Bess Vanrenen
@bessvanr.bsky.social
A Denver-area writer and editor. A lover of words, books, languages, and travel. A kid wrangler, dream chaser, and social justice advocate.
Reposted by Bess Vanrenen
James Comer is bringing Hillary Clinton before his committee to testify about Epstein despite having zero contact with him, but not Epstein’s neighbor Howard Lutnick who lied about his connections to Epstein over many years which is proven in the files.
February 4, 2026 at 1:36 AM
James Comer is bringing Hillary Clinton before his committee to testify about Epstein despite having zero contact with him, but not Epstein’s neighbor Howard Lutnick who lied about his connections to Epstein over many years which is proven in the files.
Reposted by Bess Vanrenen
happening this morning in Minneapolis -- ICE agents drawing guns on observers. I reiterate again that it is only a matter of time before DHS kills more innocent people in Minnesota. Congress needs to shut this shit down right now.
February 3, 2026 at 4:19 PM
happening this morning in Minneapolis -- ICE agents drawing guns on observers. I reiterate again that it is only a matter of time before DHS kills more innocent people in Minnesota. Congress needs to shut this shit down right now.
Reposted by Bess Vanrenen
They want us working earlier and til we die to pay for their tax cuts for the rich. Supervillains.
February 3, 2026 at 4:15 AM
They want us working earlier and til we die to pay for their tax cuts for the rich. Supervillains.
Reposted by Bess Vanrenen
Liam Ramos Was Just One of Hundreds of Children at This Detention Center. Release Them All. www.nytimes.com/2026/02/01/o...
Opinion | Liam Ramos Was Just One of Hundreds of Children at This Detention Center. Release Them All.
www.nytimes.com
February 2, 2026 at 7:06 PM
Liam Ramos Was Just One of Hundreds of Children at This Detention Center. Release Them All. www.nytimes.com/2026/02/01/o...
Reposted by Bess Vanrenen
Yesterday, five-year-old Liam and his dad Adrian were released from Dilley detention center. I picked them up last night and escorted them back to Minnesota this morning.
Liam is now home. With his hat and his backpack.
Liam is now home. With his hat and his backpack.
February 1, 2026 at 3:49 PM
Yesterday, five-year-old Liam and his dad Adrian were released from Dilley detention center. I picked them up last night and escorted them back to Minnesota this morning.
Liam is now home. With his hat and his backpack.
Liam is now home. With his hat and his backpack.
Reposted by Bess Vanrenen
Black History Month is a time to recognize the lived, shared experience of all Black folks who have fundamentally shaped, challenged, and ultimately strengthened America. It’s about taking an unvarnished look at the past so that we can create a better future.
February 1, 2026 at 5:09 PM
Black History Month is a time to recognize the lived, shared experience of all Black folks who have fundamentally shaped, challenged, and ultimately strengthened America. It’s about taking an unvarnished look at the past so that we can create a better future.
Reposted by Bess Vanrenen
4 Black journalists have been kidnapped by the federal government
January 30, 2026 at 6:45 PM
4 Black journalists have been kidnapped by the federal government
Reposted by Bess Vanrenen
I wrote this song on Saturday, recorded it yesterday and released it to you today in response to the state terror being visited on the city of Minneapolis. It’s dedicated to the people of Minneapolis, our innocent immigrant neighbors and in memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good.
Stay free
Stay free
Bruce Springsteen - Streets Of Minneapolis (Official Audio)
YouTube video by Bruce Springsteen
youtu.be
January 28, 2026 at 5:02 PM
I wrote this song on Saturday, recorded it yesterday and released it to you today in response to the state terror being visited on the city of Minneapolis. It’s dedicated to the people of Minneapolis, our innocent immigrant neighbors and in memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good.
Stay free
Stay free
Reposted by Bess Vanrenen
This is incredible. Sound up.
January 28, 2026 at 9:03 PM
This is incredible. Sound up.
Unbelievable
Eight people have died in dealings with ICE so far in 2026. These are their stories — Guardian US
The high-profile killings of Minneapolis residents Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good are only two among many
apple.news
January 28, 2026 at 11:53 PM
Unbelievable
Reposted by Bess Vanrenen
Ilhan Omar Attacker Has Public History of MAGA Political Posts
Andy Kazmierczak has made Trump his Facebook profile pic multiple times
meidasnews.com/news/ilhan-o...
Andy Kazmierczak has made Trump his Facebook profile pic multiple times
meidasnews.com/news/ilhan-o...
Ilhan Omar Attacker Has Public History of MAGA Political Posts
Andy Kazmierczak has made Trump his Facebook profile multiple times
meidasnews.com
January 28, 2026 at 3:11 PM
Ilhan Omar Attacker Has Public History of MAGA Political Posts
Andy Kazmierczak has made Trump his Facebook profile pic multiple times
meidasnews.com/news/ilhan-o...
Andy Kazmierczak has made Trump his Facebook profile pic multiple times
meidasnews.com/news/ilhan-o...
Reposted by Bess Vanrenen
On Holocaust Remembrance Day, we remember the six million Jewish people murdered by the Nazis, as well as countless other victims.
We honor their lives by rejecting the evils of antisemitism, dehumanization, and authoritarian violence wherever they appear.
Never again means never again for anyone.
We honor their lives by rejecting the evils of antisemitism, dehumanization, and authoritarian violence wherever they appear.
