Michael Leo Owens
@milophd.bsky.social
A pluviophile, melomaniac, gardener, karaoke fiend, & academic, punching above his weight in any ring and on any street. Atlantan by labor; New Yorker by birth. Coauthor of Deadly Force: Police Shootings in Urban America (Princeton University Press, 2025).
Pinned
Michael Leo Owens
@milophd.bsky.social
· Jan 20
The Mastery of Fear
kinginstitute.stanford.edu
“A further step in mastering fear is to remember that it always involves the misuse of the imagination…” - MLK Jr. kinginstitute.stanford.edu/king-papers/...
Reposted by Michael Leo Owens
Blowing the whistle always takes courage.
In Trump's America, it gets you fired.
In Trump's America, it gets you fired.
SCOOP—In August, nearly 200 current/former FEMA staffers published the Katrina Declaration, a whistleblower letter detailing all the dangers posed by current leadership.
All current employees were put on indefinite leave, and now I've learned one has been fired in violation of federal protections:
All current employees were put on indefinite leave, and now I've learned one has been fired in violation of federal protections:
FEMA employee terminated for signing whistleblower letter
It appears to be a major violation of federal whistleblower protections and constitutional rights.
www.thehandbasket.co
November 26, 2025 at 10:39 PM
Blowing the whistle always takes courage.
In Trump's America, it gets you fired.
In Trump's America, it gets you fired.
“There are currently 2,188 troops assigned to the joint task force operating in the city …” They were unable/unavailable through their presence in the city to stop two of their own from being shot. Adding another 500 troops will do what for whom how?
BREAKING: The Trump administration orders 500 more National Guard members to Washington after shooting, Pete Hegseth says.
Trump administration orders 500 more National Guard troops to DC after shooting of soldiers
The Trump administration has ordered 500 more National Guard members to Washington following the shooting of Guard troops.
bit.ly
November 26, 2025 at 10:45 PM
“There are currently 2,188 troops assigned to the joint task force operating in the city …” They were unable/unavailable through their presence in the city to stop two of their own from being shot. Adding another 500 troops will do what for whom how?
Reposted by Michael Leo Owens
November 26, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Reposted by Michael Leo Owens
Trump’s size obsession has put him at odds with the architect, who reportedly argues the 90,000 sq. ft. ballroom would overshadow the 55,000 sq. ft. White House, violating basic architectural principles.
It's, ultimately, another illustration of the crumbling checks and balances. trib.al/tAhurYp
It's, ultimately, another illustration of the crumbling checks and balances. trib.al/tAhurYp
November 26, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Trump’s size obsession has put him at odds with the architect, who reportedly argues the 90,000 sq. ft. ballroom would overshadow the 55,000 sq. ft. White House, violating basic architectural principles.
It's, ultimately, another illustration of the crumbling checks and balances. trib.al/tAhurYp
It's, ultimately, another illustration of the crumbling checks and balances. trib.al/tAhurYp
Reposted by Michael Leo Owens
We're hiring ASAP for a new team dedicated to ensuring that communities can continue to speak out & engage politically despite the increasing use of levers of federal power to quash protests, quell dissent, and intimidate political opponents. Priority deadline: 12/7
https://protectdemocracy.org/jobs
https://protectdemocracy.org/jobs
November 26, 2025 at 6:08 PM
We're hiring ASAP for a new team dedicated to ensuring that communities can continue to speak out & engage politically despite the increasing use of levers of federal power to quash protests, quell dissent, and intimidate political opponents. Priority deadline: 12/7
https://protectdemocracy.org/jobs
https://protectdemocracy.org/jobs
Reposted by Michael Leo Owens
"I begin the process of evaluating this case with a basic truth: It is not illegal to question or challenge election results"
bitch, what about telling Georgia's Secretary of State to "find 11,780 votes" ?
www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
bitch, what about telling Georgia's Secretary of State to "find 11,780 votes" ?
www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
request-for-dead-docketnolle-prosequi
www.documentcloud.org
November 26, 2025 at 7:50 PM
"I begin the process of evaluating this case with a basic truth: It is not illegal to question or challenge election results"
bitch, what about telling Georgia's Secretary of State to "find 11,780 votes" ?
www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
bitch, what about telling Georgia's Secretary of State to "find 11,780 votes" ?
www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
Reposted by Michael Leo Owens
Secretary Pete Hegseth, a Princeton graduate, was unable to comprehend that photographs create mirror images of their subjects. Here's why affirmative action has lowered the standards of Ivy League admissions.
