Rachel Cohen
@cohen489.bsky.social
pragmatic optimist and well-known email author
views are mine alone
cohen489.substack.com
americandemands.com
BOOK RECS THAT PAY ME + LOCAL STORES: https://bookshop.org/shop/cohen489
views are mine alone
cohen489.substack.com
americandemands.com
BOOK RECS THAT PAY ME + LOCAL STORES: https://bookshop.org/shop/cohen489
Reposted by Rachel Cohen
Chicago's U.S. attorney's office has released evidence from the case against Marimar Martinez, pre-empting her press conference later today.
It even released text messages it once claimed would "sully" a Border Patrol agents's rep.
From @chicago.suntimes.com: chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...
It even released text messages it once claimed would "sully" a Border Patrol agents's rep.
From @chicago.suntimes.com: chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...
Border Patrol agents say 'time to get aggressive' in footage that contradicts claims against Marimar Martinez
Martinez is expected to announce a new lawsuit stemming from her Oct. 4 shooting by a Border Patrol agent at a press conference Wednesday. Her attorneys say newly released evidence will show an agent ...
chicago.suntimes.com
February 11, 2026 at 1:00 PM
Chicago's U.S. attorney's office has released evidence from the case against Marimar Martinez, pre-empting her press conference later today.
It even released text messages it once claimed would "sully" a Border Patrol agents's rep.
From @chicago.suntimes.com: chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...
It even released text messages it once claimed would "sully" a Border Patrol agents's rep.
From @chicago.suntimes.com: chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...
Democrats committing to the “President Trump’s ICE” talking point when they look at funding to ICE under Democratic presidents and/or Kamala Harris’ 2024 campaign messaging
February 9, 2026 at 5:14 PM
Democrats committing to the “President Trump’s ICE” talking point when they look at funding to ICE under Democratic presidents and/or Kamala Harris’ 2024 campaign messaging
Reposted by Rachel Cohen
Appreciate that folks lift up the Panthers. Black groups pre-dating the Panthers were also doing community patrols. See one example here: nmaahc.si.edu/object/nmaah...
Joshua Clark Davis's Police Against the Movement offers some other examples too.
Joshua Clark Davis's Police Against the Movement offers some other examples too.
February 6, 2026 at 1:35 PM
Appreciate that folks lift up the Panthers. Black groups pre-dating the Panthers were also doing community patrols. See one example here: nmaahc.si.edu/object/nmaah...
Joshua Clark Davis's Police Against the Movement offers some other examples too.
Joshua Clark Davis's Police Against the Movement offers some other examples too.
I fear I must continue discussing Brad Karp and asking questions like “did the nonsensical decisions of major corporate law firms that directly undermined legal resistance to fascism in this country last year stem from the lemmings following a guy who knew he was in the Epstein files?”
February 6, 2026 at 2:43 PM
I fear I must continue discussing Brad Karp and asking questions like “did the nonsensical decisions of major corporate law firms that directly undermined legal resistance to fascism in this country last year stem from the lemmings following a guy who knew he was in the Epstein files?”
Reposted by Rachel Cohen
What a useful resource for organizing.
🚨 New: We built a visual tracker of the warehouses ICE is targeting across the US.
Working off an idea from @actualkatherine.bsky.social, we’ve mapped active searches, canceled deals, and linked state property records.
Explore the map here: tinyurl.com/ICEWarehouse...
Working off an idea from @actualkatherine.bsky.social, we’ve mapped active searches, canceled deals, and linked state property records.
Explore the map here: tinyurl.com/ICEWarehouse...
February 5, 2026 at 12:28 PM
What a useful resource for organizing.
Reposted by Rachel Cohen
NEW: since last year, a pair of "highly trained" feds have been involved in an array of incidents attacking crowds with chemical weapons.
We used public records and open source analysis to identify Edgar Vazquez and Michael Sveum, alongside some other members of their tactical team.
Read more:
We used public records and open source analysis to identify Edgar Vazquez and Michael Sveum, alongside some other members of their tactical team.
Read more:
Identified: the El Paso BORTAC crew rampaging through the Midwest
One violent duo in particular, U.S. Border Patrol agents Michael Sveum (EZ-2) and Edgar Vazquez (EZ-17), have been frequently seen alongside former commander-at-large Greg Bovino terrorizing crowds wi...
unraveledpress.com
February 4, 2026 at 9:24 PM
NEW: since last year, a pair of "highly trained" feds have been involved in an array of incidents attacking crowds with chemical weapons.
We used public records and open source analysis to identify Edgar Vazquez and Michael Sveum, alongside some other members of their tactical team.
Read more:
We used public records and open source analysis to identify Edgar Vazquez and Michael Sveum, alongside some other members of their tactical team.
