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Rafael Lemaitre

@raflemaitre.bsky.social
1.6K followers 838 following 123 posts

PR & crisis communicator/strategist. Former top spox for @LinaHidalgoTX, White House @ONDCP, @FEMA, & @CBP @ DHS. Opinions mine.

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Reposted by Rafael Lemaitre
Philadelphia Center for Gun Violence Reporting @handle.invalid · 06/10/2025
By changing the way gun violence is covered, reporters can take an active role in minimizing harm to injured people, communities, and society—and even make an important contribution toward preventing gun violence.
pcgvr.org
Five years of work. One concise guide. Free to view and download now. – Philadelphia Center for Gun Violence Reporting
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Rafael Lemaitre @raflemaitre.bsky.social · 01/09/2025
Please join me in wishing aMeRicA’s maYoR thoughts and prayers. #vigil #fourseasonstotallandscaping
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Rafael Lemaitre @raflemaitre.bsky.social · 27/08/2025
Chris Hollins, our Houston Controller is now on Bluesky! Added to the starter pack. Give him a follow! houcontroller.bsky.social
houcontroller.bsky.social
houcontroller.bsky.social
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Reposted by Rafael Lemaitre
John Royal @johnroyal.bsky.social · 16/06/2025
The indictments that Kim is proud of were dismissed by Ken Paxton. When Ken Paxton can't even find a reason to continue a political prosecution, you know there's absolutely nothing there.
Former Harris County DA brags about indicting Lina Hidalgo staffers on corruption charges with the Chronicle noting that all of the indictments were dismissed.
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Rafael Lemaitre @raflemaitre.bsky.social · 16/06/2025
She’s going to drag Annise down with her isn’t she? www.chron.com/politics/art...
chron.com
Kim Ogg goes full red: Calls for GOP takeover of Harris County
"Over the last eight years, we've had hell in Texas, here in Harris County."
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Rafael Lemaitre @raflemaitre.bsky.social · 14/06/2025
Yeah
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Reposted by Rafael Lemaitre
Marisa Kabas @marisakabas.bsky.social · 28/05/2025
The memo discusses staffing at Mount Weather Emergency Operations Center, a critical high security facility in Virginia containing the nuclear bunker where congressional leaders were taken on 9/11. "The facility is at risk of not being fully mission capable.”
thehandbasket.co
FEMA at 'high risk' of disrupting 'life-saving' disaster relief, per internal memo
The agency in charge of mitigating disasters is in the midst of its own.
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Rafael Lemaitre @raflemaitre.bsky.social · 28/05/2025
Bananas
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Reposted by Rafael Lemaitre
Sam Russek @samrussek.bsky.social · 27/05/2025
ICYMI: A little-known Republican's entry into the race to replace Lina Hidalgo was unremarkable save for one detail: Her campaign's ties to a '24 SuperPAC that used antisemitic tropes to undercut Harris's appeal with Muslims in Michigan. In @newrepublic.com: bit.ly/3SiSWzc
bit.ly
The Texas Judge Race That Republicans Are Suddenly Eyeing
Why is a little-known GOP candidate getting such big-name support in her effort to unseat Harris County’s Lina Hidalgo? It could be a dry run for the party’s next wave of messaging.
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Rafael Lemaitre @raflemaitre.bsky.social · 28/05/2025
My guess is that there are at least 150 people at this anti-Whitmire town hall hosted by West Street Recovery. They’ve had to bring in extra seating. Line out the door. Whitmire and team dismissing this backlash would be well advised to change direction.
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Reposted by Rafael Lemaitre
James Fallows @jfallows.bsky.social · 25/05/2025
"This is what we were voting for!" From a friend in academia: >>I was with a public health professor from [major university] last weekend and he said that NIH is now euthanizing whole cohorts of animals from animal studies because there is nobody around to feed them<< Great work.
