C.S.
@cephander.bsky.social
he/they | polisci major (for my sins), recovering theatre kid, seattle mariners enthusiast, food discourse centrist, theoretically I write sometimes
Another excellent piece from excellent journalists, covering something that had been biting at me. This country will never get its shit together until we figure out a way to deal with violence that isn't "lock someone up and throw away the key."
A December media blitz over a police oversight board in Salem missed how the city’s police union leveraged political spending to control a controversial city decision.
The first investigation by The Western Edge is out now.
www.thewesternedge.media/p/is-redempt...
The first investigation by The Western Edge is out now.
www.thewesternedge.media/p/is-redempt...
Is Redemption Possible in Oregon's Capital City?
The Western Edge uncovered a manufactured crisis, backroom deals, political spending, AI slop and a city council bending to appease a police union.
www.thewesternedge.media
February 18, 2026 at 5:30 AM
Another excellent piece from excellent journalists, covering something that had been biting at me. This country will never get its shit together until we figure out a way to deal with violence that isn't "lock someone up and throw away the key."
Reposted by C.S.
A December media blitz over a police oversight board in Salem missed how the city’s police union leveraged political spending to control a controversial city decision.
The first investigation by The Western Edge is out now.
www.thewesternedge.media/p/is-redempt...
The first investigation by The Western Edge is out now.
www.thewesternedge.media/p/is-redempt...
Is Redemption Possible in Oregon's Capital City?
The Western Edge uncovered a manufactured crisis, backroom deals, political spending, AI slop and a city council bending to appease a police union.
www.thewesternedge.media
February 17, 2026 at 6:19 PM
A December media blitz over a police oversight board in Salem missed how the city’s police union leveraged political spending to control a controversial city decision.
The first investigation by The Western Edge is out now.
www.thewesternedge.media/p/is-redempt...
The first investigation by The Western Edge is out now.
www.thewesternedge.media/p/is-redempt...
Reposted by C.S.
Pitchers And Catchers Report To Spring Training Dance https://theonion.com/pitchers-and-catchers-report-to-spring-training-dance/
February 13, 2026 at 5:00 PM
Pitchers And Catchers Report To Spring Training Dance https://theonion.com/pitchers-and-catchers-report-to-spring-training-dance/
Reposted by C.S.
Authoritarians cannot understand regular people because they themselves are cowards
Fear motivates them, so they assume it motivates everyone. They can't imagine risking their lives for a stranger, for free
It's why they've beat a public retreat in Minneapolis, and it's how we'll ultimately win
Fear motivates them, so they assume it motivates everyone. They can't imagine risking their lives for a stranger, for free
It's why they've beat a public retreat in Minneapolis, and it's how we'll ultimately win
Won't You Be My Neighbor?
Woke Antifa's Secret Weapon
www.firewalledmedia.com
February 13, 2026 at 4:08 PM
Authoritarians cannot understand regular people because they themselves are cowards
Fear motivates them, so they assume it motivates everyone. They can't imagine risking their lives for a stranger, for free
It's why they've beat a public retreat in Minneapolis, and it's how we'll ultimately win
Fear motivates them, so they assume it motivates everyone. They can't imagine risking their lives for a stranger, for free
It's why they've beat a public retreat in Minneapolis, and it's how we'll ultimately win
We spent most of an evening walking around Rome. I taught her how to tell stars and planets apart in a tiny sliver of darker sky between streetlights on the Ponte Sisto. We both got freaked out by a Starlink cluster overhead. In 5 weeks we’ll be back in Rome again together
This is an unapologetically sappy feel-good subject (at least, I guess, for people in a happy relationship”). So, to prepare for Valentine’s Day, what did you and your partner do for a first date?
My wife and I went to tea at Huntington Gardens and walked around.
My wife and I went to tea at Huntington Gardens and walked around.
On our first date, my spouse and I spent like an hour talking about footnotes.
