David Elwell
@drelwell.bsky.social
Inputs: words & music, pictures too. Outputs: not so much.
When I'm working: editorial & publications. When I'm not: aimless.
When I'm working: editorial & publications. When I'm not: aimless.
Reposted by David Elwell
It’s wild how many of the ICE/CBP detentions are turning out to be illegal — and yet in the US system, there are no consequences for the agents and no recourse for the victims.
Judge rules mandatory detention of Chicago day care teacher by ICE is illegal
Judge rules mandatory detention of Chicago day care teacher by ICE is illegal
According to the ruling, Diana Santillana will be given a bond hearing in front of an immigration judge, who could order her released while her civil deportation case proceeds.
trib.al
November 13, 2025 at 1:19 AM
It’s wild how many of the ICE/CBP detentions are turning out to be illegal — and yet in the US system, there are no consequences for the agents and no recourse for the victims.
Reposted by David Elwell
The Kremlin disguised a nearly $100 mn payment to Trump in the form of a brokered real estate deal... and both Jeffrey Epstein and William Pulte were involved in the deal. That's very interesting.
November 12, 2025 at 9:56 PM
The Kremlin disguised a nearly $100 mn payment to Trump in the form of a brokered real estate deal... and both Jeffrey Epstein and William Pulte were involved in the deal. That's very interesting.
Reposted by David Elwell
To recap: Jeffrey Epstein offered a NY Times reporter photos taken in Epstein's kitchen of Donald Trump and girls in bikinis *and* implored the NYT reporter to put this information in the public discourse in 2015
What did the NY Times editors know about this offer?
What did the NY Times editors know about this offer?
“would you like photos of donald and girls in bikinis in my kitchen?” -Jeffrey Epstein
November 12, 2025 at 8:05 PM
To recap: Jeffrey Epstein offered a NY Times reporter photos taken in Epstein's kitchen of Donald Trump and girls in bikinis *and* implored the NYT reporter to put this information in the public discourse in 2015
What did the NY Times editors know about this offer?
What did the NY Times editors know about this offer?
Reposted by David Elwell
Three decades of global climate action have slowed the rise of planet-warming pollution, but it is far from enough. The world is on track for catastrophic warming and, in an alarming twist, the worst impacts of the climate crisis are unfolding decades earlier than scientists predicted.
New reports paint picture of an ‘extremely dangerous’ future with warming expected to blow past key limit | CNN
Melting ice sheets. Massive flooding. Dead coral reefs. Humanity is careening toward an untenable future as global temperatures rise, scientists warn
www.cnn.com
November 12, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Three decades of global climate action have slowed the rise of planet-warming pollution, but it is far from enough. The world is on track for catastrophic warming and, in an alarming twist, the worst impacts of the climate crisis are unfolding decades earlier than scientists predicted.
Reposted by David Elwell
Michael Wolff suggests in an email (in 2015) that if Trump were to say in public that he had never been to Epstein’s house or on his plane, Epstein would have leverage over him.
Which…means that Trump was at his house and on his plane and that Epstein had the receipts to prove it. So.
Which…means that Trump was at his house and on his plane and that Epstein had the receipts to prove it. So.
November 12, 2025 at 10:43 PM
Michael Wolff suggests in an email (in 2015) that if Trump were to say in public that he had never been to Epstein’s house or on his plane, Epstein would have leverage over him.
Which…means that Trump was at his house and on his plane and that Epstein had the receipts to prove it. So.
Which…means that Trump was at his house and on his plane and that Epstein had the receipts to prove it. So.
Reposted by David Elwell
The Department of Homeland Security collected data on Chicago residents accused of gang ties to test if police files could feed an FBI watchlist. Months passed before anyone noticed it wasn’t deleted. www.wired.com/story/dhs-ke...
DHS Kept Chicago Police Records for Months in Violation of Domestic Espionage Rules
The Department of Homeland Security collected data on Chicago residents accused of gang ties to test if police files could feed an FBI watchlist. Months passed before anyone noticed it wasn’t deleted.
www.wired.com
November 12, 2025 at 10:06 PM
The Department of Homeland Security collected data on Chicago residents accused of gang ties to test if police files could feed an FBI watchlist. Months passed before anyone noticed it wasn’t deleted. www.wired.com/story/dhs-ke...
Reposted by David Elwell
AOC: How can we, as members of congress, Republican or Democrat, vote to enrich ourselves by stealing from the American people? That is what this legislation does. In fact, Senator Graham said he was going to seek well over $1 million from the American people, from this.
November 12, 2025 at 10:41 PM
AOC: How can we, as members of congress, Republican or Democrat, vote to enrich ourselves by stealing from the American people? That is what this legislation does. In fact, Senator Graham said he was going to seek well over $1 million from the American people, from this.
Reposted by David Elwell
Trump was, at this moment, running for President (his vanity run).
He dropped out of the race a month later.
He dropped out of the race a month later.
The email that’s most newsworthy in my mind is the one that Epstein sent to Ghislaine Maxwell in 2011.
