Dave Kamper
@dskamper.bsky.social
Avuncular unionist, uxorious husband, labor historian, cat guy. "Who's Got the Power?: The Resurgence of American Unions" coming in 2025 from New Press. Lives in Minnesota. Posts are personal. The cat in the profile pic is Laverne, aka Peanut.
Pinned
Dave Kamper
@dskamper.bsky.social
· Aug 23
Omigodomigodomigod it’s a real book and everything.
On sale October 14th!
On sale October 14th!
Reposted by Dave Kamper
At 10 over 75? Non-zero chance his 'trial' is a note read aloud next to a burn pit.
You know the joke that in some extreme circumstances you 'stop being biology and start being physics'?
There is a point where your politics stop being law and start being history. It is not a good place to be.
You know the joke that in some extreme circumstances you 'stop being biology and start being physics'?
There is a point where your politics stop being law and start being history. It is not a good place to be.
November 25, 2025 at 3:20 PM
At 10 over 75? Non-zero chance his 'trial' is a note read aloud next to a burn pit.
You know the joke that in some extreme circumstances you 'stop being biology and start being physics'?
There is a point where your politics stop being law and start being history. It is not a good place to be.
You know the joke that in some extreme circumstances you 'stop being biology and start being physics'?
There is a point where your politics stop being law and start being history. It is not a good place to be.
Smart analysis.
Zohran Mamdani’s victory was rooted in organizations that took up the base-building and mobilization functions that once fell to parties. dissentmagazine.org/online_artic...
Partyism Without the Party - Dissent Magazine
Zohran Mamdani’s victory was rooted in organizations that took up the base-building and mobilization functions that once fell to parties.
dissentmagazine.org
November 25, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Smart analysis.
Reposted by Dave Kamper
This is so incredible. You have to see the photos. These workers held the line for THREE YEARS www.publicsource.org/post-gazette...
November 25, 2025 at 5:29 AM
This is so incredible. You have to see the photos. These workers held the line for THREE YEARS www.publicsource.org/post-gazette...
For most of the 20th century, there was a huge section of the electorate who was willing to vote for either party.
The 21st century has been marked by deeper polarization and less voter shifting.
But the polling on younger voters hints they might be reverting more towards 20th-century behaviors.
The 21st century has been marked by deeper polarization and less voter shifting.
But the polling on younger voters hints they might be reverting more towards 20th-century behaviors.
November 25, 2025 at 3:17 PM
For most of the 20th century, there was a huge section of the electorate who was willing to vote for either party.
The 21st century has been marked by deeper polarization and less voter shifting.
But the polling on younger voters hints they might be reverting more towards 20th-century behaviors.
The 21st century has been marked by deeper polarization and less voter shifting.
But the polling on younger voters hints they might be reverting more towards 20th-century behaviors.
Begging my fellow lefties to understand "Left politician gets elected in a complicated political environment and makes decisions with a goal of delivering effective governance," is not the same thing as "Left politician sells out the Left."
They may, at times, be the same. But not automatically.
They may, at times, be the same. But not automatically.
November 25, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Begging my fellow lefties to understand "Left politician gets elected in a complicated political environment and makes decisions with a goal of delivering effective governance," is not the same thing as "Left politician sells out the Left."
They may, at times, be the same. But not automatically.
They may, at times, be the same. But not automatically.
Reposted by Dave Kamper
Friendly reminder that striking workers are asking you not to patronize ANY Starbucks store.
If you're traveling this week, your airport definitely has other options. Zero reason to even think about crossing a picket line!
If you're traveling this week, your airport definitely has other options. Zero reason to even think about crossing a picket line!
November 24, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Friendly reminder that striking workers are asking you not to patronize ANY Starbucks store.
If you're traveling this week, your airport definitely has other options. Zero reason to even think about crossing a picket line!
If you're traveling this week, your airport definitely has other options. Zero reason to even think about crossing a picket line!
These are fighters. They are what we need.
Minnesotans, I think we know only one of our candidates to replace Sen. Tina Smith would be part of this club, and that’s @peggyflanagan.bsky.social, and that’s why I’m supporting her.
Minnesotans, I think we know only one of our candidates to replace Sen. Tina Smith would be part of this club, and that’s @peggyflanagan.bsky.social, and that’s why I’m supporting her.
Wow — Senators Van Hollen, Smith, Murphy, Sanders, Warren, Markey, Merkley, Heinrich have created an official internal "Fight Club."
