Beth Fertig
@bethfertig.bsky.social
I spent most of my adult life as a reporter at WNYC and NPR. Now I’m working at @PressPassNYC to rebuild trust in media by helping the next generation. We give public schools the support & tools to launch student news sites.
Pinned
Beth Fertig
@bethfertig.bsky.social
· Nov 15
NYC Drama Teachers Meet Their Idol | WNYC | New York Public Radio, Podcasts, Live Streaming Radio, News
Drama teachers from across New York City were thrilled to get a master class with Stephen Sondheim. But it was the Broadway legend who got emotional praising their work.
na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com
I got to record Stephen Sondheim giving a rare class for high school English and theater teachers in 2014, when I worked for WNYC. It was thrilling. He got choked up when he told them teaching is “a sacred profession.”
na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com?url=https%3A...
na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com?url=https%3A...
In Columbia Heights MN: "the agent took the child out of the still-running car, led him to the door, and directed him to knock on the door, asking to be let in, in order to see if anyone else was home, essentially using a 5-year-old as bait”
sahanjournal.com/education/ic...
sahanjournal.com/education/ic...
Columbia Heights school leaders speak out after ICE detains kids
ICE agents have detained students on their way to and from school and also tried to get onto school property, the Columbia Heights superintendent said in an emotional news conference Wednesday.
sahanjournal.com
January 22, 2026 at 1:02 AM
In Columbia Heights MN: "the agent took the child out of the still-running car, led him to the door, and directed him to knock on the door, asking to be let in, in order to see if anyone else was home, essentially using a 5-year-old as bait”
sahanjournal.com/education/ic...
sahanjournal.com/education/ic...
This is money that could have helped so many indigent defendants. Good reporting by @thecity.nyc
www.thecity.nyc/2026/01/21/p...
www.thecity.nyc/2026/01/21/p...
NYC Left Millions in Public Defense Funds Untapped
The city has failed to claim state money for indigent defense, deepening a staffing crisis that undermines representation for low-income defendants, a new report says.
www.thecity.nyc
January 22, 2026 at 12:57 AM
This is money that could have helped so many indigent defendants. Good reporting by @thecity.nyc
www.thecity.nyc/2026/01/21/p...
www.thecity.nyc/2026/01/21/p...
"The Hudson River Park Trust, a publicly-owned corporation overseen by New York State and the city, will end its longstanding contract with Immigration and Customs Enforcement amid growing concerns about the Trump administration’s heavy-handed tactics."
www.thecity.nyc/2026/01/21/i...
www.thecity.nyc/2026/01/21/i...
Hudson River Park Ending Decades-Long Parking Contract with ICE
The contract with the publicly-owned corporation that allows ICE to park vehicles on Pier 40 won’t be renewed when it expires at the end of June.
www.thecity.nyc
January 22, 2026 at 12:54 AM
"The Hudson River Park Trust, a publicly-owned corporation overseen by New York State and the city, will end its longstanding contract with Immigration and Customs Enforcement amid growing concerns about the Trump administration’s heavy-handed tactics."
www.thecity.nyc/2026/01/21/i...
www.thecity.nyc/2026/01/21/i...
Now that we're not going to war, maybe we can talk about the Epstein files?
January 21, 2026 at 11:35 PM
Now that we're not going to war, maybe we can talk about the Epstein files?
Reposted by Beth Fertig
Love this.
January 21, 2026 at 9:59 PM
Love this.
Reposted by Beth Fertig
A federal appeals court has paused an injunction barring immigration agents from “retaliating” against peaceful protesters and observers in Minnesota.
This photo from today shows a federal agent spraying a protester on the ground with a chemical irritant.
This photo from today shows a federal agent spraying a protester on the ground with a chemical irritant.
Live: Appeals court pauses order mandating ICE not ‘retaliate’ against protesters
A federal judge previously issued an injunction meant to prevent immigration agents from detaining and pepper-spraying ‘peaceful’ observers.
bit.ly
January 21, 2026 at 9:24 PM
A federal appeals court has paused an injunction barring immigration agents from “retaliating” against peaceful protesters and observers in Minnesota.
