Patrick Fessenbecker
@pfessenbecker.bsky.social
Teaching writing and ethics to engineers, writing a book on George Eliot.
Pinned
So I write a weekly newsletter for our indivisible chapter, and each week I profile a left journalist operation. If you’re struggling to build an audience for your thing and think you can speak to a lefty ex-hippie inner-ring Madison suburb that’s very into good apples, get in touch.
Reposted by Patrick Fessenbecker
The basic fallacy in chasing votes by being "tough on immigration" is that the modal American's position on the issue is "Deport the Bad ones and keep the Good ones," and they alone know who is which, and that simply does not translate into workable policy. So this kind of gestapo stuff (1/2)
June 7, 2025 at 10:16 PM
The basic fallacy in chasing votes by being "tough on immigration" is that the modal American's position on the issue is "Deport the Bad ones and keep the Good ones," and they alone know who is which, and that simply does not translate into workable policy. So this kind of gestapo stuff (1/2)
Reposted by Patrick Fessenbecker
Are you telling me politics is about the realm of imagining the possible as much as it is hard nosed realism??????????????
January 27, 2026 at 2:26 PM
Are you telling me politics is about the realm of imagining the possible as much as it is hard nosed realism??????????????
Reposted by Patrick Fessenbecker
Stop what you’re doing and read this piece, which is as powerful as you’d expect from @adamserwer.bsky.social witnessing the events of last week on the ground in Minnesota. “The secret fear of the morally depraved is that virtue is actually common, and that they’re the ones who are alone.”
Minnesota Proved MAGA Wrong
The pushback against ICE exposed a series of mistaken assumptions.
www.theatlantic.com
January 27, 2026 at 2:02 PM
Stop what you’re doing and read this piece, which is as powerful as you’d expect from @adamserwer.bsky.social witnessing the events of last week on the ground in Minnesota. “The secret fear of the morally depraved is that virtue is actually common, and that they’re the ones who are alone.”
Man, what a beautiful article about a beautiful thing.
January 27, 2026 at 1:08 PM
Man, what a beautiful article about a beautiful thing.
Reposted by Patrick Fessenbecker
Dems coalescing around 5 restrictions on ICE, I'm told:
DHS required to cooperate with state probes (big)
CBP stays at border
warrants for arrests
IDs, bodycams
ICE out of churches, schools
"That package unites a lot of Dems," Sen Chris Murphy tells me on the pod:
newrepublic.com/article/2057...
DHS required to cooperate with state probes (big)
CBP stays at border
warrants for arrests
IDs, bodycams
ICE out of churches, schools
"That package unites a lot of Dems," Sen Chris Murphy tells me on the pod:
newrepublic.com/article/2057...
A Dem Senator’s Harsh Takedown of Trump Hits Home: “Breaking Point”
As Trump scrambles to contain the damage from the latest ICE horrors, Senator Chris Murphy offers a sharp indictment of Trump-ICE lawlessness—and explains how Dems can meet the urgency of the moment.
newrepublic.com
January 27, 2026 at 11:24 AM
Dems coalescing around 5 restrictions on ICE, I'm told:
DHS required to cooperate with state probes (big)
CBP stays at border
warrants for arrests
IDs, bodycams
ICE out of churches, schools
"That package unites a lot of Dems," Sen Chris Murphy tells me on the pod:
newrepublic.com/article/2057...
DHS required to cooperate with state probes (big)
CBP stays at border
warrants for arrests
IDs, bodycams
ICE out of churches, schools
"That package unites a lot of Dems," Sen Chris Murphy tells me on the pod:
newrepublic.com/article/2057...
Reposted by Patrick Fessenbecker
Seeing a lot of people more interested in dooming about Democrats than fighting Republicans
In honor of the latest round of complaining about Democrats and the people who vote for them
twitter.com/KnowNothingT...
twitter.com/KnowNothingT...
