alec karakatsanis
@equalityalec.bsky.social
founder, Civil Rights Corps
civil rights lawyer
author of usual cruelty (2019) and
copaganda (2025)
any views expressed here are my own, and not those of civil rights corps
civil rights lawyer
author of usual cruelty (2019) and
copaganda (2025)
any views expressed here are my own, and not those of civil rights corps
Pinned
I just received the first copy of Copaganda! It will be sold anywhere books are sold. I try to explain the role of the media, the police, and academia in how we got to this authoritarian moment.
Reposted by alec karakatsanis
THREAD. Over many years, we became the national experts in fighting unconstitutional pretrial detention--all the more urgent because authoritarians need detention without process. But something wild just happened in one of our habeas cases: a DA used made up cases and citations.
November 25, 2025 at 9:12 PM
THREAD. Over many years, we became the national experts in fighting unconstitutional pretrial detention--all the more urgent because authoritarians need detention without process. But something wild just happened in one of our habeas cases: a DA used made up cases and citations.
Reposted by alec karakatsanis
I've just finished my last Copaganda event from the tour! We talked (a lot) in dozens of cities about the complicity of liberal institutions in rising fascism. But I've been told by federal regulators that the one thing missing was merchandise. Not anymore: www.bonfire.com/copaganda/
www.bonfire.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:54 PM
I've just finished my last Copaganda event from the tour! We talked (a lot) in dozens of cities about the complicity of liberal institutions in rising fascism. But I've been told by federal regulators that the one thing missing was merchandise. Not anymore: www.bonfire.com/copaganda/
THREAD. Over many years, we became the national experts in fighting unconstitutional pretrial detention--all the more urgent because authoritarians need detention without process. But something wild just happened in one of our habeas cases: a DA used made up cases and citations.
November 25, 2025 at 9:12 PM
THREAD. Over many years, we became the national experts in fighting unconstitutional pretrial detention--all the more urgent because authoritarians need detention without process. But something wild just happened in one of our habeas cases: a DA used made up cases and citations.
I've just finished my last Copaganda event from the tour! We talked (a lot) in dozens of cities about the complicity of liberal institutions in rising fascism. But I've been told by federal regulators that the one thing missing was merchandise. Not anymore: www.bonfire.com/copaganda/
www.bonfire.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:54 PM
I've just finished my last Copaganda event from the tour! We talked (a lot) in dozens of cities about the complicity of liberal institutions in rising fascism. But I've been told by federal regulators that the one thing missing was merchandise. Not anymore: www.bonfire.com/copaganda/
The Washington Post is just straight up spreading misinformation. Total witchcraft. Not a single person at the Post has any basis for the claim that "increased enforcement of tougher laws" either happened at all or reduced murder. Maybe someone should write a book about it...
November 20, 2025 at 6:39 PM
The Washington Post is just straight up spreading misinformation. Total witchcraft. Not a single person at the Post has any basis for the claim that "increased enforcement of tougher laws" either happened at all or reduced murder. Maybe someone should write a book about it...
The premise of this article--and nearly this entire genre of Copaganda--is that the identity of the police chief, supposed differences between different chiefs, and the things police do matter for "crime." This is untrue. It's like climate science denial. Safety has root causes.
The New York Times today calls the NYPD Commissioner "a data-centric billionaire heiress who has sharply criticized laws to relax bail." This like saying someone is a "data-centric oil company executive who has questioned global warming."
November 19, 2025 at 6:27 PM
The premise of this article--and nearly this entire genre of Copaganda--is that the identity of the police chief, supposed differences between different chiefs, and the things police do matter for "crime." This is untrue. It's like climate science denial. Safety has root causes.
The New York Times today calls the NYPD Commissioner "a data-centric billionaire heiress who has sharply criticized laws to relax bail." This like saying someone is a "data-centric oil company executive who has questioned global warming."
November 19, 2025 at 5:43 PM
The New York Times today calls the NYPD Commissioner "a data-centric billionaire heiress who has sharply criticized laws to relax bail." This like saying someone is a "data-centric oil company executive who has questioned global warming."
