Michael McAuliff
@mcauliff.bsky.social
Covering politics and policy in Washington for Modern Healthcare. Priors include HuffPost, New York Daily News, ABC News.
Reposted by Michael McAuliff
This is just insane. It’s only a matter of time before DHS kills another innocent person here.
(clip via MPR and @davidjbier.bsky.social on X)
(clip via MPR and @davidjbier.bsky.social on X)
January 31, 2026 at 6:13 PM
This is just insane. It’s only a matter of time before DHS kills another innocent person here.
(clip via MPR and @davidjbier.bsky.social on X)
(clip via MPR and @davidjbier.bsky.social on X)
Reposted by Michael McAuliff
"MPR News has learned that the police chief in the small southern Minnesota city of St. Peter intervened Thursday afternoon to prevent federal immigration agents from arresting a local resident" who had been observing federal agents. www.mprnews.org/story/2026/0...
St. Peter police chief intervenes, prevents federal agents from arresting resident
The police chief of St. Peter intervened to prevent federal agents from taking a local resident who was observing ICE enforcement actions into custody. It is believed to the first time local police in...
www.mprnews.org
January 31, 2026 at 2:48 PM
"MPR News has learned that the police chief in the small southern Minnesota city of St. Peter intervened Thursday afternoon to prevent federal immigration agents from arresting a local resident" who had been observing federal agents. www.mprnews.org/story/2026/0...
Reposted by Michael McAuliff
Judge Biery signed the order with a photo of Liam and two bible verses: The first is "But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven." The second is simply "Jesus wept."
Astonishing thing for a judge to do.
Astonishing thing for a judge to do.
![Philadelphia, September 17, 1787: "Well, Dr. Franklin, what do we have?" "A republic, if you
can keep it."
With a judicial finger in the constitutional dike,
It is so ORDERED.
SIGNED this 31st day of February, 2026.
_________________________________________________
FRED BIERY
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
[photo of Liam]
Credit: Bystander
Matthew 19:14
John 11:35](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:73t3muu2pudsajp7a2fj3aly/bafkreigfz6fzbu65haq7nfqgaoe7m42gsaonpinpmaaptuzd5atkqvya4i@jpeg)
January 31, 2026 at 8:38 PM
Judge Biery signed the order with a photo of Liam and two bible verses: The first is "But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven." The second is simply "Jesus wept."
Astonishing thing for a judge to do.
Astonishing thing for a judge to do.
The Trumps’ windfall since the president resumed office is $4B, NYer.
Trump’s Profiteering Hits $4 Billion
In August, I reported that the President and his family had made $3.4 billion by leveraging his position. After his first year back in office, the number has ballooned.
www.newyorker.com
January 31, 2026 at 3:52 PM
The Trumps’ windfall since the president resumed office is $4B, NYer.
Reposted by Michael McAuliff
If this is the same Peter Attia MD who was just revealed as one of Bari Weiss's big new additions to CBS News, he can just tell the stories about the "outrageous" life Jeffrey Epstein led on the Evening News.
Think of the ratings!
Think of the ratings!
And Peter Attia MD telling Epstein the biggest problem with being his friend is he can’t tell anyone about the life he lives. Nice.
January 31, 2026 at 2:48 PM
If this is the same Peter Attia MD who was just revealed as one of Bari Weiss's big new additions to CBS News, he can just tell the stories about the "outrageous" life Jeffrey Epstein led on the Evening News.
Think of the ratings!
Think of the ratings!
Reposted by Michael McAuliff
Wild: (Microsoft) Xbox Live banned Epstein for being a sex offender in 2013, but Microsoft founder Bill Gates kept making appointments with him
January 31, 2026 at 12:11 AM
Wild: (Microsoft) Xbox Live banned Epstein for being a sex offender in 2013, but Microsoft founder Bill Gates kept making appointments with him
Reposted by Michael McAuliff
Recordings I obtained of Chicagoans calling 911 to report ICE activity—including Marimar Martínez’s call after an agent shot her—are included in this week’s episode of @thisamericanlife.org
What Is Your Emergency? - This American Life
911 calls unlike any we’ve heard before, and other stories about immigration agents sweeping through America.
www.thisamericanlife.org
January 31, 2026 at 2:25 PM
Recordings I obtained of Chicagoans calling 911 to report ICE activity—including Marimar Martínez’s call after an agent shot her—are included in this week’s episode of @thisamericanlife.org
Reposted by Michael McAuliff
NEW: South Carolina’s measles outbreak is country’s largest in more than 25 years. But its falling vaccination coverage + rising religious exemptions from school requirements don’t make it an outlier. My story. Gift link. 1/3
wapo.st/4rttZRg
wapo.st/4rttZRg
What South Carolina’s soaring measles outbreak means for the rest of the U.S.
