Reposted by blakemk
The massive right-wing media and associated fever swamps, I think, play a bit part in why authoritarianism is able to blossom here faster than benchmarks.
Emerging authoritarian regimes need to build out media and propaganda. We already had one for decades pickling people in grievance and deceit.
Emerging authoritarian regimes need to build out media and propaganda. We already had one for decades pickling people in grievance and deceit.
New from me: It is not just that the US is experiencing democratic backsliding. Authoritarianism has emerged more quickly than in other benchmark countries.
This graph from John Burn-Murdoch sums it up. 🧵
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/autocracy-...
This graph from John Burn-Murdoch sums it up. 🧵
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/autocracy-...
January 31, 2026 at 4:13 PM
The massive right-wing media and associated fever swamps, I think, play a bit part in why authoritarianism is able to blossom here faster than benchmarks.
Emerging authoritarian regimes need to build out media and propaganda. We already had one for decades pickling people in grievance and deceit.
Emerging authoritarian regimes need to build out media and propaganda. We already had one for decades pickling people in grievance and deceit.
Reposted by blakemk
Is it irresponsible to speculate about the pedophile president surrounding himself with others who took part in the pedophile sex trafficking ring run by his best friend?
No, it is irresponsible *not* to.
No, it is irresponsible *not* to.
Former Tennessee Libertarian party chair @joshuaeakle.com notices how many in Trump’s cabinet/inner circle are in the files — and theorizes maybe this is no coincidence
January 31, 2026 at 3:29 PM
Is it irresponsible to speculate about the pedophile president surrounding himself with others who took part in the pedophile sex trafficking ring run by his best friend?
No, it is irresponsible *not* to.
No, it is irresponsible *not* to.
Reposted by blakemk
I think it is OUTRAGEOUS that people are LEAPING to the conclusion that some our post prominent Americans are child rapists when it is EQUALLY PLAUSIBLE that they are simply indifferent to whether other people are child rapists so long as those other people can offer them access to power.
January 31, 2026 at 2:41 PM
I think it is OUTRAGEOUS that people are LEAPING to the conclusion that some our post prominent Americans are child rapists when it is EQUALLY PLAUSIBLE that they are simply indifferent to whether other people are child rapists so long as those other people can offer them access to power.
Reposted by blakemk
This will economically devastate this area. The people of Ohio have worked hard to help the Haitians settle into their community. All have benefitted.
January 31, 2026 at 1:38 AM
This will economically devastate this area. The people of Ohio have worked hard to help the Haitians settle into their community. All have benefitted.
Reposted by blakemk
With Temporary Protected Status set to expire, fear is rising in a community that has already been dragged through the political meat grinder.
January 31, 2026 at 1:31 AM
With Temporary Protected Status set to expire, fear is rising in a community that has already been dragged through the political meat grinder.
Reposted by blakemk
A federal judge warned Justice Department lawyers that their statements on a slavery exhibit display in Philadelphia were "horrifying."
"You can’t erase history once you’ve learned it. It doesn’t work that way"
"You can’t erase history once you’ve learned it. It doesn’t work that way"
Judge Calls DOJ's Statements On Slavery Exhibit Display 'Dangerous' And 'Horrifying'
Senior U.S. District Judge Cynthia Rufe told the Justice Department's attorneys, "“You can’t erase history once you’ve learned it. It doesn’t work that way.”
www.huffpost.com
January 31, 2026 at 4:12 AM
A federal judge warned Justice Department lawyers that their statements on a slavery exhibit display in Philadelphia were "horrifying."
"You can’t erase history once you’ve learned it. It doesn’t work that way"
"You can’t erase history once you’ve learned it. It doesn’t work that way"
Reposted by blakemk
Here it is fully edited, the first harbor seal pup of 2026 pupping season in La Jolla, California kissing a VERY PROUD mama.
Full resolution: youtu.be/vDbShVpqvzk #sealsky 🦑 🦭
Full resolution: youtu.be/vDbShVpqvzk #sealsky 🦑 🦭
January 31, 2026 at 5:32 AM
Here it is fully edited, the first harbor seal pup of 2026 pupping season in La Jolla, California kissing a VERY PROUD mama.
Full resolution: youtu.be/vDbShVpqvzk #sealsky 🦑 🦭
Full resolution: youtu.be/vDbShVpqvzk #sealsky 🦑 🦭
Reposted by blakemk
Trump's awful post about Alex Pretti am confirms this point -- he's not sorry, he's not pivoting, and he'll use the same playbook as ever to survive yet another scandal that would have destroyed any other politician
my new column: www.newyorker.com/news/letter-...
my new column: www.newyorker.com/news/letter-...
Operation Trump Rehab
After a wave of public revulsion over the President’s immigration crackdown in Minnesota, he offers a familiar playbook: distraction, disinformation, denial, delay.
www.newyorker.com
January 30, 2026 at 1:08 PM
Trump's awful post about Alex Pretti am confirms this point -- he's not sorry, he's not pivoting, and he'll use the same playbook as ever to survive yet another scandal that would have destroyed any other politician
my new column: www.newyorker.com/news/letter-...
my new column: www.newyorker.com/news/letter-...
