C.H. Romatowski
@romatowski.bsky.social
Editor, translator, filmmaker. Recovering academic. Leftist. Perfumista. ME/CFS, MCAS, POTS. EN/FR. She/they. DMV. More some days than others.
Pinned
A Real Cancer in Washington
The quiet heroism of my friend in government
tinyurl.com
One year ago the Trump Admin began trying to dismantle the CFPB. My sister was one of the CFPB staffers illegally fired—the same day she was diagnosed w/breast cancer.
A year later CFPB and my sister are both still here and still fighting ❤️ ICYMI, gift link to Annie Lowrey’s story about that fight.
A year later CFPB and my sister are both still here and still fighting ❤️ ICYMI, gift link to Annie Lowrey’s story about that fight.
Reposted by C.H. Romatowski
Looking for an additional reason to support local news in D.C. right now?
Russ will match your gift $$$ if you send him a screenshot of your support! ⬇️
Russ will match your gift $$$ if you send him a screenshot of your support! ⬇️
February 17, 2026 at 5:50 PM
Looking for an additional reason to support local news in D.C. right now?
Russ will match your gift $$$ if you send him a screenshot of your support! ⬇️
Russ will match your gift $$$ if you send him a screenshot of your support! ⬇️
Reposted by C.H. Romatowski
Wrote for @theglobeandmail.com:
I spent months hearing from African survivors of Myanmar scam camps, where trafficking victims are forced to run scams targeting westerners. Chinese criminals & at least one pro-junta militia cooperate to dish out horrific abuse against migrants to ensure compliance.
I spent months hearing from African survivors of Myanmar scam camps, where trafficking victims are forced to run scams targeting westerners. Chinese criminals & at least one pro-junta militia cooperate to dish out horrific abuse against migrants to ensure compliance.
Africans are being confined and beaten in scam camps in Myanmar
Migrants toil for long hours on social-media platforms, targeting people with crypto and romance scams
www.theglobeandmail.com
February 17, 2026 at 6:10 AM
Wrote for @theglobeandmail.com:
I spent months hearing from African survivors of Myanmar scam camps, where trafficking victims are forced to run scams targeting westerners. Chinese criminals & at least one pro-junta militia cooperate to dish out horrific abuse against migrants to ensure compliance.
I spent months hearing from African survivors of Myanmar scam camps, where trafficking victims are forced to run scams targeting westerners. Chinese criminals & at least one pro-junta militia cooperate to dish out horrific abuse against migrants to ensure compliance.
Reposted by C.H. Romatowski
Remember when most of these dudes signed a pledge to give their money away?
February 16, 2026 at 6:15 PM
Remember when most of these dudes signed a pledge to give their money away?
Reposted by C.H. Romatowski
After Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger withdrew from an ICE program that empowers state agencies to make immigration arrests, immigrant rights advocates are hoping state lawmakers will do the same to prevent local sheriffs from working with ICE.
Virginia’s New Governor Ends ICE Program. Local Contracts Remain, For Now.
Abigail Spanberger left the 287(g) program, which empowered state law enforcement to detain immigrants. Will Democrats also bar local police and sheriffs from the program?
boltsmag.org
February 16, 2026 at 5:07 PM
After Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger withdrew from an ICE program that empowers state agencies to make immigration arrests, immigrant rights advocates are hoping state lawmakers will do the same to prevent local sheriffs from working with ICE.
Reposted by C.H. Romatowski
Your town facing a new data center or heavy infrastructure proposal?
Our local govt tansparency org compiled a toolkit of proven "asks," from noise ordinances to rate locks, rural communities across the US have successfully negotiated.
See what you can demand:
www.opengorge.org/public-benef...
Our local govt tansparency org compiled a toolkit of proven "asks," from noise ordinances to rate locks, rural communities across the US have successfully negotiated.
See what you can demand:
www.opengorge.org/public-benef...
Public Benefit Lab — Open Gorge
www.opengorge.org
February 16, 2026 at 5:55 PM
Your town facing a new data center or heavy infrastructure proposal?
Our local govt tansparency org compiled a toolkit of proven "asks," from noise ordinances to rate locks, rural communities across the US have successfully negotiated.
See what you can demand:
www.opengorge.org/public-benef...
Our local govt tansparency org compiled a toolkit of proven "asks," from noise ordinances to rate locks, rural communities across the US have successfully negotiated.
