stolen from European models & posts pushed pro-Trump lines while targeting Islam and LGBTQ people.
The photos were stolen from European models & posts pushed pro-Trump lines while targeting Islam and LGBTQ people.
Reposted by Sam Tracy
If you’re a journalist who’s still on Twitter, from now on in your writing you have to replace “the American people want” with “troll bots in Eastern Europe demand”
Being there makes your judgment suspect. I don’t care how savvy you think you are, you’re marinating in a disinformation campaign.
Being there makes your judgment suspect. I don’t care how savvy you think you are, you’re marinating in a disinformation campaign.
November 23, 2025 at 4:27 PM
If you’re a journalist who’s still on Twitter, from now on in your writing you have to replace “the American people want” with “troll bots in Eastern Europe demand”
Being there makes your judgment suspect. I don’t care how savvy you think you are, you’re marinating in a disinformation campaign.
Being there makes your judgment suspect. I don’t care how savvy you think you are, you’re marinating in a disinformation campaign.
Reposted by Sam Tracy
Just to review, in the last week the President of the United States:
- Refused to condemn the rise of Neo-Nazis in his party
- Tried to block the release of further evidence he sexually abused children
- Encouraged the execution of Congressional Democrats
Those are just factual statements.
- Refused to condemn the rise of Neo-Nazis in his party
- Tried to block the release of further evidence he sexually abused children
- Encouraged the execution of Congressional Democrats
Those are just factual statements.
November 20, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Just to review, in the last week the President of the United States:
- Refused to condemn the rise of Neo-Nazis in his party
- Tried to block the release of further evidence he sexually abused children
- Encouraged the execution of Congressional Democrats
Those are just factual statements.
- Refused to condemn the rise of Neo-Nazis in his party
- Tried to block the release of further evidence he sexually abused children
- Encouraged the execution of Congressional Democrats
Those are just factual statements.
Reposted by Sam Tracy
We spent a year investigating billionaires for @washingtonpost.com.
We found: the wealthiest 100 Americans gave $1.1 billion to influence the 2024 elections — 140x more than they did in 2000. And almost all of that giving boosted Republicans.
washingtonpost.com/politics/int...
We found: the wealthiest 100 Americans gave $1.1 billion to influence the 2024 elections — 140x more than they did in 2000. And almost all of that giving boosted Republicans.
washingtonpost.com/politics/int...
November 21, 2025 at 2:56 PM
We spent a year investigating billionaires for @washingtonpost.com.
We found: the wealthiest 100 Americans gave $1.1 billion to influence the 2024 elections — 140x more than they did in 2000. And almost all of that giving boosted Republicans.
washingtonpost.com/politics/int...
We found: the wealthiest 100 Americans gave $1.1 billion to influence the 2024 elections — 140x more than they did in 2000. And almost all of that giving boosted Republicans.
washingtonpost.com/politics/int...
Reposted by Sam Tracy
In this new @usnews.com article, five law profs (including me) with vastly different views on most issues explain why colleges should reject Trump's "Compact" with higher ed, for both constitutional and policy reasons: www.usnews.com/opinion/arti...
www.usnews.com
November 20, 2025 at 9:47 PM
In this new @usnews.com article, five law profs (including me) with vastly different views on most issues explain why colleges should reject Trump's "Compact" with higher ed, for both constitutional and policy reasons: www.usnews.com/opinion/arti...
Reposted by Sam Tracy
Just so we’re ALL clear: the President of the United States made death threats toward sitting Democratic members of Congress.
But they’re always claiming Democrats are the dangerous ones, right?
(1/2)
But they’re always claiming Democrats are the dangerous ones, right?
(1/2)
November 20, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Just so we’re ALL clear: the President of the United States made death threats toward sitting Democratic members of Congress.
But they’re always claiming Democrats are the dangerous ones, right?
(1/2)
But they’re always claiming Democrats are the dangerous ones, right?
(1/2)
Reposted by Sam Tracy
@mainenewsroom.com has a sharp, concise report on Susan Collins and the self-dealing provision she snuck into the government funding bill. #MEpolitics
🌲 Maine Newsroom on Instagram: "11/19 Senator Collins’ shutdown-ending bill included an at least $500k (each) cash grab for eight other senators, with provisions to make it harder for the federal gove...
The controversial provision was added to the continuing resolution package and has sparked outrage among Democrats and some Republicans. The bill aims to allow the senators to sue for damages from the...
www.instagram.com
November 20, 2025 at 2:44 AM
@mainenewsroom.com has a sharp, concise report on Susan Collins and the self-dealing provision she snuck into the government funding bill. #MEpolitics
Awesome to see that so many voters turned out this year! Definitely driven in large part by attacks on voting rights. Mainers shut that down HARD.
www.pressherald.com/2025/11/18/m... #mepolitics
www.pressherald.com/2025/11/18/m... #mepolitics
Maine saw highest voter turnout in years for an off-year election
A total of 47% of registered voters cast ballots in the November election, the highest percentage for an off-year election in 15 years.
www.pressherald.com
November 19, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Awesome to see that so many voters turned out this year! Definitely driven in large part by attacks on voting rights. Mainers shut that down HARD.
www.pressherald.com/2025/11/18/m... #mepolitics
www.pressherald.com/2025/11/18/m... #mepolitics
People are more productive when they're owners who get a cut of the profits - this shouldn't surprise anyone!
#coops #workercoops #cooperatives
#coops #workercoops #cooperatives
Reminder that this study exists.
Some people make the claim that worker-owned organizations are inefficient. It's important to fact-check such statements with existing empirical research.
Empiricism has been the pathway to a better world for humanity for centuries. And it still is.
Some people make the claim that worker-owned organizations are inefficient. It's important to fact-check such statements with existing empirical research.
Empiricism has been the pathway to a better world for humanity for centuries. And it still is.
A 2016 metastudy of 102 samples representing 56,984 firms finds that employee ownership is positively associated with productivity.
These findings align with a growing body of research showing that businesses owned by their workers tend to be more productive than other companies.
These findings align with a growing body of research showing that businesses owned by their workers tend to be more productive than other companies.
November 18, 2025 at 10:32 PM
People are more productive when they're owners who get a cut of the profits - this shouldn't surprise anyone!
#coops #workercoops #cooperatives
#coops #workercoops #cooperatives
#mepolitics - Collins claiming that she had "no role" in negotiating payments to Republicans who were investigated.
She's trying to dodge responsibility here, but also admitting her impotency - she is supposedly the "top Senate appropriator" but had no role in giving away millions of dollars!
She's trying to dodge responsibility here, but also admitting her impotency - she is supposedly the "top Senate appropriator" but had no role in giving away millions of dollars!
Senate Approps Chair Collins says the language allowing senators to sue DOJ was a product of negotiations on member security between Leaders Thune and Schumer
“That was something that the leaders put into the bill. I played no role in that whatsoever”
“That was something that the leaders put into the bill. I played no role in that whatsoever”
November 18, 2025 at 10:29 PM
#mepolitics - Collins claiming that she had "no role" in negotiating payments to Republicans who were investigated.
She's trying to dodge responsibility here, but also admitting her impotency - she is supposedly the "top Senate appropriator" but had no role in giving away millions of dollars!
She's trying to dodge responsibility here, but also admitting her impotency - she is supposedly the "top Senate appropriator" but had no role in giving away millions of dollars!