Robert Orthman
@robertorthman.bsky.social
Boston 💜 "A straight-talking advocate for housing, early education, & economic development" - Boston Globe ed board. Dad, Coach, Atty, Volunteer. Personal acct 🦋 Do you hear me, do you feel me, we gon be alright.
It is so transparent when an elected official hasn’t been seen for years but suddenly is showing up to everything once they have an opponent.
November 30, 2025 at 12:45 AM
It is so transparent when an elected official hasn’t been seen for years but suddenly is showing up to everything once they have an opponent.
Our tax dollars are subsidizing corporations not paying a living wage www.bostonglobe.com/2025/11/28/m...
November 29, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Our tax dollars are subsidizing corporations not paying a living wage www.bostonglobe.com/2025/11/28/m...
Reposted by Robert Orthman
One of the biggest barriers to implementing pro-housing policy is the folk wisdom that building new market rate/mixed-income housing increases rents even though study after study shows that the opposite is the case:
building more housing lowers rents
building more housing lowers rents
Interesting new working paper that studies chains of movers after the construction of a new apartment building in Honolulu.
Paper finds that the project resulted in the opening up other, lower cost, housing on the island, benefiting the housing market overall.
Paper finds that the project resulted in the opening up other, lower cost, housing on the island, benefiting the housing market overall.
uhero.hawaii.edu
November 28, 2025 at 5:27 PM
One of the biggest barriers to implementing pro-housing policy is the folk wisdom that building new market rate/mixed-income housing increases rents even though study after study shows that the opposite is the case:
building more housing lowers rents
building more housing lowers rents
Thankful for Drake Maye
November 27, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Thankful for Drake Maye
Duncan Robinson, a truly loathesome player
November 27, 2025 at 12:30 AM
Duncan Robinson, a truly loathesome player
Reposted by Robert Orthman
One explanation for economic populism in the US is the recurring cycle of bubbles and bailouts that happens without any democratic input
November 24, 2025 at 10:35 PM
One explanation for economic populism in the US is the recurring cycle of bubbles and bailouts that happens without any democratic input
Barista: what size?
Me: Large please.
Barista: You know that’s 4 espresso shots, right?
Me: That’s it?
Me: Large please.
Barista: You know that’s 4 espresso shots, right?
Me: That’s it?
November 24, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Barista: what size?
Me: Large please.
Barista: You know that’s 4 espresso shots, right?
Me: That’s it?
Me: Large please.
Barista: You know that’s 4 espresso shots, right?
Me: That’s it?
And they say we can’t do great things in America anymore
November 22, 2025 at 8:45 PM
And they say we can’t do great things in America anymore
How I look at an oat milk latte
November 22, 2025 at 1:03 AM
How I look at an oat milk latte
Reposted by Robert Orthman
he never looks at JD that way
November 21, 2025 at 9:38 PM
he never looks at JD that way
Reposted by Robert Orthman
Laughing at Donald Trump saying he'd definitely feel comfortable living in Zohran Mamdani's New York on the same day that half the consultant brain-poisoned Democratic party voted to condemn socialism
November 21, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Laughing at Donald Trump saying he'd definitely feel comfortable living in Zohran Mamdani's New York on the same day that half the consultant brain-poisoned Democratic party voted to condemn socialism
Reposted by Robert Orthman
Mamdani getting Trump to back down & even *compliment* him costs Mamdani absolutely nothing (& indeed actually shows his skills) & probably also saves a lot of vulnerable ppl in this city a trememndous amount of pain if it means Trump is less inclined to act shitty towards us bc of this meeting
November 21, 2025 at 9:36 PM
Mamdani getting Trump to back down & even *compliment* him costs Mamdani absolutely nothing (& indeed actually shows his skills) & probably also saves a lot of vulnerable ppl in this city a trememndous amount of pain if it means Trump is less inclined to act shitty towards us bc of this meeting
Guy next to me at the coffee shop with a Let’s Go Brandon hat on. They’re still doing that one?
November 20, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Guy next to me at the coffee shop with a Let’s Go Brandon hat on. They’re still doing that one?
Reposted by Robert Orthman
Mechanic [sliding out from under Optimus Prime]: I think I see what the issue is. This truck is also a big guy somehow
November 18, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Mechanic [sliding out from under Optimus Prime]: I think I see what the issue is. This truck is also a big guy somehow
Hanging with some fellow #dads last night. Started discussing local grocery stores and prices. This is the sweet spot. This is where we shine.
