Reporter for Status Coup News covering corruption, workers’ struggles, corporate power, grassroots movements. Independent, on-the-ground accountability journalism.https://bsky.app/profile/jtcestkowski.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/jtcestkowski.bsky.social/post/3msybwthuv224In June, I asked David Crowley how much data center tax incentive money was too much. He didn't answer the question directly. After I pushed him, he pivoted to briefly talking about small businesses rather than giving me a hard limit on data center giveaways.13 Aug 2026 18:35 +0000at://did:plc:f4e6rrq6junfklefu5jva46e/app.bsky.feed.post/3msybwthuv224https://bsky.app/profile/jtcestkowski.bsky.social/post/3msqmw2dble2jBen voted for Donald Trump in 2024, now he is supporting Francesca Hong for Wisconsin governor. A negative story about Hong having credit card debt actually cemented Ben's support for the democratic socialist. Full story coming for @statuscoupnews.bsky.social10 Aug 2026 17:31 +0000at://did:plc:f4e6rrq6junfklefu5jva46e/app.bsky.feed.post/3msqmw2dble2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/jtcestkowski.bsky.social/post/3msqmmbast722From anti-vax to socialist volunteer: In the amount of time it took tattoo artist Sophia to ink "We the People" on the arm of one anti-establishment father and prospective voter, she convinced him to support Francesca Hong for governor in Wisconsin. Full story coming @statuscoupnews.bsky.social10 Aug 2026 17:25 +0000at://did:plc:f4e6rrq6junfklefu5jva46e/app.bsky.feed.post/3msqmmbast722https://bsky.app/profile/jtcestkowski.bsky.social/post/3msqkz3eigg2h"We all need good roads. That's socialist." Alex Lux is a former Republican and Trump voter. Now he's backing Francesca Hong, the socialist running for governor in Wisconsin. He says he is far more concerned about politicians pushing for real change than labels like "socialist."10 Aug 2026 16:56 +0000at://did:plc:f4e6rrq6junfklefu5jva46e/app.bsky.feed.post/3msqkz3eigg2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/jtcestkowski.bsky.social/post/3msh2xvvwnn2wDo you know anyone who voted for Donald Trump and is now considering supporting Francesca Hong for governor in Wisconsin? I am working on a story and want to hear from you. DM me here or reach out to me on Signal: JTCestkowski.1406 Aug 2026 22:16 +0000at://did:plc:f4e6rrq6junfklefu5jva46e/app.bsky.feed.post/3msh2xvvwnn2whttps://bsky.app/profile/jtcestkowski.bsky.social/post/3mscbazlozp2vHello from Abdul El-Sayed’s watch party in Detroit! Polls are closed in Michigan and I will be live on Status Coup going over results.05 Aug 2026 00:25 +0000at://did:plc:f4e6rrq6junfklefu5jva46e/app.bsky.feed.post/3mscbazlozp2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/jtcestkowski.bsky.social/post/3msbomdb2g22gI was at a polling place in northwest Detroit where Haley Stevens was supposed to appear. She canceled after running late. Her staff says she is not doing anymore public appearances today. “Yeah because she’s cooked.” was the diagnosis of a campaign volunteer standing near me.04 Aug 2026 18:51 +0000at://did:plc:f4e6rrq6junfklefu5jva46e/app.bsky.feed.post/3msbomdb2g22ghttps://bsky.app/profile/jtcestkowski.bsky.social/post/3ms6pxcj4wy24" They need to remember they work for us!" Warren, Michigan, resident Susie admitted she doesn't pay daily attention to politics, but she knows that her politicians bow to big money donors over backing people like her.03 Aug 2026 14:37 +0000at://did:plc:f4e6rrq6junfklefu5jva46e/app.bsky.feed.post/3ms6pxcj4wy24https://bsky.app/profile/jtcestkowski.bsky.social/post/3ms6mmefhrm2lSusie from Warren, Michigan, says she doesn't believe conservative smears against socialized medicine because she has seen it work for her family, who live in Canada.03 Aug 2026 13:37 +0000at://did:plc:f4e6rrq6junfklefu5jva46e/app.bsky.feed.post/3ms6mmefhrm2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/jtcestkowski.bsky.social/post/3ms6jb2p67f2tSusie is 68 years old with 23 grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She says she can't afford to ignore politics or policies like Medicare for All because, otherwise, healthcare costs in the face of Medicare cuts will drive her and other seniors to bankruptcy.03 Aug 2026 12:37 +0000at://did:plc:f4e6rrq6junfklefu5jva46e/app.bsky.feed.post/3ms6jb2p67f2thttps://bsky.app/profile/jtcestkowski.bsky.social/post/3ms5jgobyzk2l"I feel caged." Susie is a 68-year-old Warren, Michigan, resident who needs knee and hip surgeries. She doubts she can afford it because of cuts to Medicare. That's why Abdul El-Sayed's support of Medicare for All resonates with her. She showed up tonight at an El-Sayed canvas.03 Aug 2026 03:08 +0000at://did:plc:f4e6rrq6junfklefu5jva46e/app.bsky.feed.post/3ms5jgobyzk2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/jtcestkowski.bsky.social/post/3ms5irqqvic2wTonight, Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, running for Senate in Michigan, told press he wished the media reported reality rather than narratives. The next question: a media narrative about a "battle for the soul of the Democratic