Ray Pride
@raypride.bsky.social
Daily newsletter/column, Today in Culture, free sub @ Newcity.com. Film critic. Photographer. Editor. raypride.substack.com; [my name] everywhere / weekly film column newcityfilm.com
Pinned
Ray Pride
@raypride.bsky.social
· Dec 15
Rob Reiner: “Silence in the face of authoritarianism is complicity. Speaking out is a patriotic act. Democracy doesn’t defend itself. It requires participation, vigilance, and courage from ordinary people."
Reposted by Ray Pride
The Congressional Budget Office estimates that ongoing military operations in US cities will cost $93m a month.
Trump's troop deployment in US cities cost almost $500m in 2025
The Congressional Budget Office estimates that ongoing military operations in US cities will cost $93m a month.
www.aljazeera.com
January 29, 2026 at 4:30 PM
The Congressional Budget Office estimates that ongoing military operations in US cities will cost $93m a month.
Reposted by Ray Pride
The WSJ is really in denial mode.
January 29, 2026 at 12:10 PM
The WSJ is really in denial mode.
Reposted by Ray Pride
Something we know about Donald Trump: he rarely backtracks unless there's something in it for him to gain personally.
US Senator Ron Wyden asked for a detailed account of Trump’s acceptance of a Rolex table clock and gold bar from Swiss businessmen shortly before slashing tariffs he previously imposed on Switzerland
Rolex and Gold Given to Trump Before Swiss Deal Queried by Senator
US Senator Ron Wyden asked for a detailed account of Donald Trump’s acceptance of a Rolex table clock and one-kilogram gold bar from Swiss businessmen shortly before the president slashed tariffs he previously imposed on Switzerland.
bloom.bg
January 29, 2026 at 4:32 PM
Something we know about Donald Trump: he rarely backtracks unless there's something in it for him to gain personally.
Reposted by Ray Pride
They invaded a city with a force five times the size of the local police department, where the crime rates had been steadily declining, claiming to be restoring law and order, and killed two people in the process. If Biden did it in their town they would have been storming the US Capitol.
Q: Can you be specific about how many ICE and CBP agents are currently operating in the state?
HOMAN: 3,000. There's been some rotations. They've been in theater a long time. Day after day, can't eat in restaurants, people spin on you, blowing whistles at you. But my main focus now is draw down
HOMAN: 3,000. There's been some rotations. They've been in theater a long time. Day after day, can't eat in restaurants, people spin on you, blowing whistles at you. But my main focus now is draw down
January 29, 2026 at 4:29 PM
They invaded a city with a force five times the size of the local police department, where the crime rates had been steadily declining, claiming to be restoring law and order, and killed two people in the process. If Biden did it in their town they would have been storming the US Capitol.
MOM JEANZ 4EVS, for senior citizens now!
January 29, 2026 at 4:31 PM
MOM JEANZ 4EVS, for senior citizens now!
Reposted by Ray Pride
hi media, you dont have to guess what homan means moving forward in minnesota, you could just simply report on whats still happening there
January 29, 2026 at 4:26 PM
hi media, you dont have to guess what homan means moving forward in minnesota, you could just simply report on whats still happening there
Reposted by Ray Pride
Reposted by Ray Pride
At the very least, Senate Democrats must use their leverage to disarm ICE, prohibit it from using racial or ethnic profiling, end arrest quotas, and remove agents’ immunity from criminal prosecution and civil lawsuits.
Please call your senators now at 202-224-3121 and say NO more funding for ICE.
Please call your senators now at 202-224-3121 and say NO more funding for ICE.
January 29, 2026 at 4:18 PM
At the very least, Senate Democrats must use their leverage to disarm ICE, prohibit it from using racial or ethnic profiling, end arrest quotas, and remove agents’ immunity from criminal prosecution and civil lawsuits.
Please call your senators now at 202-224-3121 and say NO more funding for ICE.
Please call your senators now at 202-224-3121 and say NO more funding for ICE.
