Steven Nelson
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snelsonus.bsky.social
Steven Nelson
@snelsonus.bsky.social
4.3K followers 770 following 400 posts
Former dean, Center for Advanced Study in the Visual Arts, National Gallery of Art; UCLA professor emeritus; and left-handed art historian who sees lots of shiny objects.
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Reposted by Steven Nelson
joncooper-us.bsky.social
Cartoon by @mluckovich.bsky.social.
January 27, 2026 at 4:11 PM
Reposted by Steven Nelson
bluewavesurfer.bsky.social
January 27, 2026 at 2:48 AM
snelsonus.bsky.social
“The Department of Homeland Security has, in effect, become a tool of a dictator, our Ministry of Interior. Its sprawling law-enforcement elements have been remade into a paramilitary force…” - Steven A. Cash
open.substack.com/pub/steadyst...
The Department of Homeland Security becomes our own Ministry of Interior.
The Steady State | by Steven A. Cash
open.substack.com
January 26, 2026 at 1:57 AM
snelsonus.bsky.social
"A university is one of the precious things that can be destroyed.” - Elaine Scarry, "On Beauty and Being Just
January 25, 2026 at 8:35 PM
snelsonus.bsky.social
January 25, 2026 at 3:38 PM
Reposted by Steven Nelson
chrisgeidner.bsky.social
"I insisted that the agents let me assess him. Normally, I would not have been so persistent, but as a physician, I felt a professional and moral obligation to help this man, especially since none of the agents were helping him."
chrisgeidner.bsky.social Chris Geidner @chrisgeidner.bsky.social · 2d
BREAKING: A young doctor who lives near where Alex Pretti, a nurse, was killed by ICE says in a declaration he saw the shooting, went out to help, was not let through at first then patted down before being let by, and was apparently the first to try and provide any medical assistance to Pretti.
1. 1 am a 29-year-old resident of the lin Minneapolis, Minnesota. I have lived in Minneapolis since 2024, when I moved to the city to begin my medical residency. I am a licensed pediatrician, and I have been practicing pediatric medicine in the city since I moved here. 2. On January 24, 2026, at approximately 9:00 am CST, I was awoken by the sound of cars honking and whistles blowing. Shortly after I awoke, I heard screaming from outside my window. I saw several ICE agents and civilians yelling at each other. 3. One civilian was standing in front of a parked car on the side of the road. I saw him yelling at the ICE agents, but I did not see him attack the agents or brandish a weapon of any kind 4. Suddenly, an ICE agent shoved him to the ground. My view of the altercation was partially obstructed, but after a few seconds, I saw at least four ICE agents point guns at the man. I then saw the agents shoot the man at least six or seven times. 5. Initially, I was stunned. From what I could see from my apartment, there was absolutely no need for any violence, let alone lethal force by multiple officers. I immediately put on my boots and coat, ran outside, and approached ICE agents who were near the victim. 6. The scene was chaotic. Many civilians were screaming and honking. Over the noise, I informed the ICE agents that I am a physician, and I asked to assess the victim. 7. At first, the ICE agents wouldn't let me through. They repeatedly asked me for my physician's license, which I obviously didn't have. But none of the ICE agents who were near the victim were performing CPR, and I could tell that the victim was in critical condition. I insisted that the agents let me assess him. Normally, I would not have been so persistent, but as a physician, I felt a professional and moral obligation to help this man, especially since none of the agents were helping him. 8. Finally, one agent agreed to let me assess the victim. He patted me down to "make sure I didn't have a weapon" and then let me approach the victim. 9. As I approached, I saw that the victim was lying on his side and was surrounded by several ICE agents. I was confused as to why the victim was on his side, because that is not standard practice when a victim has been shot. Checking for a pulse and administering CPR is standard practice. Instead of doing either of those things, the ICE agents appeared to be counting his bullet wounds. 10.1 asked the ICE agents if the victim had a pulse, and they said they did not know. I then asked the agents to make space so I could assess the victim. 11. The victim had at least three bullet wounds in his back. I asked the ICE agents to turn the victim from his side to his back. From that position, I saw an additional gunshot wound on the victim's upper left chest and another possible gunshot wound on his neck. 12. I checked for a pulse, but I did not feel one. I immediately began CPR. Shortly after I started compressions, EMS personnel arrived and took over. 13.1 remained at the scene for about five more minutes, but protesters began to gather and the situation seemed to be escalating, so I left and returned to my apartment. 14. When I returned to my apartment, I was extremely distraught. I was sobbing and shaking uncontrollably. Eventually, I called my sister, who lives in a nearby suburb. I called her for comfort and because I did not feel safe in my apartment; I wanted to see if I could stay with her for the day and maybe even a few days. 15.1 also sought advice from a friend who works for the City of Minneapolis. He recommended that I shelter in place because the situation outside my apartment was so dangerous. I was going to follow his advice, but then ICE agents deployed tear gas on the crowd that had gathered below, and the tear gas began seeping into my apartment.
January 25, 2026 at 2:01 AM
snelsonus.bsky.social
Alex Pretti was executed by a Border Patrol agent in Minneapolis.
briantylercohen.bsky.social Brian Tyler Cohen @briantylercohen.bsky.social · 2d
This is the "gun" that Trump, Noem, Bovino, and every other administration official claims the victim was brandishing that justified him being pushed, tackled, shot, and killed.