Party" rather than struggles facing working-class Michiganders.03 Aug 2026 02:56 +0000at://did:plc:f4e6rrq6junfklefu5jva46e/app.bsky.feed.post/3ms5irqqvic2whttps://bsky.app/profile/jtcestkowski.bsky.social/post/3mrqb7ndzx22dWhat stuck out to me about this poll: A plurality of likely Wisconsin Democratic voters call themselves a "Democratic Socialist" [contains quote post or other embedded content]28 Jul 2026 20:36 +0000at://did:plc:f4e6rrq6junfklefu5jva46e/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrqb7ndzx22dhttps://bsky.app/profile/jtcestkowski.bsky.social/post/3mrjmyu23dx25Protesters demanding justice for Corey Ruiz have left Madison’s State Street after denying entry to businesses for a couple of hours and are marching back up towards the Capitol.26 Jul 2026 05:18 +0000at://did:plc:f4e6rrq6junfklefu5jva46e/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrjmyu23dx25https://bsky.app/profile/jtcestkowski.bsky.social/post/3mrjfxxpbhs2w“Say his name! Corey!” A young girl leads protesters occupying Madison’s State Street in chants.26 Jul 2026 03:13 +0000at://did:plc:f4e6rrq6junfklefu5jva46e/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrjfxxpbhs2whttps://bsky.app/profile/jtcestkowski.bsky.social/post/3mrjekdxmz22wProtesters have blocked the front entrance to a popular college bar in Madison as a way to cause financial pain and pressure Madison leaders to act on Corey Ruiz’s execution.26 Jul 2026 02:47 +0000at://did:plc:f4e6rrq6junfklefu5jva46e/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrjekdxmz22whttps://bsky.app/profile/jtcestkowski.bsky.social/post/3mrjcqdvxe22wHAPPENING NOW Thousands of protesters are occupying Madison’s State Street and vowing to shut down businesses as a way to demand justice for Corey Ruiz.26 Jul 2026 02:15 +0000at://did:plc:f4e6rrq6junfklefu5jva46e/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrjcqdvxe22whttps://bsky.app/profile/jtcestkowski.bsky.social/post/3mrjazdrngc2q“They want you to feel that!” A protester against Corey Ruiz’s execution says voting is not a useless tactic change, but also that voting alone will not deliver the future they want to see.26 Jul 2026 01:44 +0000at://did:plc:f4e6rrq6junfklefu5jva46e/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrjazdrngc2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/jtcestkowski.bsky.social/post/3mrjarajxj22qI am live in Madison, WI, as demonstrations against Corey Ruiz’s execution by police enter their fourth night. [contains quote post or other embedded content]26 Jul 2026 01:39 +0000at://did:plc:f4e6rrq6junfklefu5jva46e/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrjarajxj22qhttps://bsky.app/profile/jtcestkowski.bsky.social/post/3mrh24or5ce23Scenes tonight from the growing Corey Ruiz memorial.25 Jul 2026 04:35 +0000at://did:plc:f4e6rrq6junfklefu5jva46e/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrh24or5ce23https://bsky.app/profile/jtcestkowski.bsky.social/post/3mrgrtbaqfy2iA march that led from Corey Ruiz’s memorial to the police offices in downtown Madison is now heading back to the memorial. Demonstrators occupied streets for three hours.25 Jul 2026 02:07 +0000at://did:plc:f4e6rrq6junfklefu5jva46e/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrgrtbaqfy2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/jtcestkowski.bsky.social/post/3mrghr76f5a2pThe fist from Minneapolis’ George Floyd Square is now in Madison at the spot where police killed Corey Ruiz.24 Jul 2026 23:07 +0000at://did:plc:f4e6rrq6junfklefu5jva46e/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrghr76f5a2phttps://bsky.app/profile/jtcestkowski.bsky.social/post/3mrg26wp45c2qI wasn’t able to post these clips on Bluesky last night, but Eileen was kind enough to share my videos of the march in Madison last night in a thread. [contains quote post or other embedded content]24 Jul 2026 19:04 +0000at://did:plc:f4e6rrq6junfklefu5jva46e/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrg26wp45c2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/jtcestkowski.bsky.social/post/3mrdtaclzzu2bThere is a lot more media out here today. And in two days, most of it will be gone.23 Jul 2026 21:54 +0000at://did:plc:f4e6rrq6junfklefu5jva46e/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrdtaclzzu2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/jtcestkowski.bsky.social/post/3mrds4cpyke2bHere are the scenes today at the memorial for Corey Ruiz in Madison, WI. The mood is a mix between celebration of life and solemn remembrance. I’ll be going live in a few minutes for Status Coup News covering a vigil.23 Jul 2026 21:34 +0000at://did:plc:f4e6rrq6junfklefu5jva46e/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrds4cpyke2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/jtcestkowski.bsky.social/post/3mrbo3koqd62pHAPPENING NOW Hundreds are in the streets right now in Madison, WI, after police earlier today shot and killed a Black man. The demonstrations have taken over the city’s downtown.23 Jul 2026 01:16 +0000at://did:plc:f4e6rrq6junfklefu5jva46e/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrbo3koqd62p