Hunter Walker
@hunterw.bsky.social
Investigative Reporter @ TPM | Author | Words In: The New Yorker, Rolling Stone, Vanity Fair, New York Magazine, The Atlantic
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Hunter Walker
@hunterw.bsky.social
· Dec 8
Verified.Quest
verified.quest
Hi! Allow me to reintroduce myself.
I'm an investigative reporter, author, and former White House correspondent.
I cover Trump, the broader far right, and the Democratic Party's internal dynamics.
I also verify people on Bluesky.
Here's how to see and request Verified badges! verified.quest
I'm an investigative reporter, author, and former White House correspondent.
I cover Trump, the broader far right, and the Democratic Party's internal dynamics.
I also verify people on Bluesky.
Here's how to see and request Verified badges! verified.quest
It's important to point at congressional Democrats, but the Republican Party is obviously the force enabling all of this.
This. A handful of Americans have the power to stop this NOW, and they are refusing to.
His death is caused by one man and his Republican collaborators. Republicans in Congress could stop this today. Call your Senators today www.5calls.org #DefundICE
January 24, 2026 at 8:57 PM
It's important to point at congressional Democrats, but the Republican Party is obviously the force enabling all of this.
I cant help but notice that Trump's most aggressive ICE deployments have occurred in places run by Dems in the 2028 mix; Chicago and Pritzker, Los Angeles and Newsom, and Minnesota and Walz.
January 24, 2026 at 8:54 PM
I cant help but notice that Trump's most aggressive ICE deployments have occurred in places run by Dems in the 2028 mix; Chicago and Pritzker, Los Angeles and Newsom, and Minnesota and Walz.
Reposted by Hunter Walker
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.
When you find yourself wondering how we got to Trump, J6, and Groypers, remember that well funded right wing orgs spent years radicalizing people and encouraging them to arm themselves while the current generation of Dem leadership was writing resolutions urging for strongly worded letters.
So, when the NRA was riling up anti-government right wing extremists, Chuck Schumer introduced a resolution asking them to write a letter promising they would be nicer in the future.
January 24, 2026 at 8:17 PM
When you find yourself wondering how we got to Trump, J6, and Groypers, remember that well funded right wing orgs spent years radicalizing people and encouraging them to arm themselves while the current generation of Dem leadership was writing resolutions urging for strongly worded letters.
Reposted by Hunter Walker
Alex from our time working together, while he was in nursing school. Later, he moved to ICU, working as a nurse to support critically ill Veterans. He had such a great attitude. We’d chat between patients about trying to get in a mountain bike ride together. Will never happen now
January 24, 2026 at 7:39 PM
Alex from our time working together, while he was in nursing school. Later, he moved to ICU, working as a nurse to support critically ill Veterans. He had such a great attitude. We’d chat between patients about trying to get in a mountain bike ride together. Will never happen now
1995: "The letter, sent to the NRA's 3.5 million members in March over LaPierre's signature, referred to federal law-enforcement agents as 'jack-booted government thugs.'"
2026: *crickets* archive.seattletimes.com/archive/1995...
2026: *crickets* archive.seattletimes.com/archive/1995...
Nra Apologizes For `Jack Boot' Letter | The Seattle Times
archive.seattletimes.com
January 24, 2026 at 8:09 PM
1995: "The letter, sent to the NRA's 3.5 million members in March over LaPierre's signature, referred to federal law-enforcement agents as 'jack-booted government thugs.'"
2026: *crickets* archive.seattletimes.com/archive/1995...
2026: *crickets* archive.seattletimes.com/archive/1995...
Reposted by Hunter Walker
Sometimes it takes a bit for national (or really, any) media to catch up with a story but now the New York Times is noting the video did not show Alex Pretti brandishing a gun as ICE has claimed. www.nytimes.com/live/2026/01...
January 24, 2026 at 7:51 PM
Sometimes it takes a bit for national (or really, any) media to catch up with a story but now the New York Times is noting the video did not show Alex Pretti brandishing a gun as ICE has claimed. www.nytimes.com/live/2026/01...
There are people planning to protest in front of Chuck's house in Park Slope tonight.
ICE out of Minnesota NOW.
Breaking News: Federal law enforcement agents shot and killed a person in Minneapolis on Saturday morning, state and local officials said. Follow live updates.
January 24, 2026 at 7:59 PM
There are people planning to protest in front of Chuck's house in Park Slope tonight.
