Jon Collins
@jcollins.bsky.social
Reporter @MPRNews.org '25 Nieman fellow at Harvard. Co-creator of Peabody Award-winning 74 Seconds podcast. Victory gardener. Joncollinsjournalism.com
Reposted by Jon Collins
It took the city of Minneapolis more than five years to figure out how to officially memorialize the site of George Floyd Square, and construction is set to begin this year.
Now, the city has two more high-profile memorials to manage.
Now, the city has two more high-profile memorials to manage.
Minneapolis left to decide future of streetside memorials to 2 people killed by federal officers
As the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown in Minnesota winds down, Minneapolis will need to decide how to manage makeshift memorial sites for two U.S. citizens killed by federal agents last ...
www.mprnews.org
February 15, 2026 at 8:54 PM
It took the city of Minneapolis more than five years to figure out how to officially memorialize the site of George Floyd Square, and construction is set to begin this year.
Now, the city has two more high-profile memorials to manage.
Now, the city has two more high-profile memorials to manage.
"'Resist and Unsubscribe,' was started by influential podcaster...Scott Galloway, who said he was increasingly frustrated by what he sees as the Trump administration's indifference to protests and public outrage over immigration enforcement, especially in Minneapolis..." www.npr.org/2026/02/07/n...
DVDs and public transit: Boycott drives people to ditch Big Tech to protest ICE
A sweeping boycott has begun — targeting tech giants who participants believe are enabling President Trump and his immigration crackdown.
www.npr.org
February 15, 2026 at 3:00 PM
"'Resist and Unsubscribe,' was started by influential podcaster...Scott Galloway, who said he was increasingly frustrated by what he sees as the Trump administration's indifference to protests and public outrage over immigration enforcement, especially in Minneapolis..." www.npr.org/2026/02/07/n...
“Ofelia was heroic and brave in the face of ICE’s detention and threatened deportation of her father...We mourn Ofelia’s passing, and we hope that she will serve as a model for us all for how to be courageous and to fight for what’s right to our last breaths.” www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/14/c...
Chicago teen whose father was detained by ICE while she fought cancer dies
The Torres family story came to public attention after the teen’s father was detained at a Home Depot in Niles.
www.chicagotribune.com
February 15, 2026 at 2:28 PM
“Ofelia was heroic and brave in the face of ICE’s detention and threatened deportation of her father...We mourn Ofelia’s passing, and we hope that she will serve as a model for us all for how to be courageous and to fight for what’s right to our last breaths.” www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/14/c...
Reposted by Jon Collins
thousands marching through little earth in minneapolis right now to say no more missing and murdered indigenous relatives
February 14, 2026 at 7:16 PM
thousands marching through little earth in minneapolis right now to say no more missing and murdered indigenous relatives
Reposted by Jon Collins
Medical providers are increasingly concerned that some rural patients who must drive long distances to see specialists are missing appointments out of fear of being picked up by federal immigration agents.
Rural Minnesotans of color skipping medical care out of fear of ICE
Medical providers are increasingly concerned that some of their rural patients who need to drive long distances to see specialists are missing appointments because they fear being picked up by federal...
www.mprnews.org
February 14, 2026 at 4:39 PM
Medical providers are increasingly concerned that some rural patients who must drive long distances to see specialists are missing appointments out of fear of being picked up by federal immigration agents.
"The decisions amount to a sweeping legal rebuke of Trump’s immigration crackdown. Yet the administration has continued jailing people indefinitely even after courts ruled the policy was illegal." www.reuters.com/legal/govern...
Courts have ruled 4,400 times that ICE jailed people illegally. It hasn’t stopped.
The decisions amount to a huge legal rebuke, but the administration has continued jailing people indefinitely.
www.reuters.com
February 14, 2026 at 4:29 PM
"The decisions amount to a sweeping legal rebuke of Trump’s immigration crackdown. Yet the administration has continued jailing people indefinitely even after courts ruled the policy was illegal." www.reuters.com/legal/govern...
Reposted by Jon Collins
hello minnesota and beyond! thank you for your kind messages. it is very weird to be the news when you cover the news. i love this beautiful state and journalism, and i am hopeful for better days. but we will be forever changed bc of the last two months.
