Ian Vandewalker
@ianvan.bsky.social
Policy advocacy and research on money in politics and disinformation. Senior Counsel & Manager, Brennan Center.
Reposted by Ian Vandewalker
Here is the child’s drawing.
January 27, 2026 at 4:09 AM
Here is the child’s drawing.
Reposted by Ian Vandewalker
Wise words from WEB DuBois to gird us today: "It would be shame and cowardice to surrender this glorious land and its opportunities for civilization and humanity to the thugs and lynchers, the mobs and profiteers, the monopolists & gamblers who today choke its soul and steal its resources."
January 22, 2026 at 5:00 PM
Wise words from WEB DuBois to gird us today: "It would be shame and cowardice to surrender this glorious land and its opportunities for civilization and humanity to the thugs and lynchers, the mobs and profiteers, the monopolists & gamblers who today choke its soul and steal its resources."
Reposted by Ian Vandewalker
This law group led by @rickpildes.bsky.social had me write for their 100 Ideas series on US democracy
My idea: the rule of law cannot coexist with this level of wealth concentration. Once Musk, Bezos, Zuck, & a few others bend the knee, the authoritarian consolidates too much power
My idea: the rule of law cannot coexist with this level of wealth concentration. Once Musk, Bezos, Zuck, & a few others bend the knee, the authoritarian consolidates too much power
January 22, 2026 at 5:49 PM
This law group led by @rickpildes.bsky.social had me write for their 100 Ideas series on US democracy
My idea: the rule of law cannot coexist with this level of wealth concentration. Once Musk, Bezos, Zuck, & a few others bend the knee, the authoritarian consolidates too much power
My idea: the rule of law cannot coexist with this level of wealth concentration. Once Musk, Bezos, Zuck, & a few others bend the knee, the authoritarian consolidates too much power
Reposted by Ian Vandewalker
Prebunking misinformation techniques in social media feeds: Instagram field study misinforeview.hks.harvard.edu/article/preb...
"Instagram users in treatment group were significantly & substantially better than the control group in correctly identifying emotional manipulation in a news headline."
"Instagram users in treatment group were significantly & substantially better than the control group in correctly identifying emotional manipulation in a news headline."
Prebunking misinformation techniques in social media feeds: Results from an Instagram field study | HKS Misinformation Review
Boosting psychological defences against misleading content online is an active area of research, but transition from the lab to real-world uptake remains a challenge. We developed a 19-second prebunki...
misinforeview.hks.harvard.edu
January 23, 2026 at 5:08 PM
Prebunking misinformation techniques in social media feeds: Instagram field study misinforeview.hks.harvard.edu/article/preb...
"Instagram users in treatment group were significantly & substantially better than the control group in correctly identifying emotional manipulation in a news headline."
"Instagram users in treatment group were significantly & substantially better than the control group in correctly identifying emotional manipulation in a news headline."
Reposted by Ian Vandewalker
This is the first example I’ve seen of an American government using AI to meaningfully misrepresent actual events with the intent to deceive the public. We are at Stalinesque levels of propaganda.
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/past-the-b...
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/past-the-b...
January 23, 2026 at 2:23 PM
This is the first example I’ve seen of an American government using AI to meaningfully misrepresent actual events with the intent to deceive the public. We are at Stalinesque levels of propaganda.
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/past-the-b...
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/past-the-b...
Thanks, iOS26 liquid glass, for both making it easier to see things I'm not trying to look at and making my phone work several times slower!
January 22, 2026 at 3:42 PM
Thanks, iOS26 liquid glass, for both making it easier to see things I'm not trying to look at and making my phone work several times slower!
Reposted by Ian Vandewalker
6. The group the unnamed DOGE staffer conspired with is also unnamed but the evidence points to True The Vote, the voter conspiracy group behind the debunked documentary 2000 Mules.
