Brianne Agatep
@brianneagatep.bsky.social
Former editor, current background investigator/researcher who loves books, art, animals, nature, truth, justice, and learning.
she/her
she/her
Reposted by Brianne Agatep
This is functionally equivalent to - & equally illegitimate - as Russia invading Ukraine. As @nicholasgrossman.bsky.social notes: "the US wasn’t attacked by Venezuela, someone based in Venezuela, or anyone else. There’s no self-defense argument, and the US didn’t even try for UNSC authorization."
The US is at war with Venezuela.
No Congressional authorization, no public debate, no clearly stated goal, no casus belli, and a gradual ramp up rather than big opening, so many haven’t noticed (or deny it). But this attack removes the ambiguity.
US is at war with Venezuela. With no end in sight.
No Congressional authorization, no public debate, no clearly stated goal, no casus belli, and a gradual ramp up rather than big opening, so many haven’t noticed (or deny it). But this attack removes the ambiguity.
US is at war with Venezuela. With no end in sight.
Exclusive: CIA carried out drone strike on port facility on Venezuelan coast | CNN Politics
The CIA carried out a drone strike earlier this month on a port facility on the coast of Venezuela, sources familiar with the matter told CNN, marking the first known US attack on a target inside that...
www.cnn.com
December 30, 2025 at 4:09 AM
This is functionally equivalent to - & equally illegitimate - as Russia invading Ukraine. As @nicholasgrossman.bsky.social notes: "the US wasn’t attacked by Venezuela, someone based in Venezuela, or anyone else. There’s no self-defense argument, and the US didn’t even try for UNSC authorization."
Reposted by Brianne Agatep
Exclusive: A year after Tenet Media was busted for funneling Russian money to MAGA pundits like Benny Johnson and Tim Pool, a Trump administration effort involving State and the FBI has welcomed Tenet's founders back into the US. @thebulwark.com: www.thebulwark.com/p/lauren-che...
Trump Admin Scores Visa for Founder of Russian Propaganda Outlet
Tenet Media’s Lauren Chen is back—even though the illegal-influence and money-laundering investigation remains open.
www.thebulwark.com
December 30, 2025 at 1:23 AM
Exclusive: A year after Tenet Media was busted for funneling Russian money to MAGA pundits like Benny Johnson and Tim Pool, a Trump administration effort involving State and the FBI has welcomed Tenet's founders back into the US. @thebulwark.com: www.thebulwark.com/p/lauren-che...
Reposted by Brianne Agatep
this seems specifically designed to break mail-in voting (where deadlines are defined by postmark)
As of 12/24/25, USPS changed policy on when they postmark mail. Mail dropped off is no longer guaranteed a same-day postmark. Tax returns & other time-sensitive items are now stamped when they reach a regional processing center, which may be days later. Plan deadlines accordingly to avoid penalties.
USPS Announces Changes to the Postmark Date System
The United States Postal Service (USPS) has adopted a final rule (FR Doc.
share.google
December 29, 2025 at 9:51 PM
this seems specifically designed to break mail-in voting (where deadlines are defined by postmark)
Reposted by Brianne Agatep
It’s pretty wild that the most rabidly anti-immigrant administration in recent memory is comprised of a President married to an immigrant, a VP married to the daughter of immigrants, an assistant AG in charge of Civil Rights who’s an immigrant (Dhillon), & it was all funded by an immigrant (Musk).
December 27, 2025 at 12:12 AM
It’s pretty wild that the most rabidly anti-immigrant administration in recent memory is comprised of a President married to an immigrant, a VP married to the daughter of immigrants, an assistant AG in charge of Civil Rights who’s an immigrant (Dhillon), & it was all funded by an immigrant (Musk).
Reposted by Brianne Agatep
Trump is banning fact-checkers--yes, those people who do the research to learn the truth--from entering the USA.
When Trump says he supports free speech, what he means is supports his right to lie. Those who tell the truth are therefore his natural enemies.
When Trump says he supports free speech, what he means is supports his right to lie. Those who tell the truth are therefore his natural enemies.
December 25, 2025 at 6:18 AM
Trump is banning fact-checkers--yes, those people who do the research to learn the truth--from entering the USA.
When Trump says he supports free speech, what he means is supports his right to lie. Those who tell the truth are therefore his natural enemies.
When Trump says he supports free speech, what he means is supports his right to lie. Those who tell the truth are therefore his natural enemies.
