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sarahemclaugh.bsky.social
Sarah McLaughlin
@sarahemclaugh.bsky.social
18K followers 1.3K following 5.4K posts
Global Expression, FIRE. Book: Authoritarians in the Academy, @hopkinspress.bsky.social (August 2025). https://www.press.jhu.edu/books/title/53835/authoritarians-academy

Signal: sarahemclaugh.01. Go birds.
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sarahemclaugh.bsky.social
Sarah McLaughlin @sarahemclaugh.bsky.social · Aug 19
Pub day! My new book, Authoritarians in the Academy at @hopkinspress.bsky.social, is now officially out and available for purchase. www.press.jhu.edu/books/title/...
photo of my holding a copy of my book Authoritarians in the Academy
Reposted by Sarah McLaughlin
stereogum.com
Manchester Orchestra drummer Tim Very has died at 42

stereogum.com/2489296/manc...
February 14, 2026 at 10:19 PM
sarahemclaugh.bsky.social
sarah mclachlan's next philly show is on my birthday. a shot across the bow. a provocation.
February 13, 2026 at 9:43 PM
sarahemclaugh.bsky.social
With the ruling that the ban on Palestine Action is unlawful, but with the ban staying in effect pending appeal, "expressing support" for Palestine Action is essentially Schrödinger’s speech crime for now.

Met Police won't focus on arrests, but they will continue to gather evidence.
Officers will focus on gathering evidence rather than making arrests, says Met police The Metropolitan police has released a statement after the high court’s ruling this morning, warning that the proscription remains in place and so showing support for Palestine Action is still a criminal offence. The Met acknowledged that the “unusual circumstances” may cause some confusion among the public as to what happens next, it said that officers will “continue to identify offences where support for Palestine Action is being expressed, but they will focus on gathering evidence of those offences and the people involved to provide opportunities for enforcement at a later date, rather than making arrests at the time”. It added: “This is the most proportionate approach we can take, acknowledging the decision reached by the court while recognising that proceedings are not yet fully concluded. “This approach relates solely to the expression of support for Palestine Action. We will continue to intervene and make arrests where we see people crossing the line from lawful protest to intimidate, to damage property, to use violence, to stir up racial hatred or to commit other offences.”
February 13, 2026 at 9:16 PM
Reposted by Sarah McLaughlin
mattknight.bsky.social
'His petition called for government accountability, proper resettlement for residents, and a review of construction oversight.'

result:

-arrested by national security police on suspicion of sedition
-expelled by Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) after 6 years of study
Student who urged Tai Po fire probe says CUHK expelled him
A Chinese University of Hong Kong student who launched a now-removed petition calling for accountability following the deadly Tai Po fire has said he has been expelled.
hongkongfp.com
February 13, 2026 at 12:52 PM
sarahemclaugh.bsky.social
Imagine finding out that the government is issuing secretive orders to unearth your personal information and then sending federal agents to question you — all because you sent an email criticizing the life-or-death decisions the government makes.

This is happening in the United States.
Opinion | The Trump administration is using secretive orders to crack down on dissent
Sarah McLaughlin: The Department of Homeland Security is reportedly abusing oversight-free administrative subpoenas to chill protected speech.
www.ms.now
February 11, 2026 at 7:28 PM
Reposted by Sarah McLaughlin
ifex.org
#Zimbabwe 🇿🇼 @globalfreemedia.bsky.social condemns the arrest and detention of Zimbo Live journalist Pellagia Mupurwa under Zimbabwe’s cybercrime law after she reported on alleged property abuses.
Zimbabwe: Journalist threatened, detained over false news allegations – ipi.media
The IPI global network condemns the harassment and detention of Zimbo Live journalist Pellagia Mupurwa on false news allegations after she published an interview on claims of irregular property…
buff.ly
February 11, 2026 at 6:02 PM
sarahemclaugh.bsky.social
You have the right to record and publicly discuss the conduct and activity of law enforcement, including ICE. That's First Amendment 101.

And the federal government can't coerce private companies into censoring speech about ICE, just because it doesn't like what people have to say.

LAWSUIT:
FIRE sues Bondi, Noem for censoring Facebook group and app reporting ICE activity
Two Midwesterners are fighting back after the platforms they created to report on public Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity were censored by government officials.
www.thefire.org
February 11, 2026 at 3:17 PM
sarahemclaugh.bsky.social
Administrative subpoenas intended to unmask critics of government action are just the tip of the speech-chilling iceberg.

My latest at MS NOW: www.ms.now/opinion/trum...
Imagine a United States in which federal agents have the authority to fire their weapons as representatives of the government, and yet everyday Americans aren’t even free to state clearly who or where those agents are. Even worse, those same Americans may find themselves on a clandestine government database for engaging in protected speech. Or, like Jon, they could even face a secretive administrative subpoena followed by a knock at the door from DHS agents. “Secret police” cannot be a necessary term in the American vernacular, but if we do not stem the tide of these First Amendment violations and transgressions, it may become one. The distance between freedom and tyranny is shrinking fast — and so is our window to combat it.
February 10, 2026 at 7:10 PM
sarahemclaugh.bsky.social
Queensland is looking to ban the phrases “globalise the intifada” and “from the river to the sea” when they "are used to incite hatred, offence and menace."

