Ross Wallen
@rosswallen.bsky.social
Progressive politics, DC, Biking, Clean Energy, MarTech, Digital. Former CleanChoice, USAction, Wellstone Action, Americorps VISTA via Macalester / Mpls & KY.
Reposted by Ross Wallen
This is not a hard message.
Localize it.
Embrace it.
Win.
Localize it.
Embrace it.
Win.
January 1, 2026 at 7:39 PM
This is not a hard message.
Localize it.
Embrace it.
Win.
Localize it.
Embrace it.
Win.
Reposted by Ross Wallen
Last month, I wrote on all legislative races of 2025. There were still a few elections left in the year, however. But now, they're all done.
And so we've updated the analysis:
—Democrats flipped 25 legislative seats in 2025.
That's 21% of the 119 GOP-held seats at play.
—The GOP flipped 0.
And so we've updated the analysis:
—Democrats flipped 25 legislative seats in 2025.
That's 21% of the 119 GOP-held seats at play.
—The GOP flipped 0.
In 2025, Democrats Flipped 21 Percent of GOP-Held Legislative Seats - Bolts
Editor’s note: The article was updated on Dec. 31 to reflect the results of three special elections held in late December, none of which resulted in a partisan flip. At... Read More
boltsmag.org
January 1, 2026 at 5:13 PM
Last month, I wrote on all legislative races of 2025. There were still a few elections left in the year, however. But now, they're all done.
And so we've updated the analysis:
—Democrats flipped 25 legislative seats in 2025.
That's 21% of the 119 GOP-held seats at play.
—The GOP flipped 0.
And so we've updated the analysis:
—Democrats flipped 25 legislative seats in 2025.
That's 21% of the 119 GOP-held seats at play.
—The GOP flipped 0.
Reposted by Ross Wallen
In case there was any doubt about where big tech stands.
Google is hosting a CBP app that uses facial recognition to identify immigrants, while simultaneously removing apps that report the location of ICE officials because Google sees ICE as a vulnerable group. “Big tech has made their choice.”
www.404media.co/google-has-c...
www.404media.co/google-has-c...
Google Has Chosen a Side in Trump's Mass Deportation Effort
Google is hosting a CBP app that uses facial recognition to identify immigrants, while simultaneously removing apps that report the location of ICE officials because Google sees ICE as a vulnerable…
www.404media.co
December 28, 2025 at 11:33 PM
In case there was any doubt about where big tech stands.
Reposted by Ross Wallen
“This year, renewables surpassed coal as a source of electricity worldwide, and solar and wind energy grew fast enough to cover the entire increase in global electricity use from January to June, according to energy think tank Ember” www.science.org/content/arti...
Science’s 2025 Breakthrough of the Year: The unstoppable rise of renewable energy
Clean energy infrastructure is being deployed with unmatched scale and speed—and China is leading the way
www.science.org
December 26, 2025 at 1:29 AM
“This year, renewables surpassed coal as a source of electricity worldwide, and solar and wind energy grew fast enough to cover the entire increase in global electricity use from January to June, according to energy think tank Ember” www.science.org/content/arti...
Reposted by Ross Wallen
Kavanaugh feeling mildly sad about how he’s going to be remembered in the history books
Kavanaugh goes out of his way to pen a footnote not having to deal with the case at hand.
He appears to be trying to narrow the forces he unleashed with his prior opinion allowing for race- and ethnicity-based #KavanaughStops
He appears to be trying to narrow the forces he unleashed with his prior opinion allowing for race- and ethnicity-based #KavanaughStops
December 23, 2025 at 11:17 PM
Kavanaugh feeling mildly sad about how he’s going to be remembered in the history books
West Coast doggie says hi
December 23, 2025 at 7:18 PM
West Coast doggie says hi
Reposted by Ross Wallen
she's just doing what she was hired to do
Why would you need to put a pause on a story that has been meticulously fact-checked and lawyered?
Sounds like the kind of story you’d want to run right away!
Sounds like the kind of story you’d want to run right away!
December 22, 2025 at 2:22 AM
she's just doing what she was hired to do
Lena's got her Xmas bow on
December 21, 2025 at 10:45 PM
Lena's got her Xmas bow on
Reposted by Ross Wallen
I love that @51st.news does a weekly civics roundup for those looking to get involved in the DC area: 51st.news/dc-civic-eng...
