Mark Follman
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markfollman.bsky.social
Mark Follman
@markfollman.bsky.social
18K followers 480 following 1.5K posts
Author, dad, journalist at Mother Jones/CIR. My book TRIGGER POINTS is the story of expert teams who are preventing mass shootings, from K-12 schools to the FBI https://www.amazon.com/dp/0062973533/
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markfollman.bsky.social
Mark Follman @markfollman.bsky.social · Mar 30
Some cool news: My investigation “Lessons From a Mass Shooter’s Mother”—chronicling how a killer's mom is now trying to help stop other massacres—is a National Magazine Award finalist x 2. In profile, and 1 of 2 @motherjones.com cover stories in General Excellence www.motherjones.com/criminal-jus...
Lessons from a mass shooter's mother
A decade after her son committed a massacre, Chin Rodger is on a quest to help prevent the next tragedy.
www.motherjones.com
markfollman.bsky.social
Extraordinary interview. The woman who captured the killing of Alex Pretti on video, Stella Carlson, speaks out. www.cnn.com/2026/01/27/u...
Exclusive: ‘Pink coat lady’ who recorded fatal encounter between federal officers and Alex Pretti speaks to Anderson Cooper | CNN
Anderson speaks with Stella Carlson, the witness who captured crucial video showing exactly what happened when Alex Pretti was shot and killed by DHS officers.
www.cnn.com
January 28, 2026 at 7:01 AM
Reposted by Mark Follman
governorwalz.mn.gov
I’m glad that Congresswoman Omar is safe.

Our state has been shattered by political violence in the last year. The cruel, inflammatory, dehumanizing rhetoric by our nation’s leaders needs to stop immediately.

www.startribune.com/man-tackled-...
Man sprays unknown substance on Rep. Ilhan Omar and is tackled at Minneapolis town hall
A man sprayed an unknown substance on Democratic U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar and was tackled to the ground Tuesday during a town hall she was hosting in Minneapolis, where tensions over federal immigration e...
www.startribune.com
January 28, 2026 at 3:00 AM
Reposted by Mark Follman
nycsouthpaw.bsky.social
Ilhan Omar is an American hero. www.nytimes.com/live/2026/01...
Ms. Omar, visibly shaken after the assault, insisted to her staff and security that she would continue. She asked for a napkin and told them: "Just give me 10 minutes. I beg you. Please don't let them have the show." Ms. Omar then turned the crowd. "Here's the reality that people like this ugly man don't understand," she said. "We are Minnesota strong, and we will stay resilient in the face of whatever they might throw at us." Someone in the crowd later thanked Ms. Omar for staying and continuing after the assault, which had shaken not only her but the entire room. "I learned at a young age you don't give in to threats," Ms. Omar said.
January 28, 2026 at 2:06 AM
Reposted by Mark Follman
sahilkapur.bsky.social
Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., rolls out his demand for supporting a DHS appropriations bill: fire Stephen Miller
January 28, 2026 at 3:19 AM
markfollman.bsky.social
Horrifying. In my work on violence prevention over the years I’ve studied many stalking cases and assassination attempts and this is highly recognizable behavior.... America is in a precarious place
phillewis.bsky.social Phil Lewis @phillewis.bsky.social · 16h
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Man tackled to ground after spraying unknown substance on Rep. Ilhan Omar at town hall in Minneapolis.
January 28, 2026 at 1:37 AM
Reposted by Mark Follman
julialurie.bsky.social
I grew up in Minneapolis, and returned last week to find a city that felt like it was under siege—and a city coming together in a way that was unlike anything I’ve ever witnessed. Here’s my story: part scene piece, part love letter to my hometown www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
“We’re going to still be looking out for each other when they’re gone”
On the ground with the Minnesotans standing up to ICE.
www.motherjones.com
January 27, 2026 at 8:01 PM
markfollman.bsky.social
Must-read, gutting reporting from @samanthamichaels.bsky.social www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
How a violent, warrantless ICE raid devastated a Memphis family
"I hope they all go to hell and burn."
www.motherjones.com
January 27, 2026 at 11:50 PM
markfollman.bsky.social
Yet another stark measure of the Trump administration’s overreach and growing lawlessness. (Notably, this federal judge was appointed by George W. Bush and clerked for Justice Antonin Scalia) www.nytimes.com/2026/01/27/u...
Judge Orders ICE Chief to Appear in Court Over Potential Contempt
www.nytimes.com
January 27, 2026 at 11:31 PM
markfollman.bsky.social
AI companies aiming to exploit the work of... every author on the planet