A phone.
January 25, 2026 at 12:27 AM
Reposted by Steven Nelson
dell.bsky.social
the nyt style section vs. der spiegel
The New York Times When a Coat Becomes a Symbol of Conflict How the choice of outerwear for Gregory Bovino, the president’s Border Patrol chief, turned into part of the deportation story. Gregory Bovino Der ICE-Kommandant im Nazi-Look Martialisch und effektheischend, so tritt ICE-Kommandant Gregory Bovino gern auf. 22.01.2026, 17.09 Uhr
January 24, 2026 at 11:20 PM
snelsonus.bsky.social
What happened in Philadelphia is not an isolated incident.

We will see a lot more federal repression and whitewashing of American history as the 250th drags on…

share.inquirer.com/g6DTgD
The Trump administration tore down 400 years of Black history in Philadelphia. So what happens now?
Philadelphians are grappling with the aftermath of Thursday’s abrupt removal of all exhibits at the President’s House ahead of 250th anniversary celebrations.
share.inquirer.com
January 24, 2026 at 3:08 PM
snelsonus.bsky.social
File under “I supported ICE operations until they affected me.”
January 24, 2026 at 2:58 PM
snelsonus.bsky.social
Judges rejecting arrests warrants in Minneapolis ICE protests. www.ms.now/news/minneso...
Minnesota judges continue to reject arrest warrants in ICE protests
Sources say federal agents aren’t providing evidence that protesters are committing the crimes of which they’re accused.
www.ms.now
January 24, 2026 at 2:03 PM
Reposted by Steven Nelson
motherjones.com
ICE attacked an observer after they tailed a group of clergy on a spiritual pilgrimage.

