The People's Fabric
@peoplesfabric.com
Chicago. Investigative journalist. One half of @UnraveledPress.com. Got a tip? Signal is @tpf.99
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The People's Fabric
@peoplesfabric.com
· Aug 20
We focused on the rapid proliferation of license plate readers and adoption of real-time crime center systems, but police spent loads on other tech.
For instance, police in Oak Brook, Countryside, North Riverside, and Willowbrook bought handheld & vehicle-mounted StarChase GPS launchers.
For instance, police in Oak Brook, Countryside, North Riverside, and Willowbrook bought handheld & vehicle-mounted StarChase GPS launchers.
Reposted by The People's Fabric
Good afternoon from Daley Plaza in Chicago.
An anti-ICE/CBP rally is coalescing in the plaza, joining similar demonstrations today across the country.
An anti-ICE/CBP rally is coalescing in the plaza, joining similar demonstrations today across the country.
January 30, 2026 at 10:28 PM
Good afternoon from Daley Plaza in Chicago.
An anti-ICE/CBP rally is coalescing in the plaza, joining similar demonstrations today across the country.
An anti-ICE/CBP rally is coalescing in the plaza, joining similar demonstrations today across the country.
The NYT and WaPo took steps to "maintain operational secrecy" of the abduction of Venezuela's leader.
Right-wing propagandists are expected to "maintain operational secrecy" when invited on their ICE/CBP ride-alongs and detention center tours.
But keeping a protest secret is criminal.
Right-wing propagandists are expected to "maintain operational secrecy" when invited on their ICE/CBP ride-alongs and detention center tours.
But keeping a protest secret is criminal.
January 30, 2026 at 9:19 PM
The NYT and WaPo took steps to "maintain operational secrecy" of the abduction of Venezuela's leader.
Right-wing propagandists are expected to "maintain operational secrecy" when invited on their ICE/CBP ride-alongs and detention center tours.
But keeping a protest secret is criminal.
Right-wing propagandists are expected to "maintain operational secrecy" when invited on their ICE/CBP ride-alongs and detention center tours.
But keeping a protest secret is criminal.
It's annoying at first, but I did this earlier this year and, well, I sure was glad when I had a pile of feds on my back. I'll probably never use biometric unlocks for anything ever again.
If you’re going to be protesting, reporting, or just surviving under this administration, I’d turn off the ability to unlock your devices with fingerprint or Face ID.
Washington Post Raid Is a Frightening Reminder: Turn Off Your Phone’s Biometrics Now
The search warrant to raid a Washington Post reporter’s home shows how authorities can open your phone without your consent.
theintercept.com/2026/01/30/w...
The search warrant to raid a Washington Post reporter’s home shows how authorities can open your phone without your consent.
theintercept.com/2026/01/30/w...
January 30, 2026 at 8:41 PM
It's annoying at first, but I did this earlier this year and, well, I sure was glad when I had a pile of feds on my back. I'll probably never use biometric unlocks for anything ever again.
Reposted by The People's Fabric
UPDATE — The Chicago Chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) is calling for the immediate release of Lemon and Fort, and for all charges against them to be withdrawn.
thetriibe.com/2026/01/jour...
thetriibe.com/2026/01/jour...
NABJ Chicago calls for the immediate release of journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort arrested after filming Minnesota church protest • The TRiiBE
Journalism organizations condemn the arrests of Don Lemon and Georgia Fort as vindictive attacks on press freedom.
thetriibe.com
January 30, 2026 at 6:58 PM
UPDATE — The Chicago Chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) is calling for the immediate release of Lemon and Fort, and for all charges against them to be withdrawn.
thetriibe.com/2026/01/jour...
thetriibe.com/2026/01/jour...
Reposted by The People's Fabric
Tom Homan takes his cues from members of the Proud Boys and the anti-Muslim hate group United West, a group that thinks the Muslim Brotherhood has infiltrated the U.S. and wants to use DHS to stop them. To think Homan is a cut above Greg Bovino is laughable.
www.splcenter.org/resources/ha...
www.splcenter.org/resources/ha...