See what you can demand:
www.opengorge.org/public-benef...
Reposted by C.H. Romatowski
I think turning down a job like this is simple self-preservation. I also think that the editor writing about this fact publicly is the strongest affirmation of the student's decision that could possibly come to light
A conscientious journalism grad withdraw from a job when she learned the Cleveland Plain Dealer uses AI to write its stories.
Now the editor is castigating her and journalism professors for not being “prepared for the workforce.”
You can’t make this shit up.
www.cleveland.com/news/2026/02...
Now the editor is castigating her and journalism professors for not being “prepared for the workforce.”
You can’t make this shit up.
www.cleveland.com/news/2026/02...
February 16, 2026 at 4:27 PM
I think turning down a job like this is simple self-preservation. I also think that the editor writing about this fact publicly is the strongest affirmation of the student's decision that could possibly come to light
Whoa
Devastated to learn that Univ of Texas at Austin is closing the American Studies dept. The years I spent there earning my PhD were formative, making me the teacher, thinker, and writer I am today. I've passed on what I learned at UT to thousands of students over the past 20 years. Just awful.
February 16, 2026 at 7:13 PM
Whoa
Reposted by C.H. Romatowski
💘 What is the best underseen romance film?
“Underseen” means fewer than 50,000 watches on Letterboxd, so make sure that your picks meet that requirement before showing them some much-needed love.
Start listing now: boxd.it/eZs
“Underseen” means fewer than 50,000 watches on Letterboxd, so make sure that your picks meet that requirement before showing them some much-needed love.
Start listing now: boxd.it/eZs
February 15, 2026 at 1:22 PM
💘 What is the best underseen romance film?
“Underseen” means fewer than 50,000 watches on Letterboxd, so make sure that your picks meet that requirement before showing them some much-needed love.
Start listing now: boxd.it/eZs
“Underseen” means fewer than 50,000 watches on Letterboxd, so make sure that your picks meet that requirement before showing them some much-needed love.
Start listing now: boxd.it/eZs
February 15, 2026 at 11:33 PM
Just remembered this winter is my 20-year anniversary of developing ME/CFS.
Two decades later; more than three million Americans affected; still zero FDA-approved treatments.
#TripleTheNIHBudget and start funding ME/CFS research.
Two decades later; more than three million Americans affected; still zero FDA-approved treatments.
#TripleTheNIHBudget and start funding ME/CFS research.
February 13, 2026 at 9:06 PM
Just remembered this winter is my 20-year anniversary of developing ME/CFS.
Two decades later; more than three million Americans affected; still zero FDA-approved treatments.
#TripleTheNIHBudget and start funding ME/CFS research.
Two decades later; more than three million Americans affected; still zero FDA-approved treatments.
#TripleTheNIHBudget and start funding ME/CFS research.
One year ago the Trump Admin began trying to dismantle the CFPB. My sister was one of the CFPB staffers illegally fired—the same day she was diagnosed w/breast cancer.
A year later CFPB and my sister are both still here and still fighting ❤️ ICYMI, gift link to Annie Lowrey’s story about that fight.
A year later CFPB and my sister are both still here and still fighting ❤️ ICYMI, gift link to Annie Lowrey’s story about that fight.
A Real Cancer in Washington
The quiet heroism of my friend in government
tinyurl.com
February 13, 2026 at 8:21 PM
One year ago the Trump Admin began trying to dismantle the CFPB. My sister was one of the CFPB staffers illegally fired—the same day she was diagnosed w/breast cancer.
A year later CFPB and my sister are both still here and still fighting ❤️ ICYMI, gift link to Annie Lowrey’s story about that fight.
A year later CFPB and my sister are both still here and still fighting ❤️ ICYMI, gift link to Annie Lowrey’s story about that fight.
Reposted by C.H. Romatowski
I watched last night and these are three of the smartest people on the planet from whom I have learned a lot. If you listen, you'll learn too.
LIVE NOW!
Abolish ICE, Abolish the Border
Join @harshawalia.bsky.social, @silkys13.bsky.social, & @reallandsend.bsky.social of @deathpanel.bsky.social for a discussion on the brutal enforcement of immigration policing in Minneapolis and beyond.
