iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Nate Baker @natebakerdurham.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

A small matter in the grand scheme of things at the moment but the NCGOP just pushed through new legislation to force fewer and smaller windows to all future buildings across the state. The party stands for absolutely nothing other than passing legislation any particular donor wants.

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Nate Baker @natebakerdurham.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

When powerful people endorse political candidates, it implies support of the person, their policy positions, ideology, values, and character. When that candidate takes immoral (not just illegal) action, or even actions deeply inconsistent with progressive values, it becomes necessary to speak up.

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Nate Baker @natebakerdurham.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

Working people who understand how capitalism actually works are dangerous to the system itself. When you learn that the system you’re part of is extremely evil, that becomes an existential threat to the system, regardless of the alternative system one desires.

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Nate Baker @natebakerdurham.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

As the American Far Right ramps up its anti-Left rhetoric, much like the Nazis, it’s important to remember why Leftists ARE dangerous. It’s not because we understand and believe in alternative systems, like socialism. It’s because to become a socialist one needs to study and understand capitalism.

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Nate Baker @natebakerdurham.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

The US imperialist war on Iran and rising gas prices show direct connections between local and global policy. Durham’s ongoing approvals of car-dependent sprawl must end and walkability needs to be treated as the urgent crisis it is. 100% of future development should move us toward a walkable city.

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Lisa Song @lisalsong.bsky.social · 09/05/2026

1/ Tear gas was created to incapacitate grown men. So when I started seeing reports of kids hurt by tear gas deployed by federal immigration agents, I wondered how often it was happening. My colleagues and I started to count:

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Justin Wolfers @justinwolfers.bsky.social · 10/05/2026

My latest @nytimes.com oped shows that the White House is dramatically understating the cost of the war in Iran. By my calculations—and I show my work—this war will cost the typical American family thousands, and it could cost them tens of thousands. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/05/08/o...

nytimes.com

Opinion | Hegseth Says This War Has Cost $25 Billion. I Tallied Up the True Amount.

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Nate Baker @natebakerdurham.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

From Florida to NC and beyond, the new obsession of the GOP, under the developer-in-chief, with attacking local property tax authority—already an inadequate alternative to prohibited wealth or income taxes—is obviously because the Epstein class has much of its wealth stored in real estate.

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m @micdwy.bsky.social · 09/04/2026

essential reading, essential reporting by Lena @writingthings.bsky.social

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Nate Baker @natebakerdurham.bsky.social · 04/04/2026

Durham City Council has approved annexations and land uses equaling half the entire area of Manhattan - entirely in car-dependent sprawl. This will go down as one of the great shames of our city. Current events show just how urgent we must work to transition toward a walkable city.

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Nate Baker @natebakerdurham.bsky.social · 04/04/2026

For years, 100% of all homes approved in Durham’s sprawling, auto-dependent edges have been placed into HOAs. The whole system is broken and is being allowed to remain that way.

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Nate Baker @natebakerdurham.bsky.social · 07/03/2026

The facts don’t lie: Cuba outperforms the United States on metric after metric from literacy to childhood mortality to homelessness. Elected officials cannot remain silent on the US blockade—intended to destroy a people and a system shown to be superior to capitalism in solving policy challenges.

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Nate Baker @natebakerdurham.bsky.social · 25/02/2026

Rightwing policy will always favor shoveling out hardworking Americans’ money to elites who are already hoarding more money than the human mind can fathom.

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Nate Baker @natebakerdurham.bsky.social · 01/02/2026

City facilities will be closed tomorrow (2/2). The City Council meeting will be conducted virtually and will proceed at 7pm. The meeting will be live-streamed on Zoom and YouTube, and a recording of the meeting will be available. Speakers need to sign up to speak on agenda items by 5pm.

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Nate Baker @natebakerdurham.bsky.social · 04/01/2026

Trump said something’s “going to have to be done with Mexico” and that Gustavo Petro “has to watch his ass.” And that “Cuba is going to be something we talk about.” Look at the big picture. Maduro as a figure is a distraction used to justify rightwing American imperialism and resource extraction.

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Nate Baker @natebakerdurham.bsky.social · 03/01/2026

End the illegal war in Venezuela and return President Maduro. Trump and the GOP are maniacal, evil global villains waging war without congressional approval. Trump needs to be removed and locked up before more damage at home and abroad can be done. Money for housing and education, not bombs!

