Joe Berkowitz
@joeberkowitz.bsky.social
Writer. Not too annoying. Books: American Cheese, Away With Words, You Blew it. Bylines: Many of the good places.
Reposted by Joe Berkowitz
A dispatch from Surprise AZ where residents gathered to protest plans for a warehouse concentration camp in their community by @azrww.bsky.social
“Despite this evidence of authoritarian power, it is possible for even the most local form of government to take a stand in the name of the people.”
“Despite this evidence of authoritarian power, it is possible for even the most local form of government to take a stand in the name of the people.”
A Surprise Zone of Interest
We are All Responsible for What Happens in our Community
www.welcometohellworld.com
February 5, 2026 at 3:52 PM
A dispatch from Surprise AZ where residents gathered to protest plans for a warehouse concentration camp in their community by @azrww.bsky.social
“Despite this evidence of authoritarian power, it is possible for even the most local form of government to take a stand in the name of the people.”
“Despite this evidence of authoritarian power, it is possible for even the most local form of government to take a stand in the name of the people.”
Reposted by Joe Berkowitz
A lovely read about people being good to start your morning
(It might make you cry, not that I’m speaking from experience 😭)
(It might make you cry, not that I’m speaking from experience 😭)
I talked with the owner of Modern Times, one of my favorite spots in Minneapolis, about making the entire menu free for everyone (except ICE) until ICE leaves the city.
Inside the Minneapolis restaurant that has stopped charging for food until ICE leaves the city
Owner Dylan Alverson explains why Modern Times is now donation-only to feed hungry neighbors and stop contributing to taxes that fund ICE.
www.fastcompany.com
February 5, 2026 at 1:33 PM
A lovely read about people being good to start your morning
(It might make you cry, not that I’m speaking from experience 😭)
(It might make you cry, not that I’m speaking from experience 😭)
Reposted by Joe Berkowitz
This morning at the Minnesota State Capitol.
An ice sculpture that reads "PROSECUTE ICE". I'm told the organization behind the sculpture is Common Defense.
An ice sculpture that reads "PROSECUTE ICE". I'm told the organization behind the sculpture is Common Defense.
February 5, 2026 at 3:26 PM
This morning at the Minnesota State Capitol.
An ice sculpture that reads "PROSECUTE ICE". I'm told the organization behind the sculpture is Common Defense.
An ice sculpture that reads "PROSECUTE ICE". I'm told the organization behind the sculpture is Common Defense.
Reposted by Joe Berkowitz
After 6am this morning in Whittier, Minneapolis—FOUR BLOCKS from where Pretti was murdered.
18 agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) markings smashed an apartment window, ran in, and came out with one man.
18 agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) markings smashed an apartment window, ran in, and came out with one man.
February 5, 2026 at 1:41 PM
After 6am this morning in Whittier, Minneapolis—FOUR BLOCKS from where Pretti was murdered.
18 agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) markings smashed an apartment window, ran in, and came out with one man.
18 agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) markings smashed an apartment window, ran in, and came out with one man.
Reposted by Joe Berkowitz
![A classic tweet from @kennykeil
[Bluto subtweeting after getting his ass whooped]
I don't know who needs to hear this but spinach isn't a personality](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:dwqmtoy5uzacqe3bt5ib44oo/bafkreidsxaapkreaeus7oqavtvgeqb6u6jnd57gcutdxtcw4mgluiszimi@jpeg)
Reposted by Joe Berkowitz
oh for real?
The US immigrant population generated more in taxes than they received in benefits from all levels of government every year from 1994 to 2023.
The Cato study provides the first-ever 30-year analysis of the fiscal effects of immigration on government budgets.
https://ow.ly/jy8a50Y8kM3
The Cato study provides the first-ever 30-year analysis of the fiscal effects of immigration on government budgets.
https://ow.ly/jy8a50Y8kM3
February 5, 2026 at 1:52 PM
oh for real?