Your weekly roundup of ways to get involved in D.C.
Plus, a vigil for those who died on our streets this year, a book swap, and a march for migrant solidarity.
51st.news
December 19, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Reposted by Ross Wallen
NEW: D.C. deserves a police chief who will follow the law and respect the constitutional rights of District residents.
Read ACLU-D.C.’s Executive Director Monica Hopkins' statement on Mayor Bowser's Wednesday announcement of D.C.'s interim police chief: bit.ly/4qc8Hql
Read ACLU-D.C.’s Executive Director Monica Hopkins' statement on Mayor Bowser's Wednesday announcement of D.C.'s interim police chief: bit.ly/4qc8Hql
December 18, 2025 at 7:34 PM
NEW: D.C. deserves a police chief who will follow the law and respect the constitutional rights of District residents.
Read ACLU-D.C.’s Executive Director Monica Hopkins' statement on Mayor Bowser's Wednesday announcement of D.C.'s interim police chief: bit.ly/4qc8Hql
Read ACLU-D.C.’s Executive Director Monica Hopkins' statement on Mayor Bowser's Wednesday announcement of D.C.'s interim police chief: bit.ly/4qc8Hql
Reposted by Ross Wallen
What a world we could have
Australia will start a gun buyback program to take surplus, newly-banned and illegal firearms off the street, following the terror attack in Bondi Beach which left 15 people dead
Australia to Buy Back Guns After Bondi Beach Terror Attack
Australia will start a gun buyback program to take surplus, newly-banned and illegal firearms off the street, following the terror attack in Bondi Beach which left 15 people dead.
www.bloomberg.com
December 19, 2025 at 1:38 AM
What a world we could have
Reposted by Ross Wallen
Ranked-choice voting is already the law and funded in DC — and the Board of Elections says it can implement it.
Dozens of candidates filed to run and thousands of DC voters donated to campaigns with the understanding we will have ranked-choice voting.
Changing election rules now would be unfair.
Dozens of candidates filed to run and thousands of DC voters donated to campaigns with the understanding we will have ranked-choice voting.
Changing election rules now would be unfair.
Later today the D.C. Council will vote on an emergency bill that would delay ranked-choice voting. Councilmember Anita Bonds, who introduced the bill, says she worries that the D.C. Board of Elections isn't ready to educate voters ahead of the 2026 elections. But...
December 16, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Ranked-choice voting is already the law and funded in DC — and the Board of Elections says it can implement it.
Dozens of candidates filed to run and thousands of DC voters donated to campaigns with the understanding we will have ranked-choice voting.
Changing election rules now would be unfair.
Dozens of candidates filed to run and thousands of DC voters donated to campaigns with the understanding we will have ranked-choice voting.
Changing election rules now would be unfair.
Reposted by Ross Wallen
Here is what Trump and his enablers fail to understand: Immigrants love this country deeply. We love democracy. We cherish the rule of law, the promise of due process and the idea that our diversity is a strength, not a threat.
My op-ed:
My op-ed:
Opinion | Rep. Ilhan Omar: Trump's slurs seek to cast suspicion on anyone who isn't white
The president's attacks and ICE activity in Minnesota are weaponizing fear against me and other immigrants.
www.ms.now
December 14, 2025 at 10:08 PM
Here is what Trump and his enablers fail to understand: Immigrants love this country deeply. We love democracy. We cherish the rule of law, the promise of due process and the idea that our diversity is a strength, not a threat.
My op-ed:
My op-ed:
Reposted by Ross Wallen
Armed ICE agents trapped US citizens in a restaurant and demanded their papers. Federal agents walked into East African restaurants in Cedar-Riverside, MN. They closed and blocked the doors. Then they demanded to see everyone’s papers. Every person present was a US citizen.
Federal agents use chemical irritant on crowd in Somali neighborhood of Minneapolis amid Trump crackdown
Federal agents have used chemical irritant to disperse a crowd in a heavily Somali neighborhood in Minneapolis. This happened Tuesday during a identification checks amid the Trump administration's cra...
www.mprnews.org
December 14, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Armed ICE agents trapped US citizens in a restaurant and demanded their papers. Federal agents walked into East African restaurants in Cedar-Riverside, MN. They closed and blocked the doors. Then they demanded to see everyone’s papers. Every person present was a US citizen.
