J. Emory Parker 🏳️‍🌈
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jaspar.bsky.social
J. Emory Parker 🏳️‍🌈
@jaspar.bsky.social
Pulitzer prize winning editor and news developer. Bluesky elder. Now: Data Editor at @statnews.bsky.social
✉️ [email protected] 📸 jemoryparker 🐘 @[email protected] | Signal: jaspar.01
Pinned
New from me: Here it is, everything I know about every change I've been monitoring on data.cdc.gov plus an archive of every file that's been removed or altered.

www.statnews.com/2025/02/14/t...
STAT is backing up and monitoring CDC data in real time: See what's changing
STAT is backing up and monitoring CDC data in real time: See what's changing.
www.statnews.com
Reposted by J. Emory Parker 🏳️‍🌈
Suddenly realizing that in 10-20 years, the MN Historical Society will have an exhibit about *all this* and there will be a whole wall showing different types of whistles
We have favorite whistles now. I never could have imagined.
February 5, 2026 at 2:12 AM
Reposted by J. Emory Parker 🏳️‍🌈
The CIA just stopped publishing their World Factbook and took every page, including the archived copies of previous versions!

This sucks. It was public domain, so I recovered the 2020 edition (the last one published as a zip file) and shared it to GitHub simonwillison.net/2026/Feb/5/t...
Spotlighting The World Factbook as We Bid a Fond Farewell
Somewhat devastating news today from the CIA: One of CIA’s oldest and most recognizable intelligence publications, The World Factbook, has sunset. There's not even a hint as to why they …
simonwillison.net
February 5, 2026 at 12:25 AM
Reposted by J. Emory Parker 🏳️‍🌈
Judge Jerry Blackwell’s own comments deserve attention: Unlawful detention “falls on the heads of those who have done nothing wrong to justify it. ... The overwhelming majority of the 100s seen by this Court have been found to be lawfully present ... in the country.”
2/7
February 5, 2026 at 1:52 AM
Reposted by J. Emory Parker 🏳️‍🌈
The transcript of the MN hearing where an AUSA said “This job sucks” is remarkable for more reasons than that. It’s a searing portrait of a crisis perpetrated by depraved & oblivious high-level officials. Read it all. ...
1/7
www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
19-TS of 020326 hearing - Segundo APG v. Bondi, 26-CV-603
www.documentcloud.org
February 5, 2026 at 1:52 AM
Reposted by J. Emory Parker 🏳️‍🌈
LISTEN LIVE: The director of research for the Minnesota Historical Society and a community hotline operator join MPR News host Catharine Richert live on air to discuss the history of activism in Minnesota.
The history of activism and protest in Minnesota
Minnesota is at the center of a federal ICE operation and some people are responding as protesters, volunteers or legal observers. Coming up at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, MPR News host Catharine Richert and...
www.mprnews.org
February 5, 2026 at 1:57 AM
A major American city is under violent occupation by lawless federal goon squads and Congress is debating how much they should be allowed to wear masks.
Yes. Yes! Thank you
February 5, 2026 at 2:03 AM
Reposted by J. Emory Parker 🏳️‍🌈
It shouldn't really matter what the American public think, but it's heartening to see that so many people hate this.

Also, though, it's so fucking frustrating that most political leaders are so unwilling to listen to the people, see the horrors, and do everything in their power to end this.
"Should ICE withdraw from Minneapolis or not?"

Yes: 60%
No: 36%

Quinnipiac / Feb 2, 2026
February 4, 2026 at 10:54 PM
Reposted by J. Emory Parker 🏳️‍🌈
Our founders, though deeply flawed, understood that democracy requires an informed citizenry and a government accountable to it people. That’s why the press is the only profession protected by the Constitution. It’s also why autocrats and oligarchs seek to control and destroy it.
February 4, 2026 at 8:58 PM
Reposted by J. Emory Parker 🏳️‍🌈
"Really hard criminals"
February 4, 2026 at 8:32 PM
Reposted by J. Emory Parker 🏳️‍🌈
A lot of people cannot just start a paid newsletter or become freelancers to sustain their careers. The sports, metro, and international desks did work that requires *team* resources, like legal checks, documents, access to archives, and long-term beat experience.
February 4, 2026 at 2:42 PM
Reposted by J. Emory Parker 🏳️‍🌈
They closed the CIA World Factbook and deleted it entirely.
February 4, 2026 at 10:06 PM
What changed is we elected a president who made it crystal clear you’re either a supporter or an enemy, and he’ll wield the full power of the government to try and crush his enemies. And Bezos, like so many others, made the cynical, self-preserving choice.
The thing I keep circling back to is that, when Bezos originally bought the Post, it legit seemed like the least-bad option.

The expectation was that billionaires would treat media outlets like they do sports franchises — something to boast about owning, as a form of expensive status.
NEWS: The cuts were so severe that at least one department head asked to leave The Post rather than be included in the planning.