January 30, 2026 at 5:13 PM
Tom Homan takes his cues from members of the Proud Boys and the anti-Muslim hate group United West, a group that thinks the Muslim Brotherhood has infiltrated the U.S. and wants to use DHS to stop them. To think Homan is a cut above Greg Bovino is laughable.
www.splcenter.org/resources/ha...
www.splcenter.org/resources/ha...
A relevant piece of context here re: Northwestern is they’ve had a vocal Holocaust denier on faculty for decades. Never did anything. But profs who showed solidarity with anti-genocide students are gone now.
I recall students protesting Butz in the early 90s. Still listed as faculty.
I recall students protesting Butz in the early 90s. Still listed as faculty.
January 30, 2026 at 6:31 PM
A relevant piece of context here re: Northwestern is they’ve had a vocal Holocaust denier on faculty for decades. Never did anything. But profs who showed solidarity with anti-genocide students are gone now.
I recall students protesting Butz in the early 90s. Still listed as faculty.
I recall students protesting Butz in the early 90s. Still listed as faculty.
It’s honestly really difficult to even remember and process the complete context in which all these things are happening.
Recall that Melissa Hortman and her husband were murdered not long ago by a fake cop who showed up at their door looking like this guy
This is from Georgia Fort’s video.
DEA?!? Gotta be a “task force.”
DEA?!? Gotta be a “task force.”
January 30, 2026 at 6:14 PM
It’s honestly really difficult to even remember and process the complete context in which all these things are happening.
Reposted by The People's Fabric
The Utah Senate has passed a bill that would expand the state supreme court by 2 seats (to be filled by the GOP governor).
This comes as local conservatives are angry about judicial decisions in Utah, inc. one that safeguarded direct democracy in 2024 & one that struck down their gerrymander.
This comes as local conservatives are angry about judicial decisions in Utah, inc. one that safeguarded direct democracy in 2024 & one that struck down their gerrymander.
January 30, 2026 at 5:42 PM
The Utah Senate has passed a bill that would expand the state supreme court by 2 seats (to be filled by the GOP governor).
This comes as local conservatives are angry about judicial decisions in Utah, inc. one that safeguarded direct democracy in 2024 & one that struck down their gerrymander.
This comes as local conservatives are angry about judicial decisions in Utah, inc. one that safeguarded direct democracy in 2024 & one that struck down their gerrymander.
Reposted by The People's Fabric
Recall that Melissa Hortman and her husband were murdered not long ago by a fake cop who showed up at their door looking like this guy
This is from Georgia Fort’s video.
DEA?!? Gotta be a “task force.”
DEA?!? Gotta be a “task force.”
January 30, 2026 at 4:53 PM
Recall that Melissa Hortman and her husband were murdered not long ago by a fake cop who showed up at their door looking like this guy
Reposted by The People's Fabric
They know they could have called her lawyer and she would have shown up at their office.
But they ambushed her at home in the early AM. Like she's a terrorist, a mobster, a murderer or an Illinois governor who pawned off a Senate seat.
Chilling power abuse #JournalismIsNotACrime
But they ambushed her at home in the early AM. Like she's a terrorist, a mobster, a murderer or an Illinois governor who pawned off a Senate seat.
Chilling power abuse #JournalismIsNotACrime
Georgia Fort, an independent journalist and vice president of the Minnesota NABJ chapter, was also arrested by federal agents this morning
I was sent this video of agents at her door:
I was sent this video of agents at her door:
January 30, 2026 at 5:21 PM
They know they could have called her lawyer and she would have shown up at their office.
But they ambushed her at home in the early AM. Like she's a terrorist, a mobster, a murderer or an Illinois governor who pawned off a Senate seat.
Chilling power abuse #JournalismIsNotACrime
But they ambushed her at home in the early AM. Like she's a terrorist, a mobster, a murderer or an Illinois governor who pawned off a Senate seat.
