David Brauer
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David Brauer
@dbrauer.net
9.4K followers 1.2K following 18K posts
Former journalist, long-time Minneapolitan, curator of Uptown’s borders and chief rememberer, Halloween Blizzard of 1991. Posts too much about Minneapolis politics and knows it, but old professional habits die hard.
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dbrauer.net
Spatchcock
merriam-webster.com Merriam-Webster @merriam-webster.com · 20h
Let’s all go around the table and say one word we’re thankful for.
November 28, 2025 at 4:31 AM
dbrauer.net
It was wild, I was a KARE intern at the time so this was a story I helped out on. I think Cesar Pelli’s building rising in its ashes effectively buried some of the harshest aspects of the tragedy. Donaldson’s Department store had already closed so little love lost there. But it was an epic inferno.
zerodice.bsky.social RF @zerodice.bsky.social · 15h
Why don’t Minnesotans talk about the thanksgiving night fire the way they do the blizzard? I’ve lived here 22 years and have never heard of it until today.
November 28, 2025 at 2:57 AM
Reposted by David Brauer
unicornriot.bsky.social
NEW: Local ‘Participating Agencies’ Expand ICE Links in Minnesota as Counties Profit from Immigrant Detentions
> unicornriot.ninja/2025/local-p...
whipple federal building in pixellated red wash, sheriff license plates and a car with 'abolish ICE' painted on the side of it. photo illustration
November 27, 2025 at 1:59 AM
Reposted by David Brauer
bozodeluxe.bsky.social
Me, today.
A man with an amazing bowl haircut, dressed in black, sitting at a table, holds a glass bottle of orange pop and says "A man is grateful."
November 27, 2025 at 8:36 PM
dbrauer.net
The thing about social media is it undeniably has brought me closer together with dozens of really cool people and it is also caustically addictive to so many. It’s like if heroin was nutritious.
November 27, 2025 at 7:40 PM
dbrauer.net
Happy Thanksgiving to all the forgotten families on this day, and I mean the functional ones. We exist, if impermanently!
November 27, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Reposted by David Brauer
mercurymn.bsky.social
i am dropping my anonymity for a few days to raise money for the aliveness project!

i’m doing the red undie run and will be nearly-nude in the cold next week running a mile so please send some donations my way!

thank you to @dbrauer.net for getting me to my $200 goal! (that was my #mplswins prize)
Red Undie Run 2025
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give.aliveness.org
November 27, 2025 at 4:49 PM
dbrauer.net
Amazingly, this has become topical! #strangerthings
dbrauer.net David Brauer @dbrauer.net · 15d
Gather ‘round children as I tell you about the legend of Hudson Map, the detailed Twin Cities map broken up into dozens of pages without which little would’ve been delivered in the latter half of the 20th Century …
mplsphotobot.bsky.social mpls photo bot @mplsphotobot.bsky.social · 16d
House Being Relocated in Whittier (1998)
2309 1st Ave. S; 2515 1st Ave. S
Source: Hennepin County Library

The house was relocated from 2309 1st Ave. S to 2515 1st Ave. S as part of a Whittier Alliance project.
November 27, 2025 at 4:53 AM
Reposted by David Brauer
johnmaddening.bsky.social
ICE is the mob, SPPD. Hope that helps you decide which side you want to be on.
We are your police. When the next mob comes, please stand with us - not against us. Our community deserves nothing less.
November 27, 2025 at 3:21 AM
Reposted by David Brauer
sahanjournal.bsky.social
A day after an immigration raid outside an East Side home devolved into clashes with protesters, family members say they were taunted and humiliated during a standoff with federal agents.