“Project Panama is our effort to destructively scan all the books in the world,” an internal planning document unsealed in legal filings said. “We don’t want it to be known that we are working on this.” wapo.st/4rjXAMQ (gift)
Inside a tech company’s secretive plan to destroy millions of books
Court filings reveal how AI companies raced to obtain more books to feed chatbots, including by buying, scanning and disposing of millions of titles.
wapo.st
January 27, 2026 at 8:09 PM
markfollman.bsky.social
For the record, we shined a light on Trump's embrace of white supremacist figures and far-right extremist rhetoric in a big investigation... published 10 years ago www.motherjones.com/politics/201...
January 27, 2026 at 7:55 PM
markfollman.bsky.social
Trump administration posts "have referred to neo-Nazi literature, ethnic cleansing and QAnon conspiracies, mused about deporting nearly a third of the U.S. population, and promoted lyrics from an anthem bellowed by the far-right militants of the Proud Boys." www.nytimes.com/2026/01/27/u...
Administration Social Media Posts Echo White Supremacist Messaging
www.nytimes.com
January 27, 2026 at 7:43 PM
markfollman.bsky.social
“I do think that he will lose the midterms because of Stephen Miller,” she said of Trump. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/27/u...
‘Latinas for Trump’ Co-Founder Warns Immigration Will Cost G.O.P. the Midterms
www.nytimes.com
January 27, 2026 at 7:37 PM
Reposted by Mark Follman
motherjones.com
Ian Austin, an Army veteran, was arrested for protesting ICE in Minneapolis. But he’s continued protesting. Senior reporter @julialurie.bsky.social spoke to him.

“When they say, ‘Why would you be out here?’ How the fuck could I not be out here?” he says. “My nation is under attack."
January 27, 2026 at 5:30 PM
Reposted by Mark Follman
thetnholler.bsky.social
ALEX PRETTI’S PARENTS: “He was a VA nurse who cared about people deeply, and he was very upset with what was happening with ICE... kidnapping children, grabbing people off the street — he knew it was wrong. He loved this country."

(H/T @katiecouric.bsky.social )
January 27, 2026 at 3:13 AM
Reposted by Mark Follman
daveweigel.bsky.social
Philip Glass boycotting the Kennedy Center
Philip Glass boycotting the Kennedy Center
Philip Glass boycotting the Kennedy Center
Philip Glass
Philip Glass
Philip Glass
Philip Glass
Philip Glass boycotting the Kennedy Center
January 27, 2026 at 4:17 PM
Reposted by Mark Follman
carlquintanilla.bsky.social
“.. Only one ticket sold for premiere of film about US first lady at Vue’s flagship London branch ..”

@lbc.co.uk #$AMZN
www.lbc.co.uk/article/mela...
January 27, 2026 at 1:07 PM
markfollman.bsky.social
Beyond sickening. Kristi Noem should be impeached for her lies and lack of accountability, and these federal agents who shot Alex Pretti point-blank in the back must be the subject of a fully independent investigation www.nytimes.com/video/us/100...
Video: New Video Analysis Reveals Flawed and Fatal Decisions in Shooting of Pretti
A frame-by-frame assessment of actions by Alex Pretti and the two officers who fired 10 times shows how lethal force came to be used against a target who didn’t pose a threat.
www.nytimes.com
January 27, 2026 at 3:14 PM
Reposted by Mark Follman
markfollman.bsky.social
They did it again with the killing of Alex Pretti—instant coordinated lies about “domestic terrorism.” But even beyond recent assassinations and shootings, the distinction now is that the deaths Trump seeks to exploit are at the hands of his own deportation forces www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
How Trump is using violent tragedies to divide America
ICE shootings, assassinations, mass attacks, and other traumas all serve as ammo for the demagogue in chief.
www.motherjones.com
January 26, 2026 at 5:30 PM
markfollman.bsky.social
Parents unsure of how to cope with RFK Jr's insanity can now look to the American Academy of Pediatrics on vaccines www.wsj.com/health/healt...
Defying CDC, Pediatricians Recommend All Kids Get Vaccinations Against 18 Diseases
The American Academy of Pediatrics’ recommendations for hepatitis B, influenza and other shots buck changes made by the Trump administration.
www.wsj.com
January 26, 2026 at 9:41 PM
markfollman.bsky.social
“It’s a shakedown. They’re trying to use the power of the federal government to scare Minnesota officials into handing over voter rolls... Trump wants that state voter data so that he has the ability to interfere with the upcoming midterm elections.” www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
DOJ’s “ransom” letter to Minnesota reveals how Trump plans to rig the midterms
After a Border Patrol agent killed Alex Pretti, Attorney General Pam Bondi tells Minnesota to hand over its voter roll to “bring an end to the chaos.”
www.motherjones.com
January 26, 2026 at 8:57 PM
Reposted by Mark Follman
jamellebouie.net
an administration that understood it needed at least *some* public opinion on its side would dump bovino immediately
markfollman.bsky.social Mark Follman @markfollman.bsky.social · 2d
DHS is using explosives on people’s homes???

