Mike Wessler
@mikewessler.bsky.social
I run. I bake. I have two 🐕🐕. I do comms for @prisonpolicy.org but the views here are my own.
FL ➡️ MT ➡️ MA ➡️ NYC
FL ➡️ MT ➡️ MA ➡️ NYC
Heartwarming video of the day
This morning in Minneapolis, an ICE vehicle got stuck on an icy hill in a residential neighborhood. Agents had to push the vehicles out, some almost slipping in the ice themselves.
January 9, 2026 at 7:12 PM
Heartwarming video of the day
Reposted by Mike Wessler
Don't let copaganda fool you – police violence is not tied to their safety.
The vast majority of police killings actually start with officers responding to a suspected non-violent situation or a case where no crime has been reported.
The vast majority of police killings actually start with officers responding to a suspected non-violent situation or a case where no crime has been reported.
January 8, 2026 at 1:30 PM
Don't let copaganda fool you – police violence is not tied to their safety.
The vast majority of police killings actually start with officers responding to a suspected non-violent situation or a case where no crime has been reported.
The vast majority of police killings actually start with officers responding to a suspected non-violent situation or a case where no crime has been reported.
Reposted by Mike Wessler
Tragedies like this emphasize what advocates have long known: It's not just "a few bad apples." This is the result of policies and practices that enable and even encourage police violence.
January 7, 2026 at 6:58 PM
Tragedies like this emphasize what advocates have long known: It's not just "a few bad apples." This is the result of policies and practices that enable and even encourage police violence.
Reposted by Mike Wessler
This kind of horror is not unique to ICE or any singular agency. Police violence is a widespread, systemic problem in the U.S.
No police force of any other wealthy country kills civilians at a rate that even comes close to American police:
No police force of any other wealthy country kills civilians at a rate that even comes close to American police:
January 7, 2026 at 6:58 PM
This kind of horror is not unique to ICE or any singular agency. Police violence is a widespread, systemic problem in the U.S.
No police force of any other wealthy country kills civilians at a rate that even comes close to American police:
No police force of any other wealthy country kills civilians at a rate that even comes close to American police:
Reposted by Mike Wessler
Today, ICE shot & killed someone, and then said the officer was using "his training."
When police point to their "training" to justify murder, you can't help but wonder – who exactly do they serve and protect?
When police point to their "training" to justify murder, you can't help but wonder – who exactly do they serve and protect?
Live updates: ICE says agent, ‘fearing for his life,’ kills woman in south Minneapolis
ICE officials say the woman was shot and killed Wednesday morning in south Minneapolis after attempting to run over agents with her car. Witnesses dispute ICE’s version of what happened. Mayor Jacob…
www.mprnews.org
January 7, 2026 at 6:58 PM
Today, ICE shot & killed someone, and then said the officer was using "his training."
When police point to their "training" to justify murder, you can't help but wonder – who exactly do they serve and protect?
When police point to their "training" to justify murder, you can't help but wonder – who exactly do they serve and protect?
Reposted by Mike Wessler
On the 5th anniversary of the January 6 riot, there is a lot to be said.
One of the day’s underdiscussed legacies: Politicians who championed so-called “tough-on-crime” laws coming so close to seeing the abuses of the criminal legal system, but missing the point entirely 🧵
One of the day’s underdiscussed legacies: Politicians who championed so-called “tough-on-crime” laws coming so close to seeing the abuses of the criminal legal system, but missing the point entirely 🧵
January 6, 2026 at 6:33 PM
On the 5th anniversary of the January 6 riot, there is a lot to be said.
One of the day’s underdiscussed legacies: Politicians who championed so-called “tough-on-crime” laws coming so close to seeing the abuses of the criminal legal system, but missing the point entirely 🧵
One of the day’s underdiscussed legacies: Politicians who championed so-called “tough-on-crime” laws coming so close to seeing the abuses of the criminal legal system, but missing the point entirely 🧵
Reposted by Mike Wessler
It’s #Festivus, and we’ve got a lot of problems with the politicians driving mass incarceration & criminalization – and they’re gonna hear about it.
Gather ‘round while we air our grievances 🧵
Gather ‘round while we air our grievances 🧵
December 23, 2025 at 3:03 PM
It’s #Festivus, and we’ve got a lot of problems with the politicians driving mass incarceration & criminalization – and they’re gonna hear about it.
Gather ‘round while we air our grievances 🧵
Gather ‘round while we air our grievances 🧵
Reposted by Mike Wessler
The guy who famously crosses every border in one night without documentation?
ICE has posted a video of Santa Claus arresting immigrants. Your government is hijacking a symbol of charity to spread fear and hate. it’s up to all of us to defeat these twisted fascists.
December 23, 2025 at 1:13 AM
The guy who famously crosses every border in one night without documentation?
