@vanessacmason.bsky.social
Reposted
NEW: We reviewed 700+ videos, hours of footage from ICE protesters and counterprotesters in Portland.
In 2 months before Trump said he was sending the National Guard, federal officers fire on, grab, pepper-spray or tear gas people 20 times -- without charging anyone. "Gratuitous," one expert said.
In 2 months before Trump said he was sending the National Guard, federal officers fire on, grab, pepper-spray or tear gas people 20 times -- without charging anyone. "Gratuitous," one expert said.
What Really Happened in Portland Before Trump Deployed the National Guard
In the two months before Trump’s decision, criminal charges were announced against only three people. On nights when physical conflict did erupt, it often came from police firing on, shoving, pepper-s...
www.propublica.org
November 5, 2025 at 5:29 PM
NEW: We reviewed 700+ videos, hours of footage from ICE protesters and counterprotesters in Portland.
In 2 months before Trump said he was sending the National Guard, federal officers fire on, grab, pepper-spray or tear gas people 20 times -- without charging anyone. "Gratuitous," one expert said.
In 2 months before Trump said he was sending the National Guard, federal officers fire on, grab, pepper-spray or tear gas people 20 times -- without charging anyone. "Gratuitous," one expert said.
Reposted
After 13 years, Mississippi Democrats have broken the Republican Party’s supermajority in the Mississippi Senate.
Democrats flipped two GOP-held Senate seats and one House seat in the special elections.
buff.ly/nTvLlFI
Democrats flipped two GOP-held Senate seats and one House seat in the special elections.
buff.ly/nTvLlFI
Mississippi Democrats Break Republican Senate Supermajority, Flipping 3 Legislative Seats
After 13 years, Mississippi Democrats broke the Republican Party's supermajority in the Mississippi Senate, flipping 3 legislative seats.
www.mississippifreepress.org
November 5, 2025 at 7:33 AM
After 13 years, Mississippi Democrats have broken the Republican Party’s supermajority in the Mississippi Senate.
Democrats flipped two GOP-held Senate seats and one House seat in the special elections.
buff.ly/nTvLlFI
Democrats flipped two GOP-held Senate seats and one House seat in the special elections.
buff.ly/nTvLlFI
Reposted
BRETT KAVANAUGH: “If the person is a U.S. citizen or otherwise lawfully in the United States, that individual will be free to go after the brief encounter."
www.propublica.org/article/immi...
www.propublica.org/article/immi...
More Than 170 U.S. Citizens Have Been Held by Immigration Agents. They’ve Been Kicked, Dragged and Detained for Days.
The government does not track how often immigration agents grab citizens. So ProPublica did. Our tally — almost certainly incomplete — includes people who were held for days without a lawyer. And near...
www.propublica.org
October 16, 2025 at 4:37 PM
BRETT KAVANAUGH: “If the person is a U.S. citizen or otherwise lawfully in the United States, that individual will be free to go after the brief encounter."
www.propublica.org/article/immi...
www.propublica.org/article/immi...
Reposted
i cannot overstate how extraordinary it is for federal civil servants to do this
Host: There are new calls this morning for RFK Jr.'s resignation, and those calls coming from inside HHS itself. More than 1,000 current and former HHS workers are making this demand in a letter released this morning. They say his leadership has "put the health of all Americans at risk"
September 3, 2025 at 2:10 PM
i cannot overstate how extraordinary it is for federal civil servants to do this
Reposted
The White House has finally decided some of its DOGE-directed firings were a mistake.
The National Weather Service has received permission to hire hundreds back—including 126 “front-line mission critical” personnel whose need became especially apparent in the wake of Texas' floods. trib.al/fXR3w2X
The National Weather Service has received permission to hire hundreds back—including 126 “front-line mission critical” personnel whose need became especially apparent in the wake of Texas' floods. trib.al/fXR3w2X
Elon Musk’s Worst Nightmare About DOGE Is Starting to Come True
Federal agencies are starting to admit that DOGE’s policies were trash.
trib.al
August 5, 2025 at 8:46 PM
The White House has finally decided some of its DOGE-directed firings were a mistake.