January 27, 2026 at 5:30 AM
Seeing a lot of people more interested in dooming about Democrats than fighting Republicans
I gotta say, this post is wrecker nonsense. Schumer sucks and he should be replaced, but that is not a fair summary of the article, which does not attempt to explain alternate positions within the caucus and Schumer's stance with regards to them.
The Trump admin is scrambling because the secret police it sends out for kidnappings and rioting has been killing people on video then brazenly lying about it, but Schumer's instinct is to whip his caucus into taking a position *more conservative* than that held by the median voter.
He's got to go.
He's got to go.
Majority of the country now wants to abolish and/or dismantle ICE and yet Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. told the caucus the message had to be to “restrain, reform and restrict ICE.”
Once again it looks like Schumer is about to choke after getting a massive opportunity.
So pathetic and weak.
Once again it looks like Schumer is about to choke after getting a massive opportunity.
So pathetic and weak.
January 27, 2026 at 4:57 AM
I gotta say, this post is wrecker nonsense. Schumer sucks and he should be replaced, but that is not a fair summary of the article, which does not attempt to explain alternate positions within the caucus and Schumer's stance with regards to them.
Reposted by Patrick Fessenbecker
This is because our elected officials haven't been helping with any of our institutions for years except the military and law enforcement. Schools, libraries and other public services have been held together by immense amounts of volunteer labor and community funding.
All of this happened with basically no help from elected officials of the opposition party. This was entirely the people.
January 26, 2026 at 10:23 PM
This is because our elected officials haven't been helping with any of our institutions for years except the military and law enforcement. Schools, libraries and other public services have been held together by immense amounts of volunteer labor and community funding.
Reposted by Patrick Fessenbecker
We are still not out of the woods but it feels like the climbdown is beginning, temporary or not.
January 26, 2026 at 8:57 PM
We are still not out of the woods but it feels like the climbdown is beginning, temporary or not.
Reposted by Patrick Fessenbecker
I hope that folks in European democracies understand that there are no longer friendly nations, but friendly political movements. It's our job to support liberal democracy around the world, especially when they're under assault from anti-democratic movements at home.
Die AfD-Landtagsfraktion Thüringen hat heute Rechtsextremist Sellner in den Landtag eingeladen, um über seinen verfassungswidrigen “Remigrationsplan” zu referieren.
January 26, 2026 at 10:07 PM
I hope that folks in European democracies understand that there are no longer friendly nations, but friendly political movements. It's our job to support liberal democracy around the world, especially when they're under assault from anti-democratic movements at home.
Reposted by Patrick Fessenbecker
The thing about Minnesota Lutherans is that while the U.S. military can deploy a functioning Burger King anywhere in the world in 48 hours, your local Mainline Protestant church's women's committee can do it in under 36.
I mostly just stay off Twitter altogether but after double checking that the Walter Hudson post was still up I ran across this and just had to share so the Romancelandians who bought hand warmers could hear about the PROFESSIONAL GRADE LOGISTICS.
January 26, 2026 at 3:15 PM
The thing about Minnesota Lutherans is that while the U.S. military can deploy a functioning Burger King anywhere in the world in 48 hours, your local Mainline Protestant church's women's committee can do it in under 36.
Reposted by Patrick Fessenbecker
HOW IT WORKS IN MOVIES:
1. Government lies
2. Brave heroes release video showing the truth
3. Press says “the government is lying!”
HOW IT APPARENTLY WORKS IN REAL LIFE
1. Brave heroes release video showing the truth
2. Government lies
3. Press says “Oh no, what now? So confusing! So hard!”
1. Government lies
2. Brave heroes release video showing the truth
3. Press says “the government is lying!”
HOW IT APPARENTLY WORKS IN REAL LIFE
1. Brave heroes release video showing the truth
2. Government lies
3. Press says “Oh no, what now? So confusing! So hard!”
A battle over the truth erupts after deadly Minneapolis shooting
A battle over the truth erupts after deadly Minneapolis shooting
Federal and local leaders are sharply divided over what happened and who is to blame.