By Shubhanjana Das
Family of man swept up in St. Paul raid say agents had no warrant
A day after an immigration raid outside an East Side home devolved into clashes with protesters, family members of a second man swept up in the operation say they were taunted and humiliated during a ...
sahanjournal.com
November 27, 2025 at 1:26 AM
Reposted by David Brauer
bcmfietser.bsky.social
Saint Paul City Council has called for an investigation into police use of force and separation ordinance compliance. Here's the press release, in multiple parts, I got via email at 5:40pm today. I want to thank the Councilmembers for their public statements on this issue.
Saint Paul City Council Calls for Investigation Into Police Use of Force and Separation Ordinance Compliance Councilmembers Respond to Community Outrage Over Police Use of Force at Payne-Phalen Protest November 26, 2025 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jay Willms, Phone: 651-266-8564 | Email: jay.willms@ci.stpaul.mn.us SAINT PAUL – Yesterday morning in the Payne-Phalen neighborhood, the people of Saint Paul witnessed Saint Paul police officers using force on community members as they exercised their First Amendment rights to observe and protest an action by federal agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). While important questions remain, what is certain is that Saint Paul has a separation ordinance that draws a clear line between the Saint Paul Police Department officers and federal immigration agents and actions. Our separation ordinance exists as a fundamental public safety measure to ensure that every resident of our city- regardless of immigration status- feels safe calling on local law enforcement. That our communities have been left in doubt about the integrity of our separation ordinance and our police force is a reality that the City Council takes seriously. Councilmember Nelsie Yang, who represents Ward 6 where yesterday’s event took place, said, “First and foremost, ICE has no place in our city. Second, I am deeply horrified by the way our Saint Paul police officers conducted themselves yesterday. What we witnessed from SPPD was not reflective of our values in safety for all. It speaks volumes about the growth edges in SPPD and the need to act with humility by learning from our community about what fighting fascism looks like rather than being complicit in it.” “Yesterday was an awful and heartbreaking day for the East Side and for our entire city,” said Ward 7 Councilmember Cheniqua Johnson. “No matter the explanations offered or the intentions behind yesterday’s events, the impact remains the same: trust between our community, our Saint Paul Police Department, and the City has been broken. Our City has ordinances, and SPPD has policies and standards in place truly designed to protect all of our residents. We have handled many protests—many tough days for our city—that simply do not turn into what we saw on the East Side yesterday. I support the residents’ demands and the council in getting the answers we need to make sure yesterday never happens again on the East Side or in the City of Saint Paul.”The City Council has heard overwhelming cries from the public demanding accountability. In the immediate term, we are calling for: A thorough investigation of SPPD’s use of force and adherence to our separation ordinance in yesterday’s incident, to be conducted by the Police Civilian Internal Affairs Review Commission; An audit of the public cost incurred as a result of yesterday’s actions. These actions will be formally initiated by Council resolution at the next Saint Paul City Council meeting on December 3rd. Saint Paul City Council President and Ward 2 Councilmember Rebecca Noecker shared, “Yesterday’s events raise serious concerns about the use of force by our police officers and the integrity of our separation ordinance. Every resident of Saint Paul, regardless of immigration status, deserves to feel safe and protected by local law enforcement. My colleagues and I are committed to a full, transparent investigation into what happened, including a review of adherence to our separation ordinance and SPPD’s use of force policies. We are committed to taking any steps necessary to strengthen oversight and accountability for the department." Council Vice President HwaJeong Kim, who represents Ward 5 and who was present at the event on Tuesday, said “I’m enraged by the lack of de-escalation and care by our Police Department. Yesterday, I witnessed our officers fire indiscriminately at the press and community members, injuring several. We were tear gassed, pepper sprayed in the face and hit with lower lethals. To be clear, ANY release of chemical weapons, especially in a residential neighborhood, should be banned regardless of whether it’s federal or local law enforcement. It’s also clear our separation ordinance and our use of force policy don’t go far enough in protecting residents. Demands for policy change, transparency, and accountability need to be acted on by this council. Time and time again, our police department has shown a clear disregard for residents and their right to protest. Their level of posturing and escalation is all too familiar to communities of color, activists, and organizers.” “Our community deserves better than fear-based enforcement that strips people of dignity and humanity,” said Ward 1 Councilmember Anika Bowie. “What happened [on Tuesday] is not an immigration problem; it is a failure of policy, governance, and political courage.” Ward 3 Councilmember Saura Jost stated, “I am displeased with the conduct of SPPD yesterday. Our neighbors and a journalist were injured. Our city must be a place where every resident feels welcome and safe. We expect our Police Department to uphold these values and maintain trust with the community. That trust has been harmed. We have heard concerns about yesterday’s actions by SPPD regarding the separation ordinance, their conduct on scene, and use of force. We will review whether these actions align with our policies and city values. Chief Henry and Mayor Carter have both committed to that. Transparency and accountability are essential, and I am committed to providing both as we move forward. Our residents deserve clear answers.” “The last two weeks have made clear that the federal government is a threat to the safety and well-being of the residents of Saint Paul, particularly our immigrant community members,” said Ward 4 Councilmember Molly Coleman. “When federal enforcement agencies are harming our city’s residents, it’s more important than ever that every single person in Saint Paul is able to trust that our police department is holding itself to the highest standard of excellence in promoting true public safety. What we saw yesterday was police behavior that failed to come even close to meeting that bar. I am committed to swiftly getting the answers that our residents deserve, and ensuring that there is full accountability for any officer who failed to follow our separation ordinance or failed to follow our use-of-force policy. I also intend to work closely with my colleagues to use every power at our disposal through oversight, budgetary decisions, and policymaking to help rebuild trust between the City and our residents.” ###
November 27, 2025 at 12:20 AM
Reposted by David Brauer
tsflynn.bsky.social
Overheard just now: “I’ll have the Old Fashioned—not the Wisconsin one, the good one.”
November 26, 2025 at 11:40 PM
dbrauer.net
No Carolyn Will in 64A? Who’s the Save Our Street Summit Ave candidate now?
maxhailperin.bsky.social Max Hailperin @maxhailperin.bsky.social · 1d
The filing period for MN HD 47A and 64A special elections closed 5pm on 11/25 and the withdrawal period 5pm on 11/26. From what's been posted, it's impossible to say whether anyone withdrew, but even without that it seems that the MNGOP decided not to contest 47A. www.sos.mn.gov/election-adm...
Table from web page showing three DFL candidates, and no others, for MN HD 47A as of 8:30 a.m. November 26, 2025
November 26, 2025 at 11:34 PM
Reposted by David Brauer
taylordahlin.com
i really have not wanted to make a patreon because i feel weird about it all and don't want to use it to like offer anything exclusive there but @wedge.live says i can just make it and forget it so

