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Josh Cohen

@jcohenwrites.bsky.social
2.8K followers 341 following 393 posts

Housing reporter at Shelterforce Magazine @shelterforce.bsky.social, covering the YIMBY movement, housing policy, tenants rights and more. shelterforce.org/author/josh-cohen

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Josh Cohen @jcohenwrites.bsky.social · 28m
I met Lee, a Seattle Times copy editor, at the farmers market this eve getting the word out about the union's contract fight. Lee is worried about AI and upset that management won't agree to basic jobs protections. actionnetwork.org/petitions/save-seattle-journalism-fair-wages-and-ai-protections-now
actionnetwork.org
Save Seattle journalism — fair wages and AI protections now!
The economy is unpredictable, the cost of living is soaring, the political landscape jolts wildly on a daily basis. This is not news to anyone who reads The Seattle Times. And yet, the members of The ...
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Josh Cohen @jcohenwrites.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
This is really fascinating. In Portland, the gap between the cost of renting in subsidized, income-restricted housing and market rate apartments has basically disappeared. www.wsj.com/real-estate/...
wsj.com
Portland Real Estate Is Such a Mess That All Housing Is Affordable Housing
Rarely has the Oregon city seen such a narrow price gap between market-rate and affordable units.
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Josh Cohen @jcohenwrites.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
I missed yesterday that Sara Nelson's AI-generated news site is linked to a new "moderate" political group that's incorporating as a 501(c)4 explicitly because donors can be anonymous. Not my beat anymore, but the 2027 Council races are going to be something ... seafor.live#support
seafor.live
SeaFor · Seattle, wake up. Time for a long-term fix.
Seattle, wake up. Time for a long-term fix. SeaFor is the civic infrastructure for the pragmatic center.
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Shelterforce @shelterforce.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
HUD floated a major reorganization plan—and then pulled it within hours. The proposal would have centralized key public housing, voucher, fair housing, legal, and grant functions. What could that mean for the department’s operations, and could the plan return? Read more: buff.ly/zVsrOW8 #HUD
buff.ly
HUD Floated Then Pulled a Reorganization Plan. Will It Return? — Shelterforce
On Sept. 4, HUD—which had 35 percent of its staff slashed last year—proposed and then backed away from centralizing major functions.
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Josh Cohen @jcohenwrites.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
These folks are entering a really tough job market. Chip in what you can and help keep them afloat. The longer they can afford living expenses, the likelier it is they'll be able to stay in the journalism industry.
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Alexandra (Alex) Duggan @alexdugganreports.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
You can donate here to help the journalists McClatchy laid off from the Idaho Statesman as they look for new jobs: gofund.me/2c98f5247
gofund.me
Donate to Help Idaho Statesman staff pay bills after McClatchy layoffs, organized by Sally Krutzig
Note: If you'd prefer to donate through Venmo, you can find u… Sally Krutzig needs your support for Help Idaho Statesman staff pay bills after McClatchy layoffs
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The NewsGuild-CWA @newsguild.org · 11/09/2026
Yesterday, McClatchy laid off more than 90 unionized media workers across 17 publications. The departure of these talented reporters, visual journalists & writers will immediately leave gaping holes in local coverage for dozens of communities across the US.
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Josh Cohen @jcohenwrites.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
This is horrendous. I'm sorry to the journalists out of a job in a dreadful media market, sorry to the ones left behind to do more with even less at already emaciated publications, and sorry to the readers and public who will now get even less of the reporting they need.
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Josh Cohen @jcohenwrites.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
As a subscriber I absolutely don't want a future where newsroom photographers, copy editors and other talented workers are replaced by AI shortcuts and slop actionnetwork.org/petitions/sa....
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Josh Cohen @jcohenwrites.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
I am thrilled to say that I'll be joining the @shelterforce.bsky.social staff in September as a full time reporter. The core of my beat will be following the YIMBY movement/supply side housing policy around the country, with plenty of other housing stories in the mix.
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Josh Cohen @jcohenwrites.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
On the job tonight for @washingtonstatestandard.com contributing to their live blog. I’ll be in Bellevue checking out the WA Dems party for Congressional incumbents Adam Smith, Suzan DelBene, and Kim Schrier washingtonstatestandard.com/2026/08/04/l...
washingtonstatestandard.com
Live coverage: Washington's 2026 primary election • Washington State Standard
Washington's primary election has arrived. The top two vote-getters in each race will advance to the November election regardless of party.
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Josh Cohen @jcohenwrites.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
Schrodinger's police chief job
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Sydney Brownstone @sydbrownstone.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
The Skagit Valley Herald, Anacortes American, and Stanwood Camano News are on strike to fight for better wages and AI protections. Here’s their strike fund: www.gofundme.com/f/help-keep-...
gofundme.com
Donate to Help keep AI out of your newsrooms, organized by Skagit News Workers
