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
Just interviewed Alec Karakatsanis, #Copaganda. He exposes how police & media—even your trusted NPR/NYT—work together to manufacture fear, hide real threats (like wage theft), and keep us demanding more cops & prisons.
youtu.be/4ggnu2fFqtc
@equalityalec.bsky.social
@FieldComing
youtu.be/4ggnu2fFqtc
@equalityalec.bsky.social
@FieldComing
130 – “Copaganda: How Police and the Media Manipulate Our News” with Alec Karakatsanis
YouTube video by Greg Godels & Pat Cummings
youtu.be
January 9, 2026 at 8:11 PM
Just interviewed Alec Karakatsanis, #Copaganda. He exposes how police & media—even your trusted NPR/NYT—work together to manufacture fear, hide real threats (like wage theft), and keep us demanding more cops & prisons.
youtu.be/4ggnu2fFqtc
@equalityalec.bsky.social
@FieldComing
youtu.be/4ggnu2fFqtc
@equalityalec.bsky.social
@FieldComing
As PBS and mainstream pundits and Democrats call for more money to ICE for "training," here's what's happening in the real world:
January 9, 2026 at 4:02 PM
As PBS and mainstream pundits and Democrats call for more money to ICE for "training," here's what's happening in the real world:
I have been tracking Democratic Senator Chris Murphy's public comments for some time. He's been one of the most cartoonish boosters of ICE and depraved purveyors of anti-immigrant sentiment. Any movement to make our world less violent and more just cannot have such leaders.
January 9, 2026 at 12:05 AM
I have been tracking Democratic Senator Chris Murphy's public comments for some time. He's been one of the most cartoonish boosters of ICE and depraved purveyors of anti-immigrant sentiment. Any movement to make our world less violent and more just cannot have such leaders.
Reposted by alec karakatsanis
Excellent read. I just cited it in a forthcoming chapter that I wrote on Academic Copaganda. This book is a great starting point for academics working on police-based propaganda or media studies in general.
January 8, 2026 at 9:24 PM
Excellent read. I just cited it in a forthcoming chapter that I wrote on Academic Copaganda. This book is a great starting point for academics working on police-based propaganda or media studies in general.
The coverage of the ICE execution by PBS has been shameful. It's a case study in copaganda. They brought on Obama's former ICE director to distract from core issues, sow confusion about whether what happened was justified, and promote more $$ for police/ICE "training" industry.
January 8, 2026 at 4:26 PM
The coverage of the ICE execution by PBS has been shameful. It's a case study in copaganda. They brought on Obama's former ICE director to distract from core issues, sow confusion about whether what happened was justified, and promote more $$ for police/ICE "training" industry.
Reposted by alec karakatsanis
thread
Anyone who has read Copaganda knows that we are in the crucial early moments of virality after an extra-judicial police murder. It's extremely important for ICE that the media plays along with the idea that what happened is contested and there are multiple perspectives.
January 8, 2026 at 11:56 AM
thread
Reposted by alec karakatsanis
We have helped to distribute hundreds of copies of this book to people behind bars. Much appreciations for exposing this essential problem during these times
THREAD. With everything going on, I want to share a bit of good news. As of the end of 2025, we have sent over 2,000 free copies of Copaganda into prisons and into schools where students can't afford it.
January 7, 2026 at 9:43 PM
We have helped to distribute hundreds of copies of this book to people behind bars. Much appreciations for exposing this essential problem during these times
Anyone who has read Copaganda knows that we are in the crucial early moments of virality after an extra-judicial police murder. It's extremely important for ICE that the media plays along with the idea that what happened is contested and there are multiple perspectives.
January 7, 2026 at 8:35 PM
Anyone who has read Copaganda knows that we are in the crucial early moments of virality after an extra-judicial police murder. It's extremely important for ICE that the media plays along with the idea that what happened is contested and there are multiple perspectives.