The National Weather Service has received permission to hire hundreds back—including 126 “front-line mission critical” personnel whose need became especially apparent in the wake of Texas' floods. trib.al/fXR3w2X
The National Weather Service has received permission to hire hundreds back—including 126 “front-line mission critical” personnel whose need became especially apparent in the wake of Texas' floods. trib.al/fXR3w2X
Reposted
to all of you in the comments bringing up 1930s Germany, look first to American history. At the Ugly Laws, for instance, which allowed the state to criminalize unhoused people. Look at the histories of forcible incarceration in insane asylums, workhouses, epileptic colonies and more across the US
July 25, 2025 at 10:44 AM
to all of you in the comments bringing up 1930s Germany, look first to American history. At the Ugly Laws, for instance, which allowed the state to criminalize unhoused people. Look at the histories of forcible incarceration in insane asylums, workhouses, epileptic colonies and more across the US
Reposted
Rolling Stone continues to teach a masterclass in headline writing www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...
July 10, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Rolling Stone continues to teach a masterclass in headline writing www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...
Reposted
I think Ketanji Brown Jackson's dissents are an important exception to the "Supreme Court dissents don't matter" rule of thumb, because she is using them not to argue with the conservative justices, but to explain to the public that the conservative justices are liars and in the tank for Trump
Ketanji Brown Jackson Is Telling the Truth About the Supreme Court
The task of interpreting the law is inherently “political.” But no justice has been this comfortable saying so in public.
ballsandstrikes.org
July 10, 2025 at 6:39 PM
I think Ketanji Brown Jackson's dissents are an important exception to the "Supreme Court dissents don't matter" rule of thumb, because she is using them not to argue with the conservative justices, but to explain to the public that the conservative justices are liars and in the tank for Trump
Reposted
Every American should read this ACLU lawsuit about what is happening in Los Angeles and California. It is the stuff of dystopian nightmares. This is not immigration enforcement. It is positively stuffed with videos and articles documenting racial profiling on a scale unseen since Jim Crow.
July 9, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Every American should read this ACLU lawsuit about what is happening in Los Angeles and California. It is the stuff of dystopian nightmares. This is not immigration enforcement. It is positively stuffed with videos and articles documenting racial profiling on a scale unseen since Jim Crow.
Reposted
Correct.
The common tactic we can see in the last ten years is that mixed-race politicians who claim Black international/ or African heritage are "not really Black" -- so as to dissuade Black Americans from supporting them.
See Obama, Harris, Mamdani.
Clockwork. Nasty work.
The common tactic we can see in the last ten years is that mixed-race politicians who claim Black international/ or African heritage are "not really Black" -- so as to dissuade Black Americans from supporting them.
See Obama, Harris, Mamdani.
Clockwork. Nasty work.
They pulled that on Obama too, or tried too.
July 5, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Correct.
The common tactic we can see in the last ten years is that mixed-race politicians who claim Black international/ or African heritage are "not really Black" -- so as to dissuade Black Americans from supporting them.
See Obama, Harris, Mamdani.
Clockwork. Nasty work.
The common tactic we can see in the last ten years is that mixed-race politicians who claim Black international/ or African heritage are "not really Black" -- so as to dissuade Black Americans from supporting them.
See Obama, Harris, Mamdani.
Clockwork. Nasty work.
Reposted
Every 4th of July, I take the time to read "What, to the Slave, is the Fourth of July." Let us begin:
"I say it with a sad sense of the disparity between us. I am not included within the pale of this glorious anniversary! Your high independence only reveals the immeasurable distance between us."
"I say it with a sad sense of the disparity between us. I am not included within the pale of this glorious anniversary! Your high independence only reveals the immeasurable distance between us."
(1852) Frederick Douglass, "What, To The Slave, Is The Fourth Of July"
Explore the speech "What, To The Slave, Is The Fourth Of July" delivered by Frederick Douglass in 1852, including full text and historical context.
www.blackpast.org
July 4, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Every 4th of July, I take the time to read "What, to the Slave, is the Fourth of July." Let us begin:
"I say it with a sad sense of the disparity between us. I am not included within the pale of this glorious anniversary! Your high independence only reveals the immeasurable distance between us."