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Nate Baker @natebakerdurham.bsky.social · 05/11/2025

Congratulations to the winners of the Durham municipal race, including Leonardo Williams, Chelsea Cook, Shanetta Burris, and Matt Kopac. And congratulations to fellow Democratic Socialists outside of Durham and across the country from Danny Nowell in Carrboro to Zohran Mamdani in New York.

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Nate Baker @natebakerdurham.bsky.social · 03/11/2025

Local government has enormous power to regulate real estate. Let’s be clear: Accepting big real estate campaign money is incompatible with progressive local politics. We need big real estate donations and schmoozing with big developers OUT of Durham local and state legislative politics.

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Nate Baker @natebakerdurham.bsky.social · 31/10/2025

The Onion couldn’t write a better headline

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Will Stancil @whstancil.bsky.social · 24/10/2025

It’s the most corrupt administration in American history and nothing else even comes close

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Nate Baker @natebakerdurham.bsky.social · 23/10/2025

I’d love for them to make it a policy priority because it’s good policy and because I think it is a broadly popular program among both democratic and republican voters that the GOP would need to defend opposing.

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Nate Baker @natebakerdurham.bsky.social · 23/10/2025

North Carolina is not a democracy. We just cosplay democracy. We don’t need a strong GOP—they’re an existential threat to this country and world. I’d like to see NC democrats make resident ballot measures a top priority to show North Carolinians that the serves the billionaires over everyone else.

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Nate Baker @natebakerdurham.bsky.social · 22/10/2025

Disdain for democracy has ALWAYS been inherent to rightwing ideology, which is why we must always do everything we can to keep them from power. Now that they have full power, they are comfortable carrying out crimes & corruption. We must do all we can to defeat and dismantle this rotten system.

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Nate Baker @natebakerdurham.bsky.social · 05/10/2025

Because neoliberalism has failed to provide for the people but has provided great wealth for a few, it needs to be repackaged. A new name, a new coat of paint. We are seeing a lot of that happening these days among pundits who can’t stomach Trump’s personality and social policy.

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Nate Baker @natebakerdurham.bsky.social · 23/09/2025

Preventing gentrification should be a core function of good planning and development. We lack some of the tools we need but are also not doing nearly enough locally in Durham using tools we do have available. If we keep allowing developers to do whatever they want it will make the problem worse.

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Nate Baker @natebakerdurham.bsky.social · 23/09/2025

Often when we talk about places being “overdeveloped” what’s actually happened is those places are just poorly developed. It’s not that there are too many people/jobs/things to do, it’s that car-centric development has made cities unbearable.

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Senator Bernie Sanders @sanders.senate.gov · 17/09/2025

How did Dr. Monarez go from being “a public health expert with unimpeachable scientific credentials” who had the “full confidence” of Secretary Kennedy into being a “liar” and “untrustworthy” in less than a month? She refused to rubber stamp his anti-vaccine recommendations.

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Nate Baker @natebakerdurham.bsky.social · 17/09/2025

Locking thousands of acres into low density single-family sprawl, just because that’s what homebuilders want, is not pro-housing or pro-urbanist, despite what many well-funded organizations and individuals say. We can truly build sustainable cities but we need to cut through the noise and lies.

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Nate Baker @natebakerdurham.bsky.social · 13/08/2025

Amazing reporting by Lisa Sorg. Please read.

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INDY Week @indyweek.bsky.social · 25/07/2025

Durham’s Transportation Department wants to give one of the city’s busiest traffic corridors a major upgrade by developing its first Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) route.

indyweek.com

A Plan for Bus Rapid Transit in Durham is In the Works

The City of Durham is designing and seeking funding for a central Durham bus rapid transit system that would run from Duke to Wellons Village.

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I'm just Jeff, your friend who cares @leffjakin.bsky.social · 26/07/2025

For as long as I've known him, @natebakerdurham.bsky.social has preached the same policy agenda Zohran Mamdani has put a spotlight on in NYC. Here for @indyweek.bsky.social, he makes the case for this Democratic Socialist agenda as the last best hope against fascism. indyweek.com/news/opinion...

indyweek.com

Op-Ed: The Left Can Defeat the Rising Tide of Fascism

History shows that oppressive systems can be overthrown, even when they seem insurmountable. What can we do locally?

