Brandon Downey
@bdowney.bsky.social
Infosec professional, photographer, math enthusiast, occasional augmented reality warlord. Peculiar but refined tastes in triangles, cinema, and cocktails. Some skill with Azad.
Signal: bdowney.23
Opinions are my own and not those of my employer
Signal: bdowney.23
Opinions are my own and not those of my employer
Reposted by Brandon Downey
Imagine traveling back in time to the 90s instead of 2011, trying to stop /pol.
12 Monkeys (5/10) Movie CLIP - Explaining to the Doctors (1995) HD
YouTube video by Movieclips
www.youtube.com
January 31, 2026 at 5:18 AM
Imagine traveling back in time to the 90s instead of 2011, trying to stop /pol.
Actual mood.
Serial Experiments Lain: Documentary Footage (From Episode 9: Protocol) (Spoilers)
YouTube video by Nav_Panel
www.youtube.com
January 31, 2026 at 4:57 AM
Actual mood.
I'm not a conspiratorial person by nature. But man, imagine the yarn boards you could make over this one.
Jeffrey Epstein meets moot, and then he makes /pol?
We know where to send Sam when he steps in the Quantum Leap accelerator.
Jeffrey Epstein meets moot, and then he makes /pol?
We know where to send Sam when he steps in the Quantum Leap accelerator.
Emails showing the connection apparently
January 31, 2026 at 4:55 AM
I'm not a conspiratorial person by nature. But man, imagine the yarn boards you could make over this one.
Jeffrey Epstein meets moot, and then he makes /pol?
We know where to send Sam when he steps in the Quantum Leap accelerator.
Jeffrey Epstein meets moot, and then he makes /pol?
We know where to send Sam when he steps in the Quantum Leap accelerator.
Mood: Crying tears of blood.
You heard it here folks: Shut it down!
You heard it here folks: Shut it down!
“/pol/ was created after moot met with jeffrey epstein” is maybe the single most cursed true sentence I have ever had the displeasure of writing
January 31, 2026 at 4:47 AM
Mood: Crying tears of blood.
You heard it here folks: Shut it down!
You heard it here folks: Shut it down!
Reposted by Brandon Downey
"It may take time to prove you're right, but you have to stick to it."
- Fred Korematsu
Jailed for refusing to abide by FDR's Exec Order 9066, he took his case against internment all the way to the Supreme Court - and lost. Remember him on Korematsu Day, January 30th. 1/
- Fred Korematsu
Jailed for refusing to abide by FDR's Exec Order 9066, he took his case against internment all the way to the Supreme Court - and lost. Remember him on Korematsu Day, January 30th. 1/
January 30, 2026 at 10:32 PM
"It may take time to prove you're right, but you have to stick to it."
- Fred Korematsu
Jailed for refusing to abide by FDR's Exec Order 9066, he took his case against internment all the way to the Supreme Court - and lost. Remember him on Korematsu Day, January 30th. 1/
- Fred Korematsu
Jailed for refusing to abide by FDR's Exec Order 9066, he took his case against internment all the way to the Supreme Court - and lost. Remember him on Korematsu Day, January 30th. 1/
I hate seeing a thread and thinking "It's as I feared".
A manual for ICE's immigrant-targeting computer system, Palantir ELITE, was leaked today.
Let's look at it, then step back to evaluate how far we've come along a dangerous road and where that road might take us. 🧵
Let's look at it, then step back to evaluate how far we've come along a dangerous road and where that road might take us. 🧵
Here is the User Guide for ELITE, the Tool Palantir Made for ICE
404 Media is publishing a version of the user guide for ELITE, which lets ICE bring up dossiers on individual people and provides a “confidence score” of their address.
www.404media.co
January 31, 2026 at 4:00 AM
I hate seeing a thread and thinking "It's as I feared".
Reposted by Brandon Downey
here is the video version of this post, with a few other thoughts as well. youtu.be/wBS13rx-M7s
January 31, 2026 at 3:43 AM
here is the video version of this post, with a few other thoughts as well. youtu.be/wBS13rx-M7s
Reposted by Brandon Downey
This is to get around an increasing number of court orders requiring DHS to follow the plain words of the law which says administrative warrantless arrests are only for people “likely to escape.” So now they’re saying anyone who refuses to wait for a warrant to be issued is “likely to escape.”
January 31, 2026 at 3:35 AM
This is to get around an increasing number of court orders requiring DHS to follow the plain words of the law which says administrative warrantless arrests are only for people “likely to escape.” So now they’re saying anyone who refuses to wait for a warrant to be issued is “likely to escape.”
