Brian Hochman
@brianhochman.bsky.social
Professor @Georgetown // Author, The Listeners: A History of Wiretapping in the United States.
Cleeeeeeeeeeeevelaaaaaaaaaaaand. This is for you.
Cleeeeeeeeeeeevelaaaaaaaaaaaand. This is for you.
Just when you thought the academic job market couldn't get more dystopian: an ad for an opening at . . . ICE.
September 27, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Just when you thought the academic job market couldn't get more dystopian: an ad for an opening at . . . ICE.
Reposted by Brian Hochman
“Defend the District” protest and Go-Go concert against Trump’s takeover at 14th and U St:
August 21, 2025 at 11:53 PM
“Defend the District” protest and Go-Go concert against Trump’s takeover at 14th and U St:
Reposted by Brian Hochman
The Church Committee Report is, to date, the most detailed articulation of the government's playbook for disrupting, surveilling, and crushing political movements. It was written in 1975 but could not be more relevant or useful in 2025.
Excited to share the *incredible* cover for the Church Committee Report!
The first version of the 1975 report on illegal surveillance & the national security state ever published by a mainstream press. Abridged/introduced by @brianhochman.bsky.social and I. Published by W.W. Norton January 2026.
The first version of the 1975 report on illegal surveillance & the national security state ever published by a mainstream press. Abridged/introduced by @brianhochman.bsky.social and I. Published by W.W. Norton January 2026.
June 16, 2025 at 5:42 PM
The Church Committee Report is, to date, the most detailed articulation of the government's playbook for disrupting, surveilling, and crushing political movements. It was written in 1975 but could not be more relevant or useful in 2025.
Our edition of The Church Committee Report has a cover. Coming Jan '26. @mguariglia.bsky.social and I both hope its relevance diminishes between now and then.
June 16, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Our edition of The Church Committee Report has a cover. Coming Jan '26. @mguariglia.bsky.social and I both hope its relevance diminishes between now and then.
I don't know, I'm no expert. But now is probably the time for universities in so-called Red States (and also maybe, um, Catholic and Jesuit schools too) to start standing the fuck up.
May 27, 2025 at 7:43 PM
I don't know, I'm no expert. But now is probably the time for universities in so-called Red States (and also maybe, um, Catholic and Jesuit schools too) to start standing the fuck up.
Reposted by Brian Hochman
Once again, I hope this whets your appetite, because @brianhochman.bsky.social and I’s 50th anniversary edition of the Church Committee Report on unlawful and political activity of the CIA/FBI/NSA will published by Norton early next year.
“Now that the JFK papers have revealed key secrets still hidden in the Family Jewels collection,” noted Archive Senior Analyst Peter Kornbluh, “there is no reason all those pages cannot be declassified in full, as the JFK assassination records have been.” nsarchive.gwu.edu/briefing-boo...
JFK Papers Reveal CIA “Family Jewels” Spying Operations in United States
Washington, D.C., March 28, 2025 - Both John F. Kennedy and his brother, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, were briefed by CIA officials on an Agency counterintelligence operation to break into the ...
nsarchive.gwu.edu
March 28, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Once again, I hope this whets your appetite, because @brianhochman.bsky.social and I’s 50th anniversary edition of the Church Committee Report on unlawful and political activity of the CIA/FBI/NSA will published by Norton early next year.
This is gutting news. Sterne was a once-in-a-generation mind. How many careers did his *footnotes* launch, much less books like Audible Past and MP3?
this morning friends, colleagues, and students recieved an email with the sad news that jonathan sterne passed away last night in his sleep. if you would like to reach out to carrie, you can do so at the heyjonandcarrie email that was previously distributed. (dm me if you dont have this)
March 21, 2025 at 2:55 PM
This is gutting news. Sterne was a once-in-a-generation mind. How many careers did his *footnotes* launch, much less books like Audible Past and MP3?