Stream here:
Abolish ICE, Abolish the Border
Join @harshawalia.bsky.social, @silkys13.bsky.social, & @reallandsend.bsky.social of @deathpanel.bsky.social for a discussion on the brutal enforcement of immigration policing in Minneapolis and beyond.
Stream here:
Abolish ICE, Abolish the Border
Join Harsha Walia, Silky Shah, and Beatrice Adler-Bolton of Death Panel for an urgent discussion on the brutal enforcement of immigration policing in Minneapolis and beyond, and why resistance calls…
www.youtube.com
February 13, 2026 at 7:48 PM
I watched last night and these are three of the smartest people on the planet from whom I have learned a lot. If you listen, you'll learn too.
Huge opportunity to help build a serious alternative to Bezos’s Vichy Post.
You can help build billionaire-free local news.
Repost this -> I give $1
Follow @51st.news -> I give $1
Follow me -> I give $1
Donate -> I match your gift
Let's fight misinformation, help good journalists to make a decent living, and stick a big ol' finger in Jeff Bezos' eye.
Repost this -> I give $1
Follow @51st.news -> I give $1
Follow me -> I give $1
Donate -> I match your gift
Let's fight misinformation, help good journalists to make a decent living, and stick a big ol' finger in Jeff Bezos' eye.
February 13, 2026 at 7:44 PM
Huge opportunity to help build a serious alternative to Bezos’s Vichy Post.
Reposted by C.H. Romatowski
You can help build billionaire-free local news.
Repost this -> I give $1
Follow @51st.news -> I give $1
Follow me -> I give $1
Donate -> I match your gift
Let's fight misinformation, help good journalists to make a decent living, and stick a big ol' finger in Jeff Bezos' eye.
Repost this -> I give $1
Follow @51st.news -> I give $1
Follow me -> I give $1
Donate -> I match your gift
Let's fight misinformation, help good journalists to make a decent living, and stick a big ol' finger in Jeff Bezos' eye.
February 13, 2026 at 6:50 PM
You can help build billionaire-free local news.
Repost this -> I give $1
Follow @51st.news -> I give $1
Follow me -> I give $1
Donate -> I match your gift
Let's fight misinformation, help good journalists to make a decent living, and stick a big ol' finger in Jeff Bezos' eye.
Repost this -> I give $1
Follow @51st.news -> I give $1
Follow me -> I give $1
Donate -> I match your gift
Let's fight misinformation, help good journalists to make a decent living, and stick a big ol' finger in Jeff Bezos' eye.
Reposted by C.H. Romatowski
For my money, the way thousands of regular people are self-organizing to resist data centers is one of the most cautiously hopeful stories going right now.
www.themountaineer.com/news/no-cryp...
www.themountaineer.com/news/no-cryp...
No crypto in Canton: Town blocks data centers and crypto mining operations
Canton’s makeshift town hall in a tiny trailer was bursting at the seams Wednesday night with citizens united against data centers and cryptocurrency mining.
www.themountaineer.com
February 13, 2026 at 2:27 AM
For my money, the way thousands of regular people are self-organizing to resist data centers is one of the most cautiously hopeful stories going right now.
www.themountaineer.com/news/no-cryp...
www.themountaineer.com/news/no-cryp...
This is encouraging. Congrats to Kat.
New — Justice Democrats and AIPAC's new competitor
@votepalpac.bsky.social jointly endorse Kat Abughazaleh in IL-9.
Abughazaleh: "This endorsement reflects…a growing movement of people who are done with a Democratic Party that has cast them aside in favor of profit, greed, and power."
@votepalpac.bsky.social jointly endorse Kat Abughazaleh in IL-9.
Abughazaleh: "This endorsement reflects…a growing movement of people who are done with a Democratic Party that has cast them aside in favor of profit, greed, and power."
February 13, 2026 at 4:12 AM
This is encouraging. Congrats to Kat.
Reposted by C.H. Romatowski
Alexis Goldstein needs more fans; the woman rules.
February 12, 2026 at 4:22 AM
Alexis Goldstein needs more fans; the woman rules.