November 16, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Hanging with some fellow #dads last night. Started discussing local grocery stores and prices. This is the sweet spot. This is where we shine.
Reposted by Robert Orthman
No juice
JD Vance: "I'm a Grok guy. I think it's the best. It's also the least woke."
November 14, 2025 at 3:24 AM
No juice
It’s incomprehensible to me that some of our legislators have decided that *this* is the moment to gut our emission reduction goals and also MassSave(??)
ENERGY: Sweeping energy bill to weaken 2030 climate goals clears key House committee
Sweeping energy bill to weaken 2030 climate goals clears key House committee - CommonWealth Beacon
The measure is ushering in an unexpected — and messy — debate over the state’s overall policy push to meet its 2030 climate commitments as Gov. Maura Healey’s energy affordability package filed...
buff.ly
November 14, 2025 at 3:02 AM
It’s incomprehensible to me that some of our legislators have decided that *this* is the moment to gut our emission reduction goals and also MassSave(??)
Reposted by Robert Orthman
you could fact check this — there aren’t 30 million illegal immigrants and there is no evidence that the presence of an immigrant in say houston has any impact on housing in madison, wisconsin — or you could note straightforwardly that this is just nazi rhetoric
JD Vance: "A lot of young people are saying housing is way too expensive. Why is that? Because we flooded the country with 30 million illegal immigrants who were taking houses that ought by right go to American citizens."
November 13, 2025 at 10:12 PM
you could fact check this — there aren’t 30 million illegal immigrants and there is no evidence that the presence of an immigrant in say houston has any impact on housing in madison, wisconsin — or you could note straightforwardly that this is just nazi rhetoric
The call is always coming from inside the house
I know people have become numb to the hypocrisy of it all, but I would like to see all the things GOP complain the Dems do (that they actually do not do) and then line it up with the GOP doing those exact things.
Probably enough to fill a whole magazine.
Probably enough to fill a whole magazine.
November 14, 2025 at 12:55 AM
The call is always coming from inside the house
Reposted by Robert Orthman
We have been knowing where they stand, wake up. 🤦🏻♀️
Steve Inskeep: You think the Republicans voting with you here will not only agree to these measures, but actually try to do something if the administration ignores them?
Sen Cortez Masto: If they go back on their word, then the American public will know where the Republicans stand.
Sen Cortez Masto: If they go back on their word, then the American public will know where the Republicans stand.
November 11, 2025 at 1:38 PM
We have been knowing where they stand, wake up. 🤦🏻♀️
I don’t understand this at all. This is absolutely not what Democratic legislators should be doing, especially in Massachusetts.
BREAKING: Mass. could render its 2030 climate commitments null and void under new sweeping legislation being fast-tracked by the House.
NEW: House moves forward with bill to weaken 2030 climate goals
commonwealthbeacon.org/energy/house...
commonwealthbeacon.org/energy/house...
November 11, 2025 at 4:06 AM
I don’t understand this at all. This is absolutely not what Democratic legislators should be doing, especially in Massachusetts.
Reposted by Robert Orthman
These people would have surrendered to Hitler in 1942 and given him Maine
MSNBC reported Schumer's office felt that the longer that shutdown went on, the more likely it was that people would start to blame the Dems.
My kingdom for Democrats that don't govern out of fear. I've said it before and I'll say it again: The American people are far braver than their reps.
My kingdom for Democrats that don't govern out of fear. I've said it before and I'll say it again: The American people are far braver than their reps.
November 10, 2025 at 1:43 PM
These people would have surrendered to Hitler in 1942 and given him Maine
Thanks, Merrick Garland!
South Korea's ousted conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol faces additional criminal charges as prosecutors allege that he flew drones over North Korea to deliberately create tensions and justify his plans to declare martial law.
South Korea's ousted leader Yoon indicted for flying drones over North Korea
South Korea’s ousted conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol faces additional criminal charges as prosecutors allege that he flew drones over North Korea to deliberately create tensions and justify his plans to declare martial law.
bit.ly
November 10, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Thanks, Merrick Garland!
Inshallah
Steve Bannon: If we lose the midterms and we lose 2028, some in this room are going to prison, myself included.
November 7, 2025 at 12:47 AM
Inshallah