Deborah Blum
@deborahb.bsky.social
Book author, toxicology journalist, fascinated by poison and murder (current book project), and, oh yeah, I'm the former director of the Knight Science Journalism program at MIT.
Reposted by Deborah Blum
My friend Sara posted this about the superb care her father received from with Alex Pretti
Absolutely heartbreaking
Absolutely heartbreaking
January 25, 2026 at 4:19 PM
My friend Sara posted this about the superb care her father received from with Alex Pretti
Absolutely heartbreaking
Absolutely heartbreaking
Reposted by Deborah Blum
I’ve never heard of a “law enforcement” agency putting an officer who just killed someone back on the street under 24 hours. And that’s because all shootings are treated as homicides pending investigation. This is as clear a sign as you’ll get that DHS personnel enjoy practical immunity from murder.
CBP chief Bovino has confirmed that the officers who executed Alex Pretti in the street yesterday are not only *not on administrative leave,* they have all been reassigned to other jurisdictions and are all on the street today.
This is totally unheard of for any officer-involved shooting
This is totally unheard of for any officer-involved shooting
January 25, 2026 at 8:56 PM
I’ve never heard of a “law enforcement” agency putting an officer who just killed someone back on the street under 24 hours. And that’s because all shootings are treated as homicides pending investigation. This is as clear a sign as you’ll get that DHS personnel enjoy practical immunity from murder.
Reposted by Deborah Blum
The first half of Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch opens his pregame press conference with a statement about the killing of Alex Pretti
January 25, 2026 at 8:59 PM
The first half of Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch opens his pregame press conference with a statement about the killing of Alex Pretti
Reposted by Deborah Blum
The march is now passing the Chicago city hall / Cook County hall building. The chant goes up,
"Minnesota don't you fear, we, the people, are right here"
"Minnesota don't you fear, we, the people, are right here"
January 25, 2026 at 8:46 PM
The march is now passing the Chicago city hall / Cook County hall building. The chant goes up,
"Minnesota don't you fear, we, the people, are right here"
"Minnesota don't you fear, we, the people, are right here"
Reposted by Deborah Blum
Chief Strategist for Rand Paul.
January 24, 2026 at 9:14 PM
Chief Strategist for Rand Paul.
Reposted by Deborah Blum
Also, may I say that I don’t agree with people saying ICE and CBP need “more training.” They’re doing exactly what this administration has trained them to—impose a reign of fear in blue cities. They don’t need more training. They need to be ripped up root and branch.
January 24, 2026 at 11:01 PM
Also, may I say that I don’t agree with people saying ICE and CBP need “more training.” They’re doing exactly what this administration has trained them to—impose a reign of fear in blue cities. They don’t need more training. They need to be ripped up root and branch.
I have lived a year’s worth of grief and rage in just the first month of 2026.
January 24, 2026 at 11:09 PM
I have lived a year’s worth of grief and rage in just the first month of 2026.
Every word of this.
I don’t want to hear anything from an elected official unless it’s a plan to defund the DHS and impeach Noem, Bovino, etc. No texts. No emails. No talk about the economy. Step up or step off.
January 24, 2026 at 11:07 PM
Every word of this.
Reposted by Deborah Blum
Wind chill is -11 in Minneapolis right now, btw. That’s how angry people are
An overhead view of protesters gathering at the scene of the shooting.
Live coverage: www.startribune.com/ice-raids-mi...
📽️ Aaron Lavinsky/The Minnesota Star Tribune
Live coverage: www.startribune.com/ice-raids-mi...
📽️ Aaron Lavinsky/The Minnesota Star Tribune
January 24, 2026 at 10:42 PM
Wind chill is -11 in Minneapolis right now, btw. That’s how angry people are
Reposted by Deborah Blum
Reporters should be asking congressional Republicans what *other* kinds of Americans they think deserve to be executed in the street by the president's goon squad.
"So you support the murder of a mom and a VA nurse, but what about an Eagle Scout or a kindergarten teacher? How about a priest?"
"So you support the murder of a mom and a VA nurse, but what about an Eagle Scout or a kindergarten teacher? How about a priest?"
January 24, 2026 at 10:07 PM
Reporters should be asking congressional Republicans what *other* kinds of Americans they think deserve to be executed in the street by the president's goon squad.
"So you support the murder of a mom and a VA nurse, but what about an Eagle Scout or a kindergarten teacher? How about a priest?"
"So you support the murder of a mom and a VA nurse, but what about an Eagle Scout or a kindergarten teacher? How about a priest?"
