Peter Sterne

cityandstateny.com - City & State New YorkCity & State is the premier multimedia news organization dedicated to covering New York and Pennsylvania's local and state politics and policy.

15 May

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For more background on the conflict between Nithya Raman and national DSA leadership, check out this 🧵 bsky.app/profile/pete...

Peter Sterne@petersterne.com

The key context to have is that Nithya was really bad on Palestine for a while. She distanced herself from DSA when they called for a ceasefire right after Oct. 7, focused on the hostages while ignoring the genocide, opposed BDS, sought an endorsement from a local pro-Israel group, etc.

10h

NEW: DSA's National Political Committee passed two resolutions today aimed at Los Angeles mayoral candidate Nithya Raman, beginning processes that could result in DSA-LA being forced to rescind its endorsement of her this weekend and/or Raman herself being expelled from DSA by January.

View full thread

The expulsion resolution, which delays the decision until after next week's mayoral election, was an attempt by the more pragmatic caucuses to head off the resolution favored by hardliners that would force DSA-LA to unendorse. But the gambit failed when both resolutions passed.

docs.google.comCopy of Letter from Nithya Raman to DSA-LADear DSA-LA, Over the last couple of years, I have come to believe strongly that Israel is committing a genocide in Gaza, and I have felt deeply uncomfortable with US tax dollars funding this atrocit...

The hardliners proposed a resolution demanding Raman meet with DSA-LA on Oct. 31 to discuss BDS. The pragmatists proposed a resolution that instead gave her until Nov. 30 to meet. But both resolutions passed, so now Raman has to meet with DSA-LA both on Oct. 31 and by Nov. 30.

Raman already wrote a letter to DSA-LA defending her positions on Palestine and BDS: "I believe the best way for working Angelenos to stand in solidarity with Gaza is through non-violent protest, legislative action, and diplomatic pressure, including BDS." docs.google.com/document/d/1...

docs.google.comCopy of On DSA-LA Violating R22_substitution amendment 10/26Substitution amendment: On DSA-LA Violating R22 Whereas, the NPC has articulated that Nithya Raman is non-compliant with R22, and that DSA-LA has violated R22 by endorsing her; Whereas, the convent...

10h

In case you missed it, here are links to Raman's letter to DSA-LA and the two resolutions passed by the NPC tonight. Nithya's letter: docs.google.com/document/d/1... Resolution on rescinding endorsement: docs.google.com/document/d/1... Resolution on expulsion: docs.google.com/document/d/1...

One resolution (which passed 14-13) calls on Raman to meet with DSA-LA leaders on Oct. 31 to explain her position on BDS. If she does not satisfactorily affirm her support for BDS, the NPC will vote on Nov. 1 to force DSA-LA to withdraw its endorsement of her. docs.google.com/document/d/1...

docs.google.comCopy of Amendment - On Nithya RamanOn Nithya Raman Whereas, DSA passed “R22: For a Fighting Anti-Zionist DSA” at 2025 National Convention that any candidate questionnaires used to determine national and local endorsements must inquir...

10h

The other resolution (which passed 15-12) calls on Raman to meet with DSA-LA leaders by Nov. 30. If she doesn't affirm her support for BDS and sign on to DSA's campaign to stop Israeli weapons transfers at LAX by Jan. 1, the NPC could vote to expel her. docs.google.com/document/d/1...

Peter Sterne reposted

Jason Schreier

@jasonschreier.bsky.social

Can confirm that this is a real trailer of the Mass Effect game that BioWare was developing up until its closure yesterday www.reddit.com/r/masseffect...

reddit.comFrom the masseffect community on Reddit: Mass Effect: Universe TrailerExplore this post and more from the masseffect community

thenation.comWhy Democratic Leaders Keep Waging War on the YoungThe party's silver-haired establishment is caught up in an existential culture war.

The Bluesky account on X is promoting AI vibe-coding now

Peter Sterne reposted

Elizabeth Spiers

@espiers.bsky.social

I have an essay in the November issue of The Nation about the Dem establishment class war on the youths, and by extension DSA and young progressives in general: www.thenation.com/article/poli...

