Ken Bazinet
@kenbazinet.bsky.social
Longtime DC scribe, covering three presidencies (DC is fine, but I prefer the United States). Reflections on democracy, First Amendment, Boston sports, and jam bands. Simple approach: trusted source intel + research & data + analysis = smart solutions.
Pinned
Ken Bazinet
@kenbazinet.bsky.social
· Jan 20
Having to fight for the pursuit of happiness is one of the great but necessary ironies of our lifetimes, but having people who will fight for our pursuit of happiness is one of its great blessings. #Resist #Organize #StayStrong
Reposted by Ken Bazinet
Holocaust survivors, politicians and regular people commemorated International Holocaust Remembrance Day on Tuesday, gathering at events held across Europe to reflect on Nazi Germany’s killing of millions of people.
World pauses to commemorate International Holocaust Remembrance Day
People across Europe and beyond are commemorating International Holocaust Remembrance Day. They are pausing to reflect on the killing of millions of lives and attempts to wipe out Jewish life in Europe more than eight decades ago.
bit.ly
January 27, 2026 at 4:45 PM
Holocaust survivors, politicians and regular people commemorated International Holocaust Remembrance Day on Tuesday, gathering at events held across Europe to reflect on Nazi Germany’s killing of millions of people.
"There is no issue in America that is more important than killing our nascent police state in its crib," writes Steve Schmidt.
"The question remains. It has always been the same since day one of this travesty: America or Trump?"
#GetOrganized and #Unite
"The question remains. It has always been the same since day one of this travesty: America or Trump?"
#GetOrganized and #Unite
Americans will destroy MAGA
We are living through a season of government terror, abuse, atrocities, corruption and lies unprecedented in American history.
steveschmidt.substack.com
January 27, 2026 at 5:06 PM
"There is no issue in America that is more important than killing our nascent police state in its crib," writes Steve Schmidt.
"The question remains. It has always been the same since day one of this travesty: America or Trump?"
#GetOrganized and #Unite
"The question remains. It has always been the same since day one of this travesty: America or Trump?"
#GetOrganized and #Unite
Homeland security chairs, GOP Rep. Andrew Garbarino (NY) and Sen. Rand Paul (KY), requested testimony from senior officials with ICE, Customs and Border Protection and Citizen and Immigration Services, though they didn't mention the Pretti shooting in their letters to the officials, Forbes reported.
These Republicans Are Breaking With Trump Over Pretti Shooting
Pence called for a “full and transparent investigation of this officer involved shooting.”
www.forbes.com
January 27, 2026 at 4:52 PM
Homeland security chairs, GOP Rep. Andrew Garbarino (NY) and Sen. Rand Paul (KY), requested testimony from senior officials with ICE, Customs and Border Protection and Citizen and Immigration Services, though they didn't mention the Pretti shooting in their letters to the officials, Forbes reported.
Reposted by Ken Bazinet
It's not quite the most pressing issue at the moment, but the American people absolutely have a right to know the names of the federal officials who shot and killed a man peacefully protesting, who was on his knees, prone in the street when they shot him in the back.
January 27, 2026 at 1:58 PM
It's not quite the most pressing issue at the moment, but the American people absolutely have a right to know the names of the federal officials who shot and killed a man peacefully protesting, who was on his knees, prone in the street when they shot him in the back.
Reposted by Ken Bazinet
As we await Senate action on the remaining spending bills, remember that Susan Collins could make a difference by stripping out DHS from the rest of the government funding bills. But she won't because she is just as MAGA as the rest of them.
January 26, 2026 at 11:15 PM
As we await Senate action on the remaining spending bills, remember that Susan Collins could make a difference by stripping out DHS from the rest of the government funding bills. But she won't because she is just as MAGA as the rest of them.
“People are very much going to remember this moment and look back on it as kind of a real bellwether as to what kind of leadership they’re looking for,” Graham Platner told the Globe.
#Resist
#Organize
#StayStrong
#Resist
#Organize
#StayStrong
Senate race was already getting intense in Maine. Then ICE came. - The Boston Globe
While the arrival of ICE has increased scrutiny on Senator Susan Collins, it has also served to more sharply define the Democratic contest.
www.bostonglobe.com
January 27, 2026 at 2:06 PM
“People are very much going to remember this moment and look back on it as kind of a real bellwether as to what kind of leadership they’re looking for,” Graham Platner told the Globe.
#Resist
#Organize
#StayStrong
#Resist
#Organize
#StayStrong
“The Court acknowledges that ordering the head of a federal agency to personally appear is an extraordinary step, but the extent of ICE’s violation of court orders is likewise extraordinary, and lesser measures have been tried and failed,” Chief Judge Patrick Schiltz wrote.
