Tom Coates
@tomcoates.bsky.social
English technologist, founder and product designer living in San Francisco. Prev: BBC, Yahoo, Time Out, Nokia, Jawbone, Wired & Eero. Founded things too. Currently trying to find something to get excited rather than angry about. http://www.plasticbag.org
Reposted by Tom Coates
You have to read this. Firsthand affidavit from one of the women who was there and recording the video. She talks about how Alex Pretti was directing traffic when she arrived. She watched him be killed in front of her. She's afraid to go home, worried she'll be arrested.
January 25, 2026 at 1:15 AM
You have to read this. Firsthand affidavit from one of the women who was there and recording the video. She talks about how Alex Pretti was directing traffic when she arrived. She watched him be killed in front of her. She's afraid to go home, worried she'll be arrested.
Reposted by Tom Coates
In @nytopinion.nytimes.com
"It was our country’s destiny to reflect ideals that made us an incandescent beacon for democracy," Maureen Dowd writes. "But Trump has pulverized those ideals. We are now seen as sinister, selfish, unruly and at everybody’s throats."
"It was our country’s destiny to reflect ideals that made us an incandescent beacon for democracy," Maureen Dowd writes. "But Trump has pulverized those ideals. We are now seen as sinister, selfish, unruly and at everybody’s throats."
Opinion | The Un-American President
Our national mosaic, crushed beneath the ICE.
nyti.ms
January 25, 2026 at 1:30 AM
In @nytopinion.nytimes.com
"It was our country’s destiny to reflect ideals that made us an incandescent beacon for democracy," Maureen Dowd writes. "But Trump has pulverized those ideals. We are now seen as sinister, selfish, unruly and at everybody’s throats."
"It was our country’s destiny to reflect ideals that made us an incandescent beacon for democracy," Maureen Dowd writes. "But Trump has pulverized those ideals. We are now seen as sinister, selfish, unruly and at everybody’s throats."
Reposted by Tom Coates
As tens of thousands across America protest the violence that ICE sows with impunity, federal agents shot and killed another person in Minneapolis today.
ICE terrorizes our cities. ICE puts us all in danger. Abolish ICE.
January 24, 2026 at 6:00 PM
As tens of thousands across America protest the violence that ICE sows with impunity, federal agents shot and killed another person in Minneapolis today.
ICE terrorizes our cities. ICE puts us all in danger. Abolish ICE.
Reposted by Tom Coates
Kare 11 local news just read, in full, this statement from Michael and Susan Pretti, the parents of Alex Pretti.
"Please get the truth out about our son."
"Please get the truth out about our son."
January 25, 2026 at 12:43 AM
Kare 11 local news just read, in full, this statement from Michael and Susan Pretti, the parents of Alex Pretti.
"Please get the truth out about our son."
"Please get the truth out about our son."
Reposted by Tom Coates
The newest video shows very clearly that they attacked him for coming to an aid of a woman that the agents pushed, and then executed him while he was immobilized. Everything the government has said, like with Good, has been a complete lie.
January 24, 2026 at 7:09 PM
The newest video shows very clearly that they attacked him for coming to an aid of a woman that the agents pushed, and then executed him while he was immobilized. Everything the government has said, like with Good, has been a complete lie.
Reposted by Tom Coates
I've said it before and I'll say it again - I doubt very much I will ever go there again.
January 24, 2026 at 6:46 PM
I've said it before and I'll say it again - I doubt very much I will ever go there again.
Reposted by Tom Coates
A few days ago, before Davos, Trump said of Carney's Canada-China dealing:
"That's OK, that's what he should be doing. I mean, it's a good thing for him to sign a trade deal. If you can get a deal with China, you should do that."
"That's OK, that's what he should be doing. I mean, it's a good thing for him to sign a trade deal. If you can get a deal with China, you should do that."
Donald Trump threatened Canada with 100% tariffs against all its exports to the US if it makes a trade deal with China.
Trump Threatens 100% Retaliatory Tariffs Against Canada
President Donald Trump threatened Canada with 100% tariffs against all its exports to the US if it makes a trade deal with China, escalating tensions between the US and its northern neighbor.
bloom.bg
January 24, 2026 at 5:26 PM
A few days ago, before Davos, Trump said of Carney's Canada-China dealing:
"That's OK, that's what he should be doing. I mean, it's a good thing for him to sign a trade deal. If you can get a deal with China, you should do that."
"That's OK, that's what he should be doing. I mean, it's a good thing for him to sign a trade deal. If you can get a deal with China, you should do that."
