Patrick Schmidt
@pdwschmidt.bsky.social
Political scientist @MacalesterCollege: American law, comparative and historical constitutionalism, architecture, and...just curious about everything. Moot Court coach. Rarely refuses an opportunity for a dad joke.
I think it helps enormously, as was true in the Civil Rights movement, when at least some activists are bolstered by a spiritual / religious practice. I was down in the dumps the other day, and then I went to a post-Renee Good prayer service (Episcopal) here in St. Paul, and I felt a new energy.
January 16, 2026 at 7:46 PM
I think it helps enormously, as was true in the Civil Rights movement, when at least some activists are bolstered by a spiritual / religious practice. I was down in the dumps the other day, and then I went to a post-Renee Good prayer service (Episcopal) here in St. Paul, and I felt a new energy.
It took me six months to start going back to Target, even a little, the last time. This week, I'm back to a full boycott, and I'll before need action, not just time, before I consider Target again.
January 16, 2026 at 6:24 PM
It took me six months to start going back to Target, even a little, the last time. This week, I'm back to a full boycott, and I'll before need action, not just time, before I consider Target again.
Parallel: Ernst Rohm and the SA proved inconvenient by 1934 already.
January 16, 2026 at 2:57 PM
Parallel: Ernst Rohm and the SA proved inconvenient by 1934 already.
Even just "Putinist" would be more accurate.
January 16, 2026 at 2:46 PM
Even just "Putinist" would be more accurate.
Or fascists. I'd like to slap fascists with a stick.
January 16, 2026 at 6:38 AM
Or fascists. I'd like to slap fascists with a stick.
It puts Teapot Dome in the shade, too!
Their playbook is that a cover-up is worse than a crime: do it openly and no one will care.
Their playbook is that a cover-up is worse than a crime: do it openly and no one will care.
January 16, 2026 at 5:07 AM
It puts Teapot Dome in the shade, too!
Their playbook is that a cover-up is worse than a crime: do it openly and no one will care.
Their playbook is that a cover-up is worse than a crime: do it openly and no one will care.
Worse, now, all the inherent tendencies of Presidential government toward corruption and wonton international ambitions have been laid bare. We're beyond amending our way out of this.
January 16, 2026 at 4:04 AM
Worse, now, all the inherent tendencies of Presidential government toward corruption and wonton international ambitions have been laid bare. We're beyond amending our way out of this.
It's been apparent to me since well before Trump that we were headed to irreconcilable problems under this framework. All that was reformed in Reconstruction, the New Deal, and Warren Court / VRA is being undone, with minority constituencies now blocking modern govt and multiracial democracy.
January 16, 2026 at 4:02 AM
It's been apparent to me since well before Trump that we were headed to irreconcilable problems under this framework. All that was reformed in Reconstruction, the New Deal, and Warren Court / VRA is being undone, with minority constituencies now blocking modern govt and multiracial democracy.
This post strikes at the heart of the failure of the Constitution of 1789. We will need some kind of Transitional Justice process. There is no such mechanism that doesn't run through the Supreme Court and the Senate, both held by intransigent forces... We need a new constitution on the other side.
January 16, 2026 at 2:55 AM
This post strikes at the heart of the failure of the Constitution of 1789. We will need some kind of Transitional Justice process. There is no such mechanism that doesn't run through the Supreme Court and the Senate, both held by intransigent forces... We need a new constitution on the other side.
You'd think if they have a list of the "criminal illegals" that they want, they would go in with 50 agents and arrest them. Instead of, you know, knocking on people's doors here in St. Paul and asking them which houses have Asians.
January 16, 2026 at 2:50 AM
You'd think if they have a list of the "criminal illegals" that they want, they would go in with 50 agents and arrest them. Instead of, you know, knocking on people's doors here in St. Paul and asking them which houses have Asians.
Twin Cities restaurants should start profiling their customers, and if they look like ICE, ask for their IDs. If they're from out of state, ask them to leave.
If asked why, tell them "we learned it from you."
If asked why, tell them "we learned it from you."
January 16, 2026 at 12:17 AM
Twin Cities restaurants should start profiling their customers, and if they look like ICE, ask for their IDs. If they're from out of state, ask them to leave.
If asked why, tell them "we learned it from you."
If asked why, tell them "we learned it from you."
I never thought someone would suck up harder to Trump than Lindsey Graham.
January 16, 2026 at 12:12 AM
I never thought someone would suck up harder to Trump than Lindsey Graham.
Should be the Zombie Kirk show.
January 15, 2026 at 8:33 PM
Should be the Zombie Kirk show.
Reposted by Patrick Schmidt
ICE agents have shot and killed at least 25 people since 2015. Not a single one of them has faced criminal charges. from @lilahassan.bsky.social www.wired.com/story/why-ic...