Reposted by Joe Berkowitz
‘Lord Of The Rings’ Reader Can’t Believe How Long It Taking Sam And Frodo To Fuck https://theonion.com/lord-of-the-rings-reader-cant-believe-how-long-it-taking-sam-and-frodo-to-fuck/
February 4, 2026 at 10:00 PM
‘Lord Of The Rings’ Reader Can’t Believe How Long It Taking Sam And Frodo To Fuck https://theonion.com/lord-of-the-rings-reader-cant-believe-how-long-it-taking-sam-and-frodo-to-fuck/
Reposted by Joe Berkowitz
that tweet about how vance has 4chan politics with tumblr cadence - "pretty problematic of you to want to tax the rich when there's literally a (checks notes) white genocide going on right now"
JD Vance is the most loathsome character in American politics, and it's mostly because he's immediately recognizable to anyone with an interest in politics as The Worst Guy From Your PoliSci Class
Reporter: Do you plan to apologize to the family of Alex Pretti?
Vance: For what?
Vance: For what?
February 4, 2026 at 6:16 PM
that tweet about how vance has 4chan politics with tumblr cadence - "pretty problematic of you to want to tax the rich when there's literally a (checks notes) white genocide going on right now"
I talked with the owner of Modern Times, one of my favorite spots in Minneapolis, about making the entire menu free for everyone (except ICE) until ICE leaves the city.
Inside the Minneapolis restaurant that has stopped charging for food until ICE leaves the city
Owner Dylan Alverson explains why Modern Times is now donation-only to feed hungry neighbors and stop contributing to taxes that fund ICE.
www.fastcompany.com
February 4, 2026 at 10:41 PM
I talked with the owner of Modern Times, one of my favorite spots in Minneapolis, about making the entire menu free for everyone (except ICE) until ICE leaves the city.
Reposted by Joe Berkowitz
We gotta come up with a better system than “everything rests on whether these twelve billionnaires are nice”
February 4, 2026 at 7:41 PM
We gotta come up with a better system than “everything rests on whether these twelve billionnaires are nice”
Reposted by Joe Berkowitz
Alex Pretti wasn't killed by rhetoric, he was killed by two masked CBP agents shooting him 10 times in the back after they had disarmed and pepper sprayed him.
Rhetoric didn't kill Renee Good either, a thug from ICE did that with a gun as she tried to avoid hurting him.
Rhetoric didn't kill Renee Good either, a thug from ICE did that with a gun as she tried to avoid hurting him.
Homan: "I said back in March of this year [sic] that if the hateful rhetoric didn't stop I was afraid there would be bloodshed. And there has been."
February 4, 2026 at 3:59 PM
Alex Pretti wasn't killed by rhetoric, he was killed by two masked CBP agents shooting him 10 times in the back after they had disarmed and pepper sprayed him.
Rhetoric didn't kill Renee Good either, a thug from ICE did that with a gun as she tried to avoid hurting him.
Rhetoric didn't kill Renee Good either, a thug from ICE did that with a gun as she tried to avoid hurting him.
Reposted by Joe Berkowitz
I think one thing people outside Minnesota don't understand is that after Good and Pretti were killed by feds while observing, the most normal people you could imagine have made peace with the fact that they could be next, and they are still out there because they say it's the right thing to do.
“If I am killed doing this, throw my body at the White House, martyr the shit out of me & raise hell. Do not be sad. Do not think I would do anything differently. I would do it over & over again — this is too important to sit down & shut up and not do anything.” 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 4:30 PM
I think one thing people outside Minnesota don't understand is that after Good and Pretti were killed by feds while observing, the most normal people you could imagine have made peace with the fact that they could be next, and they are still out there because they say it's the right thing to do.
Reposted by Joe Berkowitz
Reposted by Joe Berkowitz
look at what hustle culture has done to us www.newsobserver.com/news/state/n...
Man breaks into Little Caesars, starts making and selling pizzas, NC police say
The suspect kept all the money he made selling pizzas, police say
www.newsobserver.com
February 4, 2026 at 3:46 AM
look at what hustle culture has done to us www.newsobserver.com/news/state/n...
Runs in the family.
February 4, 2026 at 1:41 PM
Runs in the family.
Reposted by Joe Berkowitz
Pop singer Lorde will donate the $204,000 she made on merchandise sales from her sold-out Minneapolis shows last fall to two Minnesota immigrant rights groups.