Reposted by Brandon Downey
A Minnesota woman observing ICE agents in her car was cornered on one-way streets. An agent approached, called her by name—citing facial recognition. Days later, her Global Entry and TSA privileges were revoked, with no explanation.
How ICE Already Knows Who Minneapolis Protesters Are
www.nytimes.com
January 30, 2026 at 11:55 AM
A Minnesota woman observing ICE agents in her car was cornered on one-way streets. An agent approached, called her by name—citing facial recognition. Days later, her Global Entry and TSA privileges were revoked, with no explanation.
Reposted by Brandon Downey
the bots fuckin found out about religion. call the Turing police. no not the regular Turing police
January 31, 2026 at 2:22 AM
the bots fuckin found out about religion. call the Turing police. no not the regular Turing police
I've had a bunch of friends who are staunch urbanists and big on the benfits of license plate cameras. They're right they're more fair than cops and deter reckless driving.
They're wrong that the risk tradeoff is worth it though.
Case in point: happening in Silicon Valley right now:
They're wrong that the risk tradeoff is worth it though.
Case in point: happening in Silicon Valley right now:
Amid immigration crackdown, Mountain View discovers unauthorized access to license plate data
Despite repeated assurances of strict protocols and privacy safeguards, the Mountain View Police Department disclosed this week that it had inadvertently violated its own policies and allowed hundreds...
www.mv-voice.com
January 31, 2026 at 2:49 AM
I've had a bunch of friends who are staunch urbanists and big on the benfits of license plate cameras. They're right they're more fair than cops and deter reckless driving.
They're wrong that the risk tradeoff is worth it though.
Case in point: happening in Silicon Valley right now:
They're wrong that the risk tradeoff is worth it though.
Case in point: happening in Silicon Valley right now:
Reposted by Brandon Downey
Hello new followers! I did this interview with @liberalcurrents.com earlier this week, before the Mother Jones story was out, about all things ICE flights and the ~interesting~ journey I have been on covering them. Please give it a listen if you wanna know my whole deal. 🙏
"ICE Flights and Accountability in Journalism": @caitlinmoriah.bsky.social and @trentrichardnelson.bsky.social with @gbrockell.bsky.social, on our Half the Answer podcast www.liberalcurrents.com/half-the-ans...
Half the Answer #62: ICE Flights and Accountability in Journalism
Caitlin and Trent talk with journalist Gillian Brockell about her work tracking the flights and airline companies that move people in unsafe conditions to third-party recipient countries, where they w...
www.liberalcurrents.com
January 31, 2026 at 1:24 AM
Hello new followers! I did this interview with @liberalcurrents.com earlier this week, before the Mother Jones story was out, about all things ICE flights and the ~interesting~ journey I have been on covering them. Please give it a listen if you wanna know my whole deal. 🙏
Reposted by Brandon Downey
Breaking MS NOW:
The Trump admin is now eyeing Ohio for immigration enforcement operations that could begin as early as next week.
The operation is expected to target Haitian immigrants — with temporary protected status for Haiti expiring on Feb. 3.
The Trump admin is now eyeing Ohio for immigration enforcement operations that could begin as early as next week.
The operation is expected to target Haitian immigrants — with temporary protected status for Haiti expiring on Feb. 3.
ICE eyeing Ohio next, where it is expected to target Haitian immigrants
An estimated 12,000 to 15,000 Haitians live in Springfield, Ohio, a community that President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance targeted during the 2024 campaign, falsely accusing the community ...
www.ms.now
January 31, 2026 at 12:30 AM
Breaking MS NOW:
The Trump admin is now eyeing Ohio for immigration enforcement operations that could begin as early as next week.
The operation is expected to target Haitian immigrants — with temporary protected status for Haiti expiring on Feb. 3.
The Trump admin is now eyeing Ohio for immigration enforcement operations that could begin as early as next week.
The operation is expected to target Haitian immigrants — with temporary protected status for Haiti expiring on Feb. 3.
I'm old enough to remember when using an Android had as a selling point that it was *your device*, and there was no central authority who I had to beg for to sideload my apps.
Google is still not listening to us and maybe you know, look at the world for why centralization of power is bad.
Google is still not listening to us and maybe you know, look at the world for why centralization of power is bad.
Android developer verification: Early access starts now as we continue to build with your feedback
News and insights on the Android platform, developer tools, and events.
android-developers.googleblog.com
January 30, 2026 at 9:25 PM
I'm old enough to remember when using an Android had as a selling point that it was *your device*, and there was no central authority who I had to beg for to sideload my apps.
Google is still not listening to us and maybe you know, look at the world for why centralization of power is bad.