Those found "distributing, publishing, displaying or reciting a prohibited phrase" could face up to two years in prison.
Queensland moves to ban pro-Palestine slogan ‘from the river to the sea’ under sweeping new hate speech laws
Laws to be introduced this week include up to two years in prison for distributing, displaying or reciting prohibited phrases to harass or offend
theguardian.com
February 9, 2026 at 3:24 PM
sarahemclaugh.bsky.social
this Super Bowl is conducting a mass psychological test: what does it take to make NFL fans feel even an inkling of empathy for the Patriots
February 9, 2026 at 3:02 AM
sarahemclaugh.bsky.social
just hard to imagine how I’ll be able to fall asleep tonight after this high octane, pulse-pounding clash of titans
February 9, 2026 at 2:51 AM
sarahemclaugh.bsky.social
can you imagine paying thousands of dollars for a ticket to this lol
February 9, 2026 at 2:20 AM
Reposted by Sarah McLaughlin
en.afp.com
BREAKING Hong Kong pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai sentenced to 20 years in prison
February 9, 2026 at 2:10 AM
sarahemclaugh.bsky.social
let bad bunny call the pats offense this half
February 9, 2026 at 2:05 AM
sarahemclaugh.bsky.social
I made chili and some simmered beans are a significantly better product than what is on my tv right now
February 9, 2026 at 1:03 AM
Reposted by Sarah McLaughlin
icpetrie.bsky.social
Another iconic Philadelphian life well-lived
share.inquirer.com/k9KfCK
Lou Capozzoli, steward of Ray’s Happy Birthday Bar in South Philly, has died at 86
He was an accomplished singer and saxophonist who performed for Sophia Loren and opened for Diana Ross before taking over his father's bar and transforming it into a top-notch dive.
share.inquirer.com
February 6, 2026 at 6:00 PM
sarahemclaugh.bsky.social
just ran into swoop by accident, go birds
February 6, 2026 at 5:53 PM
sarahemclaugh.bsky.social
can’t prove it but I’m almost certain someone brought a hoagie to yoga class
February 4, 2026 at 11:31 PM
Reposted by Sarah McLaughlin
drewharwell.com
A retiree wrote this email to a DHS attorney. Within five hours, DHS demanded Google turn over records for his account.

A Kafkaesque form of domestic surveillance, intimidating Americans for lawful speech.

New from us at the Post: www.washingtonpost.com/investigatio... @johnwoodrowcox.bsky.social
“Unconscionable,” Jon thought as he found an email address online for the lead prosecutor, Joseph Dernbach, who was named in the story. Peering through metal-rimmed glasses, Jon opened Gmail on his computer monitor. “Mr. Dernbach, don’t play Russian roulette with H’s life,” he wrote. “Err on the side of caution. There’s a reason the US government along with many other governments don’t recognise the Taliban. Apply principles of common sense and decency.” That was it. In five minutes, Jon said, he finished the note, signed his first and last name, pressed send and hoped his plea would make a difference. Five hours and one minute later, Jon was watching TV with his wife when an email popped up in his inbox. He noticed it on his phone. “Google,” the message read, “has received legal process from a Law Enforcement authority compelling the release of information related to your Google Account.”
February 3, 2026 at 3:15 PM
sarahemclaugh.bsky.social
seeing a competent goaltending effort in a flyers game is a balm for the soul
February 4, 2026 at 2:45 AM
sarahemclaugh.bsky.social
Seinfeld meme Jerry: you’re crying from Groundhog Day? George: the old man got to me
February 3, 2026 at 2:38 AM
Reposted by Sarah McLaughlin
lizafeatherstone.bsky.social
Violence against protesters is a sign of a regime's crumbling legitimacy, a couple experts told me last week. here's the piece @newrepublic.com
newrepublic.com/article/2059...
A Truth From Iran to Minneapolis: Weak Governments Kill Protesters
Regimes are most violent against dissenters when they know that the protests have traction.
newrepublic.com
February 2, 2026 at 4:47 PM
sarahemclaugh.bsky.social
Note this quote from DHS Asst. Secretary Tricia McLaughlin: “These were clear attempts to dox our officer. The officer, who was alone and without protective equipment, acted to protect himself when faced with this threatening behavior.”

Taking a picture of a federal agent = "threatening behavior"
February 2, 2026 at 5:13 PM
sarahemclaugh.bsky.social
“I have an artificial hip and was calmly standing with a camera on a sidewalk,” Held wrote in a statement. “He is a federal agent who tried to silence me with violence.”
New body camera footage shows aftermath of ICE officer allegedly attacking activist near Chicago
Robert Held told Brookfield police he followed ICE Officer Adam Saracco from the Broadview ICE facility and was recording him as he stopped for gas. He said Saracco then threw him to the ground.
chicago.suntimes.com
February 2, 2026 at 5:02 PM
sarahemclaugh.bsky.social
This is a perfect example of why the UN's cybercrime treaty pushing international cooperation in fighting crimes taking place using computer systems is dangerously flawed.

Cybercrime very often means "political speech on the internet that the government doesn't like."

www.scmp.com/news/china/p...
In addition to targeting cybercrime or activities that aid cybercrime within and beyond the borders of mainland China, the draft bill seeks to curb actions that support cybercriminals, including businesses that offer payment platforms, servers, accounts or advertisements, or engage in recruitment. The newly drafted bill also targets actions such as “spreading fake news and fabricated information” and publishing information that “goes against public order and accepted social morals to gain traffic or advertising revenue”. It said such behaviour was considered disruptive to the online order and could result in an exit ban if a person was convicted of a crime and sentenced.
February 2, 2026 at 3:24 PM