Reposted by Ray Pride
OPINION by @rosen.senate.gov:
“Pretti was killed because DHS Secretary Kristi Noem has been an abject failure as the leader of this incredibly important department.”
READ MORE:
www.ms.now/opinion/impe...
“Pretti was killed because DHS Secretary Kristi Noem has been an abject failure as the leader of this incredibly important department.”
READ MORE:
www.ms.now/opinion/impe...
Sen. Jacky Rosen: It's time for my colleagues in the House to impeach Kristi Noem
Sen. Jacky Rosen: The DHS secretary isn't honoring her oath to defend the Constitution
www.ms.now
January 29, 2026 at 4:26 PM
OPINION by @rosen.senate.gov:
“Pretti was killed because DHS Secretary Kristi Noem has been an abject failure as the leader of this incredibly important department.”
READ MORE:
www.ms.now/opinion/impe...
“Pretti was killed because DHS Secretary Kristi Noem has been an abject failure as the leader of this incredibly important department.”
READ MORE:
www.ms.now/opinion/impe...
Reposted by Ray Pride
rats in a sack; excellent
SCOOP: The war within DHS is not going away. Noem raised concerns Monday to POTUS about pace of wall construction under CBP’s Rodney Scott. Scott sent a memo to his agency saying he was in charge. DHS GC rescinded it Wednesday. W @nickmiroff.bsky.social www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
The War Within Homeland Security
Officials overseeing Trump’s mass-deportation campaign are fighting one another for power.
www.theatlantic.com
January 29, 2026 at 4:26 PM
rats in a sack; excellent
Reposted by Ray Pride
Interesting look at the dysfunction at DHS. (My favorite detail is that they use leaks about office renovations against each other knowing that’s a subject that catches Trump’s eye.)
SCOOP: The war within DHS is not going away. Noem raised concerns Monday to POTUS about pace of wall construction under CBP’s Rodney Scott. Scott sent a memo to his agency saying he was in charge. DHS GC rescinded it Wednesday. W @nickmiroff.bsky.social www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
The War Within Homeland Security
Officials overseeing Trump’s mass-deportation campaign are fighting one another for power.
www.theatlantic.com
January 29, 2026 at 4:13 PM
Interesting look at the dysfunction at DHS. (My favorite detail is that they use leaks about office renovations against each other knowing that’s a subject that catches Trump’s eye.)
Reposted by Ray Pride
I'm glad the NYT published this piece, this grotesque coded trolling/dog-whistling has been central to the communications approach of the administration since Trump's first run — & it's great that they caught them playing the song in that Instagram www.nytimes.com/2026/01/27/u...
Administration Social Media Posts Echo White Supremacist Messaging
www.nytimes.com
January 29, 2026 at 4:12 PM
I'm glad the NYT published this piece, this grotesque coded trolling/dog-whistling has been central to the communications approach of the administration since Trump's first run — & it's great that they caught them playing the song in that Instagram www.nytimes.com/2026/01/27/u...
Reposted by Ray Pride
NEW EPISODE: Minnesota Senator Tina Smith joins me to expose how the Trump administration is using her state as a testing ground for authoritarian overreach—deploying ICE violence, weaponizing the Justice Department, and demanding voter files to undermine future elections.
Trump’s ICE Crackdown Is a 2026 Election Test Run | Sen. Tina Smith
YouTube video by Democracy Docket
www.youtube.com
January 29, 2026 at 4:19 PM
NEW EPISODE: Minnesota Senator Tina Smith joins me to expose how the Trump administration is using her state as a testing ground for authoritarian overreach—deploying ICE violence, weaponizing the Justice Department, and demanding voter files to undermine future elections.
Bezos’ investment in MELANIA will pay off in massed multiples
January 29, 2026 at 4:19 PM
Bezos’ investment in MELANIA will pay off in massed multiples
Reposted by Ray Pride
It is a little weird that people keep acting like MELANIA not making back its money is some kind of ... own? or surprise? It was not supposed to *make* money, folks. That was not the point.
