Luke Mathers
@mathers.bsky.social
The words we choose to talk about what’s going on around us matter. Probably grabbing another cup of coffee.
Reposted by Luke Mathers
We've got about $160k-ish left of this match available -- every dollar goes to recruiting and supporting the next generation of leaders. secure.actblue.com/donate/20251...
December 8, 2025 at 6:57 PM
We've got about $160k-ish left of this match available -- every dollar goes to recruiting and supporting the next generation of leaders. secure.actblue.com/donate/20251...
If billionaires can afford to fight over who gets to buy the next mega media company, they can afford to pay taxes at a rate that ALL Americans can have nice things.
December 8, 2025 at 6:26 PM
If billionaires can afford to fight over who gets to buy the next mega media company, they can afford to pay taxes at a rate that ALL Americans can have nice things.
Reposted by Luke Mathers
You can help Bolts continue to provide crucial coverage of local elections. Here's how:
- Repost this = I donate $1.
- Follow @boltsmag.org = I donate $1.
- Donate (link below) + tell me how much = I match your donation.
(Donate monthly = I match a year's worth)
- Repost this = I donate $1.
- Follow @boltsmag.org = I donate $1.
- Donate (link below) + tell me how much = I match your donation.
(Donate monthly = I match a year's worth)
Support Bolts
We are a nonprofit publication that covers the nuts and bolts of political change, from the local up, and we need reader support to build our journalism.
boltsmag.org
December 3, 2025 at 6:20 PM
You can help Bolts continue to provide crucial coverage of local elections. Here's how:
- Repost this = I donate $1.
- Follow @boltsmag.org = I donate $1.
- Donate (link below) + tell me how much = I match your donation.
(Donate monthly = I match a year's worth)
- Repost this = I donate $1.
- Follow @boltsmag.org = I donate $1.
- Donate (link below) + tell me how much = I match your donation.
(Donate monthly = I match a year's worth)
Reposted by Luke Mathers
FOLKS, do you have questions on the redistricting wars (especially tonight)?
Bolts just launched a call for questions today: Tell us what you want to know... on new maps, about lingering questions, about lawsuits, on VRA threat, what where it means for 2026?
Reply below, or there's a form in here:
Bolts just launched a call for questions today: Tell us what you want to know... on new maps, about lingering questions, about lawsuits, on VRA threat, what where it means for 2026?
Reply below, or there's a form in here:
How Is Mid-Decade Redistricting Upending the Midterms? Send Us Your Questions. - Bolts
Redistricting is on the political agenda of state governments all over the country this year, an unusual trend for the middle of a decade. Spurred by President Trump, Texas adopted... Read More
boltsmag.org
December 4, 2025 at 11:30 PM
FOLKS, do you have questions on the redistricting wars (especially tonight)?
Bolts just launched a call for questions today: Tell us what you want to know... on new maps, about lingering questions, about lawsuits, on VRA threat, what where it means for 2026?
Reply below, or there's a form in here:
Bolts just launched a call for questions today: Tell us what you want to know... on new maps, about lingering questions, about lawsuits, on VRA threat, what where it means for 2026?
Reply below, or there's a form in here:
Reposted by Luke Mathers
Independent newsrooms like ours are rare — and powered by readers, not shareholders. This #GivingTuesday, help us raise $5,000 to keep watchdog reporting on the U.S. food system strong.
Every gift up to $1,000 is matched.
Give now: investigatemidwest.org/donate-3/
#NewsMatch
Every gift up to $1,000 is matched.
Give now: investigatemidwest.org/donate-3/
#NewsMatch
December 2, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Independent newsrooms like ours are rare — and powered by readers, not shareholders. This #GivingTuesday, help us raise $5,000 to keep watchdog reporting on the U.S. food system strong.
Every gift up to $1,000 is matched.
Give now: investigatemidwest.org/donate-3/
#NewsMatch
Every gift up to $1,000 is matched.
Give now: investigatemidwest.org/donate-3/
#NewsMatch
Reposted by Luke Mathers
News this morning: Former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes is running for governor, says the state needs to reject the “Washington Way” and get things done the “Wisconsin Way.”
wisconsinexaminer.com/2025/12/02/f...
wisconsinexaminer.com/2025/12/02/f...