Reposted by C.H. Romatowski
Some personal news
Scoop–CFPB just fired employee alexisgoldstein.bsky.social for allegedly disrupting &documenting a meeting a year ago between CFPB & DOGE www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
She says she's being retaliated against after asking DOGE visitors who they were & if they'd completed training on handling info
She says she's being retaliated against after asking DOGE visitors who they were & if they'd completed training on handling info
CFPB Fires Employee Over a Confrontation With DOGE a Year Ago
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau fired an employee for disrupting and documenting a 2025 meeting between the agency and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, according to emails rev...
www.bloomberg.com
February 12, 2026 at 1:10 AM
Some personal news
As to the argument the left should take AI hype seriously: Nah.
It’s pretty straightforward to hold that AI hype is broadly a scam, and also believe capitalists will be delighted to replace human workers w/a cheaper and worse alternative. Entirely compatible, arguably even complementary ideas.
It’s pretty straightforward to hold that AI hype is broadly a scam, and also believe capitalists will be delighted to replace human workers w/a cheaper and worse alternative. Entirely compatible, arguably even complementary ideas.
February 11, 2026 at 9:32 PM
As to the argument the left should take AI hype seriously: Nah.
It’s pretty straightforward to hold that AI hype is broadly a scam, and also believe capitalists will be delighted to replace human workers w/a cheaper and worse alternative. Entirely compatible, arguably even complementary ideas.
It’s pretty straightforward to hold that AI hype is broadly a scam, and also believe capitalists will be delighted to replace human workers w/a cheaper and worse alternative. Entirely compatible, arguably even complementary ideas.
Reposted by C.H. Romatowski
Multiple friends have caught COVID recently, including some of my more cautious pals. There are a lot of winter germs in crowded places right now, fam. Personally, I never feel that shopping or riding transit unmasked is worth potentially getting sick. You can always renew this practice.
February 9, 2026 at 5:27 PM
Multiple friends have caught COVID recently, including some of my more cautious pals. There are a lot of winter germs in crowded places right now, fam. Personally, I never feel that shopping or riding transit unmasked is worth potentially getting sick. You can always renew this practice.
Reposted by C.H. Romatowski
i think maybe they laid off the wrong people
Analysis: Weeks before he set foot on the stage, Bad Bunny’s halftime performance had already become a media event.
But if you were looking for political commentary, the closest that you got was when he said “God bless America” in English.
But if you were looking for political commentary, the closest that you got was when he said “God bless America” in English.
Analysis | Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show was expected to provoke. Did it?
The Bad Bunny Super Bowl show nodded to injustices in Puerto Rico but mostly evoked wholesome family values that meshed with the more sentimental commercials.
www.washingtonpost.com
February 9, 2026 at 5:46 PM
i think maybe they laid off the wrong people
Reposted by C.H. Romatowski
Just gave $50 to this strike fund. Movement work is like a muscle, we have to build it through solidarity. Gotta participate more often and with more weight where we can.
If you can donate $50 to @nynurses.bsky.social's strike fund, you'll get one of those red hats.
If you can't, here's a solidarity action: Governor Hochul has issued executive orders making it easier for the hospitals to hire strike-breaker nurses.
Demand Hochul rescind the order: (518) 474-8390
If you can't, here's a solidarity action: Governor Hochul has issued executive orders making it easier for the hospitals to hire strike-breaker nurses.
Demand Hochul rescind the order: (518) 474-8390
15k NYSNA nurses continue to hold the line on the largest & longest nurse strike in NYC history and demand that employers settle fair contracts. Please consider making a contribution so our braves nurses can hold the line one day longer, one day stronger.
www.nysna.org/news/support...
www.nysna.org/news/support...
February 8, 2026 at 4:54 PM
Just gave $50 to this strike fund. Movement work is like a muscle, we have to build it through solidarity. Gotta participate more often and with more weight where we can.
Lower Manhattan 👀
Ok friends, I need your help! I got tons of messages asking for the link so here it is!
I finally get to run a race with matching funds too! In district donors get a 12-1 match for the first $5-$50 and there is matching dollars for up to the first $250!
secure.actblue.com/donate/yuh-l...
I finally get to run a race with matching funds too! In district donors get a 12-1 match for the first $5-$50 and there is matching dollars for up to the first $250!
secure.actblue.com/donate/yuh-l...
Donate to Yuh-Line Niou
Show your support with a contribution.
secure.actblue.com
February 9, 2026 at 4:22 AM
Lower Manhattan 👀
Reposted by C.H. Romatowski
welp, this destroyed me first thing upon waking up
February 6, 2026 at 3:13 PM
welp, this destroyed me first thing upon waking up