"I say it with a sad sense of the disparity between us. I am not included within the pale of this glorious anniversary! Your high independence only reveals the immeasurable distance between us."
Reposted
Legacy media in Chicago will not attribute the drop in crime to the Johnson administration and progressive policies. This story frames it through the lens of policing and national crime trends. The same would not be true if crime was on the rise.
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/06/28/c...
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/06/28/c...
Violent crime drops to levels not seen in a decade in Chicago during first half of 2025
Chicago is poised to close the first half of the year with its steepest statistical drop in recent memory, with fewer than 200 homicides in the first six months of a calendar year for the first tim…
www.chicagotribune.com
June 28, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Legacy media in Chicago will not attribute the drop in crime to the Johnson administration and progressive policies. This story frames it through the lens of policing and national crime trends. The same would not be true if crime was on the rise.
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/06/28/c...
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/06/28/c...
Reposted
I’ve seen enough, abolition is the centrist position
Net approval of ICE:
All: -17%
DEM: -80%
IND: -32%
GOP: +60%
Quinnipiac / June 24, 2025
All: -17%
DEM: -80%
IND: -32%
GOP: +60%
Quinnipiac / June 24, 2025
June 28, 2025 at 4:22 PM
I’ve seen enough, abolition is the centrist position
Reposted
NYC Comptroller Brad Lander: "I don't think the line for the [Democratic] party right now is between progressives and moderates; I think it's between fighters and folders."
June 28, 2025 at 1:08 AM
NYC Comptroller Brad Lander: "I don't think the line for the [Democratic] party right now is between progressives and moderates; I think it's between fighters and folders."
Reposted
The average cost of child care for a baby exceeds in-state college tuition in 41 states. For families with two kids in child care, it’s more than a mortgage or rent in most states.
Child care is now rivaling home costs
The average cost of child care for a baby exceeds in-state college tuition in 41 states. For families with two kids in child care, it’s more than a mortgage or rent in most states.
19thnews.org
June 23, 2025 at 1:49 PM
The average cost of child care for a baby exceeds in-state college tuition in 41 states. For families with two kids in child care, it’s more than a mortgage or rent in most states.
Reposted
"Don’t forget that dreams are fuel and that it’s important to have a vision of what we want. Our visions keep us in the fight because they are what we are fighting for. Keep creating even though it might feel as though *the* world is ending." prisonculture.substack.com/p/the-strugg...
The Struggle is Permanent: Keep Fighting
Or some notes on carrying on...
prisonculture.substack.com
June 23, 2025 at 2:13 PM
"Don’t forget that dreams are fuel and that it’s important to have a vision of what we want. Our visions keep us in the fight because they are what we are fighting for. Keep creating even though it might feel as though *the* world is ending." prisonculture.substack.com/p/the-strugg...
Reposted
New polling finds that most Democratic voters want the current leaders of the Democratic Party to be replaced, as current leadership has failed to unite behind a coherent message to resist President Donald Trump’s fascist power grab.
62 Percent of Democrats Want Current Party Leaders to Be Replaced, Poll Finds
Democrats recently ousted David Hogg from leadership after he criticized the party for complacency.
truthout.org
June 20, 2025 at 9:00 PM
New polling finds that most Democratic voters want the current leaders of the Democratic Party to be replaced, as current leadership has failed to unite behind a coherent message to resist President Donald Trump’s fascist power grab.
Reposted
NEW: Judge Farbiarz, now in writing, orders the release of Mahmoud Khalil on bail TODAY.
AND—happy surprise—he reconsiders and adds a line forbidding electronic monitoring, as Judge Sessions did for Rümeysa Öztürk. He also forbids monetary bond due today. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
AND—happy surprise—he reconsiders and adds a line forbidding electronic monitoring, as Judge Sessions did for Rümeysa Öztürk. He also forbids monetary bond due today. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
June 20, 2025 at 7:32 PM
NEW: Judge Farbiarz, now in writing, orders the release of Mahmoud Khalil on bail TODAY.