Chilling power abuse #JournalismIsNotACrime
Reposted by The People's Fabric
Last week a border patrol agent was filmed pepper-spraying a detained protester at point-blank range. @pacantifa.is identified agent as Tyler Gramlin.
For @us.theguardian.com I asked Gramlin for comment. His response? He sent me a weird far-right "Amelia" meme. "DEFEND YOUR HOMELAND," it said.
For @us.theguardian.com I asked Gramlin for comment. His response? He sent me a weird far-right "Amelia" meme. "DEFEND YOUR HOMELAND," it said.
January 30, 2026 at 4:01 PM
Last week a border patrol agent was filmed pepper-spraying a detained protester at point-blank range. @pacantifa.is identified agent as Tyler Gramlin.
For @us.theguardian.com I asked Gramlin for comment. His response? He sent me a weird far-right "Amelia" meme. "DEFEND YOUR HOMELAND," it said.
For @us.theguardian.com I asked Gramlin for comment. His response? He sent me a weird far-right "Amelia" meme. "DEFEND YOUR HOMELAND," it said.
Reposted by The People's Fabric
The post.
January 30, 2026 at 3:34 PM
The post.
This is what CPD says about pretty much any internal affairs doc they don’t want to turn over.
Blanche says that any Epstein document that "would jeopardize an active federal investigation" is not being released by the DOJ
January 30, 2026 at 4:20 PM
This is what CPD says about pretty much any internal affairs doc they don’t want to turn over.
We need to stop saying “law enforcement.” Any facade that that’s what any of these guys are doing, whether feds, sheriffs, or police has crumbled.
“A Law enforcement member holds a weapon as they stand guard while people protest outside the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building, after the fatal shootings of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti by federal immigration agents, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.”
@reuters.com
@reuters.com
January 30, 2026 at 4:08 PM
We need to stop saying “law enforcement.” Any facade that that’s what any of these guys are doing, whether feds, sheriffs, or police has crumbled.
Reposted by The People's Fabric
Uhhh in other news a federal judge just took the death penalty off the table for Luigi Mangione. This is huge.
January 30, 2026 at 3:20 PM
Uhhh in other news a federal judge just took the death penalty off the table for Luigi Mangione. This is huge.
Reposted by The People's Fabric
given the news today coming out of MN, where journalists are now facing charges for covering protests, I am re-upping this fundraising appeal for Brian's legal defense fund—whatever you can give goes toward an unprecedented defense of the First Amendment and our rights of free speech and assembly.
As of now, the Broadview 6 case is going to trial. The government teased their argument this week, and it's not hyperbolic to state that our First Amendment freedoms are at stake. I'm proud to be hosting a fundraiser to support @brianstraw.bsky.social's legal defense THIS SATURDAY!
More here ⬇️
More here ⬇️
January 30, 2026 at 3:06 PM
given the news today coming out of MN, where journalists are now facing charges for covering protests, I am re-upping this fundraising appeal for Brian's legal defense fund—whatever you can give goes toward an unprecedented defense of the First Amendment and our rights of free speech and assembly.
Reposted by The People's Fabric
Dhillon is Asst AG for Civil Rights.
January 30, 2026 at 2:51 PM
Dhillon is Asst AG for Civil Rights.
I suspect this will work as well as thinking rapid responders and observers would be intimidated by threatening, beating, arresting, and even killing them.
This isn’t about convicting Don Lemon. It’s unlikely that will happen. It’s about intimidating journalists & making them censure themselves out of fear of consequences. It’s about eroding the free press because the administration can’t afford the criticism.
This just in: "Don Lemon was taken into custody by federal agents last night in Los Angeles, where he was covering the Grammy awards," Lemon's attorney Abbe Lowell says.
January 30, 2026 at 2:50 PM
I suspect this will work as well as thinking rapid responders and observers would be intimidated by threatening, beating, arresting, and even killing them.
Reposted by The People's Fabric
Don Lemon is not the only reporter who was arrested by federal agents overnight — local independent journalist Georgia Fort just went live on FB to say federal agents were also at her door to take her into custody over her protest coverage in Minneapolis.