Meet Minnesota Bathrobe Lady Sam Stroozas of MPR News | Minnesota Public Radio
Earlier this week, an unexpected and fast-moving incident unfolded in St. Paul, Minnesota involving both federal and local law enforcement. As crowds gathered and questions mounted, one of our MPR New...
www.mpr.org
February 14, 2026 at 4:44 AM
hello minnesota and beyond! thank you for your kind messages. it is very weird to be the news when you cover the news. i love this beautiful state and journalism, and i am hopeful for better days. but we will be forever changed bc of the last two months.
"Google, Meta and Reddit complied with some of the requests... the department asked the companies for identifying details of accounts that do not have a real person’s name attached and that have criticized ICE or pointed to the locations of ICE agents." www.nytimes.com/2026/02/13/t...
Homeland Security Wants Social Media Sites to Expose Anti-ICE Accounts
www.nytimes.com
February 14, 2026 at 3:04 PM
"Google, Meta and Reddit complied with some of the requests... the department asked the companies for identifying details of accounts that do not have a real person’s name attached and that have criticized ICE or pointed to the locations of ICE agents." www.nytimes.com/2026/02/13/t...
Reposted by Jon Collins
Russia used poison from a tropical frog to kill opposition leader Alexey Navalny in prison, say five European nations.
https://cnn.it/4kBC2c8
https://cnn.it/4kBC2c8
February 14, 2026 at 2:14 PM
Russia used poison from a tropical frog to kill opposition leader Alexey Navalny in prison, say five European nations.
https://cnn.it/4kBC2c8
https://cnn.it/4kBC2c8
Pickard argues that
"Capitalism incentivizes the degradation of news media — from disinvesting in local journalism to capturing our attention and extracting personal data to devaluing and casualizing news workers’ conditions..." www.asc.upenn.edu/news-events/...
"Capitalism incentivizes the degradation of news media — from disinvesting in local journalism to capturing our attention and extracting personal data to devaluing and casualizing news workers’ conditions..." www.asc.upenn.edu/news-events/...
To Save the Media, Ditch Capitalism, a New Study Says
www.asc.upenn.edu
February 14, 2026 at 2:52 PM
Pickard argues that
"Capitalism incentivizes the degradation of news media — from disinvesting in local journalism to capturing our attention and extracting personal data to devaluing and casualizing news workers’ conditions..." www.asc.upenn.edu/news-events/...
"Capitalism incentivizes the degradation of news media — from disinvesting in local journalism to capturing our attention and extracting personal data to devaluing and casualizing news workers’ conditions..." www.asc.upenn.edu/news-events/...
Reposted by Jon Collins
🚨 ICE is authorized to covertly infiltrate and interact with social media accounts under a new program called "masked engagement," per documents leaked to me:
www.kenklippenstein.com/p/exclusive-...
www.kenklippenstein.com/p/exclusive-...
Exclusive: ICE Masks Up in More Ways Than One
Feds could be in your group chat
www.kenklippenstein.com
February 13, 2026 at 12:29 AM
🚨 ICE is authorized to covertly infiltrate and interact with social media accounts under a new program called "masked engagement," per documents leaked to me:
www.kenklippenstein.com/p/exclusive-...
www.kenklippenstein.com/p/exclusive-...
Reposted by Jon Collins
The same morning as Homan’s announcement, Mayor Kaohly Her signed a new city ordinance that requires law enforcement to display their names or badge numbers visibly on their uniforms.
She said there are challenges to holding federal agencies to local laws, but the city has “mechanisms” to do so.
She said there are challenges to holding federal agencies to local laws, but the city has “mechanisms” to do so.
Mayor Kaohly Her 'cautiously optimistic' about reported end to federal immigration surge
The St. Paul mayor took office during a surge of federal immigration agents in Minnesota. The Trump Administration announced Thursday it is ending what it calls “Operation Metro Surge.”
www.mprnews.org
February 13, 2026 at 2:20 PM
The same morning as Homan’s announcement, Mayor Kaohly Her signed a new city ordinance that requires law enforcement to display their names or badge numbers visibly on their uniforms.
She said there are challenges to holding federal agencies to local laws, but the city has “mechanisms” to do so.
She said there are challenges to holding federal agencies to local laws, but the city has “mechanisms” to do so.
