Dave Cavell

My first post here should be hopeful. So: I’m in a sad photo in a great book by @petesouza.Bsky.social: after the ‘16 Trump election. (center) He talked about agonizing setbacks and ultimately deciding to stay hopeful. He challenged us to do the same. So I’m planning to follow his advice again. 🇺🇸

Meant to post this two days ago, but it has been a year (and two days) since JD Vance said after a mass shooting that it's outrageous anyone thinks calls for prayer are a way to deflect responsibility for taking action against gun violence. Maybe action will come next year.

I’ve been pals with @patrickroath.bsky.social since Tufts. But I know he’ll be a great Congressman for MA-08 (map below) because he’s *always* fought for causes we care about: voting rights, taking on ICE, ending Citizens United. , etc. 🗳️ Early voting 8/22-28, election Tues 9/1 patrickroath.com

Looks like @abdulelsayed.bsky.social may win big tonight. I’m not sure we’re ready for the legion of HOT TAKEZ to follow. To get ahead: - Dems are a big tent party! - El Sayed in MI, Mamdani, Sherrill & Spanberger elsewhere is part of that. - We all must work together to defeat Trump & MAGA.

I still believe America can be what we dream it to be. Not because we’re blind to its flaws, but because each generation has pushed us a little closer to its ideals. Here’s to celebrating the country we have & working toward the country we need. Happy #July4th, everyone. 🇺🇸 youtu.be/9ZYH8v42a2w?...

This is great from the @bostonglobe.com.

Happy #Pride Boston! 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ Always one of the happiest, most joyful days in this beautiful city. And the duck is really rocking those glasses.

On this most sacred of holidays, when many troops woke up in harm’s way, the President is shit posting childish political attacks. Remember: this is not normal or acceptable. Anyway, here are stories of the 13 servicemembers killed in the Iran war: www.cnn.com/2026/05/25/u...

At Boston Common protesting the gutting of the #VotingRightsAct and disenfranchisement of black voters with @indivisiblemass.bsky.social and a genuine hero, Ted Landsmark. That’s him in the iconic 1976 photo getting attacked with a US flag. It’s happening again. And he’s still undaunted.

Great day celebrating our democracy and resisting authoritarians and monarchs! Where were you today? #NoKings

Sometimes the work of democracy means Dunkin’ at a union hall at 10am on a Saturday! Good to see my neighbors, @edmarkey.bsky.social, and my pal @patrickroath.bsky.social at the Ward 19 Democratic caucus this morning.

I feel so damn sad about the attack on the synagogue in Michigan. I am Jewish, I am in gun violence prevention work, and I am sad to my core. Holding my Jewish family in Michigan in my heart. You shouldn’t have to live this way. No one in any community should have to live this way.

1) This regime in Iran is evil. 2) Trump ran on a “no wars” pledge. 3) Obama had a JCPOA in place that was stopping Iran from getting nuclear weapons, Trump killed it. 4) Wars are easy to start and hard to stop. 5) We have no idea why this war is starting. And what we’ve been told is a lie.

Well @mattyglesias.bsky.social was right here

What a cowardly headline.

As a speechwriter, for the first time I couldn’t bring myself to watch the State of the Union. It was too hateful and distorted and twisted and evil for me to engage. Did see some of the #PeoplesStateoftheUnion, though, which gave me some hope. And I saw a Dem won a special election by 60!

The State of the Union: the president is a corrupt demented sex criminal who tried to overthrow the constitution.

Water was never dangerous. When we drink, we drink water. Plants need water to survive and grow. There’s no such thing as floods, drownings, or hurricanes.

As someone who represented US international climate efforts under Biden from Nigeria to France and Azerbaijan, this is a dark and sad day for our country and for a planet. There is no banning endangerment from climate pollution. This is only banning work to save lives.

Whoa that Maxim Naumov piece on @nbcolympics.bsky.social just crushed me. Go Maxim!

As someone lucky enough to work for the Obamas, I saw both of them understood that there were vile racist people in the world, but believed the majority of people are good and reject hate. So Republicans have a chance today: condemn this. Stop pretending anything about Trump is decent or acceptable

I can't think of anything less patriotic than allowing a corrupt pedophile to suspend the constitution so he can murder citizens, enrich himself, and imprison journalists.

