Josh Kovensky
@joshkovensky.bsky.social
Investigative reporter
@TPM.bsky.social
Get in touch at [email protected] or via Signal JoshKovensky.04
Reposted by Josh Kovensky
Many demonstrators were arrested; fewer were charged. And of those charged, most cases crumbled away. Federal prosecutors declined to pursue some cases; in others, judges or grand juries declined to let them proceed. But the hyper violent conduct of DHS goons intimidates their staunchest critics.
Chicago Protestors Reel After Fending Off Federal Charges
The administration governs by propaganda. There’s bluster, threats, and even real violence...
talkingpointsmemo.com
November 26, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Many demonstrators were arrested; fewer were charged. And of those charged, most cases crumbled away. Federal prosecutors declined to pursue some cases; in others, judges or grand juries declined to let them proceed. But the hyper violent conduct of DHS goons intimidates their staunchest critics.
I spoke to a few of the Chicago protestors who fended off federal criminal cases against them. One still faces harassment, another is looking for a lawyer to sue the government:
talkingpointsmemo.com/news/chicago...
talkingpointsmemo.com/news/chicago...
Chicago Protestors Reel After Fending Off Federal Charges
The administration governs by propaganda. There’s bluster, threats, and even real violence...
talkingpointsmemo.com
November 26, 2025 at 4:15 PM
I spoke to a few of the Chicago protestors who fended off federal criminal cases against them. One still faces harassment, another is looking for a lawyer to sue the government:
talkingpointsmemo.com/news/chicago...
talkingpointsmemo.com/news/chicago...
Reposted by Josh Kovensky
A good follow-up with some of the defendants against whom the cases were dismissed.
Many demonstrators were arrested; fewer were charged. And of those charged, many cases crumbled. Federal prosecutors declined to pursue some cases; in others, judges or grand juries declined to let them proceed.
talkingpointsmemo.com/news/chicago...
talkingpointsmemo.com/news/chicago...
Chicago Protestors Reel After Fending Off Federal Charges
The administration governs by propaganda. There’s bluster, threats, and even real violence...
talkingpointsmemo.com
November 26, 2025 at 2:56 PM
A good follow-up with some of the defendants against whom the cases were dismissed.
Reposted by Josh Kovensky
BREAKING:
“After receiving that legal advice, Secretary Noem directed that the AEA detainees who had been removed from the United States before the Court’s order could be transferred to the custody of El Salvador. “
“After receiving that legal advice, Secretary Noem directed that the AEA detainees who had been removed from the United States before the Court’s order could be transferred to the custody of El Salvador. “
November 26, 2025 at 1:33 AM
BREAKING:
“After receiving that legal advice, Secretary Noem directed that the AEA detainees who had been removed from the United States before the Court’s order could be transferred to the custody of El Salvador. “
“After receiving that legal advice, Secretary Noem directed that the AEA detainees who had been removed from the United States before the Court’s order could be transferred to the custody of El Salvador. “
Reposted by Josh Kovensky
EXCLUSIVE: US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff advised Russia on how to pitch Ukraine plans to Trump, in audio files reviewed by Bloomberg
Witkoff Advised Russia on How to Pitch Ukraine Plan to Trump
US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff, fresh from the triumph of the Gaza peace deal, held a phone call last month with a senior Kremlin official to suggest they work together on a similar plan for Ukraine — and that Vladimir Putin should raise it with Donald Trump.
bloom.bg
November 25, 2025 at 7:52 PM
EXCLUSIVE: US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff advised Russia on how to pitch Ukraine plans to Trump, in audio files reviewed by Bloomberg
Reposted by Josh Kovensky
WAPO: “.. Russia is unlikely to accept changes that the U.S. and #Ukraine are negotiating over in the new peace plan to end the war ..”
@washingtonpost.com
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...
@washingtonpost.com
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...
November 25, 2025 at 12:59 PM
WAPO: “.. Russia is unlikely to accept changes that the U.S. and #Ukraine are negotiating over in the new peace plan to end the war ..”