We need your help to keep your news local, trustworthy, and accurate – that … Skagit News Workers needs your support for Help keep AI out of your newsrooms
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Jacob Jones @jonesdaily.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
How a data leak unmasked an Idaho state employee raising thousands of dollars a month in subscriptions by anonymously promoting pro-Russian commentary, white nationalists and Nazi memes. My new story for @investigatewest.bsky.social: www.investigatewest.org/idaho-labor-...
investigatewest.org
Idaho labor economist ran far-right online accounts
Sam Wolkenhauer ran anonymous accounts that generated thousands of dollars in subscriptions while posting pro-Russian commentary, slurs and Nazi imagery
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Josh Cohen @jcohenwrites.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
The text alert said trains were delayed due to a vehicle on the tracks at Mount Baker Station, but I just assumed it was *near* the station on MLK. Not two stories off the ground!
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Josh Cohen @jcohenwrites.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
I won a @spjwash.bsky.social award for my story on trans Seattleites grappling with changing federal passport rules. It's nice to get recognized for a piece I'm proud of, especially amid the discouragement of post-layoff job hunting in our decimated industry. www.cascadepbs.org/politics/202...
screenshot of SPJ awards announcements showing I won first place in the LGBTQ+ equity reporting category
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ID & WA News Guilds @idwanewsguilds.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
Don’t cross the picket line today, Tuesday, May 26! Join us by refusing to click any articles or interacting in any way with our five McClatchy newspapers.
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Chase 'Hutch' Hutchinson 📽️ @eclectichutch.bsky.social · 30/04/2026
Beautiful day to stand in solidarity with the journalists of @pacnwguild.bsky.social at The (Tacoma) News Tribune, The Bellingham Herald, The Olympian, The Tri-City Herald, & the Kdaho Statesman as they fight against AI slop and for living wages. Support their strike fund here: gofund.me/49457c575
A photo taken on April 30, 2026 in downtown Tacoma, WA as journalists dressed in red holding signs that say "FAIR CONTRACT NOW" gather at a market to picket in support of their fight against AI slop and living wages.
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Josh Cohen @jcohenwrites.bsky.social · 25/04/2026
I’ve read a lot of city books and Alexis Madrigal’s The Pacific Circuit is among the best. It’s centered on Oakland’s Port and the neighboring Black residents who’ve suffered its polluting impact. But it’s also an engaging history of global shipping, racist land use, tech, city politics & the Bay.
The bright red cover of Alexis madrigal’s book The Pacific Circuit featuring interlocked multi color shipping containers stacked in a tower.
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ProPublica Guild @propublicaguild.org · 08/04/2026
We’re on strike today! Support our fight for a fair contract by NOT visiting the @propublica.org website or engaging with ProPublica stories today. Tell ProPublica’s management you won’t cross the picket line: actionnetwork.org/petitions/te...
We're on strike! Don't visit propublica.org on April 8
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Radley Balko @radleybalko.bsky.social · 05/03/2026
ICE has arrested and detained a Nashville journalist who reported stories critical of ICE. She’s married to a U.S. citizen and has been seeking asylum here after fleeing death threats in Colombia because of her journalism there. They’ve already sent her to Louisiana.
nashvillebanner.com
ICE detains reporter Estefany Rodríguez in Nashville - Nashville Banner
Reporter Estefany Rodríguez, detained by ICE with no arrest warrant, may face deportation. Her attorneys seek immediate review of the legality of her case.
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Josh Cohen @jcohenwrites.bsky.social · 03/03/2026
Investigate West is doing some of the best accountability reporting in Washington and absolutely deserves your support
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Josh Cohen @jcohenwrites.bsky.social · 11/02/2026
Another grim example of AI's "utility"
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Josh Cohen @jcohenwrites.bsky.social · 09/02/2026
We love to see it
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Josh Cohen @jcohenwrites.bsky.social · 09/02/2026
The list of things we need to fix in society is long, but eventually we gotta address the celebrities in commercials problem
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Melissa Santos @melissajsantos.bsky.social · 05/02/2026
By passing a ban on income taxes two years ago, Washington state lawmakers actually guaranteed their ability to consider an income tax on millionaires this session. www.axios.com/local/seattl... #waleg
axios.com
Why Washington's income tax ban won't block a millionaire tax
A new proposal is testing how durable Washington's income tax ban really is.
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The 51st @51st.news · 04/02/2026
6/ The Post has lost over 375,000 subscribers in just over a year. If 10% of those readers subscribed to The 51st instead, we could hire 10 reporters and five editors, dramatically scaling our coverage of the city at this critical time. 51st.news/signup
51st.news
Join The 51st
The 51st is a worker-led nonprofit news source for D.C. Our reporting is rooted in our conviction that local journalism is meant to make people’s lives better — no paywalls, ever. But that's only…
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Alex Ip 葉清霖 @alexip718.com · 04/02/2026
INBOX: Washington Post Ukraine Correspondent Lizzie Johnson announces that she has been laid off in the middle of a below-freezing war zone without power, heat, or running water.
lizzie johnson
@lizziejohnsonnn
·
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I was just laid off by The Washington Post in the middle of a warzone. I have no words. I'm devastated.
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lizzie johnson
@lizziejohnsonnn
·
Jan 25
Waking up without power, heat, or running water. (Again.) 

