John Raftery
@johnraftery.bsky.social
I coach, mentor and advise leaders. Our new startup serving Massachusetts is Hope & Joy Family Services. VC/ CEO 🇮🇪 in 🇺🇸 “ I cannot be pessimistic, I’m alive.”
Cambridge.
Cambridge.
Reposted by John Raftery
Apparently we’ve established that if the US can seize the largest tanker off Venezuela, it can just as easily seize a small, alleged drug boat without murdering the occupants.
December 12, 2025 at 3:56 AM
Apparently we’ve established that if the US can seize the largest tanker off Venezuela, it can just as easily seize a small, alleged drug boat without murdering the occupants.
Reposted by John Raftery
bravo Charlie....and Nemo...last year's winner from Switzerland, who is doing the same.
Charlie McGettigan has said he plans to hand back his Eurovision trophy in solidarity with the 2024 winner.
Yesterday, Nemo handed back their award due to Israel’s continued participation in the competition.
jrnl.ie/6902395
Yesterday, Nemo handed back their award due to Israel’s continued participation in the competition.
jrnl.ie/6902395
Charlie McGettigan plans to hand back Eurovision trophy in solidarity with 2024 winner Nemo
The 2024 winner Nemo handed back their trophy yesterday due to Israel’s continued participation in the competition.
jrnl.ie
December 12, 2025 at 6:55 PM
bravo Charlie....and Nemo...last year's winner from Switzerland, who is doing the same.
Reposted by John Raftery
House Oversight Committee released a batch of 95,000 photos from the Epstein Files—
"I have met some very bad people, none as bad as #Trump — Not one decent cell in his body" - Jeffrey Epstein
"I have met some very bad people, none as bad as #Trump — Not one decent cell in his body" - Jeffrey Epstein
December 12, 2025 at 4:50 PM
House Oversight Committee released a batch of 95,000 photos from the Epstein Files—
"I have met some very bad people, none as bad as #Trump — Not one decent cell in his body" - Jeffrey Epstein
"I have met some very bad people, none as bad as #Trump — Not one decent cell in his body" - Jeffrey Epstein
Reposted by John Raftery
Nixon didn’t go to prison over Watergate, but 48 others were convicted and served time for the scandal - notably, his Attorney General. Attention: Pam Bondi meet John Mitchell.
December 12, 2025 at 5:05 AM
Nixon didn’t go to prison over Watergate, but 48 others were convicted and served time for the scandal - notably, his Attorney General. Attention: Pam Bondi meet John Mitchell.
Reposted by John Raftery
BILL BURR: “If someone’s working 160 hours a month and can’t make their rent, you’re not paying them enough. Maybe you should just be worth $900,000,000… How does a CEO take a f*cking 8 figure bonus and none of your employees have dental insurance?”
December 12, 2025 at 1:52 PM
BILL BURR: “If someone’s working 160 hours a month and can’t make their rent, you’re not paying them enough. Maybe you should just be worth $900,000,000… How does a CEO take a f*cking 8 figure bonus and none of your employees have dental insurance?”
Reposted by John Raftery
The entire Executive Branch is wrapped up in two things right now:
1) carrying out a crazy old man's revenge tour for his public humiliation in 2020, and
2) making America as white as possible.
1) carrying out a crazy old man's revenge tour for his public humiliation in 2020, and
2) making America as white as possible.
Breaking news: The Justice Department filed a lawsuit against Fulton County, Georgia, over records related to the 2020 election, escalating the Trump administration’s efforts to boost the president’s false claims that his loss to Joe Biden was rigged.
DOJ sues Georgia county as Trump pushes debunked 2020 election fraud claims
President Donald Trump has increasingly pressured his administration to find widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election, despite those claims having been debunked and dismissed in dozens of cases by ...
www.washingtonpost.com
December 12, 2025 at 7:32 PM
The entire Executive Branch is wrapped up in two things right now:
1) carrying out a crazy old man's revenge tour for his public humiliation in 2020, and
2) making America as white as possible.
1) carrying out a crazy old man's revenge tour for his public humiliation in 2020, and
2) making America as white as possible.
Reposted by John Raftery
This should be the biggest story in the country right now. The sitting US President was extorting state lawmakers from his own party by threatening to withhold public money if they didn’t gerrymander for him.
I don’t know how else to say it…
I don’t know how else to say it…
December 12, 2025 at 4:21 AM
This should be the biggest story in the country right now. The sitting US President was extorting state lawmakers from his own party by threatening to withhold public money if they didn’t gerrymander for him.
I don’t know how else to say it…
I don’t know how else to say it…
Reposted by John Raftery
This am, I met with Scott Hamby, the Dem candidate in the Georgia 72 District.
Scott is a combat vet & GA native. He worked food aid in Ukraine, helped evacuate Afghanistan, and served for 20 yrs.
