Daniel Webster | Lightnews

Christopher Mims @mims.bsky.social · 1d

WSJ investigation: In the past 6 months ICE agents have fired at vehicles 13 times, leading to:

* 8 people shot
* 5 of which were U.S. citizens
* 2 died
* no victims drew a weapon

The playbook: Agents box in a vehicle, block attempts to flee, then fire

www.wsj.com/us-news/vide...

Videos Show How ICE Vehicle Stops Can Escalate to Shootings

A WSJ visual investigation found that the Minneapolis ICE killing is one of 13 incidents where federal immigration agents have used deadly force against civilians in vehicles since July.

www.wsj.com

Daniel Webster @daniel-webster.bsky.social · 8d

UK players and coaches should be embarrassed. Alabama is good; but they were down 3 players who were injured and their leading scoring has an off day shooting and we still get dominated. Poor execution at both ends and poor effort. 🤬

Stand Up for Science! @standupforscience.bsky.social · 12d

And this is just less than a year. Each day RFK Jr. stays in office as the head of our science and health system, the more his negligence compounds.

Congress made a mistake confirming him, but they still have a chance to fix it. It's time they #ImpeachRFKJr

www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...

How RFK Jr. upended the public health system

Interviews with almost 100 people reveal how Kennedy, as health secretary, has reshaped the vaccine and broader public health infrastructure in less than a year.

www.washingtonpost.com

Daniel Webster @daniel-webster.bsky.social · 19d

Makes sense to me. Thanks for sharing.

Daniel Webster @daniel-webster.bsky.social · 19d

So Baltimore & StL local leaders, public safety professionals including CVI workers faced enormous challenges and yet reduced homicide rates from their recent peaks by 40-45/100K in just a few years.

Daniel Webster @daniel-webster.bsky.social · 19d

BTW, St Louis & Baltimore have commonalities that go a long way to explain their high homicide rates relative to other cities. Each is geographically small, are their own county and thus don’t benefit from suburban resources, lots of race- and policy-driven concentrated disadvantage & disinvestment.

Daniel Webster @daniel-webster.bsky.social · 19d

New Orleans has also produced an incredible absolute reduction in homicide rates of 40.7/100 K population (-56%) from its peak to 2025. I applauded all cities reductions and underscore that nationwide policies and forces are at play. But Baltimore , St Louis & New Orleans deserve special love!

Daniel Webster @daniel-webster.bsky.social · 19d

BTW, St Louis & Baltimore have commonalities that go a long way to explain their high homicide rates relative to other cities. Each is geographically small, are their own county and thus don’t benefit from suburban resources, lots of race- and policy-driven concentrated disadvantage & disinvestment.

Daniel Webster @daniel-webster.bsky.social · 19d

New Orleans has also produced an incredible absolute reduction in homicide rates of 40.7/100 K population (-56%) from its peak to 2025. I applauded all cities reductions and underscore that nationwide policies and forces are at play. But Baltimore , St Louis & New Orleans deserve special love!

Daniel Webster @daniel-webster.bsky.social · 19d

We mostly see year to date comparisons of homicides for cities. The overall % reductions in the past few years is historic. But St Louis & Baltimore have had the largest absolute reduction in rates per 100K Pop from their 12-mo rolling peak to 2025 - 44.9 (-44%) and 39.5 (61%) respectively.

Daniel Webster @daniel-webster.bsky.social · 19d

Has to be a bit of both. Historic declines in homicides are widespread, clearly indicating national policies ($s for violence prevention & public safety, ban of ghost guns, Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, tough oversight of gun sellers). Some cities took the best strategies w/ best implementation.

Kai Kupferschmidt @kakape.bsky.social · 19d

(Side note:
As a journalist I am still shocked by how quickly the attack on the CDC was set aside.
How rarely I have read the name David Rose in the past few months is for me a pretty good indicator of how much a large swathe of US media has failed to meet this moment.)

Daniel Webster @daniel-webster.bsky.social · 19d

Can anyone think of a death rate from ANY cause in a major city drop by ~40/100K population per year over a 3-year period? St Louis and Baltimore did what many thought couldn’t be done to lower their homicide rates. 👏👏🙌

Daniel Webster @daniel-webster.bsky.social · 19d

We mostly see year to date comparisons of homicides for cities. The overall % reductions in the past few years is historic. But St Louis & Baltimore have had the largest absolute reduction in rates per 100K Pop from their 12-mo rolling peak to 2025 - 44.9 (-44%) and 39.5 (61%) respectively.