These under-the-radar decisions by @newyorkstateag.bsky.social's office show even those who say they are champions of a more just system won't do the most basic things to make it more just.
Her office doesn't have to have these cases dismissed. It is choosing to do so.
nysfocus.com/2025/12/22/p...
Her office doesn't have to have these cases dismissed. It is choosing to do so.
nysfocus.com/2025/12/22/p...
A Judge Tossed a Prison Sex Abuse Lawsuit Over Typos
The state plans to ask a court to dismiss some 500 prison sexual assault lawsuits for not strictly abiding by filing requirements.
nysfocus.com
December 22, 2025 at 9:02 PM
These under-the-radar decisions by @newyorkstateag.bsky.social's office show even those who say they are champions of a more just system won't do the most basic things to make it more just.
Her office doesn't have to have these cases dismissed. It is choosing to do so.
nysfocus.com/2025/12/22/p...
Her office doesn't have to have these cases dismissed. It is choosing to do so.
nysfocus.com/2025/12/22/p...
Almost universally true that whether someone gets in trouble for a crime is less dependent on what they did, and more on how much power they have in society. Theft, drugs, violence, vandalism. Almost always true
Interesting to consider that if you were to go and deface the Kennedy center by removing Trump’s name, you’d be arrested and charged with a crime, but your act would be no more unlawful than what they’re doing right now.
NEWS: They're adding Trump's name to the Kennedy Center building right now. www.washingtonpost.com/entertainmen...
December 19, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Almost universally true that whether someone gets in trouble for a crime is less dependent on what they did, and more on how much power they have in society. Theft, drugs, violence, vandalism. Almost always true
Reposted by Mike Wessler
We were dead and now we're the hottest country in the world, the first country—quite frankly the only country—where a box of breakfast cereal costs $11. We're saying Merry Christmas, and also the r-slur, and we're getting back to saying "gay" so it means "stupid" again. Grown-ups are doing it now,
December 18, 2025 at 5:19 AM
We were dead and now we're the hottest country in the world, the first country—quite frankly the only country—where a box of breakfast cereal costs $11. We're saying Merry Christmas, and also the r-slur, and we're getting back to saying "gay" so it means "stupid" again. Grown-ups are doing it now,
Reposted by Mike Wessler
As Pres. Trump prepares to boast his administration's "accomplishments" from 2025, we want to highlight all the changes he's made to the U.S. criminal legal system this year. 🧵
Spoiler: It's really bad.
Spoiler: It's really bad.
December 18, 2025 at 1:50 AM
As Pres. Trump prepares to boast his administration's "accomplishments" from 2025, we want to highlight all the changes he's made to the U.S. criminal legal system this year. 🧵
Spoiler: It's really bad.
Spoiler: It's really bad.
Reposted by Mike Wessler
What's the difference between states like Florida, where ICE arrests are sky-high, and states like Illinois with much lower rates of arrests? It's all about police & jails.
Arrest rates out of homes, workplaces, etc are similar – but reining in sheriffs makes all the difference.
Arrest rates out of homes, workplaces, etc are similar – but reining in sheriffs makes all the difference.
December 15, 2025 at 8:33 PM
What's the difference between states like Florida, where ICE arrests are sky-high, and states like Illinois with much lower rates of arrests? It's all about police & jails.
Arrest rates out of homes, workplaces, etc are similar – but reining in sheriffs makes all the difference.
Arrest rates out of homes, workplaces, etc are similar – but reining in sheriffs makes all the difference.
Reposted by Mike Wessler
From @prisonpolicy.org: New analysis of government data from ICE via the Deportation Data Project shows federal agents reliant on local jails and police to reach their arrest numbers.
December 11, 2025 at 9:48 PM
From @prisonpolicy.org: New analysis of government data from ICE via the Deportation Data Project shows federal agents reliant on local jails and police to reach their arrest numbers.
Reposted by Mike Wessler
Can't believe we have to say this, but tampons aren't contraband.
And yet in NY state prisons, body scanners (that COs demanded) are picking up menstrual products, leaving people barred from visiting with their incarcerated loved ones.
And yet in NY state prisons, body scanners (that COs demanded) are picking up menstrual products, leaving people barred from visiting with their incarcerated loved ones.
State Prisons Are Turning Away Visitors After Scanners Pick Up Their…
Guards demanded body scanners to cut down on contraband. Now they’re turning visitors away over their hygiene and medical supplies.
nysfocus.com
December 10, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Can't believe we have to say this, but tampons aren't contraband.
And yet in NY state prisons, body scanners (that COs demanded) are picking up menstrual products, leaving people barred from visiting with their incarcerated loved ones.
And yet in NY state prisons, body scanners (that COs demanded) are picking up menstrual products, leaving people barred from visiting with their incarcerated loved ones.