Reposted by Brianne Agatep
We don’t spend enough time discussing how the entire MAGA movement is kept afloat by the constant threats of stochastic terrorism orchestrated by the president of the United States.
Congress, the courts, much of the media … all kept in line by the mob boss and his army of anonymous goons.
Congress, the courts, much of the media … all kept in line by the mob boss and his army of anonymous goons.
“I’m 84 years old. Threats against my life expectancy are kind of hollow. I don’t have much time anyway. I’m more concerned that our democracy is at risk because of the trends against the rule of law.” www.nbcnews.com/politics/pol...
Judges who ruled against Trump say harassment and threats have changed their lives
More than 100 pizzas were delivered to the homes of judges and their families this year, some with signs of foreign involvement. Judges say the message is clear: We know where you live.
www.nbcnews.com
December 24, 2025 at 3:06 PM
We don’t spend enough time discussing how the entire MAGA movement is kept afloat by the constant threats of stochastic terrorism orchestrated by the president of the United States.
Congress, the courts, much of the media … all kept in line by the mob boss and his army of anonymous goons.
Congress, the courts, much of the media … all kept in line by the mob boss and his army of anonymous goons.
Reposted by Brianne Agatep
thinking of the fugitive slave act and people who profited from it
NEW: A variety of military and intelligence contractors have already signed on to help ICE's immigrant bounty hunter program. A review of procurement data shows 10 companies stand to make up to *ONE BILLION* dollars from the program by 2027. theintercept.com/2025/12/23/i...
10 Companies Have Already Made $1 Million as ICE Bounty Hunters. We Found Them.
And they stand to make millions more in cash bonuses for surveilling and tracking immigrants in service of ICE’s deportation machine.
theintercept.com
December 23, 2025 at 8:56 PM
thinking of the fugitive slave act and people who profited from it
Reposted by Brianne Agatep
By its own admission, ICE now poses a serious threat to Americans’ free speech and privacy rights. bit.ly/3Kq348R
ICE Wants to Go After Dissenters as well as Immigrants
The Trump administration is being open about its plans to violate Americans’ First and Fourth Amendment rights.
www.brennancenter.org
December 23, 2025 at 6:03 PM
By its own admission, ICE now poses a serious threat to Americans’ free speech and privacy rights. bit.ly/3Kq348R
Reposted by Brianne Agatep
“I am more scared in the last month than in the last 20 years. I thought they were gonna kick down the door and take me away.”
@samanthamichaels.bsky.social hid out with an immigrant family in Memphis, where the onslaught of ICE has reshaped daily life, drawing comparisons to 1930s Germany.
@samanthamichaels.bsky.social hid out with an immigrant family in Memphis, where the onslaught of ICE has reshaped daily life, drawing comparisons to 1930s Germany.
I'm a veteran criminal justice reporter. I've never seen anything like ICE-occupied Memphis.
“It’s about as sad as you can possibly imagine."
www.motherjones.com
December 23, 2025 at 4:00 AM
“I am more scared in the last month than in the last 20 years. I thought they were gonna kick down the door and take me away.”
@samanthamichaels.bsky.social hid out with an immigrant family in Memphis, where the onslaught of ICE has reshaped daily life, drawing comparisons to 1930s Germany.
@samanthamichaels.bsky.social hid out with an immigrant family in Memphis, where the onslaught of ICE has reshaped daily life, drawing comparisons to 1930s Germany.
Reposted by Brianne Agatep
Now seems like a swell time to point out that Frontline just released this excellent 11-minute mini-documentary about what happened inside CECOT.
Surviving CECOT (full documentary) | Deported to a Maximum-Security Prison | FRONTLINE + ProPublica
YouTube video by FRONTLINE PBS | Official
m.youtube.com
December 21, 2025 at 10:26 PM
Now seems like a swell time to point out that Frontline just released this excellent 11-minute mini-documentary about what happened inside CECOT.
Reposted by Brianne Agatep
The person charged with enforcing the laws is an open lawbreaker, assisted by a team of open lawbreakers, backed by a Congressional majority indifferent to lawbreaking, supported by a Supreme Court that privileges them to break the law.
It has no legitimacy whatsoever.
It has no legitimacy whatsoever.
The person charged with enforcing the laws is himself a law breaker. In such a state, do laws even have any legitimacy?
