Thor Benson
@thorbenson.bsky.social
Writer. Featured in Rolling Stone, WIRED, Zeteo and elsewhere. I write about politics, tech and society.
Subscribe to my newsletter: madness.ghost.io
Subscribe to my newsletter: madness.ghost.io
Democrats should make this guy's life hell when they retake the House
U.S. Customs and Border Patrol Cmdr. Greg Bovino is seen deploying a gas canister at Mueller Park in south Minneapolis this afternoon.
Video by Ben Luhmann.
Video by Ben Luhmann.
January 22, 2026 at 12:19 AM
Democrats should make this guy's life hell when they retake the House
Reposted by Thor Benson
If this is meaningfully different from the status quo, it's not obvious to me how. We've had an agreement granting us jurisdiction over US military bases there for 75 years. We could easily have arranged to build another one without this psychotic brinksmanship.
“.. Denmark would give the United States sovereignty over small pockets of Greenlandic land where the United States could build military bases, according to three senior officials ..”
@nytimes.com
www.nytimes.com/live/2026/01...
@nytimes.com
www.nytimes.com/live/2026/01...
January 21, 2026 at 11:58 PM
If this is meaningfully different from the status quo, it's not obvious to me how. We've had an agreement granting us jurisdiction over US military bases there for 75 years. We could easily have arranged to build another one without this psychotic brinksmanship.
Aldi answers the question: What if you wanted to feel like you were shopping in a foreign country but you're not?
January 21, 2026 at 11:09 PM
Aldi answers the question: What if you wanted to feel like you were shopping in a foreign country but you're not?
Reposted by Thor Benson
I try to avoid hyperbole when it comes to Trump policies, but this is absolutely frickin’ insane—on about eleventy different levels.
Massive, systemic Fourth Amendment violations because … reasons.
Massive, systemic Fourth Amendment violations because … reasons.
ICE secretly told its officers that any time someone has been ordered removed, ICE can break down their door.
It has been accepted for generations that the only thing which can authorize agents to break into your home is a warrant signed by a judge. No wonder ICE hid this memo!
It has been accepted for generations that the only thing which can authorize agents to break into your home is a warrant signed by a judge. No wonder ICE hid this memo!
![May 12, 2025
MEMORANDUM FOR: All ICE Personnel
FROM: Todd Lyons Acting Director
SUBJECT: Utilizing Form I-205, Warrant of Removal
On January 20, 2025, President Donald J. Trump issued Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion, directing the Secretary of Homeland Security to "ensur[e] the successful enforcement of final orders of removal." 90 Fed. Reg. 8443, 8444 (Jan. 20, 2025) (E.O. 14159). Essential to the removal of aliens subject to final orders of removal is the ability to locate and arrest them. To this end, certain supervisory immigration officers within both Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) are authorized to issue an administrative warrant, Form I-205, Warrant of Removal (Form 1-205), for the arrest of an alien with a final order of removal. 8 C.F.R. § 241.2(a)(1). All U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) special agents and deportation officers are authorized to execute Forms 1-205. 8 C.F.R. § 287.5(e)(3)(iii) - (y)
Although the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has not historically relied on administrative warrants alone to arrest aliens subject to final orders of removal in their place of residence, the DHS Office of the General Counsel has recently determined that the U.S. Constitution, the Immigration and Nationality Act, and the immigration regulations do not prohibit relying on administrative warrants for this purpose. Accordingly, in light of this legal determination, ICE immigration officers may arrest and detain aliens subject to a final under of removal issued by an immigration judge, the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA), or a U.S.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:2vtbmhmrwzbqcfv4we4uxzzt/bafkreifrzrvaszfhj4bzhgtyvx3fm6ht4kc2zrwtvozijyxl3zxgp7vx6a@jpeg)
January 21, 2026 at 10:28 PM
I try to avoid hyperbole when it comes to Trump policies, but this is absolutely frickin’ insane—on about eleventy different levels.
Massive, systemic Fourth Amendment violations because … reasons.
Massive, systemic Fourth Amendment violations because … reasons.
Reposted by Thor Benson
You cant buy a house because our president is really mad he didn’t get a Nobel peace prize and so he is threatening Greenland.
