Pinned
Michelle
@mpoltonsimon.bsky.social
· Oct 7
I’m catching up on @nogodsnomayors.com and I’m so glad @mattielubchansky.com mentioned the only tweet from or about New York that has ever mattered
Katie McDonough, voice of a municipality
Katie McDonough, voice of a municipality
Reposted by Michelle
The "ICE is using military tactics suited for a warzone, not for American streets" rhetoric kinda misses the point that warzones are not naturally occuring. The US military creates war zones from residential neighborhoods and the tactics are not more justifiable just because it's overseas
January 18, 2026 at 1:42 AM
The "ICE is using military tactics suited for a warzone, not for American streets" rhetoric kinda misses the point that warzones are not naturally occuring. The US military creates war zones from residential neighborhoods and the tactics are not more justifiable just because it's overseas
Reposted by Michelle
We're all we've got - fortunately, we're all we need.
There’s something about a decades worth of fears coming true while also proving the thesis you’ve built your life around
January 18, 2026 at 2:05 AM
We're all we've got - fortunately, we're all we need.
Reposted by Michelle
Canada definitely feels further away than it has, what with the century of American humiliation. Minnesota feels both closer and further away than ever. One of the things about organizing is that it grows your shrinking world. You find you usually know a guy who knows a guy
I think a lot about something @patrickwyman.bsky.social said probably years ago on @trashfuture.bsky.social about how civilizational or empire collapse means your world shrinks. Between desperation, turmoil and failing infrastructure, your world becomes more insular and separate.
January 17, 2026 at 6:22 PM
Canada definitely feels further away than it has, what with the century of American humiliation. Minnesota feels both closer and further away than ever. One of the things about organizing is that it grows your shrinking world. You find you usually know a guy who knows a guy
Reposted by Michelle
It definitely feels like part of the fascist project is the shrinking of our worlds and of our possibilities. Part of the tech project is cutting us off from each other and shared humanity and replacing it with isolating and enervating AI. The death of the interconnected internet
January 17, 2026 at 4:49 PM
It definitely feels like part of the fascist project is the shrinking of our worlds and of our possibilities. Part of the tech project is cutting us off from each other and shared humanity and replacing it with isolating and enervating AI. The death of the interconnected internet
Reposted by Michelle
I think a lot about something @patrickwyman.bsky.social said probably years ago on @trashfuture.bsky.social about how civilizational or empire collapse means your world shrinks. Between desperation, turmoil and failing infrastructure, your world becomes more insular and separate.
January 17, 2026 at 4:49 PM
I think a lot about something @patrickwyman.bsky.social said probably years ago on @trashfuture.bsky.social about how civilizational or empire collapse means your world shrinks. Between desperation, turmoil and failing infrastructure, your world becomes more insular and separate.
Reposted by Michelle
There’s something about a decades worth of fears coming true while also proving the thesis you’ve built your life around
January 17, 2026 at 4:22 PM
There’s something about a decades worth of fears coming true while also proving the thesis you’ve built your life around
Reposted by Michelle
For a decade I have been clinging desperately to the idea that while institutions might fail us, collective action is the best and only tool we have to save ourselves. It’s gratifying to see this moment, despite it all
January 17, 2026 at 5:48 AM
For a decade I have been clinging desperately to the idea that while institutions might fail us, collective action is the best and only tool we have to save ourselves. It’s gratifying to see this moment, despite it all
Reposted by Michelle
Unfortunately my belief in the fundamental decency of everyday people has never been stronger
January 17, 2026 at 5:45 AM
Unfortunately my belief in the fundamental decency of everyday people has never been stronger
Reposted by Michelle
Forced face scanning of a U.S. citizen with zero cause, just bald racial profiling. This is tech fascism.
Mubashir and his family came to the United States as refugees from Ethiopia when he was a child, and they all became naturalized citizens in 2019.