Former Lt. Gov. and Senate candidate Mandela Barnes enters Democratic primary for Wisconsin governor • Wisconsin Examiner
In his ad, Barnes accused the federal government and Trump of looking the other way as working people struggle to keep up with costs.
wisconsinexaminer.com
December 2, 2025 at 3:07 PM
News this morning: Former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes is running for governor, says the state needs to reject the “Washington Way” and get things done the “Wisconsin Way.”
wisconsinexaminer.com/2025/12/02/f...
wisconsinexaminer.com/2025/12/02/f...
Reposted by Luke Mathers
Wisconsin leaders want more high school students to have the opportunity to take college-level courses, called dual enrollment. But a shortage of qualified teachers is one of the biggest barriers to growing their dual enrollment programs. Here's what could be done to change that.
Wisconsin high schools want to offer more college classes. First, teachers must go back to school.
School officials statewide want to give more students a jump start on college with dual enrollment classes. But they say they lack qualified teachers, and for busy teachers, grad school is a hard s…
wisconsinwatch.org
December 2, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Wisconsin leaders want more high school students to have the opportunity to take college-level courses, called dual enrollment. But a shortage of qualified teachers is one of the biggest barriers to growing their dual enrollment programs. Here's what could be done to change that.
Reposted by Luke Mathers
Remember—Billionaire philanthropy is PR
$6.25B is a lot of money. It’s also only 4.1% of the $152B Michael Dell has hoarded. If Dell paid the 37% tax rate on the wealthy he'd pay $56.25B—and still have nearly $100B, more than he'd ever need
Taxation of billionaires > philanthropy from billionaires
$6.25B is a lot of money. It’s also only 4.1% of the $152B Michael Dell has hoarded. If Dell paid the 37% tax rate on the wealthy he'd pay $56.25B—and still have nearly $100B, more than he'd ever need
Taxation of billionaires > philanthropy from billionaires
December 2, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Remember—Billionaire philanthropy is PR
$6.25B is a lot of money. It’s also only 4.1% of the $152B Michael Dell has hoarded. If Dell paid the 37% tax rate on the wealthy he'd pay $56.25B—and still have nearly $100B, more than he'd ever need
Taxation of billionaires > philanthropy from billionaires
$6.25B is a lot of money. It’s also only 4.1% of the $152B Michael Dell has hoarded. If Dell paid the 37% tax rate on the wealthy he'd pay $56.25B—and still have nearly $100B, more than he'd ever need
Taxation of billionaires > philanthropy from billionaires
Reposted by Luke Mathers
Thousands of machinists who build fighter jets and munitions at Boeing’s defense hub went on strike at midnight Monday for the first time since the mid-1990s.
Boeing defense union goes on strike
Boeing defense union announces strike after machinists in Missouri and Illinois voted to reject the latest contract offer.
www.washingtonpost.com
August 4, 2025 at 11:58 AM
Thousands of machinists who build fighter jets and munitions at Boeing’s defense hub went on strike at midnight Monday for the first time since the mid-1990s.
Reposted by Luke Mathers
Look over here!!!!
July 21, 2025 at 9:34 PM
Look over here!!!!
Reposted by Luke Mathers
Dear Jeff Bezos …
July 22, 2025 at 9:51 AM
Dear Jeff Bezos …
Reposted by Luke Mathers
The Trump administration has frozen $715 million in previously appropriated adult education funds nationwide, including $7 million in Wisconsin. Wisconsin Watch reports.
Trump funding freeze threatens programs that prepare thousands for jobs in Wisconsin
by Natalie Yahr / Wisconsin Watch and Miranda Dunlap / Wisconsin Watch, Wisconsin Watch On a recent Wednesday evening, a handful of adults sat around a table in a classroom at Madison College’s…
madison365.com
July 16, 2025 at 1:37 PM
The Trump administration has frozen $715 million in previously appropriated adult education funds nationwide, including $7 million in Wisconsin. Wisconsin Watch reports.
Excellent coverage of this whirlwind budget process by @civicmedia.us’s @danshafer.bsky.social, @jimmiekaska.bsky.social, and @chalipittman.bsky.social!
Wisconsin has a budget. Now strap in folks, the 2026 election cycle is about to begin for our state.
civicmedia.us/news/2025/07...
Wisconsin has a budget. Now strap in folks, the 2026 election cycle is about to begin for our state.
civicmedia.us/news/2025/07...