Reposted by Tom Coates
Why is Dem leadership not on the ground in MN? If the answer is “polls show Trump’s disapproval is only -15 on deportations, but -25 on prices,” thats a Bad Use Of Polling and a complete failure in their capacity as leaders to lead public opinion and fight for democracy and the rule of law
January 24, 2026 at 6:03 PM
Why is Dem leadership not on the ground in MN? If the answer is “polls show Trump’s disapproval is only -15 on deportations, but -25 on prices,” thats a Bad Use Of Polling and a complete failure in their capacity as leaders to lead public opinion and fight for democracy and the rule of law
Reposted by Tom Coates
It might look confusing that Starmer would continue relying on a guy who's poltical strategic advice has made him the most unpopular PM ever & destroyed the Labour party. But this apparent conundrum is solved easily enough the sec you recognise he's telling Starmer to do stuff Starmer *wants* to do
How Morgan McSweeney's '0% strategy' failed to win over Reform voters while haemorrhaging Labour's own support base to the Greens
www.adambienkov.co.uk/p/morgan-mcs...
www.adambienkov.co.uk/p/morgan-mcs...
Morgan McSweeney’s 0% Strategy
The plot to block Andy Burnham's return to Westminster tells you everything you need to know about how Keir Starmer's Government got itself into this mess
www.adambienkov.co.uk
January 24, 2026 at 10:06 AM
It might look confusing that Starmer would continue relying on a guy who's poltical strategic advice has made him the most unpopular PM ever & destroyed the Labour party. But this apparent conundrum is solved easily enough the sec you recognise he's telling Starmer to do stuff Starmer *wants* to do
Reposted by Tom Coates
instead of lashing out at "coups" and "plots" by Burnham, Streeting etc, have Team Starmer considered just... being less shit at governing?
January 23, 2026 at 5:34 PM
instead of lashing out at "coups" and "plots" by Burnham, Streeting etc, have Team Starmer considered just... being less shit at governing?
Well that’s pretty much the most blatant sign possible that Burnham is going for the leadership of the Labour Party. Not 100% sure about him, but he superficially at least seems about 1000x closer to the kind of Labour leader I like than Starmer, who is, I’m afraid, clearly now toast.
I have today written to the Chair of Labour’s National Executive Committee seeking permission to enter the selection process for a candidate for the forthcoming Gorton and Denton by-election.
Read my letter here.👇🏻
Read my letter here.👇🏻
January 24, 2026 at 5:18 PM
Well that’s pretty much the most blatant sign possible that Burnham is going for the leadership of the Labour Party. Not 100% sure about him, but he superficially at least seems about 1000x closer to the kind of Labour leader I like than Starmer, who is, I’m afraid, clearly now toast.
This, by the way, is 100% true. And as someone who grew up queer in darkest Norfolk in the 1980s, I would not wish that isolation on absolutely anyone.
It would disproportionately affect LGBTQIA+ young people, who rely more heavily on the platforms to connect with other queer people
www.wearequeeraf.com/social-media...
www.wearequeeraf.com/social-media...
Social media ban is "reactionary measure" that will harm LGBTQIA+ youth, campaigners warn
It would disproportionately affect LGBTQIA+ young people, who rely more heavily on the platforms to connect with other queer people
www.wearequeeraf.com
January 24, 2026 at 9:04 AM
This, by the way, is 100% true. And as someone who grew up queer in darkest Norfolk in the 1980s, I would not wish that isolation on absolutely anyone.
This is unlikely to be interesting to many people, but 35 years ago, when I was 18 (Jesus Fucking Christ) there was this album called ‘24 Years of Hunger’ by Eg and Alice. I absolutely loved it, and regularly listen to songs from it still, ripped from my CD from the time.
January 24, 2026 at 7:51 AM
This is unlikely to be interesting to many people, but 35 years ago, when I was 18 (Jesus Fucking Christ) there was this album called ‘24 Years of Hunger’ by Eg and Alice. I absolutely loved it, and regularly listen to songs from it still, ripped from my CD from the time.
Fun fact: the birds known as Canaries are named after the Canary Islands, and the Canary Islands were named by the Romans after “Canes” - the wild dogs that lived on the islands when they arrived.
January 24, 2026 at 7:24 AM
Fun fact: the birds known as Canaries are named after the Canary Islands, and the Canary Islands were named by the Romans after “Canes” - the wild dogs that lived on the islands when they arrived.