This Thursday at lunch I have the honor of giving a public lecture at Berkeley Law School about propaganda and the complicity of liberal institutions in this authoritarian moment. My grandma say that if you're in the Bay Area you absolutely cannot miss this.
November 18, 2025 at 6:31 PM
This Thursday at lunch I have the honor of giving a public lecture at Berkeley Law School about propaganda and the complicity of liberal institutions in this authoritarian moment. My grandma say that if you're in the Bay Area you absolutely cannot miss this.
Reposted by alec karakatsanis
Got lunch plans Friday? Join the Power Lunch Podcast to chat with our ED @rpogge.bsky.social, Michael Soyfer of IJ, & special guest @equalityalec.bsky.social! Friday’s episode focuses on the rise of mass surveillance and its growing threat to justice—12PM. Register: us02web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
November 13, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Got lunch plans Friday? Join the Power Lunch Podcast to chat with our ED @rpogge.bsky.social, Michael Soyfer of IJ, & special guest @equalityalec.bsky.social! Friday’s episode focuses on the rise of mass surveillance and its growing threat to justice—12PM. Register: us02web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
politicians and executives know that unnecessary everyday chemicals are leading to death and suffering for millions of us with loved ones who get cancer and parkinson’s. journalists don’t treat it as an urgent “public safety” issue like they treat shoplifting by poor people.
November 13, 2025 at 3:39 PM
politicians and executives know that unnecessary everyday chemicals are leading to death and suffering for millions of us with loved ones who get cancer and parkinson’s. journalists don’t treat it as an urgent “public safety” issue like they treat shoplifting by poor people.
THREAD. One of the most damning flaws in the worldviews of essentially every pundit on MSNBC, columnist in the New York Times, peddler of "Abundance," and consultant for Democrats is that they downplay or ignore the repressive power of the punishment bureaucracy and associated industries.
November 11, 2025 at 7:55 PM
THREAD. One of the most damning flaws in the worldviews of essentially every pundit on MSNBC, columnist in the New York Times, peddler of "Abundance," and consultant for Democrats is that they downplay or ignore the repressive power of the punishment bureaucracy and associated industries.
In the U.S. and UK, university administrators are trying to crush those who speak for truth and kindness in a world of lies and cruelty. Battles like this get little attention, but they affect what every teacher feels free to say in every moment. Profoundly shapes our world.
November 11, 2025 at 3:47 PM
In the U.S. and UK, university administrators are trying to crush those who speak for truth and kindness in a world of lies and cruelty. Battles like this get little attention, but they affect what every teacher feels free to say in every moment. Profoundly shapes our world.
THREAD. One important chapter in my Copaganda book describes how a small group of pro-police professors corrupted the field of criminology. Somehow, I've been invited to speak at the 2025 American Society of Criminology annual conference this week. Should be interesting...
November 10, 2025 at 8:06 PM
THREAD. One important chapter in my Copaganda book describes how a small group of pro-police professors corrupted the field of criminology. Somehow, I've been invited to speak at the 2025 American Society of Criminology annual conference this week. Should be interesting...
The scandal unfolding in the California courts with a District Attorney submitting fake cases, holdings, quotations, and other hallucinations is unlike anything I've seen. We first noticed the anomalies in an emergency habeas corpus petition we filed. And then it got weirder.
November 7, 2025 at 6:07 PM
The scandal unfolding in the California courts with a District Attorney submitting fake cases, holdings, quotations, and other hallucinations is unlike anything I've seen. We first noticed the anomalies in an emergency habeas corpus petition we filed. And then it got weirder.
THREAD. Today is my birthday, and it has been a difficult year for civil rights work. But it was an honor to speak about our work and about my Copaganda book at a women's prison.
November 7, 2025 at 3:21 PM
THREAD. Today is my birthday, and it has been a difficult year for civil rights work. But it was an honor to speak about our work and about my Copaganda book at a women's prison.
The DC grand jury refusing to indict on a felony and the petit jury finding him not guilty is a great example of why people in power have tried so hard for so many decades to prevent cases from getting to juries. It's one of the most important, basic forms of democracy.
November 6, 2025 at 7:51 PM
The DC grand jury refusing to indict on a felony and the petit jury finding him not guilty is a great example of why people in power have tried so hard for so many decades to prevent cases from getting to juries. It's one of the most important, basic forms of democracy.