Reposted by alec karakatsanis
I highly recommend reading alec's book. In fact, it's imperative that everyone read alec's book.
THREAD. With everything going on, I want to share a bit of good news. As of the end of 2025, we have sent over 2,000 free copies of Copaganda into prisons and into schools where students can't afford it.
January 6, 2026 at 3:50 PM
I highly recommend reading alec's book. In fact, it's imperative that everyone read alec's book.
THREAD. With everything going on, I want to share a bit of good news. As of the end of 2025, we have sent over 2,000 free copies of Copaganda into prisons and into schools where students can't afford it.
January 6, 2026 at 3:44 PM
THREAD. With everything going on, I want to share a bit of good news. As of the end of 2025, we have sent over 2,000 free copies of Copaganda into prisons and into schools where students can't afford it.
Reposted by alec karakatsanis
No matter how broken you think our justice system and society are, they’re far worse.
THREAD. Every year, I tell the story of Ezell Gilbert. It's the story of one of the most remarkable cases in U.S. history, and you’ve probably never heard of it. The story of what the U.S. government did to him is vital for understanding the current moment we are in.
January 3, 2026 at 4:56 AM
No matter how broken you think our justice system and society are, they’re far worse.
Reposted by alec karakatsanis
A horrifying thread about the intrinsic injustices baked into the U.S. criminal legal system. Read this and prepare to be appalled.
THREAD. Every year, I tell the story of Ezell Gilbert. It's the story of one of the most remarkable cases in U.S. history, and you’ve probably never heard of it. The story of what the U.S. government did to him is vital for understanding the current moment we are in.
January 2, 2026 at 11:51 PM
A horrifying thread about the intrinsic injustices baked into the U.S. criminal legal system. Read this and prepare to be appalled.
Reposted by alec karakatsanis
THREAD. Every year, I tell the story of Ezell Gilbert. It's the story of one of the most remarkable cases in U.S. history, and you’ve probably never heard of it. The story of what the U.S. government did to him is vital for understanding the current moment we are in.
January 2, 2026 at 6:36 PM
THREAD. Every year, I tell the story of Ezell Gilbert. It's the story of one of the most remarkable cases in U.S. history, and you’ve probably never heard of it. The story of what the U.S. government did to him is vital for understanding the current moment we are in.
Reposted by alec karakatsanis
Important, and sickening, story of injustice in the US "justice" system.
THREAD. Every year, I tell the story of Ezell Gilbert. It's the story of one of the most remarkable cases in U.S. history, and you’ve probably never heard of it. The story of what the U.S. government did to him is vital for understanding the current moment we are in.
January 2, 2026 at 8:25 PM
Important, and sickening, story of injustice in the US "justice" system.
THREAD. Every year, I tell the story of Ezell Gilbert. It's the story of one of the most remarkable cases in U.S. history, and you’ve probably never heard of it. The story of what the U.S. government did to him is vital for understanding the current moment we are in.
January 2, 2026 at 6:36 PM
THREAD. Every year, I tell the story of Ezell Gilbert. It's the story of one of the most remarkable cases in U.S. history, and you’ve probably never heard of it. The story of what the U.S. government did to him is vital for understanding the current moment we are in.
Reposted by alec karakatsanis
Get and read this book right away. 10/10, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️, do not delay! @equalityalec.bsky.social is a genius. #Booksky
January 2, 2026 at 3:05 AM
Get and read this book right away. 10/10, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️, do not delay! @equalityalec.bsky.social is a genius. #Booksky
Reposted by alec karakatsanis
Check off the last thing on your 2025 to-do list 👉🏽 your end-of-year donation to CRC!
We're entering 2026 reenergized and ready to fight the systems that criminalize and oppress us. Join us in the fight by supporting our work: bit.ly/crc-donate
We're entering 2026 reenergized and ready to fight the systems that criminalize and oppress us. Join us in the fight by supporting our work: bit.ly/crc-donate
December 31, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Check off the last thing on your 2025 to-do list 👉🏽 your end-of-year donation to CRC!