November 26, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Secretary Pete Hegseth, a Princeton graduate, was unable to comprehend that photographs create mirror images of their subjects. Here's why affirmative action has lowered the standards of Ivy League admissions.
Reposted by Michael Leo Owens
Tonight’s dumb napkin cartoon…
November 26, 2025 at 1:16 AM
Tonight’s dumb napkin cartoon…
🤭
November 26, 2025 at 12:43 AM
🤭
Reposted by Michael Leo Owens
In a personalist regime, the leader always gets a taste.
Republican administrations literally backed death squads to fight communism. And now Trump is expropriating domestic companies and it's just 🦗🦗🦗
Republican administrations literally backed death squads to fight communism. And now Trump is expropriating domestic companies and it's just 🦗🦗🦗
November 25, 2025 at 1:27 PM
In a personalist regime, the leader always gets a taste.
Republican administrations literally backed death squads to fight communism. And now Trump is expropriating domestic companies and it's just 🦗🦗🦗
Republican administrations literally backed death squads to fight communism. And now Trump is expropriating domestic companies and it's just 🦗🦗🦗
Reposted by Michael Leo Owens
Maybe it wasn't the best idea to put unscrupulous people in charge who think they will be Raptured before the war crime trials convene.
November 26, 2025 at 12:04 AM
Maybe it wasn't the best idea to put unscrupulous people in charge who think they will be Raptured before the war crime trials convene.
“federal security officer linked to a thwarted Jan. 6 pipe bomb attack cleared her name by providing an alibi: video of her playing with her puppies at the time the devices were placed”
So, a senior Justice Department official — along with several members of Congress — used the authority of their offices to boost an obviously dubious conspiracy theory accusing a federal employee of a horrific crime.
And now it’s clear the allegation was baseless.
www.cbsnews.com/news/jan-6-p...
And now it’s clear the allegation was baseless.
www.cbsnews.com/news/jan-6-p...
How an innocent woman's name was tied to the Jan. 6 pipe bombs
The FBI has ruled the woman out as a suspect in the 2021 plot, sources said, but only after her name circulated on social platforms and a conservative news site.
www.cbsnews.com
November 26, 2025 at 12:20 AM
“federal security officer linked to a thwarted Jan. 6 pipe bomb attack cleared her name by providing an alibi: video of her playing with her puppies at the time the devices were placed”
Reposted by Michael Leo Owens
This is called “chain refoulment” and it’s illegal under both U.S. and international law. And the State Department and ICE know very well what Ghana is doing and simply don’t care.
ICE deported a woman who owned a home in the US for 30 years. A judge banned ICE from deporting her to Sierra Leone where she had been tortured, so it deported her to Ghana, which kidnapped her and sent her back Sierra Leone anyway. ICE is part of this illegal conspiracy.
November 25, 2025 at 7:30 PM
This is called “chain refoulment” and it’s illegal under both U.S. and international law. And the State Department and ICE know very well what Ghana is doing and simply don’t care.
Reposted by Michael Leo Owens
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth chastised Sen. Mark Kelly for incorrectly displaying his military uniform medals, not comprehending that photographs reverse images from left to right. Here’s what that says about Joe Biden’s cognitive state.
November 25, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth chastised Sen. Mark Kelly for incorrectly displaying his military uniform medals, not comprehending that photographs reverse images from left to right. Here’s what that says about Joe Biden’s cognitive state.
We governed by ghouls.
November 25, 2025 at 9:23 PM
We governed by ghouls.
Wow. But sure reach across that aisle.
Nov 24-25 poll of 8,419 U.S. adults (+/-1.3 points)
% who approve | disapprove of members of Congress telling military members they have a legal duty to refuse illegal orders
U.S. adults 50% | 32%
Democrats 74% | 14%
Independents 50% | 26%
Republicans 27% | 56%
today.yougov.com/topics/polit...
% who approve | disapprove of members of Congress telling military members they have a legal duty to refuse illegal orders
U.S. adults 50% | 32%
Democrats 74% | 14%
Independents 50% | 26%
Republicans 27% | 56%
today.yougov.com/topics/polit...