He is out to flip a gerrymandered district that's been in GOP hands for generations.
hamby4ga72.com
Scott is a combat vet & GA native. He worked food aid in Ukraine, helped evacuate Afghanistan, and served for 20 yrs.
He is out to flip a gerrymandered district that's been in GOP hands for generations.
hamby4ga72.com
December 12, 2025 at 2:55 PM
This am, I met with Scott Hamby, the Dem candidate in the Georgia 72 District.
Scott is a combat vet & GA native. He worked food aid in Ukraine, helped evacuate Afghanistan, and served for 20 yrs.
He is out to flip a gerrymandered district that's been in GOP hands for generations.
hamby4ga72.com
Scott is a combat vet & GA native. He worked food aid in Ukraine, helped evacuate Afghanistan, and served for 20 yrs.
He is out to flip a gerrymandered district that's been in GOP hands for generations.
hamby4ga72.com
Reposted by John Raftery
Only criminals attack the innocent. ICE agents abusing power should be arrested, and so should the man who gave them their orders.
December 12, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Only criminals attack the innocent. ICE agents abusing power should be arrested, and so should the man who gave them their orders.
Reposted by John Raftery
Bully backed down after running into resistance, indicating they hoped their target would weakly fold in the face of bluster and don’t have a back up plan?
Huh. That keeps happening. Maybe a lesson there.
Huh. That keeps happening. Maybe a lesson there.
Lol the US just abandoned their effort to get mad at the guy that threw Bolsonaro in prison. Big "my toddler tantrum didn't get me nothing so we're done here" energy.
*US REMOVES BRAZIL'S MORAES FROM SANCTIONS LIST
*US ALSO DELETES VIVIANE BARCI DE MORAES FROM SANCTIONS LIST
*US REMOVES BRAZIL'S MORAES FROM SANCTIONS LIST
*US ALSO DELETES VIVIANE BARCI DE MORAES FROM SANCTIONS LIST
December 12, 2025 at 5:58 PM
Bully backed down after running into resistance, indicating they hoped their target would weakly fold in the face of bluster and don’t have a back up plan?
Huh. That keeps happening. Maybe a lesson there.
Huh. That keeps happening. Maybe a lesson there.
Reposted by John Raftery
“The spines of the Indiana Republicans stiffened where so many others snapped,” Jonathan Chait argues.
The Indiana Vote Is an Inflection Point
The spines of the state’s Republicans stiffened where so many others snapped.
bit.ly
December 12, 2025 at 10:20 PM
“The spines of the Indiana Republicans stiffened where so many others snapped,” Jonathan Chait argues.
Reposted by John Raftery
If you’re wondering why Democratic staffers are happily leaking photos of Epstein with the likes of Bill Clinton and Larry Summers you’re really not paying attention.
The parties (and their voters) are *not* the same.
The Dems are not perfect and have ample problems.
But GOP is different.
The parties (and their voters) are *not* the same.
The Dems are not perfect and have ample problems.
But GOP is different.
December 12, 2025 at 3:46 PM
If you’re wondering why Democratic staffers are happily leaking photos of Epstein with the likes of Bill Clinton and Larry Summers you’re really not paying attention.
The parties (and their voters) are *not* the same.
The Dems are not perfect and have ample problems.
But GOP is different.
The parties (and their voters) are *not* the same.
The Dems are not perfect and have ample problems.
But GOP is different.
Reposted by John Raftery
"It doesn’t seem to have occurred to the administration that spending the last several months going scorched earth on the rest of the world might make other countries the tiniest bit disinclined to deal with us."
We're the baddies now. Our new Security Strategy shows it.
It's a gift to the Kremlin and a middle finger to our erstwhile allies.
www.publicnotice.co
December 12, 2025 at 8:08 PM
"It doesn’t seem to have occurred to the administration that spending the last several months going scorched earth on the rest of the world might make other countries the tiniest bit disinclined to deal with us."
A good brief summary of the complexities in Indiana this week. It was a good week.
👇👇👇
👇👇👇
So the president was like “hey Indiana, help me cheat in the next election,” and Indiana was all “no thanks,” but then the president went “you better disenfranchise a bunch of your citizens or I’ll illegally withhold money to hurt you,” and the Indiana Senate went “in that case, an even bigger no.”
December 12, 2025 at 10:23 PM
A good brief summary of the complexities in Indiana this week. It was a good week.
👇👇👇
👇👇👇
Reposted by John Raftery
Here is Zelensky filming himself in an area Putin claims Russia has taken. The guy is such a badass. (Compare to Putin who has comical furniture built because he’s afraid to sit near his own allies.)
Zelensky arrived in Kupyansk, which Putin claims is "under Russian control."
December 12, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Here is Zelensky filming himself in an area Putin claims Russia has taken. The guy is such a badass. (Compare to Putin who has comical furniture built because he’s afraid to sit near his own allies.)
This is the best news
🎉🎉🎉
🎉🎉🎉
The EU just decided to indefinitely immobilise Russian assets.