January 21, 2026 at 12:59 PM
You cant buy a house because our president is really mad he didn’t get a Nobel peace prize and so he is threatening Greenland.
Hopefully a judge puts an end to that quickly
BREAKING: Immigration officers are asserting sweeping power to enter homes without a judge’s warrant, a memo obtained by AP says.
Immigration officers assert sweeping power to enter homes without a judge's warrant, memo says
An Immigration and Customs Enforcement memo obtained by The Associated Press reveals that the agency allows immigration officers to forcibly enter homes to make arrests without a judicial warrant.
bit.ly
January 21, 2026 at 9:45 PM
Hopefully a judge puts an end to that quickly
First of all, it's ridiculous that ICE is arresting people for not carrying their papers. Second of all, how exactly is a child supposed to prove they're a citizen?
Heartbreaking cruelty visited upon children in our name
January 21, 2026 at 9:37 PM
First of all, it's ridiculous that ICE is arresting people for not carrying their papers. Second of all, how exactly is a child supposed to prove they're a citizen?
Reposted by Thor Benson
Trump approval, per The Economist —
Georgia: -18.6%
Maine: -18.4%
Texas: -17.2%
Michigan: -15.8%
North Carolina: -13.6%
Ohio: -9.2%
Iowa: -8.7%
Florida: -7.5%
South Carolina: -7.3%
Mississippi: -6.9%
Alaska: -6.6%
Louisiana: -5.1%
Nebraska: -1.8%
These states all have Senate elections this year
Georgia: -18.6%
Maine: -18.4%
Texas: -17.2%
Michigan: -15.8%
North Carolina: -13.6%
Ohio: -9.2%
Iowa: -8.7%
Florida: -7.5%
South Carolina: -7.3%
Mississippi: -6.9%
Alaska: -6.6%
Louisiana: -5.1%
Nebraska: -1.8%
These states all have Senate elections this year
January 21, 2026 at 4:03 PM
Trump approval, per The Economist —
Georgia: -18.6%
Maine: -18.4%
Texas: -17.2%
Michigan: -15.8%
North Carolina: -13.6%
Ohio: -9.2%
Iowa: -8.7%
Florida: -7.5%
South Carolina: -7.3%
Mississippi: -6.9%
Alaska: -6.6%
Louisiana: -5.1%
Nebraska: -1.8%
These states all have Senate elections this year
Georgia: -18.6%
Maine: -18.4%
Texas: -17.2%
Michigan: -15.8%
North Carolina: -13.6%
Ohio: -9.2%
Iowa: -8.7%
Florida: -7.5%
South Carolina: -7.3%
Mississippi: -6.9%
Alaska: -6.6%
Louisiana: -5.1%
Nebraska: -1.8%
These states all have Senate elections this year
Reposted by Thor Benson
"The lies this administration is telling about Ms. Good aren’t those you deploy as part of a cover-up. They’re those you use when you want to show you can get away with anything. They’re a projection of power." - @radleybalko.bsky.social
Opinion | I’ve Covered Police Abuse for 20 Years. What ICE Is Doing Is Different.
www.nytimes.com
January 21, 2026 at 12:19 PM
"The lies this administration is telling about Ms. Good aren’t those you deploy as part of a cover-up. They’re those you use when you want to show you can get away with anything. They’re a projection of power." - @radleybalko.bsky.social
Reposted by Thor Benson
To win in the Lisa Cook case, President Trump will almost certainly need *three* of Chief Justice Roberts, Justice Gorsuch, Justice Kavanaugh, and Justice Barrett to side with him.
I'm not sure about Gorsuch, but I haven't heard *anything* to suggest he has *one* of the other three, let alone two.
I'm not sure about Gorsuch, but I haven't heard *anything* to suggest he has *one* of the other three, let alone two.
January 21, 2026 at 4:23 PM
To win in the Lisa Cook case, President Trump will almost certainly need *three* of Chief Justice Roberts, Justice Gorsuch, Justice Kavanaugh, and Justice Barrett to side with him.
I'm not sure about Gorsuch, but I haven't heard *anything* to suggest he has *one* of the other three, let alone two.