Judge orders acting ICE director to appear in federal court in Minneapolis
Minnesota’s chief federal judge is ordering the head of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to appear personally in a Minneapolis courtroom on Friday, with the judge saying that ICE has failed to...
www.mprnews.org
January 27, 2026 at 1:52 PM
“The Court acknowledges that ordering the head of a federal agency to personally appear is an extraordinary step, but the extent of ICE’s violation of court orders is likewise extraordinary, and lesser measures have been tried and failed,” Chief Judge Patrick Schiltz wrote.
National Rifle Association, longtime Trump ally, posted that remarks by acting U.S. attorney for the Central District of California Bill Essayli were “dangerous and wrong,” and called for a full investigation rather than “making generalizations and demonizing law-abiding citizens.”
#Constitution
#Constitution
Gun rights groups blast Trump over Minnesota response
Gun ownership advocates are pushing back against the Trump administration over its response to the killing of Alex Pretti on Saturday.
www.politico.com
January 27, 2026 at 1:26 PM
National Rifle Association, longtime Trump ally, posted that remarks by acting U.S. attorney for the Central District of California Bill Essayli were “dangerous and wrong,” and called for a full investigation rather than “making generalizations and demonizing law-abiding citizens.”
#Constitution
#Constitution
Reposted by Ken Bazinet
The American Federation of Government Employees, which represents border patrol officers at the National Border Patrol Council, calls on Kristi Noem and Stephen Miller to resign or be fired
January 27, 2026 at 2:07 AM
The American Federation of Government Employees, which represents border patrol officers at the National Border Patrol Council, calls on Kristi Noem and Stephen Miller to resign or be fired
"Officials who rush to judgment before all the facts are known undermine public trust and the law-enforcement mission," GOP Sen. John Curtis of Utah said in a statement.
"I disagree with Secretary Noem's premature DHS response, which came before all the facts were known and weakened confidence."
"I disagree with Secretary Noem's premature DHS response, which came before all the facts were known and weakened confidence."
Sen. Curtis criticizes Trump administration, calls for investigation into Minneapolis shooting
Utah Sen. John Curtis called Monday for a
www.ksl.com
January 27, 2026 at 6:43 AM
"Officials who rush to judgment before all the facts are known undermine public trust and the law-enforcement mission," GOP Sen. John Curtis of Utah said in a statement.
"I disagree with Secretary Noem's premature DHS response, which came before all the facts were known and weakened confidence."
"I disagree with Secretary Noem's premature DHS response, which came before all the facts were known and weakened confidence."
Over the weekend, senior administration officials including Stephen Miller, deputy chief of staff, called the victim “a domestic terrorist who tried to assassinate law enforcement”, while Kristi Noem, homeland security secretary, accused him of perpetrating “the definition of domestic terrorism”.
White House backtracks initial claims about Alex Pretti after intense backlash
Widely circulated video of Pretti’s killing by federal agents undercut earlier assertions of him being a gunman
www.theguardian.com
January 27, 2026 at 5:51 AM
Over the weekend, senior administration officials including Stephen Miller, deputy chief of staff, called the victim “a domestic terrorist who tried to assassinate law enforcement”, while Kristi Noem, homeland security secretary, accused him of perpetrating “the definition of domestic terrorism”.
Reposted by Ken Bazinet
if Tom "Cava Bag" Homan is your emergency crisis comms guy, you're fucked
January 26, 2026 at 6:47 PM
if Tom "Cava Bag" Homan is your emergency crisis comms guy, you're fucked
Bovino has been removed from his role and will return to his former job in El Centro, CA, where he is expected to retire soon, reports Nick Miroff.
Kristi Noem and her close adviser Corey Lewandowski, who were Bovino’s biggest backers at DHS, are also at risk of losing their jobs, sources said.
Kristi Noem and her close adviser Corey Lewandowski, who were Bovino’s biggest backers at DHS, are also at risk of losing their jobs, sources said.
Greg Bovino Loses His Job
The Border Patrol chief has been ousted from his role as “commander at large,” and will return to El Centro.
www.theatlantic.com
January 27, 2026 at 1:07 AM
Bovino has been removed from his role and will return to his former job in El Centro, CA, where he is expected to retire soon, reports Nick Miroff.
Kristi Noem and her close adviser Corey Lewandowski, who were Bovino’s biggest backers at DHS, are also at risk of losing their jobs, sources said.
Kristi Noem and her close adviser Corey Lewandowski, who were Bovino’s biggest backers at DHS, are also at risk of losing their jobs, sources said.
”What’s going on in this country right now is absolutely horrific," Natalie Portman told Deadline. "What the federal government, Trump’s government, Kristi Noem, ICE — what they’re doing is really the worst of the worst of humanity."