They're challenging Schumer & Gillibrand's leadership, arguing the party is using an old, corporate-friendly playbook insufficient to take on Trump or win elections.
They're challenging Schumer & Gillibrand's leadership, arguing the party is using an old, corporate-friendly playbook insufficient to take on Trump or win elections.
Chuck Schumer Faces Pushback From a ‘Fight Club’ of Senate Democrats
www.nytimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 3:59 AM
These are fighters. They are what we need.
Minnesotans, I think we know only one of our candidates to replace Sen. Tina Smith would be part of this club, and that’s @peggyflanagan.bsky.social, and that’s why I’m supporting her.
Minnesotans, I think we know only one of our candidates to replace Sen. Tina Smith would be part of this club, and that’s @peggyflanagan.bsky.social, and that’s why I’m supporting her.
TFW you’re watching a random episode of MacGyver and fucking G. GORDON LIDDY is a guest star.
November 24, 2025 at 11:06 PM
TFW you’re watching a random episode of MacGyver and fucking G. GORDON LIDDY is a guest star.
Reposted by Dave Kamper
Scoop: Park Service staff at 24 parks and offices are petitioning to unionize. Federal employees at a dozen including Grand Canyon filed for an election today, following staff at a dozen others including Joshua Tree who recently did same www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Parks Service Union Movement Spreads to Grand Canyon, Joshua Tree
Employees in dozens of park units are organizing to fight attempts by the Trump administration to downsize the agency.
www.bloomberg.com
November 24, 2025 at 10:29 PM
Scoop: Park Service staff at 24 parks and offices are petitioning to unionize. Federal employees at a dozen including Grand Canyon filed for an election today, following staff at a dozen others including Joshua Tree who recently did same www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Reposted by Dave Kamper
good work guys you picked a fight in which Dems can stand up out of their permanent defensive crouch and go “our guy is a fucking astronaut and you’re an alcoholic tv host”
Gallego to Hegseth: "You will never ever be half the man that Sen. Kelly is. You, sir, are a coward. And the fact that you are following this order from the president shows how big of a coward you are. I can't wait until you are no longer the secretary of defense."
November 24, 2025 at 9:49 PM
good work guys you picked a fight in which Dems can stand up out of their permanent defensive crouch and go “our guy is a fucking astronaut and you’re an alcoholic tv host”
Absolutely should be going this hard all the time at Hegseth, Homan, Noem, Miller, and all the rest. Call them out clearly and loudly and in strong moral terms.
Gallego to Hegseth: "You will never ever be half the man that Sen. Kelly is. You, sir, are a coward. And the fact that you are following this order from the president shows how big of a coward you are. I can't wait until you are no longer the secretary of defense."
November 24, 2025 at 9:47 PM
Absolutely should be going this hard all the time at Hegseth, Homan, Noem, Miller, and all the rest. Call them out clearly and loudly and in strong moral terms.
Gonna run for dictator on the platform of "every grocery store needs to stock items in the same place as every other grocery store."
November 24, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Gonna run for dictator on the platform of "every grocery store needs to stock items in the same place as every other grocery store."
Reposted by Dave Kamper
November 24, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Reposted by Dave Kamper
Haven't received as many contributions as usual for this year's lists--could be many things, but one aspect is surely that our ability to get this in front of people is much diminished. If you know folks whose stuff should be on here, please suggest it! contingentmagazine.org/yearly-pub-l...
Publications by Non-Tenure-Track Historians
Since we began publishing in 2019, Contingent has published end-of-year lists of books and articles by non-tenure-track historians released in the past calendar year. To submit something for inclusion...
contingentmagazine.org
November 24, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Haven't received as many contributions as usual for this year's lists--could be many things, but one aspect is surely that our ability to get this in front of people is much diminished. If you know folks whose stuff should be on here, please suggest it! contingentmagazine.org/yearly-pub-l...
Yes. Abughazaleh is a good example of a candidate far better known in the wider progressive world than in their own district. That disconnect can be fatal to a campaign if they forget that all politics is local. But perhaps the indictment and the publicity it brings will change those dynamics.
The Kat Abughazaleh indictment is an interesting test I think of how big an electoral asset being a "Trump nemesis" actually is. She's doing ok but not great polling wise behind more local candidates but the arrest/charges are a big thing and I am intrigued if they will convert a victory.
