Gaby Goldstein
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gabygoldstein.bsky.social
Gaby Goldstein
@gabygoldstein.bsky.social
Founder, State Futures. Building power in the states. Lawyer + health policy PhD. Thinking/reading/writing about federalism, state politics, and regulation in the public interest.

statefutures.org
Reposted by Gaby Goldstein
Some of the best political reporting these days is coming out of Rolling Stone magazine.
This piece is among the most important I've read recently: www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...
Melissa Hortman Died in a Shocking Act of Political Violence. This Is the Story of Her Life
Melissa Hortman died in a shocking act of political violence. This is her story
www.rollingstone.com
December 18, 2025 at 9:33 PM
Reposted by Gaby Goldstein
Democratic State Lawmakers Vow to Unite and Push Back on Trump’s Deportations
Lawmakers from a half-dozen states said Thursday they will use legislation next year to thwart the tactics of federal law enforcement carrying out immigration policies
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/18/u...
Democratic State Lawmakers Vow to Unite and Push Back on Trump’s Deportations
www.nytimes.com
December 19, 2025 at 1:23 AM
Reposted by Gaby Goldstein
Dem State Legislators in 7 States to Push for New Laws in Opposition to Trump #ABlueView🧵1/3

"Democratic lawmakers from [CA, CO, IL, MD, NY York, PA & VA] vowed on Thursday to push back next year on President Trump’s mass deportations, using coordinated legislation to..."

#BlueStateOpposition
December 19, 2025 at 7:55 PM
Reposted by Gaby Goldstein
Democratic State Lawmakers Vow to Unite and Push Back on Trump’s Deportations www.nytimes.com/2025/12/18/u...
Democratic State Lawmakers Vow to Unite and Push Back on Trump’s Deportations
www.nytimes.com
December 19, 2025 at 6:55 AM
Reposted by Gaby Goldstein
Republicans failed to flip any legislative seats this year, losing ground even in New Jersey, where they had high hopes, and failing to gain several districts that Trump carried last year.

Democrats, meanwhile, flipped 25 seats.
In 2025, Democrats Flipped 21 Percent of GOP-Held Legislative Seats
The party secured strong gains reminiscent of 2017, our annual review of state legislative results shows. They won multiple new seats in New Jersey, Virginia, Iowa, and Mississippi.
boltsmag.org
December 13, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Reposted by Gaby Goldstein
Trump’s Executive (dis)Order on AI is yet another attack on states like New York that still believe in government’s responsibility to look out for the public interest.
December 12, 2025 at 10:09 PM
Reposted by Gaby Goldstein
NEW: Washington may have folded to Trump, but there is one powerful, underused tool that could stop him: collective state action. By pooling resources, harmonizing policies and coordinating responses, states can help build a future worth fighting for, @gabygoldstein.bsky.social writes.
Collective State Action Can Stop Trump and Protect Democracy
Read more here.
www.democracydocket.com
November 17, 2025 at 8:51 PM
Reposted by Gaby Goldstein
“Collective state action means states working together: pooling resources, harmonizing policies, and coordinating responses to federal failures.”

Check out this new op-ed in Democracy Docket from our founder @gabygoldstein.bsky.social: www.democracydocket.com/opinion/coll...
Collective State Action Can Stop Trump and Protect Democracy
Read more here.
www.democracydocket.com
November 17, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Reposted by Gaby Goldstein
Go get it Virginia iwillvote.com
November 4, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Reposted by Gaby Goldstein
Terrifying. An Associated Press investigation found more than 420 bills attacking longstanding public health protections such as vaccines, milk safety and fluoride have been introduced in statehouses across the US so far this year. Around 30 bills in 12 states have already been enacted or adopted.
October 22, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Reposted by Gaby Goldstein
“Once my colleague pulled out his camera, the agent put away the gun," Huynh told the Sun-Times Tuesday night. "[But] if they can do this in broad daylight to an elected official, and point a gun at someone, imagine what’s happening behind closed doors.”
October 22, 2025 at 1:36 AM
Reposted by Gaby Goldstein
State rep. Hoan Huynh shared video of agents surrounding his vehicle/stopping him + staffers shortly after he said one agent pointed a gun inside his vehicle at him while another threatened to break a window. They were following feds in Albany Park after four people were reportedly taken.

Story tk.
October 22, 2025 at 12:01 AM
Reposted by Gaby Goldstein
Looking to see more “fightback” from Democrats? It’s happening all the time—in the states. Joining us on The Downballot podcast is @gabygoldstein.bsky.social, the founder of @state-futures.bsky.social, a new organization devoted to organizing Dem legislators to help them fight harder—and smarter.
How Dems are fighting back—state by state
Listen now | Gaby Goldstein explains how State Futures is helping Democratic lawmakers organize against Trump
www.the-downballot.com
October 16, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Reposted by Gaby Goldstein
NEW: Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek told state agencies to take “any and all steps necessary” to expedite solar and wind permits before federal green energy tax credits expire next year.

The order prioritizes high-priority projects to begin by July 2026.

