John Raftery
@johnraftery.bsky.social
640 followers 480 following 620 posts
I coach, mentor and advise university leaders. Interim university president/ VC/ CEO 🇮🇪 in 🇺🇸 “ I cannot be pessimistic, I’m alive.” Cambridge, MA.
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Reposted by John Raftery
pbump.com
We just taped Stephanie Ruhle’s 11 pm MSNBC show tonight and I am pleased to report that my MVP for this week (a Friday segment) was the inflatable frogs of Portland.
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coco.sheshed.rocks
A very busy morning BUT do not forget to #ReleaseTheEpsteinFiles

#SheShed
Release the Epstein Files
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sebastiangarof5.bsky.social
Wouldn’t it be cool if this photo of Obama receiving his Noble Peace Prize went viral today? 🔄
Obama  receiving his Noble Peace Prize
Reposted by John Raftery
muellershewrote.com
A restraining order was issued YESTERDAY by a federal judge barring detention of journalists in this district unless they refuse to reposition themselves and are given adequate time to do so, or there’s probable cause they’ve committed a crime.
heartlandsignal.bsky.social
BREAKING: Masked Border Patrol agents aggressively arrested WGN video producer Debbie Brockman in Lincoln Square Friday morning, supposedly for "obstructing justice." (Video via Josh Thomas on Facebook)

Follow @heartlandsignal for more.
Reposted by John Raftery
johnraftery.bsky.social
More good news from my pov this morning. Brexit changed the conversation. One, (maybe the only one) ‘Brexit benefit’ is that reunification in Ireland is closer than it has ever been. Explained very well here by @gylesnamopaleen.bsky.social
gylesnamopaleen.bsky.social
seeing that there is more chat about reunification in Ireland, post brexit, this might interest some.

TL;DR: brexit accidentally gave us a preview of what reunification might mean, economically. And it looks really good!

We're calling it a "Sochar Brexit"!

("brexit benefit" in Irish)

🧵
screengrab from the ALL ISLAND ECONOMY financial report. 

"The Projected Public Finances of the Early Years of a United Ireland
This report calculates the subvention in public finances likely to transfer to “Northern Ireland’ at the time of a United Ireland, based on the most up-to-date UK figures. It is the first peer-reviewed report to calculate the cost of unity over the first ten years, which takes account not only of the subvention, but necessary investment and gradual economic convergence with
the rest of the island. The report breaks down the key financial issues such as pensions, debt, defence spending, UK central costs and taxation to justify this figure and calculates that the cost of the subvention, currently paid by the UK, which will transfer to a United Ireland will be £1.5 billion pa – not the, often quoted, figures of £10b to £14b."
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kittymurphymtl.bsky.social
The continuation of this video shows the ICE agents driving off, hitting an SUV, and tearing off their rear bumper - never stopping.

Another charge for them - Hit and Run; or is that also forgiven in Trump's world??????
Reposted by John Raftery
mjsdc.bsky.social
This arrest appears to be in direct violation of a temporary restraining order prohibiting DHS officers from arresting journalists. The officers here may well be subject to contempt of court. protectdemocracy.org/wp-content/u...
It is hereby ORDERED that Defendants,' their officers, agents, assigns, and all
persons acting in concert with them (hereafter referred to as "Federal Agents"), are temporarily
ENJOINED in this judicial district from:
a.
Dispersing, arresting, threatening to arrest, threatening or using physical
force against any person whom they know or reasonably should know is a Journalist, unless Defendants have probable cause to believe that the individual has committed a crime.
Reposted by John Raftery
heartlandsignal.bsky.social
BREAKING: Masked Border Patrol agents aggressively arrested WGN video producer Debbie Brockman in Lincoln Square Friday morning, supposedly for "obstructing justice." (Video via Josh Thomas on Facebook)

Follow @heartlandsignal for more.
Reposted by John Raftery
labsp61.bsky.social
So, there must be no 'handcuff' class at ICE Inc. They are most fumbling bumbling goons...they all look like they have never applied handcuffs before...I guess that isn't part of the Call of Duty video game that they trained on?
johnraftery.bsky.social
Overwhelmingly, intensely happy and grateful to the Norwegian Nobel Committee for awarding the 2025 #NobelPeacePrize to María Corina.

www.reuters.com/world/americ...
www.reuters.com
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leahgreenberg.bsky.social
JB Pritzker says NO KINGS, SHOW UP ON 10/18
gregsargent.bsky.social
Finally, Pritzker says more Dems must sound the alarm, though he notes some exceptions (like Chris Murphy).

"I am surprised that more leaders have not stood up," he says.

He urges people to join No Kings protests to let the country know something's wrong. 5/5

newrepublic.com/article/2016...
Reposted by John Raftery
kevinmkruse.bsky.social
The House Majority Whip is also insisting that a peaceful "No Kings" demonstration is in fact a "hate America rally" held for the "terrorist wing" of the Democratic Party.