Reposted by Hunter Walker
Last week? People were doing it *yesterday*
Remember last week when there were people dismissing the idea they could do illegal things to mess with elections?
Days later the administration is using violence from federal agents in the streets as a tool to try and access voter data.
Days later the administration is using violence from federal agents in the streets as a tool to try and access voter data.
Fox News: "I've gotten my hands that AG Bondi said she sent to Gov. Tim Walz. It is strongly worded. The AG calls for the governor to support the men and women of ICE, to repeal the state's sanctuary policies, and to allow the DOJ to access state voter rolls."
January 24, 2026 at 7:58 PM
Last week? People were doing it *yesterday*
Based on a quick anecdotal read, most of you do indeed remember this and only one person (who got blocked) called it a straw man and tried to tag in a commentator, who, yes, I disagreed with.
Remember last week when there were people dismissing the idea they could do illegal things to mess with elections?
Days later the administration is using violence from federal agents in the streets as a tool to try and access voter data.
Days later the administration is using violence from federal agents in the streets as a tool to try and access voter data.
Fox News: "I've gotten my hands that AG Bondi said she sent to Gov. Tim Walz. It is strongly worded. The AG calls for the governor to support the men and women of ICE, to repeal the state's sanctuary policies, and to allow the DOJ to access state voter rolls."
January 24, 2026 at 7:55 PM
Based on a quick anecdotal read, most of you do indeed remember this and only one person (who got blocked) called it a straw man and tried to tag in a commentator, who, yes, I disagreed with.
Remember last week when there were people dismissing the idea they could do illegal things to mess with elections?
Days later the administration is using violence from federal agents in the streets as a tool to try and access voter data.
Days later the administration is using violence from federal agents in the streets as a tool to try and access voter data.
Fox News: "I've gotten my hands that AG Bondi said she sent to Gov. Tim Walz. It is strongly worded. The AG calls for the governor to support the men and women of ICE, to repeal the state's sanctuary policies, and to allow the DOJ to access state voter rolls."
January 24, 2026 at 7:50 PM
Remember last week when there were people dismissing the idea they could do illegal things to mess with elections?
Days later the administration is using violence from federal agents in the streets as a tool to try and access voter data.
Days later the administration is using violence from federal agents in the streets as a tool to try and access voter data.
Reposted by Hunter Walker
The Timberwolves-Warriors game in Minneapolis has been postponed by the NBA, sources tell ESPN, in wake of a man shot and killed Saturday in a confrontation with federal agents in the city. It's the second shooting there in a week, third this month, involving a federal officer.
January 24, 2026 at 7:45 PM
The Timberwolves-Warriors game in Minneapolis has been postponed by the NBA, sources tell ESPN, in wake of a man shot and killed Saturday in a confrontation with federal agents in the city. It's the second shooting there in a week, third this month, involving a federal officer.
It is almost as though many of those people who spent the better part of three decades going on about "jack booted thugs," liberty, and "good guys with guns" weren't being entirely honest with everyone.
January 24, 2026 at 7:47 PM
It is almost as though many of those people who spent the better part of three decades going on about "jack booted thugs," liberty, and "good guys with guns" weren't being entirely honest with everyone.
A detailed analysis from Bellingcat
Federal law enforcement agents shot and killed a man in Minneapolis on Jan. 24 according to local police officials. DHS told Fox News that the man was “armed with a gun”. A video of the shooting appears to show that a gun was taken from the man before the first shot was fired. x.com/BillMelugin_...
January 24, 2026 at 7:17 PM
A detailed analysis from Bellingcat
Reposted by Hunter Walker
What we are watching is a paramilitary force learning that they can kill with impunity, that the regime will smear the victim and defend them. Unless politicians and the legal system exerts accountability, it will not stop. donmoynihan.substack.com/p/past-the-b...
January 24, 2026 at 4:32 PM
What we are watching is a paramilitary force learning that they can kill with impunity, that the regime will smear the victim and defend them. Unless politicians and the legal system exerts accountability, it will not stop. donmoynihan.substack.com/p/past-the-b...
Reposted by Hunter Walker
Man shot by federal agents has died, police chief says
www.startribune.com/ice-raids-mi...
www.startribune.com/ice-raids-mi...
Live: Man shot by federal agents in south Minneapolis this morning, witnesses say
A video appears to shows federal agents wrestling a man to the ground then shooting him.
www.startribune.com
January 24, 2026 at 4:37 PM
Man shot by federal agents has died, police chief says
www.startribune.com/ice-raids-mi...
www.startribune.com/ice-raids-mi...