Reposted by blakemk
A couple of legal asylum seekers were with their one month old baby in the car when ICE smashed their car windows and dragged the husband out and took him away, leaving the mom terrified in the cold without a driver's license, and the baby covered in broken glass.
www.rawstory.com/ice-arrest-2...
www.rawstory.com/ice-arrest-2...
Crying baby left covered in broken glass after ICE yanks father from car
A terrified West African mother and her infant were left stranded in a car in Portland, Maine, after Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents smashed in a window, spraying the child seat with broken...
www.rawstory.com
January 29, 2026 at 9:42 PM
A couple of legal asylum seekers were with their one month old baby in the car when ICE smashed their car windows and dragged the husband out and took him away, leaving the mom terrified in the cold without a driver's license, and the baby covered in broken glass.
www.rawstory.com/ice-arrest-2...
www.rawstory.com/ice-arrest-2...
Reposted by blakemk
Reposted by blakemk
Extremist groups such as the Proud Boys have been oddly quiet during Trump’s nationwide ICE operations, Ali Breland reports. “We’ve kind of gotten what we want, right?” Enrique Tarrio, the group’s leader, told Breland.
The Blurred Lines Between ICE and the Proud Boys
The far-right group’s views and tactics are now emulated by federal agents.
bit.ly
January 30, 2026 at 9:00 PM
Extremist groups such as the Proud Boys have been oddly quiet during Trump’s nationwide ICE operations, Ali Breland reports. “We’ve kind of gotten what we want, right?” Enrique Tarrio, the group’s leader, told Breland.
Reposted by blakemk
It’s driving these guys crazy that white folks in Minneapolis didn’t greet ICE as liberators.
Chris Rufo is so upset about the Minneapolis protests that he is resorting to anti-Nordic racism christopherrufo.com/p/the-curse-...
January 30, 2026 at 11:22 PM
It’s driving these guys crazy that white folks in Minneapolis didn’t greet ICE as liberators.
Reposted by blakemk
In her role overseeing the country’s spy agencies, Gabbard is prohibited by law from taking part in domestic law enforcement.
www.nbcnews.com/politics/nat...
www.nbcnews.com/politics/nat...
Tulsi Gabbard under scrutiny for showing up at FBI raid of Georgia election hub
In her role overseeing the country’s spy agencies, Gabbard is prohibited by law from taking part in domestic law enforcement.
www.nbcnews.com
January 30, 2026 at 1:23 PM
In her role overseeing the country’s spy agencies, Gabbard is prohibited by law from taking part in domestic law enforcement.
www.nbcnews.com/politics/nat...
www.nbcnews.com/politics/nat...
Reposted by blakemk
BREAKING: Pam Bondi personally orders arrest of journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort after they exercise First Amendment rights while covering ICE aggression in Minnesota.
January 30, 2026 at 8:29 PM
BREAKING: Pam Bondi personally orders arrest of journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort after they exercise First Amendment rights while covering ICE aggression in Minnesota.
Reposted by blakemk
They should have put this in the movie, would have given at least a handful of folks a reason to watch it
Oh look, it's Melania emailing Ghislaine, praising a profile of Jeffrey Epstein, and signed Love, Melania.
www.justice.gov/epstein/file...
www.justice.gov/epstein/file...
www.justice.gov
January 30, 2026 at 8:29 PM
They should have put this in the movie, would have given at least a handful of folks a reason to watch it
Reposted by blakemk
Rep. Garcia: Donald Trump and the Department of Justice just made it clear right now that they intend to withhold approximately 50% half of the Epstein files, while claiming to have fully complied with the law. This is outrageous and incredibly concerning. They are now in violation of that law.
January 30, 2026 at 8:11 PM
Rep. Garcia: Donald Trump and the Department of Justice just made it clear right now that they intend to withhold approximately 50% half of the Epstein files, while claiming to have fully complied with the law. This is outrageous and incredibly concerning. They are now in violation of that law.
Reposted by blakemk
Yes, Trump is profiting off of his Presidency, but the lawsuit he filed yesterday is so far beyond corrupt that it needs a new word that is beyond corruption... I had some thoughts...
Trump Demands $10 Billion From Taxpayers For Leaked Tax Returns; His Own Lawyers Get To Decide What He Gets
Back in May, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt offered what might be the single most audacious statement of the Trump era—and that's saying something: I think everybody - the…
Back in May, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt offered what might be the single most audacious statement of the Trump era—and that's saying something: I think everybody - the…
Trump Demands $10 Billion From Taxpayers For Leaked Tax Returns; His Own Lawyers Get To Decide What He Gets
Back in May, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt offered what might be the single most audacious statement of the Trump era—and that's saying something: I think everybody - the American public believe it's absurd for anyone to insinuate that this president is profiting off of the presidency. Anyway, in unrelated news, Donald Trump just filed a lawsuit against his own IRS…
www.techdirt.com
January 30, 2026 at 5:54 PM
Yes, Trump is profiting off of his Presidency, but the lawsuit he filed yesterday is so far beyond corrupt that it needs a new word that is beyond corruption... I had some thoughts...