Never again means never again for anyone.
January 28, 2026 at 2:47 AM
On Holocaust Remembrance Day, we remember the six million Jewish people murdered by the Nazis, as well as countless other victims.
We honor their lives by rejecting the evils of antisemitism, dehumanization, and authoritarian violence wherever they appear.
Never again means never again for anyone.
We honor their lives by rejecting the evils of antisemitism, dehumanization, and authoritarian violence wherever they appear.
Never again means never again for anyone.
Reposted by Bess Vanrenen
I cannot emphasize enough how important it is that we get rid of Miller. His race war fantasies have informed the vision behind the federal assaults on US cities, as I discussed here.
My latest: How Renee Good's murder and paramilitary assaults on US cities reflect longstanding right-wing race war fantasies and Stephen Miller's fixation with a novel about white genocide. I also talk about the stories we tell and live in opposition to these narratives and share a must-reads list.
Choosing Each Other in a Time of Terror
Rather than being disbanded or intimidated by Good’s murder, the people of Minneapolis have been galvanized, escalating their resistance and refusing to retreat from the work of protecting one another...
organizingmythoughts.org
January 27, 2026 at 3:20 PM
I cannot emphasize enough how important it is that we get rid of Miller. His race war fantasies have informed the vision behind the federal assaults on US cities, as I discussed here.
Reposted by Bess Vanrenen
They’ll bend the Second Amendment for ICE raids, but not to protect five-year-olds from bullets. That’s the moral rot.
January 27, 2026 at 3:41 PM
They’ll bend the Second Amendment for ICE raids, but not to protect five-year-olds from bullets. That’s the moral rot.
Candlelight vigil tonight in Arvada, Colorado in memory of Alex Pretti. "You will not be forgotten." None of you who died at the hands on this administration will.
January 26, 2026 at 2:36 AM
Candlelight vigil tonight in Arvada, Colorado in memory of Alex Pretti. "You will not be forgotten." None of you who died at the hands on this administration will.
Reposted by Bess Vanrenen
One of the best things I’ve read in a while:
January 25, 2026 at 10:39 PM
One of the best things I’ve read in a while:
Reposted by Bess Vanrenen
Secretary Noem has forfeited her right to lead. I’m calling on her to resign.
Gregory Bovino must also be fired.
No one, not an ICE agent, not a federal officer, not a president, is above the law.
Gregory Bovino must also be fired.
No one, not an ICE agent, not a federal officer, not a president, is above the law.
January 25, 2026 at 7:04 PM
Secretary Noem has forfeited her right to lead. I’m calling on her to resign.
Gregory Bovino must also be fired.
No one, not an ICE agent, not a federal officer, not a president, is above the law.
Gregory Bovino must also be fired.
No one, not an ICE agent, not a federal officer, not a president, is above the law.
Reposted by Bess Vanrenen
Haven’t seen many athletes comment on the news in Minneapolis outside of Haliburton, but here’s two time All/Pro Broncos guard Quinn Meinerz, who takes the field in an hour:
January 25, 2026 at 7:06 PM
Haven’t seen many athletes comment on the news in Minneapolis outside of Haliburton, but here’s two time All/Pro Broncos guard Quinn Meinerz, who takes the field in an hour:
Reposted by Bess Vanrenen
TONIGHT: Organizers in Minnesota are asking you to shine a light for their state.
January 24, 2026 at 10:26 PM
TONIGHT: Organizers in Minnesota are asking you to shine a light for their state.
Reposted by Bess Vanrenen
Reposted by Bess Vanrenen
On the execution in Minnesota: Obviously, the individuals involved should be held accountable. But responsibility goes to the top of ICE and CBP, and DHS. Their appropriations come up next week in the senate. Not a cent for DHS without pulling ICE and CBP off the streets, in MN and everywhere else.
January 24, 2026 at 4:52 PM
On the execution in Minnesota: Obviously, the individuals involved should be held accountable. But responsibility goes to the top of ICE and CBP, and DHS. Their appropriations come up next week in the senate. Not a cent for DHS without pulling ICE and CBP off the streets, in MN and everywhere else.
Reposted by Bess Vanrenen
"The gentleman I was standing next to was focused on helping people who were coming into Nicollet Avenue understand that they needed to take it slow and helping them get through. ...
"Next thing I knew, they shot him." www.mprnews.org/story/2026/0...
"Next thing I knew, they shot him." www.mprnews.org/story/2026/0...
January 24, 2026 at 5:56 PM
"The gentleman I was standing next to was focused on helping people who were coming into Nicollet Avenue understand that they needed to take it slow and helping them get through. ...
"Next thing I knew, they shot him." www.mprnews.org/story/2026/0...
"Next thing I knew, they shot him." www.mprnews.org/story/2026/0...
Reposted by Bess Vanrenen
The Strib has identified him. Alex Pretti. Another 37-year-old executed for standing up for our immigrant neighbors. For shame.
www.startribune.com/ice-raids-mi...
www.startribune.com/ice-raids-mi...
January 24, 2026 at 6:49 PM
The Strib has identified him. Alex Pretti. Another 37-year-old executed for standing up for our immigrant neighbors. For shame.
www.startribune.com/ice-raids-mi...
www.startribune.com/ice-raids-mi...
Reposted by Bess Vanrenen
January 24, 2026 at 7:20 PM