With @opb.org
Oregon Fast-Tracks Renewable Energy Projects as Trump Bill Ends Tax Incentives
Gov. Tina Kotek ordered the move, which follows reporting by Oregon Public Broadcasting and ProPublica that highlighted impediments green energy advocates blame for the state’s poor ranking when it co...
www.propublica.org
October 8, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Reposted by Gaby Goldstein
I interviewed @govmlg.bsky.social and she explained how New Mexico gradually built its universal childcare program (first in the nation) and how other states could do the same. Some good things are happening! newrepublic.com/article/2013...
Transcript: Democrats Got Something Really Big Done in New Mexico
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham explains how New Mexico became the first state with universal childcare and why Democrats should look to states and governors for leadership.
newrepublic.com
October 7, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Reposted by Gaby Goldstein
Right now, states are our best hope for protecting #WorkersRights. The NYU Wagner Labor Initiative & @state-futures.bsky.social released an issue brief this week w/ strategies for states to join forces to protect workers; they'll be more effective acting together www.statefutures.org/research/iss...
Issue Brief: Strengthening Workers’ Rights and Labor Protections through Interstate Cooperation — STATE FUTURES
This Issue Brief by State Futures and the NYU Wagner Labor Initiative lays out a bold, practical roadmap for how states can join forces to protect workers’ rights in the face of federal retreat on...
www.statefutures.org
October 1, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Reposted by Gaby Goldstein
With only 1 of the 2,000+ Bureau of Labor Statistics staffers now able to work, the government shutdown creates a unique opportunity for Trump to further interfere with data he doesn't like talkingpointsmemo.com/news/governm...
The Government Shutdown Is Helping Trump Obscure Federal Economic Data
The Bureau of Labor Statistics has been forced to halt the publishing...
talkingpointsmemo.com
October 2, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Reposted by Gaby Goldstein
NEW: After Dobbs, voters in ten states enshrined abortion and reproductive rights in their states' constitutions. @uclarepropolicy.bsky.social's @cathrencohen.bsky.social and Diana Kasdan analyze how the wording of these amendments impacts their promise and potential to protect reproductive freedom.
The Power of State Reproductive Freedom Amendments
A new report analyzes the language and effects of recently adopted amendments protecting reproductive rights and highlights their potential for abortion access and beyond.
statecourtreport.org
September 23, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Reposted by Gaby Goldstein
GOP lawmakers cite Georgia’s experiment as a model for the federal Medicaid work requirements set to take effect in 2027.

A new report by a government spending watchdog found that the nation’s only Medicaid work requirement program spent twice as much on administrative costs as on health care.
Georgia’s Medicaid Work Requirement Program Spent Twice as Much on Administrative Costs as on Health Care, GAO Says
Republican lawmakers cite Georgia’s Pathways to Coverage as a national model for federal Medicaid work requirements that are set to take effect in 2027. A new report shows the program has spent at lea...
www.propublica.org
September 24, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Reposted by Gaby Goldstein
While the federal government carries out its deeply unpopular immigration agenda, state lawmakers are confronting masked agents and getting arrested after demanding entry to overcrowded ICE detention cells.
talkingpointsmemo.com/cafe/state-l...
State Lawmakers Are Getting Arrested at Detention Centers and Yelling at Masked ICE Agents. Good.
This article is part of TPM Cafe, TPM’s home for opinion and news...
talkingpointsmemo.com
September 19, 2025 at 4:45 PM
My latest in @talkingpointsmemo.com — state legislators are putting their literal bodies on the line to protect the rule of law and their communities. States are the frontlines and a deeply hopeful story is unfolding if we know where to look. The next step is more coordination to make it a movement.
While the federal government carries out its deeply unpopular immigration agenda, state lawmakers are confronting masked agents and getting arrested after demanding entry to overcrowded ICE detention cells.
talkingpointsmemo.com/cafe/state-l...
State Lawmakers Are Getting Arrested at Detention Centers and Yelling at Masked ICE Agents. Good.
This article is part of TPM Cafe, TPM’s home for opinion and news...
talkingpointsmemo.com
September 19, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Reposted by Gaby Goldstein
Breaking News: Eleven Democratic elected officials were arrested in New York City after demanding access to ICE’s migrant detention cells.
11 Elected Officials Arrested While Trying to Access Cells at N.Y.C. ICE Facility
Brad Lander, the city comptroller, was arrested again. Jumaane D. Williams, the public advocate, was among protesters detained outside.
nyti.ms
September 18, 2025 at 9:50 PM
Reposted by Gaby Goldstein
"They're politicians, what are they supposed to do? Literally fight in the streets?"

Unashamed to say this made me cry.
Karina Villa protecting her constituents by literally running ICE off the streets in West Chicago and yelling to residents to stay inside their homes.
September 16, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Reposted by Gaby Goldstein
Trump & Co are horribly anti-worker. But "blue states have extraordinary untapped power, especially if they choose to wield it together." For #LaborDay2025, @gabygoldstein.bsky.social & I wrote in @talkingpointsmemo.com w/ ideas for bold pro-worker state action. talkingpointsmemo.com/news/a-labor...
A Labor Day Call for Action From the States
This article is part of TPM Cafe, TPM’s home for opinion and news...
talkingpointsmemo.com
September 1, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Reposted by Gaby Goldstein
Trump stinks for workers. Here's how blue states can fight back together. By @gabygoldstein.bsky.social and me in @talkingpointsmemo.com for #LaborDay2025. talkingpointsmemo.com/news/a-labor...
A Labor Day Call for Action From the States
This article is part of TPM Cafe, TPM’s home for opinion and news...
talkingpointsmemo.com
September 1, 2025 at 7:08 PM