Daniel Webster @daniel-webster.bsky.social · 19d

Looking at the historic reduction in US homicides from many angles. I appreciate the Real-Time Crime Index data - 12-month rolling trends for 570 cities 2018-2025. But this graph from U Chicago Crime Lab made me appreciate what Baltimore and St Louis have accomplished from their peak to 2025.

Daniel Webster @daniel-webster.bsky.social · 19d

New Orleans has also produced an incredible absolute reduction in homicide rates of 40.7/100 K population (-56%) from its peak to 2025. I applauded all cities reductions and underscore that nationwide policies and forces are at play. But Baltimore , St Louis & New Orleans deserve special love!

Daniel Webster @daniel-webster.bsky.social · 19d

We mostly see year to date comparisons of homicides for cities. The overall % reductions in the past few years is historic. But St Louis & Baltimore have had the largest absolute reduction in rates per 100K Pop from their 12-mo rolling peak to 2025 - 44.9 (-44%) and 39.5 (61%) respectively.

Daniel Webster @daniel-webster.bsky.social · 19d

Looking at the historic reduction in US homicides from many angles. I appreciate the Real-Time Crime Index data - 12-month rolling trends for 570 cities 2018-2025. But this graph from U Chicago Crime Lab made me appreciate what Baltimore and St Louis have accomplished from their peak to 2025.

Daniel Webster @daniel-webster.bsky.social · 19d

We mostly see year to date comparisons of homicides for cities. The overall % reductions in the past few years is historic. But St Louis & Baltimore have had the largest absolute reduction in rates per 100K Pop from their 12-mo rolling peak to 2025 - 44.9 (-44%) and 39.5 (61%) respectively.

Daniel Webster @daniel-webster.bsky.social · 19d

Looking at the historic reduction in US homicides from many angles. I appreciate the Real-Time Crime Index data - 12-month rolling trends for 570 cities 2018-2025. But this graph from U Chicago Crime Lab made me appreciate what Baltimore and St Louis have accomplished from their peak to 2025.

Daniel Webster @daniel-webster.bsky.social · 19d

Looking at the historic reduction in US homicides from many angles. I appreciate the Real-Time Crime Index data - 12-month rolling trends for 570 cities 2018-2025. But this graph from U Chicago Crime Lab made me appreciate what Baltimore and St Louis have accomplished from their peak to 2025.

Chris Geidner @chrisgeidner.bsky.social · 20d

BREAKING: Judge James Boasberg rules for those deported under the Alien Enemies Act on March 15 — certifying a class, finding the U.S. maintained constructive custody over them at CECOT, finding they were not given due process, and ordering return or that such process be given by Jan. 5, 2026.

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
J.G.G., et al.,
Plaintiffs,
LIYANARA SÁNCHEZ, as next friend on behalf of FRENGEL REYES MOTA, et al.,
Petitioners-Plaintiffs,
V.
DONALD J. TRUMP, et al.,
Respondents-Defendants.
Civil Action No. 25-766 (JEB)
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Nine months ago, six Venezuelan men were hustled out of a detention center in Texas,
loaded onto planes, and shipped to an infamous mega-prison in El Salvador with no explanation
and no opportunity to challenge the reason for their hasty removal. On behalf of themselves and
a putative class of similarly situated detainees, they have turned to the courts to vindicate their
constitutional right to due process. These efforts have precipitated multiple trips up and down
the assorted tiers of the federal judiciary, complicated by their subsequent transfer to and release
in their native Venezuela. After the D.C. Circuit vacated this Court's prior preliminary
injunction, Plaintiffs have again moved for an order enjoining the Government to facilitate their return to the United States to pursue their individual habeas claims. The parties then agreed to
consolidate this Motion into Cross-Motions for Summary Judgment.

The Court ultimately finds that the United States maintained constructive custody over
Plaintiffs while they were imprisoned in El Salvador, thus affording the Court habeas jurisdiction
1
Case 1:25-cv-00766-JEB Document 215 Filed 12/22/25 Page 2 of 43
over this action. In addition, it will certify a class of Plaintiffs who were removed on March 15
and seek to enforce their right to a hearing. On the merits, the Court concludes that this class
was denied their due-process rights and will thus require the Government to facilitate their ability
to obtain such hearing. Our law requires no less.