Reposted by Deborah Blum
“.. He cared about people deeply ..,” said Michael Pretti, Alex’s father. “He thought it was terrible, you know, kidnapping children, just grabbing people off the street. He cared about those people, and he knew it was wrong ..”
@washingtonpost.com
www.washingtonpost.com/national/202...
@washingtonpost.com
www.washingtonpost.com/national/202...
January 24, 2026 at 10:22 PM
“.. He cared about people deeply ..,” said Michael Pretti, Alex’s father. “He thought it was terrible, you know, kidnapping children, just grabbing people off the street. He cared about those people, and he knew it was wrong ..”
@washingtonpost.com
www.washingtonpost.com/national/202...
@washingtonpost.com
www.washingtonpost.com/national/202...
Reposted by Deborah Blum
An overhead view of protesters gathering at the scene of the shooting.
Live coverage: www.startribune.com/ice-raids-mi...
📽️ Aaron Lavinsky/The Minnesota Star Tribune
Live coverage: www.startribune.com/ice-raids-mi...
📽️ Aaron Lavinsky/The Minnesota Star Tribune
January 24, 2026 at 9:46 PM
An overhead view of protesters gathering at the scene of the shooting.
Live coverage: www.startribune.com/ice-raids-mi...
📽️ Aaron Lavinsky/The Minnesota Star Tribune
Live coverage: www.startribune.com/ice-raids-mi...
📽️ Aaron Lavinsky/The Minnesota Star Tribune
Reposted by Deborah Blum
A new video appears to show the moments leading up to a fatal shooting by federal agents in Minneapolis, with the individual appearing to simply record on his phone as agents escalated the situation.
🎥 dangjessie / Threads
🎥 dangjessie / Threads
January 24, 2026 at 5:40 PM
A new video appears to show the moments leading up to a fatal shooting by federal agents in Minneapolis, with the individual appearing to simply record on his phone as agents escalated the situation.
🎥 dangjessie / Threads
🎥 dangjessie / Threads
Reposted by Deborah Blum
The newest video shows very clearly that they attacked him for coming to an aid of a woman that the agents pushed, and then executed him while he was immobilized. Everything the government has said, like with Good, has been a complete lie.
January 24, 2026 at 7:09 PM
The newest video shows very clearly that they attacked him for coming to an aid of a woman that the agents pushed, and then executed him while he was immobilized. Everything the government has said, like with Good, has been a complete lie.
Reposted by Deborah Blum
Alex Pretti’s last words were “are you ok?” said the woman next to him who ICE also pepper sprayed in the face.
January 24, 2026 at 7:51 PM
Alex Pretti’s last words were “are you ok?” said the woman next to him who ICE also pepper sprayed in the face.
Reposted by Deborah Blum
This is Alex Pretti.
This morning he was murdered by ICE. Six ICE agents held him down and shot him at point blank range. Alex was a nurse and researcher at the VA.
Our thoughts are with his loved ones and we stand united in action calling for the abolishment of ICE.
#ScientistsAgainstICE
This morning he was murdered by ICE. Six ICE agents held him down and shot him at point blank range. Alex was a nurse and researcher at the VA.
Our thoughts are with his loved ones and we stand united in action calling for the abolishment of ICE.
#ScientistsAgainstICE
January 24, 2026 at 8:03 PM
This is Alex Pretti.
This morning he was murdered by ICE. Six ICE agents held him down and shot him at point blank range. Alex was a nurse and researcher at the VA.
Our thoughts are with his loved ones and we stand united in action calling for the abolishment of ICE.
#ScientistsAgainstICE
This morning he was murdered by ICE. Six ICE agents held him down and shot him at point blank range. Alex was a nurse and researcher at the VA.
Our thoughts are with his loved ones and we stand united in action calling for the abolishment of ICE.
#ScientistsAgainstICE
Reposted by Deborah Blum
Alex Pretti was a colleague at the VA. We hired him to recruit for our trial. He became an ICU nurse- I lover working with him. He was a good kind person who lived to help and these fuckers executed him.
White. Hot. Rage.
White. Hot. Rage.
January 24, 2026 at 7:31 PM
Alex Pretti was a colleague at the VA. We hired him to recruit for our trial. He became an ICU nurse- I lover working with him. He was a good kind person who lived to help and these fuckers executed him.
White. Hot. Rage.
White. Hot. Rage.