This story takes a lot of turns, and every single one of them is bad. Women denied the ability to visit loved ones because they have tampons. Guards unwilling to be screened to prevent contraband from getting in prison. Bad all the way down.
nysfocus.com/2025/12/06/d...
@chrisgelardi.bsky.social
nysfocus.com/2025/12/06/d...
@chrisgelardi.bsky.social
State Prisons Are Turning Away Visitors After Scanners Pick Up Their…
Guards demanded body scanners to cut down on contraband. Now they’re turning visitors away over their hygiene and medical supplies.
nysfocus.com
December 8, 2025 at 2:51 PM
This story takes a lot of turns, and every single one of them is bad. Women denied the ability to visit loved ones because they have tampons. Guards unwilling to be screened to prevent contraband from getting in prison. Bad all the way down.
nysfocus.com/2025/12/06/d...
@chrisgelardi.bsky.social
nysfocus.com/2025/12/06/d...
@chrisgelardi.bsky.social
Reposted by Mike Wessler
We already knew this was a proactively pro-rape administration but still.
BREAKING: Trump administration plans to end prison rape protections for trans & intersex people, memo says. A DOJ memo says certain standards under the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) do not align with Trump’s Jan. 20 anti-trans executive order, @byadamrhodes.bsky.social reports.
Trump administration plans to end prison rape protections for trans and intersex people
A Department of Justice memo says certain standards under the Prison Rape Elimination Act do not align with Trump’s executive order
prismreports.org
December 5, 2025 at 2:24 AM
We already knew this was a proactively pro-rape administration but still.
Trump is a lot of things, but he’s not politically stupid. He knows that Mamdani’s policies are popular and wants to be associated with them. If he hugs the mayor-elect tight, he thinks people will think he cares about affordability, too.
Q: would you feel comfortable living in NYC under a Mamdani administration ?
TRUMP: I would. I really would.
TRUMP: I would. I really would.
November 21, 2025 at 9:25 PM
Trump is a lot of things, but he’s not politically stupid. He knows that Mamdani’s policies are popular and wants to be associated with them. If he hugs the mayor-elect tight, he thinks people will think he cares about affordability, too.
Reposted by Mike Wessler
Rather than trivializing how much toilet paper Ghislaine Maxwell has access to behind bars, remember that most incarcerated people have little to their name.
Toilet paper isn't a luxury – it's a basic necessity.
Toilet paper isn't a luxury – it's a basic necessity.
Apparently, Ghislaine Maxwell is living it up in prison with unlimited toilet paper. Here’s what we know about her alleged special privileges at her new federal prison camp in Texas.
Ghislaine Maxwell Is Living It Up With Unlimited Toilet Paper
What we know about the special privileges Epstein’s accomplice is reportedly receiving at her new federal prison camp in Texas.
nymag.com
November 14, 2025 at 7:56 PM
Rather than trivializing how much toilet paper Ghislaine Maxwell has access to behind bars, remember that most incarcerated people have little to their name.
Toilet paper isn't a luxury – it's a basic necessity.
Toilet paper isn't a luxury – it's a basic necessity.
Reposted by Mike Wessler
New: We analyzed prison rules and sanctions, and gathered accounts from incarcerated people, to reveal how DOCs use disciplinary policies to punish people for menstruating. www.prisonpolicy.org/blog/2025/11...
Menstruation as misconduct: How prisons punish people for having their periods
Our analysis of prison rules and sanctions across all fifty states and the federal system — as well as accounts of incarcerated people — reveal ...
www.prisonpolicy.org
November 12, 2025 at 4:12 PM
New: We analyzed prison rules and sanctions, and gathered accounts from incarcerated people, to reveal how DOCs use disciplinary policies to punish people for menstruating. www.prisonpolicy.org/blog/2025/11...
Reposted by Mike Wessler
I appreciate PPI's work so much.
and also wtf.
and also wtf.
New: We analyzed prison rules and sanctions, and gathered accounts from incarcerated people, to reveal how DOCs use disciplinary policies to punish people for menstruating. www.prisonpolicy.org/blog/2025/11...
Menstruation as misconduct: How prisons punish people for having their periods
Our analysis of prison rules and sanctions across all fifty states and the federal system — as well as accounts of incarcerated people — reveal ...
www.prisonpolicy.org
November 12, 2025 at 4:38 PM
I appreciate PPI's work so much.
and also wtf.
and also wtf.
Reposted by Mike Wessler
Chuck Schumer Helps Pull Democrats Back From Brink Of Courage
November 10, 2025 at 5:02 AM
Chuck Schumer Helps Pull Democrats Back From Brink Of Courage
Reposted by Mike Wessler
People are very aware of how the Senate “works,” and that’s exactly why they are so angry
Durbin said critics of his vote “need to understand how the Senate works”
November 10, 2025 at 3:00 AM
People are very aware of how the Senate “works,” and that’s exactly why they are so angry