#GetOrganized
#GetOrganized
Sundance Takes To The Streets Against ICE & Latest Killing; Elijah Wood Among Demonstrators
About hundred protesters and Elijah Wood attended an anti-ICE protest at the Sundance Film Festival.
deadline.com
January 26, 2026 at 9:25 PM
”What’s going on in this country right now is absolutely horrific," Natalie Portman told Deadline. "What the federal government, Trump’s government, Kristi Noem, ICE — what they’re doing is really the worst of the worst of humanity."
#GetOrganized
#GetOrganized
“The administration may not threaten ICE deployment to pressure states to cooperate with its improper efforts to interfere in elections,” Wendy Weiser, vice-president for democracy at the Brennan Center said online, The Guardian reported.
#Blackmail
#Blackmail
Critics slam Pam Bondi’s demand for Minnesota voter rolls amid ICE surge
Outrage mounts after US attorney general’s request as state reels from the weekend killing of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis
www.theguardian.com
January 26, 2026 at 9:10 PM
“The administration may not threaten ICE deployment to pressure states to cooperate with its improper efforts to interfere in elections,” Wendy Weiser, vice-president for democracy at the Brennan Center said online, The Guardian reported.
#Blackmail
#Blackmail
“I failed to view the D.H.S. funding vote as a referendum on the illegal and immoral conduct of ICE in Minneapolis,” Mr. Suozzi wrote, The Times reported. “I hear the anger from many of my constituents, and I take responsibility for that.”
Democrat Who Voted for D.H.S. Funding Suggests He Now Regrets It
www.nytimes.com
January 26, 2026 at 9:01 PM
“I failed to view the D.H.S. funding vote as a referendum on the illegal and immoral conduct of ICE in Minneapolis,” Mr. Suozzi wrote, The Times reported. “I hear the anger from many of my constituents, and I take responsibility for that.”
Reposted by Ken Bazinet
COLUMN: ICE shootings are freaking out the GOP — but they’re afraid to tell Trump, writes our politics bureau chief Jonathan Martin.
He decodes top Republicans' messaging on what's become a deepening crisis for the White House👇
politi.co/4t5sABW
He decodes top Republicans' messaging on what's become a deepening crisis for the White House👇
politi.co/4t5sABW
January 26, 2026 at 6:51 PM
COLUMN: ICE shootings are freaking out the GOP — but they’re afraid to tell Trump, writes our politics bureau chief Jonathan Martin.
He decodes top Republicans' messaging on what's become a deepening crisis for the White House👇
politi.co/4t5sABW
He decodes top Republicans' messaging on what's become a deepening crisis for the White House👇
politi.co/4t5sABW
Reposted by Ken Bazinet
New in PN: The regime's mind-bending lies are a tactic
"The VP told them they could kill anyone who annoyed them. Pretti annoyed them. So they killed him. Now the lies Bovino and Noem are telling about Pretti’s death are intended to encourage further extrajudicial executions and likely will do so."
"The VP told them they could kill anyone who annoyed them. Pretti annoyed them. So they killed him. Now the lies Bovino and Noem are telling about Pretti’s death are intended to encourage further extrajudicial executions and likely will do so."
The regime's mind-bending lies are a tactic
Thinking about them in terms of truth or falsity is a category error.
www.publicnotice.co
January 26, 2026 at 12:48 PM
New in PN: The regime's mind-bending lies are a tactic
"The VP told them they could kill anyone who annoyed them. Pretti annoyed them. So they killed him. Now the lies Bovino and Noem are telling about Pretti’s death are intended to encourage further extrajudicial executions and likely will do so."
"The VP told them they could kill anyone who annoyed them. Pretti annoyed them. So they killed him. Now the lies Bovino and Noem are telling about Pretti’s death are intended to encourage further extrajudicial executions and likely will do so."
“I cannot support the national Republicans’ stated retribution on the citizens of our state,” Chris Madel said in a video posted on social media, “nor can I count myself a member of a party that would do so.”
“United States citizens are carrying papers to prove their citizenship. That’s wrong.
“United States citizens are carrying papers to prove their citizenship. That’s wrong.
Chris Madel, a Republican running for Minnesota governor, ends his bid and criticizes ICE | CNN Politics
Chris Madel, a Minneapolis lawyer who represented the immigration agent who fatally shot Renee Good, said Monday that he was ending his Republican campaign for governor of Minnesota after a second pro...
www.cnn.com
January 26, 2026 at 6:09 PM
“I cannot support the national Republicans’ stated retribution on the citizens of our state,” Chris Madel said in a video posted on social media, “nor can I count myself a member of a party that would do so.”
“United States citizens are carrying papers to prove their citizenship. That’s wrong.
“United States citizens are carrying papers to prove their citizenship. That’s wrong.
Reposted by Ken Bazinet
Apparently our electricity bills are going through the roof and this is partly related to data centers that hog huge amounts of electricity to generate information. I, for one, feel hopping mad about this. The companies that are using the data centers should bear the cost.
time.com/7355839/why-...
time.com/7355839/why-...