Reposted by Deborah Blum
Memory is a fragile thing in this moment, so it is important to keep in mind that Hakeem Jeffries refused to whip his caucus against ICE funding earlier this week.
January 24, 2026 at 8:00 PM
Memory is a fragile thing in this moment, so it is important to keep in mind that Hakeem Jeffries refused to whip his caucus against ICE funding earlier this week.
"Videos of the encounter contradict the federal government’s description of the shooting, a New York Times analysis found."(gift article)
Live Updates: Federal Agents Kill a 37-Year-Old Minneapolis Man
www.nytimes.com
January 24, 2026 at 8:27 PM
"Videos of the encounter contradict the federal government’s description of the shooting, a New York Times analysis found."(gift article)
Reposted by Deborah Blum
Thanks so much for voting to send Americans' hard-earned tax dollars to the agency that is currently in the streets of American cities terrorizing, kidnapping, assaulting and murdering us.
I'm sure everyone appreciates your investment in the fascist brute squad. Great work.
I'm sure everyone appreciates your investment in the fascist brute squad. Great work.
I’ll keep plugging away to make sure that Americans’ hard-earned tax dollars are being invested in an effective, durable, and responsible way.
January 23, 2026 at 12:26 AM
Thanks so much for voting to send Americans' hard-earned tax dollars to the agency that is currently in the streets of American cities terrorizing, kidnapping, assaulting and murdering us.
I'm sure everyone appreciates your investment in the fascist brute squad. Great work.
I'm sure everyone appreciates your investment in the fascist brute squad. Great work.
Reposted by Deborah Blum
Front page of tomorrow's Star Tribune.
January 23, 2026 at 12:00 AM
Front page of tomorrow's Star Tribune.
Reposted by Deborah Blum
National media should really be covering the fact thay every major school, museum, and arts institution in the Twin Cities, and hundreds of local businesses are closed tomorrow to protest federal occupation.
Nothing like this at this scale has happened anywhere in America anytime in living memory.
Nothing like this at this scale has happened anywhere in America anytime in living memory.
January 22, 2026 at 8:25 PM
National media should really be covering the fact thay every major school, museum, and arts institution in the Twin Cities, and hundreds of local businesses are closed tomorrow to protest federal occupation.
Nothing like this at this scale has happened anywhere in America anytime in living memory.
Nothing like this at this scale has happened anywhere in America anytime in living memory.
Reposted by Deborah Blum
Q: Did you uncover evidence to prove Trump knew his claim the election was stolen was false?
SMITH: Yes
Q: And Trump claimed it was stolen while he privately acknowledged he lost?
SMITH: Yes
Q: Yet on the 5th anniversary of J6, Trump still promoted the stolen election theory on a govt webpage
SMITH: Yes
Q: And Trump claimed it was stolen while he privately acknowledged he lost?
SMITH: Yes
Q: Yet on the 5th anniversary of J6, Trump still promoted the stolen election theory on a govt webpage
January 22, 2026 at 5:16 PM
Q: Did you uncover evidence to prove Trump knew his claim the election was stolen was false?
SMITH: Yes
Q: And Trump claimed it was stolen while he privately acknowledged he lost?
SMITH: Yes
Q: Yet on the 5th anniversary of J6, Trump still promoted the stolen election theory on a govt webpage
SMITH: Yes
Q: And Trump claimed it was stolen while he privately acknowledged he lost?
SMITH: Yes
Q: Yet on the 5th anniversary of J6, Trump still promoted the stolen election theory on a govt webpage
Reposted by Deborah Blum
Public health systems didn't "falter." Republicans put a hit out on our public health systems. A well funded disinformation campaign hitched anti-vax views to the identity of being a MAGA Republican. One of the leaders of that campaign is now in charge of health and human services for the nation. 🩺
New: #Measles Surges In The U.S. As Public Health Systems Falter via @forbes www.forbes.com/sites/judyst... w Thx to @protectourcare.org, @drannieandrews.com @GovJoshGreenMD and esp to @drdemetre.bsky.social for perspective. #Vaccine #Outbreak #Cost
Measles Surges In The U.S. As Public Health Systems Falter
Measles is revealing fractures in our public health system and insurance disparities. Each case costs almost $250,000. Misinformation about vaccine safety is fueling the rise.
www.forbes.com
January 22, 2026 at 2:11 PM
Public health systems didn't "falter." Republicans put a hit out on our public health systems. A well funded disinformation campaign hitched anti-vax views to the identity of being a MAGA Republican. One of the leaders of that campaign is now in charge of health and human services for the nation. 🩺