Ben Place
@bp313.bsky.social
Lifelong Detroiter, software engineer, aerospace nerd, DPS/UM/NYU grad.
Worse half of @amandahiber.bsky.social
he/his
Worse half of @amandahiber.bsky.social
he/his
Reposted by Ben Place
Banning all medevac helicopter flights over a big city for 10 days so the military can do whatever the hell it's doing seems like a really bad idea, even in the unlikely event that the military is doing something worthwhile.
February 11, 2026 at 1:52 PM
Banning all medevac helicopter flights over a big city for 10 days so the military can do whatever the hell it's doing seems like a really bad idea, even in the unlikely event that the military is doing something worthwhile.
Reposted by Ben Place
We didn't say body cams on ICE. Their murders are already on video. We said no more ICE.
February 2, 2026 at 10:16 PM
We didn't say body cams on ICE. Their murders are already on video. We said no more ICE.
Reposted by Ben Place
read online that someone set-up a premium rate phone number where callers get charged $3.99/ min. then they posted flyers in their neighborhood that said "call this number to report illegal aliens," but the number just puts them on hold with music. so far, they've made $17,000
February 1, 2026 at 8:28 PM
read online that someone set-up a premium rate phone number where callers get charged $3.99/ min. then they posted flyers in their neighborhood that said "call this number to report illegal aliens," but the number just puts them on hold with music. so far, they've made $17,000
Reposted by Ben Place
Your morning image
February 1, 2026 at 1:31 PM
Your morning image
Reposted by Ben Place
Also, it is not lost upon us how the Democratic leadership and establishment has repeatedly failed to show up for Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib and others.
Just a reminder that both Ilhan Omar and Maxwell Frost have been attacked this week.
No outrage by right-wing media or even corporate media.
Now imagine if this were done to Republicans.
The entire system is rigged in favor of conservatives, folks. The double standards are just wild.
No outrage by right-wing media or even corporate media.
Now imagine if this were done to Republicans.
The entire system is rigged in favor of conservatives, folks. The double standards are just wild.
January 28, 2026 at 6:20 AM
Also, it is not lost upon us how the Democratic leadership and establishment has repeatedly failed to show up for Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib and others.
Reposted by Ben Place
Step back and remember that these meaningless reforms are in exchange for giving them *more* money.
Dems coalescing around 5 restrictions on ICE, I'm told:
DHS required to cooperate with state probes (big)
CBP stays at border
warrants for arrests
IDs, bodycams
ICE out of churches, schools
"That package unites a lot of Dems," Sen Chris Murphy tells me on the pod:
newrepublic.com/article/2057...
DHS required to cooperate with state probes (big)
CBP stays at border
warrants for arrests
IDs, bodycams
ICE out of churches, schools
"That package unites a lot of Dems," Sen Chris Murphy tells me on the pod:
newrepublic.com/article/2057...
A Dem Senator’s Harsh Takedown of Trump Hits Home: “Breaking Point”
As Trump scrambles to contain the damage from the latest ICE horrors, Senator Chris Murphy offers a sharp indictment of Trump-ICE lawlessness—and explains how Dems can meet the urgency of the moment.
newrepublic.com
January 27, 2026 at 4:33 PM
Step back and remember that these meaningless reforms are in exchange for giving them *more* money.
Reposted by Ben Place
The biggest risk in this moment is something sociologists call “symbolic compliance.”
That’s when an institution that is violating civil rights gives the public just enough symbolic victories that accountability efforts lose steam before there has been any meaningful change.
That’s when an institution that is violating civil rights gives the public just enough symbolic victories that accountability efforts lose steam before there has been any meaningful change.
January 26, 2026 at 11:35 PM
The biggest risk in this moment is something sociologists call “symbolic compliance.”
That’s when an institution that is violating civil rights gives the public just enough symbolic victories that accountability efforts lose steam before there has been any meaningful change.
That’s when an institution that is violating civil rights gives the public just enough symbolic victories that accountability efforts lose steam before there has been any meaningful change.
Reposted by Ben Place
This cannot be good news
USA TODAY Co., which already owns the Freep, strengthens Motor City foothold with deal to buy The Detroit News
www.freep.com/story/money/...
USA TODAY Co., which already owns the Freep, strengthens Motor City foothold with deal to buy The Detroit News
www.freep.com/story/money/...