Evers signs Wisconsin budget shortly after Legislature's approval - Civic Media
Lawmakers passed the two-year budget in a late-night session after hours of speeches, framing compromise as imperfect but necessary.
civicmedia.us
July 3, 2025 at 10:03 AM
Excellent coverage of this whirlwind budget process by @civicmedia.us’s @danshafer.bsky.social, @jimmiekaska.bsky.social, and @chalipittman.bsky.social!
Wisconsin has a budget. Now strap in folks, the 2026 election cycle is about to begin for our state.
civicmedia.us/news/2025/07...
Wisconsin has a budget. Now strap in folks, the 2026 election cycle is about to begin for our state.
civicmedia.us/news/2025/07...
Reposted by Luke Mathers
This would be the largest public lands sell-off in modern U.S. history and it's happening with no hearings, no debate, and no public input.
See what public lands would be available for sale:
www.wilderness.org/articles/med...
See what public lands would be available for sale:
www.wilderness.org/articles/med...
120 million acres of public lands eligible for sale in SENR budget reconciliation package
The bill mandates disposal of over 2 million acres of BLM and National Forest lands; public lands eligible for sale in the bill encompass over 120 million acres, including local recreation areas, wild...
www.wilderness.org
June 16, 2025 at 9:13 PM
This would be the largest public lands sell-off in modern U.S. history and it's happening with no hearings, no debate, and no public input.
See what public lands would be available for sale:
www.wilderness.org/articles/med...
See what public lands would be available for sale:
www.wilderness.org/articles/med...
Reposted by Luke Mathers
I was on the @maggiedaunshow.bsky.social show (which is part of @civicmedia.us) today, and I really recommend the show generally. Maggie is a great host and has a lot of interesting content & commentary: civicmedia.us/shows/maggie...
Rojo's Rants and Trump's Ukraine Conundrum - Civic Media
In this hour, Maggie takes aim at Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson’s dangerous disinformation—from his anti-vaccine rhetoric to his open contempt for peer-reviewed science. While Johnson spins conspiracy...
civicmedia.us
May 30, 2025 at 2:47 AM
I was on the @maggiedaunshow.bsky.social show (which is part of @civicmedia.us) today, and I really recommend the show generally. Maggie is a great host and has a lot of interesting content & commentary: civicmedia.us/shows/maggie...
If only there was money to address this problem allocated by the state, oh wait…
wisconsinindependent.com/politics/wis...
wisconsinindependent.com/politics/wis...
Wisconsinites exhausted over back-and-forth in PFAS fight
Advocates are exhausted and determined as state Republicans and the Trump Administration stymie efforts to fight the 'forever chemicals.'
wisconsinindependent.com
June 4, 2025 at 3:09 AM
If only there was money to address this problem allocated by the state, oh wait…
wisconsinindependent.com/politics/wis...
wisconsinindependent.com/politics/wis...
Excellent read from Emily Tseffos at the Recombobulation Area this weekend:
“Instead, they laugh off solutions — and make it crystal clear who they’re really working for.”
Read the full piece:
open.substack.com/pub/recombob...
“Instead, they laugh off solutions — and make it crystal clear who they’re really working for.”
Read the full piece:
open.substack.com/pub/recombob...
When lawmakers serve the wealthy, the rest of us pay the price
GOP lawmakers removing 600+ items from the governor's budget proposal is all about politics, not people. "While GOP leaders are obsessing over who gets the headline, real people are struggling."
open.substack.com
May 24, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Excellent read from Emily Tseffos at the Recombobulation Area this weekend:
“Instead, they laugh off solutions — and make it crystal clear who they’re really working for.”
Read the full piece:
open.substack.com/pub/recombob...
“Instead, they laugh off solutions — and make it crystal clear who they’re really working for.”
Read the full piece:
open.substack.com/pub/recombob...
Wild how the piece doesn’t mention how much Home Depot’s ownership has donated to 2.0’s political campaigns…
Not once. Not a single mention…
www.cnn.com/2025/05/20/b...
Not once. Not a single mention…
www.cnn.com/2025/05/20/b...
May 20, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Wild how the piece doesn’t mention how much Home Depot’s ownership has donated to 2.0’s political campaigns…
Not once. Not a single mention…
www.cnn.com/2025/05/20/b...