More than 840 measles infections have been reported in South Carolina, surpassing the tally in Texas last year. Public health experts say it shows the risks when vaccination coverage falls.
wapo.st
January 31, 2026 at 1:05 PM
NEW: South Carolina’s measles outbreak is country’s largest in more than 25 years. But its falling vaccination coverage + rising religious exemptions from school requirements don’t make it an outlier. My story. Gift link. 1/3
wapo.st/4rttZRg
wapo.st/4rttZRg
Reposted by Michael McAuliff
ICE Expands Power of Agents to Arrest People Without Warrants www.nytimes.com/2026/01/30/u...
ICE Expands Power of Agents to Arrest People Without Warrants
www.nytimes.com
January 31, 2026 at 2:03 PM
ICE Expands Power of Agents to Arrest People Without Warrants www.nytimes.com/2026/01/30/u...
Reposted by Michael McAuliff
Springsteen’s never had a no. 1 on Billboard’s hot 100…
Bruce Springsteen sings 'Streets of Minneapolis' in Minneapolis as protest song hits No. 1
The Boss' anthem in response to the killings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good quickly topped the iTunes chart.
www.nbcnews.com
January 31, 2026 at 12:50 AM
Springsteen’s never had a no. 1 on Billboard’s hot 100…
Just a reminder. There's lots of healthcare stuff in the government funding bill. And it's now up to the Mike Johnson to pass it, and save providers another round of pain and uncertainty. Especially telehealth and community health centers.
Senate sends health, funding bill to House after ICE standoff
The legislation's passage comes too late to avoid a partial government shutdown.
www.modernhealthcare.com
January 30, 2026 at 11:47 PM
Just a reminder. There's lots of healthcare stuff in the government funding bill. And it's now up to the Mike Johnson to pass it, and save providers another round of pain and uncertainty. Especially telehealth and community health centers.
The government funding bill passes overwhelmingly, with DHS and ICE split out. 71 - 29. Now Mike Johnson needs to see if he can get it through the House before the shutdown starting at midnight goes on too long. And then Congress has two weeks to figure out ICE/DHS
There will be eight votes in total.
Paul amendment #4272
Schmitt amendment #4241
Lee amendment #4236
Lee amendment #4234
Lee amendment #4286
Sanders amendment #4290 (60 votes needed.)
Merkley amendment #4287
Passage of the Minibus, as amended, with a 60-vote threshold
Paul amendment #4272
Schmitt amendment #4241
Lee amendment #4236
Lee amendment #4234
Lee amendment #4286
Sanders amendment #4290 (60 votes needed.)
Merkley amendment #4287
Passage of the Minibus, as amended, with a 60-vote threshold
Here we go. Sounded like nine amendment votes, then passage of the government funding deal. Starting momentarily.
January 30, 2026 at 11:42 PM
The government funding bill passes overwhelmingly, with DHS and ICE split out. 71 - 29. Now Mike Johnson needs to see if he can get it through the House before the shutdown starting at midnight goes on too long. And then Congress has two weeks to figure out ICE/DHS
49 senators voted for Bernie's amendment to abolish ICE, and send the money to Medicaid. Needed 60 votes. Collins and Murkowski and the Rs who voted for it.
There will be eight votes in total.
Paul amendment #4272
Schmitt amendment #4241
Lee amendment #4236
Lee amendment #4234
Lee amendment #4286
Sanders amendment #4290 (60 votes needed.)
Merkley amendment #4287
Passage of the Minibus, as amended, with a 60-vote threshold
Paul amendment #4272
Schmitt amendment #4241
Lee amendment #4236
Lee amendment #4234
Lee amendment #4286
Sanders amendment #4290 (60 votes needed.)