AND—happy surprise—he reconsiders and adds a line forbidding electronic monitoring, as Judge Sessions did for Rümeysa Öztürk. He also forbids monetary bond due today. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
AND—happy surprise—he reconsiders and adds a line forbidding electronic monitoring, as Judge Sessions did for Rümeysa Öztürk. He also forbids monetary bond due today. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Reposted
Amazing: MIT researchers revealed how ChatGPT etc are destroying our brains and booby-trapped the report to expose those who want to use AI to ostensibly summarize the results.
t.co/JXeTALBPds
t.co/JXeTALBPds
June 19, 2025 at 11:23 AM
Amazing: MIT researchers revealed how ChatGPT etc are destroying our brains and booby-trapped the report to expose those who want to use AI to ostensibly summarize the results.
t.co/JXeTALBPds
t.co/JXeTALBPds
Reposted
THIS JUST HAPPENED: Brad Lander walked through the fire, got burned, and came back with a fucking gasoline can.
ICE arrested him — now he’s escorting migrants right past them, again. Most politicians wouldn’t show up. He showed out.
ICE arrested him — now he’s escorting migrants right past them, again. Most politicians wouldn’t show up. He showed out.
June 20, 2025 at 6:54 PM
THIS JUST HAPPENED: Brad Lander walked through the fire, got burned, and came back with a fucking gasoline can.
ICE arrested him — now he’s escorting migrants right past them, again. Most politicians wouldn’t show up. He showed out.
ICE arrested him — now he’s escorting migrants right past them, again. Most politicians wouldn’t show up. He showed out.
Reposted
Three months ago, Zohran Mamdani confronted Trump's “border czar” Tom Homan — as most Democrats simply twiddled their thumbs after Mahmoud Khalil was taken.
"How many more New Yorkers will you detain?!"
"Do you believe in the First Amendment?!"
Today, Khalil is freed.
"How many more New Yorkers will you detain?!"
"Do you believe in the First Amendment?!"
Today, Khalil is freed.
Wow. Watch this from Zohran Mamdani. It looks like the exact "fight" and "conviction" people are hopelessly asking for from the people in charge of the Democratic party:
June 20, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Three months ago, Zohran Mamdani confronted Trump's “border czar” Tom Homan — as most Democrats simply twiddled their thumbs after Mahmoud Khalil was taken.
"How many more New Yorkers will you detain?!"
"Do you believe in the First Amendment?!"
Today, Khalil is freed.
"How many more New Yorkers will you detain?!"
"Do you believe in the First Amendment?!"
Today, Khalil is freed.
Reposted
I think the Catholic Church should do this every day in every city
.@CBS8 in San Diego reports that due to Bishop Michael Pham’s presence in the courtroom, in effect, cases of migrants today were postponed.
June 20, 2025 at 10:08 PM
I think the Catholic Church should do this every day in every city
Reposted
"The hottest place to be this summer is at a lecture."
NERDS, THIS IS OUR TIME
www.thecut.com/article/lear...
NERDS, THIS IS OUR TIME
www.thecut.com/article/lear...
Get Your Highlighters Ready
The hottest place to be this summer is at a lecture.
www.thecut.com
June 17, 2025 at 1:13 PM
"The hottest place to be this summer is at a lecture."
NERDS, THIS IS OUR TIME
www.thecut.com/article/lear...
NERDS, THIS IS OUR TIME
www.thecut.com/article/lear...
Reposted
NAACP won't invite Trump to its national convention, the first president to be excluded in 116 years
NAACP won't invite Trump to its national convention, the first president to be excluded in 116 years
'Our mission is to advance civil rights, and the current president has made clear that his mission is to eliminate civil rights,' NAACP President Derrick Johnson said at a press conference on Monday.
www.lemonde.fr
June 16, 2025 at 9:26 PM
NAACP won't invite Trump to its national convention, the first president to be excluded in 116 years