This ensures that up to €210 billion in Russian funds stay on EU soil, unless Russia fully pays reparations to Ukraine for the damage it has caused. (1/2)
This ensures that up to €210 billion in Russian funds stay on EU soil, unless Russia fully pays reparations to Ukraine for the damage it has caused. (1/2)
December 12, 2025 at 10:20 PM
This is the best news
🎉🎉🎉
🎉🎉🎉
Reposted by John Raftery
They are holding many of them as collateral to make sure the DOJ releases complete and authentic information in 9 days. It’s strategic.
December 12, 2025 at 10:01 PM
They are holding many of them as collateral to make sure the DOJ releases complete and authentic information in 9 days. It’s strategic.
Jesus Mary and Joseph
December 12, 2025 at 10:09 PM
Jesus Mary and Joseph
Reposted by John Raftery
They have software to blur the victims and certain explicit material from the public. Every single thing needs to be both submitted as evidence and released. Blur what needs to be blurred (victims), but not the adults who are complicit. We should also send this to NATO and the ICC.
December 12, 2025 at 10:07 PM
They have software to blur the victims and certain explicit material from the public. Every single thing needs to be both submitted as evidence and released. Blur what needs to be blurred (victims), but not the adults who are complicit. We should also send this to NATO and the ICC.
Reposted by John Raftery
Wow to those of us living in the USA (I have been here long enough to become integrated) this seems like unimaginable luxury! A janitor able to afford healthcare and that very fact doesn’t threaten or stop millionaires from enjoying their own wealth. Who knew this is possible?
Jeg Elsker Norge!
Great post from Trond Solberg on threads.
"Social democracy doesn't put a ceiling on wealth. It raises the floor. "
1/2
Great post from Trond Solberg on threads.
"Social democracy doesn't put a ceiling on wealth. It raises the floor. "
1/2
December 12, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Wow to those of us living in the USA (I have been here long enough to become integrated) this seems like unimaginable luxury! A janitor able to afford healthcare and that very fact doesn’t threaten or stop millionaires from enjoying their own wealth. Who knew this is possible?
A good start would be to look at the American system of H Ins and don’t do what they did.
with reunification looming in Ireland, am sorta hoping we adopt a Danish or Norwegian healthcare system. In CH, private insurance is mandatory but they are not-for-profit which makes a difference.
December 12, 2025 at 10:06 PM
A good start would be to look at the American system of H Ins and don’t do what they did.
Wow to those of us living in the USA (I have been here long enough to become integrated) this seems like unimaginable luxury! A janitor able to afford healthcare and that very fact doesn’t threaten or stop millionaires from enjoying their own wealth. Who knew this is possible?
Jeg Elsker Norge!
Great post from Trond Solberg on threads.
"Social democracy doesn't put a ceiling on wealth. It raises the floor. "
1/2
Great post from Trond Solberg on threads.
"Social democracy doesn't put a ceiling on wealth. It raises the floor. "
1/2
December 12, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Wow to those of us living in the USA (I have been here long enough to become integrated) this seems like unimaginable luxury! A janitor able to afford healthcare and that very fact doesn’t threaten or stop millionaires from enjoying their own wealth. Who knew this is possible?
Reposted by John Raftery
I am not sure I understand why we even have an impeachment clause if we aren’t going to use it for this.
This should be the biggest story in the country right now. The sitting US President was extorting state lawmakers from his own party by threatening to withhold public money if they didn’t gerrymander for him.
I don’t know how else to say it…
I don’t know how else to say it…
December 12, 2025 at 4:56 AM
I am not sure I understand why we even have an impeachment clause if we aren’t going to use it for this.
Reposted by John Raftery
Kristi “Hateful Bitch” Noem thinks she’s doing good work by deporting combat veterans-a recipient of a Purple Heart-who took two bullets while defending the United States. I’m still seething. We will defeat these fascist MF’ers
December 12, 2025 at 1:35 AM
Kristi “Hateful Bitch” Noem thinks she’s doing good work by deporting combat veterans-a recipient of a Purple Heart-who took two bullets while defending the United States. I’m still seething. We will defeat these fascist MF’ers
Reposted by John Raftery
This is actually the fourth time Trump has failed to indict Letitia James:
1. Erik Seibert refused to
2. Lindsey Halligan wasn't lawfully appointed
3. DOJ tried again and failed last week
4. DOJ tried again and failed today
1. Erik Seibert refused to
2. Lindsey Halligan wasn't lawfully appointed
3. DOJ tried again and failed last week
4. DOJ tried again and failed today
December 11, 2025 at 9:30 PM
This is actually the fourth time Trump has failed to indict Letitia James:
1. Erik Seibert refused to
2. Lindsey Halligan wasn't lawfully appointed
3. DOJ tried again and failed last week
4. DOJ tried again and failed today
1. Erik Seibert refused to
2. Lindsey Halligan wasn't lawfully appointed
3. DOJ tried again and failed last week
4. DOJ tried again and failed today