Really feels like they're trying to manifest a violent reaction to it.
atrupar.com
Emmer: "This is about one thing and one thing alone -- to score political points with the terrorist wing of their party, which is set to hold a hate America rally in DC next week."
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unburntwitch.com
Never forget the core thing funding the sheer scale of the spending spree of AI investments is primarily due to the turborich wanting to solve the “problem” of having to pay wages.
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johnraftery.bsky.social
This is a lovely photo. A beautiful Venezuelan woman, inside and out.
reuters.com
BREAKING: Venezuela's Maria Corina Machado wins the Nobel Peace Prize for 2025 reut.rs/42uh3Aw
Reposted by John Raftery
johnraftery.bsky.social
Overwhelmingly intensely happy and grateful to the Norwegian Nobel Committee for awarding the 2025 #NobelPeacePrize to María Corina.

www.reuters.com/world/americ...
www.reuters.com
Reposted by John Raftery
johnraftery.bsky.social
María Corina Machado, Nobel Laureate, 2025.
reuters.com
'When authoritarians seize power, it is crucial to recognize courageous defenders of freedom who rise and resist,' the Norwegian Nobel Committee said as it announced Maria Corina Machado as the winner of the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize
Reposted by John Raftery
johnraftery.bsky.social
One of the frogs explains here that they came out in solidarity with a toad from a different pond. I’m getting to know and love the people of Portland
oregonian.com
Things are happening at Portland's ICE facility tonight.

Read more of our protest coverage here: www.oregonlive.com/crime/2025/1...
Reposted by John Raftery
gylesnamopaleen.bsky.social
good point about china. as an aside, a few hundred thousand HongKongers (is that the correct term?) have moved to england recently under a special visa.

perhaps the most positive thing about Ireland now is how we seem to have, accidentally, discovered a 21st century notion of nationhood.
Reposted by John Raftery
mcopelov.bsky.social
Your regular reminder, aside from the performative public lying of far right authoritarians, that the GOP & the national media would have a week-long Discourse On Civility if <any Democrat> ever spoke about GOP voters/conservatives the way GOP leaders speak about Dem voters/liberals every single day
atrupar.com
Mike Johnson: "We're so angry about it. I mean, I'm a very patient guy, but I've had it with these people. The theory we have right now -- they have a hate America rally that's scheduled for October 18 on the National Mall. It's the pro-Hamas wing and antifa people ... "
johnraftery.bsky.social
This is the right approach. It’s a small island & whole island approaches to infrastructure projects where possible… a good example of ‘playing the long game’. I lived in Hong Kong thru the 1990s & learned about China’s view of timescales (very long!)
Reposted by John Raftery
gylesnamopaleen.bsky.social
agreed.

The approach, from Dublin, appears to be get all the foundations & infrastructure (e.g. rail, energy, health) in for this new house before the arguments, over which colour the front door is painted, kick off!

And the tone & focus is "Shared Island".
gylesnamopaleen.bsky.social
Post brexit, reunification is already sorta happening.

Trade, tourism, sport, all major infrastucture projects like Rail, Energy & health are "Shared Island" in scope now.

What worries us (Irish) is RFM, CON, LAB screwing up a very delicate situation, economically & culturally on the Island.

4/5
graphic outlining a new 2030 proposal  for rail across the whole Island of Ireland. 

https://www.gov.ie/pdf/?file=https://assets.gov.ie/265178/a839ee26-16c4-407d-bd5b-327ce0e067f5.pdf Stormont health chiefs welcome Irish government funding 250 student nurses

"This planned one-year funding arrangement will be an important practical step in fostering future collaboration across the island of Ireland"

https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/health/stormont-health-chiefs-welcome-irish-27097287
Reposted by John Raftery
gylesnamopaleen.bsky.social
We have 101+ years of data on how disastrous british rule has been in Northern Ireland.

We have, largely, avoided the worst of brexit & are slowly coming together.

We don't fancy the idea of these utter gobshites rushing it through, for whatever bonkers notions they have about the ECHR.

5/5
photo of labour conservative reform leaders
Reposted by John Raftery
gylesnamopaleen.bsky.social
Post brexit, reunification is already sorta happening.

Trade, tourism, sport, all major infrastucture projects like Rail, Energy & health are "Shared Island" in scope now.

What worries us (Irish) is RFM, CON, LAB screwing up a very delicate situation, economically & culturally on the Island.

4/5
graphic outlining a new 2030 proposal  for rail across the whole Island of Ireland. 

https://www.gov.ie/pdf/?file=https://assets.gov.ie/265178/a839ee26-16c4-407d-bd5b-327ce0e067f5.pdf Stormont health chiefs welcome Irish government funding 250 student nurses

"This planned one-year funding arrangement will be an important practical step in fostering future collaboration across the island of Ireland"

https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/health/stormont-health-chiefs-welcome-irish-27097287