Kathleen Cole
@kcolempls.bsky.social
political scientist, organizer, knitter, animal rescue, fan of early bedtimes. Currently: Transformative Justice Alliance; formerly: People Over Prosecution, Recall Freeman, MN for Warren.
If you look at our electorate in off-cycle years, we don't have a normal distribution. Instead of most voters clustering in the middle, our two biggest blocks are at the ends of our distribution. Neither end of the distribution has a majority on its own. Read the alt-text about building a majority.
November 9, 2025 at 6:25 AM
If you look at our electorate in off-cycle years, we don't have a normal distribution. Instead of most voters clustering in the middle, our two biggest blocks are at the ends of our distribution. Neither end of the distribution has a majority on its own. Read the alt-text about building a majority.
If you have a normal distribution curve (like the one in the picture above) RCV creates a majority by transferring the votes from the green voters to the blue candidate after the green candidate is eliminated. For more explanation, read the alt text
November 9, 2025 at 6:25 AM
If you have a normal distribution curve (like the one in the picture above) RCV creates a majority by transferring the votes from the green voters to the blue candidate after the green candidate is eliminated. For more explanation, read the alt text
RCV (or, single transferrable vote) is designed to solve the problem of spoiled elections in single member district plurality elections (SMDP). A spoiled election is an election in which a majority of voters voted against the candidate who wins the office. Here's a little drawing. Read the alt text.
November 9, 2025 at 6:25 AM
RCV (or, single transferrable vote) is designed to solve the problem of spoiled elections in single member district plurality elections (SMDP). A spoiled election is an election in which a majority of voters voted against the candidate who wins the office. Here's a little drawing. Read the alt text.
In case you need something peaceful, here are two baby chickens getting the chance to free range for the first time in their life. Testing out their wings. Wandering around the yard, but staying close to each other for comfort.
August 27, 2025 at 11:23 PM
In case you need something peaceful, here are two baby chickens getting the chance to free range for the first time in their life. Testing out their wings. Wandering around the yard, but staying close to each other for comfort.
Other, non-SL highlights: catching an Aces game, having a house with a pool to ourselves, eating at as many vegan restaurants as we could in 5 days (there are so many in Las Vegas), 110 degree dry heat.
Basketball is fun and Summer League is the best.
Basketball is fun and Summer League is the best.
July 14, 2025 at 2:24 AM
Other, non-SL highlights: catching an Aces game, having a house with a pool to ourselves, eating at as many vegan restaurants as we could in 5 days (there are so many in Las Vegas), 110 degree dry heat.
Basketball is fun and Summer League is the best.
Basketball is fun and Summer League is the best.
This year’s highlights: watching the Pistons’ SL team wallop the Knicks’ SL team, while the entire Pistons Roster came out to support. Spontaneously erupting with “You’re the best!” As Isaiah Stewart walked by. Being surrounded by other Pistons fans in the small gym.
July 14, 2025 at 2:24 AM
This year’s highlights: watching the Pistons’ SL team wallop the Knicks’ SL team, while the entire Pistons Roster came out to support. Spontaneously erupting with “You’re the best!” As Isaiah Stewart walked by. Being surrounded by other Pistons fans in the small gym.
I’m not at all a Vegas Strip person, but our annual-ish Summer League trip is one of my favorite things my husband and I do together.
July 14, 2025 at 2:24 AM
I’m not at all a Vegas Strip person, but our annual-ish Summer League trip is one of my favorite things my husband and I do together.
Cooper Flagg, but make it carpet.
July 10, 2025 at 10:40 PM
Cooper Flagg, but make it carpet.
GUESS WHO GOT ADOPTED TODAY!!! Emma, our perfect girl, found her forever family!
Please enjoy this video of her playing with my MACC dog this morning, before we brought her in for her adoption!
Please enjoy this video of her playing with my MACC dog this morning, before we brought her in for her adoption!
July 8, 2025 at 8:04 PM
GUESS WHO GOT ADOPTED TODAY!!! Emma, our perfect girl, found her forever family!