Exactly. They are sending evidently unqualified, aggressive, armed, and masked people into the streets.
I don't see your comment as a defense, but as an even greater indictment. These goons being poorly trained is part of the point. The people sending them in want this violence. It means that person wasn't only murdered by the shooter, but by every person that sent him there.
January 24, 2026 at 4:32 PM
Exactly. They are sending evidently unqualified, aggressive, armed, and masked people into the streets.
It can be important context. For example, in the Daniel Penny situation, he clearly had some training. That's part of what made the sustained application of deadly force deliberate and unnecessary in my view. And this came up at trial!
The thing about them being untrained is it means you are in -more- danger because they will not act predictably as their choices are governed by their own cowardice rather than their training
This doesn't mean training is the answer, abolition is the answer, but the lack of training is useful info
This doesn't mean training is the answer, abolition is the answer, but the lack of training is useful info
January 24, 2026 at 4:32 PM
It can be important context. For example, in the Daniel Penny situation, he clearly had some training. That's part of what made the sustained application of deadly force deliberate and unnecessary in my view. And this came up at trial!
Yes. And considering they continue to try to characterize the people they're hurting as threats, the fact they seem unqualified to neutralize and de-escalate is important.
The ineffective application of force is a huge escalatory factor. It’s absolutely a relevant factor.
Flailing at someone vs. gaining limb control on someone outnumbered on the ground is a pretty significant observation.
Flailing at someone vs. gaining limb control on someone outnumbered on the ground is a pretty significant observation.
January 24, 2026 at 4:21 PM
Yes. And considering they continue to try to characterize the people they're hurting as threats, the fact they seem unqualified to neutralize and de-escalate is important.
I think them literally not being qualified is an important point to add to the pile. 🤷♂️
That ideological purity is a HELLUVA drug.
January 24, 2026 at 4:08 PM
I think them literally not being qualified is an important point to add to the pile. 🤷♂️
Here's the video of ICE beating a man and then shooting him while he was on the ground from a credible source. www.startribune.com/ice-raids-mi...
Live: Man shot by federal agent in south Minneapolis this morning, witnesses say
A video appears to shows federal agents wrestling a man to the ground then shooting him.
www.startribune.com
January 24, 2026 at 4:07 PM
Here's the video of ICE beating a man and then shooting him while he was on the ground from a credible source. www.startribune.com/ice-raids-mi...
Yeah ... I knew someone was going to come here and act like I was defending this.
This person's getting the block. It's an important detail that they are sending untrained people out there with weapons and an apparent greenlight to be extremely aggressive.
This person's getting the block. It's an important detail that they are sending untrained people out there with weapons and an apparent greenlight to be extremely aggressive.
January 24, 2026 at 4:05 PM
Yeah ... I knew someone was going to come here and act like I was defending this.
This person's getting the block. It's an important detail that they are sending untrained people out there with weapons and an apparent greenlight to be extremely aggressive.
This person's getting the block. It's an important detail that they are sending untrained people out there with weapons and an apparent greenlight to be extremely aggressive.
Reposted by Hunter Walker
The Star Tribune has the story and video in their site. www.startribune.com/ice-raids-mi...
Live: Man shot by federal agent in south Minneapolis this morning, witnesses say
More than a hundred protesters and observers have gathered near E. 26th Street and Nicollet Avenue.
www.startribune.com
January 24, 2026 at 4:03 PM
The Star Tribune has the story and video in their site. www.startribune.com/ice-raids-mi...
I don't really feel qualified to make conclusive statements about shots. I also want to refrain from sharing clips I don't know the source of. However, in the video I have seen, the man who slaps at the guy with some object is among those who then draw guns.
Isn’t the slapping guy one of the two who then backs up and shoots him? Hard to tell on my cell phone.
January 24, 2026 at 4:01 PM
I don't really feel qualified to make conclusive statements about shots. I also want to refrain from sharing clips I don't know the source of. However, in the video I have seen, the man who slaps at the guy with some object is among those who then draw guns.
Yeah he's like weirdly slapping him with it. It's violent and aggressive but not effective and clearly someone who has no idea what theyre doing.
I don’t think it’s a slap. He’s hitting the victim with a pepper spray canister.
January 24, 2026 at 3:59 PM
Yeah he's like weirdly slapping him with it. It's violent and aggressive but not effective and clearly someone who has no idea what theyre doing.