ORDER
For the reasons stated in the accompanying Memorandum Opinion, the Court ORDERS
that:
1. Plaintiffs' [177] Motion for Summary Judgment is GRANTED;
2. Plaintiffs' [178] Motion for Class Certification is GRANTED;
3. Defendants' [182] Motion for Summary Judgment is DENIED; and
4. The Government shall submit its proposal either to facilitate the return
of Plaintiffs to the United States or to otherwise provide them with
hearings that satisfy the requirements of due process by January 5,
2026.
1
Case 1:25-cv-00766-JEB
Document 214
Filed 12/22/25
Page 2 of 2
/s/ James E. Boasberg
JAMES E. BOASBERG
United States District Judge

Yale School of Public Health @yalesph.bsky.social · 20d

A new report from researchers at the Yale School of Public Health warns that the U.S. government’s abrupt cancellation of funding for mRNA vaccine research could have devastating health and economic consequences for the nation.

New report sounds alarm on health fallout from mRNA vaccine funding cuts

A new report from the Yale School of Public Health warns that the U.S. government’s abrupt cancellation of funding for mRNA vaccine research could have

ysph.yale.edu

Daniel Webster @daniel-webster.bsky.social · 22d

I’m happy to see some of my research and this of my colleagues cited in this report. One omission to the state policy recommendations is firearm purchaser licensing. Research shows this is one of the most effective measures to curb straw purchases and other trafficking and ultimately reduce violence

Daniel Webster @daniel-webster.bsky.social · 22d

EGS connects the dots & $s between bad actors in the gun industry, traffickers, and gun violence. Exceptional efforts to curb gun trafficking under Biden, Trump’s gift to those profiting from gun trafficking by undoing those efforts, & sound policies states should adopt to minimize the harms. 👏👏

Everytown for Gun Safety @everytown.bsky.social · 22d

The Trump Administration rolled back Biden-era efforts to hold gun dealers accountable and reassigned roughly 80% of ATF agents to carry out immigration operations.

Despite this, states still have many tools at their disposal to reduce gun trafficking and keep communities safe.

Daniel Webster @daniel-webster.bsky.social · 22d

EGS connects the dots & $s between bad actors in the gun industry, traffickers, and gun violence. Exceptional efforts to curb gun trafficking under Biden, Trump’s gift to those profiting from gun trafficking by undoing those efforts, & sound policies states should adopt to minimize the harms. 👏👏

Everytown for Gun Safety @everytown.bsky.social · 22d

The Trump Administration rolled back Biden-era efforts to hold gun dealers accountable and reassigned roughly 80% of ATF agents to carry out immigration operations.

Despite this, states still have many tools at their disposal to reduce gun trafficking and keep communities safe.

How States Can Fight Gun Trafficking Despite Trump's Rollbacks

States have several tools at their disposal to stop gun trafficking in light of recent ATF cuts and reassignments.

smokinggun.org

BK. Titanji @boghuma.bsky.social · 22d

This is a reminder of how much it matters that pediatricians, public health specialists, scientists and members of the public who care about vaccines and science based recommendations continue to speak up. Many voices break through.
www.politico.com/news/2025/12...

RFK Jr. wanted to endorse the Danish vaccine schedule. He was forced to pull back.

Legal and political concerns prompted the health department to cancel a planned announcement on Friday, officials said.

www.politico.com

Sean Casten @seancasten.bsky.social · 22d

This Yglesias piece in the NYT is horrifically bad. Almost every "fact" it cites is provably false. At best it is cocktail party banter from a pundit who knows nothing of energy. At worst, it was cut/paste from oil industry talking points. So, a rebuttal: www.nytimes.com/2025/12/18/o...

Opinion | Obama Supported It. The Left in Canada and Norway Does. Why Don’t Democrats?

www.nytimes.com

Daniel Webster @daniel-webster.bsky.social · 22d

Immigrants have lower violent offending rates than US-born, more immigrants in a neighborhood ➡️ less violence. Few immigrants arrested and detained under Trump/Bondi have histories of violent offending. They gut ATF + CVI funding to bloat ICE & CBP. Goal is race & ethnic “purity” not safety.

Gregg Gonsalves @gregggonsalves.bsky.social · 22d

This is a real disaster in the making. Babies are going to die. Full-stop.

"Why Denmark’s vaccine schedule works for Denmark — but not for the United States." www.statnews.com/2025/12/19/d... via @statnews.com

Why Denmark's vaccine schedule works for Denmark — but not for the United States

With its vaccine schedule, “Denmark has made a values choice to accept preventable hospitalizations and illnesses that other countries have chosen to prevent.”

www.statnews.com

Daniel Webster @daniel-webster.bsky.social · 22d

Like so many positive things that the Trump Admin is tearing down, their actions threaten to reverse the historic progress that most US cities in reducing homicides and other gun violence.