But the work here in Kyiv continues. Warming up in the car, writing in pencil — pen ink freezes — by headlamp.
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Josh Cohen @jcohenwrites.bsky.social · 03/02/2026
Photojournalists across America preparing to apply to one of the only staff photo jobs available
The main character from the movie No Other Choice holding a huge flower pot above his head thinking about throwing it on his competition for a job
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Alex Baumhardt @alexbaumhardt.bsky.social · 01/02/2026
Just experienced the most intense tear gassing of my life by federal officers outside the ICE facility in Portland where marchers gathered. There was no fast exit as they indiscriminately threw loads of gas and flash bangs. Children were in the crowd screaming. @oregoncapitalchronicle.com
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Alex Garland @alexgarland.bsky.social · 31/01/2026
Thousands pack the streets of #Seattle in protest of #ICE
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Alex Garland @alexgarland.bsky.social · 31/01/2026
Thousands in #Seattle march in protest of #ICE
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Phil Lewis @phillewis.bsky.social · 30/01/2026
Georgia Fort, an independent journalist and vice president of the Minnesota NABJ chapter, was also arrested by federal agents this morning I was sent this video of agents at her door:
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Jeong Park @jeongpark.bsky.social · 30/01/2026
Federal immigration agents detained a man in Shoreline, leaving his 2-year-old son sitting alone in the back seat for about 40 minutes. Here's what the activists saw: www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...
Climbing into the car felt too personal. Like walking into a person’s bedroom, Shoreline resident Chris Megargee said.

The detritus of fatherhood was everywhere: scattered toys and a neatly packed bag of apple slices, crackers and a juice box on the passenger seat. On the floor was a bag of tamales Ivan Guzman, a local cook, had just bought for that day’s lunch, still warm.

“I’m a dad. It was the stuff of family life. Of a dad,” Megargee, a local activist, said. “He should still be in the car.”

Megargee was tasked with driving Guzman’s car to his workplace after federal agents detained him about 8:30 a.m. Sunday. Guzman was driving his son to day care before work when four unmarked vehicles surrounded his car, blocking two lanes of Aurora Avenue near North 163rd Street. Masked and armed federal agents emerged and arrested Guzman.

They left his 2-year-old son sitting alone in the back seat for about 40 minutes, eyewitnesses said.

