Alex Baumhardt
@alexbaumhardt.bsky.social
Journalist covering environment and education @oregoncapitalchronicle.com, part of @statesnewsroom.com
Reposted by Alex Baumhardt
“Given that training for ICE officers has dropped down to about 6.5 weeks, TV/movies might be their biggest source of knowledge. It demonstrates that agents aren’t moving with tactical focus; they’re doing what they think will look cool and intimidating in photos.”
www.wired.com/story/ice-pr...
www.wired.com/story/ice-pr...
ICE Pretends It’s a Military Force. Its Tactics Would Get Real Soldiers Killed
WIRED asked an active military officer to break down immigration enforcement actions in Minneapolis and elsewhere.
www.wired.com
January 29, 2026 at 6:56 PM
“Given that training for ICE officers has dropped down to about 6.5 weeks, TV/movies might be their biggest source of knowledge. It demonstrates that agents aren’t moving with tactical focus; they’re doing what they think will look cool and intimidating in photos.”
www.wired.com/story/ice-pr...
www.wired.com/story/ice-pr...
Reposted by Alex Baumhardt
Washington is the only solidly Democratic state with no income tax, and despite the efforts of both Democrats and Republicans, Washingtonians have rejected income taxes 10 times in the last 90 years.
Washington state voters have rejected income taxes 10 times. Is this year different?
Washingtonians have rejected income taxes 10 times in the last 90 years. Democrats and even Republicans have tried and failed. So why is the vibe among tax reform advocates so optimistic in 2026?
n.pr
January 29, 2026 at 5:38 PM
Washington is the only solidly Democratic state with no income tax, and despite the efforts of both Democrats and Republicans, Washingtonians have rejected income taxes 10 times in the last 90 years.
Reposted by Alex Baumhardt
"This is the worst fucking time. But watching people's response to ICE has just been the most affirming thing in the world.” We interviewed our friends over at @racketmn.com about what it’s like to cover the crisis in Minneapolis as community-centered journalists
How Racket, Minneapolis’s Worker-Owned Newsroom, Is Covering Its Hometown Fascist Invasion
“This is the worst fucking time. But watching people’s response to ICE has been the most affirming thing in the world.”
www.coyotemedia.org
January 29, 2026 at 4:08 PM
"This is the worst fucking time. But watching people's response to ICE has just been the most affirming thing in the world.” We interviewed our friends over at @racketmn.com about what it’s like to cover the crisis in Minneapolis as community-centered journalists
U.S. electric and gas utilities requested nearly $31 billion in rate increases last year, more than double what they asked for the year before:
heatmap.news/sparks/power...
heatmap.news/sparks/power...
Utilities Asked for a Lot More Money From Ratepayers Last Year
A new PowerLines report puts the total requested increases at $31 billion — more than double the number from 2024.
heatmap.news
January 29, 2026 at 3:26 PM
U.S. electric and gas utilities requested nearly $31 billion in rate increases last year, more than double what they asked for the year before:
heatmap.news/sparks/power...
heatmap.news/sparks/power...
Reposted by Alex Baumhardt
“I'm here today to stand up for those who can't stand up for themselves to be the voice for the people who can't speak for themselves.”
story via @caitlinsievers.bsky.social
story via @caitlinsievers.bsky.social
Student protesters shut down Arizona Senate with anti-ICE demonstration at Capitol | Arizona Mirror
Phoenix high school students walked out and marched to Arizona Capitol to protest ICE, briefly locking down Senate
azmirror.com
January 29, 2026 at 2:53 AM
“I'm here today to stand up for those who can't stand up for themselves to be the voice for the people who can't speak for themselves.”
story via @caitlinsievers.bsky.social
story via @caitlinsievers.bsky.social
“The court’s patience is at an end… the extent of ICE’s violation of court orders is likewise extraordinary, and lesser measures have been tried and failed,” the federal judge wrote in his order. minnesotareformer.com/2026/01/27/i...