Daniel Webster @daniel-webster.bsky.social · 22d

marylandmatters.org/2025/12/19/b...
Nice summary of the hard work behind Baltimore’s success in reducing gun violence - the most recent 12-month rolling average is 60% lower than its peak in Sept 2021. Surprised that Group Violence Reduction Strategy wasn’t mentioned. Lots of credit to go around.

Baltimore drove down gun deaths. Now Trump has slashed funding for that work. - Maryland Matters

A COVID spike in gun violence led federal officials to pour money into violence prevention efforts. It appeared to work in cities like Baltimore, where homicides plummeted. But with federal funding th...

marylandmatters.org

Daniel Webster @daniel-webster.bsky.social · 22d

I’m glad to see the O’s invest in winning now. 🤞🤞

Daniel Webster @daniel-webster.bsky.social · 22d

marylandmatters.org/2025/12/19/b...
Nice summary of the hard work behind Baltimore’s success in reducing gun violence - the most recent 12-month rolling average is 60% lower than its peak in Sept 2021. Surprised that Group Violence Reduction Strategy wasn’t mentioned. Lots of credit to go around.

Baltimore drove down gun deaths. Now Trump has slashed funding for that work. - Maryland Matters

A COVID spike in gun violence led federal officials to pour money into violence prevention efforts. It appeared to work in cities like Baltimore, where homicides plummeted. But with federal funding th...

marylandmatters.org

Daniel Webster @daniel-webster.bsky.social · 23d

Wow! Prospects are only prospects- meaning lots of uncertainty about what they’ll do in MLB - but that seems like a hell of a lot to give up for a mid-level starter with a history of arm injuries.

Ryan J. Reilly “paints a vivid and urgent portrait of… disarray” @ryanjreilly.com · 25d

“Chairman Jordan made an excellent decision in not allowing Jack Smith to testify publicly, because had he done so, it would have been absolutely devastating to the President and all the president's men,” says @raskin.house.gov. www.nbcnews.com/politics/jus...

Jack Smith tells Congress he could prove Trump engaged in a 'criminal scheme' to overturn 2020 election

Smith testified about his investigations into Trump during a closed-door hearing with members of the House Judiciary Committee.

www.nbcnews.com

Sean Casten @seancasten.bsky.social · 25d

Every single argument that House Republicans are making on the floor right now to justify attacking drug traffickers from Venezuela without Congressional authorization could be used by Venezuelans to justify military strikes on US gun shipments to Central America.

Neil Weinberg @neilweinberg44.bsky.social · 26d

Using the murder of Jews as springboard for attacking immigrants is unbearably anti-Semitic. Exodus 23:9 is practically the only fucking thing you could get a room of Jews to agree on.

JD Vance *
@JDVance
X.com
“The most significant single thing you could do
to eliminate anti-semitism and any other kind
of ethnic hatred is to support our efforts to
lower immigration and promote assimilation.
But these guys won't do that, because they all
lack curiosity and introspection.”

Yale School of Public Health @yalesph.bsky.social · 27d

Link to additional psychological resources: istss.org/public-resou...

@meganranney.bsky.social

LinkedIn post from Megan Ranney reads, In the spirit of giving us all tangible actions:

I ask that we all reach out to someone who we know who has been affected - perhaps by the shooting at Brown, but also by the Bondi Beach anti-semitic attack, the Sweet 16 shooting in Brooklyn, or any of the other (too common) recent tragedies.

One of the greatest predictors of healing, is social support. And the first four weeks after a trauma matter so much.

If you don't know what to say - please know that just telling someone you're thinking of them, and are happy to go for a walk or bring them a meal or get on the phone, can help.

Jewish Voice for Peace @jvp.bsky.social · 28d

We honor the bravery of Ahmed al Ahmed, a bystander who risked his life to protect those under fire. The lesson, yet again, is all too clear: Our safety is bound up together.

Daniel Webster @daniel-webster.bsky.social · 28d

Thanks for holding this up.

John Pfaff @johnpfaff.bsky.social · 28d

Buried under 12 paragraphs and 4 ads is this: that an investigation into the politicization of data was conducted not by … actually reviewing any data … but just by interviewing senior officials who disliked their chief.

So more politics.

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