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Ken Schwencke

@schwanksta.com

18K followers 360 following 300 posts

Senior editor of @propublica.org's data journalism teams. Super gay. Sometimes printmaker.

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Ken Schwencke @schwanksta.com · May 18

Last year I picked up printmaking and linocutting as a hobby, and yesterday I ran this giant 18x24 print of the sky over Fire Island. I was trying to translate that big and calming sense you get when it’s warm and breezy out and you’re just watching the clouds go by.

#linocut #printmaking #artsky

A photo of a large print with a textured blue sky and three smallish birds flying across it

A photo of the print on a drying rack, showing the scale and paper’s edges.

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Ken Schwencke @schwanksta.com · 7h

Wait what did the soup ladies do

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Reposted by Ken Schwencke

paris martineau @paris.nyc · 12h

my latest investigation for @consumerreports.org is based on months of reporting and 60+ lab tests of leading protein supplements

we found that most protein powders and shakes have more lead in one serving than our experts say is safe to have in a day (🧵)

www.consumerreports.org/lead/protein...

Protein Powders and Shakes Contain High Levels of Lead - Consumer Reports

CR tests of 23 popular protein powders and shakes found that most contain high levels of lead.

www.consumerreports.org

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kottke.org @kottke.org · 17h

Humans of New York has taken over all of Grand Central Terminal for a huge art installation called Dear New York. “For the first time possibly ever, there is not a single ad to be seen in Grand Central Terminal.” [news.artnet.com]

‘Humans of New York’ Transforms Grand Central Into a Monumental Photo Show

Brandon Stanton, creator of “Humans of New York,” has launched New York’s largest public art installation since “The Gates” at Grand Central.

news.artnet.com

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Eric Umansky @ericumansky.bsky.social · 1d

ICE agents blocked an ambulance that was trying to take an injured protester to hospital.

"We are still not being allowed to leave by ICE officers.” an EMT said on radio

When driver tried to get out, an agent yelled, "DON’T YOU EVER DO THAT AGAIN, I WILL SHOOT YOU"

www.wweek.com/news/2025/10...

Documents Allege a Federal Agent at Portland ICE Threatened to Shoot an Ambulance Driver

Feds delayed medics who had come to pick up an injured protester. Then, according to confidential incident reports, the agents became aggressive.

www.wweek.com

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Jonah @anotherjonah.bsky.social · 1d

This morning I was filming ICE abducting sometime in Petworth. One of the agents told me "the last US citizen that did this he put in cuffs all the way to the courtroom".

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The Guardian @theguardian.com · 1d

Tommy Robinson says Elon Musk is paying his legal costs as trial begins

Robinson allegedly failed to comply with officers who ‘became concerned’ by his behaviour at Channel Tunnel Tommy Robinson has claimed Elon Musk is paying his legal costs as he went on trial for refusing to comply with a request made by counter terrorism police as he tried to leave Britain last year. The far-right activist, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley Lennon, refused to give police the pin for his phone because it had “journalistic material on it” after they stopped him at the Channel Tunnel on 28 July 2024, a court heard. Continue reading...

www.theguardian.com

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Nick Kristof @nickkristof.bsky.social · 1d

In Portland, an ambulance was summoned to the ICE office to treat an injured protester (not clear how he was injured). But when the patient was loaded inside, ICE officers refused to let the ambulance leave and threatened to shoot the ambulance driver: www.wweek.com/news/2025/10...

Documents Allege a Federal Agent at Portland ICE Threatened to Shoot an Ambulance Driver

Feds delayed medics who had come to pick up an injured protester. Then, according to confidential incident reports, the agents became aggressive.

www.wweek.com

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David Bier @davidjbier.bsky.social · 4d

ICE agents to US citizen: Turn around or you're getting the dog.

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Michael Edison Hayden @michaelehayden.bsky.social · 2d

“They are highly organized … [they] have purchased their own animal costumes”

Andy ngo mad about muppets again — this time in Chicago

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Gregory Pratt @royalpratt.bsky.social · 2d

ICE / Border Patrol threatening to arrest a cyclist for following and recording in Chicago

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Chris Morran @themorrancave.bsky.social · 2d

In which Vance calls @propublica.org -- recipient of the Pulitzer for Public Service two years running -- a "left wing blog" and then admits on national TV that he hasn't read the very story he's dismissing.

Here's the story, btw:
www.propublica.org/article/trum...

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Ken Schwencke @schwanksta.com · 3d

No. No. No.