ICE releases detainee following slapdown from federal judge • Minnesota Reformer
Schiltz said acting ICE director Todd Lyons, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and ICE’s top local official, David Easterwood, had failed to comply with “dozens” of court orders in recent weeks.
minnesotareformer.com
January 28, 2026 at 6:04 PM
“The court’s patience is at an end… the extent of ICE’s violation of court orders is likewise extraordinary, and lesser measures have been tried and failed,” the federal judge wrote in his order. minnesotareformer.com/2026/01/27/i...
Enrollment in Healthier Oregon — a state-funded health insurance program for income-eligible Oregonians regardless of immigration status — dropped by 10,000 in last 6 months, and many who remain covered aren't seeking care @miamaldonado.bsky.social reports: oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2026/01/28/f...
Fewer immigrants are seeking Oregon health care benefits under Trump • Oregon Capital Chronicle
Healthier Oregon enrollment dropped to 97,000 people in January, according to Oregon Health Authority data.
oregoncapitalchronicle.com
January 28, 2026 at 3:42 PM
Enrollment in Healthier Oregon — a state-funded health insurance program for income-eligible Oregonians regardless of immigration status — dropped by 10,000 in last 6 months, and many who remain covered aren't seeking care @miamaldonado.bsky.social reports: oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2026/01/28/f...
Reposted by Alex Baumhardt
I'm a reporter and editor with Task & Purpose. I want to talk to VA employees, better yet Minneapolis VA ones. What has the VA said to you after Alex Pretti's death? Has there been any message? Any asks not to discuss? What? Will protect sources, use 1st names only, etc. Signal handle is nslayton.12
January 28, 2026 at 4:30 AM
I'm a reporter and editor with Task & Purpose. I want to talk to VA employees, better yet Minneapolis VA ones. What has the VA said to you after Alex Pretti's death? Has there been any message? Any asks not to discuss? What? Will protect sources, use 1st names only, etc. Signal handle is nslayton.12
Reposted by Alex Baumhardt
In response to announcement that he will be a new CBS contributor, Andrew Huberman tweeted “I’ve always gone issue-by-issue on health & science, spoken to experts w/a range of takes & presented where I see the center of (data) mass pointed. I’ll do the same with @CBSNews”. In Sept he posted this:
January 28, 2026 at 1:44 AM
In response to announcement that he will be a new CBS contributor, Andrew Huberman tweeted “I’ve always gone issue-by-issue on health & science, spoken to experts w/a range of takes & presented where I see the center of (data) mass pointed. I’ll do the same with @CBSNews”. In Sept he posted this:
Reposted by Alex Baumhardt
ICE agents would be disqualified from working in California law enforcement and inside the public school system under a new bill introduced in the Legislature this week.
California bill would ban ICE agents from jobs in teaching and policing
ICE agents would be disqualified from working in California law enforcement and inside the public school system under a new bill introduced in the Legislature this week.
bit.ly
January 28, 2026 at 12:20 AM
ICE agents would be disqualified from working in California law enforcement and inside the public school system under a new bill introduced in the Legislature this week.
Reposted by Alex Baumhardt
“Kristi Noem should be fired immediately, or we will commence impeachment proceedings in the House of Representatives. We can do this the easy way or the hard way." floridaphoenix.com/2026/01/27/r...
Here’s the list of US House Democrats who want to impeach Kristi Noem • Florida Phoenix
WASHINGTON — A growing number of U.S. House Democrats are pushing for Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s impeachment after another fatal shooting of an American citizen by federal immigration o...
floridaphoenix.com
January 27, 2026 at 10:29 PM
“Kristi Noem should be fired immediately, or we will commence impeachment proceedings in the House of Representatives. We can do this the easy way or the hard way." floridaphoenix.com/2026/01/27/r...
Reposted by Alex Baumhardt
Breaking Axios:
Kristi Noem's language that Alex Pretti wanted to "massacre" federal agents was dictated to Noem and her department by the man most responsible for the controversial operation: Stephen Miller.
That's according to four sources who spoke to Axios. www.axios.com/2026/01/27/t...
Kristi Noem's language that Alex Pretti wanted to "massacre" federal agents was dictated to Noem and her department by the man most responsible for the controversial operation: Stephen Miller.
That's according to four sources who spoke to Axios. www.axios.com/2026/01/27/t...
