There are a handful of former elected officials whose public contributions following their time in elected office far outpace their electoral achievements. I include Stephen Lewis on this list, for sure. Also, Bob Rae, Joe Clark, and Jimmy Carter.

Apparently 1941 marked the "first days" of WWII. This will come as news to those whose nations and relatives began fighting from the beginning, in 1939. 🍁 www.nytimes.com/2026/03/10/u...

Where's the AUMF for war against Iran?

Great remembrance of Jesse Jackson (1941-2026), by @iamflyrock (aka Dee Davis) dailyyonder.com/jesse-jackso...

I accidentally clicked on a @washingtonpost.com link in a respected colleague's LinkedIn post. Despite its rapid decline, there's still consistently great content in the newspaper, but I have been totally boycotting since Bezos killed the editorial team's endorsement of Kamala Harris.

More of this please. #Bonhomme

I'm grateful for those stalwart souls like @susancampbell.bsky.social, who watched, so I wouldn't have to. #Davos P.S. After yesterday's enthusiastic response, hard to imagine that Mark Carney could look any better, yet here we are.

I'm in awe of my Mum, who is a few weeks shy of her 85th birthday. She just spent a few hours shovelling snow, including clearing the driveway of a neighbour who is waiting for heart valve replacement surgery! #Shero

Watching The Sound of Music hit different this year, for reasons that should be abundantly clear.

I don’t mean to be alarmist, but people born in 2008 will become legally “adults” this year.

Our lab director, Prof. Laura Tozer, and post-doc, Dr. Grace Nosek, spearheaded the City of Toronto's Youth Climate Engagement Strategy development process! Congrats team. utsc.utoronto.ca/news-events/... Read report here: www.toronto.ca/services-pay...

This interview between @spaikin.bsky.social and former Canadian Ambassador to the United Nations (among many other prestigious roles), @BobRae48 (at the x-place), is a great conversation between two of Ontario's finest. #highlyrecommend

NEW episode: Bob Rae joins @thepaikinpodcast.bsky.social ➡️5 years as Canada’s ambassador to the United Nations ➡️How the US has left “the democracy club” ➡️What he can say now that “Bob Rae is Free” YouTube: youtu.be/mJCriWr45gc Apple: apple.co/3XYa9AS Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/45T2...

Again LLMs spit out whatever information is used to train them. In this instance sexism in, sexism out 🤷🏽‍♀️. They amplify all pre-existing biases which is why pervasive unregulated use of AI is so dangerous.

My thoughts are with the people of Jamaica tonight. #melissa 🇯🇲

I heartily encourage fans of the #BlueJays and/or a sovereign Canada to read today's @deanblundell.bsky.social piece on Substack. deanblundell.substack.com/p/chop-wood-... #elbowsup #wantitall

Seems like a good day to share this. #goodtrouble #SCOTUS #VotingRightsAct.

For folks looking for shining examples of democracy at work, I would like to share the words of the Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, following last night's election loss to the Progressive Conservatives:

I'm old enough to remember when local bookstores were the only casualties of the Amazon business model. @bookshop.org has been leading the fight to protect local bookstores. Let's do our part to join their efforts. manage.kmail-lists.com/subscription...

Great news! Our interview with #ICERI2024 keynote speaker Pat Yongpradit is now on YouTube. Pat gives advice to teachers on how to integrate AI into education and discusses TeachAI, an initiative led by his organisation Code.org. 💡 Get caught up here 👉

Some big #NumbersDay releases today—Just a reminder that the Census data are incredibly valuable. We get transparent and non-politicized data to make informed decisions about what policies are delivering economic security for working people.

New Census 2024 income data show a mixed picture for families of color. Asian & Hispanic families saw their median income rise. But Black families experienced a fall. Typical Black & Hispanic households continue to earn just a fraction of their white peers' income. #EconSky #NumbersDay

Partners across the country are realizing the way back to Starbucks isn't through corporate nickel-and-diming, but by organizing unions to give green-apron baristas a better say in how Starbucks should be run. Sign our pledge to stand with baristas! bit.ly/NoContractNoCoffee

It’s hard to overstate how big a deal this is - for the economy (ours and globally), for the rule of law, and for the proper and efficient function of government. www.nytimes.com/live/2025/08...

[email protected], I agree with just about everything you have to say on here, though I take exception to the possibility that there is such a thing as "too many bicycles". (For the record, I am of the belief that there is also no such thing as "too many cameras"). 😉

I've just subscribed to Andrew Cockburn's Substack on "Spoils of War" spoilsofwar.substack.com?r=2cv6l&utm_.... Maybe you should, too! #MilitaryIndustrialComplex

My God… ANOTHER school shooting… ANOTHER assault rifle used. My heart goes out to all the families in Minneapolis.