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Rafael Lemaitre @raflemaitre.bsky.social · 25/05/2025
Ooof. And the same White House tour open to the general public 
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Reposted by Rafael Lemaitre
Max Kennerly @maxkennerly.bsky.social · 25/05/2025
Republicans win while doing the exact opposite of this, firmly taking unpopular views and relentlessly hammering them (and lying about them). Hence the 180° turn the public has done on legal and illegal immigration over the past few years. If all they did was "respond," they'd lose, like Dems do.
Thinking now about immigrants (that is, people who come from other countries to live here in the United States), in your view, should immigration be kept at its present level, increased or decreased?

Increasing acceptance of immigration until 2020, when it sharply reverses.Next, I am going to read you a list of possible threats to the vital interests of the United States in the next 10 years. For each one, please tell me if you see this as a critical threat, an important but not critical threat, or not an important threat at all.
Large numbers of immigrants entering the United States illegally

Sharp rise in importance of the issue after 2018.
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Kevin M. Kruse @kevinmkruse.bsky.social · 19/05/2025
Congratulations again to all the corporate media folks who refused to stand by the Associated Press and now get to stand shoulder to shoulder with their peers, including this guy who asked a batshit crazy rambling question about the "Clinton Body Count"
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Reposted by Rafael Lemaitre
Allen AC @allenac009.bsky.social · 19/05/2025
“‘For years, former DA Kim Ogg used the courtroom to settle political scores and advance her extreme agenda,’ Ellis said. ‘She consistently weaponized prosecutions with a double standard, consistently attacking and defaming Black and brown officials. One by one, those cases collapsed: dismissed….’”
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Reposted by Rafael Lemaitre
Dr. Samantha Montano @samlmontano.bsky.social · 17/05/2025
Most people interface with PBS via tv shows and news coverage but I want to point out another critical service PBS provides: a database of national warnings. warn.pbs.org
warn.pbs.org
PBS - WARN
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Houston Progressive Caucus @h-town4progress.bsky.social · 11/05/2025
Happy Mother’s Day from the GOP #Resist #SaveMedicaid #WomensRights #SupportWorkingFamilies
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Kevin M. Kruse @kevinmkruse.bsky.social · 26/04/2025
If you’re attending the White House Correspondents Association dinner tonight, be sure to come prepared with a joke about the toddler cancer patient they just disappeared despite her being a citizen. Otherwise it’s going to be awkward when you’re mugging for photos with Stephen Miller.
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Reposted by Rafael Lemaitre
Sara Cress @saracress.bsky.social · 23/04/2025
I am working on a Bayou City Sludge post about how the #txlege is a canary in the coalmine for platforming conspiracy theories in government because today the House had a hearing on a bill that would ban the federal government from, uh, changing the weather. A tidbit:
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Reposted by Rafael Lemaitre
Liz Hanks @demandingliz.bsky.social · 22/04/2025
When you vote for republicans in Texas because they care about “public safety”, just remember they want to give felons back their guns (even in courthouses). #txlege #MomsAreEverywhere @momsdemand.bsky.social
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Reposted by Rafael Lemaitre
The Onion @theonion.com · 12/04/2025
Judge Gives Trump Administration 3 Days To Return Her From El Salvador Prison theonion.com/judge-g...
theonion.com
Judge Gives Trump Administration 3 Days To Return Her From El Salvador Prison
GREENBELT, MD—Decrying the deportation as “wholly lawless,” U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis ruled Monday that the Trump administration had three days to return her to the United States from a Salvadoran prison or face contempt of court charges. “Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents had no legal basis upon which to send me, a U.S. citizen […]
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Rafael Lemaitre @raflemaitre.bsky.social · 12/04/2025
Just bewildered that this hasn’t gotten more national attention www.khou.com/article/news...
khou.com
Afghan girl hospitalized after she says she was attacked at her Houston school
Advocates are calling for justice after the incident they consider to be rooted in prejudice.