Scoop: Stephen Miller behind misleading claim that Alex Pretti wanted to "massacre" agents
The episode illustrates the sheer power of Miller, Trump's close and longest-serving political adviser
www.axios.com
January 27, 2026 at 9:10 PM
Breaking Axios:
Kristi Noem's language that Alex Pretti wanted to "massacre" federal agents was dictated to Noem and her department by the man most responsible for the controversial operation: Stephen Miller.
That's according to four sources who spoke to Axios. www.axios.com/2026/01/27/t...
Kristi Noem's language that Alex Pretti wanted to "massacre" federal agents was dictated to Noem and her department by the man most responsible for the controversial operation: Stephen Miller.
That's according to four sources who spoke to Axios. www.axios.com/2026/01/27/t...
Cannot imagine any news organization that would choose to lose a reporter like Louisa Loveluck she does extraordinary reporting from the Middle East. I tell people who don’t believe in WaPo anymore to focus on the exceptional reporters, like her, who are still there.
As @washingtonpost.com international & local correspondents, we have risked our lives, side by side, because we believe reporting from the ground serves the public good. To choke that engine of brave, committed colleagues would be devastating. If you value our work, tell Jeff Bezos to #SaveThePost.
January 27, 2026 at 9:03 PM
Cannot imagine any news organization that would choose to lose a reporter like Louisa Loveluck she does extraordinary reporting from the Middle East. I tell people who don’t believe in WaPo anymore to focus on the exceptional reporters, like her, who are still there.
Reposted by Alex Baumhardt
My friend and former colleague @emilybregel.bsky.social is reporting on the border patrol shooting near Tucson. Folo for reliable information on this developing situation tucson.com/news/local/b...
1 critically wounded in Border Patrol shooting south of Tucson
A person described as a "suspect" was shot and wounded Tuesday morning and flown by helicopter to Tucson, authorities say.
tucson.com
January 27, 2026 at 7:38 PM
My friend and former colleague @emilybregel.bsky.social is reporting on the border patrol shooting near Tucson. Folo for reliable information on this developing situation tucson.com/news/local/b...
Reposted by Alex Baumhardt
Commentary: A close analysis of how the immigration crackdown risks violating America's treaty obligations minnesotareformer.com/2026/01/27/w...
With the immigration crackdown, America risks violating its treaty obligations • Minnesota Reformer
If a person has a well-founded fear of persecution or torture, the government is legally barred from returning them. The promise is not symbolic; it is codified in U.S. law.The exceptions are narrow a...
minnesotareformer.com
January 27, 2026 at 5:00 PM
Commentary: A close analysis of how the immigration crackdown risks violating America's treaty obligations minnesotareformer.com/2026/01/27/w...
Reposted by Alex Baumhardt
"Once in the old neighborhood, when he was seven or eight, he’d fallen off his bike, his helmet splitting cleanly in half like a cantaloupe. He showed the halves to all the neighbor kids as a way to warn them to never ride without one."
- @kristenradtke.bsky.social
www.theverge.com/policy/86856...
- @kristenradtke.bsky.social
www.theverge.com/policy/86856...
I grew up with Alex Pretti
The kind-hearted ICU nurse shot by ICE agents was my childhood best friend.
www.theverge.com
January 27, 2026 at 5:01 PM
"Once in the old neighborhood, when he was seven or eight, he’d fallen off his bike, his helmet splitting cleanly in half like a cantaloupe. He showed the halves to all the neighbor kids as a way to warn them to never ride without one."
- @kristenradtke.bsky.social
www.theverge.com/policy/86856...
- @kristenradtke.bsky.social
www.theverge.com/policy/86856...