February 13, 2026 at 4:35 PM
We spent most of an evening walking around Rome. I taught her how to tell stars and planets apart in a tiny sliver of darker sky between streetlights on the Ponte Sisto. We both got freaked out by a Starlink cluster overhead. In 5 weeks we’ll be back in Rome again together
Reposted by C.S.
This is great. They should also be able to vote while in prison.
Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger endorsed a constitutional amendment to automatically restore voting rights to people with felony convictions when they leave prison. State lawmakers passed the amendment and it will now appear on the state ballot.
“It’s Time”: Virginia Lawmakers Ask Voters to Repeal Jim Crow-Era Lifetime Ban on Voting
Voters will decide this year whether to end Virginia’s uniquely harsh felony disenfranchisement rules. They
boltsmag.org
February 12, 2026 at 3:03 PM
This is great. They should also be able to vote while in prison.
Reposted by C.S.
Oh hey, look at that! @leahsottile.bsky.social was nominated for an Oregon Book Award for her absolute fever dream of incredible reporting, Blazing Eye Sees All.
Go get a copy if you haven't checked it out already! (And give me your fav recs from this list of incredible books.)
Go get a copy if you haven't checked it out already! (And give me your fav recs from this list of incredible books.)
The 2026 Oregon Book Award Nominations Are Here
You have two months to read the 2026 Oregon Book Award nominees before awards are announced.
www.wweek.com
February 10, 2026 at 4:52 PM
Oh hey, look at that! @leahsottile.bsky.social was nominated for an Oregon Book Award for her absolute fever dream of incredible reporting, Blazing Eye Sees All.
Go get a copy if you haven't checked it out already! (And give me your fav recs from this list of incredible books.)
Go get a copy if you haven't checked it out already! (And give me your fav recs from this list of incredible books.)
Reposted by C.S.
Macbeth: SHIT
February 9, 2026 at 2:50 AM
Macbeth: SHIT
Reposted by C.S.
WOOOOOOOOOO CURLING
February 8, 2026 at 3:14 PM
WOOOOOOOOOO CURLING
Reposted by C.S.
I can understand why many politicians are hesitant to advocate for abolishing ICE, because doing so comes with significant risks like being remembered fondly by history and being beloved by your constituents
February 8, 2026 at 3:44 PM
I can understand why many politicians are hesitant to advocate for abolishing ICE, because doing so comes with significant risks like being remembered fondly by history and being beloved by your constituents
Reposted by C.S.
I wouldnt make socrates drink hemlock but I'd beat his ass for sure
February 7, 2026 at 2:48 AM
I wouldnt make socrates drink hemlock but I'd beat his ass for sure
Reposted by C.S.
Dem leadership: changing this is a difficult process, you fool. You rube. You utter infant. Give us between $5 and $50
Mamdani, wiping grease off his hands: So it turns out there's a switch on this machine that puts it into either orphan-shredding mode or free school lunch mode. Just had to flip it
Mamdani, wiping grease off his hands: So it turns out there's a switch on this machine that puts it into either orphan-shredding mode or free school lunch mode. Just had to flip it
February 3, 2026 at 4:05 AM
Dem leadership: changing this is a difficult process, you fool. You rube. You utter infant. Give us between $5 and $50
Mamdani, wiping grease off his hands: So it turns out there's a switch on this machine that puts it into either orphan-shredding mode or free school lunch mode. Just had to flip it
Mamdani, wiping grease off his hands: So it turns out there's a switch on this machine that puts it into either orphan-shredding mode or free school lunch mode. Just had to flip it
Reposted by C.S.
As most states look to speed up releases, Louisiana has now adopted the harshest "truth in sentencing" law in the US:
ALL people in prison must serve at least 85% of their sentence before being eligible for release.
Even in the 1990s, TIS laws were restricted to violent crimes, not ALL crimes.
ALL people in prison must serve at least 85% of their sentence before being eligible for release.