@washingtonpost.com
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...
@washingtonpost.com
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...
Reposted by Josh Kovensky
“Within the White House, Trump and his lieutenants aren’t planning on letting up…Trump has told some advisers that he wants RICO prosecutions and conspiracy charges leveled against the six Democrats, a source with direct knowledge of the matter tells Zeteo…
zeteo.com/p/how-we-gre...
zeteo.com/p/how-we-gre...
November 24, 2025 at 6:19 PM
“Within the White House, Trump and his lieutenants aren’t planning on letting up…Trump has told some advisers that he wants RICO prosecutions and conspiracy charges leveled against the six Democrats, a source with direct knowledge of the matter tells Zeteo…
zeteo.com/p/how-we-gre...
zeteo.com/p/how-we-gre...
Reposted by Josh Kovensky
Great article. Regarding the 600,000 armed forces limit, I believe Mark Galeotti cited an unnamed British source that Ukraine can’t afford that large an army in peacetime.
Really informative BBC story showing the complexity of the supposed peace plan as told through Ukrainian soldiers reacting to it
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
November 24, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Great article. Regarding the 600,000 armed forces limit, I believe Mark Galeotti cited an unnamed British source that Ukraine can’t afford that large an army in peacetime.
Reposted by Josh Kovensky
NEW: ICE has finally released post-shutdown detention data. The latest data reveals that a full 40%(!) of people arrested in the interior and held in ICE detention have no criminal record; no criminal charges or prior convictions. That is up from just 4% when Trump took office.
November 21, 2025 at 4:01 PM
NEW: ICE has finally released post-shutdown detention data. The latest data reveals that a full 40%(!) of people arrested in the interior and held in ICE detention have no criminal record; no criminal charges or prior convictions. That is up from just 4% when Trump took office.
Reposted by Josh Kovensky
Exclusive: First interview with negotiator in the room in Geneva. Ukraine's First Deputy Foreign Minister Sergiy Kyslytsya tells me the US and Ukraine drafted a new peace deal but left the most politically sensitive elements to be decided by the countries’ presidents. www.ft.com/content/883e...
US and Ukraine draft new 19-point peace plan but defer biggest decisions
The most politically sensitive elements are left for Trump and Zelenskyy to discuss
www.ft.com
November 24, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Exclusive: First interview with negotiator in the room in Geneva. Ukraine's First Deputy Foreign Minister Sergiy Kyslytsya tells me the US and Ukraine drafted a new peace deal but left the most politically sensitive elements to be decided by the countries’ presidents. www.ft.com/content/883e...
Reposted by Josh Kovensky
Really looks like the United States is about to launch a regime change war against Venezuela with:
-No casus belli
-No authorization from Congress
-No allies or international support
-No plan for a post-Maduro Venezuela
-No preparation for any sort of stabilization or containment of the fallout
-No casus belli
-No authorization from Congress
-No allies or international support
-No plan for a post-Maduro Venezuela
-No preparation for any sort of stabilization or containment of the fallout
November 24, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Really looks like the United States is about to launch a regime change war against Venezuela with:
-No casus belli
-No authorization from Congress
-No allies or international support
-No plan for a post-Maduro Venezuela
-No preparation for any sort of stabilization or containment of the fallout
-No casus belli
-No authorization from Congress
-No allies or international support
-No plan for a post-Maduro Venezuela
-No preparation for any sort of stabilization or containment of the fallout
The main Russian demand since before the 2022 invasion has been for Ukraine to give up its sovereignty. Back then, Russia wanted Ukraine to create autonomous regions that were under de facto Russian control an internal veto on big foreign/domestic policy decisions
November 24, 2025 at 3:28 PM
The main Russian demand since before the 2022 invasion has been for Ukraine to give up its sovereignty. Back then, Russia wanted Ukraine to create autonomous regions that were under de facto Russian control an internal veto on big foreign/domestic policy decisions
Really informative BBC story showing the complexity of the supposed peace plan as told through Ukrainian soldiers reacting to it
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
November 24, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Really informative BBC story showing the complexity of the supposed peace plan as told through Ukrainian soldiers reacting to it
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Reposted by Josh Kovensky
We spent a year investigating billionaires for @washingtonpost.com.