Don't miss PolicyTALKS on Sept 16th! Join our very own Viviana Abreu-Hernández, @phineasb.bsky.social, and Jessica Troe as they discuss with panels of experts how state revenue from the cannabis and gambling industries is collected and invested. Register today and share! buff.ly/FBXfXjL

Grateful for the work of BLS Commissioners past, (including blog author, former Commissioner Erica Groshen) for their non-partisan defense of the credibility of BLS data. (Read the piece linked below, before it's taken down by those who want BLS to fabricate data about our labor force).

The revisions are hard evidence that job growth is slowing. That’s what we should be talking about, not discrediting a stats agency.

@clurhealy.bsky.social Thanks for your great reporting on “Alligator Alcatraz”, Claire. #NewMass folks are proud of you! #413.

It looks like we have some new friends, which means it’s time to reintroduce ourselves. 🥳 Hi! We’re Bookshop.org, an alternative to Amazon for buying books online where every single purchase financially supports independent bookstores.

The $117 billion tax giveaway to the top 1% in the federal tax and spending bill is such a big number that it takes some creative social math to grasp its absurd scale. Thanks for the help @itep.org : itep.org/10-crazy-com...

For anyone who hasn't seen real journalism in action, @spaikin.bsky.social is your guy.

And subscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/@thepaikinpo...

Great video highlighting the important and transformational work being done by @massbudget.bsky.social. (There are similar organizations in most states working to achieve economic justice and shared prosperity for all. @earn.us @centeronbudget.bsky.social) www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lh9i...

Great @ctdatacollab.bsky.social event this afternoon focusing on "Accessibility for Data Visualizations". So far, the takeaway quote that hit the mark 100%, from CT Data's own Wenyu Xie: "Design is communication, and communication works best when no-one is left out."

P.S. Free shipping at @bookshop.org during Amazon Prime Day[s], and instead of further enriching a multi-billionaire, you help local bookstores! bookshop.org/p/books/the-...

If you haven't yet had an opportunity to read @alasdairroberts.bsky.social's new book, "The Adaptable Country: How Canada Can Survive the Twenty-First Century", this interview with Josianne Paul, Director of the Canada School of Public Service will whet your appetite! www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtpT...

We are currently seeking proposals for our 2025 Conference (deadline July 15). Looking for interactive sessions with practical, applicable lessons. Perfect opportunity to share exciting data projects with the Connecticut data community! buff.ly/C1jLu0s

Since the Dobbs ruling, abortion access has been gutted across the country—hitting workers and families hardest. Now’s the time for unions to organize, fight back, and bargain for abortion protections. Learn how in @nwlc.org and @jwj.org new resource: on.nwlc.org/4lnu1XH

Big wins for civil rights in the state budget! ✅Immigrant legal defense ✅Access to counsel for housing stability ✅Essential reproductive and gender affirming health care ✅Community-based responses to behavioral health emergencies Thank you, legislative leaders! www.bostonglobe.com/2025/06/30/m...

Happy to see such solid coverage of the @thepwhl.com draft by @cbcnews-rss.bsky.social. www.cbc.ca/sports/hocke... #yesshecan!

Thankful for this perspective from @massgovernor.bsky.social. The primary trade partner for a majority of US states is Canada. We should be finding ways to forge trade relationships that enhance the economies of both countries. youtu.be/Pz8fNA6dH0I?...

I'm old enough to know what "stagflation" is...

This will be a rich set of data. Not too many reasons generally to look forward to a Monday, but put the forthcoming release of this @massinc.bsky.social @bostonfdn.bsky.social @massnonprofitnet.bsky.social survey on that list.

Random and comparatively unimportant reflection. Use of the #OxfordComma is passionately defended by many, but are there people who passionately (though wrongly, I might add) oppose the use of the #OC? (Yes, I know there are lots who simply don't use them, but do they actually care?)

Investing in our children is smart education policy, workforce development policy, health policy, and economic development policy. DIS-investing in our children, by cutting or eliminating #HeadStart funding would be catastrophic for the families and children relying on Head Start.

If you've been having thoughts and/or feelings about the passing of Pope Francis, I highly recommend reading Damon Silvers' (@damonsilvers.bsky.social) Substack post, "Why Pope Francis Was So Important". substack.com/home/post/p-... And while you're there, DO subscribe! His insights are +++!

As our country faces a cost-of-living crisis, President Trump’s economic priorities couldn’t be clearer: let hard-working Americans pay the price while his billionaire donor buddies are protected.