5 Big Reasons Why Electricity Prices Are So High Right Now
The average U.S. household is projected to spend nearly $1,000 this winter to heat its home.
time.com
January 25, 2026 at 9:33 PM
Apparently our electricity bills are going through the roof and this is partly related to data centers that hog huge amounts of electricity to generate information. I, for one, feel hopping mad about this. The companies that are using the data centers should bear the cost.
time.com/7355839/why-...
time.com/7355839/why-...
“The Trump Administration spin on this simply isn’t believable," the Wall Street Journal editorial declared.
"Stephen Miller, the political architect of the mass deportation policy, called Pretti a ‘domestic terrorist.’ He was a nurse without a criminal record.”
"Stephen Miller, the political architect of the mass deportation policy, called Pretti a ‘domestic terrorist.’ He was a nurse without a criminal record.”
‘Moral and Political Debacle’: The Wall Street Journal Nukes Trump Over Alex Pretti Shooting
‘Moral and Political Debacle’: The Wall Street Journal Nukes Trump Over Alex Pretti Shooting
The Wall Street Journal took the Trump administration to task in an editorial decrying both the death of Alex Pretti and the reaction to it on Sunday.
The post ‘Moral and Political Debacle’: The Wall Street Journal Nukes Trump Over Alex Pretti Shooting first appeared on Mediaite.
dlvr.it
January 26, 2026 at 5:30 PM
“The Trump Administration spin on this simply isn’t believable," the Wall Street Journal editorial declared.
"Stephen Miller, the political architect of the mass deportation policy, called Pretti a ‘domestic terrorist.’ He was a nurse without a criminal record.”
"Stephen Miller, the political architect of the mass deportation policy, called Pretti a ‘domestic terrorist.’ He was a nurse without a criminal record.”
Reposted by Ken Bazinet
NY Post Calls on Trump to ‘De-Escalate’ in Minneapolis — and Pull Kristi Noem Off of TV — in Stunning Editorial
NY Post Calls on Trump to ‘De-Escalate’ in Minneapolis — and Pull Kristi Noem Off of TV — in Stunning Editorial
The New York Post called out the "alacritous and misleading rhetoric" coming from Trump's administration in the wake of Saturday's shooting in Minneapolis.
The post NY Post Calls on Trump to ‘De-Escalate’ in Minneapolis — and Pull Kristi Noem Off of TV — in Stunning Editorial first appeared on Mediaite.
dlvr.it
January 26, 2026 at 2:04 PM
NY Post Calls on Trump to ‘De-Escalate’ in Minneapolis — and Pull Kristi Noem Off of TV — in Stunning Editorial
"This has nothing to do with fraud,” Gov. Walz said.
"And I would just I would just give a pro tip to the attorney general: there’s two million documents in the Epstein files we’re still waiting on. Go ahead and work on those.”
"And I would just I would just give a pro tip to the attorney general: there’s two million documents in the Epstein files we’re still waiting on. Go ahead and work on those.”
‘Pro Tip’: Tim Walz Tells Pam Bondi to ‘Work On’ the Epstein Files, Rather Than Focus on Minnesota Fraud
‘Pro Tip’: Tim Walz Tells Pam Bondi to ‘Work On’ the Epstein Files, Rather Than Focus on Minnesota Fraud
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz offered AG Pam Bondi a "pro tip" on Sunday: she should "work on" releasing the files tied to dead sex criminal Jeffrey Epstein
The post ‘Pro Tip’: Tim Walz Tells Pam Bondi to ‘Work On’ the Epstein Files, Rather Than Focus on Minnesota Fraud first appeared on Mediaite.
dlvr.it
January 26, 2026 at 5:22 PM
"This has nothing to do with fraud,” Gov. Walz said.
"And I would just I would just give a pro tip to the attorney general: there’s two million documents in the Epstein files we’re still waiting on. Go ahead and work on those.”
"And I would just I would just give a pro tip to the attorney general: there’s two million documents in the Epstein files we’re still waiting on. Go ahead and work on those.”
Reposted by Ken Bazinet
Alex Pretti was an American hero, and Stephen Miller is a domestic terrorist.
January 26, 2026 at 1:32 AM
Alex Pretti was an American hero, and Stephen Miller is a domestic terrorist.
Reposted by Ken Bazinet
Just kinda seems like refusing to tell us which ICE agents murdered Alex Pretti undercuts the idea that they’re wearing masks to protect themselves — rather than to be able to kill people with impunity.
January 26, 2026 at 2:07 PM
Just kinda seems like refusing to tell us which ICE agents murdered Alex Pretti undercuts the idea that they’re wearing masks to protect themselves — rather than to be able to kill people with impunity.