Nina Jo Smith
@njsmith.bsky.social
Songwriter. Poet.
“In the dark times
Will there also be singing?
Yes, there will also be singing.
About the dark times.”
- Bertolt Brecht
We’re not going down without a song.
“In the dark times
Will there also be singing?
Yes, there will also be singing.
About the dark times.”
- Bertolt Brecht
We’re not going down without a song.
Pinned
Last night I played my song They Killed Good in Minnesota for the first time out at The Den open mic in Santa Ana, CA. Afterwards, a young woman came up and simply said, “I’m from Minnesota.” I asked if I could give her a hug and she replied, can I give YOU a hug?” so we hugged and cried. 1/2
Last night I played my song They Killed Good in Minnesota for the first time out at The Den open mic in Santa Ana, CA. Afterwards, a young woman came up and simply said, “I’m from Minnesota.” I asked if I could give her a hug and she replied, can I give YOU a hug?” so we hugged and cried. 1/2
January 24, 2026 at 4:40 PM
Last night I played my song They Killed Good in Minnesota for the first time out at The Den open mic in Santa Ana, CA. Afterwards, a young woman came up and simply said, “I’m from Minnesota.” I asked if I could give her a hug and she replied, can I give YOU a hug?” so we hugged and cried. 1/2
Minneapolis Star Tribune is doing the best reporting. Please subscribe if you can.
Live: Man shot and killed by federal agents in south Minneapolis this morning, police chief says
A video appears to shows federal agents wrestling a man to the ground then shooting him.
www.startribune.com
January 24, 2026 at 4:37 PM
Minneapolis Star Tribune is doing the best reporting. Please subscribe if you can.
Great publication to support right here doing the work.
More than 400 years of history and a decade of advocacy were torn down Thursday afternoon when National Park Service employees removed every single display at the President’s House.
🔗 What's next? We explain: www.inquirer.com/politics/nat...
🔗 What's next? We explain: www.inquirer.com/politics/nat...
January 24, 2026 at 5:25 AM
Great publication to support right here doing the work.
Reposted by Nina Jo Smith
ugh this one REALLY sucks for NSO, but this is what it's going to be as long as his name is on that building literally and metaphorically
January 24, 2026 at 1:19 AM
ugh this one REALLY sucks for NSO, but this is what it's going to be as long as his name is on that building literally and metaphorically
Reposted by Nina Jo Smith
Tomorrow's front page of the Minnesota Star Tribune: Jan. 24, 2026
January 23, 2026 at 11:45 PM
Tomorrow's front page of the Minnesota Star Tribune: Jan. 24, 2026
Reposted by Nina Jo Smith
“This is a horror that is a parent’s worst nightmare ... All they want is for this little toddler and her dad to come home safe after they’ve been unlawfully detained by the government." - Irina Vaynerman, the CEO of Groundwork Legal and an attorney for the family.
ICE sends 2-year-old from Minneapolis to Texas, despite court order
ICE flew a detained Minneapolis 2-year-old and her father to Texas despite a court order that required the toddler’s release, a lawyer for the family said Friday.
sahanjournal.com
January 23, 2026 at 10:08 PM
“This is a horror that is a parent’s worst nightmare ... All they want is for this little toddler and her dad to come home safe after they’ve been unlawfully detained by the government." - Irina Vaynerman, the CEO of Groundwork Legal and an attorney for the family.
Reposted by Nina Jo Smith
Another question I came here with was: how effective are the whistles and honking? Does it stop abductions? And the answer is, surprisingly to my cynical self, yes, and often. I have talked to so many people who have successfully interrupted kidnappings.
January 23, 2026 at 7:20 PM
Another question I came here with was: how effective are the whistles and honking? Does it stop abductions? And the answer is, surprisingly to my cynical self, yes, and often. I have talked to so many people who have successfully interrupted kidnappings.
Reposted by Nina Jo Smith
Breaking NYT:
The FBI agent who sought to investigate the federal immigration officer who fatally shot Renee Good has resigned from the bureau, according to two people familiar with the matter, after leadership pressured her to discontinue a civil rights inquiry into the officer.
The FBI agent who sought to investigate the federal immigration officer who fatally shot Renee Good has resigned from the bureau, according to two people familiar with the matter, after leadership pressured her to discontinue a civil rights inquiry into the officer.