DC PSA: Garden District heated patio open until next Wednesday
December 12, 2025 at 10:53 PM
DC PSA: Garden District heated patio open until next Wednesday
Reposted by Ross Wallen
A year ago, our lawsuits helped make sure congestion pricing would go into effect on January 1, 2025. Now, the results are clear:
Congestion pricing has resulted in a marked drop in air pollution – not just in Lower Manhattan, but throughout the metro region.
Congestion pricing has resulted in a marked drop in air pollution – not just in Lower Manhattan, but throughout the metro region.
Particulate pollution in the air down a whopping 22% in NYC’s congestion pricing zone.
Not only are the streets less congested, but so are our lungs.
e360.yale.edu/digest/new-y...
Not only are the streets less congested, but so are our lungs.
e360.yale.edu/digest/new-y...
In New York City, Congestion Pricing Leads to Marked Drop in Pollution
e360.yale.edu
December 12, 2025 at 1:26 PM
A year ago, our lawsuits helped make sure congestion pricing would go into effect on January 1, 2025. Now, the results are clear:
Congestion pricing has resulted in a marked drop in air pollution – not just in Lower Manhattan, but throughout the metro region.
Congestion pricing has resulted in a marked drop in air pollution – not just in Lower Manhattan, but throughout the metro region.
Reposted by Ross Wallen
We sent a letter to the National Women’s Soccer League expressing serious concern about their decision to reject the Washington Spirit’s contract agreement with Trinity Rodman.
December 11, 2025 at 11:46 PM
We sent a letter to the National Women’s Soccer League expressing serious concern about their decision to reject the Washington Spirit’s contract agreement with Trinity Rodman.
Reposted by Ross Wallen
39 members of Congress penned a letter to Jessica Berman
“We urge the NWSL to work in good faith with the NWSLPA and
Ms. Rodman to resolve this matter in a timely and transparent manner consistent with
federal labor law requiring that the terms of collectively bargained agreements be honored”
“We urge the NWSL to work in good faith with the NWSLPA and
Ms. Rodman to resolve this matter in a timely and transparent manner consistent with
federal labor law requiring that the terms of collectively bargained agreements be honored”
A rule change on the NWSL salary cap is imminent from the NWSL board of governors that could help pay top players like Trinity Rodman. No new contract yet though — and Congress has taken interest, too 👀
New at @theathletic.com www.nytimes.com/athletic/688...
New at @theathletic.com www.nytimes.com/athletic/688...
NWSL board in advanced talks to add funds to pay players like Rodman competitive salaries: Sources
Trinity Rodman's ongoing negotiations were the impetus for the board vote, but sources say the rule is bigger than one player.
www.nytimes.com
December 12, 2025 at 12:13 AM
39 members of Congress penned a letter to Jessica Berman
“We urge the NWSL to work in good faith with the NWSLPA and
Ms. Rodman to resolve this matter in a timely and transparent manner consistent with
federal labor law requiring that the terms of collectively bargained agreements be honored”
“We urge the NWSL to work in good faith with the NWSLPA and
Ms. Rodman to resolve this matter in a timely and transparent manner consistent with
federal labor law requiring that the terms of collectively bargained agreements be honored”
Reposted by Ross Wallen
Democratic leadership didn’t want to stick their necks out for him. The GOP didn’t want him even referred to as a “Maryland man.” Sen. Chris Van Hollen, his congressional representative fought for him. And we should never forget any of this. apnews.com/article/abre...
Kilmar Abrego Garcia freed from federal immigration detention, his attorney's office says
Kilmar Abrego Garcia has been released from an immigration detention center in Pennsylvania following an order from a federal judge issued Thursday, according to his attorney’s office.
apnews.com
December 11, 2025 at 10:29 PM
Democratic leadership didn’t want to stick their necks out for him. The GOP didn’t want him even referred to as a “Maryland man.” Sen. Chris Van Hollen, his congressional representative fought for him. And we should never forget any of this. apnews.com/article/abre...