Merkley amendment #4287
Passage of the Minibus, as amended, with a 60-vote threshold
Here we go. Sounded like nine amendment votes, then passage of the government funding deal. Starting momentarily.
January 30, 2026 at 11:03 PM
49 senators voted for Bernie's amendment to abolish ICE, and send the money to Medicaid. Needed 60 votes. Collins and Murkowski and the Rs who voted for it.
Reposted by Michael McAuliff
Investigative Reporters and Editors strongly condemns the arrests of journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort, who covered a Jan. 18 protest against immigration enforcement at a church in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Read IRE's statement: https://bit.ly/4rhavyW
Read IRE's statement: https://bit.ly/4rhavyW
January 30, 2026 at 9:01 PM
Investigative Reporters and Editors strongly condemns the arrests of journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort, who covered a Jan. 18 protest against immigration enforcement at a church in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Read IRE's statement: https://bit.ly/4rhavyW
Read IRE's statement: https://bit.ly/4rhavyW
Reposted by Michael McAuliff
One detail getting lost in the coverage of Don Lemon's arrest?
The church at the center of the case has ties to the Christian nationalist movement, including the “TheoBros," a loose network of mostly millennial, extremely online Christian nationalist pastors, podcasters, and shitposters.
The church at the center of the case has ties to the Christian nationalist movement, including the “TheoBros," a loose network of mostly millennial, extremely online Christian nationalist pastors, podcasters, and shitposters.
The church at the center of Don Lemon’s arrest hat ties to Christian nationalism
And the "TheoBros."
www.motherjones.com
January 30, 2026 at 7:40 PM
One detail getting lost in the coverage of Don Lemon's arrest?
The church at the center of the case has ties to the Christian nationalist movement, including the “TheoBros," a loose network of mostly millennial, extremely online Christian nationalist pastors, podcasters, and shitposters.
The church at the center of the case has ties to the Christian nationalist movement, including the “TheoBros," a loose network of mostly millennial, extremely online Christian nationalist pastors, podcasters, and shitposters.
There will be eight votes in total.
Paul amendment #4272
Schmitt amendment #4241
Lee amendment #4236
Lee amendment #4234
Lee amendment #4286
Sanders amendment #4290 (60 votes needed.)
Merkley amendment #4287
Passage of the Minibus, as amended, with a 60-vote threshold
Paul amendment #4272
Schmitt amendment #4241
Lee amendment #4236
Lee amendment #4234
Lee amendment #4286
Sanders amendment #4290 (60 votes needed.)
Merkley amendment #4287
Passage of the Minibus, as amended, with a 60-vote threshold
Here we go. Sounded like nine amendment votes, then passage of the government funding deal. Starting momentarily.
January 30, 2026 at 9:47 PM
There will be eight votes in total.
Paul amendment #4272
Schmitt amendment #4241
Lee amendment #4236
Lee amendment #4234
Lee amendment #4286
Sanders amendment #4290 (60 votes needed.)
Merkley amendment #4287
Passage of the Minibus, as amended, with a 60-vote threshold
Paul amendment #4272
Schmitt amendment #4241
Lee amendment #4236
Lee amendment #4234
Lee amendment #4286
Sanders amendment #4290 (60 votes needed.)
Merkley amendment #4287
Passage of the Minibus, as amended, with a 60-vote threshold
Reposted by Michael McAuliff
A judge has ordered the release of Twin Cities independent journalist Georgia Fort this afternoon, rejecting the U.S. government’s claims that her allegations constitute a crime of violence that necessitate keeping her detained.
Live: U.S. opens civil rights investigation in Alex Pretti’s death
President Trump labeled Pretti an “agitator” after new video showed the Minneapolis man clashing with federal agents.
bit.ly
January 30, 2026 at 8:50 PM
A judge has ordered the release of Twin Cities independent journalist Georgia Fort this afternoon, rejecting the U.S. government’s claims that her allegations constitute a crime of violence that necessitate keeping her detained.
Here we go. Sounded like nine amendment votes, then passage of the government funding deal. Starting momentarily.
January 30, 2026 at 8:45 PM
Here we go. Sounded like nine amendment votes, then passage of the government funding deal. Starting momentarily.