Even in the 1990s, TIS laws were restricted to violent crimes, not ALL crimes.
Although some states have also passed laws restricting parole, none have been as aggressive as Louisiana, which eliminated parole entirely for prisoners incarcerated after Aug. 1, 2024.
“Louisiana is an outlier,” one expert said. “It’s a disaster.”
With @veritenews.org
“Louisiana is an outlier,” one expert said. “It’s a disaster.”
With @veritenews.org
Louisiana Paroles Its Lowest Number of Prisoners in 20 Years Under Gov. Jeff Landry
The state parole board freed 185 prisoners during Landry’s tenure, compared with 858 in the two years before he took office. Hundreds who would have been released under previous governors remain incar...
www.propublica.org
February 2, 2026 at 9:57 PM
As most states look to speed up releases, Louisiana has now adopted the harshest "truth in sentencing" law in the US:
ALL people in prison must serve at least 85% of their sentence before being eligible for release.
Even in the 1990s, TIS laws were restricted to violent crimes, not ALL crimes.
ALL people in prison must serve at least 85% of their sentence before being eligible for release.
Even in the 1990s, TIS laws were restricted to violent crimes, not ALL crimes.
Reposted by C.S.
Yeah, I'm an EGOT
Earnest
Giddy
Obnoxious
Twee
Earnest
Giddy
Obnoxious
Twee
February 2, 2026 at 10:10 PM
Yeah, I'm an EGOT
Earnest
Giddy
Obnoxious
Twee
Earnest
Giddy
Obnoxious
Twee
Reposted by C.S.
A few broader thoughts:
1) This election happened, period.
2) It happened in Texas, no less.
3) It happened even though Trump himself took an intense interest in winning it.
If Trump could cancel elections or ordain their outcomes, then why didn't he do that tonight?
1) This election happened, period.
2) It happened in Texas, no less.
3) It happened even though Trump himself took an intense interest in winning it.
If Trump could cancel elections or ordain their outcomes, then why didn't he do that tonight?
BREAKING: Texas Democrat Taylor Rehmet just won a *massive* landslide to flip a deep-red Senate district. He's up by 14 points in a Trump+17 seat—an overperformance of more than 30 points.
How did he do it? Here's our full writeup:
How did he do it? Here's our full writeup:
Breaking: Texas Democrats score landslide upset in race Trump badly wanted to win
Taylor Rehmet just flipped a deep-red seat—and gave his party a shot in the arm
www.the-downballot.com
February 1, 2026 at 5:45 AM
A few broader thoughts:
1) This election happened, period.
2) It happened in Texas, no less.
3) It happened even though Trump himself took an intense interest in winning it.
If Trump could cancel elections or ordain their outcomes, then why didn't he do that tonight?
1) This election happened, period.
2) It happened in Texas, no less.
3) It happened even though Trump himself took an intense interest in winning it.
If Trump could cancel elections or ordain their outcomes, then why didn't he do that tonight?
Reposted by C.S.
Election result poll modeling this year:
February 1, 2026 at 5:38 AM
Election result poll modeling this year:
Reposted by C.S.
A huge political earthquake in Texas tonight as Democrats flipped a State Senate seat from red to blue in a district Trump won by 17 points.
Trump personally waded in — endorsing the Republican and personally urging base turnout — and was dealt a massive loss.
Trump personally waded in — endorsing the Republican and personally urging base turnout — and was dealt a massive loss.
February 1, 2026 at 4:58 AM
A huge political earthquake in Texas tonight as Democrats flipped a State Senate seat from red to blue in a district Trump won by 17 points.
Trump personally waded in — endorsing the Republican and personally urging base turnout — and was dealt a massive loss.
Trump personally waded in — endorsing the Republican and personally urging base turnout — and was dealt a massive loss.
Reposted by C.S.