USA TODAY Co. moves to buy The Detroit News after joint-operating era ends
USA TODAY Co. strengthens Motor City foothold with deal to buy The Detroit News
www.freep.com
January 26, 2026 at 6:37 PM
This cannot be good news
USA TODAY Co., which already owns the Freep, strengthens Motor City foothold with deal to buy The Detroit News
www.freep.com/story/money/...
USA TODAY Co., which already owns the Freep, strengthens Motor City foothold with deal to buy The Detroit News
www.freep.com/story/money/...
Reposted by Ben Place
Hey Gary. Thanks for voting no but this cannot be reformed.
It absolutely cannot.
We did not have DHS 24 years ago and it was fine. There's no coming back from this. Abolish ICE, prosecute the lot, build something humane and transparent back. That's the moderate position now.
It absolutely cannot.
We did not have DHS 24 years ago and it was fine. There's no coming back from this. Abolish ICE, prosecute the lot, build something humane and transparent back. That's the moderate position now.
January 25, 2026 at 9:48 PM
Hey Gary. Thanks for voting no but this cannot be reformed.
It absolutely cannot.
We did not have DHS 24 years ago and it was fine. There's no coming back from this. Abolish ICE, prosecute the lot, build something humane and transparent back. That's the moderate position now.
It absolutely cannot.
We did not have DHS 24 years ago and it was fine. There's no coming back from this. Abolish ICE, prosecute the lot, build something humane and transparent back. That's the moderate position now.
Reposted by Ben Place
If you are running for president you should make clear you’re gonna send Greg Bovino to prison
January 25, 2026 at 2:58 PM
If you are running for president you should make clear you’re gonna send Greg Bovino to prison
Some sexy-ass snowpeople
January 25, 2026 at 3:22 PM
Some sexy-ass snowpeople
Reposted by Ben Place
AltNPS posted about Alex Pretti's murder 25 times since this morning. During that time, they spread misinformation about the shooting, lied about knowing the shooter's name, and generally flooded the zone with shit.
They're trying to milk this story for all it's worth.
They're trying to milk this story for all it's worth.
January 25, 2026 at 3:09 AM
AltNPS posted about Alex Pretti's murder 25 times since this morning. During that time, they spread misinformation about the shooting, lied about knowing the shooter's name, and generally flooded the zone with shit.
They're trying to milk this story for all it's worth.
They're trying to milk this story for all it's worth.
Reposted by Ben Place
Hey @slotkin.senate.gov @peters.senate.gov
Don't you fucking dare give ICE, CBP, DHS, a damn cent. Don't give this fucking administration a damn thing period. This is FAR beyond reform.
Stand the fuck up for our country and our communities already.
Don't you fucking dare give ICE, CBP, DHS, a damn cent. Don't give this fucking administration a damn thing period. This is FAR beyond reform.
Stand the fuck up for our country and our communities already.
The package with ICE funding will be in the Senate this week and will need Democratic votes to advance.
January 24, 2026 at 7:54 PM
Hey @slotkin.senate.gov @peters.senate.gov
Don't you fucking dare give ICE, CBP, DHS, a damn cent. Don't give this fucking administration a damn thing period. This is FAR beyond reform.
Stand the fuck up for our country and our communities already.
Don't you fucking dare give ICE, CBP, DHS, a damn cent. Don't give this fucking administration a damn thing period. This is FAR beyond reform.
Stand the fuck up for our country and our communities already.
Reposted by Ben Place
Since Americans insist on parallels to Nazi-controlled Europe over the American history that inspired the Nazis, now is a good time to remind everyone that Anne Frank didn’t die in the gas chamber or by firing squad. She was kidnapped by the gestapo and died of typhus in a prison camp.
I’ve been writing Popular Information for 8 years, and this is one of the most important stories I’ve ever published. This is a humanitarian crisis that has gone unreported.
ICE has stopped paying for detainee medical treatment
ICE halted payments in October, and the situation will persist for at least several more months
popular.info
January 24, 2026 at 1:32 PM
Since Americans insist on parallels to Nazi-controlled Europe over the American history that inspired the Nazis, now is a good time to remind everyone that Anne Frank didn’t die in the gas chamber or by firing squad. She was kidnapped by the gestapo and died of typhus in a prison camp.
Reposted by Ben Place
Sorry for the threads link, but this clip of a streamer coming across the KKK in RDR2 is amazing.
www.threads.com/@howie.built...
www.threads.com/@howie.built...