Not once. Not a single mention…
www.cnn.com/2025/05/20/b...
Reposted by Luke Mathers
This was the point in the @propublica.org story on pricey cancer drug Revlimid where i got angry.
The price has gone up 26 TIMES since 2006.
Yet, @davidarmstrongx.bsky.social found a deposition where a top exec admits the drug has ALWAYS cost just $.25 to make.
www.propublica.org/article/revl...
The price has gone up 26 TIMES since 2006.
Yet, @davidarmstrongx.bsky.social found a deposition where a top exec admits the drug has ALWAYS cost just $.25 to make.
www.propublica.org/article/revl...
May 8, 2025 at 10:15 PM
This was the point in the @propublica.org story on pricey cancer drug Revlimid where i got angry.
The price has gone up 26 TIMES since 2006.
Yet, @davidarmstrongx.bsky.social found a deposition where a top exec admits the drug has ALWAYS cost just $.25 to make.
www.propublica.org/article/revl...
The price has gone up 26 TIMES since 2006.
Yet, @davidarmstrongx.bsky.social found a deposition where a top exec admits the drug has ALWAYS cost just $.25 to make.
www.propublica.org/article/revl...
Reposted by Luke Mathers
There were 27 billion-dollar extreme weather and climate disasters in 2024. Now we have no way to track them. This is anti-science, anti-safety, and anti-American.
May 8, 2025 at 4:40 PM
There were 27 billion-dollar extreme weather and climate disasters in 2024. Now we have no way to track them. This is anti-science, anti-safety, and anti-American.
Reposted by Luke Mathers
Interesting piece which reveals a lot of the tech bro ignorance of government: DOGEr comes in, expects to find lots of inefficiency, is at least willing to acknowledge he was wrong unlike the hard core ideologues.
![Now that he’s there, he says he finds himself surrounded by people who “love their jobs,” who came to the government with a sense of mission driving their work.
“In a sense, that makes the DOGE agenda a little bit more complicated, because if half the government took [a buyout offer], then we wouldn’t have to do much more,” he says, implying software can replace departing employees. “We’d just basically use software to plug holes. But that’s not what’s happening.”
Lavingia’s skills with automation, which have helped keep Gumroad lean, are what he hopes to bring to the VA. But when it comes down to it, what he’s found is a machine that largely functions, though it doesn’t make decisions as fast as a startup might.
“I would say the culture shock is mostly a lot of meetings, not a lot of decisions,” he says. “But honestly, it’s kind of fine—because the government works. It’s not as inefficient as I was expecting, to be honest. I was hoping for more easy wins.”](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:2rrp7amblhg3xoly5n5huiqv/bafkreignzunuto2j42vbchtvzg26ablavrjq7e3cq3pbcicwskvpyddlzu@jpeg)
May 8, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Interesting piece which reveals a lot of the tech bro ignorance of government: DOGEr comes in, expects to find lots of inefficiency, is at least willing to acknowledge he was wrong unlike the hard core ideologues.
Reposted by Luke Mathers
Succinctly put here by @crulge.urinal.club: "Work requirements are, in a word, bullshit" www.therecombobulationarea.news/p/without-me...
Without Medicaid, Wisconsin won’t work. Any cut to the program puts us all at risk.
"The upcoming weeks...are ones of existential risk for American healthcare." Guest column from Timothy Faust.
www.therecombobulationarea.news
May 8, 2025 at 2:29 AM
Succinctly put here by @crulge.urinal.club: "Work requirements are, in a word, bullshit" www.therecombobulationarea.news/p/without-me...
Reposted by Luke Mathers
Still the minimum wage in Wisconsin
Welp, the federal minimum wage is now officially a poverty wage (as in, a full-time worker earning the federal minimum wage gets paid less than the poverty line for a single person). www.epi.org/blog/the-fed...
April 28, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Still the minimum wage in Wisconsin
For folks looking to stay up to date with news around Wisconsin, give the @civicmedia.us team a follow!
go.bsky.app/Su6nMW
go.bsky.app/Su6nMW
April 28, 2025 at 6:04 PM
For folks looking to stay up to date with news around Wisconsin, give the @civicmedia.us team a follow!
go.bsky.app/Su6nMW
go.bsky.app/Su6nMW