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Rafael Lemaitre @raflemaitre.bsky.social · 08/04/2025
This is why we elected @mollyfortexas.bsky.social 👏👏👏👏👏👏
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Rafael Lemaitre @raflemaitre.bsky.social · 05/04/2025
www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/im-...
mcsweeneys.net
I’m a German Citizen in 1933, and Is It Just Me or Is It Really Hard to Get Any Work Done Right Now?
Guten tag. I’m just wondering if anybody else can relate to this feeling I’ve been having that I just can’t shake. It’s only Tuesday, but what a we...
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Rafael Lemaitre @raflemaitre.bsky.social · 03/04/2025
Subsidies? Socialism!
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Sara Cress @saracress.bsky.social · 31/03/2025
Hell yeah, bring this energy to every hearing, ladies.
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Rafael Lemaitre @raflemaitre.bsky.social · 28/03/2025
Imagine what the GOP would do if a Dem president started confiscating assault weapons and when courts objected the. called for impeaching or eliminating eliminating the federal judiciary.
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Reposted by Rafael Lemaitre
Senator Molly Cook @mollyfortexas.bsky.social · 26/03/2025
As we continue our work this legislative session, here’s your guide to accessing and learning about legislation using the Texas Legislature Online website! Visit www.legis.texas.gov to research legislation, explore committees, and track bills. #txlege #Houston
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Reposted by Rafael Lemaitre
gwen howerton @kissphoria.bsky.social · 22/03/2025
put together a short list of journalists in both houston and greater texas whose work i love and who think deserve more followers. give their work some love: go.bsky.app/UR7umMd
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Rafael Lemaitre @raflemaitre.bsky.social · 16/03/2025
In what world are these Whitmire people living in where they think the modern Republican party (in Texas no less) is willing to compromise with cities they literally want to destroy? Unreal.
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Rafael Lemaitre @raflemaitre.bsky.social · 14/03/2025
Any Whitmire staffer or operative enabling the DOGEing of Houston gov’t should be excommunicated from working in democratic politics forever.
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Reposted by Rafael Lemaitre
Sir Charles Anthony @sircharlesanthony.bsky.social · 07/03/2025
This is Amerikkka. Don’t catch you slipping up. www.gethattiesburgnews.com/post/lamar-c...
gethattiesburgnews.com
Lamar County Drops All Charges Against White Man Who Confessed To Killing 26 year old Black Man Donvian Barnes
Hattiesburg, Mississippi- All charges were dropped against Andrew David Cook, then a 23 year old white man, who was charged with "Leaving The Scene of an Accident Resulting in Death or Bodily Harm" fo...
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Rafael Lemaitre @raflemaitre.bsky.social · 04/03/2025
Welcome @magegordon.bsky.social to the pack, and back to work!
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Rafael Lemaitre @raflemaitre.bsky.social · 02/03/2025
This
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Reposted by Rafael Lemaitre
❌👑 Kellye Burke @kellyetx.bsky.social · 02/03/2025
Musk/DOGE aside: who is executing these nefarious acts within the agencies? Like, who let them access the server room? Who actually released reservoir water in CA? The EOs themselves aren’t doing it. Musk is being aided and abetted from within.
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Reposted by Rafael Lemaitre
Nina Jankowicz @ninajankowicz.com · 01/03/2025
If you're feeling shame or anger about yesterday's despicable meeting in the Oval Office, you can donate directly to Ukrainian defense efforts here: donorbox.org/help-ukraine... It's tax deductible through Ukraine House Fdn and you might end up winning a cool tshirt.
donorbox.org
Let’s Help Ukraine Finish the War: a Raffle to Support a Life-Saving Fundraiser | UNITED24 (Ukraine House DC Foundation) (Powered by Donorbox)
We’re raffling off 100 T-shirts among those who donate $24 or more towards armored medical evacuation vehicles to help save Ukraine’s defenders on the front.They’re emphasizing the words of our Presid...