November 25, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Wow. But sure reach across that aisle.
Reposted by Michael Leo Owens
Reposted by Michael Leo Owens
ICE agents tell citizens they don't care their citizens because citizenship doesn't mean anything in a world with racial and demographic profiling and no warrants or other 4th amendment protections. www.oregonlive.com/portland/202...
High school senior, a U.S. citizen, detained by ICE in Oregon
The 17-year-old was held more than five hours Friday in an ICE facility, his brother said.
www.oregonlive.com
November 24, 2025 at 10:15 PM
ICE agents tell citizens they don't care their citizens because citizenship doesn't mean anything in a world with racial and demographic profiling and no warrants or other 4th amendment protections. www.oregonlive.com/portland/202...
“What the attorney general did, seemingly siccing ICE on people exercising their First Amendment rights, isn’t about the law; it is about political intimidation and thuggery ...”
Missouri attorney general involves ICE in push to halt anti-gerrymandering group
The attorney general did not provide any evidence to support her claims, which the campaign called false.
www.kansascity.com
November 25, 2025 at 2:34 PM
“What the attorney general did, seemingly siccing ICE on people exercising their First Amendment rights, isn’t about the law; it is about political intimidation and thuggery ...”
Reposted by Michael Leo Owens
Jimmy Cliff’s charisma and fearless creativity expanded the horizons of reggae | Lloyd Bradley
Jimmy Cliff’s charisma and fearless creativity expanded the horizons of reggae | Lloyd Bradley
Cliff, who has died aged 81, took every opportunity that he was presented with, and created plenty more himself. It resulted in a career path like no other
www.theguardian.com
November 25, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Jimmy Cliff’s charisma and fearless creativity expanded the horizons of reggae | Lloyd Bradley
Reposted by Michael Leo Owens
Nov 25th 1976 - Apollo Creed defended his title against Rocky Balboa for the second time to prove that Rocky going the distance the first time was a fluke.
📽️📅 Rocky II (1979)
📽️📅 Rocky II (1979)
November 25, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Nov 25th 1976 - Apollo Creed defended his title against Rocky Balboa for the second time to prove that Rocky going the distance the first time was a fluke.
📽️📅 Rocky II (1979)
📽️📅 Rocky II (1979)
Reposted by Michael Leo Owens
Viola Fletcher, the oldest living survivor of the Tulsa Race Massacre — when white attackers killed as many as 300 people, most of them Black — has died at age 111, the mayor said. She told Congress in 2021 that she lived through the massacre 'every day' reut.rs/4pt18LJ
November 24, 2025 at 10:58 PM
Viola Fletcher, the oldest living survivor of the Tulsa Race Massacre — when white attackers killed as many as 300 people, most of them Black — has died at age 111, the mayor said. She told Congress in 2021 that she lived through the massacre 'every day' reut.rs/4pt18LJ
Reposted by Michael Leo Owens
It’s hard to decide which is more disturbing—that the president of the United States thinks that being disliked is a mitigating factor in the murder of a journalist; or that he considers reporters who ask questions he doesn’t like to be “insubordinate.” www.thebulwark.com/p/push-back-...
Push Back Against Trump’s Press Abuse
It’s long past time for the Fourth Estate to challenge the president’s unhinged hostility and unbridled misogyny.
www.thebulwark.com
November 24, 2025 at 4:59 PM
It’s hard to decide which is more disturbing—that the president of the United States thinks that being disliked is a mitigating factor in the murder of a journalist; or that he considers reporters who ask questions he doesn’t like to be “insubordinate.” www.thebulwark.com/p/push-back-...
Maybe Black Santa will put this one in my stocking or under our tree for me. Better yet, in the spirit of socialism, I'll just borrow it from the library over Winter Break. LOL kansaspress.ku.edu/9780700633371/
Socialist Mayors in the United States
The United States is known as a country that has been highly antagonistic to Socialism of any form. Socialists in the United States have tended to be politic...
kansaspress.ku.edu
November 24, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Maybe Black Santa will put this one in my stocking or under our tree for me. Better yet, in the spirit of socialism, I'll just borrow it from the library over Winter Break. LOL kansaspress.ku.edu/9780700633371/