It’s an honor to be this years keynote speaker tomorrow in Stowe, Vermont. I’ll be discussing propaganda and what we can all do about it together. If you live in Vermont come join us:
November 3, 2025 at 7:46 PM
It’s an honor to be this years keynote speaker tomorrow in Stowe, Vermont. I’ll be discussing propaganda and what we can all do about it together. If you live in Vermont come join us:
THREAD: There is no explanation for the New York Times continue this level of unethical reporting. I’ve talked to reporters and editors there and no one defends this: reporting the stated reasons of the government as its *actual* reasons.
November 3, 2025 at 3:28 AM
THREAD: There is no explanation for the New York Times continue this level of unethical reporting. I’ve talked to reporters and editors there and no one defends this: reporting the stated reasons of the government as its *actual* reasons.
I'm announcing a special last-minute event tomorrow night at Dartmouth. I'll be joined by fantastic former NPR reporter/professor Sandhya Dirks. If you know anyone nearby, encourage them to come talk about propaganda, the complicity of liberal institutions, and authoritarianism.
November 3, 2025 at 2:04 AM
I'm announcing a special last-minute event tomorrow night at Dartmouth. I'll be joined by fantastic former NPR reporter/professor Sandhya Dirks. If you know anyone nearby, encourage them to come talk about propaganda, the complicity of liberal institutions, and authoritarianism.
THREAD. We have just filed a landmark new civil rights case in Colorado in our campaign across the country to establish a constitutional right for children to hug their parents. More information to come soon, but this is a big deal.
October 30, 2025 at 3:55 PM
THREAD. We have just filed a landmark new civil rights case in Colorado in our campaign across the country to establish a constitutional right for children to hug their parents. More information to come soon, but this is a big deal.
Reposted by alec karakatsanis
A few days ago, this book was left in the book box in front of our building. I'm only on chapter three, but I'll go ahead and recommend it already. Seems like an important text.
I just received the first copy of Copaganda! It will be sold anywhere books are sold. I try to explain the role of the media, the police, and academia in how we got to this authoritarian moment.
October 30, 2025 at 1:23 AM
A few days ago, this book was left in the book box in front of our building. I'm only on chapter three, but I'll go ahead and recommend it already. Seems like an important text.
If you missed any of the events on the Copaganda book tour, this great video of the Milwaukee event just went live. Thanks so much to all the amazing people I met in Wisconsin and beyond. www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfJl...
Vel Phillips Forum - A Conversation with author Alec Karakatsanis
YouTube video by Milwaukee Turners
www.youtube.com
October 28, 2025 at 11:30 PM
If you missed any of the events on the Copaganda book tour, this great video of the Milwaukee event just went live. Thanks so much to all the amazing people I met in Wisconsin and beyond. www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfJl...
Almost every single New York Times story lies about this. It’s just an alternate reality, with the truth lost down the memory hole. The bipartisan support for this was because leaders in both parties were worried about the effects of TikTok on perceptions of Israel
October 26, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Almost every single New York Times story lies about this. It’s just an alternate reality, with the truth lost down the memory hole. The bipartisan support for this was because leaders in both parties were worried about the effects of TikTok on perceptions of Israel
THREAD: This was an all-white jury in rural Louisiana and a judge appointed by Trump. But when ordinary people hear about the everyday brutality pervasive inside our jails, they are outraged. But something deeper is going on here:
October 25, 2025 at 7:13 PM
THREAD: This was an all-white jury in rural Louisiana and a judge appointed by Trump. But when ordinary people hear about the everyday brutality pervasive inside our jails, they are outraged. But something deeper is going on here:
Reposted by alec karakatsanis
Understanding Copaganda and Violence ft Lawrence Grandpre and Alec Karak... www.youtube.com/live/BW9DkAc...
Understanding Copaganda and Violence ft Lawrence Grandpre and Alec Karakatsanis
YouTube video by Black Liberation Media
www.youtube.com
October 25, 2025 at 12:38 PM
Understanding Copaganda and Violence ft Lawrence Grandpre and Alec Karak... www.youtube.com/live/BW9DkAc...