Reposted by blakemk
Georgia Fort is the real deal ans a legit journalist. There are probably some ppl who's never heard of her but I know her work. She's just not any ol' person in Minnesota. She's known. And this is a move to silence/scare her and other journalists. That's how effective she is.
January 30, 2026 at 3:12 PM
Georgia Fort is the real deal ans a legit journalist. There are probably some ppl who's never heard of her but I know her work. She's just not any ol' person in Minnesota. She's known. And this is a move to silence/scare her and other journalists. That's how effective she is.
Reposted by blakemk
Georgia Fort, an independent journalist and vice president of the Minnesota NABJ chapter, was also arrested by federal agents this morning
I was sent this video of agents at her door:
I was sent this video of agents at her door:
January 30, 2026 at 2:58 PM
Georgia Fort, an independent journalist and vice president of the Minnesota NABJ chapter, was also arrested by federal agents this morning
I was sent this video of agents at her door:
I was sent this video of agents at her door:
Reposted by blakemk
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 blakemk
LET ME GET THIS STRAIGHT: Kevin Warsh—expected to be Trump's Fed chair pick—is the son-in-law of Trump donor Ronald Lauder (billionaire Estée Lauder heir), who convinced Trump in 2018 of the need to annex Greenland (and then invested heavily there), and who benefits from the Ukraine rare-earth deal?
Trump Administration Prepares for Warsh Fed Chair Nomination
The Trump administration is preparing for the president to nominate Kevin Warsh to be the next Federal Reserve chair, according to people familiar with the matter.
www.bloomberg.com
January 30, 2026 at 3:56 AM
LET ME GET THIS STRAIGHT: Kevin Warsh—expected to be Trump's Fed chair pick—is the son-in-law of Trump donor Ronald Lauder (billionaire Estée Lauder heir), who convinced Trump in 2018 of the need to annex Greenland (and then invested heavily there), and who benefits from the Ukraine rare-earth deal?
Reposted by blakemk
Sick world
Corporate America made over $22 billion from contracts with ICE and CBP last year.
The list of companies profiting from Trump's aggressive deportation regime includes Palantir, Deloitte, GEO Group, and many more.
www.ft.com/content/c741...
The list of companies profiting from Trump's aggressive deportation regime includes Palantir, Deloitte, GEO Group, and many more.
www.ft.com/content/c741...
Companies reap $22bn from Trump’s immigration crackdown
Palantir and Deloitte among beneficiaries of spending by government agencies
www.ft.com
January 30, 2026 at 2:51 PM
Sick world
Reposted by blakemk
I think it’s worth keeping in mind that the specific church that was protested, inspiring these outrageous constitutional violations by DOJ, is part of the network of Christian Nationalist churches tied to Doug Wilson and attended by Pete Hegseth.
The fact that *both* of the churches that have made news in Minneapolis for pro-ICE links/positions have ties to the Doug Wilson-verse (which, for those keeping track, is who oversees the church Sec. Pete Hegseth now attends) feels like evidence that the universe's writers are just getting lazy.
Via @bmietana.bsky.social: Cities Church in Minnesota is considering legal options after anti-ICE protest.
A surprising detail in here: Joe Rigney, author of the book "Sin of Empathy," is calling himself a founding pastor of this church. religionnews.com/2026/01/20/c...
A surprising detail in here: Joe Rigney, author of the book "Sin of Empathy," is calling himself a founding pastor of this church. religionnews.com/2026/01/20/c...
January 30, 2026 at 1:38 PM
I think it’s worth keeping in mind that the specific church that was protested, inspiring these outrageous constitutional violations by DOJ, is part of the network of Christian Nationalist churches tied to Doug Wilson and attended by Pete Hegseth.
Reposted by blakemk
They are all Black journalists and Black politicians. Don Lemon and Georgia Fort are journalists. Trahern Jean Crews ran for Minnesota's House District 66B. Jamael Lydell Lundy is running for Minnesota Senate District 65.
feds have arrested jamael lundy alongside journalists georgia fort and don lemon for the protest at a st. paul church led by an ICE agent
lundy is currently running for state senate district 65 in minnesota. his wife is anika bowie, a st. paul city councilmember
www.jlundyforsd65.com
lundy is currently running for state senate district 65 in minnesota. his wife is anika bowie, a st. paul city councilmember
www.jlundyforsd65.com
January 30, 2026 at 2:42 PM
They are all Black journalists and Black politicians. Don Lemon and Georgia Fort are journalists. Trahern Jean Crews ran for Minnesota's House District 66B. Jamael Lydell Lundy is running for Minnesota Senate District 65.
Reposted by blakemk
I know we’re so far past even considering the possibility that Republicans ever actually believed in the Constitution, but it’s a useful thought experiment to read this article as if it was about Biden using technology developed by a billionaire donor to surveil anti-abortion and 2A activists.
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 2:35 PM
I know we’re so far past even considering the possibility that Republicans ever actually believed in the Constitution, but it’s a useful thought experiment to read this article as if it was about Biden using technology developed by a billionaire donor to surveil anti-abortion and 2A activists.