Despite being a U.S. citizen, Mubashir was targeted by ICE, assaulted, and detained. Listen to his story:
Despite being a U.S. citizen, Mubashir was targeted by ICE, assaulted, and detained. Listen to his story:
January 18, 2026 at 12:16 AM
Forced face scanning of a U.S. citizen with zero cause, just bald racial profiling. This is tech fascism.
Reposted by Michelle
I would add that body cam footage is used as evidence against suspects orders of magnitude more often than it’s used to hold officers accountable. It’s difficult to use against cops, but has contributed massively to the surveillance state.
January 17, 2026 at 9:04 PM
I would add that body cam footage is used as evidence against suspects orders of magnitude more often than it’s used to hold officers accountable. It’s difficult to use against cops, but has contributed massively to the surveillance state.
Reposted by Michelle
I've finally put my "Find Your Organizing Home in NYC" zine online in readable form with clickable links - check it out and GET HOOKED UP and ORGANIZED, friends!
gregpak.net/2026/01/17/f...
gregpak.net/2026/01/17/f...
January 17, 2026 at 8:26 PM
I've finally put my "Find Your Organizing Home in NYC" zine online in readable form with clickable links - check it out and GET HOOKED UP and ORGANIZED, friends!
gregpak.net/2026/01/17/f...
gregpak.net/2026/01/17/f...
Canada definitely feels further away than it has, what with the century of American humiliation. Minnesota feels both closer and further away than ever. One of the things about organizing is that it grows your shrinking world. You find you usually know a guy who knows a guy
I think a lot about something @patrickwyman.bsky.social said probably years ago on @trashfuture.bsky.social about how civilizational or empire collapse means your world shrinks. Between desperation, turmoil and failing infrastructure, your world becomes more insular and separate.
January 17, 2026 at 6:22 PM
Canada definitely feels further away than it has, what with the century of American humiliation. Minnesota feels both closer and further away than ever. One of the things about organizing is that it grows your shrinking world. You find you usually know a guy who knows a guy
Reposted by Michelle
It’s really funny as a miserable lesbian to see people look at a miserable lesbian and go “seems problematic…” No bitch! Miserable lesbians are the backbone of society! Nothing works without us! Give us grenades and heroin!
Pluribus reddit discourse is so funny. “Are we supposed to root for Carol” you are supposed to watch how her character interacts with the world “she’s very unlikable” wow that’s crazy can they do that
January 17, 2026 at 5:25 PM
It’s really funny as a miserable lesbian to see people look at a miserable lesbian and go “seems problematic…” No bitch! Miserable lesbians are the backbone of society! Nothing works without us! Give us grenades and heroin!
Reposted by Michelle
Big shift from a "alright, the party's over freaks" to a "this place rules!" theory of mayoring
Outside Gracie Mansion. This is his job. But dare I day it he seems genuinely affected and happy to be there. There’s potentially immense power in that.
January 17, 2026 at 3:23 PM
Big shift from a "alright, the party's over freaks" to a "this place rules!" theory of mayoring
I think a lot about something @patrickwyman.bsky.social said probably years ago on @trashfuture.bsky.social about how civilizational or empire collapse means your world shrinks. Between desperation, turmoil and failing infrastructure, your world becomes more insular and separate.
January 17, 2026 at 4:49 PM
I think a lot about something @patrickwyman.bsky.social said probably years ago on @trashfuture.bsky.social about how civilizational or empire collapse means your world shrinks. Between desperation, turmoil and failing infrastructure, your world becomes more insular and separate.
The problem with Wolf Parade is that it’ll make me have feelings before going to work on a Saturday. That exactly when I don’t need feelings
January 17, 2026 at 4:19 PM
The problem with Wolf Parade is that it’ll make me have feelings before going to work on a Saturday. That exactly when I don’t need feelings
Unfortunately my belief in the fundamental decency of everyday people has never been stronger
January 17, 2026 at 5:45 AM
Unfortunately my belief in the fundamental decency of everyday people has never been stronger
Reposted by Michelle
“The entire operation is becoming slower and more resource-intensive. There is good reason to believe that more immigrants are with their families tonight because of ICE Watch.”
