Cecil Bothwell
@cecilbothwell.bsky.social
Writer, artist, gardener, former elected official, former managing editor, mostly retired from construction. Just published my 18th book. Bernie Sanders organizer in Asheville in 2016/2020. Left/liberal. Childless cat person.
February 8, 2026 at 11:06 AM
Reposted by Cecil Bothwell
February 7, 2026 at 2:49 PM
An abused child kept a journal. She wrote in simple code. (up/down letters) Here’s a ghastly bit decoded. But, hey, Todd Blanche said there aren’t any names. Nothing to see here. Release the files!
ellieleonard.substack.com/p/decoding-a...
ellieleonard.substack.com/p/decoding-a...
Decoding an Unknown Survivor's Journal
Trigger Warning: discussion of sexual abuse of a minor and child loss
ellieleonard.substack.com
February 8, 2026 at 10:59 AM
An abused child kept a journal. She wrote in simple code. (up/down letters) Here’s a ghastly bit decoded. But, hey, Todd Blanche said there aren’t any names. Nothing to see here. Release the files!
ellieleonard.substack.com/p/decoding-a...
ellieleonard.substack.com/p/decoding-a...
Reposted by Cecil Bothwell
January 31, 2026 at 2:22 PM
Doing something different expecting the same result. RFKjr is like a jumpmaster who’s seen a thousand safe sky dives and then thinks: Maybe we don’t actually need the chutes? He tells his clients: You go first.
February 1, 2026 at 11:52 AM
Doing something different expecting the same result. RFKjr is like a jumpmaster who’s seen a thousand safe sky dives and then thinks: Maybe we don’t actually need the chutes? He tells his clients: You go first.
While Todd Blanche says they won’t release the really bad stuff. Release ALL the files!
February 1, 2026 at 11:49 AM
While Todd Blanche says they won’t release the really bad stuff. Release ALL the files!
I fought for this eight or so years ago when I was on Council. The whole dance around short term rentals has been crazy since hoteliers first managed to make it a “neighborhood” issue. For most homeowners that’s their biggest asset. Letting them gain some benefit is only fair.
Some Asheville residents will now have an easier time setting up new housing on their property. In a unanimous Tuesday vote, Asheville City Council relaxed regulations on certain ADUs.
www.bpr.org/politics-gov...
www.bpr.org/politics-gov...
Asheville eases rules on accessory dwelling units
Dek: What you need to know from the Jan. 27 Asheville City Council meeting.
www.bpr.org
January 30, 2026 at 10:33 AM
I fought for this eight or so years ago when I was on Council. The whole dance around short term rentals has been crazy since hoteliers first managed to make it a “neighborhood” issue. For most homeowners that’s their biggest asset. Letting them gain some benefit is only fair.
Reposted by Cecil Bothwell
The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch for Western North Carolina from 4 p.m. Friday through 7 a.m. Sunday. Heavy snow is possible, with total accumulation anywhere between 2 and 7 inches and winds as high as 45 mph.
www.bpr.org/climate-envi...
www.bpr.org/climate-envi...
Winter storm watch in effect beginning Friday afternoon for WNC
Western North Carolina is under a winter storm watch beginning Friday afternoon. Heavy snow is expected for much of the region. This is the second weekend in a row that a winter storm watch is in effe...
www.bpr.org
January 29, 2026 at 8:37 PM
The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch for Western North Carolina from 4 p.m. Friday through 7 a.m. Sunday. Heavy snow is possible, with total accumulation anywhere between 2 and 7 inches and winds as high as 45 mph.
www.bpr.org/climate-envi...
www.bpr.org/climate-envi...
We all know the old adage about insanity: Repeatedly doing the same thing expecting a different result.
Been thinking about the opposite, vis-a-vis measles and RFK, Jr.
As in not vaccinating, etc. and etc.
Insane or just plain evil?
Been thinking about the opposite, vis-a-vis measles and RFK, Jr.
As in not vaccinating, etc. and etc.
Insane or just plain evil?
January 30, 2026 at 10:24 AM
We all know the old adage about insanity: Repeatedly doing the same thing expecting a different result.
Been thinking about the opposite, vis-a-vis measles and RFK, Jr.