December 21, 2025 at 12:46 AM
The person charged with enforcing the laws is an open lawbreaker, assisted by a team of open lawbreakers, backed by a Congressional majority indifferent to lawbreaking, supported by a Supreme Court that privileges them to break the law.
It has no legitimacy whatsoever.
It has no legitimacy whatsoever.
Reposted by Brianne Agatep
Extremely cool and also a reminder that conservatives in America campaigned so hard against HPV vaccination because they thought getting a vaccine to prevent cancer by preventing HPV would make a bunch of teenagers have sex
Congrats to Australia, this is really cool!
report.cervicalcancercontrol.org.au
report.cervicalcancercontrol.org.au
December 21, 2025 at 12:32 AM
Extremely cool and also a reminder that conservatives in America campaigned so hard against HPV vaccination because they thought getting a vaccine to prevent cancer by preventing HPV would make a bunch of teenagers have sex
Reposted by Brianne Agatep
We have $ for a dozen ICE agents to hang around for hours trying to arrest 2 roofers working in MN.
Meanwhile, the agency that investigates and prosecutes violations of Americans' right to organize is shedding staff again. Now down to like 1 agency staff per 145,000 workers.
Meanwhile, the agency that investigates and prosecutes violations of Americans' right to organize is shedding staff again. Now down to like 1 agency staff per 145,000 workers.
December 14, 2025 at 2:13 PM
We have $ for a dozen ICE agents to hang around for hours trying to arrest 2 roofers working in MN.
Meanwhile, the agency that investigates and prosecutes violations of Americans' right to organize is shedding staff again. Now down to like 1 agency staff per 145,000 workers.
Meanwhile, the agency that investigates and prosecutes violations of Americans' right to organize is shedding staff again. Now down to like 1 agency staff per 145,000 workers.
Reposted by Brianne Agatep
Frost: If you want to protect children, why don't you ban assault weapons instead of health care?
December 17, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Frost: If you want to protect children, why don't you ban assault weapons instead of health care?
Reposted by Brianne Agatep
there is really no difference between the current administration and having the country run by david duke
On that last post: I genuinely cannot think of any good-faith reason to bar international adoptions from those 39 countries. Under this new ban, consulates will refuse adoption visas for any baby from Cuba, Haiti, Venezuela, Nigeria, or any of the 39 other countries.
December 17, 2025 at 3:17 AM
there is really no difference between the current administration and having the country run by david duke
Reposted by Brianne Agatep
speaking of which, I have a new piece out today about how the Trump admin is making it harder for people of color to enter the workforce, harder for us to remain in the workforce, and harder for us to do anything about it
There's a word for that:
Resegregation
ballsandstrikes.org/law-politics...
There's a word for that:
Resegregation
ballsandstrikes.org/law-politics...
December 17, 2025 at 5:46 PM
speaking of which, I have a new piece out today about how the Trump admin is making it harder for people of color to enter the workforce, harder for us to remain in the workforce, and harder for us to do anything about it
There's a word for that:
Resegregation
ballsandstrikes.org/law-politics...
There's a word for that:
Resegregation
ballsandstrikes.org/law-politics...
Reposted by Brianne Agatep
Rob Reiner either made your favorite movie, or made somebody you know’s favorite movie. If you’re a Californian, he’s also part of the reason you or your friends can get married. He has changed more lives for the better than this asshole commenting on him ever did.
December 15, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Rob Reiner either made your favorite movie, or made somebody you know’s favorite movie. If you’re a Californian, he’s also part of the reason you or your friends can get married. He has changed more lives for the better than this asshole commenting on him ever did.
Reposted by Brianne Agatep
Just a reminder that at least 600 Americans were fired for failing to show sufficient respect after Charlie Kirk's murder.
December 15, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Just a reminder that at least 600 Americans were fired for failing to show sufficient respect after Charlie Kirk's murder.
Reposted by Brianne Agatep
Every few months now I re-read this "Who Goes Nazi?" piece from 1941 and am blown away by how it captures the people we are dealing with 80 years later.
harpers.org/archive/1941...
harpers.org/archive/1941...
Who Goes Nazi?, by Dorothy Thompson
harpers.org
October 1, 2025 at 11:59 PM
Every few months now I re-read this "Who Goes Nazi?" piece from 1941 and am blown away by how it captures the people we are dealing with 80 years later.
harpers.org/archive/1941...
harpers.org/archive/1941...