November 24, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Yes. Abughazaleh is a good example of a candidate far better known in the wider progressive world than in their own district. That disconnect can be fatal to a campaign if they forget that all politics is local. But perhaps the indictment and the publicity it brings will change those dynamics.
Reposted by Dave Kamper
I haven’t had a VCR, DVD, or Blu Ray in ten years. Do they make ones now where I can project from the Blu Ray to the TV, without needing to plug it in via HDMI or something? Thinking about getting one but don’t want it to clutter the space around the TV.
November 24, 2025 at 4:34 AM
I haven’t had a VCR, DVD, or Blu Ray in ten years. Do they make ones now where I can project from the Blu Ray to the TV, without needing to plug it in via HDMI or something? Thinking about getting one but don’t want it to clutter the space around the TV.
I haven’t had a VCR, DVD, or Blu Ray in ten years. Do they make ones now where I can project from the Blu Ray to the TV, without needing to plug it in via HDMI or something? Thinking about getting one but don’t want it to clutter the space around the TV.
November 24, 2025 at 4:34 AM
I haven’t had a VCR, DVD, or Blu Ray in ten years. Do they make ones now where I can project from the Blu Ray to the TV, without needing to plug it in via HDMI or something? Thinking about getting one but don’t want it to clutter the space around the TV.
I’ve never felt more seen.
Twitter accounts are based in Russia. BlueSky accounts are based in homes with, frankly, too many books, plants, obsolete cables, and pieces of rustic pottery, that could do with a bit of a tidying up, to be honest.
November 23, 2025 at 9:34 PM
I’ve never felt more seen.
Reposted by Dave Kamper
This Day in Labor History: November 23, 1891. A miner in Alaska named Patrick Whalen was injured in a mining accident. After a lower court awarded him financial compensation, the Supreme Court stepped in to make sure that injured workers would get nothing!!!!!!
SCOTUS ALWAYS HAS BEEN TERRIBLE!
SCOTUS ALWAYS HAS BEEN TERRIBLE!
November 23, 2025 at 6:59 PM
This Day in Labor History: November 23, 1891. A miner in Alaska named Patrick Whalen was injured in a mining accident. After a lower court awarded him financial compensation, the Supreme Court stepped in to make sure that injured workers would get nothing!!!!!!
SCOTUS ALWAYS HAS BEEN TERRIBLE!
SCOTUS ALWAYS HAS BEEN TERRIBLE!
Reposted by Dave Kamper
The entire debate about whether Democrats should moderate or focus on economic vs identity issues is moot if the media is just going to report that they're doing SJW Shit irregardless
November 23, 2025 at 4:09 PM
The entire debate about whether Democrats should moderate or focus on economic vs identity issues is moot if the media is just going to report that they're doing SJW Shit irregardless
Jeph the Neighborhood Opossum update: still going ham on that camera.
(NB: I now realize I have been misspelling Jeph’s name. I regret the error.)
(NB: I now realize I have been misspelling Jeph’s name. I regret the error.)
November 23, 2025 at 12:32 AM
Jeph the Neighborhood Opossum update: still going ham on that camera.
(NB: I now realize I have been misspelling Jeph’s name. I regret the error.)
(NB: I now realize I have been misspelling Jeph’s name. I regret the error.)
Amazing.
Science will often take you to unexpected and delightful places. In this study, researchers hypothesized that riders in a crowded subway car would be more likely to offer their seat to a pregnant person if there were someone in the subway car dressed as Batman 🧪🦇
www.nature.com/articles/s44...
www.nature.com/articles/s44...
November 22, 2025 at 11:59 PM
Amazing.
Inspector Waffles update
November 22, 2025 at 11:07 PM
Inspector Waffles update
Reposted by Dave Kamper
Referring to the fall of Al Franken as a "lynching" is quite a tell, almost as much a tell as referring to him as a progressive warrior. Also, "weaponize a joke photo" lol, lmao. At least 8 women came forward to accuse Franken of harassment.
Sorry, no….its not. Many of us will never forgive her for lynching Al Franken. That was a contrived right-wing hit job pushed by a disingenuous partisan hack former model who decided to weaponize a joke photo from decades ago. We lost a progressive warrior because of Dem self flagellation.
November 22, 2025 at 7:07 PM
Referring to the fall of Al Franken as a "lynching" is quite a tell, almost as much a tell as referring to him as a progressive warrior. Also, "weaponize a joke photo" lol, lmao. At least 8 women came forward to accuse Franken of harassment.