This photo from today shows a federal agent spraying a protester on the ground with a chemical irritant.
This photo from today shows a federal agent spraying a protester on the ground with a chemical irritant.
Reposted by Beth Fertig
🚨HOLY CRAP. An ICE whistleblower just revealed a secret memo authorizing ICE officers to break into homes without a judicial warrant, which DHS's own legal training materials say is unconstitutional!
ICE then hid the memo from the public, passing it along by word of mouth and private conversation.
ICE then hid the memo from the public, passing it along by word of mouth and private conversation.
January 21, 2026 at 10:00 PM
🚨HOLY CRAP. An ICE whistleblower just revealed a secret memo authorizing ICE officers to break into homes without a judicial warrant, which DHS's own legal training materials say is unconstitutional!
ICE then hid the memo from the public, passing it along by word of mouth and private conversation.
ICE then hid the memo from the public, passing it along by word of mouth and private conversation.
Reposted by Beth Fertig
Rep. Melanie Stansbury: “Just to be clear, Republicans in the Oversight Committee just voted NO on a motion to hold Pam Bondi & the DOJ in contempt of Congress for violating the Epstein Files Transparency Act”
January 21, 2026 at 6:50 PM
Rep. Melanie Stansbury: “Just to be clear, Republicans in the Oversight Committee just voted NO on a motion to hold Pam Bondi & the DOJ in contempt of Congress for violating the Epstein Files Transparency Act”
It seems the stock market worked like a tranquilizer dart. No more threats. Was this a TACO?
www.nytimes.com/live/2026/01...
www.nytimes.com/live/2026/01...
Live Updates: Trump Drops Tariff Threat Over Greenland After Assailing Europe
www.nytimes.com
January 21, 2026 at 8:01 PM
It seems the stock market worked like a tranquilizer dart. No more threats. Was this a TACO?
www.nytimes.com/live/2026/01...
www.nytimes.com/live/2026/01...
Reposted by Beth Fertig
The Argus at Midwood HS in Brooklyn ran this fantastic story about the crisis in youth literacy last month. They surveyed their own students: 33% said they “never” read for their own interest or enjoyment. They blame technology.
#Studentjournalism
www.midwoodargus.com/blog/2025/12...
#Studentjournalism
www.midwoodargus.com/blog/2025/12...
The Decline in Youth Literacy Is an Emergency — The Midwood Argus
By ERISA MANI with AYELEN FERNANDEZ You get a ping from your phone, look over, and realize your friend texted you. But when you read through what they sent, you’re overwhelmed by sentences that don’...
www.midwoodargus.com
January 21, 2026 at 7:20 PM
The Argus at Midwood HS in Brooklyn ran this fantastic story about the crisis in youth literacy last month. They surveyed their own students: 33% said they “never” read for their own interest or enjoyment. They blame technology.
#Studentjournalism
www.midwoodargus.com/blog/2025/12...
#Studentjournalism
www.midwoodargus.com/blog/2025/12...
Despite surveys finding most teens have little trust of news media, those who learn what journalism really love it. This is why we believe all schools should have student news publications. #studentjournalism
A few NYC public school newspapers with websites are raising money to make printed editions for students to read now that there's a cell phone ban in schools. Queens Technical High School already has a printed newspaper called The Technical Truth and David says he expects it will get more readers.
January 21, 2026 at 6:48 PM
Despite surveys finding most teens have little trust of news media, those who learn what journalism really love it. This is why we believe all schools should have student news publications. #studentjournalism
Reposted by Beth Fertig
The Bronx River News reports on how people feel about the government's decision to stop making pennies. The students interviewed local merchants who handle cash all the time! It's a reminder that the school community extends beyond the walls of the school.
bronxrivernews.org/2026/01/life...
bronxrivernews.org/2026/01/life...
Life without pennies: Does anyone care?