Please enjoy this video of her playing with my MACC dog this morning, before we brought her in for her adoption!
Please enjoy this video of her playing with my MACC dog this morning, before we brought her in for her adoption!
🚨Puppy Emergency🚨: Our sweet, perfect foster puppy will have to be returned to the shelter tomorrow. We cannot keep her any longer as we will be traveling. The shelter is no place for a puppy. Who will adopt this perfect girl?
July 8, 2025 at 2:02 AM
🚨Puppy Emergency🚨: Our sweet, perfect foster puppy will have to be returned to the shelter tomorrow. We cannot keep her any longer as we will be traveling. The shelter is no place for a puppy. Who will adopt this perfect girl?
Only a couple more days left to find Emma’s forever family. The shelter will be open Monday and Tuesday for adoption visits.
Emma is a sweet, goofy, playful girl. She loves to learn from the big dogs and cuddle with her people. She’s a perfect companion animal.
Link in replies.
Emma is a sweet, goofy, playful girl. She loves to learn from the big dogs and cuddle with her people. She’s a perfect companion animal.
Link in replies.
July 6, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Only a couple more days left to find Emma’s forever family. The shelter will be open Monday and Tuesday for adoption visits.
Emma is a sweet, goofy, playful girl. She loves to learn from the big dogs and cuddle with her people. She’s a perfect companion animal.
Link in replies.
Emma is a sweet, goofy, playful girl. She loves to learn from the big dogs and cuddle with her people. She’s a perfect companion animal.
Link in replies.
This perfect girl could be your new family member! She’s playful, silly, and loving. She is happy and curious. She’s perfect. You can adopt her through Minneapolis Animal Care and Control (link in replies).
July 5, 2025 at 2:55 PM
This perfect girl could be your new family member! She’s playful, silly, and loving. She is happy and curious. She’s perfect. You can adopt her through Minneapolis Animal Care and Control (link in replies).
Sadly, we discovered that she has a very strong prey drive the hard way. While out in the yard, she killed two of our very loved chickens this weekend. It was heartbreaking to lose our girls so unexpectedly and in such a violent manner. We have raised them and cared for them since they were babies.
July 2, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Sadly, we discovered that she has a very strong prey drive the hard way. While out in the yard, she killed two of our very loved chickens this weekend. It was heartbreaking to lose our girls so unexpectedly and in such a violent manner. We have raised them and cared for them since they were babies.
To our surprise, she opened up almost immediately. Within 24 hours she was jumping in laps, giving kisses, and being a very silly girl. Seeing her blossom and learn to play with our dogs has been such a joy.
July 2, 2025 at 4:31 PM
To our surprise, she opened up almost immediately. Within 24 hours she was jumping in laps, giving kisses, and being a very silly girl. Seeing her blossom and learn to play with our dogs has been such a joy.
Day 7 Foster Update: This week with Emma has been full of joy and heartbreak. She came to us after 4 weeks of being terrified in the shelter and no socialization with humans before that. Shelter staff believed she would need a lot of time to open up and trust people.
July 2, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Day 7 Foster Update: This week with Emma has been full of joy and heartbreak. She came to us after 4 weeks of being terrified in the shelter and no socialization with humans before that. Shelter staff believed she would need a lot of time to open up and trust people.
Emma has been a ball of nervous energy. She has run around the house about 8 million times just staking it out. Last night, she was too amped up to sleep. She tried to wake up my dogs at 3:45 a.m. to play, which they did not appreciate.
June 27, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Emma has been a ball of nervous energy. She has run around the house about 8 million times just staking it out. Last night, she was too amped up to sleep. She tried to wake up my dogs at 3:45 a.m. to play, which they did not appreciate.
For the last three weeks or so, I've gotten an email from the shelter about Emma, a very frightened puppy who was struggling at the shelter. They needed a foster for her and so far, no one had stepped up. Yesterday, I couldn't take it anymore and went to get her out of there.