“It was time to speak up,” Stenvik said in an interview with MPR News. “I'm glad that we did, because I think that there's some disbelief, because it's so shocking and so aggressive and violent and harmful to children.” via @shockmanwrites.bsky.social
www.mprnews.org/story/2026/0...
www.mprnews.org/story/2026/0...
February 13, 2026 at 2:39 PM
“It was time to speak up,” Stenvik said in an interview with MPR News. “I'm glad that we did, because I think that there's some disbelief, because it's so shocking and so aggressive and violent and harmful to children.” via @shockmanwrites.bsky.social
www.mprnews.org/story/2026/0...
www.mprnews.org/story/2026/0...
Reposted by Jon Collins
The Mankato City Council is preparing an emergency ordinance that is meant to hold agencies from outside the city carrying out law enforcement activities more accountable.
Mankato explores ordinance requiring federal agents to demask, wear IDs and body cams
The Mankato City Council is moving to demask ICE, Border Patrol and other law enforcement officers from outside the city, while requiring them to wear body cameras and something that identifies who th...
www.mprnews.org
February 12, 2026 at 3:21 PM
The Mankato City Council is preparing an emergency ordinance that is meant to hold agencies from outside the city carrying out law enforcement activities more accountable.
Reposted by Jon Collins
A judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from cutting $42M in public health funding from Minnesota after the state sued Thursday.
Minnesota sues after CDC cuts millions of dollars in public health grants
A judge issued the temporary restraining order Thursday after Attorney General Keith Ellison and other attorneys general filed a lawsuit against the federal Office of Management and Budget.
www.mprnews.org
February 13, 2026 at 12:23 AM
A judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from cutting $42M in public health funding from Minnesota after the state sued Thursday.
Reposted by Jon Collins
“.. Noem and Lewandowski frequently berate senior level staff, give polygraph tests to employees they don’t trust and have fired employees—in one incident, Lewandowski fired a U.S. Coast Guard pilot after Noem’s blanket was left behind on a plane ..”
@wsj.com
www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
@wsj.com
www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
February 13, 2026 at 2:09 AM
“.. Noem and Lewandowski frequently berate senior level staff, give polygraph tests to employees they don’t trust and have fired employees—in one incident, Lewandowski fired a U.S. Coast Guard pilot after Noem’s blanket was left behind on a plane ..”
@wsj.com
www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
@wsj.com
www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
"The letter did not threaten an investigation or legal action but placed pressure on Apple to feature more conservative outlets in its app, which offers articles from more than 500 different publications..."
www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2...
www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2...
Trump’s campaign against ‘left-wing’ media finds a new target: Apple News
Federal Trade Commission Chairman Andrew Ferguson wrote a letter to Apple that warned the company its choice of articles in Apple News could violate the law.
www.washingtonpost.com
February 13, 2026 at 1:21 AM
"The letter did not threaten an investigation or legal action but placed pressure on Apple to feature more conservative outlets in its app, which offers articles from more than 500 different publications..."
www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2...
www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2...
Reposted by Jon Collins
“All along the way, the community has stepped up with our whistles, with our cell phones and with our bodies to defend our neighbors,” Communities United Against Police Brutality president Michelle Gross said.
“But what do we see from our public officials? They have utterly failed us.”
“But what do we see from our public officials? They have utterly failed us.”
Minneapolis activists press local leaders to respond to federal surge
Minneapolis activists say state leaders have failed to act as federal agents arrest protesters and residents during an ongoing federal surge.
www.mprnews.org
February 12, 2026 at 11:36 PM
“All along the way, the community has stepped up with our whistles, with our cell phones and with our bodies to defend our neighbors,” Communities United Against Police Brutality president Michelle Gross said.
“But what do we see from our public officials? They have utterly failed us.”
“But what do we see from our public officials? They have utterly failed us.”
Reposted by Jon Collins
Free Speech in Deep Freeze: On the ground in Minnesota, where journalists are working to tell the truth about government-sanctioned violence and spin, writes @jcollins.bsky.social.
"As residents remind me all the time, “No one is coming to save us.”"
niemanreports.org/minneapolis-...
"As residents remind me all the time, “No one is coming to save us.”"
niemanreports.org/minneapolis-...