Say goodbye to the penny. When they’re all used up, they’ll be gone for good. Last year, President Donald Trump ordered the Treasury Department to stop coining new pennies. Even though the production ...
bronxrivernews.org
January 21, 2026 at 6:27 PM
The Bronx River News reports on how people feel about the government's decision to stop making pennies. The students interviewed local merchants who handle cash all the time! It's a reminder that the school community extends beyond the walls of the school.
bronxrivernews.org/2026/01/life...
bronxrivernews.org/2026/01/life...
Reposted by Beth Fertig
A Stuyvesant Spectator argument for eliminating tax breaks for elite colleges to help public colleges like CUNY that have suffered significant budget cuts.
stuyspec.com/article/tax-...
#studentjournalism
stuyspec.com/article/tax-...
#studentjournalism
Tax Elite Colleges
Elite colleges have thrived with federal subsidies and tax breaks while public universities face continued budget cuts.
stuyspec.com
January 21, 2026 at 6:30 PM
A Stuyvesant Spectator argument for eliminating tax breaks for elite colleges to help public colleges like CUNY that have suffered significant budget cuts.
stuyspec.com/article/tax-...
#studentjournalism
stuyspec.com/article/tax-...
#studentjournalism
Reposted by Beth Fertig
This is a really important story, and one that explains the place of the Hmong community in the Twin Cities and why this entire occupation is really just ethnic cleansing (my words). Also, props to Marisa for doing the work to get this story right when so many out-of-town journalists have failed.
New — I wrote about ChongLy Scott Thao, the elderly Hmong American wrongly arrested and forced out of his home by ICE in his underwear during the punishing Minnesota winter, what witnesses saw, and DHS's racist claim that he fit the description of another Asian man they were looking for.
My story:
My story:
Behind the disturbing image of ICE snatching a half-naked, elderly Hmong American from his home
DHS has claimed without evidence that they were looking for someone else when they took ChongLy Scott Thao.
www.thehandbasket.co
January 20, 2026 at 1:14 AM
This is a really important story, and one that explains the place of the Hmong community in the Twin Cities and why this entire occupation is really just ethnic cleansing (my words). Also, props to Marisa for doing the work to get this story right when so many out-of-town journalists have failed.
“One exhibition source noted that, outside a few select screenings in "MAGA strongholds," the majority of theaters have sold fewer than 10 tickets per screening.”
wealthofgeeks.com/melania-trum...
wealthofgeeks.com/melania-trum...
Melania Trump Promotes New Film Amid Reports of Low Theater Turnout - Wealth of Geeks
The red carpet is being rolled out, and the Kennedy Center is prepped. Yet Hollywood insiders are whispering that Melania Trump’s highly anticipated
wealthofgeeks.com
January 20, 2026 at 3:37 AM
“One exhibition source noted that, outside a few select screenings in "MAGA strongholds," the majority of theaters have sold fewer than 10 tickets per screening.”
wealthofgeeks.com/melania-trum...
wealthofgeeks.com/melania-trum...
Reposted by Beth Fertig
"One case we never considered, however, was how to betray and attack our own allies. We did not ask what to do if the president becomes a threatening megalomaniac who tells one of our oldest friends, Norway... he no longer feels 'an obligation to think purely of Peace'"
JFC
JFC
American officers know what Trump is planning, and their minds will rebel at directives to take everything they’ve prepared to do for years and apply it backwards, against the allies they have trained to work with and protect.
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
The Military Is Being Forced to Plan for an Unthinkable Betrayal
Attacking an ally would be a perversion of everything the armed forces have been trained to do.
www.theatlantic.com
January 20, 2026 at 3:06 AM
"One case we never considered, however, was how to betray and attack our own allies. We did not ask what to do if the president becomes a threatening megalomaniac who tells one of our oldest friends, Norway... he no longer feels 'an obligation to think purely of Peace'"
JFC
JFC
Because she knows bullies always want more:
“Ms. Balfour said that more leaders were beginning to realize that capitulating to Mr. Trump’s demands was not always in Europe’s interests. In fact, it often leads Mr. Trump to demand more concessions.”