Reposted by Ross Wallen
Final vote was 31-19 against gerrymandered map. 21 Republicans joined 10 Dems in voting no
Breaking: Indiana State Senate rejects 9-0 Republican gerrymandered congressional map, stands up to Trump’s pressure campaign of threats and intimidation. Huge victory for democracy & defeat for Trump in gerrymandering war he started
December 11, 2025 at 9:43 PM
Final vote was 31-19 against gerrymandered map. 21 Republicans joined 10 Dems in voting no
Reposted by Ross Wallen
The grassroots mobilization and breadth of support in @janeese4dc.bsky.social's first ten days is entirely without precedent in the history of DC politics. The prior record for contributions in the first 10 days was 591, a small fraction of JLG's 3,150 contributors.
The numbers are in: We raised $1.24 million in direct contributions and anticipated matching funds from more than 3,150 donors in only 10 days! 📈
THANK YOU, DC!!!
THANK YOU, DC!!!
December 11, 2025 at 2:10 PM
The grassroots mobilization and breadth of support in @janeese4dc.bsky.social's first ten days is entirely without precedent in the history of DC politics. The prior record for contributions in the first 10 days was 591, a small fraction of JLG's 3,150 contributors.
Reposted by Ross Wallen
Join the Bike, Walk & Bus PAC for a community-focused Ward 1 D.C. Council Candidate Forum on Transportation issues! Monday, January 26, from 6:00–7:00 PM at the Josephine Butler Parks Center.
Link: www.bikewalkbuspac.com/single-post/...
Link: www.bikewalkbuspac.com/single-post/...
December 10, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Join the Bike, Walk & Bus PAC for a community-focused Ward 1 D.C. Council Candidate Forum on Transportation issues! Monday, January 26, from 6:00–7:00 PM at the Josephine Butler Parks Center.
Link: www.bikewalkbuspac.com/single-post/...
Link: www.bikewalkbuspac.com/single-post/...
Reposted by Ross Wallen
A huge night for Democrats:
—They flip Miami's mayorship.
—They flip a state House district in Georgia that had voted Trump by 13%.
—They keep Albuquerque's mayorship, while the liberal faction flips city council.
—And they get big overperformances (+18 & +22) in 2 Florida specials.
—They flip Miami's mayorship.
—They flip a state House district in Georgia that had voted Trump by 13%.
—They keep Albuquerque's mayorship, while the liberal faction flips city council.
—And they get big overperformances (+18 & +22) in 2 Florida specials.
December 10, 2025 at 3:26 AM
A huge night for Democrats:
—They flip Miami's mayorship.
—They flip a state House district in Georgia that had voted Trump by 13%.
—They keep Albuquerque's mayorship, while the liberal faction flips city council.
—And they get big overperformances (+18 & +22) in 2 Florida specials.
—They flip Miami's mayorship.
—They flip a state House district in Georgia that had voted Trump by 13%.
—They keep Albuquerque's mayorship, while the liberal faction flips city council.
—And they get big overperformances (+18 & +22) in 2 Florida specials.
Reposted by Ross Wallen
BREAKING: Democrats have flipped a conservative state House seat in Georgia in yet another upset.
It's a 14-point overperformance *and* the 25th legislative flip of the year for Dems. Republicans? Zero.
Read our complete writeup here -->
It's a 14-point overperformance *and* the 25th legislative flip of the year for Dems. Republicans? Zero.
Read our complete writeup here -->
Breaking: Georgia Democrats flip conservative seat in yet another upset
That's 25 pickups for Democrats nationwide this year—and zero for Republicans
www.the-downballot.com
December 10, 2025 at 2:11 AM
BREAKING: Democrats have flipped a conservative state House seat in Georgia in yet another upset.
It's a 14-point overperformance *and* the 25th legislative flip of the year for Dems. Republicans? Zero.
Read our complete writeup here -->
It's a 14-point overperformance *and* the 25th legislative flip of the year for Dems. Republicans? Zero.
Read our complete writeup here -->
Reposted by Ross Wallen
As things stand now, the NWSL isn’t fighting for Trinity Rodman. It’s fighting against her, and shadowboxing with its own potential in the process.
A column, at @theathletic.com:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/687...
A column, at @theathletic.com:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/687...
NWSL said it would fight for Trinity Rodman. It’s only fighting with itself
One way or the other, the league will set a precedent with Rodman. The NWSL has the power to choose what that looks like.
www.nytimes.com
December 8, 2025 at 8:17 PM
As things stand now, the NWSL isn’t fighting for Trinity Rodman. It’s fighting against her, and shadowboxing with its own potential in the process.
A column, at @theathletic.com:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/687...
A column, at @theathletic.com:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/687...