Free Speech in Deep Freeze - Nieman Reports
On the ground in Minnesota, where journalists are working to tell the truth about government-sanctioned violence and spin
niemanreports.org
February 12, 2026 at 4:18 PM
Free Speech in Deep Freeze: On the ground in Minnesota, where journalists are working to tell the truth about government-sanctioned violence and spin, writes @jcollins.bsky.social.
"As residents remind me all the time, “No one is coming to save us.”"
niemanreports.org/minneapolis-...
"As residents remind me all the time, “No one is coming to save us.”"
niemanreports.org/minneapolis-...
Reposted by Jon Collins
The immigration enforcement surge in Minnesota is ending, said Tom Homan, the border czar for President Donald Trump.
“I have proposed, and President Trump has concurred, that this surge operation conclude,” Homan said.
“I have proposed, and President Trump has concurred, that this surge operation conclude,” Homan said.
Border czar Tom Homan: Immigration enforcement surge in Minnesota coming to an end
Homan addressed reporters Thursday morning at the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building, the base for the ongoing federal immigration operation in Minnesota.
www.mprnews.org
February 12, 2026 at 2:21 PM
The immigration enforcement surge in Minnesota is ending, said Tom Homan, the border czar for President Donald Trump.
“I have proposed, and President Trump has concurred, that this surge operation conclude,” Homan said.
“I have proposed, and President Trump has concurred, that this surge operation conclude,” Homan said.
Reposted by Jon Collins
Investigators say one immigration official abused his girlfriend for years. Another admitted he sexually abused a woman in his custody. A third is charged with taking bribes.
As ICE expands, an AP review of crimes committed by agents shows how their powers can be abused
Investigators say one immigration official abused his girlfriend for years. Another admitted he sexually abused a woman in his custody. A third is charged with taking bribes.
www.mprnews.org
February 11, 2026 at 4:40 PM
Investigators say one immigration official abused his girlfriend for years. Another admitted he sexually abused a woman in his custody. A third is charged with taking bribes.
Reposted by Jon Collins
A Dakota prayer camp has gone up across the highway from Whipple Federal Building to protest U.S. immigration enforcement. Organizers draw connections between current practices and historical injustices.
Indigenous group speaks out against immigration enforcement with prayer camp
A Dakota prayer camp has gone up across the highway from Whipple Federal Building to protest U.S. immigration enforcement. Organizers draw connections between current practices and historical injustic...
www.mprnews.org
February 11, 2026 at 8:04 PM
A Dakota prayer camp has gone up across the highway from Whipple Federal Building to protest U.S. immigration enforcement. Organizers draw connections between current practices and historical injustices.
Reposted by Jon Collins
The St. Paul Police Department said a multi-car crash on Wednesday was caused by federal agents pursuing a person in a vehicle. The person being pursued had non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to the hospital.
Federal agents at scene of multi-car crash in St. Paul
A multi-car crash Wednesday in St. Paul at the intersection of Western Avenue North and Selby Avenue appeared to involve federal agents.
www.mprnews.org
February 11, 2026 at 8:36 PM
The St. Paul Police Department said a multi-car crash on Wednesday was caused by federal agents pursuing a person in a vehicle. The person being pursued had non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to the hospital.
Reposted by Jon Collins
More than 8,200 permit to carry applications were filed in the state in January. For populations worried about their safety during the ICE surge, ownership seems like a path to security.
These sex workers in Minneapolis never thought they would own a gun. Then ICE came to town
More than 8,200 permit to carry applications were filed in the state in January. For populations worried about their safety during the ICE surge, ownership seems like a path to security.
www.mprnews.org
February 12, 2026 at 1:35 PM
More than 8,200 permit to carry applications were filed in the state in January. For populations worried about their safety during the ICE surge, ownership seems like a path to security.
"Military officials deployed its new anti-drone technology earlier this week against what officials thought was a cartel drone, but turned out to be a party balloon. That operation was carried out without proper coordination with the F.A.A...."
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/11/u...
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/11/u...
Military’s Use of Anti-Drone Technology Said to Cause El Paso Airspace Closure
www.nytimes.com
February 12, 2026 at 1:15 AM
"Military officials deployed its new anti-drone technology earlier this week against what officials thought was a cartel drone, but turned out to be a party balloon. That operation was carried out without proper coordination with the F.A.A...."
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/11/u...
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/11/u...