January 30, 2026 at 1:33 PM
Don Lemon is not the only reporter who was arrested by federal agents overnight — local independent journalist Georgia Fort just went live on FB to say federal agents were also at her door to take her into custody over her protest coverage in Minneapolis.
Reposted by The People's Fabric
I visited hotels all over Minneapolis, went into back rooms & talked to the staff.
They're afraid.
One told me she resents how her undocumented coworkers spend their days cleaning the rooms of agents who are “hunting down their family members.”
@notus.com:
www.notus.org/immigration/...
They're afraid.
One told me she resents how her undocumented coworkers spend their days cleaning the rooms of agents who are “hunting down their family members.”
@notus.com:
www.notus.org/immigration/...
Minneapolis’ Hotel Workers Are on Edge
Staff across the city told NOTUS how their lives have changed since the start of the federal immigration operation. “It's frightening,” one said.
www.notus.org
January 30, 2026 at 2:10 PM
I visited hotels all over Minneapolis, went into back rooms & talked to the staff.
They're afraid.
One told me she resents how her undocumented coworkers spend their days cleaning the rooms of agents who are “hunting down their family members.”
@notus.com:
www.notus.org/immigration/...
They're afraid.
One told me she resents how her undocumented coworkers spend their days cleaning the rooms of agents who are “hunting down their family members.”
@notus.com:
www.notus.org/immigration/...
Reposted by The People's Fabric
Yup, Trump is sure de-escalating alright.
He just called Alex Pretti an agitator and insurrectionist and said this murdered man's "stock has gone way down."
He just called Alex Pretti an agitator and insurrectionist and said this murdered man's "stock has gone way down."
January 30, 2026 at 7:38 AM
Yup, Trump is sure de-escalating alright.
He just called Alex Pretti an agitator and insurrectionist and said this murdered man's "stock has gone way down."
He just called Alex Pretti an agitator and insurrectionist and said this murdered man's "stock has gone way down."
Reposted by The People's Fabric
Greg Bovino appears to be driving back to California after being reassigned from Minneapolis.
Eagle-eyed observers spotted Bovino in South Dakota and Wyoming as he travels west in a convoy of SUVs.
Eagle-eyed observers spotted Bovino in South Dakota and Wyoming as he travels west in a convoy of SUVs.
Live: Homan acknowledges ICE operations in Minnesota have not been ‘perfect’
Border czar Tom Homan is in Minnesota to manage immigration operations in the state. “The withdrawal of law enforcement resources here is dependent upon cooperation,” he said.
bit.ly
January 29, 2026 at 11:01 PM
Greg Bovino appears to be driving back to California after being reassigned from Minneapolis.
Eagle-eyed observers spotted Bovino in South Dakota and Wyoming as he travels west in a convoy of SUVs.
Eagle-eyed observers spotted Bovino in South Dakota and Wyoming as he travels west in a convoy of SUVs.
Reposted by The People's Fabric
"The children’s mother called the school early Thursday to tell them she’d been detained and asked school leaders to bring the kids to her at the Whipple Federal Building ... because there were no family members ... to care for them.
“We had to deliver them to a detention center,” Kuhlman said.
“We had to deliver them to a detention center,” Kuhlman said.
“We had to deliver them to a detention center,” principal Jason Kuhlman said about the second grader and fifth grader.
‘I don’t have words’: 2 more kids from Liam Ramos’ Columbia Heights school taken into ICE custody
The children were taken into ICE custody after their mother was detained at a court appointment. School leaders say the mother asked them to bring the kids to the detention center because there were n...
www.mprnews.org
January 30, 2026 at 2:45 AM
"The children’s mother called the school early Thursday to tell them she’d been detained and asked school leaders to bring the kids to her at the Whipple Federal Building ... because there were no family members ... to care for them.
“We had to deliver them to a detention center,” Kuhlman said.
“We had to deliver them to a detention center,” Kuhlman said.
Reposted by The People's Fabric
just choked on my beverage
January 29, 2026 at 11:19 PM
just choked on my beverage