Reposted by Michael McAuliff
Shot and chaser from new Epstein batch
January 30, 2026 at 5:59 PM
Shot and chaser from new Epstein batch
Reposted by Michael McAuliff
Breaking on MS NOW:
@lawofruby.bsky.social reports that, in the latest release of Epstein files, the Trump DOJ produced documents revealing the names and other identifying details of known Epstein survivors.
In at least one case, MS NOW found a driver's license with an unredacted photo.
@lawofruby.bsky.social reports that, in the latest release of Epstein files, the Trump DOJ produced documents revealing the names and other identifying details of known Epstein survivors.
In at least one case, MS NOW found a driver's license with an unredacted photo.
January 30, 2026 at 6:41 PM
Breaking on MS NOW:
@lawofruby.bsky.social reports that, in the latest release of Epstein files, the Trump DOJ produced documents revealing the names and other identifying details of known Epstein survivors.
In at least one case, MS NOW found a driver's license with an unredacted photo.
@lawofruby.bsky.social reports that, in the latest release of Epstein files, the Trump DOJ produced documents revealing the names and other identifying details of known Epstein survivors.
In at least one case, MS NOW found a driver's license with an unredacted photo.
Reposted by Michael McAuliff
Q: Is the public going to learn the identities of the men who abused the girls?
Trump's Deputy AG: "Like, what does that mean? I don't understand what that means."
Trump's Deputy AG: "Like, what does that mean? I don't understand what that means."
January 30, 2026 at 6:43 PM
Q: Is the public going to learn the identities of the men who abused the girls?
Trump's Deputy AG: "Like, what does that mean? I don't understand what that means."
Trump's Deputy AG: "Like, what does that mean? I don't understand what that means."
Reposted by Michael McAuliff
I'm at the Willard Hotel where I've been denied entry and kicked out of the Reclaiming Science event with NIH director Bhattacharya & other top agency leaders.
@jocelynkaiser.bsky.social and I registered for the event months ago yet were told capacity was full, even as they let in dozens of others.
@jocelynkaiser.bsky.social and I registered for the event months ago yet were told capacity was full, even as they let in dozens of others.
January 30, 2026 at 6:07 PM
I'm at the Willard Hotel where I've been denied entry and kicked out of the Reclaiming Science event with NIH director Bhattacharya & other top agency leaders.
@jocelynkaiser.bsky.social and I registered for the event months ago yet were told capacity was full, even as they let in dozens of others.
@jocelynkaiser.bsky.social and I registered for the event months ago yet were told capacity was full, even as they let in dozens of others.
Reposted by Michael McAuliff
There's been absolutely no public hearing on this bill, no chance for D.C. residents to weigh in on whether it should be left to their elected officials to determine tax policy or unaccountable members of Congress. (The bill was quietly introduced on January 22.)
It looks like the House is indeed voting on H.J. Res. 142 next week, which would nullify the "D.C. Income and Franchise Tax Conformity and Revision Temporary Amendment Act of 2025," costing the District government *$224 million* in the current FY 2026...
January 30, 2026 at 6:33 PM
There's been absolutely no public hearing on this bill, no chance for D.C. residents to weigh in on whether it should be left to their elected officials to determine tax policy or unaccountable members of Congress. (The bill was quietly introduced on January 22.)
With the Senate at a standstill, Schumer uses the opportunity to talk about the Epstein files. "This morning, we got news that another tranche of Epstein files was released by the DOJ.
But these releases raise far more questions than answers."
But these releases raise far more questions than answers."
January 30, 2026 at 6:36 PM
With the Senate at a standstill, Schumer uses the opportunity to talk about the Epstein files. "This morning, we got news that another tranche of Epstein files was released by the DOJ.
But these releases raise far more questions than answers."
But these releases raise far more questions than answers."
Reposted by Michael McAuliff
Strange, I was told autonomous vehicles would end crashes
Tesla's own Robotaxi data confirms crash rate 3x worse than humans even with monitor
Tesla’s nascent robotaxi program is off to a rough start. New NHTSA crash data, combined with Tesla’s new disclosure of...
electrek.co
January 30, 2026 at 4:54 PM
Strange, I was told autonomous vehicles would end crashes