Read more:
why are we pretending DJT isn’t testing the waters to run again instead of calling that shit out and organizing to prevent it liiiike
anyway that’s @americandemands.bsky.social we aren’t as active over here and were slow over the holidays but r back to it
anyway that’s @americandemands.bsky.social we aren’t as active over here and were slow over the holidays but r back to it
February 5, 2026 at 3:40 PM
why are we pretending DJT isn’t testing the waters to run again instead of calling that shit out and organizing to prevent it liiiike
anyway that’s @americandemands.bsky.social we aren’t as active over here and were slow over the holidays but r back to it
anyway that’s @americandemands.bsky.social we aren’t as active over here and were slow over the holidays but r back to it
sooo many political strategist types continue to act like it’s ridiculous (or counterproductive) to name that Trump obviously wants to subvert the 2028 election and stay in power. meanwhile, NYT is scratching its chin noting no one seems to be gearing up to enter a Republican primary
February 5, 2026 at 3:09 PM
sooo many political strategist types continue to act like it’s ridiculous (or counterproductive) to name that Trump obviously wants to subvert the 2028 election and stay in power. meanwhile, NYT is scratching its chin noting no one seems to be gearing up to enter a Republican primary
every other powerful man in the country when
February 5, 2026 at 2:32 AM
every other powerful man in the country when
Reposted by Rachel Cohen
NEW: The @chicago.suntimes.com and @wbez.org have published a 12-minute excerpt of our interview with Marimar Martinez, in which she describes being shot by Border Patrol in Chicago.
You can find it here: youtu.be/mCO4vI_KH1w?...
You can find it here: youtu.be/mCO4vI_KH1w?...
Marimar Martinez speaks with WBEZ and Chicago Sun-Times reporters about getting shot 5 times by ICE.
YouTube video by Chicago Sun-Times
youtu.be
February 4, 2026 at 10:22 PM
NEW: The @chicago.suntimes.com and @wbez.org have published a 12-minute excerpt of our interview with Marimar Martinez, in which she describes being shot by Border Patrol in Chicago.
You can find it here: youtu.be/mCO4vI_KH1w?...
You can find it here: youtu.be/mCO4vI_KH1w?...
I’m sure this is old news but today is the day that I personally learned Alan Dershowitz is on Substack
February 4, 2026 at 10:43 PM
I’m sure this is old news but today is the day that I personally learned Alan Dershowitz is on Substack
anyway! read my explainer on how to get involved in mutual aid/organizing from scratch or send it to a friend who needs it—concrete steps and book recs and some gentle but still tough love
open.substack.com/pub/cohen489...
open.substack.com/pub/cohen489...
February 4, 2026 at 9:34 PM
anyway! read my explainer on how to get involved in mutual aid/organizing from scratch or send it to a friend who needs it—concrete steps and book recs and some gentle but still tough love
open.substack.com/pub/cohen489...
open.substack.com/pub/cohen489...
me, millennial to the bone, resisting the urge to overshare pithy and cryptic observations about my personal life on social media because I am arguably a “public figure” and also “almost 32”
February 4, 2026 at 9:30 PM
me, millennial to the bone, resisting the urge to overshare pithy and cryptic observations about my personal life on social media because I am arguably a “public figure” and also “almost 32”
Reposted by Rachel Cohen
🔔 Immigration enforcement reporting can be dangerous.
Learn how lessons from one community can apply elsewhere with local journalists @eltragon.bsky.social, @franciagarciah.bsky.social, @nigrotime.bsky.social, and @kevinhfoster.bsky.social.
Feb. 5, 2 pm ET
RSVP: freedom.press/covering-immigration
Learn how lessons from one community can apply elsewhere with local journalists @eltragon.bsky.social, @franciagarciah.bsky.social, @nigrotime.bsky.social, and @kevinhfoster.bsky.social.
Feb. 5, 2 pm ET
RSVP: freedom.press/covering-immigration
January 29, 2026 at 10:39 PM
🔔 Immigration enforcement reporting can be dangerous.
Learn how lessons from one community can apply elsewhere with local journalists @eltragon.bsky.social, @franciagarciah.bsky.social, @nigrotime.bsky.social, and @kevinhfoster.bsky.social.
Feb. 5, 2 pm ET
RSVP: freedom.press/covering-immigration
Learn how lessons from one community can apply elsewhere with local journalists @eltragon.bsky.social, @franciagarciah.bsky.social, @nigrotime.bsky.social, and @kevinhfoster.bsky.social.
Feb. 5, 2 pm ET
RSVP: freedom.press/covering-immigration
Kim rocks
My time with The Washington Post is up. I was laid off with hundreds of folks I am so honored to call my colleagues.
I covered it all at The Post (really), so now I'm looking for my next adventure.
➡️ kbellware [at] gmail dot com
Website update coming soon
@postguild.bsky.social
forever
I covered it all at The Post (really), so now I'm looking for my next adventure.
➡️ kbellware [at] gmail dot com
Website update coming soon
@postguild.bsky.social
forever
February 4, 2026 at 4:25 PM
Kim rocks
Reposted by Rachel Cohen
It’s hard to put into perspective how truly massive the warehouse is that was recently sold by the Rockefeller Group to the Department of Homeland Security for $70 million to build a concentration camp in Surprise, AZ. Across the street is a huge neighborhood and a school. It’s 400,000-square-feet.