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Reposted by Rafael Lemaitre
Kevin Elliott @kjephd.bsky.social · 26/02/2025
JFC. The US Economic Policy Uncertainty Index is at its highest level since 2000, higher than during the Financial Crisis, higher than during COVID
The US Economic Policy Uncertainty Index is at its highest level ever recorded, higher than during the Financial Crisis, higher than during COVID
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Rafael Lemaitre @raflemaitre.bsky.social · 25/02/2025
This guy is a radical extremist and I hope he’s gone forever but it’s more likely he’ll run ICE. Never buy Goya products.
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Reposted by Rafael Lemaitre
Eric Lipton NYT @ericlipton.nytimes.com · 12/02/2025
If you want to keep track of some of investigative reporting we at The NYT are doing--abt Trump, Musk, AG Bondi, EPA, Interior, etc, you can follow this account. Our coverage is not perfect. Nothing is. But we are digging every day to bring transparency/accountability www.nytimes.com/2025/01/08/u...
nytimes.com
A ‘Business-Friendly’ Lawyer’s Rise From Lobbyist to Attorney General Pick
Pam Bondi, whom President-elect Donald J. Trump intends to nominate as attorney general, received trips and donations funded by those seeking favors from her Florida office.
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Rafael Lemaitre @raflemaitre.bsky.social · 23/02/2025
Reminder this happened and a good chance to buy a great T-shirt metropolitanafricanmethodistepiscopalchurch.itemorder.com/shop/home/
metropolitanafricanmethodistepiscopalchurch.itemorder.com
Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church
Online ordering for Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church ends on Fri, Feb 28, 2025 (11:59 PM EST)
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Philip Bump @pbump.com · 21/02/2025
The past ten years has just been the same clutch of morons and apologists insisting that Trump would never cross that line and then shuffling along with him to insist that he would never cross that next one.
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Rafael Lemaitre @raflemaitre.bsky.social · 17/02/2025
It is beyond me why Democrats aren't Neville Chamberlain-ing Trump on his Russia/Ukraine policy. He's not strong, he's weak.
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Rafael Lemaitre @raflemaitre.bsky.social · 16/02/2025
Seems like news Houston might be interested in www.washingtonpost.com/science/2025...
washingtonpost.com
Under Trump, NASA meetings are on hold and missions are up in the air
Executive orders and feared budget cuts put the government space agency on uncertain footing.
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Michael Clemens @mclem.org · 15/02/2025
Ninety nine USAID public servants gave their lives in the line of duty.
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Chron.com @chron.com · 06/02/2025
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo called former District Attorney Kim Ogg "a dirty cop" and blasted the yearslong investigation into her staffers, which had charges stemming from it dismissed this week, as a waste of taxpayer money. www.chron.com/politics/art...
chron.com
'A dirty cop': Lina Hidalgo rips into former Harris County DA
During a press conference Thursday, Lina Hidalgo blasted Ogg, claiming the former DA was a "dirty cop" who wasted millions of dollars.
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Rafael Lemaitre @raflemaitre.bsky.social · 16/02/2025
Hey! Added @harriscountydao.bsky.social and @hcphtx.bsky.social Give ‘em a follow!
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CJ @hookedbycj.bsky.social · 29/01/2025
Hey #Houston, this is an A+ starter pack for all things H-Town! Props to @raflemaitre.bsky.social for putting it together!
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Rafael Lemaitre @raflemaitre.bsky.social · 31/01/2025
This detail from @vermontgmg.bsky.social’s newsletter
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Rafael Lemaitre @raflemaitre.bsky.social · 26/01/2025
If Petro retaliates, it’ll make life harder for American corn, soy, and oil producers.
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Rafael Lemaitre @raflemaitre.bsky.social · 24/01/2025
I still think about this a lot thehill.com/homenews/adm...
thehill.com
White House staffers played ‘icing’ drinking game in government office: report
Staffers in the White House office responsible for recruiting political appointees played a drinking game in a government office building near the White House in January, according to a Washin…
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