Three Wins Today: Aug 13, 2025
I want to talk about Adam Kinzinger for a second. Well, more broadly, how we approach social media as a whole. Adam’s entire career has been in the Republican party, where bashing Democrats is a useful strategy, and now he’s partyless (he has not officially switched parties) and he keeps falling back on that model, even though that will no longer give him his desired outcome.
In elementary school we had three phrases written on the window “Is it kind? Is it true? Is it necessary?” and I think we need those three phrases on the proverbial window of social media too. I know Adam thinks what he says is true (it’s not, but that’s not the point I’m trying to make), but that doesn’t mean it’s necessary to share. I always say that the best way to make Democrats do better is by praising the ones who are and making it very clear that when you do the right thing you get praised. Look, we’re animals, at the end of the day, and like with your dog, positive reinforcement is incredibly effective.
I am so glad that Adam is trying to unlearn his biases, or, at least I think he is, but he doesn’t have to voice everything he’s thinking about the Democratic party, it’s not necessary and it’s not helpful. And that goes for everyone else who does the same thing too. You can think things without saying them publicly. And if you need to say something publicly, focus on praising those who are already doing the right thing as much as possible.
I know many people think I don’t have any issues with the Dems, I do, but I would rather show what to do rather than what not to do.
On that note, here are three people and organizations doing the right thing.
YESTERDAY - NYC Comptroller, Brad Lander got the COVID-19 subway cleaners $3m in back pay. These women were deep cleaning subways during the height of COVID with about as much protection as they’d have doing normal cleaning in the beforetimes. Needless to say most of them got very sick. Not to mention they were barely paid over minimum wage which Lander tried to increase as soon as he took office in 2022.
The transit system, controlled by Governor at the time, Andrew Cuomo (yes, the guy who now wants to be in charge of NYC) didn’t feel that this work deserved a higher wage. So Lander sued two of the cleaning services on behalf of these women and won.
His office said:
The court agreed with us that the workers were entitled to prevailing wages – a higher rate than what the NYCTA instructed its contractors to pay. Without these cleaners sanitizing and keeping our train system from piling up with debris, New York City would have had a much harder time getting moving again five years ago.
As is typical, this win comes back to voting. Comptroller is not one of those job titles that most people fully understand, but next time you see that position on your ballot, now you know how important it really is. NYC is arguably run by a Republican, or wannabe Republican, but it doesn’t matter, this had nothing to do with Eric Adams. Voting for the highest office is important, but so is the rest of the executive branch.
Secondly, mayor IS the highest office, and this story is just yet another reason why NYC needs someone better than either Adams or Cuomo. You don’t have to love Mamdani, but no matter what you think his faults are, he would have never let this slide.
Fri, Aug 8 - Ohio’s Attorney General, Dave Yost has finally certified Ohio Equal Right’s amendments for the next election, and they can begin signature gathering for both. Originally there was only one amendment about both removing an anti-gay marriage law from the books, and discrimination protections, but last month, the Ohio Ballot Board required that they split them before they could be approved.
The other good news is that they were approved with the title OER chose. Two very straight forward titles: The Ohio Equal Rights Amendment, and the Ohio Right to Marry Amendment. The more clear something is, the more likely it is to pass.
They now have until 65 days before the election to gather enough signatures. If you live in Ohio and want to help, check out OER for next steps!
Fri, Aug 8 - In 2009, George W Bush protected the Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument. In 2025, Trump tried to destroy it by allowing fishing to return to the area. Biden appointee, Judge Micah Smith ruled in favor of Center for Biological Diversity and Conservation Council for Hawaiʻi. In April the National Marine Fisheries Service put out a letter that reauthorized commercial fishing in the area. That letter is now void:
The only way to provide complete relief (or at least the fullest relief the
court can afford) for the injuries Plaintiffs assert is to vacate the letter in its entirety, so that no commercial fishing operators may reasonably rely on it.
And for a third time today, we have a win directly because of our votes. One of the most enduring actions of any presidency are their judicial appointments. And Joe Biden successfully made hundreds of good ones. The reality is, no matter how good, or bad, a president is, most things they do can be undone if the other party is in power relatively easily, but that can’t be. The main concern when voting for president (or not voting, as the case is for so many) should be what type of people will they put in lifetime positions of power? If that’s your main concern, your choice in the general should be pretty easy.
I hope this wasn’t too preachy. I just can’t emphasize enough how many of our wins, and losses are directly linked to our votes. I know people say that just voting isn’t enough, and it’s not, but it IS more than I think most people consider.
It’s like six degrees of Kevin Bacon. Give me a story and in less than, I’ll be generous, three moves, I can explain why an election played a roll in what happened.
Our voices, and our votes, are our superpower, but ONLY when we use them!
As Comptroller, Brad Lander also issued a report detailing how beneficial immigrants are to NYC.
I actually looked for an email or way to contact Mr. Kinzinger to voice this very concern. I admire his willingness to stand up but am tired of him saying the Dems are not doing anything. It is one thing to provide ideas and constructive criticsm. It is another just to bash and send a message of hopelessness.