Ken Schwencke @schwanksta.com · 3d

Noooooo

Mark Harris @markharris.bsky.social · 3d

Terribly sad news about one of the greats. Diane Keaton has died at 79.
people.com/diane-keaton...

Diane Keaton, Famed for Roles in 'Father of the Bride,' 'First Wives Club' and More, Dies at 79 (Exclusive)

Diane Keaton has died at age 79. Keaton was best known for roles in movies like 'Annie Hall,' 'The First Wives Club,' 'Something's Gotta Give' and 'The Godfather.'

people.com

Reposted by Ken Schwencke

Redsky @redsky.pirhoo.com · 3d

Northwest Chicago Suburb: ICE Agents Rip 15-Year-Old Girl from Car, Slam Her to Ground She Screams Im 15! as Man Kneels on Her Neck

Link | Subreddit

Northwest Chicago Suburb: ICE Agents Rip 15-Year-Old Girl from Car, Slam Her to Ground She Screams Im 15! as Man Kneels on Her Neck

www.reddit.com

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sarah jeong @sarahjeong.bsky.social · 3d

I have a theory www.theverge.com/policy/79849...

American politics has devolved into shitposting and aura farming

The Frog is owning the president.

www.theverge.com

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Waldo Jaquith, but Spooky @waldo.net · 3d

The maps in the article are especially great. I highlight that because the cartographer, Margaret Wickens Pearce, won a McArthur Fellowship this week. Well deserved! www.macfound.org/fellows/clas...

A map showing all of the lands that funded Cornell University. Dozens of lines connect it to spots throughout the northern Midwest and the west coast. The graphic includes the following text:

Cornell University
Parcels: 6,716
Land or scrip: Scrip
Total acreage: 977,909
Year acquired: 1865
Acreage from:
63 treaties, cessions, or seizures in 15 states Endowment raised, ca. 1914: $5,739,657

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max tani @maxtani.bsky.social · 4d

Great kicker. Marc Benioff’s PR team wanted him to do an interview about philanthropy. Instead he sounded off on a bunch of Trump policies he supports and called for the White House to send troops to SF.

Doesn’t seem like the comms team was pleased with how the interview went..

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Sophie Sherry @sophiesherry.bsky.social · 4d

During a military-style raid on a building in Chicago’s South Shore, one resident heard a knock on his door.   It wasn’t the feds — it was a mom and her 7-year-old daughter, pleading for help.

He let them hide in his unit for the next 3 days.

chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...

Neighbor shielded 7-year-old during South Shore federal raid: ‘I didn’t want them to take her’

During the Sept. 30 raid one tenant protected a terrified girl and her mom. Remnants at the complex, including a detailed map of all the units, offer clues to what authorities may have known before th...

chicago.suntimes.com

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Ken Schwencke @schwanksta.com · 4d

Bagel pub fails this test miserably

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Ken Schwencke @schwanksta.com · 4d

Do we think someone is showing Sora videos to the president or what

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 4d

Trump: "Portland, I mean -- every time I look at that place it's burning down. There are fires all over the place. When a store -- there are very few of them left -- but when a store owner rebuilds a store they build it out of plywood. They don't put up storefronts anymore. They just put wood up."

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Ken Schwencke @schwanksta.com · 4d

I keep thinking about how this shutdown feels so different and I think it comes down to this — the administration is already basically ignoring laws and appropriations etc. A shutdown doesn’t feel as consequential when things are already bashed up and the plan is to do that more.

Dave Levitan @davelevitan.bsky.social · 4d

One fed employee told me the internal conversations feel very different from previous shutdowns.

www.gravityisgone.com/federal-empl...

"Every other fed I've talked to agrees how much it sucks to be furloughed, but also that this shutdown needs to continue until the administration starts respecting the rule of law," said a NOAA employee. "Even the conservative Republicans."

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Ken Schwencke @schwanksta.com · 4d

is eric adams taking credit for oh mary

Joshua J. Friedman @joshuajfriedman.com · 4d

"What is it going to take before you drop your hate and say, 'Listen, the guy did the job!' I'm not running anymore, so you no longer have to do this whole charade. I turned the city around, folks—come on! ... Stop coming up with all of these creative ways of saying 'Eric failed.' Eric didn't fail."

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Ken Schwencke @schwanksta.com · 4d

an email like this is how you know i've been kidnapped

Reposted by Ken Schwencke

Monica Maalouf, MD @maaloufmd.bsky.social · 4d

So this IL Hospital Association memo describes an incident where ICE detained a US citizen, gave them HEART PROBLEMS, took them to a hospital where the fought with medical personnel, then left when they realized they detained a CITIZEN.

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