Reposted by Brian Hochman
they’ve detained a postdoc here at georgetown
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/03/19/trump-deportation-georgetown-graduate-student-00239754
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/03/19/trump-deportation-georgetown-graduate-student-00239754
Trump is seeking to deport another academic who is legally in the country, lawsuit says - POLITICO
Badar Khan Suri, a fellow at Georgetown, says he is being punished because of the suspected views of his wife, a U.S. citizen with Palestinian heritage.
www.politico.com
March 20, 2025 at 12:24 AM
they’ve detained a postdoc here at georgetown
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/03/19/trump-deportation-georgetown-graduate-student-00239754
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/03/19/trump-deportation-georgetown-graduate-student-00239754
Jesse Helms was the last politician to push for the release of the King recordings, which tells you all you need to know about what this is about.
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/19/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/19/u...
Justice Department Moves to Unseal MLK Jr.’s FBI Surveillance Records
The request, which comes on the heels of an executive order by President Trump, represents a sharp reversal for the F.B.I. and the department.
www.nytimes.com
March 20, 2025 at 2:35 AM
Jesse Helms was the last politician to push for the release of the King recordings, which tells you all you need to know about what this is about.
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/19/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/19/u...
Reposted by Brian Hochman
The CR's effect on DC is a five alarm fire.
By treating the DC as a federal agency & compelling the city to return to 2024 spending,
Congress is mandating that DC cut its budget--*its own tax dollars*--by almost 20%.
None of this $ will be refunded to the fed gov; it was never theirs.
By treating the DC as a federal agency & compelling the city to return to 2024 spending,
Congress is mandating that DC cut its budget--*its own tax dollars*--by almost 20%.
None of this $ will be refunded to the fed gov; it was never theirs.
March 12, 2025 at 1:16 PM
The CR's effect on DC is a five alarm fire.
By treating the DC as a federal agency & compelling the city to return to 2024 spending,
Congress is mandating that DC cut its budget--*its own tax dollars*--by almost 20%.
None of this $ will be refunded to the fed gov; it was never theirs.
By treating the DC as a federal agency & compelling the city to return to 2024 spending,
Congress is mandating that DC cut its budget--*its own tax dollars*--by almost 20%.
None of this $ will be refunded to the fed gov; it was never theirs.
Seems impt to note, aside from the obvious, that the "NO MASKS!" bit openly confirms what activists and scholars have been saying for years: facial recognition technology is widespread and is being used to curtail constitutionally protected rights. (cc: @kashhill.bsky.social)
Trump thinks anyone protesting must be from another country when the right and will to protest our own government is a foundational American value.
March 4, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Seems impt to note, aside from the obvious, that the "NO MASKS!" bit openly confirms what activists and scholars have been saying for years: facial recognition technology is widespread and is being used to curtail constitutionally protected rights. (cc: @kashhill.bsky.social)
RIP to the one true king
February 27, 2025 at 1:14 PM
RIP to the one true king
Harvard Kennedy School is ***salivating*** for a Bannon or Miller. I'd put money on it.
February 24, 2025 at 10:03 PM
Harvard Kennedy School is ***salivating*** for a Bannon or Miller. I'd put money on it.
Just FYI *thousands* of federal workers were required to complete a workplace harassment training module this past week. The irony isn't lost on any of them.
February 23, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Just FYI *thousands* of federal workers were required to complete a workplace harassment training module this past week. The irony isn't lost on any of them.
Trolling and governance are not the same thing.
February 22, 2025 at 11:48 PM
Trolling and governance are not the same thing.
An alternative headline could read DOGE SENDS SPAM EMAIL TO FEDERAL WORKERS, MUSK MAKES ILLEGAL THREAT
February 22, 2025 at 11:10 PM
An alternative headline could read DOGE SENDS SPAM EMAIL TO FEDERAL WORKERS, MUSK MAKES ILLEGAL THREAT
The first four weeks of this administration have merely consisted of the richest man in the world firing tens of thousands of ordinary workers and hectoring the ones who remain at their jobs.