Lorde donates merchandise proceeds from Minneapolis shows to immigrant rights groups
Pop singer Lorde will donate money she made on merchandise sales from her sold-out Minneapolis shows last fall to two Minnesota immigrant rights groups, she shared in a post on Instagram on Tuesday.
bit.ly
February 3, 2026 at 8:32 PM
Pop singer Lorde will donate the $204,000 she made on merchandise sales from her sold-out Minneapolis shows last fall to two Minnesota immigrant rights groups.
Reposted by Joe Berkowitz
February 3, 2026 at 1:21 PM
Reposted by Joe Berkowitz
Reposted by Joe Berkowitz
they should make a movie series about how it’s irresponsible to use technology to mess with the natural order of things for profit
Xfinity has just released its Jurassic Park-themed Super Bowl ad that features a digitally de-aged Sam Neil, Laura Dern, and Jeff Goldblum. https://bit.ly/4rmRhrK
February 3, 2026 at 3:32 AM
they should make a movie series about how it’s irresponsible to use technology to mess with the natural order of things for profit
“…, Charlie Brown.”
February 3, 2026 at 12:36 PM
“…, Charlie Brown.”
Reposted by Joe Berkowitz
DHS said that the woman CBP shot in the chest in Portland was “involved” in a gang shooting.
Her ~involvement~ was that suspected gang members sexually assaulted and robbed her.
Her ~involvement~ was that suspected gang members sexually assaulted and robbed her.
After Border Patrol shot two people in Portland, DHS claimed they were "vicious gang members" tied to a past shooting.
But records I obtained reveal a US prosecutor has since directly contradicted DHS, saying, "We're not suggesting he is a gang member." My dive into how DHS' claims have collapsed:
But records I obtained reveal a US prosecutor has since directly contradicted DHS, saying, "We're not suggesting he is a gang member." My dive into how DHS' claims have collapsed:
DHS’s account of two Venezuelans shot by border patrol falls apart in court: ‘A smear campaign’
Immigration officials said agent shot two ‘vicious gang members’ in Portland, but records obtained by the Guardian reveal US prosecutor contradicted claims
www.theguardian.com
February 3, 2026 at 2:02 AM
DHS said that the woman CBP shot in the chest in Portland was “involved” in a gang shooting.
Her ~involvement~ was that suspected gang members sexually assaulted and robbed her.
Her ~involvement~ was that suspected gang members sexually assaulted and robbed her.
[X starts January as a csam-generating machine and ends with its owner’s latest Epstein entanglements]
Professional media-knower Ben Smith: Twitter is back, baby!
Professional media-knower Ben Smith: Twitter is back, baby!
February 2, 2026 at 2:08 PM
[X starts January as a csam-generating machine and ends with its owner’s latest Epstein entanglements]
Professional media-knower Ben Smith: Twitter is back, baby!
Professional media-knower Ben Smith: Twitter is back, baby!
Reposted by Joe Berkowitz
'measles outbreak at the child prison' seems entirely avoidable, it's really the kind of thing that only happens if you do several unthinkably evil things on purpose all at once
Horrifying. ICE confirms measles outbreak at Dilley family detention center. www.cbsnews.com/news/ice-dil...
ICE halts "all movement" at Texas detention facility due to measles infections
The measles cases at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center were detected Friday, Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement to CBS News.
www.cbsnews.com
February 2, 2026 at 4:31 AM
'measles outbreak at the child prison' seems entirely avoidable, it's really the kind of thing that only happens if you do several unthinkably evil things on purpose all at once
Reposted by Joe Berkowitz
The pure cruelty of putting a five year old through all this for absolutely no benefit to anyone or anything
BREAKING... and Thank God...
5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos, father board plane for Minneapolis after detention center release - ABC News abcnews.go.com/amp/US/5-yea...
5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos, father board plane for Minneapolis after detention center release - ABC News abcnews.go.com/amp/US/5-yea...
5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos, father board plane for Minneapolis after detention center release
A federal judge on Saturday ordered that the pair be released.
abcnews.go.com
February 1, 2026 at 3:46 PM
The pure cruelty of putting a five year old through all this for absolutely no benefit to anyone or anything