“Bovino has often used the phrase “turn and burn” to describe Border Patrol operations, a reference to actions like smashing windshields, using explosives to blow down the doors of homes and engaging in car chases.” www.nytimes.com/2026/01/26/u...
Bovino has often used the phrase “turn and burn” to describe Border Patrol operations, a reference to actions like smashing windshields, using explosives to blow down the doors of homes and engaging in car chases.
January 26, 2026 at 4:54 PM
markfollman.bsky.social
Great that Trump appears to be seeking an off-ramp with Walz now that his ugly agenda is starting to crack under national outrage—but also a reminder that Trump was vicious to Walz after a far-right extremist shot and murdered MN lawmakers last year, and he even shamefully implied Walz was behind it
“So whacked out” Depending on who the victims are, Trump’s divisiveness has taken other forms—including what he doesn’t say or do in the aftermath. Back in June of last year, when a man in Minnesota hunted two Democratic state lawmakers at their homes, fatally shooting former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband and wounding Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Trump was notably muted as a search was underway for the suspect. Trump offered only a brief, uncharacteristic written statement, posted by Leavitt on his behalf, in which he denounced the violence generally and said that the DOJ and FBI were fully on the case. After the suspect was captured and evidence emerged that he was a Trump supporter who held extreme far-right views, Trump began using media interviews to trash Gov. Tim Walz as “grossly incompetent” and “a terrible governor.” Normally after such a rare, high-stakes catastrophe, a president would offer support to regional leaders directly impacted, but not in this case. Trump sowed uncertainty in the media about whether he would reach out to Walz, and when asked again three days after the assassinations, he scoffed. “I think the governor of Minnesota is so whacked out. I’m not calling him,” he said. “The guy doesn’t have a clue. He’s a mess.” Three months later, when asked by a reporter why he hadn’t ordered US flags lowered in honor of Hortman—as he had just done for Kirk—Trump said he was “not familiar” with who Hortman was. He added that he “wouldn’t have thought of” lowering flags for her and blamed Walz for not making the request. Earlier this January, Trump promoted a delusional conspiracy theory on social media suggesting that Walz himself was behind Hortman’s killing.
January 26, 2026 at 8:26 PM
Reposted by Mark Follman
governorwalz.mn.gov
I spoke to the President earlier. We had a productive conversation and I explained to him that his staff doesn’t have their facts straight about Minnesota. My thoughts in the Wall Street Journal:

www.wsj.com/opinion/tim-...
Opinion | Tim Walz: The Un-American Assault on Minnesota
Federal officials are lying. My state’s Corrections Department honors all immigration detainers.
www.wsj.com
January 26, 2026 at 6:24 PM
Reposted by Mark Follman
govpritzker.illinois.gov
Here's the thing, Greg — free speech is still protected by the First Amendment under the Constitution.

If you want folks to stop saying you're the secret police who are kidnapping and killing people, maybe stop acting like the secret police who are kidnapping and killing people.
atrupar.com Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 2d
Bovino: "When politicians, community leaders, & some journalists engage in that heated rhetoric we keep talking about, when they make the choice to vilify law enforcement calling law enforcement 'Gestapo' or using the term 'kidnapping,' that is a choice & there are actions & consequences."
January 26, 2026 at 7:33 PM
markfollman.bsky.social
"President Trump and his Department of Homeland Security in many ways appear to be attempting to provoke an actual showdown between federal forces and local or state authorities."

Another must-read from @vermontgmg.bsky.social www.wired.com/story/why-mi...
Why Minnesota Can’t Do More to Stop ICE
Democratic lawmakers have few options that wouldn’t trigger something like civil war.
www.wired.com
January 26, 2026 at 7:39 PM