DOGE staffer signed deal to share Social Security data with election deniers
After months of denials, the Trump administration has admitted that staffers affiliated with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) misused Social Security Administration (SSA) data.
popular.info
January 22, 2026 at 2:05 PM
6. The group the unnamed DOGE staffer conspired with is also unnamed but the evidence points to True The Vote, the voter conspiracy group behind the debunked documentary 2000 Mules.
On the 16th anniversary of the Supreme Court in Citizens United opening the floodgates of political money, here are nine solutions for political corruption in the USA. www.brennancenter.org/our-work/res...
Nine Solutions for Political Corruption
A new era of anticorruption reform is long overdue.
www.brennancenter.org
January 21, 2026 at 5:09 PM
On the 16th anniversary of the Supreme Court in Citizens United opening the floodgates of political money, here are nine solutions for political corruption in the USA. www.brennancenter.org/our-work/res...
16 years later, Citizens United is still harming our democracy as big money from megadonors keeps getting bigger. www.brennancenter.org/our-work/res...
Citizens United, Explained
The 2010 Supreme Court decision further tilted political influence toward wealthy donors and corporations.
www.brennancenter.org
January 21, 2026 at 4:18 PM
16 years later, Citizens United is still harming our democracy as big money from megadonors keeps getting bigger. www.brennancenter.org/our-work/res...
Reposted by Ian Vandewalker
Federal immigration agents forced open a door and detained a U.S. citizen in his Minnesota home at gunpoint without a warrant, then led him out onto the streets in his underwear in subfreezing conditions, according to his family and videos reviewed by The Associated Press.
US citizen says ICE removed him from his Minnesota home in his underwear after warrantless search
Federal immigration agents have detained a U.S. citizen in Minnesota at gunpoint without a warrant. That's according to ChongLy “Scott” Thao, who says agents forced open his door, entered with guns drawn and led him outside in his underwear in freezing conditions.
bit.ly
January 20, 2026 at 1:40 PM
Federal immigration agents forced open a door and detained a U.S. citizen in his Minnesota home at gunpoint without a warrant, then led him out onto the streets in his underwear in subfreezing conditions, according to his family and videos reviewed by The Associated Press.
Reposted by Ian Vandewalker
Americans face a fusion of public power and private wealth to a degree not seen in the past century, if ever. Our latest report outlines nine solutions to combat corruption. Far-reaching reforms are long-overdue.
bit.ly/4r62EnZ
bit.ly/4r62EnZ
Nine Solutions for Political Corruption
A new era of anticorruption reform is long overdue.
www.brennancenter.org
January 20, 2026 at 2:54 PM
Americans face a fusion of public power and private wealth to a degree not seen in the past century, if ever. Our latest report outlines nine solutions to combat corruption. Far-reaching reforms are long-overdue.
bit.ly/4r62EnZ
bit.ly/4r62EnZ
Mental health cuts that would have killed people were stopped in 24 hours after "furious lobbying" by members of Congress. What other deadly WH actions could Congress stop if they tried??? www.nytimes.com/2026/01/14/h...
H.H.S. Reverses Decision to Cut $2 Billion for Mental Health and Addiction Services
www.nytimes.com
January 15, 2026 at 1:53 PM
Mental health cuts that would have killed people were stopped in 24 hours after "furious lobbying" by members of Congress. What other deadly WH actions could Congress stop if they tried??? www.nytimes.com/2026/01/14/h...
Reposted by Ian Vandewalker
Several donors to President Trump’s privately funded White House ballroom are positioned to benefit from the administration’s AI Action Plan.
Our reporting examines the connections between donations, lobbying, federal contracts and AI policy.
🔗Read more
www.opensecrets.org/news/2026/01...
Our reporting examines the connections between donations, lobbying, federal contracts and AI policy.
🔗Read more
www.opensecrets.org/news/2026/01...
Trump ballroom donors poised to benefit from AI plan they helped shape - OpenSecrets News
Eight days before the White House announced plans to build a 90,000-square-foot ballroom for state dinners and special events, President…
www.opensecrets.org
January 14, 2026 at 7:14 PM
Several donors to President Trump’s privately funded White House ballroom are positioned to benefit from the administration’s AI Action Plan.