1. This was years before Trump ran for office.
2. It appears that Ghislaine Maxwell lied to DOJ officials during her meeting with them a couple months ago.
1. This was years before Trump ran for office.
2. It appears that Ghislaine Maxwell lied to DOJ officials during her meeting with them a couple months ago.
November 12, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Trump was, at this moment, running for President (his vanity run).
He dropped out of the race a month later.
He dropped out of the race a month later.
Reposted by David Elwell
As a practical matter in US courts, it would be almost impossible to prosecute a federal employee (mil or civ) for just following orders if there was a formal contemporaneous DOJ OLC opinion that those orders were legal, even if a future DOJ disagrees with the finding
Exclusive: U.S. troops are not liable in the deadly strikes on alleged drug-trafficking boats in Latin America, a new classified Justice Department memo announced.
U.S. troops not liable in boat strikes, classified Justice Dept. memo says
In a classified memo, the Trump administration’s Office of Legal Counsel said that U.S. troops would not be liable for participating in boat strikes on alleged narco-traffickers.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 12, 2025 at 6:52 PM
As a practical matter in US courts, it would be almost impossible to prosecute a federal employee (mil or civ) for just following orders if there was a formal contemporaneous DOJ OLC opinion that those orders were legal, even if a future DOJ disagrees with the finding
Reposted by David Elwell
More evidence that #Meta / #FB is intentionally scaling up fake content that drives Mass Psychosis among millions of customers. I personally have been shocked and demoralized recently to observe many of the folks I follow over there creating and / or sharing this kinda horrific #AI Slop. 😑
The most horrifying AI slop of ICE raids you can possibly imagine is wildly viral on Facebook, collectively totaling tens of millions of views from a single account. First spotted by @chadloder.bsky.social
www.404media.co/ai-generated...
www.404media.co/ai-generated...
AI-Generated Videos of ICE Raids Are Wildly Viral on Facebook
An account is spamming horrific, dehumanizing videos of immigration enforcement because the Facebook algorithm is rewarding them for it.
www.404media.co
November 12, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Reposted by David Elwell
A report seen by the AP says the UN nuclear watchdog has not been able to verify Iran’s near weapons-grade uranium stock.
UN watchdog hasn't been able to verify Iran's stockpile of near-weapons grade uranium in months
The International Atomic Energy Agency has been unable to verify Iran's near weapons-grade uranium stockpile since Israel struck its nuclear sites in June.
bit.ly
November 12, 2025 at 7:00 PM
A report seen by the AP says the UN nuclear watchdog has not been able to verify Iran’s near weapons-grade uranium stock.
Reposted by David Elwell
Catalina “Xóchitl” Santiago spent nearly two months in ICE detention—despite having protection under DACA—until a federal judge ruled that the government had no reason to keep her in custody and ordered her release.
DHS is still vowing to "explore every available option to remove" her. My latest:
DHS is still vowing to "explore every available option to remove" her. My latest:
Then they came for the Dreamers
Immigrants brought here as children were told they wouldn’t be deported. Now, they’re being targeted anyway.
www.motherjones.com
November 11, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Catalina “Xóchitl” Santiago spent nearly two months in ICE detention—despite having protection under DACA—until a federal judge ruled that the government had no reason to keep her in custody and ordered her release.
DHS is still vowing to "explore every available option to remove" her. My latest:
DHS is still vowing to "explore every available option to remove" her. My latest:
Reposted by David Elwell
NEW: The Venezuelan nationals the US government sent to El Salvador in March and April were tortured and subjected to other abuses, including sexual violence.
In a new report, HRW and @cristosal.bsky.social provide a comprehensive account of the treatment of these people in El Salvador.
In a new report, HRW and @cristosal.bsky.social provide a comprehensive account of the treatment of these people in El Salvador.
November 12, 2025 at 3:18 PM
NEW: The Venezuelan nationals the US government sent to El Salvador in March and April were tortured and subjected to other abuses, including sexual violence.
In a new report, HRW and @cristosal.bsky.social provide a comprehensive account of the treatment of these people in El Salvador.
In a new report, HRW and @cristosal.bsky.social provide a comprehensive account of the treatment of these people in El Salvador.
Reposted by David Elwell
Some bizarre stuff going down in the Oval these days. After spraying the Syrian president with his Trump Fragrance he then asks him how many wives he has.
November 12, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Some bizarre stuff going down in the Oval these days. After spraying the Syrian president with his Trump Fragrance he then asks him how many wives he has.
Reposted by David Elwell
NEW: ProPublica examined months of Fox News’ coverage and reviewed over 700 videos posted on social media.
The network used five-year-old footage, mislabeled other dates and implied footage from elsewhere was in Portland.
The network used five-year-old footage, mislabeled other dates and implied footage from elsewhere was in Portland.
“Riots Raging”: The Misleading Story Fox News Told About Portland Before Trump Sent Troops
After reviewing coverage from the network and hours of social media videos that preceded Trump’s decision, ProPublica found that Fox’s portrayal of “Portland rioters” routinely instigating violence was misleading.
www.propublica.org
November 12, 2025 at 2:00 PM
NEW: ProPublica examined months of Fox News’ coverage and reviewed over 700 videos posted on social media.