Reposted by Tom Coates
in case you're curious about how angry Minnesota is about ICE, it was -20 today
January 24, 2026 at 12:38 AM
in case you're curious about how angry Minnesota is about ICE, it was -20 today
This is a difficult thing to read. www.politico.com/news/2026/01...
Philadelphia sues over removal of slavery exhibit at Independence National Historical Park
One visitor, Karen Oliver, said she was “heartbroken” at the removal of references to slavery. “You show all of it,” she said. “The good, the bad, and the ugly.”
www.politico.com
January 24, 2026 at 7:08 AM
This is a difficult thing to read. www.politico.com/news/2026/01...
Reposted by Tom Coates
This is so fucking haunting.
January 24, 2026 at 3:11 AM
This is so fucking haunting.
Says the man who doesn’t want to send aid to Ukraine and is part of an administration that is cutting healthcare for Americans and removing HIV medication around the world via defunding USAID.
JD Vance: "To our fellow Americans we say, you're never gonna find great meaning in a cubicle or in front of a computer screen. But you will find great meaning if you dedicate yourself to the creation and sustenance of human life."
January 24, 2026 at 5:19 AM
Says the man who doesn’t want to send aid to Ukraine and is part of an administration that is cutting healthcare for Americans and removing HIV medication around the world via defunding USAID.
Reposted by Tom Coates
There aren't any penguins in Greenland, but there are other animals.
January 23, 2026 at 11:26 PM
There aren't any penguins in Greenland, but there are other animals.
Hey, funny story. Penguins live around the South Pole. You almost couldn’t get further away from Greenland (on the surface of the Earth) if you tried. Really demonstrates the level of knowledge the Trump administration has about the country it thinks it should annex.
January 24, 2026 at 3:28 AM
Hey, funny story. Penguins live around the South Pole. You almost couldn’t get further away from Greenland (on the surface of the Earth) if you tried. Really demonstrates the level of knowledge the Trump administration has about the country it thinks it should annex.
Reposted by Tom Coates
New: an FBI agent who took the routine step of investigating the ICE officer who shot Renee Good has resigned after FBI leadership discouraged the investigation
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/23/u...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/23/u...
F.B.I. Agent Who Tried to Investigate ICE Officer in Shooting Resigns
www.nytimes.com
January 23, 2026 at 11:49 PM
New: an FBI agent who took the routine step of investigating the ICE officer who shot Renee Good has resigned after FBI leadership discouraged the investigation
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/23/u...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/23/u...
Reposted by Tom Coates
A decade of trans advocacy has taught me people believe lies because they want to, not because they don't know they are lies. They believe trans people will regret our transition because they want us to regret our transition. They believe we are a "social contagion" because that is how they see us
January 23, 2026 at 1:18 PM
A decade of trans advocacy has taught me people believe lies because they want to, not because they don't know they are lies. They believe trans people will regret our transition because they want us to regret our transition. They believe we are a "social contagion" because that is how they see us
Reposted by Tom Coates
Why would you post instructions like this?
Not exaggerating when I say that the collective action in Minnesota will be studied for generations if not centuries to come
January 23, 2026 at 5:02 AM
Why would you post instructions like this?
Reposted by Tom Coates
Freedom House freedom rankings of The Board of Peace - which Trump described as the most prestigious group of world leaders ever assembled.
44% of the board ranks as “not free”, 50% as “partly free” and everyone else is the United States.
44% of the board ranks as “not free”, 50% as “partly free” and everyone else is the United States.
January 23, 2026 at 4:28 AM
Freedom House freedom rankings of The Board of Peace - which Trump described as the most prestigious group of world leaders ever assembled.
44% of the board ranks as “not free”, 50% as “partly free” and everyone else is the United States.
44% of the board ranks as “not free”, 50% as “partly free” and everyone else is the United States.
Reposted by Tom Coates
I've talked to people on the ground about the strike here tomorrow, and the single thing everyone brings up is just how shockingly wide the support for the strike is. Businesses that no one would have expected to support it are doing so.
National media should really be covering the fact thay every major school, museum, and arts institution in the Twin Cities, and hundreds of local businesses are closed tomorrow to protest federal occupation.
Nothing like this at this scale has happened anywhere in America anytime in living memory.
Nothing like this at this scale has happened anywhere in America anytime in living memory.
January 23, 2026 at 12:15 AM
I've talked to people on the ground about the strike here tomorrow, and the single thing everyone brings up is just how shockingly wide the support for the strike is. Businesses that no one would have expected to support it are doing so.