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!
This, but unironically.
November 25, 2025 at 4:26 PM
This, but unironically.
Yeah. Mamdani is clearly interested in governance, and is trying to make it easier to implement his agenda. That's something the Left just doesn't do very often in the US, so it can look like something else.
This doesn't mean he was right to visit Trump; it just means it's understandable.
This doesn't mean he was right to visit Trump; it just means it's understandable.
November 25, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Yeah. Mamdani is clearly interested in governance, and is trying to make it easier to implement his agenda. That's something the Left just doesn't do very often in the US, so it can look like something else.
This doesn't mean he was right to visit Trump; it just means it's understandable.
This doesn't mean he was right to visit Trump; it just means it's understandable.
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...
If younger voters are going to resemble 20th-century voters more than other generational cohorts, that may throw a lot of conventional contemporary understanding of electoral politics out the window.
November 25, 2025 at 3:20 PM
If younger voters are going to resemble 20th-century voters more than other generational cohorts, that may throw a lot of conventional contemporary understanding of electoral politics out the window.
Sometimes changed election outcomes are a product of differential turnout rather than voters changing their preferences, but through the 20th century it's pretty clear lots of voters changed their minds. The swings from 1928 to 1936, from 1964 to 1972 -- those involved lots of voters moving.
November 25, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Sometimes changed election outcomes are a product of differential turnout rather than voters changing their preferences, but through the 20th century it's pretty clear lots of voters changed their minds. The swings from 1928 to 1936, from 1964 to 1972 -- those involved lots of voters moving.
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.
Have the same tree
November 25, 2025 at 1:56 AM
Have the same tree
Not my lane but surely it also matters that you were unconscious when you got it?
November 25, 2025 at 12:22 AM
Not my lane but surely it also matters that you were unconscious when you got it?
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”
Oh holy crap. Cannot unsee.
November 24, 2025 at 10:13 PM
Oh holy crap. Cannot unsee.
I'm gonna need that brand name
November 24, 2025 at 10:13 PM
I'm gonna need that brand name
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."
...some challenges for pre-contract units. Most unions don't really let pre-contract units govern themselves fully.
But I bet @erikloomis.bsky.social knows more than I do.
But I bet @erikloomis.bsky.social knows more than I do.
November 24, 2025 at 5:30 PM
...some challenges for pre-contract units. Most unions don't really let pre-contract units govern themselves fully.
But I bet @erikloomis.bsky.social knows more than I do.
But I bet @erikloomis.bsky.social knows more than I do.
Such a good question! I'm not 100% sure I know, since some unions still do ask for dues before a contract, but my guess is 1959's Landrum-Griffin Act played a role. The Union Members Bill of Rights contained in the Act, by giving all members a right to run for office and vote, must have created...
November 24, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Such a good question! I'm not 100% sure I know, since some unions still do ask for dues before a contract, but my guess is 1959's Landrum-Griffin Act played a role. The Union Members Bill of Rights contained in the Act, by giving all members a right to run for office and vote, must have created...
Reposted by Dave Kamper
November 24, 2025 at 4:19 PM