F.B.I. Agent Who Tried to Investigate ICE Officer in Shooting Resigns
www.nytimes.com
January 23, 2026 at 11:15 PM
Breaking NYT:
The FBI agent who sought to investigate the federal immigration officer who fatally shot Renee Good has resigned from the bureau, according to two people familiar with the matter, after leadership pressured her to discontinue a civil rights inquiry into the officer.
The FBI agent who sought to investigate the federal immigration officer who fatally shot Renee Good has resigned from the bureau, according to two people familiar with the matter, after leadership pressured her to discontinue a civil rights inquiry into the officer.
Reposted by Nina Jo Smith
Unter dem Motto »Tag der Wahrheit und Freiheit« protestieren Tausende Menschen in Minnesota gegen die Einwanderungsbehörde ICE mit Demonstrationen, Streiks und geschlossenen Geschäften. Die Polizei nahm mehrere Protestierende fest.
ICE in Minnesota: Streiks und Demos gegen Einwanderungsbehörde
Unter dem Motto »Tag der Wahrheit und Freiheit« protestieren Tausende Menschen in Minnesota gegen die Einwanderungsbehörde ICE mit Demonstrationen, Streiks und geschlossenen Geschäften. Die Polizei nahm mehrere Protestierende fest.
www.spiegel.de
January 23, 2026 at 11:45 PM
Unter dem Motto »Tag der Wahrheit und Freiheit« protestieren Tausende Menschen in Minnesota gegen die Einwanderungsbehörde ICE mit Demonstrationen, Streiks und geschlossenen Geschäften. Die Polizei nahm mehrere Protestierende fest.
Reposted by Nina Jo Smith
Just wow, Minneapolis.
January 23, 2026 at 11:34 PM
Just wow, Minneapolis.
Reposted by Nina Jo Smith
Happening now: From Target HQ in Minneapolis hundreds of clergy ask Target to be good neighbors and Support the 4th Ammemdment stop Cooperating with ICE!
Action by Interfaith Alliance 👏👏👏 #ICEOUTforGood #AbolishICE
Action by Interfaith Alliance 👏👏👏 #ICEOUTforGood #AbolishICE
January 23, 2026 at 9:06 PM
Happening now: From Target HQ in Minneapolis hundreds of clergy ask Target to be good neighbors and Support the 4th Ammemdment stop Cooperating with ICE!
Action by Interfaith Alliance 👏👏👏 #ICEOUTforGood #AbolishICE
Action by Interfaith Alliance 👏👏👏 #ICEOUTforGood #AbolishICE
Reposted by Nina Jo Smith
Now: With double digit windchill, thousands marching in Downtown Minneapolis during a general strike. Marching and protest against the actions of ICE. Prince dance party outside First Avenue and the Prince mural - where there’s been many Prince dance parties before.
Minneapolis January 23, 2026
Minneapolis January 23, 2026
January 23, 2026 at 9:55 PM
Now: With double digit windchill, thousands marching in Downtown Minneapolis during a general strike. Marching and protest against the actions of ICE. Prince dance party outside First Avenue and the Prince mural - where there’s been many Prince dance parties before.
Minneapolis January 23, 2026
Minneapolis January 23, 2026
Reposted by Nina Jo Smith
My Reagan-loving father is officially Team Abolish ICE
We are going to win
We are going to win
January 23, 2026 at 11:34 PM
My Reagan-loving father is officially Team Abolish ICE
We are going to win
We are going to win
Reposted by Nina Jo Smith
"Oh my gosh, it was so nice to see you! Have a lovely day, fuck ICE!"
"Oh you too hon! Stay safe in that traffic, fuck ICE!'
- two older Minnesota ladies, bidding farewell after the protest
"Oh you too hon! Stay safe in that traffic, fuck ICE!'
- two older Minnesota ladies, bidding farewell after the protest
January 23, 2026 at 11:17 PM
"Oh my gosh, it was so nice to see you! Have a lovely day, fuck ICE!"
"Oh you too hon! Stay safe in that traffic, fuck ICE!'
- two older Minnesota ladies, bidding farewell after the protest
"Oh you too hon! Stay safe in that traffic, fuck ICE!'
- two older Minnesota ladies, bidding farewell after the protest
Reposted by Nina Jo Smith
Sand in the gears! Let’s go!
Good. Tucson is standing up for its people against ICE. Throw every possible wrench in the gears.
Tucson moves to block ICE use of city property - AZ Luminaria
The Tucson City Council directed the city manager and attorney Wednesday to craft an ordinance barring U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement from staging or carrying out civil immigration enforceme...
azluminaria.org
January 23, 2026 at 9:02 PM
Sand in the gears! Let’s go!