dlvr.it
January 26, 2026 at 6:46 AM
HOW IT WORKS IN MOVIES:
1. Government lies
2. Brave heroes release video showing the truth
3. Press says “the government is lying!”
HOW IT APPARENTLY WORKS IN REAL LIFE
1. Brave heroes release video showing the truth
2. Government lies
3. Press says “Oh no, what now? So confusing! So hard!”
1. Government lies
2. Brave heroes release video showing the truth
3. Press says “the government is lying!”
HOW IT APPARENTLY WORKS IN REAL LIFE
1. Brave heroes release video showing the truth
2. Government lies
3. Press says “Oh no, what now? So confusing! So hard!”
OOOF, some body blows here
it is probably because they are responding to their earlier errors by taking positive action now, which helps defend their neighbors, rather than by retroactive reputation management in the Atlantic, which does not
January 26, 2026 at 1:51 PM
OOOF, some body blows here
Taking this seriously, the answer is quite clearly a fairly small number of hard right voters but not the bulk of the Republican Party.
The sin they did commit was hearing the phrase “mass deportation” and performing absolutely no critical thinking about it.
The sin they did commit was hearing the phrase “mass deportation” and performing absolutely no critical thinking about it.
Did anyone actually vote to have masked Federal agents hold US citizens down and shoot them in the back?
January 26, 2026 at 1:42 PM
Taking this seriously, the answer is quite clearly a fairly small number of hard right voters but not the bulk of the Republican Party.
The sin they did commit was hearing the phrase “mass deportation” and performing absolutely no critical thinking about it.
The sin they did commit was hearing the phrase “mass deportation” and performing absolutely no critical thinking about it.
Reposted by Patrick Fessenbecker
Kevin and Liberal Currents were saying it when it wasn’t as popular, when big media sneered at the use of the f-word as immoderate and academic anti-anti-fascists mocked liberals from the left.
Consider giving your time, attention, and money to the people who have been getting this right.
Consider giving your time, attention, and money to the people who have been getting this right.
Interesting
January 25, 2026 at 7:08 PM
Kevin and Liberal Currents were saying it when it wasn’t as popular, when big media sneered at the use of the f-word as immoderate and academic anti-anti-fascists mocked liberals from the left.
Consider giving your time, attention, and money to the people who have been getting this right.
Consider giving your time, attention, and money to the people who have been getting this right.
Reposted by Patrick Fessenbecker
Because there is a very specific sort of online left person that knows they fucked up by not voting for Harris in 2024 and are trying to overcompensate for that by acting like nothing would be different rn if Harris won. Its a coping mechanism for their guilty consciences.
During his trip to Minnesota, Hasan Piker claims that Kamala Harris would have done the exact same things Trump is doing right now to the American people. Why is he so fixated on this?
From the LivestreamFail community on Reddit: Hasan goes to MN just to say Kamala wouldve done the same thing 🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️
Posted by Overall-Abalone3969 - 455 votes and 130 comments
www.reddit.com
January 25, 2026 at 6:40 PM
Because there is a very specific sort of online left person that knows they fucked up by not voting for Harris in 2024 and are trying to overcompensate for that by acting like nothing would be different rn if Harris won. Its a coping mechanism for their guilty consciences.
It turned out the real “second amendment solution” was a willingness to be martyred as a display of conservative hypocrisy and the true nature of the Republican Party.
Bessent: I'm sorry he is dead, but he did bring a semiautomatic weapon to what was supposed to be a peaceful protest.
Karl: There's no evidence that he brandished the gun whatsoever
Bessent: But he brought a gun!
Karl: We do have a second amendment in this country.
Karl: There's no evidence that he brandished the gun whatsoever
Bessent: But he brought a gun!
Karl: We do have a second amendment in this country.
January 25, 2026 at 5:24 PM
It turned out the real “second amendment solution” was a willingness to be martyred as a display of conservative hypocrisy and the true nature of the Republican Party.