www.patreon.com/cw/TaylorDah...
November 26, 2025 at 9:05 PM
dbrauer.net
Unspeakable things have happened to get us to this point.
Turkey with paprika-salt brine dry curing in a refrigerator
November 26, 2025 at 8:34 PM
dbrauer.net
Strib Day 2 story gets around to centering cops’ actions, after Day 1 focused on protestors (not HSI/ICE)
startribune.com Minnesota Star Tribune @startribune.com · 1d
St. Paul leaders face mounting questions about why police officers were on the scene — and why force was used — despite repeated assurances that the department would not participate in federal immigration actions.
Conflicting accounts emerge after St. Paul ICE raid
City vows full review as DHS, family and witnesses offer sharply different explanations for arrests and police use of force.
bit.ly
November 26, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Reposted by David Brauer
mntimbuktu.bsky.social
Friend lives off of Maryland. Posted this pic this morning.
November 26, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Reposted by David Brauer
bzosiad.bsky.social
MNSPJ strongly condemns St. Paul police attacks on journalists. www.mnspj.org/2025/11/26/m...
MNSPJ condemns St. Paul police attacks on journalists – Minnesota SPJ
www.mnspj.org
November 26, 2025 at 5:34 PM
dbrauer.net
This film had been parodied so much in my youth that I resisted watching it, thinking it impossibly pretentious, and now I re-watch it pretty much every year. The hype was real.
November 26, 2025 at 5:32 PM
dbrauer.net
I have a lot of faith in the people of St. Paul being able to wrest back control of their cops. It’s not my city so maybe I’m missing something, but I see strong yet not naive statements from council members & citizenry is engaged & articulate. I hope StP has fewer reactionaries than Minneapolis.
November 26, 2025 at 5:27 PM
dbrauer.net
At a meeting last night of 300 people all dedicated to stopping fascism. Saw only a few people I knew & definitely not all Bluesky types (was especially cheered by the woman in the KTIS hat). No illusions about uphill battle, but this was about direct action; community vibing together was uplifting.
November 26, 2025 at 5:05 PM
dbrauer.net
When I was a college paper arts editor, the film society head was Al Milgrom, a crusty legend. He’d let you know how little you knew in an undiplomatic way. He brought a Latin American magical realism film to his festival, and I did the review. “You got it,” he said. Still glowing 40 yrs later.
ldlewiswrites.blacksky.app L. D. Lewis, Sea Witch Apologist 🍂 @ldlewiswrites.blacksky.app · Oct 24
What is the best compliment you ever received? Putting aside whether or not you believed it.
November 26, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Reposted by David Brauer
avocadoplex.bike
Surprising nobody at all, the feds are doing less actual law enforcement as they focus on terrorizing immigrants. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/u...
Drug Arrests and Gun Seizures Fell as Homeland Security Pursued Immigration
www.nytimes.com
November 26, 2025 at 1:57 PM
dbrauer.net
Good morning! Are you a broke progressive Jew or ally who wants to party? I bought a 10-pack of tickets to Jewish Community Action’s 30th Anniversary fundraiser (honoring @mrotzie.bsky.social) on Dec. 13 with the notion of giving away 2 extras to comrades who couldn’t pay the freight. Ping my DMs!
November 26, 2025 at 2:01 PM
dbrauer.net
St. Paul Ward 7 council member Cheniqua Johnson Annan issued a statement last night:
Yesterday was an awful and heartbreaking day for the East Side & our entire city. No matter the explanations offered or the intentions behind events, the impact remains the same: trust between our community, our Saint Paul Police Department & the City has been broken. Yes, Trump's HSI & ICE federal agents once again set out to terrorize. This time, however, what I hear loud and clear is the community vocalizing their anger, pain, hurt & trauma due to actions taken today by officers of our SPPD. We must hear them. We must acknowledge that. Throughout the day & evening, I received countless messages, videos & emails from community members. Leaders, City employees, school staff & residents all voiced their frustration, disbelief, and pain at our Council's Truth-in-Taxation hearing. Driving to the scene yesterday, several of my colleagues encouraged me to turn around because, at 39 weeks pregnant, I was told the situation had escalated so severely that it would have been too dangerous for me and my son. How? How did it get that far? That is completely unacceptable. Our City has ordinances, and SPPD has policies and standards in place truly designed to protect all of our residents. We have handled many protests—many tough days for our city-that simply do not turn into what we saw on the East Side yesterday. That is why yesterday felt so devastating. So many of the things I have seen and heard are in complete conflict with all of that. Harm was felt, damage was done, and our community deserves clarity, accountability & reassurance that their city sees them and stands with them. This cannot be our new norm. My office will be joining my colleagues in seeking answers to the questions our community has raised. We will work to ensure that a thorough review is conducted and that, where appropriate, accountability follows. Our separation ordinance and use-of-force policies exist for a reason-they reflect our values as a city-and they must always be upheld. They are not optional.
November 26, 2025 at 11:58 AM