Matthew Cunningham-Cook
@matthewccook5.bsky.social
reporting at the Center for Media and Democracy, organizing in the labor movement
Pinned
Elon Musk and His DOGE Bro Have Cashed In on Americans' Retirement Savings
Antonio Gracias is helping Musk gut the government and the Social Security program at DOGE, as they benefit from Americans’ retirement savings.
www.rollingstone.com
my first byline in Rolling Stone (!) edited by the amazing @andrewperez.bsky.social. How exactly does Musk's privately held empire run? on the backs of retired teachers, firefighters, cops and bus drivers www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...
Reposted by Matthew Cunningham-Cook
Staff Sgt. Wolfe is a member of our CWA family from Local 2222 in Martinsburg, W.Va. and a lineman with Frontier Communications.
November 27, 2025 at 8:52 PM
Staff Sgt. Wolfe is a member of our CWA family from Local 2222 in Martinsburg, W.Va. and a lineman with Frontier Communications.
Reposted by Matthew Cunningham-Cook
As you’re preparing for your Thanksgiving meal, remember the skilled work it took to get that food to your grocery store.
Tell us your favorite Thanksgiving dish, and we can share some of what we know about the work behind the ingredients.
Tell us your favorite Thanksgiving dish, and we can share some of what we know about the work behind the ingredients.
November 26, 2025 at 6:03 PM
As you’re preparing for your Thanksgiving meal, remember the skilled work it took to get that food to your grocery store.
Tell us your favorite Thanksgiving dish, and we can share some of what we know about the work behind the ingredients.
Tell us your favorite Thanksgiving dish, and we can share some of what we know about the work behind the ingredients.
Reposted by Matthew Cunningham-Cook
Even if this were true I’m not sure it even… matters? In the sense that U.S. troops were, for a hot second, greeted as liberators by a good number of civilians in Iraq because the Saddam dictatorship was so traumatizing for millions, but that - for good reason — evaporated very quickly
"One guy, it doesn't matter who, swears there's a poll out there that says people want to be invaded." What kind of sourcing is this lol
November 27, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Even if this were true I’m not sure it even… matters? In the sense that U.S. troops were, for a hot second, greeted as liberators by a good number of civilians in Iraq because the Saddam dictatorship was so traumatizing for millions, but that - for good reason — evaporated very quickly
Reposted by Matthew Cunningham-Cook
"One guy, it doesn't matter who, swears there's a poll out there that says people want to be invaded." What kind of sourcing is this lol
November 27, 2025 at 1:56 PM
"One guy, it doesn't matter who, swears there's a poll out there that says people want to be invaded." What kind of sourcing is this lol
Reposted by Matthew Cunningham-Cook
After Hochul’s administration agreed, a federal judge finalized a deal last week that will likely suspend New York’s all-electric building law for at least a year.
Just a few weeks earlier, the state argued that delaying the gas ban would cause “irreparable harm."
Just a few weeks earlier, the state argued that delaying the gas ban would cause “irreparable harm."
Why Did Hochul Back Down on New York's Gas Ban?
Just last month, the state argued in court that it couldn’t halt the all-electric buildings law even if it wanted to. Then it abruptly changed course.
nysfocus.com
November 27, 2025 at 1:05 PM
After Hochul’s administration agreed, a federal judge finalized a deal last week that will likely suspend New York’s all-electric building law for at least a year.
Just a few weeks earlier, the state argued that delaying the gas ban would cause “irreparable harm."
Just a few weeks earlier, the state argued that delaying the gas ban would cause “irreparable harm."
Reposted by Matthew Cunningham-Cook
I have never visited one before…so *this* is what a UNICEF school looks like? Just benches and a tent…no books, no computers…no electricity or plumbing! (This one next to Uganda’s most lucrative tourist attraction: Queen Elizabeth National Park)
November 27, 2025 at 1:09 PM
I have never visited one before…so *this* is what a UNICEF school looks like? Just benches and a tent…no books, no computers…no electricity or plumbing! (This one next to Uganda’s most lucrative tourist attraction: Queen Elizabeth National Park)
Reposted by Matthew Cunningham-Cook
I need everybody to read this and understand what’s going on. These are spouses of US citizens in the country legally. They have entry clearance and green cards, they’ve passed background checks and have no criminal records. ICE is taking them anyway.
Gift link:
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
Gift link:
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
Green Card Interviews End in Handcuffs for Spouses of U.S. Citizens
www.nytimes.com
November 26, 2025 at 8:40 PM
I need everybody to read this and understand what’s going on. These are spouses of US citizens in the country legally. They have entry clearance and green cards, they’ve passed background checks and have no criminal records. ICE is taking them anyway.