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Nate Baker @natebakerdurham.bsky.social · 23/07/2025

We do not want ICE in our community. We do not welcome ICE in our community. ICE makes Durham more dangerous. ICE is a waste of taxpayer money when we have many other urgent needs. ICE is Trump and Stephen Miller’s personal police force. ICE has fascist tendencies. Abolish ICE.

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Nate Baker @natebakerdurham.bsky.social · 23/07/2025

Whether we prioritize the voices of community on safety/gun violence, environment, and governance or voices of big business and developers. Whether we listen to scientists and environmentalists over corporate citizens.

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Nate Baker @natebakerdurham.bsky.social · 23/07/2025

Whether we take our housing advice and expertise from apartment tenants and city planners or instead from the apartment and homebuilders associations.

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Nate Baker @natebakerdurham.bsky.social · 23/07/2025

Do we have the courage to speak out with moral clarity during this modern day McCarthyism and rise of authoritarianism.

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Nate Baker @natebakerdurham.bsky.social · 23/07/2025

Whether we understand our city in a global context and are willing to speak with our voices and choices on our own nation’s inhumane actions at home and abroad, including ICE raids and American bombs dropped on Gaza.

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Nate Baker @natebakerdurham.bsky.social · 23/07/2025

Whether we begin holding developers adequately accountable for contributing their fair share of their profits toward the public good in the form of affordable housing, parks, art, public space, and other community benefits during the development process.

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Nate Baker @natebakerdurham.bsky.social · 23/07/2025

Whether we self-inflict more fiscal wounds like the one redirecting an annual 3.3 million dollars from the city’s own initiatives to a new nonprofit that promotes tourism.

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Nate Baker @natebakerdurham.bsky.social · 23/07/2025

Whether we create true representative wards rather than a council entirely at-large that currently lacks the local representation residents across our city need.

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Nate Baker @natebakerdurham.bsky.social · 23/07/2025

Whether we have the political will not just to say we want it but to leverage our local powers to pursue a just outcome and commit to concrete actions.

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Nate Baker @natebakerdurham.bsky.social · 23/07/2025

Whether we don’t just make residents and small businesses pay for our collective needs but have the courage to hold Duke University and other wealthy institutions accountable for contributing a portion of their fair share too.

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Nate Baker @natebakerdurham.bsky.social · 23/07/2025

Whether we’ll hold the line on worker’s rights: raise city worker wages above $25/hour next year and strengthen the Durham Workers Rights Commission.

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Nate Baker @natebakerdurham.bsky.social · 23/07/2025

Whether we make it a goal to increase the percentage of residents that can reach a park, playground, or greenway within a quarter mile walk (we’re currently moving in the wrong direction).

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Nate Baker @natebakerdurham.bsky.social · 23/07/2025

Whether we empower our residents and city planners to plan our communities collectively or choose to leave that job to the real estate industry. Whether we make it a priority to address our city’s food deserts or downplay that urgent problem.

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Nate Baker @natebakerdurham.bsky.social · 23/07/2025

Whether the city green lights real estate speculation and pours gasoline on the fire of gentrification by supporting widespread upzoning and land deregulation as part of the overhaul of the city’s zoning laws.

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Nate Baker @natebakerdurham.bsky.social · 23/07/2025

Whether we will increase taxes on Durham residents and businesses to pay over half a billion tax dollars on a new convention center in the face of other urgent needs.

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Nate Baker @natebakerdurham.bsky.social · 23/07/2025

Whether we have the political will to contain rampant corporate-driven car-centric suburban sprawl. Whether we hold the line to keep city buses fare-free, benefitting the 88% bus ridership that is low income.

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Nate Baker @natebakerdurham.bsky.social · 23/07/2025

This election will impact more than just personalities. It could shift the Council’s balance of power and impact Durham’s future in tangible ways. Here are some key issues at stake during this election:

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Nate Baker @natebakerdurham.bsky.social · 23/07/2025

What’s at stake in the 2025 Durham municipal race? With municipal elections gearing up during a rise in state and federal fascism and oligarchy, you might be wondering if there’s much at stake locally. The answer is YES - the stakes are high.

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