Why ICE Can Kill With Impunity
Over the past decade, US immigration agents have shot and killed more than two dozen people. Not a single agent appears to have faced criminal charges.
www.wired.com
January 15, 2026 at 6:59 PM
ICE agents have shot and killed at least 25 people since 2015. Not a single one of them has faced criminal charges. from @lilahassan.bsky.social www.wired.com/story/why-ic...
He's right about the networks. I'm in the Twin Cities, too. I'm seeing these networks in action. It's called "neighborhoods, churches, and community organizations protecting one another against a tyrannical government". And it's awe-inspiring. I love Minnesotans.
January 15, 2026 at 7:58 PM
He's right about the networks. I'm in the Twin Cities, too. I'm seeing these networks in action. It's called "neighborhoods, churches, and community organizations protecting one another against a tyrannical government". And it's awe-inspiring. I love Minnesotans.
By dumping all of their U.S. Treasuries.
January 15, 2026 at 7:52 PM
By dumping all of their U.S. Treasuries.
I am, unfortunately, watching for the moment when a fed shoots one of his own in order to trigger the military assault.
January 15, 2026 at 5:53 PM
I am, unfortunately, watching for the moment when a fed shoots one of his own in order to trigger the military assault.
Future hires at schools in MAGA states will want to negotiate Football Coach Clauses that give them nice payouts if anything like this happens.
January 15, 2026 at 5:44 PM
Future hires at schools in MAGA states will want to negotiate Football Coach Clauses that give them nice payouts if anything like this happens.
Reposted by Patrick Schmidt
What they do overseas, they will eventually do at home. What you are seeing in Minnesota is the U.S. doctrine of "overwhelming force" & Powell Doctrine being applied domestically. No single state can possibly absorb this level of force and violence by the state. www.startribune.com/how-ice-numb...
January 15, 2026 at 5:07 PM
What they do overseas, they will eventually do at home. What you are seeing in Minnesota is the U.S. doctrine of "overwhelming force" & Powell Doctrine being applied domestically. No single state can possibly absorb this level of force and violence by the state. www.startribune.com/how-ice-numb...
Not only that, but a CORN tortilla, not the pasty white flour tortilla preferred by bland corporate American chains.
January 15, 2026 at 4:23 PM
Not only that, but a CORN tortilla, not the pasty white flour tortilla preferred by bland corporate American chains.
The same way there's a national sex offender registry, some day we should have a national registry of former ICE employees, so if one of these dicks moves to town, everyone within a one mile of their home knows exactly who they are.
January 15, 2026 at 6:04 AM
The same way there's a national sex offender registry, some day we should have a national registry of former ICE employees, so if one of these dicks moves to town, everyone within a one mile of their home knows exactly who they are.
I thought Hegseth hated military lawyers and had them fired already!
January 15, 2026 at 5:46 AM
I thought Hegseth hated military lawyers and had them fired already!
I really want to watch you take action.
January 15, 2026 at 5:12 AM
I really want to watch you take action.
Reposted by Patrick Schmidt
“3 flash bangs at my car. ICE knew we were trying to leave. My 6 month old can’t breathe.”
Trump’s goons terrorize a Black family in Minneapolis, to the point where EMT’s have to come help his child get away from the gas and chaotic dangerous scene
(H/T @thejfreakinc.bsky.social )
Trump’s goons terrorize a Black family in Minneapolis, to the point where EMT’s have to come help his child get away from the gas and chaotic dangerous scene
(H/T @thejfreakinc.bsky.social )
January 15, 2026 at 5:01 AM
“3 flash bangs at my car. ICE knew we were trying to leave. My 6 month old can’t breathe.”
Trump’s goons terrorize a Black family in Minneapolis, to the point where EMT’s have to come help his child get away from the gas and chaotic dangerous scene
(H/T @thejfreakinc.bsky.social )
Trump’s goons terrorize a Black family in Minneapolis, to the point where EMT’s have to come help his child get away from the gas and chaotic dangerous scene
(H/T @thejfreakinc.bsky.social )
Reposted by Patrick Schmidt
🚨"This is nuts! What the f*ck is going on, this is insane! ICE is just trying to scare people; they tell you it's only immigrants—it's f*cking anybody!" -furious Minneapolis resident tells our @zdroberts.bsky.social after ICE shot a man in the leg tonight. LIVE NOW ⬇️
January 15, 2026 at 3:59 AM
🚨"This is nuts! What the f*ck is going on, this is insane! ICE is just trying to scare people; they tell you it's only immigrants—it's f*cking anybody!" -furious Minneapolis resident tells our @zdroberts.bsky.social after ICE shot a man in the leg tonight. LIVE NOW ⬇️