For @msnownews.bsky.social, I wrote an article about how ICE Watch is grounded in sociological theories of violence prevention.
The reality is that most men will only commit public violence in extremely specific scenarios and ICE Watch disrupts the conditions necessary for escalation.
The reality is that most men will only commit public violence in extremely specific scenarios and ICE Watch disrupts the conditions necessary for escalation.
Opinion | I'm a Minneapolis sociologist who studies violence. Here's how ICE observers are helping.
Research into how violence occurs shows that disapproval from the people around you can help reduce it.
www.ms.now
January 17, 2026 at 2:39 AM
“The entire operation is becoming slower and more resource-intensive. There is good reason to believe that more immigrants are with their families tonight because of ICE Watch.”
Reposted by Michelle
As much as this month has sucked, it has also given me enormous hope in the power of ordinary people to do extraordinarily selfless things.
January 17, 2026 at 4:54 AM
As much as this month has sucked, it has also given me enormous hope in the power of ordinary people to do extraordinarily selfless things.
Reposted by Michelle
I keep seeing it without a source link, so here it is:
January 16, 2026
MINNEAPOLIS LABOR UNION DELEGATION AND LOCAL REGIONAL LABOR BODIES ENDORSE JANUARY 23: DAY OF TRUTH AND FREEDOM
NO WORK, SCHOOL, OR SHOPPING
minneapolisunions.org/system/files...
January 16, 2026
MINNEAPOLIS LABOR UNION DELEGATION AND LOCAL REGIONAL LABOR BODIES ENDORSE JANUARY 23: DAY OF TRUTH AND FREEDOM
NO WORK, SCHOOL, OR SHOPPING
minneapolisunions.org/system/files...
January 16, 2026 at 11:40 PM
I keep seeing it without a source link, so here it is:
January 16, 2026
MINNEAPOLIS LABOR UNION DELEGATION AND LOCAL REGIONAL LABOR BODIES ENDORSE JANUARY 23: DAY OF TRUTH AND FREEDOM
NO WORK, SCHOOL, OR SHOPPING
minneapolisunions.org/system/files...
January 16, 2026
MINNEAPOLIS LABOR UNION DELEGATION AND LOCAL REGIONAL LABOR BODIES ENDORSE JANUARY 23: DAY OF TRUTH AND FREEDOM
NO WORK, SCHOOL, OR SHOPPING
minneapolisunions.org/system/files...
Reposted by Michelle
every single successful general strike in US history has had union backing through the local AFL-CIO
this is the first time it’s been called for since the 1940s
this is the first time it’s been called for since the 1940s
January 16, 2026 at 9:24 PM
every single successful general strike in US history has had union backing through the local AFL-CIO
this is the first time it’s been called for since the 1940s
this is the first time it’s been called for since the 1940s
Reposted by Michelle
Reposted by Michelle
Reposted by Michelle
I was at bankruptcy court for three hours yesterday and listened to more of the hearing online after that. The lawyers for my current landlord and the presumptive buyer were SO mad about organized tenants so I personally think every rent-stabilized building should form a union :)
Slumlord update: Sale set to be finalized today. Thanks to tenant organizing "the bank financing the deal offered to extend a $3M line of credit to fund repairs." Buyer negotiated w city, tenants "around a binding timeline and specific cash commitment to address thousands of housing code violations"
NYC landlord clashes with Mamdani administration in 9-hour bankruptcy hearing
Attorneys for City Hall and Pinnacle tenants argued for legally binding financial commitments that would compel a new buyer to address housing violations.
gothamist.com
January 16, 2026 at 4:56 PM
I was at bankruptcy court for three hours yesterday and listened to more of the hearing online after that. The lawyers for my current landlord and the presumptive buyer were SO mad about organized tenants so I personally think every rent-stabilized building should form a union :)
Reposted by Michelle
January 16, 2026 at 1:27 PM