As in not vaccinating, etc. and etc.
Insane or just plain evil?
Been thinking about the opposite, vis-a-vis measles and RFK, Jr.
As in not vaccinating, etc. and etc.
Insane or just plain evil?
Reposted by Cecil Bothwell
This is not public safety. It’s chaos.
We cannot have secret police. We have accountability, due process, and the rule of law.
Everyone involved in this violence should be held accountable. Kristi Noem should resign or be removed.
We cannot have secret police. We have accountability, due process, and the rule of law.
Everyone involved in this violence should be held accountable. Kristi Noem should resign or be removed.
January 25, 2026 at 6:47 PM
This is not public safety. It’s chaos.
We cannot have secret police. We have accountability, due process, and the rule of law.
Everyone involved in this violence should be held accountable. Kristi Noem should resign or be removed.
We cannot have secret police. We have accountability, due process, and the rule of law.
Everyone involved in this violence should be held accountable. Kristi Noem should resign or be removed.
Reposted by Cecil Bothwell
A coworker took this from her apartment. I haven't seen a crowd this size before. Maybe the first Women's March? But it was much much warmer that day. ICE OUT OF MINNESOTA!
January 23, 2026 at 11:19 PM
A coworker took this from her apartment. I haven't seen a crowd this size before. Maybe the first Women's March? But it was much much warmer that day. ICE OUT OF MINNESOTA!
Reposted by Cecil Bothwell
Lies, and more lies.
www.huffpost.com/entry/immigr...
www.huffpost.com/entry/immigr...
The Man Killed By A U.S. Border Patrol Officer In Minneapolis Was An ICU Nurse, Family Says
Alex Jeffrey Pretti, 37, was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed getting in adventures with Joule, his beloved Catahoula Leopard dog who also recently died.
www.huffpost.com
January 25, 2026 at 11:41 AM
Lies, and more lies.
www.huffpost.com/entry/immigr...
www.huffpost.com/entry/immigr...
Reposted by Cecil Bothwell
January 24, 2026 at 5:19 AM
Reposted by Cecil Bothwell
He loved helping people, especially our military veterans!
The regime is calling him a domestic terrorist for helping a woman who was physically assaulted by Trump’s death squad!🤬
It’s time for all of this to stop!
#IceOutOfMinneapolis
#ProudBlue
The regime is calling him a domestic terrorist for helping a woman who was physically assaulted by Trump’s death squad!🤬
It’s time for all of this to stop!
#IceOutOfMinneapolis
#ProudBlue
January 25, 2026 at 2:41 AM
He loved helping people, especially our military veterans!
The regime is calling him a domestic terrorist for helping a woman who was physically assaulted by Trump’s death squad!🤬
It’s time for all of this to stop!
#IceOutOfMinneapolis
#ProudBlue
The regime is calling him a domestic terrorist for helping a woman who was physically assaulted by Trump’s death squad!🤬
It’s time for all of this to stop!
#IceOutOfMinneapolis
#ProudBlue
Ask every candidate for state and federal office: Where do you SPECIFICALLY stand on ICE?
January 25, 2026 at 11:47 AM
Ask every candidate for state and federal office: Where do you SPECIFICALLY stand on ICE?
Child loves prizes.
January 19, 2026 at 7:30 PM
Child loves prizes.
Another story from my weekly substack.
cecilbothwell.substack.com/p/chewy-chew...
cecilbothwell.substack.com/p/chewy-chew...
“Chewy Chewy"
A sticky situation from Self Evident: We Hold These Tooths
cecilbothwell.substack.com
January 17, 2026 at 3:44 PM
Another story from my weekly substack.
cecilbothwell.substack.com/p/chewy-chew...
cecilbothwell.substack.com/p/chewy-chew...
Zelensky is winning the PR game. Trump achieved nothing yesterday.
December 29, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Zelensky is winning the PR game. Trump achieved nothing yesterday.
A song for courage.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvML...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvML...
"Carol of the Bells" / "Shchedryk" - Marsh Family adaptation of Ukrainian New Year song for 2026
YouTube video by Marsh Family
www.youtube.com
December 23, 2025 at 9:14 PM
A song for courage.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvML...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvML...