Our reporting examines the connections between donations, lobbying, federal contracts and AI policy.
🔗Read more
www.opensecrets.org/news/2026/01...
Our reporting examines the connections between donations, lobbying, federal contracts and AI policy.
🔗Read more
www.opensecrets.org/news/2026/01...
Reposted by Ian Vandewalker
"Three Minnesota federal prosecutors resigned over the Justice Department’s push to investigate the widow of a woman killed by an ICE agent and its reluctance to investigate the shooter, according to people with knowledge of their decision."
3 Prosecutors Quit After Push to Investigate ICE Shooting Victim’s Widow
www.nytimes.com
January 13, 2026 at 6:01 PM
"Three Minnesota federal prosecutors resigned over the Justice Department’s push to investigate the widow of a woman killed by an ICE agent and its reluctance to investigate the shooter, according to people with knowledge of their decision."
Surprisingly (not surprising) calm and neutral headline... www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Trump is trying to change how the midterm elections are conducted
Many of these endeavors go far beyond typical political persuasion, challenging long-established democratic norms.
www.washingtonpost.com
January 12, 2026 at 5:54 PM
Surprisingly (not surprising) calm and neutral headline... www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Ian Vandewalker
More than 1,000 charities submitted federal tax filings without language reflecting diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in mission statements from their earlier filings.
Others went as far as to change their names.
(Published Dec. 2025)
Others went as far as to change their names.
(Published Dec. 2025)
Under Trump, More Than 1,000 Nonprofits Strip DEI Language From Tax Forms
As the Trump administration ordered agencies to eradicate “illegal” diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, we identified more than 1,000 nonprofits that removed such language from the mission statem...
www.propublica.org
January 8, 2026 at 7:55 PM
More than 1,000 charities submitted federal tax filings without language reflecting diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in mission statements from their earlier filings.
Others went as far as to change their names.
(Published Dec. 2025)
Others went as far as to change their names.
(Published Dec. 2025)
📣"80% of Americans — including 91% of Democrats, 82% of Independents, and 67% of Republicans — say the rich have too much political power in the U.S." today.yougov.com/politics/art...
Majorities of Americans say wealth inequality is a problem and want government intervention | YouGov
Majorities of Americans say wealth inequality in the U.S. is a very or somewhat big problem, the federal government should try to reduce wealth inequality, and billionaires should be taxed more
today.yougov.com
January 7, 2026 at 2:58 PM
📣"80% of Americans — including 91% of Democrats, 82% of Independents, and 67% of Republicans — say the rich have too much political power in the U.S." today.yougov.com/politics/art...
Reposted by Ian Vandewalker
I have a new paper w Andrea Prat & Jake Spitz. We show that Republican appointed Supreme Court Justices vote in favor of the richer party by over 70% today, as compared to D’s at 30%. In the 1950s and both were at 50%. This strong trend may contribute to rising inequality. www.nber.org/papers/w34643
Ruling for the Rich: the Supreme Court over Time
Founded in 1920, the NBER is a private, non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to conducting economic research and to disseminating research findings among academics, public policy makers, an...
www.nber.org
January 5, 2026 at 9:14 AM
I have a new paper w Andrea Prat & Jake Spitz. We show that Republican appointed Supreme Court Justices vote in favor of the richer party by over 70% today, as compared to D’s at 30%. In the 1950s and both were at 50%. This strong trend may contribute to rising inequality. www.nber.org/papers/w34643
"Trump has also favored the fossil fuel industry.... About two dozen companies with interests in oil, gas and coal donated at least $41 million." www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Hundreds of Big Post-Election Donors Have Benefited From Trump’s Return to Office
Well into his second term, the president and his allies have continued aggressively raising money. Many donors have interests before his administration, The Times found.
www.nytimes.com
January 5, 2026 at 2:33 PM
"Trump has also favored the fossil fuel industry.... About two dozen companies with interests in oil, gas and coal donated at least $41 million." www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Reposted by Ian Vandewalker
FOUR new deaths in ICE detention. That puts the total this year at 30 people dead; the highest in ICE's history and worse than even during the COVID years.