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/19/w...
“Ms. Balfour said that more leaders were beginning to realize that capitulating to Mr. Trump’s demands was not always in Europe’s interests. In fact, it often leads Mr. Trump to demand more concessions.”
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/19/w...
Trump Is Pushing the U.S.-Europe Alliance Onto a Precipice
www.nytimes.com
January 20, 2026 at 12:49 AM
Because she knows bullies always want more:
“Ms. Balfour said that more leaders were beginning to realize that capitulating to Mr. Trump’s demands was not always in Europe’s interests. In fact, it often leads Mr. Trump to demand more concessions.”
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/19/w...
“Ms. Balfour said that more leaders were beginning to realize that capitulating to Mr. Trump’s demands was not always in Europe’s interests. In fact, it often leads Mr. Trump to demand more concessions.”
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/19/w...
Reposted by Beth Fertig
“It’s completely hopeless now to tour in the U.S..” Many overseas musicians, theater companies and others face new and seemingly insurmountable obstacles to perform in the U.S. with the Trump administration's travel restrictions on 19 countries.
‘An Unbelievable Mess’: Artists Are Stymied by Trump Travel Bans
Musicians, theater groups and others from overseas are facing visa challenges and rising costs, posing a looming crisis for the performing arts sector.
nyti.ms
January 19, 2026 at 7:30 PM
“It’s completely hopeless now to tour in the U.S..” Many overseas musicians, theater companies and others face new and seemingly insurmountable obstacles to perform in the U.S. with the Trump administration's travel restrictions on 19 countries.
Whatever happened to the Epstein Files?
January 19, 2026 at 5:23 PM
Whatever happened to the Epstein Files?
Where is the line? Is there a line?
January 19, 2026 at 4:12 PM
Where is the line? Is there a line?
Reposted by Beth Fertig
The "Inside CECOT" report finally aired on CBS tonight. Sharyn Alfonsi recorded a new beginning and ending to incorporate the additions Bari Weiss wanted. But the report itself remains the same as it was on the day Weiss delayed it. So, here's the backstory on what happened...
January 19, 2026 at 2:02 AM
The "Inside CECOT" report finally aired on CBS tonight. Sharyn Alfonsi recorded a new beginning and ending to incorporate the additions Bari Weiss wanted. But the report itself remains the same as it was on the day Weiss delayed it. So, here's the backstory on what happened...
“Todd Blanche, the deputy attorney general, defended the Justice Department’s decision to not investigate the agent who fatally shot Ms. Good, saying that doing so would be bowing to “pressure from the media” and politicians.”
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/18/u...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/18/u...
Noem Denies Use of Chemical Agents in Minnesota, Then Backtracks
www.nytimes.com
January 18, 2026 at 11:55 PM
“Todd Blanche, the deputy attorney general, defended the Justice Department’s decision to not investigate the agent who fatally shot Ms. Good, saying that doing so would be bowing to “pressure from the media” and politicians.”
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/18/u...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/18/u...
(1/2) For 2 years in a row, my friend created a Nuuk New Year tradition so we could celebrate at 9 PM in NYC. This year I watched fireworks from a WebCam at the Nuuk airport. I want to visit #Greenland because it’s beautiful and is developing tourism industry w/direct flights from JFK.
January 18, 2026 at 9:33 PM
(1/2) For 2 years in a row, my friend created a Nuuk New Year tradition so we could celebrate at 9 PM in NYC. This year I watched fireworks from a WebCam at the Nuuk airport. I want to visit #Greenland because it’s beautiful and is developing tourism industry w/direct flights from JFK.
The MAGA Plan to Take Over TV Is Just Beginning www.nytimes.com/2026/01/12/m...
The MAGA Plan to Take Over TV Is Just Beginning
www.nytimes.com
January 17, 2026 at 10:18 PM
The MAGA Plan to Take Over TV Is Just Beginning www.nytimes.com/2026/01/12/m...