Gift link:
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
Gift link:
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
Reposted by Matthew Cunningham-Cook
The Target boycott that AFT joined on Labor Day is seeing success. This holiday season, we're doubling down to demonstrate organized labor's economic power, as well as the consequences of ignoring the will of workers and the good of working families.
www.aft.org/news/we-aint...
www.aft.org/news/we-aint...
We ain’t buying it: Why we boycott Target
For a long time, Target—that popular mega store that seemed to hit just the right combination of low prices and of-the-moment swagger—was everyone’s darling, the go-to spot for everything from groceri...
www.aft.org
November 27, 2025 at 3:23 AM
The Target boycott that AFT joined on Labor Day is seeing success. This holiday season, we're doubling down to demonstrate organized labor's economic power, as well as the consequences of ignoring the will of workers and the good of working families.
www.aft.org/news/we-aint...
www.aft.org/news/we-aint...
Reposted by Matthew Cunningham-Cook
"We’re struggling to figure out how we can help and support our students who are impacted, as well as make meaning out of it in our own classes and curriculum, to meet the moment." —Liz Winfield, a teacher at Benito Juarez Community Academy whose student was abducted by ICE (and later released)
Visible and Invisible: How ICE Is Terrorizing Chicago’s Working Class
Fear, panic, hiding for days—this is the experience of families under assault by the Trump Administration
inthesetimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 9:28 PM
"We’re struggling to figure out how we can help and support our students who are impacted, as well as make meaning out of it in our own classes and curriculum, to meet the moment." —Liz Winfield, a teacher at Benito Juarez Community Academy whose student was abducted by ICE (and later released)
Reposted by Matthew Cunningham-Cook
Since 2021, 11,000 workers at ~550 Starbucks stores have unionized, but there is not a single first contract. Now Starbucks workers are putting everything on the line, waging an open-ended ULP strike. “It restores my faith in humanity,” says Meg Davitch, who works at a Starbucks in Chanhassen, Minn.
“It Restores My Faith in Humanity”: Why Minnesota Workers Are Joining the Starbucks Strike - Workday Magazine
Minnesota workers rally in support of striking baristas.
workdaymagazine.org
November 26, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Since 2021, 11,000 workers at ~550 Starbucks stores have unionized, but there is not a single first contract. Now Starbucks workers are putting everything on the line, waging an open-ended ULP strike. “It restores my faith in humanity,” says Meg Davitch, who works at a Starbucks in Chanhassen, Minn.
Reposted by Matthew Cunningham-Cook
“Real power comes from something Brian Niccol forgot. There are more of us than there are of him. The rich and powerful want us to forget that they are few, and we are many."
—Abby Haland, worker at a Starbucks in St. Anthony, Minnesota
—Abby Haland, worker at a Starbucks in St. Anthony, Minnesota
“It Restores My Faith in Humanity”: Why Minnesota Workers Are Joining the Starbucks Strike - Workday Magazine
Minnesota workers rally in support of striking baristas.
workdaymagazine.org
November 26, 2025 at 8:20 PM
“Real power comes from something Brian Niccol forgot. There are more of us than there are of him. The rich and powerful want us to forget that they are few, and we are many."
—Abby Haland, worker at a Starbucks in St. Anthony, Minnesota
—Abby Haland, worker at a Starbucks in St. Anthony, Minnesota
Reposted by Matthew Cunningham-Cook
As SEIU USWW and SEIU California president David Huerta fights for justice, the nearly 15 million members of America’s unions stand with him—and all of those unfairly and unjustly targeted by this administration. https://bit.ly/4p2hLOq
Labor union leader David Huerta pleads not guilty in LA immigration protest arrest
Los Angeles labor union leader David Jose Huerta pleaded not guilty to federal misdemeanor charges Tuesday when he made his first court appearance in connection with his arrest during an immigration e...
www.nbclosangeles.com
November 26, 2025 at 10:17 PM
As SEIU USWW and SEIU California president David Huerta fights for justice, the nearly 15 million members of America’s unions stand with him—and all of those unfairly and unjustly targeted by this administration. https://bit.ly/4p2hLOq
Reposted by Matthew Cunningham-Cook
🚨NEWS: Exxon is now petitioning the U.S. Supreme Court to grant corporations a new First Amendment right to avoid disclosing how much toxic pollution they are spewing and how much they are incinerating the atmosphere that supports all life on the planet.
Corporations Say It’s Their First Amendment Right To Hide
Corporations are asking the Supreme Court to help them dismantle a groundbreaking California transparency law requiring emissions disclosure.
www.levernews.com
November 25, 2025 at 4:24 AM
🚨NEWS: Exxon is now petitioning the U.S. Supreme Court to grant corporations a new First Amendment right to avoid disclosing how much toxic pollution they are spewing and how much they are incinerating the atmosphere that supports all life on the planet.