February 3, 2026 at 11:34 PM
It’s hard to put into perspective how truly massive the warehouse is that was recently sold by the Rockefeller Group to the Department of Homeland Security for $70 million to build a concentration camp in Surprise, AZ. Across the street is a huge neighborhood and a school. It’s 400,000-square-feet.
I know everyone knows this but I do think it’s worth acknowledging—as someone who went to Harvard and then worked at an elite law firm and exists in these stupid little white shoe spaces—there is no FUCKING world in which a single person was unaware that Epstein was a sex offender. NO WORLD.
February 3, 2026 at 10:43 PM
I know everyone knows this but I do think it’s worth acknowledging—as someone who went to Harvard and then worked at an elite law firm and exists in these stupid little white shoe spaces—there is no FUCKING world in which a single person was unaware that Epstein was a sex offender. NO WORLD.
Brad Karp’s DEFENSE being ‘no you don’t get it I just wanted Jeffrey Epstein to get my son a job on the Woody Allen movie’ is sending me into orbit like these people aren’t even trying
February 3, 2026 at 10:36 PM
Brad Karp’s DEFENSE being ‘no you don’t get it I just wanted Jeffrey Epstein to get my son a job on the Woody Allen movie’ is sending me into orbit like these people aren’t even trying
Illinois residents—we have a shot at passing superfund legislation, call ur state reps
February 3, 2026 at 8:51 PM
Illinois residents—we have a shot at passing superfund legislation, call ur state reps
Reposted by Rachel Cohen
I don't think people should say this without proof -- they are literally not "now in ICE." Most of them are in the Portland PD, if you want to make a point of it.
Yes, right-wing dudes are in the police everywhere and all at once. This line is just a way to maintain police exceptionalism.
Yes, right-wing dudes are in the police everywhere and all at once. This line is just a way to maintain police exceptionalism.
The indictment of the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers revealed that they had a cache of weapons, entered the Capitol in military formation, and were prepared to harm lawmakers. They were all pardoned and no doubt many of them are now in ICE
Bondi accuses Don Lemon of "performing an attack-style infiltration of a church"
February 3, 2026 at 3:29 PM
I don't think people should say this without proof -- they are literally not "now in ICE." Most of them are in the Portland PD, if you want to make a point of it.
Yes, right-wing dudes are in the police everywhere and all at once. This line is just a way to maintain police exceptionalism.
Yes, right-wing dudes are in the police everywhere and all at once. This line is just a way to maintain police exceptionalism.
starting to feel like the country is taking a Too Big To Fail approach to the Epstein files and paired with all the fascism and Horrors it kind of feels ripe for major systems change and I think we should discuss that more openly tbh
February 3, 2026 at 8:19 PM
starting to feel like the country is taking a Too Big To Fail approach to the Epstein files and paired with all the fascism and Horrors it kind of feels ripe for major systems change and I think we should discuss that more openly tbh
mutual aid mutual aid the answer you are seeking is mutual aid (and probably already exists near you)
February 3, 2026 at 8:04 PM
mutual aid mutual aid the answer you are seeking is mutual aid (and probably already exists near you)
Reposted by Rachel Cohen
DHS said that the woman CBP shot in the chest in Portland was “involved” in a gang shooting.
Her ~involvement~ was that suspected gang members sexually assaulted and robbed her.
Her ~involvement~ was that suspected gang members sexually assaulted and robbed her.
After Border Patrol shot two people in Portland, DHS claimed they were "vicious gang members" tied to a past shooting.
But records I obtained reveal a US prosecutor has since directly contradicted DHS, saying, "We're not suggesting he is a gang member." My dive into how DHS' claims have collapsed:
But records I obtained reveal a US prosecutor has since directly contradicted DHS, saying, "We're not suggesting he is a gang member." My dive into how DHS' claims have collapsed:
DHS’s account of two Venezuelans shot by border patrol falls apart in court: ‘A smear campaign’
Immigration officials said agent shot two ‘vicious gang members’ in Portland, but records obtained by the Guardian reveal US prosecutor contradicted claims
www.theguardian.com
February 3, 2026 at 2:02 AM
DHS said that the woman CBP shot in the chest in Portland was “involved” in a gang shooting.
Her ~involvement~ was that suspected gang members sexually assaulted and robbed her.
Her ~involvement~ was that suspected gang members sexually assaulted and robbed her.
Reposted by Rachel Cohen
Just experienced the most intense tear gassing of my life by federal officers outside the ICE facility in Portland where marchers gathered. There was no fast exit as they indiscriminately threw loads of gas and flash bangs. Children were in the crowd screaming. @oregoncapitalchronicle.com
February 1, 2026 at 12:50 AM
Just experienced the most intense tear gassing of my life by federal officers outside the ICE facility in Portland where marchers gathered. There was no fast exit as they indiscriminately threw loads of gas and flash bangs. Children were in the crowd screaming. @oregoncapitalchronicle.com