Reposted by Patrick Fessenbecker
People can only be compelled to think illegal immigration is an actual problem for them because it can be rhetorically made to resemble the unchecked capitalism that actually makes their life precarious. I can never decide if this is so obvious it's not worth saying or not.
January 25, 2026 at 10:22 AM
People can only be compelled to think illegal immigration is an actual problem for them because it can be rhetorically made to resemble the unchecked capitalism that actually makes their life precarious. I can never decide if this is so obvious it's not worth saying or not.
Has any university official demonstrated the bravery of this nurse and this mom?
Really hard to look at this and all the other examples of bravery and kindness from ordinary people in this moment not think also of the tremendous cowardice exhibited over the past year by some of the richest, most well-protected people in business, media and politics
Let us all have the courage displayed by the residents of Minneapolis.
January 25, 2026 at 2:32 PM
Has any university official demonstrated the bravery of this nurse and this mom?
Surely someone has made the point already, but the absolute
classic sign of imperial decadence has always been lazy speculation about territory acquisition without serious consideration of what it would involve.
classic sign of imperial decadence has always been lazy speculation about territory acquisition without serious consideration of what it would involve.
January 25, 2026 at 1:52 PM
Surely someone has made the point already, but the absolute
classic sign of imperial decadence has always been lazy speculation about territory acquisition without serious consideration of what it would involve.
classic sign of imperial decadence has always been lazy speculation about territory acquisition without serious consideration of what it would involve.
Reposted by Patrick Fessenbecker
tfw when the imperialism is boomeranging
January 25, 2026 at 1:42 PM
tfw when the imperialism is boomeranging
Reposted by Patrick Fessenbecker
The parallels with Ireland don't end there. Calling ICE the Yankee Black and Tans is the best description I've heard yet.
January 25, 2026 at 9:17 AM
The parallels with Ireland don't end there. Calling ICE the Yankee Black and Tans is the best description I've heard yet.
Reposted by Patrick Fessenbecker
I gave
One little thing you can do if you’re feeling helpless tonight: throw a few bucks to the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota. They’re reportedly stretched thin for obvious reasons and could use some help if you can offer it.
www.ilcm.org?ref=badfaith...
www.ilcm.org?ref=badfaith...
Home - Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota
www.ilcm.org
January 25, 2026 at 1:15 PM
I gave
Reposted by Patrick Fessenbecker
Once again, immigration is not even a problem. Immigrants are not more criminal, they don't cost jobs, they don't harm the economy. There is no reason for any of this. It is hurting ourselves to hurt them.
January 24, 2026 at 4:08 PM
Once again, immigration is not even a problem. Immigrants are not more criminal, they don't cost jobs, they don't harm the economy. There is no reason for any of this. It is hurting ourselves to hurt them.
Reposted by Patrick Fessenbecker
I think it’s important not to expect material gains from a shutdown. At the same time, there are political factors that are not material.
For instance, a shutdown over ICE murdering Americans keeps that in the news. It also serves to demonstrate that Democrats are seriously opposed on this issue.
For instance, a shutdown over ICE murdering Americans keeps that in the news. It also serves to demonstrate that Democrats are seriously opposed on this issue.
A shutdown does nothing of substance because DHS already has some frontloaded approps from reconciliation, DHS ops continue in a lapse in appropriations, and in any case DHS employees are gonna be willing to do their "work" for free much longer than civs at DoD/HHS/Labor/Ed/State/HUD/Trans
January 25, 2026 at 1:28 AM
I think it’s important not to expect material gains from a shutdown. At the same time, there are political factors that are not material.
For instance, a shutdown over ICE murdering Americans keeps that in the news. It also serves to demonstrate that Democrats are seriously opposed on this issue.
For instance, a shutdown over ICE murdering Americans keeps that in the news. It also serves to demonstrate that Democrats are seriously opposed on this issue.