Google is still not listening to us and maybe you know, look at the world for why centralization of power is bad.
AI finds bugs old enough to vote in OpenSSL.
I think this writer has a reasonable take, which is that poor application of the tool by non-experts results in a lot of slop/crap, but there are real gems when an expert uses them.
I think this writer has a reasonable take, which is that poor application of the tool by non-experts results in a lot of slop/crap, but there are real gems when an expert uses them.
AI Finds 12 OpenSSL Vulnerabilities Including a 27-Year-Old Bug
An AI system discovered 12 CVEs in OpenSSL, including a bug from 1998 that survived 27 years of audits. One HIGH severity with pre-auth RCE potential.
hackingpassion.com
January 30, 2026 at 7:22 PM
AI finds bugs old enough to vote in OpenSSL.
I think this writer has a reasonable take, which is that poor application of the tool by non-experts results in a lot of slop/crap, but there are real gems when an expert uses them.
I think this writer has a reasonable take, which is that poor application of the tool by non-experts results in a lot of slop/crap, but there are real gems when an expert uses them.
Reposted by Brandon Downey
I blocked some people tonight who lectured me including on how press is deadly and not needed because we have "the commons."
January 30, 2026 at 6:07 AM
I blocked some people tonight who lectured me including on how press is deadly and not needed because we have "the commons."
Reposted by Brandon Downey
Whatever we’re doing, it’s not enough.
January 30, 2026 at 4:56 AM
Whatever we’re doing, it’s not enough.
Reposted by Brandon Downey
for no reason recalling this
January 30, 2026 at 2:08 AM
for no reason recalling this
Reposted by Brandon Downey
oh its crabs in a bucket time again but they're worried that one of the crabs is being too successful at publicizing their supposedly shared cause.
What? I received an anonymous message informing that I had been removed for violating a rule I'd never heard of, based on complaints I'd never heard, that I had no avenue of appeal, and that they would not be engaging further.
January 30, 2026 at 2:28 AM
oh its crabs in a bucket time again but they're worried that one of the crabs is being too successful at publicizing their supposedly shared cause.
Reposted by Brandon Downey
“Without the media, the civil rights movement would have been like a bird without wings,” John Lewis said in a 2016 commemoration of the Pulitzer Prize.
January 30, 2026 at 2:37 AM
“Without the media, the civil rights movement would have been like a bird without wings,” John Lewis said in a 2016 commemoration of the Pulitzer Prize.
Reposted by Brandon Downey
Wtf uhhhh will someone please tell Dr. King about opsec?????? Hello???
January 30, 2026 at 12:34 AM
Wtf uhhhh will someone please tell Dr. King about opsec?????? Hello???
I don't want to alarm people, but if you are in MN Rapid Response in a group chat with hundreds of people, and are out there with ICE taking pictures of everyone on seen, the odds they know who you are is very high.
I know threat models are hard, but the good these reporters have done....
I know threat models are hard, but the good these reporters have done....
I’m not totally sure how to address this but apparently I’m getting kicked out of ICE rapid response for the moment because I’m allowing press ridealongs, with an extremely strict condition that no other observer be identified. Lots of observers have allowed ridealongs and they benefit us.
January 29, 2026 at 9:48 PM
I don't want to alarm people, but if you are in MN Rapid Response in a group chat with hundreds of people, and are out there with ICE taking pictures of everyone on seen, the odds they know who you are is very high.
I know threat models are hard, but the good these reporters have done....
I know threat models are hard, but the good these reporters have done....
Reposted by Brandon Downey
The fact that Vance and Miller - the most powerful members of the administration - are publicly socially intermeshed with open and unapologetic Nazis is the Chekhov’s gun of Trump’s second term, even if the press have refuse to acknowledge.
Now it’s shooting us in the face.
Now it’s shooting us in the face.
January 29, 2026 at 12:08 AM
The fact that Vance and Miller - the most powerful members of the administration - are publicly socially intermeshed with open and unapologetic Nazis is the Chekhov’s gun of Trump’s second term, even if the press have refuse to acknowledge.
Now it’s shooting us in the face.
Now it’s shooting us in the face.
Another Republican wants an out group the the law binds but does not protect.
Many such stories.
Many such stories.
#GVerse So Republican Alabama Rep.Barry Moore held a town hall in Baldwin County where he was asked why immigrants aren’t getting due process & he said they aren’t allowed it & his constituents let him know he was full of crap & it’s a violation of the Constitution & he fled out the back
January 29, 2026 at 7:04 AM
Another Republican wants an out group the the law binds but does not protect.
Many such stories.
Many such stories.