We found: the wealthiest 100 Americans gave $1.1 billion to influence the 2024 elections — 140x more than they did in 2000. And almost all of that giving boosted Republicans.
washingtonpost.com/politics/int...
We found: the wealthiest 100 Americans gave $1.1 billion to influence the 2024 elections — 140x more than they did in 2000. And almost all of that giving boosted Republicans.
washingtonpost.com/politics/int...
November 21, 2025 at 2:56 PM
We spent a year investigating billionaires for @washingtonpost.com.
We found: the wealthiest 100 Americans gave $1.1 billion to influence the 2024 elections — 140x more than they did in 2000. And almost all of that giving boosted Republicans.
washingtonpost.com/politics/int...
We found: the wealthiest 100 Americans gave $1.1 billion to influence the 2024 elections — 140x more than they did in 2000. And almost all of that giving boosted Republicans.
washingtonpost.com/politics/int...
Reposted by Josh Kovensky
The chairman of the Senate Armed Services is not a fan of the Trump admin’s Ukraine peace plan.
November 21, 2025 at 9:29 PM
The chairman of the Senate Armed Services is not a fan of the Trump admin’s Ukraine peace plan.
Reposted by Josh Kovensky
Laughing at Donald Trump saying he'd definitely feel comfortable living in Zohran Mamdani's New York on the same day that half the consultant brain-poisoned Democratic party voted to condemn socialism
November 21, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Laughing at Donald Trump saying he'd definitely feel comfortable living in Zohran Mamdani's New York on the same day that half the consultant brain-poisoned Democratic party voted to condemn socialism
Reposted by Josh Kovensky
4 senior House Dems — Hakeem Jeffries, Katherine Clark, Pete Aguilar, & Ted Lieu — voted for a Republican-led resolution to “CONDEMN SOCIALISM,” a symbolic measure that passed the chamber on Wed. The vote comes as NYC mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani is set to meet with Pres. Donald Trump at the WH today.
November 21, 2025 at 5:23 PM
4 senior House Dems — Hakeem Jeffries, Katherine Clark, Pete Aguilar, & Ted Lieu — voted for a Republican-led resolution to “CONDEMN SOCIALISM,” a symbolic measure that passed the chamber on Wed. The vote comes as NYC mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani is set to meet with Pres. Donald Trump at the WH today.
Reposted by Josh Kovensky
New from me: Trump and his allies have decided that they are the real victims of the criminal justice system.
And while restrictive immunity laws make it difficult for actual victims to get compensation, Trump plans to just skip the courts and start issuing taxpayer-funded "reparation" checks.
And while restrictive immunity laws make it difficult for actual victims to get compensation, Trump plans to just skip the courts and start issuing taxpayer-funded "reparation" checks.
MAGA's $300 million heist
Donald Trump supports immunity for cops and prosecutors. Unless they try to hold him and his allies accountable. Then we all have to pay Donald Trump.
open.substack.com
November 21, 2025 at 4:47 PM
New from me: Trump and his allies have decided that they are the real victims of the criminal justice system.
And while restrictive immunity laws make it difficult for actual victims to get compensation, Trump plans to just skip the courts and start issuing taxpayer-funded "reparation" checks.
And while restrictive immunity laws make it difficult for actual victims to get compensation, Trump plans to just skip the courts and start issuing taxpayer-funded "reparation" checks.
I'm like moderately skeptical that even if Ukraine were to agree to all these concessions, the Russians would take the deal www.wsj.com/world/zelens...