The whole people are things ideologically is really harmful.
In the US, Republicans are 16x likelier to commit child sexual assault as Democrats.
It stems from the conservative ideation that other people (women and children) are things to be used.
It stems from the conservative ideation that other people (women and children) are things to be used.
An ex-Conservative councillor has admitted 48 offences of drugging, raping & sexually assaulting his former wife over a 13 year period
Philip Young pleaded guilty to 11 counts of rape, 11 counts of administering a substance with intent to stupefy… (cont’d)
Philip Young pleaded guilty to 11 counts of rape, 11 counts of administering a substance with intent to stupefy… (cont’d)
January 23, 2026 at 7:12 PM
The whole people are things ideologically is really harmful.
Reposted by Nina Jo Smith
As clergy pray, arrests begin
January 23, 2026 at 5:00 PM
As clergy pray, arrests begin
Reposted by Nina Jo Smith
This is such an important point. That 5-year-old and his dad should never been detained in the first place! That's because they were already in the system and going through the legal process to seek asylum — and their arrest was seemingly just to juice ICE's numbers.
This kid and his father entered via CBP One app. It's just absurd and monumentally unfair for people who availed themselves of lawful channels when they existed by following government processes to suddenly get detained and deported to a third country.
newrepublic.com/article/2056...
newrepublic.com/article/2056...
January 23, 2026 at 6:44 PM
This is such an important point. That 5-year-old and his dad should never been detained in the first place! That's because they were already in the system and going through the legal process to seek asylum — and their arrest was seemingly just to juice ICE's numbers.
Have ink, will print. Love it.
You don’t know your role yet maybe, but we are all finding out just what we have to offer.
In Minneapolis, one man knew immediately what he could offer and said “Bring me your clothing”.
In Minneapolis, one man knew immediately what he could offer and said “Bring me your clothing”.
January 23, 2026 at 6:46 PM
Have ink, will print. Love it.
Can confirm: Slavery was real. Pass it on.
it's cool that so many people in positions of power and influence were so negatively polarized by "wokeness" that they convinced themselves that there was an actual debate about who wanted to erase history and the "wokes" were on the wrong side bsky.app/profile/arch...
"Slavery was real"
Tiny sign at the base of a brick wall that, until yesterday, held panels about the people enslaved by George Washington.
Presidents House, Philadelphia.
Tiny sign at the base of a brick wall that, until yesterday, held panels about the people enslaved by George Washington.
Presidents House, Philadelphia.
January 23, 2026 at 6:42 PM
Can confirm: Slavery was real. Pass it on.
Reposted by Nina Jo Smith
1) There was no "neglect." They took away the child's father who was in the process of a totally legal asylum claim. 2) they refused to allow school officials to keep the child safe, but instead SENT HIM TO A DETENTION CENTER IN TEXAS. He's 5 years old.
3) This is a chilling lie.
3) This is a chilling lie.
Bovino: "Here in the US Border Patrol, I will say unequivocally that we are experts in dealing with children"
January 23, 2026 at 5:55 PM
1) There was no "neglect." They took away the child's father who was in the process of a totally legal asylum claim. 2) they refused to allow school officials to keep the child safe, but instead SENT HIM TO A DETENTION CENTER IN TEXAS. He's 5 years old.
3) This is a chilling lie.
3) This is a chilling lie.
Reposted by Nina Jo Smith
Singing and praying in -22 degrees.
January 23, 2026 at 5:23 PM
Singing and praying in -22 degrees.
Reposted by Nina Jo Smith
Also something we did in Fairbanks AK!
MN protestors #protip put 2 Idaho Russets in the oven at 420 degrees for 45 min, take them out and foil wrap, 1 in each pocket before you go out. Theyll stay warm for 3-4 hours even in this weather and you can eat em when you like. They used to send us kids out like this back in the 70s trust me.
January 23, 2026 at 5:09 PM
Also something we did in Fairbanks AK!
Reposted by Nina Jo Smith
Early this month, Minnesota Rev. Susie Hayward told @mitchellatencio.com that “a lot of our work has been less visible because we've been with our communities ...And things changed. I expect we're going to see far more visible clergy presence in the prophetic lane.” Looks like she was right.
January 23, 2026 at 5:08 PM
Early this month, Minnesota Rev. Susie Hayward told @mitchellatencio.com that “a lot of our work has been less visible because we've been with our communities ...And things changed. I expect we're going to see far more visible clergy presence in the prophetic lane.” Looks like she was right.