The network used five-year-old footage, mislabeled other dates and implied footage from elsewhere was in Portland.
The network used five-year-old footage, mislabeled other dates and implied footage from elsewhere was in Portland.
Reposted by David Elwell
Among those fired or forced out, the WSJ has reported: Fannie Mae’s chief ethics officer and general counsel, about a dozen members of its ethics and internal investigations unit, and the acting inspector general at the Federal Housing Finance Agency, which oversees Fannie Mae.
Breaking WSJ:
Fannie Mae watchdogs who were removed from their jobs had been probing if Trump appointee Bill Pulte had improperly obtained mortgage records of key Democratic officials, including New York Attorney General Letitia James, according to people familiar with the matter.
Fannie Mae watchdogs who were removed from their jobs had been probing if Trump appointee Bill Pulte had improperly obtained mortgage records of key Democratic officials, including New York Attorney General Letitia James, according to people familiar with the matter.
Exclusive | Fannie Mae Watchdogs Probed How Pulte Obtained Mortgage Records of Key Democrats
FHFA’s acting inspector general handed the probe report to the U.S. attorney office that had indicted New York Attorney General Letitia James.
www.wsj.com
November 11, 2025 at 11:51 PM
Among those fired or forced out, the WSJ has reported: Fannie Mae’s chief ethics officer and general counsel, about a dozen members of its ethics and internal investigations unit, and the acting inspector general at the Federal Housing Finance Agency, which oversees Fannie Mae.
Reposted by David Elwell
FBI agents assigned to Musk concluded he was systematically avoiding conduct standards imposed on those holding high-level clearances. FBI management concluded it could do nothing about this because of Musk's ties to Trump and the GOP.
JUST IN: A federal judge has granted the New York Times’ demand for a list of Elon Musk’s security clearances. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
October 8, 2025 at 4:05 PM
FBI agents assigned to Musk concluded he was systematically avoiding conduct standards imposed on those holding high-level clearances. FBI management concluded it could do nothing about this because of Musk's ties to Trump and the GOP.
Reposted by David Elwell
Wow, a Long Island jury awarded $112 Million to 674 immigrants who were unlawfully held by county police so they could be handed over to ICE
Federal jury awards $112M to immigrants detained by Suffolk for ICE
A federal jury found the county and the Sheriff's Office violated the Constitutional rights of 674 people.
longisland.news12.com
November 11, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Wow, a Long Island jury awarded $112 Million to 674 immigrants who were unlawfully held by county police so they could be handed over to ICE
Reposted by David Elwell
My latest AI feature dives into a nebulous movement of people sharing esoteric codes, manifestos, glyphs, diagrams, and poetry generated with chatbots, all of it based around theories of AI sentience and mysterious metaphors about spirals.
This Spiral-Obsessed AI 'Cult' Spreads Mystical Delusions Through Chatbots
A patchwork of internet communities is devoted to the project of ‘awakening’ more digital companions through arcane and enigmatic prompts.
www.rollingstone.com
November 11, 2025 at 7:06 PM
My latest AI feature dives into a nebulous movement of people sharing esoteric codes, manifestos, glyphs, diagrams, and poetry generated with chatbots, all of it based around theories of AI sentience and mysterious metaphors about spirals.
Reposted by David Elwell
"The systematic escalation forms part of a broader effort to consolidate Israeli control over the West Bank by depopulating it and expanding the territorial and operational influence of settlements," said one group.
'State-Backed Terrorism': Israeli Settler Attacks on West Bank Palestinians Hit Record High
"The systematic escalation forms part of a broader effort to consolidate Israeli control over the West Bank by depopulating it and expanding the territorial and operational influence of settlements," said one group.
www.commondreams.org
November 11, 2025 at 7:40 PM
"The systematic escalation forms part of a broader effort to consolidate Israeli control over the West Bank by depopulating it and expanding the territorial and operational influence of settlements," said one group.
Reposted by David Elwell
"it's not in the stored training data just the entire training data set"
November 11, 2025 at 6:15 PM
"it's not in the stored training data just the entire training data set"
Reposted by David Elwell
I give you American tech bro AI
November 11, 2025 at 4:27 PM
I give you American tech bro AI
Reposted by David Elwell
Oh, so he totally stole the money
November 11, 2025 at 5:39 AM
Oh, so he totally stole the money
Reposted by David Elwell
just like the diplomat except real and terrifying
One of many costs to US murder (sorry, no better word for it) in Caribbean:
"United Kingdom is no longer sharing intelligence with the US about suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean because it does not want to be complicit in US military strikes and believes the attacks are illegal."
"United Kingdom is no longer sharing intelligence with the US about suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean because it does not want to be complicit in US military strikes and believes the attacks are illegal."
Exclusive: UK suspends some intelligence sharing with US over boat strike concerns in major break | CNN Politics
The United Kingdom is no longer sharing intelligence with the US about suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean because it does not want to be complicit in US military strikes and believes ...
edition.cnn.com
November 11, 2025 at 5:07 PM
just like the diplomat except real and terrifying