Trump Says He Wants Ukraine’s Answer on Peace Plan by Thursday
Ukraine’s president says he faces ‘very difficult choice’ over the administration’s 28-point plan, which would hand concessions to Russia.
www.wsj.com
November 21, 2025 at 5:10 PM
I'm like moderately skeptical that even if Ukraine were to agree to all these concessions, the Russians would take the deal www.wsj.com/world/zelens...
Reposted by Josh Kovensky
Solid article from @joshkovensky.bsky.social making the point that the new terrorist designations for random small European anti-fascist groups is contrary to the facts and the law—UNLESS you believe in the false antifa-as-global-bogeman conspiracy theory that the administration is trying to push.
Trump Admin Terrorist Designations Show Latest Attempt to Target Domestic Enemies
When Secretary of State Marco Rubio added four European anti-fascist groups to...
talkingpointsmemo.com
November 20, 2025 at 9:19 PM
Solid article from @joshkovensky.bsky.social making the point that the new terrorist designations for random small European anti-fascist groups is contrary to the facts and the law—UNLESS you believe in the false antifa-as-global-bogeman conspiracy theory that the administration is trying to push.
Reposted by Josh Kovensky
BREAKING: Federal judge rules that Trump's DC troop deployment is likely illegal — both as to D.C. National Guard and and out-of-state National Guard units — granting DC's request to block the use of the troops in this way.
The preliminary injunction is stayed until Dec. 11.
The preliminary injunction is stayed until Dec. 11.
November 20, 2025 at 8:09 PM
BREAKING: Federal judge rules that Trump's DC troop deployment is likely illegal — both as to D.C. National Guard and and out-of-state National Guard units — granting DC's request to block the use of the troops in this way.
The preliminary injunction is stayed until Dec. 11.
The preliminary injunction is stayed until Dec. 11.
Way more questions than answers from this one www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...
US troops storm Mexican beach in dramatic invasion
Six signs saying 'warning: restricted area' were plunged into the sand at a beach in Northeast Mexico called Playa Bagdad.
www.dailymail.co.uk
November 20, 2025 at 8:30 PM
Way more questions than answers from this one www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Josh Kovensky
Really important to duck into right-wing media from time to time, if you can manage it. Blaze is Glenn Beck's site. Beck is still going very very strong. The editor is a top guys at the Claremont Institute, making Blaze the public face of that institution's efforts to build fascism--full stop.
November 20, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Really important to duck into right-wing media from time to time, if you can manage it. Blaze is Glenn Beck's site. Beck is still going very very strong. The editor is a top guys at the Claremont Institute, making Blaze the public face of that institution's efforts to build fascism--full stop.
Larry Summers and his wife flew to Epstein's island with Ghislaine Maxwell on their honeymoon www.thecrimson.com/article/2025...
Summers Visited Epstein’s Island During 2005 Honeymoon | News | The Harvard Crimson
In the winter of 2005, just after their wedding at Elmwood — the Harvard president’s official residence — Lawrence H. Summers and his wife, Elisa F. New, traded Cambridge’s cold for a warmer escape.
www.thecrimson.com
November 20, 2025 at 5:58 PM
Larry Summers and his wife flew to Epstein's island with Ghislaine Maxwell on their honeymoon www.thecrimson.com/article/2025...
Reposted by Josh Kovensky
Federal prosecutors are moving to abandon cases they had brought against people protesting the surge of CBP and ICE agents into Chicago. It's a "stunning comedown," writes @joshkovensky.bsky.social
talkingpointsmemo.com/news/trump-a...
talkingpointsmemo.com/news/trump-a...
Trump Admin Retreats From ‘Domestic Terrorist’ Cases Against Chicago Protestors
Federal prosecutors are beating a broad retreat from cases they had brought...
talkingpointsmemo.com
November 20, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Federal prosecutors are moving to abandon cases they had brought against people protesting the surge of CBP and ICE agents into Chicago. It's a "stunning comedown," writes @joshkovensky.bsky.social
talkingpointsmemo.com/news/trump-a...
talkingpointsmemo.com/news/trump-a...