MY LATEST: It is one thing to seize old ballots; it is quite another to imagine federal agents seizing ballots from county offices on election night or the day after. www.democracydocket.com/opinion/dojs...

No hate No fear Immigrants are welcome here #Boston showing up in the bitter cold to show solidarity with Minnesota against authoritarians and secret police. #AlexPretti #ReneeGood #Minneapolis

I lost my job, my kids have measles, and there will be no longer be free elections in the United States. But at least now I can drink raw milk.

If you are running for president you should make clear you’re gonna send Greg Bovino to prison

I try not to criticize Dems because we need to keep our attention on the authoritarians, but this is just not up to this moment. “Common sense reforms” is such poll tested careful language. Americans are being murdered in daylight in public. We don’t need “common sense reforms,” we need justice.

I wrote the speech I *wish* Chuck Schumer would give tonight - as an actual opposition leader. Here it is: "My fellow Americans: At this hour, an unrestrained force of militarized and violent federal officers is carrying out a project of ethnic cleansing in the streets of American cities." 1/14

Please read this. My friend @fieldsmeyer.com is absolutely right. This is the bare minimum opposition demands right now.

🚨 ICE murdered another person in Minnesota. We are not powerless. US Senators need to step in. Call yours. Resist fascism. Go here to find your reps: 5calls.org

Good to celebrate MLK Day and recommit ourselves to social justice and civil rights in Brookline with Bernard Greene, @tommyvitolo.bsky.social , @michaelrubenstein.bsky.social , and many others. Thanks to the @thecoolidge.bsky.social for hosting!

When you succumb to the cynicism, you are helping Trump. He wants you to think that all is lost, that he is all powerful, and that there is nothing we can do. The fight for democracy is hard, but it is worth having. We have shown we can stand tall. We have shown we can win.

Today is a day to peacefully make ourselves heard. Share where you’re protesting for justice and accountability today. #reneegood

I was an Asst AG. After officer involved shootings you gather evidence & don’t jump to conclusions. Notice how different this is. The officer fled the scene. Noem and Trump and Vance immediately presented a narrative. This is not "law & order." It's terror & tyranny dressed up in an ICE costume.

The “prosecute the former regime at every level” candidate has my vote in 2028.

We will never forget the horror of Donald Trump’s insurrection at the US Capitol on January 6th. And we can never stop working to hold him and all those who attacked our democracy and US Capitol Police accountable, no matter how far away justice feels at this moment.

Five years ago, Donald Trump instigated a violent insurrection in the Capitol to prevent Congress from certifying Joe Biden the winner of the 2020 election. The fact that the GOP coddled him, protected him, renominated him, and now support him in office, is a stain that will never be erased.

Mazel tov to America’s best Mayor, Michelle Wu AKA @mayorwu.boston.gov, on her 2nd term!

Merry Christmas, everybody! 🎅🏻 🎄 I hope you are all doing so in good health surrounded by loved ones. A few Christmases ago I wrote about why — as a Jewish speechwriter — it felt so important to help the Obamas celebrate our shared values. www.usatoday.com/story/opinio...

Here’s the thing: #NoKings might as well be America’s motto. So let’s get out there and celebrate what patriotism is really about. Share pictures and videos!

Pulling @jimmykimmel.com off the air because the FCC chair threatened to revoke ABC & Disney’s licenses is state censorship. Playbook straight out of Russia or North Korea. Dissent is unacceptable and the government is weaponized against political opponents.

This shooting is nothing short of horrific. I'm praying for Charlie Kirk and thinking of the students at the event in Utah. Political violence has no place in our country — it's never ok.

Dave Cavell (@davidcavell.bsky.social), a U.S.-Japan Leadership Program Delegate (2025, 2026), reflects on his recent visit to Hiroshima in TIME magazine, tracing his journey from helping draft President Obama’s 2016 Hiroshima speech to meeting survivor Koko Kondo. us-jf.org/en/news/usjl...