Reposted by Brianne Agatep
In memory of Rob Reiner
“Stand by Me”
By Ben E. King
“Stand by Me”
By Ben E. King
December 15, 2025 at 3:54 AM
In memory of Rob Reiner
“Stand by Me”
By Ben E. King
“Stand by Me”
By Ben E. King
Reposted by Brianne Agatep
Armed ICE agents trapped U.S. citizens in a restaurant and demanded their papers.
Federal agents walked into East African restaurants in Cedar-Riverside, MN.
They closed and blocked the doors. Then they demanded to see everyone’s papers.
Every single person was a U.S. citizen.
Federal agents walked into East African restaurants in Cedar-Riverside, MN.
They closed and blocked the doors. Then they demanded to see everyone’s papers.
Every single person was a U.S. citizen.
Federal agents use chemical irritant on crowd in Somali neighborhood of Minneapolis amid Trump crackdown
Federal agents have used chemical irritant to disperse a crowd in a heavily Somali neighborhood in Minneapolis. This happened Tuesday during a identification checks amid the Trump administration's cra...
www.mprnews.org
December 14, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Armed ICE agents trapped U.S. citizens in a restaurant and demanded their papers.
Federal agents walked into East African restaurants in Cedar-Riverside, MN.
They closed and blocked the doors. Then they demanded to see everyone’s papers.
Every single person was a U.S. citizen.
Federal agents walked into East African restaurants in Cedar-Riverside, MN.
They closed and blocked the doors. Then they demanded to see everyone’s papers.
Every single person was a U.S. citizen.
Reposted by Brianne Agatep
Dumbshits.
They ought to be shunning him. Hard to say, "Trump is corrupt" while legitmising the very corruption you decry.
They ought to be shunning him. Hard to say, "Trump is corrupt" while legitmising the very corruption you decry.
"House Democrats on Thursday voted to return Rep. Henry Cuellar to his leadership role on the House Appropriations Committee following his presidential pardon on federal corruption charges."
JICYMI - Shameful, repulsive move by House Democrats and their leaders. Disgraceful.
JICYMI - Shameful, repulsive move by House Democrats and their leaders. Disgraceful.
Democrats Return Henry Cuellar to Powerful Spending Post After Trump Pardon
“We got ratified,” Cuellar told reporters after the vote.
www.notus.org
December 12, 2025 at 11:10 PM
Dumbshits.
They ought to be shunning him. Hard to say, "Trump is corrupt" while legitmising the very corruption you decry.
They ought to be shunning him. Hard to say, "Trump is corrupt" while legitmising the very corruption you decry.
Reposted by Brianne Agatep
What's especially crazy about this is that it's an unbelievably cheap intervention. It costs approximately zero dollars and saves lives. There is essentially no material elements to compete over. There's nothing left but animus.
More research showing a thing the GC movement wishes to deny trans people, in this case respecting their name and pronouns, is a thing that improves mental health and could prevent a death by suicide, yet still they persist.
“Transgender and nonbinary youth (ages 13 to 24) whose pronouns are respected were 31 percent less likely to attempt suicide in the past year than those whose pronouns are not respected, according to a new report from The Trevor Project”
www.advocate.com/exclusives/p...
www.advocate.com/exclusives/p...
December 11, 2025 at 12:47 PM
What's especially crazy about this is that it's an unbelievably cheap intervention. It costs approximately zero dollars and saves lives. There is essentially no material elements to compete over. There's nothing left but animus.
Reposted by Brianne Agatep
I'd like to see the next Dem candidate for president (and the entire party) run on a platform of immediately recognizing the ICC and supporting its prosecutions of all who violate international law including heads of state promoting murder, piracy, etc. Hold them accountable.
December 11, 2025 at 1:13 AM
I'd like to see the next Dem candidate for president (and the entire party) run on a platform of immediately recognizing the ICC and supporting its prosecutions of all who violate international law including heads of state promoting murder, piracy, etc. Hold them accountable.
Reposted by Brianne Agatep
I mean, no one supposed they invented that prize for nothing, right?
Days after FIFA awarded Trump a fake peace prize, DOJ moves to drop charges in FIFA corruption case www.nytimes.com/2025/12/10/n...
U.S. Moves to Drop Charges in International Soccer Corruption Case
www.nytimes.com
December 11, 2025 at 3:01 AM
I mean, no one supposed they invented that prize for nothing, right?