Peter Finn, The Post's international editor, requested that he be laid off once he learned about the scope of the cuts to his section.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/04/b...
February 4, 2026 at 10:26 PM
Of course I can’t read his mind but worth noting he spent several years investing in the paper and, by most accounts, being a responsible steward. Then in 2024 it seems he flipped and decided he needed to be in good graces with Trump and MAGA.
This framing makes it seem like Jeff Bezos had great intentions and failed. What if what happened today was a success in his eyes?
February 4, 2026 at 10:19 PM
Reposted by J. Emory Parker 🏳️‍🌈
INBOX: Washington Post Ukraine Correspondent Lizzie Johnson announces that she has been laid off in the middle of a below-freezing war zone without power, heat, or running water.
February 4, 2026 at 5:11 PM
Reposted by J. Emory Parker 🏳️‍🌈
Internet culture reporter Tatum Hunter: bsky.app/profile/tatu...
Lost my job at the Washington Post today, along with many of the best in the business. I want to keep covering tech and the internet. If you have leads on jobs for me or my colleagues, please reach out. I’m so proud of our work.
February 4, 2026 at 4:25 PM
Reposted by J. Emory Parker 🏳️‍🌈
Senior Video Journalist JM Rieger: bsky.app/profile/rieg...
Well, I was laid off at The Washington Post today.

It's been an honor to work with some of the best journalists in the business.

I'm hoping to continue reporting, producing videos and finding long-forgotten archival footage.

If you have any openings, reach out.
February 4, 2026 at 4:24 PM
Reposted by J. Emory Parker 🏳️‍🌈
Whatever you think of the Washington Post at this moment, here's a chance to support the dedicated, hard-working journalists who were just laid off. If you have the means, your donation is most welcome. If you don't, a kind thought and maybe spreading the word to others is support enough 💙
Donate to Washington Post 2026 layoff fund, organized by Rachel Siegel
On Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026, The Washington Post laid off hundreds of journalists. We ar… Rachel Siegel needs your support for Washington Post 2026 layoff fund
www.gofundme.com
February 4, 2026 at 3:58 PM
Reposted by J. Emory Parker 🏳️‍🌈
This cannot be accepted. This is a bullshit move to try and keep the status of the occupation basically unchanged but try and play it off as a compromise
With the immediate removal of 700 federal agents from Minnesota, border czar Tom Homan put the total number of agents remaining in the state at approximately 2,000.

That’s still a dramatic increase from the normal immigration and enforcement staffing in Minnesota of around 150 agents.
Live: Border official Tom Homan announces hundreds of agents will leave Minnesota
White House border czar is negotiating with local officials on a deal for county jails to cooperate with federal immigration officials.
www.startribune.com
February 4, 2026 at 3:21 PM
This is just returning to the original number of agents that invaded the state when the occupation began. It is not a meaningful deescalation.
The headline should be, "DHS to keep 2,000 immigration officers in Minnesota."

Instead, it seems the entirety of the traditional media went with, "DHS to withdraw 700 immigration officers from Minnesota."

This presser worked like a charm.
Homan in Minneapolis: "Effective immediately, we will draw down 700 people effective today."
February 4, 2026 at 3:54 PM
Reposted by J. Emory Parker 🏳️‍🌈
New from 404 Media: the FBI has been unable to get into the iPhone of raided Washington Post journalist because the phone had Lockdown Mode enabled. Apple markets Lockdown Mode mostly to stop spyware like NSO. Here, a real world example of it stopping access too www.404media.co/fbi-couldnt-...
FBI Couldn’t Get into WaPo Reporter’s iPhone Because It Had Lockdown Mode Enabled
Lockdown Mode is a sometimes overlooked feature of Apple devices that broadly make them harder to hack. A court record indicates the feature might be effective at stopping third parties unlocking some...
www.404media.co
February 4, 2026 at 2:07 PM
Reposted by J. Emory Parker 🏳️‍🌈
Seven years ago yesterday, this ad ran during the Super Bowl.
'Democracy Dies in Darkness': Super Bowl commercial (2019)
YouTube video by Washington Post
www.youtube.com
February 4, 2026 at 2:28 PM
Reposted by J. Emory Parker 🏳️‍🌈
NEWS: The cuts were so severe that at least one department head asked to leave The Post rather than be included in the planning.

Peter Finn, The Post's international editor, requested that he be laid off once he learned about the scope of the cuts to his section.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/04/b...
Washington Post Begins Sweeping Layoffs
www.nytimes.com
February 4, 2026 at 3:11 PM
Reposted by J. Emory Parker 🏳️‍🌈
The suburban observers, heavily women, say they share a personality type.

“Many of us have encountered bullies our entire lives...I think that turns you into somebody that, even if that bully is wearing full tactical gear, I'm not interested in laying down for you.” www.mprnews.org/story/2026/0...
Pursued by federal agents, suburban ICE observers remain resolved
After a frightening pursuit by federal agents, suburban ICE observers say fear hasn’t stopped them from protecting their communities.
www.mprnews.org
February 4, 2026 at 3:42 PM
Reposted by J. Emory Parker 🏳️‍🌈
Most of the footage you see from ICE observers in Minnesota comes from the core cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. I talked to observers in the northern suburbs, who say they're taking on the same mission in very different conditions. (1)
share.google/ei9giIFLsuEJ...
Pursued by federal agents, suburban ICE observers remain resolved
After a frightening pursuit by federal agents, suburban ICE observers say fear hasn’t stopped them from protecting their communities.
share.google
February 4, 2026 at 3:31 PM
Reposted by J. Emory Parker 🏳️‍🌈
My time with The Washington Post is up. I was laid off with hundreds of folks I am so honored to call my colleagues.

I covered it all at The Post (really), so now I'm looking for my next adventure.

➡️ kbellware [at] gmail dot com
Website update coming soon

@postguild.bsky.social
forever
February 4, 2026 at 3:39 PM