It's clear that the system is breaking down. Many of these are preventable deaths.
It's clear that the system is breaking down. Many of these are preventable deaths.
In the 90 minutes since I posted this, I've gotten two more death notifications.
ICE has a responsibility to take care of these people, something they are clearly disregarding. This is beyond horrifying. We must ensure dignity and humanity for detained people in this country.
ICE has a responsibility to take care of these people, something they are clearly disregarding. This is beyond horrifying. We must ensure dignity and humanity for detained people in this country.
Within 15 minutes today, I got two back-to-back notifications of deaths at ICE facilities.
28 people have died in ICE custody since Trump took office. These facilities are overcrowded & are putting their own profits over health and safety. We need oversight & accountability NOW.
28 people have died in ICE custody since Trump took office. These facilities are overcrowded & are putting their own profits over health and safety. We need oversight & accountability NOW.
December 18, 2025 at 7:53 PM
FOUR new deaths in ICE detention. That puts the total this year at 30 people dead; the highest in ICE's history and worse than even during the COVID years.
It's clear that the system is breaking down. Many of these are preventable deaths.
It's clear that the system is breaking down. Many of these are preventable deaths.
Reposted by Ian Vandewalker
Today, my colleague David Yaffe-Bellany and I published an investigation into the frenzied world of crypto unleased by Trump.
Risk taking, profiteering & yes, innovation, as crypto bros sense that this is the moment crypto will go mainstream in the U.S.
Free link:
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/17/t...
Risk taking, profiteering & yes, innovation, as crypto bros sense that this is the moment crypto will go mainstream in the U.S.
Free link:
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/17/t...
What Trump’s Embrace of Crypto Has Unleashed
www.nytimes.com
December 18, 2025 at 4:22 AM
Today, my colleague David Yaffe-Bellany and I published an investigation into the frenzied world of crypto unleased by Trump.
Risk taking, profiteering & yes, innovation, as crypto bros sense that this is the moment crypto will go mainstream in the U.S.
Free link:
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/17/t...
Risk taking, profiteering & yes, innovation, as crypto bros sense that this is the moment crypto will go mainstream in the U.S.
Free link:
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/17/t...
Reposted by Ian Vandewalker
NEW: Without USAID funding to help buy food for refugees, the World Food Program rushed to prioritize families based on need, determining that only half the population would get food.
Refugees learned which half they were in from a number stamped on the back of their ration card.
Refugees learned which half they were in from a number stamped on the back of their ration card.
After Trump Officials Cut Food Aid to Kenya, Children Starved to Death
“Brutal and traumatizing”: Interviews and a trove of internal documents show government officials and aid workers desperately tried to warn Trump advisers about impending disaster and death.
www.propublica.org
December 17, 2025 at 12:00 PM
NEW: Without USAID funding to help buy food for refugees, the World Food Program rushed to prioritize families based on need, determining that only half the population would get food.
Refugees learned which half they were in from a number stamped on the back of their ration card.
Refugees learned which half they were in from a number stamped on the back of their ration card.
Reposted by Ian Vandewalker
As I explain in our new @freepress.bsky.social report, CHOKEHOLD, creeping authoritarianism can be hard to recognize in real time. Leaders subvert reality, suppress dissent, reward harassment, and sideline independent journalism & marginalized voices. www.freepress.net/attack-on-fr...
Chokehold: Donald Trump’s War on Free Speech & the Need for Systemic Resistance
This Free Press report examines the Trump administration’s hostile relationship with dissent and free expression in 2025. It analyzes how Trump and his political enablers have sought to undermine and ...
www.freepress.net
December 15, 2025 at 4:25 PM
As I explain in our new @freepress.bsky.social report, CHOKEHOLD, creeping authoritarianism can be hard to recognize in real time. Leaders subvert reality, suppress dissent, reward harassment, and sideline independent journalism & marginalized voices. www.freepress.net/attack-on-fr...