Our digital producer @sam.vp just so happened to be with the clergy on their journey. He spoke with the observer who was attacked and others who witnessed the assault.
January 24, 2026 at 4:22 AM
snelsonus.bsky.social
The @startribune.com is doing great work. Though I live in DC, I subscribed.
startribune.com Minnesota Star Tribune @startribune.com · 3d
Tomorrow's front page of the Minnesota Star Tribune: Jan. 24, 2026
January 24, 2026 at 1:38 PM
Reposted by Steven Nelson
startribune.com
Tomorrow's front page of the Minnesota Star Tribune: Jan. 24, 2026
January 23, 2026 at 11:45 PM
Reposted by Steven Nelson
jonathancohn.bsky.social
If the link is causing problems: abcnews.go.com/US/army-vet-...
Army vet detained by ICE for 8 hours says he wasn't allowed to call an attorney
Army veteran and Purple Heart recipient William Vermie told ABC News that he was tackled and arrested by ICE in Minneapolis and held for eight hours.
abcnews.go.com
January 24, 2026 at 1:16 PM
Reposted by Steven Nelson
hrag.bsky.social
The Walker Art Center and the Minneapolis Institute of Art are among the hundreds of businesses shuttering on January 23 in protest of the ICE killing of Renee Macklin Good.
Minnesota Art Spaces to Close in Solidarity With Anti-ICE Strike
The Walker Art Center and the Minneapolis Institute of Art are among the hundreds of businesses shuttering on January 23 in protest of the ICE killing of Renee Macklin Good.
hyperallergic.com
January 23, 2026 at 1:13 AM
snelsonus.bsky.social
We can expect to see a lot more of this as the 250th drags on.

share.inquirer.com/IrokXK
The slavery exhibits at the President’s House have been removed following Trump administration push
President Donald Trump and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum ordered content at national parks that “inappropriately disparage” the U.S. to be reviewed and potentially removed.
share.inquirer.com
January 22, 2026 at 11:54 PM
snelsonus.bsky.social
Our country's wounds are self-inflicted.

open.substack.com/pub/heatherc...
January 19, 2026
Late last night, Nick Schifrin of PBS NewsHour posted on social media that the staff of the U.S.
open.substack.com
January 20, 2026 at 11:43 PM
snelsonus.bsky.social
Sunday in our nation’s capital.
January 18, 2026 at 6:41 PM
snelsonus.bsky.social
“Ask anyone who has lived in a country that became an autocracy, and they will tell you some version of a story about walls closing in on them, about space getting smaller and smaller. The space they are talking about is freedom.” - M. Gessen

www.nytimes.com/2026/01/18/o...
Opinion | One Year of Trump. The Time to Act Is Now, While We Still Can.
www.nytimes.com
January 18, 2026 at 3:32 PM
snelsonus.bsky.social
“Abolition is less an act of demolition than a construction project. It is creative creation, the boundless, boundary-less struggle to make our collective lives better, what Ruth Wilson Gilmore calls “life in rehearsal.” — Robin D. G. Kelley
bostonreview.bsky.social Boston Review @bostonreview.bsky.social · 10d
"Strangest of all is the liberal pipe dream that local police will stand up against ICE and CBP, when police have collaborated with ICE and been deployed to protect agents from protesters, even in so-called sanctuary cities."

An interview with Robin D.G. Kelley
www.bostonreview.net/articles/ren...
Renee Good's Murder and Other Acts of Terror
An interview with Robin D. G. Kelley on how to think about ICE—and the broader history of police violence.
www.bostonreview.net
January 17, 2026 at 10:16 PM
Reposted by Steven Nelson
mluckovich.bsky.social
January 16, 2026 at 12:13 AM
snelsonus.bsky.social
My former colleague, Alison Luchs, is a total badass.

washingtonian.com/2026/01/16/t...
The National Gallery of Art’s New Viral Star Is a Curator With Serious Gen Z Rizz - Washingtonian
A hilarious video launched the museum's open call for creatives to "aura farm" a gallery piece.
washingtonian.com
January 17, 2026 at 5:03 PM
snelsonus.bsky.social
I’m so happy to see Leigh Raiford’s brilliant book, “When Home is a Photograph,” coming out in the Duke University Press series, “The Visual Arts of Africa and Its Diasporas,” which I co-edit with Dr. Kellie Jones.
January 17, 2026 at 2:10 PM
Reposted by Steven Nelson
nbedera.bsky.social
I’m seeing posts from people (outside of MN) about how US citizens should carry their passports.

And let me say that *inside* MN, we are calmly responding to requests with: “No, I don’t have to show you any documentation.”

Because that’s how you protect everyone, regardless of immigration status.
January 16, 2026 at 12:17 AM