This is the text of the bullshit email all federal government employees just received from the Office of Personnel Management (or are about to receive).
February 22, 2025 at 10:41 PM
The first four weeks of this administration have merely consisted of the richest man in the world firing tens of thousands of ordinary workers and hectoring the ones who remain at their jobs.
Hilarious that there is a pundit class advocating for the annexation of Canada because Canadians will help liberals in the electoral college. Bro Canadians aren't going to be allowed to vote under US occupation. That is not how empire works.
February 19, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Hilarious that there is a pundit class advocating for the annexation of Canada because Canadians will help liberals in the electoral college. Bro Canadians aren't going to be allowed to vote under US occupation. That is not how empire works.
This. And the DC residents in this equation don't have representation in the government that has chosen to initiate the collapse.
I’m not sure the rest of the country fully grasps the panic and anger building in DC, MD, and VA.
The entire economy of this area is about to collapse. Paychecks are stopping. Careers are ruined. Taxes are about to plummet. Yet no one seems able to stop this madness.
The entire economy of this area is about to collapse. Paychecks are stopping. Careers are ruined. Taxes are about to plummet. Yet no one seems able to stop this madness.
February 18, 2025 at 4:24 PM
This. And the DC residents in this equation don't have representation in the government that has chosen to initiate the collapse.
Thousands of people protesting in front of congress right now, event planned well in advance. Not one dem leader here to speak or support.
February 17, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Thousands of people protesting in front of congress right now, event planned well in advance. Not one dem leader here to speak or support.
Dispatch from the nation's capitol: close friend worked for a fed agency for *20 YEARS*, recruited last year to a different agency due to expertise--now fired because they are "probationary." Good plan!
February 15, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Dispatch from the nation's capitol: close friend worked for a fed agency for *20 YEARS*, recruited last year to a different agency due to expertise--now fired because they are "probationary." Good plan!
Other agencies are also claiming that existing union agreements are "illegal" and saying that there is no recourse for affected employees. (Ask me how I know...) The crisis of democracy is, among many things, a crisis of labor.
It can’t be a coincidence that the CFPB email firing probationary employees included the language below.
As I reported earlier, 1 of 3 members of this board was fired last night. If they fire one more, they lack a quorum to actually hear any cases.
As I reported earlier, 1 of 3 members of this board was fired last night. If they fire one more, they lack a quorum to actually hear any cases.
February 12, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Other agencies are also claiming that existing union agreements are "illegal" and saying that there is no recourse for affected employees. (Ask me how I know...) The crisis of democracy is, among many things, a crisis of labor.
People "on here" love citing statutes when the Supreme Court ruled *SIX MONTHS AGO* that presidents are immune from prosecution for official acts. The law ain't saving us bro.
Giving access to SSNs, other data on government employees to non-employees like Musk is a violation of 5 USC 552a, and carries with it a penalty of $1000 per person whose data was accessed. We are building a case. Govt employees who want to participate should contact me directly
February 3, 2025 at 4:23 PM
People "on here" love citing statutes when the Supreme Court ruled *SIX MONTHS AGO* that presidents are immune from prosecution for official acts. The law ain't saving us bro.
At least one federal building to which workers were ordered to return has not had potable running water for the last two years. (Ask me how I know.)
President Donald Trump signed an executive order that called for an end to remote work and later that week, agencies were instructed to end their telework policies.
See agency by agency, the more than one million federal workers who could be affected.
See agency by agency, the more than one million federal workers who could be affected.
How many federal workers will be affected by Trump’s return-to-office policy?
See agency by agency, the more than one million federal workers who could be affected.
wapo.st
January 29, 2025 at 1:33 PM
At least one federal building to which workers were ordered to return has not had potable running water for the last two years. (Ask me how I know.)