I'm not sure about Gorsuch, but I haven't heard *anything* to suggest he has *one* of the other three, let alone two.
China has more wind turbines than any other country—by far
Trump: "There are windmills all over Europe. There are windmills all over the place. And they are losers. One thing I've noticed is that the more windmills a country has, the more money that country loses, and the worse that country is doing. I haven't been able to find any wind farms in China."
January 21, 2026 at 4:08 PM
China has more wind turbines than any other country—by far
Don't even think about Iceland, Trump. Björk will have no problem crushing your mind if you get even close
January 21, 2026 at 3:59 PM
Don't even think about Iceland, Trump. Björk will have no problem crushing your mind if you get even close
I'm personally not a fan of the president going to an international meeting and spewing white nationalist rhetoric
January 21, 2026 at 3:36 PM
I'm personally not a fan of the president going to an international meeting and spewing white nationalist rhetoric
Congratulations, Erik the Red. You got him
Trump is now confusing Greenland and Iceland: "They're not there for us on Iceland, that I can tell you. Our stock market took the first dip yesterday because of Iceland. So Iceland has already cost us a lot of money."
January 21, 2026 at 3:29 PM
Congratulations, Erik the Red. You got him
That'd be one way to win the Nobel Peace Prize
January 21, 2026 at 5:39 AM
That'd be one way to win the Nobel Peace Prize
Reposted by Thor Benson
“nobody is insider trading off his death so it almost certainly didn’t happen” really sums up the state of the world in 2026 huh
January 21, 2026 at 5:30 AM
“nobody is insider trading off his death so it almost certainly didn’t happen” really sums up the state of the world in 2026 huh
President Donald Trump has released the following statement:
"Bing bing bing bing. Hadsefrrrogl"
"Bing bing bing bing. Hadsefrrrogl"
January 21, 2026 at 5:30 AM
President Donald Trump has released the following statement:
"Bing bing bing bing. Hadsefrrrogl"
"Bing bing bing bing. Hadsefrrrogl"
When it happens I'm running the headline "Jeffrey Epstein's best friend dies" in my newsletter
January 21, 2026 at 5:17 AM
When it happens I'm running the headline "Jeffrey Epstein's best friend dies" in my newsletter
Whenever it does happen, you know it'll happen in a bathroom
January 21, 2026 at 5:06 AM
Whenever it does happen, you know it'll happen in a bathroom
My favorite video in times like these
January 21, 2026 at 5:01 AM
My favorite video in times like these
Reports that Donald Trump's hand fell off on Air Force One are unfounded and very funny
January 21, 2026 at 4:51 AM
Reports that Donald Trump's hand fell off on Air Force One are unfounded and very funny
*watching the world unite against us*
Yeah, get our asses
Yeah, get our asses
January 21, 2026 at 3:41 AM
*watching the world unite against us*
Yeah, get our asses
Yeah, get our asses
He thinks it's like getting the star in Super Mario
Trump on the Insurrection Act: "It does make life a lot easier. You don't through the court system. It's just a much easier thing to do."
January 21, 2026 at 3:29 AM
He thinks it's like getting the star in Super Mario
Reposted by Thor Benson
we're getting all the downsides of cyberpunk (social alienation, ruthless hyper capitalism, digital mass surveillance state) but none of the promised upsides (cheap street food, cool jackets, super drugs that make you really fast and strong before they kill you)
January 20, 2026 at 9:25 PM
we're getting all the downsides of cyberpunk (social alienation, ruthless hyper capitalism, digital mass surveillance state) but none of the promised upsides (cheap street food, cool jackets, super drugs that make you really fast and strong before they kill you)
We'll always have the many times she embarrassed herself in court
Breaking news: Lindsey Halligan, a lawyer who was named head of a key U.S. attorney’s office in Virginia with instructions to seek criminal charges against President Trump’s adversaries, left her post at the Justice Department, officials said.
Lindsey Halligan out as U.S. attorney following pressure from judges
The actions signal a breaking point for the federal bench in the Eastern District of Virginia after Lindsey Halligan was disqualified as U.S. attorney there.
wapo.st
January 21, 2026 at 2:07 AM
We'll always have the many times she embarrassed herself in court