@howie.built on Threads
This is a classic 😂😂 I wish I would’ve gotten my reaction when I first discovered this 😂 It was very similar.
www.threads.com
January 24, 2026 at 1:17 PM
Sorry for the threads link, but this clip of a streamer coming across the KKK in RDR2 is amazing.
www.threads.com/@howie.built...
www.threads.com/@howie.built...
Reposted by Ben Place
Like all of us, Michigan’s Latino communities want the security of a safe home, good jobs & to know that they can be safe on their streets. I joined community leaders in Lansing to talk about how we secure those things—and how the weaponization of ICE and their violence are making us all less safe.
January 23, 2026 at 4:36 PM
Like all of us, Michigan’s Latino communities want the security of a safe home, good jobs & to know that they can be safe on their streets. I joined community leaders in Lansing to talk about how we secure those things—and how the weaponization of ICE and their violence are making us all less safe.
Reposted by Ben Place
And down the road in the brutal cold, more Minnesotans are forming a blockade of the road. Sheriff's officers issuing warnings from their vehicles.
January 23, 2026 at 4:20 PM
Reposted by Ben Place
Reposted by Ben Place
Billy, I like a lot of these thoughts & consider you a friend and comrade, but I don't think the only fascists are the ones able to articulate it as an ideology. Fascism is discernible in the results. The actions of the previous admins you cite -- no problem describing them as fascistic, mind!
January 20, 2026 at 1:22 PM
Billy, I like a lot of these thoughts & consider you a friend and comrade, but I don't think the only fascists are the ones able to articulate it as an ideology. Fascism is discernible in the results. The actions of the previous admins you cite -- no problem describing them as fascistic, mind!
Reposted by Ben Place
Dr. Gladys West, the pioneering mathematician whose work laid the foundation for modern GPS technology, has died. She was 95.
Dr. Gladys West, Mathematician Whose Work Made GPS Possible, Dies at 95
ALEXANDRIA, VA — Dr. Gladys West, the pioneering mathematician whose work laid the foundation for modern GPS technology, has died. She passed away
thezebra.org
January 19, 2026 at 6:00 PM
Dr. Gladys West, the pioneering mathematician whose work laid the foundation for modern GPS technology, has died. She was 95.
Reposted by Ben Place
Reposted by Ben Place
Me, a leftist: American military imperialism is immoral, the military-industrial complex is an engine of evil and human misery
Me, a 7-year-old boy, looking at the SR-71 (or seeing F22s at an air show): okay sure but big plane is so COOL though
Me, a 7-year-old boy, looking at the SR-71 (or seeing F22s at an air show): okay sure but big plane is so COOL though
January 17, 2026 at 7:36 PM
Me, a leftist: American military imperialism is immoral, the military-industrial complex is an engine of evil and human misery
Me, a 7-year-old boy, looking at the SR-71 (or seeing F22s at an air show): okay sure but big plane is so COOL though
Me, a 7-year-old boy, looking at the SR-71 (or seeing F22s at an air show): okay sure but big plane is so COOL though
Reposted by Ben Place
He was put in prison and forced to listen to over 300 hangings, before which the prison would sing to soothe the victims. "I learned from them very early that what one does with Nazis is kill them,” he said at a 2023 conference on antinuclear activism in Johannesburg. “I am not a pacifist.”
He used his doctoral thesis to expose Apartheid South Africa's secret nuclear program and then included detailed instructions in his forced confession, which a judge read aloud in court, on how to sabotage all of the critical facilities.
Holy hell, what an obituary
January 15, 2026 at 6:15 PM
He was put in prison and forced to listen to over 300 hangings, before which the prison would sing to soothe the victims. "I learned from them very early that what one does with Nazis is kill them,” he said at a 2023 conference on antinuclear activism in Johannesburg. “I am not a pacifist.”
Reposted by Ben Place
The House voted 341 to 79 to fund Trump's war-mongering foreign policy agenda.
Only 57 Democrats voted NO.
clerk.house.gov/evs/2026/rol...
Only 57 Democrats voted NO.
clerk.house.gov/evs/2026/rol...
January 14, 2026 at 11:48 PM
The House voted 341 to 79 to fund Trump's war-mongering foreign policy agenda.
Only 57 Democrats voted NO.
clerk.house.gov/evs/2026/rol...
Only 57 Democrats voted NO.
clerk.house.gov/evs/2026/rol...