June 27, 2025 at 2:33 PM
For the last three weeks or so, I've gotten an email from the shelter about Emma, a very frightened puppy who was struggling at the shelter. They needed a foster for her and so far, no one had stepped up. Yesterday, I couldn't take it anymore and went to get her out of there.
Without downloading any new pics, describe your gender.
June 16, 2025 at 12:36 AM
Without downloading any new pics, describe your gender.
NE FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS: We're having a party to celebrate Elliott's DFL Endorsement tonight! Join us for a night of good vibes, pizza, fundraising, and building relationships. We're getting organized to beat the AllofMPLS/WeLoveMPLS onslaught of Republican money and we need you to win!
May 19, 2025 at 2:20 PM
NE FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS: We're having a party to celebrate Elliott's DFL Endorsement tonight! Join us for a night of good vibes, pizza, fundraising, and building relationships. We're getting organized to beat the AllofMPLS/WeLoveMPLS onslaught of Republican money and we need you to win!
FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS: Let's get together to celebrate Elliott's endorsement! Join us May 19th, 6:00 p.m., at Pilllar Forum. There will be pizza, friends, good times, and a quick campaign update. RSVP link below. Hope to see you there!
May 9, 2025 at 8:14 PM
FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS: Let's get together to celebrate Elliott's endorsement! Join us May 19th, 6:00 p.m., at Pilllar Forum. There will be pizza, friends, good times, and a quick campaign update. RSVP link below. Hope to see you there!
We ♥️ MPLS really thought they could come in and buy the W1 seat. Shows how little they know about the community here. Not only do we love Elliott, we hate it when suburbanites try to buy our elections. People are so annoyed they’re even making their own merch about it!
April 27, 2025 at 2:21 PM
We ♥️ MPLS really thought they could come in and buy the W1 seat. Shows how little they know about the community here. Not only do we love Elliott, we hate it when suburbanites try to buy our elections. People are so annoyed they’re even making their own merch about it!
I helped two dogs find their forever families today! I’m so happy they’ll be falling asleep in comfy beds tonight, safe with their new people.
But there are still many dogs at the shelter who need loving homes. Please adopt or foster!
But there are still many dogs at the shelter who need loving homes. Please adopt or foster!
April 12, 2025 at 12:18 AM
I helped two dogs find their forever families today! I’m so happy they’ll be falling asleep in comfy beds tonight, safe with their new people.
But there are still many dogs at the shelter who need loving homes. Please adopt or foster!
But there are still many dogs at the shelter who need loving homes. Please adopt or foster!
Today is a perfect day to save a life! Minneapolis Animal Care and Control is having a Clear the Shelter event. There are sweet and loving cats and dogs who need homes. If you have been thinking about getting a companion animal, please come today and choose a bud in need.
Photo tax: my MACC dog.
Photo tax: my MACC dog.
April 11, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Today is a perfect day to save a life! Minneapolis Animal Care and Control is having a Clear the Shelter event. There are sweet and loving cats and dogs who need homes. If you have been thinking about getting a companion animal, please come today and choose a bud in need.
Photo tax: my MACC dog.
Photo tax: my MACC dog.
I really needed to read this quote from Cedric Robinson today. Sharing it in case you needed it, too.
March 20, 2025 at 7:44 PM
I really needed to read this quote from Cedric Robinson today. Sharing it in case you needed it, too.
Day 14: I dropped my Winnie girl with her permanent fosters tonight. It hurt my heart a little. We shared so many cuddles and plays in the last two weeks! I’m going to miss her silly butt wiggles when she’s happy and the way she rests her head on my shoulder to ask for a hug. Winnie forever.
February 13, 2025 at 3:15 AM
Day 14: I dropped my Winnie girl with her permanent fosters tonight. It hurt my heart a little. We shared so many cuddles and plays in the last two weeks! I’m going to miss her silly butt wiggles when she’s happy and the way she rests her head on my shoulder to ask for a hug. Winnie forever.