Peter Sterne reposted

The Indypendent: A Free Paper for Free People

@theindypendent.bsky.social

We'll talk about Mayor Mamdani, the NYPD and whether he should fire Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch on today's Indypendent News Hour from 5-6 pm on WBAI 99.5 FM and wbai.org. Our guests will be noted police critic @alexvitale.bsky.social and @petersterne.com of @cityandstateny.bsky.social

wbai.orgWBAI-FM Live Radio Player

I'll be on the Indypendent News Hour on WBAI in a few minutes to talk with @alexvitale.bsky.social about Mamdani and the NYPD. Tune in live here! wbai.org/listen-live/

I went to NY Comic-Con this weekend and got some incredible art. Fantasy illustrator @crystalsully.bsky.social uses invisible ink to draw skeletons onto Magic cards she’s illustrated. The animal’s skeleton (and her signature) only shows up under UV light.

And here’s a video of @crystalsully.bsky.social making my Sunspine Lynx UV skeleton card at NYCC this weekend:

15 Sept

I made a TikTok video about my new cover story! Check it out below and then read the story here: www.cityandstateny.com/politics/202...

wbai.orgWBAI-FM Live Radio Player

8 Sept

I'll be on @theindypendent.bsky.social News Hour on @wbai.org at 5 p.m. to talk about Mayor Mamdani's new Office of Worker Power, his support for Amazon delivery workers and the manufactured controversy over his attendance at the 9/11 memorial. Tune in here: wbai.org/listen-live/

theguardian.comLeftist insurgents are storming the midterms – just don’t call them all democratic socialistsProgressive candidates navigate their ties to the DSA as the group faces historic growth and mounting pressure

7 Sept

I talked to The Guardian about how not all leftist insurgents in Democratic primaries are actually "DSA candidates." www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

Peter Sterne reposted

Mario Trujillo

@mariotrujillo.bsky.social

31 Aug

ICE tried to conduct a dragnet search on REI customers in Minneapolis, apparently trying to ID a person who wore a particular beanie storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

Coyote vs. Acme was a really fun movie. Definitely recommend you check it out! It's essentially the modern "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?" but in the form of an Erin Brockovich-style legal thriller rather than a noir detective story.

I think Coyote vs. Acme could have a similar trajectory to last year's Naked Gun movie – a summer comedy many people initially write off that is just so good that the spectacular word of mouth convinces people they need to buy tickets and see it.

Peter Sterne reposted

Chris Franklin

@errant-signal.com

28 Aug

"Milo got arrested!" "That's good!" "By an unaccountable secret police force" "That's bad" "He supported them, though, so there's delicious irony at play." "That's good!" "But they came for him because fascist power has reached a point where petty infighting can lead to arrests" "That's bad"

The key thing to understand about the modern Democratic Party is that it functions less as a political party and more as a coalition of rival political groups, including increasingly well-organized left groups like DSA.

Obviously, every political party functions as a collection of different interests. But the Democratic Party increasingly resembles a parliamentary coalition of rival party-like groups. It's a subtle distinction, but I think it's key to understanding why people reject Vote Blue No Matter Who.

When centrists oppose El-Sayed because they want to try to keep Dems pro-Israel, or leftists oppose Moskowitz because they don't want him to lead Israel policy, they're not really opposing their own nominees. They're fighting rival parties that they're in coalition with.

I think it's pretty undeniable that AOC is laying the groundwork to run for president. That does not mean she will ultimately decide to pull the trigger and run. But she's obviously preparing for the possibility.

AOC knows she's now leading the national left-populist, youth-focused movement for social democracy that Bernie helped start a decade ago. The only questions are 1) whether a presidential run is the best way to advance the movement and 2) whether she's personally ready run for president.

I think AOC is deeply committed to creating a broad left-liberal popular front for social democracy to stop MAGA fascism. You could call it "Berniecrat-ism." DSA makes up a key pole of that movement & punches well above its weight, but it's not actually a DSA campaign.

cityandstateny.comAOC rejoined DSA this month after 7-year absenceThe socialist standard-bearer apparently forgot to renew her annual DSA membership when it expired in 2019.

26 Aug

AOC apparently forgot to renew her DSA dues in 2019, so she hasn't technically been a member of the socialist group for the past 7 years. She rejoined DSA month and began paying monthly dues that automatically renew. www.cityandstateny.com/politics/202...

news.wttw.comChicago’s Democratic Socialists Back 2 City Council Challengers, While Declining to Endorse 2 IncumbentsChicago DSA declined to endorse Ald. Daniel La Spata (1st Ward) because he would not tell the group he considers himself an anti-Zionist and Ald. Jeanette Taylor (20th Ward) because she supported reve...

22 Aug

@chicagodsa.bsky.social WTTW reported that Chicago DSA declined to endorse 2 incumbent council members: Daniel La Spata and Jeanette Taylor. Are those current SIOs who you decided to unendorse, or just progressive incumbents who applied unsuccessfully for DSA endorsement?