Reposted by Matthew Cunningham-Cook
🚨BREAKING: Days after a Trump settlement, RealPage just filed a lawsuit asserting AI giants have a First Amendment right to help landlords collude to raise rents.
The suit to kill an anti-price-gouging law follows Exxon saying it has a First Amendment right to hide pollution.
The suit to kill an anti-price-gouging law follows Exxon saying it has a First Amendment right to hide pollution.
Tech Giant Says AI Has A First Amendment Right To Raise Your Rent
Fresh off a Trump settlement, Real Page is trying to overturn New York’s anti-rent-gouging law.
www.levernews.com
November 26, 2025 at 6:35 PM
🚨BREAKING: Days after a Trump settlement, RealPage just filed a lawsuit asserting AI giants have a First Amendment right to help landlords collude to raise rents.
The suit to kill an anti-price-gouging law follows Exxon saying it has a First Amendment right to hide pollution.
The suit to kill an anti-price-gouging law follows Exxon saying it has a First Amendment right to hide pollution.
Reposted by Matthew Cunningham-Cook
The US just revoked the visa of Former South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor who initiated the genocide case against Israel.
Watch Zeteo's interview with her from March last year where she said there was 'huge murder underway' in Gaza: zeteo.com/p/exclusive-...
Watch Zeteo's interview with her from March last year where she said there was 'huge murder underway' in Gaza: zeteo.com/p/exclusive-...
EXCLUSIVE: South African Foreign Minister tells Zeteo 'huge murder underway' in Gaza
“For us to be invisible in a massive human struggle where we know a huge murder is underway, I think that is unacceptable.” - Naledi Pandor
zeteo.com
November 26, 2025 at 9:53 PM
The US just revoked the visa of Former South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor who initiated the genocide case against Israel.
Watch Zeteo's interview with her from March last year where she said there was 'huge murder underway' in Gaza: zeteo.com/p/exclusive-...
Watch Zeteo's interview with her from March last year where she said there was 'huge murder underway' in Gaza: zeteo.com/p/exclusive-...
Reposted by Matthew Cunningham-Cook
Outside the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette right now. Large crowd celebrating our strikers as the win and end their strike!
November 24, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Outside the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette right now. Large crowd celebrating our strikers as the win and end their strike!
Reposted by Matthew Cunningham-Cook
Private prison profits are booming under Trump 2.0. The CEO of America’s largest private prison operator said their mission “is perfectly aligned with the demands of this moment.” From @matthewcook5 with the Center for Media and Democracy: trib.al/7P1WGmU
State and Local Contracts Prop Up For-Profit Prisons - The American Prospect
CoreCivic and GEO Group profit from Trump’s immigration policies while also receiving lucrative contracts from state and local governments, including areas controlled by Democrats.
trib.al
November 26, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Private prison profits are booming under Trump 2.0. The CEO of America’s largest private prison operator said their mission “is perfectly aligned with the demands of this moment.” From @matthewcook5 with the Center for Media and Democracy: trib.al/7P1WGmU
Reposted by Matthew Cunningham-Cook
It's too sweeping to quote-skeet but well worth hiding from the family for a half-hour, to understand the roots of who Rubio and the administration is throwing in with in Venezuela.
prospect.org/2025/11/26/3...
prospect.org/2025/11/26/3...
The $30 Billion Identity Theft of Venezuela - The American Prospect
How Juan Guaidó sucked a weary nation dry, and primed it for the current U.S.-led assault
prospect.org
November 26, 2025 at 3:04 PM
It's too sweeping to quote-skeet but well worth hiding from the family for a half-hour, to understand the roots of who Rubio and the administration is throwing in with in Venezuela.
prospect.org/2025/11/26/3...
prospect.org/2025/11/26/3...
Reposted by Matthew Cunningham-Cook
Spectacular #longread on the history of the right-wing opposition in Venezuela, and how during Juan Guaido's shadow government an abominable legal strategy robbed the country of $30 billion destined for corporate claims holders. Amazing work from Moe Tkacik.
prospect.org/2025/11/26/3...
prospect.org/2025/11/26/3...
The $30 Billion Identity Theft of Venezuela - The American Prospect
How Juan Guaidó sucked a weary nation dry, and primed it for the current U.S.-led assault
prospect.org
November 26, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Spectacular #longread on the history of the right-wing opposition in Venezuela, and how during Juan Guaido's shadow government an abominable legal strategy robbed the country of $30 billion destined for corporate claims holders. Amazing work from Moe Tkacik.
prospect.org/2025/11/26/3...
prospect.org/2025/11/26/3...
Reposted by Matthew Cunningham-Cook
Affordability is a malleable thing. Kathy Hochul is using it to justify natural gas pipeline infrastructure. As a trade-off for getting Empire Wind built offshore, you can maybe understand it. But @whitneycwimbish.bsky.social & James Baratta report that it's also a handoff to data centers.