We're entering 2026 reenergized and ready to fight the systems that criminalize and oppress us. Join us in the fight by supporting our work: bit.ly/crc-donate
We're entering 2026 reenergized and ready to fight the systems that criminalize and oppress us. Join us in the fight by supporting our work: bit.ly/crc-donate
Repressive bureaucracy need to have ways to process huge numbers of people *efficiently.* The chance to be heard, confront evidence against you, put on evidence of your own, etc. is not efficient. This is a primary reason you see people in power complaining about "bail reform."
There are moments the mask is removed, and all the lies evaporate. This quote by a District Attorney in California is incredible. He says the volume of shackled poor people brought to court--what he calls the "cattle call"--makes it impossible to consider them as individuals.
December 30, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Repressive bureaucracy need to have ways to process huge numbers of people *efficiently.* The chance to be heard, confront evidence against you, put on evidence of your own, etc. is not efficient. This is a primary reason you see people in power complaining about "bail reform."
Reposted by alec karakatsanis
Amazing how poisoned by the status quo/caceralism someone can be that they think jailing people who have not been found guilty is just the correct result, and that having an actual bail hearing is cheating.
December 29, 2025 at 11:05 PM
Amazing how poisoned by the status quo/caceralism someone can be that they think jailing people who have not been found guilty is just the correct result, and that having an actual bail hearing is cheating.
Imagine calling basic constitutional rights like the opportunity to speak in court "cutting corners." Even more alarming, he's saying all this in service of jailing people indiscriminately "by the busload" who are presumed innocent (and only if their families don't have the listed cash payment).
There are moments the mask is removed, and all the lies evaporate. This quote by a District Attorney in California is incredible. He says the volume of shackled poor people brought to court--what he calls the "cattle call"--makes it impossible to consider them as individuals.
December 29, 2025 at 9:51 PM
Imagine calling basic constitutional rights like the opportunity to speak in court "cutting corners." Even more alarming, he's saying all this in service of jailing people indiscriminately "by the busload" who are presumed innocent (and only if their families don't have the listed cash payment).
There are moments the mask is removed, and all the lies evaporate. This quote by a District Attorney in California is incredible. He says the volume of shackled poor people brought to court--what he calls the "cattle call"--makes it impossible to consider them as individuals.
December 29, 2025 at 7:02 PM
There are moments the mask is removed, and all the lies evaporate. This quote by a District Attorney in California is incredible. He says the volume of shackled poor people brought to court--what he calls the "cattle call"--makes it impossible to consider them as individuals.
Shifting money from police and prisons to systems that meet people's needs are better for safety and, contrary to what you hear in the media, *one of the most popular policies* over decades of polling. Asking why this is hidden from us is important. equalityalec.substack.com/p/convention...
Conventional Wisdom and "Popularity"
And a weird debate I just had.
equalityalec.substack.com
December 27, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Shifting money from police and prisons to systems that meet people's needs are better for safety and, contrary to what you hear in the media, *one of the most popular policies* over decades of polling. Asking why this is hidden from us is important. equalityalec.substack.com/p/convention...
My 94-year-old grandmother is doing some light reading.
December 25, 2025 at 2:43 PM
My 94-year-old grandmother is doing some light reading.
Thousands of articles, podcasts, and "think pieces" where liberals dismiss "defund" as unpopular, and yet the policy demand to reduce the size of police, prosecutor, and prison budgets is one of the most popular, consistently polled issues in the U.S: equalityalec.substack.com/p/convention...
December 21, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Thousands of articles, podcasts, and "think pieces" where liberals dismiss "defund" as unpopular, and yet the policy demand to reduce the size of police, prosecutor, and prison budgets is one of the most popular, consistently polled issues in the U.S: equalityalec.substack.com/p/convention...