Celeste Pewter
@celestepewter.bsky.social
20K followers 1.2K following 5.2K posts
Former Dem staffer. UCI, King's College London, Johns Hopkins. | INFINITE SKY (Bloomsbury 2026) + more | Many bylines. | AAJA/SCBWI | Rep: Molly Ker Hawn at the Bent Agency (children's) Uwe Stender (adult nonfiction)
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celestepewter.bsky.social
Quick note for all of the new followers -

Hi! I'm a former Dem staffer, who now works for a think tank. I'm also an author, with two announced projects + a few in the works. Expect a lot of here's-what-you-can-do posts from me.

You can also find me on Insta: www.instagram.com/celestepewter/
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Reposted by Celeste Pewter
johnpfaff.bsky.social
To be clear:

LA County has declared a state of emergency BECAUSE OF the federal government.

The Feds, LA County is (correctly) saying, have CAUSED the emergency.

This is a striking political moment of internal collapse. Local govts feeling compelled to protect their ppl from … their own govt.
Los Angeles County declares state of emergency over immigration raids
Los Angeles County officials voted on Tuesday to declare a state of emergency over ongoing federal immigration raids.
abcnews.go.com
celestepewter.bsky.social
No, thank you! I'm glad we're figuring this out together. It's good to have additional context/stay informed on what's being said, even just as voters!
celestepewter.bsky.social
Deleting my original response, since apparently:

it was enacted as part of a package which is why the original, introduced version of bill still says only introduced
celestepewter.bsky.social
Can I quote this? Since the fact she's saying she passed something that she didn't pass... is... a thing .
celestepewter.bsky.social
Yup. Did you see Rouda's updated op-ed?

I think a lot of people don't know she also basically made her comms guy co-write the book.
celestepewter.bsky.social
Yesss! I'm signing up. I've always liked hearing her speak.
Reposted by Celeste Pewter
anniebellet.bsky.social
Reminder I'm trying to raise a couple thousand extra to cover immigration fees etc and am offering signed books for the holidays to US peeps. Details here: www.patreon.com/posts/signed...
So if you like fun fantasy with found family, diverse chars, and bad guys getting their asses kicked...
Signed Books for the Holidays? | Annie Bellet
Get more from Annie Bellet on Patreon
www.patreon.com
celestepewter.bsky.social
Oh, good - I was a little worried! You actually made me pause and think for a second on how to explain Dear White Staffers...

So TY for being understanding!
celestepewter.bsky.social
(And if you're wondering why I'm speaking out?

TBH, I don't anticipate working in politics in the future, because I HAVE worked for other KPs, and I'm too old and too tired to deal with it - no matter how much I miss public service.

It's the think tank life for me.)
celestepewter.bsky.social
3. The fact that all of this is true AND KP's behavior is still this public...

Should tell you how bad her behavior actually is behind the scenes.

People should be writing stories on why people feel like they can't speak out, vs. made-up stories on the party establishment getting her.
celestepewter.bsky.social
- who was treated badly, but will not come forward, because that friend is concerned about retribution, since KP's known to be vindictive.

Another friend who DID come forward, can basically never work in politics again. She got forced out.

That's why accounts like Dear White Staffers = popular.
celestepewter.bsky.social
P.S One of the questions I keep seeing is: why are there no stories about men?

Three things are true:

1. There are - you have to look.
2. There is genuinely a culture of silence/fear around this; people want to preserve their relationships for the next job.

I have a friend who worked for KP -
celestepewter.bsky.social
(Not clapping back at you, by the way - was trying to figure out how to make this point and just thinking out loud.)
celestepewter.bsky.social
3. So, in many ways, the fact that Katie keeps landing in the news for her behavior and staffers HAVE gone on the record to call her out - at risk to their jobs, one of them was permanently forced out of politics - actually shows how truly egregious her behavior is.
celestepewter.bsky.social
Actually:

1. Yes, there are - you have to look for them.
2. There's a culture of silence on Capitol Hill, because of the power dynamic, and that's why accounts like Dear White Staffers took off. .

People are afraid to talk, because they are afraid of political retribution.
The Man Behind the Account that Blew Up Capitol Hill
‘Dear White Staffers’ has chronicled the rotten bosses in Congress for two years. It’s not running out of material.
www.politico.com
celestepewter.bsky.social
Also: for those of you who missed it the first time - here's my thread about KP + receipts to prove I am speaking with personal knowledge.

bsky.app/profile/cele...

(But be warned: typos abound; I wrote it on my phone.)
celestepewter.bsky.social
Okay, I really don’t want to keep talking about this, since frankly - I hate KP. She’s an example of toxic management, and I saw what she did to my friends.

But I’m really disturbed by the number of women, specifically white women on Threads and on here, justifying her cursing at staff.
celestepewter.bsky.social
Going to be honest: Threads going to bat for Katie Porter is one of the most 🫠 things I've seen today...

And really speaks to my ongoing belief we shouldn't stan politicians. At all.

Fellow Dems, hold politicians accountable for their work, not for who you THINK they are only on camera.
celestepewter.bsky.social
Google is free!

And yes. I AM tired of talking about Katie Porter. But the damage she caused on the back end is still echoing, as a lot of you know.

Why are we going out of her way to defend her? There are better choices and still time.
celestepewter.bsky.social
Also: if you want to be taken seriously for your political acumen...

And then go on to say you have no idea who Betty Yee, the FORMER STATE CONTROLLER is in your piece, facetious or not, is a choice, lol.
celestepewter.bsky.social
I'm genuinely tired of the fact that Katie Porter fans keep acting like it's the establishment that's out to get her, or it's a gender issue.

No, her repeated incidents of staff abuse + mistreating anyone w/ perceived less power than her, have just finally caught up to her.
byrobinepley.bsky.social
So glad we’re finally cancelling all the politicians who are rude to journalists, because I could name a lot of—

Wait, we’re just cancelling Katie Porter?

That seems a bit pointed. I wonder why the Dems would go after their own front runner?

🙄🙄🙄🙄

www.sacbee.com/opinion/arti...
Tough isn’t a flaw; it’s what California needs. Porter should stay in the race | Opinion
The non-stop coverage of Katie Porter’s ugliest moments caught on camera has less to do with her fitness to be the Governor of California and far more to do with the California Democratic Party once a...
www.sacbee.com