Reposted by Alex Baumhardt
The American Federation of Government Employees, which represents border patrol officers at the National Border Patrol Council, calls on Kristi Noem and Stephen Miller to resign or be fired
January 27, 2026 at 2:07 AM
The American Federation of Government Employees, which represents border patrol officers at the National Border Patrol Council, calls on Kristi Noem and Stephen Miller to resign or be fired
Reposted by Alex Baumhardt
No off-ramp in sight for DHS-fueled shutdown
No off-ramp in sight for DHS-fueled shutdown
Republicans are dangling options that would avoid having to change a massive spending bill. Democrats aren’t biting.
dlvr.it
January 27, 2026 at 12:57 AM
No off-ramp in sight for DHS-fueled shutdown
Reposted by Alex Baumhardt
From a former FBI special agent
I would like to know how my prior colleagues, who have chosen to pursue leadership positions under this charlatan, justify ordering agents to break their oaths of office and open investigations on people simply for exercising their legal rights.
Good luck gazing in the mirror when this is all over.
Good luck gazing in the mirror when this is all over.
FBI investigating Minnesota Signal groups tracking ICE, Patel says
The statement from FBI Director Kash Patel comes after right-wing media figures said they joined the chats and claimed participants were obstructing law enforcement.
www.nbcnews.com
January 27, 2026 at 12:58 AM
From a former FBI special agent
Reposted by Alex Baumhardt
Tomorrow's front page of the Minnesota Star Tribune: Jan. 27, 2026
January 26, 2026 at 11:30 PM
Tomorrow's front page of the Minnesota Star Tribune: Jan. 27, 2026
Reposted by Alex Baumhardt
The woman who survived five gunshots from a Border Patrol agent in Chicago last fall, only to be criminally charged and then cleared, now wants a judge’s permission to share records that show how the feds respond when “their agents use deadly force against U.S. citizens.”
Woman shot by Border Patrol in Chicago asks judge to let her release evidence
chicago.suntimes.com
January 27, 2026 at 12:31 AM
The woman who survived five gunshots from a Border Patrol agent in Chicago last fall, only to be criminally charged and then cleared, now wants a judge’s permission to share records that show how the feds respond when “their agents use deadly force against U.S. citizens.”
Reposted by Alex Baumhardt
BREAKING: The Border Patrol's Greg Bovino has been ousted from his role of "Commander at Large"—and Kristi Noem and Corey Lewandowski could be next to lose their jobs, sources tell @nickmiroff.bsky.social www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
January 26, 2026 at 11:39 PM
BREAKING: The Border Patrol's Greg Bovino has been ousted from his role of "Commander at Large"—and Kristi Noem and Corey Lewandowski could be next to lose their jobs, sources tell @nickmiroff.bsky.social www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Alex Baumhardt
BREAKING Greg Bovino has been removed as Border Patrol "commander at large" and will return to El Centro Calif, where he is expected to retire soon. A stunning turnaround after Pretti killing. Bovino's traveling blue city crackdown is over www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
Gregory Bovino Gets Demoted
The Border Patrol chief was the public face of a traveling immigration crackdown on cities governed by Democrats.
www.theatlantic.com
January 26, 2026 at 11:40 PM
BREAKING Greg Bovino has been removed as Border Patrol "commander at large" and will return to El Centro Calif, where he is expected to retire soon. A stunning turnaround after Pretti killing. Bovino's traveling blue city crackdown is over www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Alex Baumhardt
Fallout from Alex Pretti killing: Trump administration facing widespread criticism minnesotareformer.com/2026/01/25/f...
Fallout from Alex Pretti killing: Trump administration facing widespread criticism • Minnesota Reformer
Videos taken at the scene — as well as what’s known about Pretti’s background — belie the Trump administration’s claims.
minnesotareformer.com
January 26, 2026 at 4:36 AM
Fallout from Alex Pretti killing: Trump administration facing widespread criticism minnesotareformer.com/2026/01/25/f...
Reposted by Alex Baumhardt
Chris Madel drops out of race for GOP nomination for governor, blasts immigration crackdown minnesotareformer.com/2026/01/26/c...
Chris Madel drops out of race for GOP nomination for governor, blasts immigration crackdown • Minnesota Reformer
“I personally have spoken to several law enforcement officers, some Hispanic and some Asian, who have been pulled over by ICE on pretextual stops. Driving while Hispanic is not a crime, neither is dri...
minnesotareformer.com
January 26, 2026 at 7:25 PM
Chris Madel drops out of race for GOP nomination for governor, blasts immigration crackdown minnesotareformer.com/2026/01/26/c...