The arrest quickly drew concern from community members and passersby. Five days before, ICE agents detained a 5-year-old boy in Minnesota. A photo of him went viral, showing his scared eyes staring out under the brim of a blue, bunny-ear hat while an agent held onto the back of his Spiderman backpack.
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Ken Klippenstein @kenklippenstein.bsky.social · 27/01/2026
I interviewed over half a dozen ICE and Border Patrol agents who describe an agency that sounds like Reno 911! “I thought federal agents were supposed to be clean cut but some of them pass around a flask as we are watching a suspect,” one told me: www.kenklippenstein.com/p/ice-unloads
kenklippenstein.com
ICE Unloads
Immigration officers speak out: “Fuck this.”
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Casey Martin @caseyworks.bsky.social · 27/01/2026
The memorial to Alex Pretti has grown here at Harborview. Hospital staff say it's important to speak out against what they say is police violence and injustice in Minneapolis. " It's just to the point where it's intolerable, says Kyla Haggith, a nurse here, "it's too much."
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Casey Martin @caseyworks.bsky.social · 27/01/2026
Happening now: nurses and staff at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle are holding a vigil for Alex Pretti. Some are out here in their scrubs. People have brought flowers and are writing notes to add to the candles.
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Nick Miroff @nickmiroff.bsky.social · 26/01/2026
BREAKING Greg Bovino has been removed as Border Patrol "commander at large" and will return to El Centro Calif, where he is expected to retire soon. A stunning turnaround after Pretti killing. Bovino's traveling blue city crackdown is over www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
theatlantic.com
Gregory Bovino Gets Demoted
The Border Patrol chief was the public face of a traveling immigration crackdown on cities governed by Democrats.
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Eric Nusbaum @ericnus.bsky.social · 26/01/2026
somebody get this man to the super bowl www.seattlemet.com/news-and-cit...
seattlemet.com
Meet Mexico City's Biggest Seattle Seahawks Football Fan
"My personal American Dream is to go to the United States and see a Seahawks game.”
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Dan Froomkin/Press Watch/Heads Up News @froomkin.bsky.social · 24/01/2026
NYT video analysis confirms victim’s gun was removed before he was shot. So he was unarmed. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/24/us/minne…
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Josh Cohen @jcohenwrites.bsky.social · 21/01/2026
"All law enforcement operations — including those conducted by ICE and Customs and Border Protection — are governed by the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution, which protects all people in the country from unreasonable searches and seizures."
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Spencer Ackerman @attackerman.bsky.social · 21/01/2026
You're going to read a lot of headlines out of Davos that misleadingly suggest that a transatlantic crisis has passed. But if you listen to Trump's entire speech, it sounds like the crisis is just getting started.
forever-wars.com
Beware The "Trump Won't Use Force in Greenland" Headlines
The transatlantic crisis is hardly over. Trump is so psychotic that Mark Carney is telling the truth about the 'rules-based international order.' PLUS: Three podcasts I guested on!
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Josh Cohen @jcohenwrites.bsky.social · 20/01/2026
Many are saying the journalism industry is doing bad.
Screenshot saying "we have no job openings at this time"Screenshot saying "no open positions at this time"Screenshot saying "there are no current openings"Screenshot saying "no available positions at this time"
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Josh Cohen @jcohenwrites.bsky.social · 16/01/2026
I'm working on rebuilding my professional website and looked for the first time in years at the profile I wrote about Nick Licata after he left the Seattle City Council. Turns out there are recurrent themes in progressive political leadership ... www.thenation.com/article/arch...
thenation.com
If Politicians Actually Want to Make Change, They Have to Think Like Organizers
Seattle Councilmember Nick Licata used his organizer skills to fight inequality from inside City Hall.  Now he’s taking his approach to other cities.
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Josh Cohen @jcohenwrites.bsky.social · 16/01/2026
I dunno how I missed Cafe Paloma all these years in Seattle. Wasn't on my radar at all until last night. Cute spot in Pioneer Square, tasty Mediterranean food, highly recommend.
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Josh Cohen @jcohenwrites.bsky.social · 14/01/2026
Horrifying www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
theguardian.com
FBI raids home of Washington Post reporter in ‘highly unusual and aggressive’ move
Agents searched Hannah Natanson’s Virginia home and seized devices in inquiry tied to a classified materials case
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Emmett O'Connell @emmettoconnell.bsky.social · 09/01/2026
Despite pledges to block access, ICE and CBP searched Washington driver’s license data at least nine times Aug–Nov via a law-enforcement data network, UW researchers found. The state says ICE access ended mid-November, but gaps remain. washingtonstatestandard.com/2026/01/08/i...
washingtonstatestandard.com
ICE searched WA driver’s license data into November, report finds • Washington State Standard
Despite vows to restrict immigration agents' access to Washington license information, the data sharing continued, researchers said Thursday.
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Josh Cohen @jcohenwrites.bsky.social · 08/01/2026
I profiled @mayorofseattle.bsky.social Katie Wilson for the upcoming issue of Seattle Met magazine. We talked about her aspirations for Seattle, how her career as an organizer shapes her approach to city leadership, and the political moment we're having locally. www.seattlemet.com/news-and-cit...
seattlemet.com
Can Katie Wilson Build a Movement in City Hall?
Katie Wilson looks to put her experience as an organizer to work.
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Josh Cohen @jcohenwrites.bsky.social · 02/01/2026
Packed house for Mayor Katie Wilson’s inauguration ceremony this morning at Seattle City Hall
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Josh Cohen @jcohenwrites.bsky.social · 11/12/2025
I'm working on a Mayor Katie Wilson story and was curious exactly when I first interviewed her. Pretty sure it was this 2015 story that--in very appropriate fashion--was about a TRU campaign to get the council to levy a payroll tax on big biz to fund bus service. nextcity.org/urbanist-new...
nextcity.org
Seattle Transit Riders Union Wants Businesses to Pony Up for Buses
Employee hours tax (EHT) could provide $30 million in additional funding for transit agency each year.
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