Democrats didn’t just see a 30-point shift in Texas and flip a State Senate seat red to blue: they did it while being outspent 20-to-1. This will send shockwaves through the Republican Party.
February 1, 2026 at 5:14 AM
Democrats didn’t just see a 30-point shift in Texas and flip a State Senate seat red to blue: they did it while being outspent 20-to-1. This will send shockwaves through the Republican Party.
Reposted by C.S.
Today I saw ICE gas little white kids in the streets of Portland with chemical weapons. Imagine what they're doing to brown and black kids in the detention camps
February 1, 2026 at 2:08 AM
Today I saw ICE gas little white kids in the streets of Portland with chemical weapons. Imagine what they're doing to brown and black kids in the detention camps
Reposted by C.S.
Collecting a few thoughts inspired by Fraenkel’s The Dual State: whether consciously or unconsciously, DHS’s campaigns in American cities seem to be motivated by actual Nazi ideas—not just racism and xenophobia, but an explicitly Nazi theory of the state/the community. (1/8)
January 31, 2026 at 4:41 PM
Collecting a few thoughts inspired by Fraenkel’s The Dual State: whether consciously or unconsciously, DHS’s campaigns in American cities seem to be motivated by actual Nazi ideas—not just racism and xenophobia, but an explicitly Nazi theory of the state/the community. (1/8)
Reposted by C.S.
Great news for fans of great podcasts! @leahsottile.bsky.social and @ryanjhaas.bsky.social are back and independent with The Western Edge! niemanstoryboard.org/2026/01/22/l...
Leah Sottile and Ryan Haas on deconstructing ‘true crime’ in podcasting and journalism - Nieman Storyboard
The team behind ‘Hush’ discuss the ethics of narrative journalism and creating a serialized podcast that's sensitive to victims and families
niemanstoryboard.org
January 29, 2026 at 4:32 PM
Great news for fans of great podcasts! @leahsottile.bsky.social and @ryanjhaas.bsky.social are back and independent with The Western Edge! niemanstoryboard.org/2026/01/22/l...
Reposted by C.S.
You can’t behave like an invading army and expect people to react otherwise when you get lunch.
January 29, 2026 at 4:39 PM
You can’t behave like an invading army and expect people to react otherwise when you get lunch.
Reposted by C.S.
I think the telling thing about ICE’s supposed restaurant troubles is they clearly want to strut around in all that gear all the time. Given the masking, nobody’s bothering them in Applebees in street clothes. Maybe don’t dress for war to eat your O-M-Cheeseburger.
January 29, 2026 at 4:37 PM
I think the telling thing about ICE’s supposed restaurant troubles is they clearly want to strut around in all that gear all the time. Given the masking, nobody’s bothering them in Applebees in street clothes. Maybe don’t dress for war to eat your O-M-Cheeseburger.
Reposted by C.S.
I noted to students today that the #1 lesson to take away from Alexander the Great's death is that estate planning is important. Don't die without a will and testament or else at least six of your friends, alleged children, and wives will fight for decades over how to correctly divide your empire.
January 28, 2026 at 9:26 PM
I noted to students today that the #1 lesson to take away from Alexander the Great's death is that estate planning is important. Don't die without a will and testament or else at least six of your friends, alleged children, and wives will fight for decades over how to correctly divide your empire.
Reposted by C.S.
The guy that shot Renee Good literally took the video with his own phone
SCHUMER says Democrats are “united” behind three DHS reforms
1/ End roving patrols; tighten the rules on warrants and require ICE to coordinate with local authorities.
2/ Enforce accountability; a uniform code of conduct.
3/ Require masks off, body cameras on, agents carry ID.
1/ End roving patrols; tighten the rules on warrants and require ICE to coordinate with local authorities.
2/ Enforce accountability; a uniform code of conduct.
3/ Require masks off, body cameras on, agents carry ID.
January 28, 2026 at 9:16 PM
The guy that shot Renee Good literally took the video with his own phone