Peter Sterne reposted

The Nation Magazine

@thenation.com

20 Aug

It turns out that people don’t actually want a Gestapo force rounding up immigrants all over America. https://bit.ly/3UK5mEs

bit.lyOne of the Biggest Myths of the Trump Era Is UnravelingIt turns out that people don't actually want a Gestapo force rounding up immigrants all over America.

13 Aug

Third Way, a centrist anti-left think tank, is hiring a "Director of Anti-Extremism" to lead a messaging campaign against the Democratic Socialists of America www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/44...

cityandstateny.comNYC-DSA is 60% white, internal survey saysBut the newest members of the Democratic Socialists of America are (slightly) more racially diverse.

11 Aug

NEW: NYC-DSA is 60% white, 14% Hispanic, 10% Asian and 9% Black, according to internal demographic data. News outlets have routinely suggested that DSA is 85% white, based on a 2021 demographic survey. But new data shows DSA has become more racially diverse, especially in NYC.

cityandstateny.comNYC-DSA is 60% white, internal survey saysBut the newest members of the Democratic Socialists of America are (slightly) more racially diverse.

11 Aug

Here's the full NYC-DSA demographic breakdown. (Members could select multiple races, so total is over 100%) White - 60% Hispanic/Latinx - 14% Jewish - 12% Asian - 10% Black/African descent - 9% South Asian - 5% West Asian/Middle Eastern - 4% Native American/Indigenous - 2% Pacific Islander - <1%

Peter Sterne reposted

Marisa Kabas

@marisakabas.bsky.social

27 July

Exclusive from me — Daniel Moraff, one of the political operatives behind Graham Platner's rise and fall, has been accused of sexual assault. Full story here:

thehandbasket.coExclusive: Political operative behind Graham Platner's rise accused of sexual assaultA spokesperson for Daniel Moraff said: “Any suggestion that he committed a criminal offence is false and without foundation."

newsnationnow.comNewsNation LiveListen: NewsNation broadcast audio

23 July

Reminder: I’ll be on NewsNation at 10:40 p.m. with conservative commentator Katie Pavlich to respond to last night’s special episode on DSA. www.newsnationnow.com/news-nation-...

cityandstateny.comDSA debates how to debate AOC presidential endorsementExplaining the latest fight roiling the Democratic Socialists of America

15 July

You might have heard about this weekend's internal fight within DSA over its process to endorse a 2028 presidential candidate. I tried to explain exactly what's happening: www.cityandstateny.com/politics/202...

OneBGS - Bethesda Game Studios Union

10 July

I see Elon Musk's attempt to turn X into an AI-based news aggregator are going well.

Peter Sterne reposted

@bethesdaunion.bsky.social

6 July

In what is becoming a stressful annual routine, Microsoft has decided to lay off thousands, including MANY of us at Bethesda Games Studios. With over 10k developers already cut from previous rounds, those at the top have deemed that insufficient in fixing their mistakes.

cityandstateny.comDarializa Avila Chevalier is dating Mamdani’s lawyer Ramzi KassemThe congressional primary winner and the mayor’s top legal adviser have been quietly dating since 2023.

1 July

SCOOP: Darializa Avila Chevalier is dating Mayor Mamdani's top lawyer Ramzi Kassem. The political power couple met 7 years ago while organizing against ICE and quietly began dating in 2023. www.cityandstateny.com/personality/...

wbai.orgWBAI-FM Live Radio Player

Catch me on WBAI soon talking about last week's DSA primary victories and the NYC budget! Tune in here: wbai.org/listen-live/

cityandstateny.comThe rise of Tammamdani HallHow Zohran Mamdani (and DSA) built a political machine that just can’t lose.

Following last week's primary victories, Mayor Mamdani has been hailed as a kingmaker and political boss. But he isn't really building his own political machine. He's working with his comrades in NYC-DSA to build a movement. Welcome to Tammamdani Hall.

cityandstateny.comMenin delays budget handshake, pressing Mamdani on rental voucher expansionThe City Council is serious about dropping this lawsuit and putting hundreds of millions more toward an already expensive program.

Democratic New York City Council members are meeting right now for a "virtual conference" (i.e. a Zoom call) to discuss the budget. Members were told they're not allowed to record the call and must keep their cameras on for the full duration of the call.

Peter Sterne@petersterne.com

The NYC budget is due tomorrow, but Mayor Mamdani and the City Council are at an impasse. www.cityandstateny.com/policy/2026/...