January 29, 2026 at 4:15 PM
It is a little weird that people keep acting like MELANIA not making back its money is some kind of ... own? or surprise? It was not supposed to *make* money, folks. That was not the point.
Reposted by Ray Pride
Looks like we're watching the prequel to Alex Garland's Civil War.
We’re just not a free country.
Any American watching this play out between regime forces and journalists overseas would recognize it for what it is.
Any American watching this play out between regime forces and journalists overseas would recognize it for what it is.
January 29, 2026 at 4:12 PM
Looks like we're watching the prequel to Alex Garland's Civil War.
Reposted by Ray Pride
The war on immigrants is a contracting bonanza for Palantir, Deloitte—and a gravel contractor (coincidentally a Trump donor) who's gotten $6b to build the wall.
www.ft.com/content/c741...
www.ft.com/content/c741...
Companies reap $22bn from Trump’s immigration crackdown
Palantir, Deloitte and gravel company led by ally of US president among beneficiaries
www.ft.com
January 29, 2026 at 4:07 PM
The war on immigrants is a contracting bonanza for Palantir, Deloitte—and a gravel contractor (coincidentally a Trump donor) who's gotten $6b to build the wall.
www.ft.com/content/c741...
www.ft.com/content/c741...
Reposted by Ray Pride
Radley is so on the mark zeroing in on this: the creation of new "privacy" rights for federal police. The right to be anonymous to the public. The right not to have anyone know why they shot someone and tried to hide the evidence. "right to privacy" fascism addition.
Federal agents cornered Marimar Martinez, shot her several times, boasted about it, arrested her, lied about her to the public and in the police report, and falsely charged her with assaulting them.
Now the government wants to keep evidence of their lies secret to protect these agents' "privacy."
Now the government wants to keep evidence of their lies secret to protect these agents' "privacy."
DeWald cites "privacy interests" for an "agent number 3" and his body worn camera as one of the govt's concerns over making the case material piblic, among other issues.
January 29, 2026 at 3:50 PM
Radley is so on the mark zeroing in on this: the creation of new "privacy" rights for federal police. The right to be anonymous to the public. The right not to have anyone know why they shot someone and tried to hide the evidence. "right to privacy" fascism addition.
Reposted by Ray Pride
We invaded France and no one will sell us a croissant. It’s very hard on the men.
Q: Can you be specific about how many ICE and CBP agents are currently operating in the state?
HOMAN: 3,000. There's been some rotations. They've been in theater a long time. Day after day, can't eat in restaurants, people spin on you, blowing whistles at you. But my main focus now is draw down
HOMAN: 3,000. There's been some rotations. They've been in theater a long time. Day after day, can't eat in restaurants, people spin on you, blowing whistles at you. But my main focus now is draw down
January 29, 2026 at 4:05 PM
We invaded France and no one will sell us a croissant. It’s very hard on the men.
Reposted by Ray Pride
"What is tear gas for? It is for inciting riots. How did people go out and get gas masks? They ordered them online, because they do not want to riot."
www.theverge.com/policy/86857...
www.theverge.com/policy/86857...
Best gas masks
“How did these people go out and get gas masks?” AG Bondi asked.
www.theverge.com
January 29, 2026 at 4:07 PM
"What is tear gas for? It is for inciting riots. How did people go out and get gas masks? They ordered them online, because they do not want to riot."
www.theverge.com/policy/86857...
www.theverge.com/policy/86857...
Reposted by Ray Pride
Been noticing this more, people with newborns basically not doing anything with their kids or having visitors until they at least receive their 3-month vaccines.
As the CDC removes vaccines from its childhood schedule, vaccination rates decline and measles spreads, parents are trying to figure out how to keep their children safe — including, in some cases, by limiting their activities or seeking vaccinations early. I talked to a number of them. Gift link:
Parents Navigate a Fracturing Vaccine Landscape
www.nytimes.com
January 29, 2026 at 4:05 PM
Been noticing this more, people with newborns basically not doing anything with their kids or having visitors until they at least receive their 3-month vaccines.