Big Tech’s Big New York Gas Pipeline - The American Prospect
Gov. Kathy Hochul justified a $1 billion natural gas project by appealing to affordability. But the main reason the state needs the energy is because data centers are hogging it.
prospect.org
November 26, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Affordability is a malleable thing. Kathy Hochul is using it to justify natural gas pipeline infrastructure. As a trade-off for getting Empire Wind built offshore, you can maybe understand it. But @whitneycwimbish.bsky.social & James Baratta report that it's also a handoff to data centers.
Menin is probably better for Mamdani anyway. Better to have a fight with an Upper East Side rich lady (who nonetheless has passed some extremely progressive legislation like the hotel registration bill). A Speaker Hudson would have been only marginally more pro-admin given her track record.
November 26, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Menin is probably better for Mamdani anyway. Better to have a fight with an Upper East Side rich lady (who nonetheless has passed some extremely progressive legislation like the hotel registration bill). A Speaker Hudson would have been only marginally more pro-admin given her track record.
Reposted by Matthew Cunningham-Cook
Another unconscionable move from the Trump administration to cause thousands of premature deaths in order to line polluters' pockets. We are keeping track of the administration's relentless sacrifices of environmental and human health to benefit toxic industry. Each week the list grows longer.
November 26, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Another unconscionable move from the Trump administration to cause thousands of premature deaths in order to line polluters' pockets. We are keeping track of the administration's relentless sacrifices of environmental and human health to benefit toxic industry. Each week the list grows longer.
Reposted by Matthew Cunningham-Cook
The assumption is that private prison firms are booming this year because of federal contracts with ICE.
But they derive much of their wealth from state and local government contracts, including in blue areas.
Co-pubbed with @exposedbycmd.bsky.social.
prospect.org/2025/11/26/s...
But they derive much of their wealth from state and local government contracts, including in blue areas.
Co-pubbed with @exposedbycmd.bsky.social.
prospect.org/2025/11/26/s...
State and Local Contracts Prop Up For-Profit Prisons - The American Prospect
CoreCivic and GEO Group profit from Trump’s immigration policies while also receiving lucrative contracts from state and local governments, including areas controlled by Democrats.
prospect.org
November 26, 2025 at 3:17 PM
The assumption is that private prison firms are booming this year because of federal contracts with ICE.
But they derive much of their wealth from state and local government contracts, including in blue areas.
Co-pubbed with @exposedbycmd.bsky.social.
prospect.org/2025/11/26/s...
But they derive much of their wealth from state and local government contracts, including in blue areas.
Co-pubbed with @exposedbycmd.bsky.social.
prospect.org/2025/11/26/s...
Reposted by Matthew Cunningham-Cook
The Boston Globe on the strange case of the mother of Ms Leavitt’s nephew being deported. Apparently, from the quote below, his father — Ms Leavitt’s brother — wants her gone.
“After Ferreira was detained, Dos Santos Rodrigues said Michael Leavitt Sr. and his father, Bob Leavitt, reached out to her.”
“‘They just kept saying, ‘Tell her to self-deport,’” she recalled. “Self-deport to where? Brazil is not her home.’” www.bostonglobe.com/2025/11/26/m...
“‘They just kept saying, ‘Tell her to self-deport,’” she recalled. “Self-deport to where? Brazil is not her home.’” www.bostonglobe.com/2025/11/26/m...
‘Brazil is not her home.’ Mother of Karoline Leavitt’s nephew, brought to US as child, detained by ICE. - The Boston Globe
Bruna Ferreira, 33, was brought to the United States as a child in 1998. She is now in removal proceedings in Louisiana.
www.bostonglobe.com
November 26, 2025 at 3:07 PM
The Boston Globe on the strange case of the mother of Ms Leavitt’s nephew being deported. Apparently, from the quote below, his father — Ms Leavitt’s brother — wants her gone.
Reposted by Matthew Cunningham-Cook
The Justice Department's settlement against RealPage doesn't take a dime of its profits from rental price-fixing, nor does it take away the data used to collude, which can still train the company's AI models. The restrictions imposed were things RealPage agreed to voluntarily a year ago.
Not good!
Not good!
The Wrist-Slappers Strike Again - The American Prospect
A settlement with algorithmic collusion facilitator RealPage allows it to keep allegedly ill-gotten profits and continue innovating to raise rents.
prospect.org
November 26, 2025 at 2:42 PM
The Justice Department's settlement against RealPage doesn't take a dime of its profits from rental price-fixing, nor does it take away the data used to collude, which can still train the company's AI models. The restrictions imposed were things RealPage agreed to voluntarily a year ago.
Not good!
Not good!