Reposted by Akoto Ofori-Atta
Reposted by Akoto Ofori-Atta
a big runoff last night, in New Orleans:
Calvin Duncan was exonerated after spending *28 years* in prison; he tried to get his own case records from the New Orleans city clerk—but the office dragged its feet.
So Duncan ran to become city clerk himself, and yesterday ousted the incumbent.
Calvin Duncan was exonerated after spending *28 years* in prison; he tried to get his own case records from the New Orleans city clerk—but the office dragged its feet.
So Duncan ran to become city clerk himself, and yesterday ousted the incumbent.
Calvin Duncan wins Orleans clerk of court race - Verite News New Orleans
Duncan, a political newcomer and former prisoner, defeated incumbent Darren Lombard by a wide margin in Saturday's runoff.
veritenews.org
November 16, 2025 at 4:09 PM
a big runoff last night, in New Orleans:
Calvin Duncan was exonerated after spending *28 years* in prison; he tried to get his own case records from the New Orleans city clerk—but the office dragged its feet.
So Duncan ran to become city clerk himself, and yesterday ousted the incumbent.
Calvin Duncan was exonerated after spending *28 years* in prison; he tried to get his own case records from the New Orleans city clerk—but the office dragged its feet.
So Duncan ran to become city clerk himself, and yesterday ousted the incumbent.
Reposted by Akoto Ofori-Atta
For the cover of Businessweek’s December issue, I wrote about the reigning queen of America’s strip malls: Ulta Beauty, the country’s biggest beauty retailer (yes, bigger than Sephora) and quietly one of the more fascinating retailers in the country. Gift link: www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...
How Beauty Behemoth Ulta Conquered the American Strip Mall
The retailer built an $11 billion business by acting more like Home Depot than like Sephora.
www.bloomberg.com
November 11, 2025 at 3:11 PM
For the cover of Businessweek’s December issue, I wrote about the reigning queen of America’s strip malls: Ulta Beauty, the country’s biggest beauty retailer (yes, bigger than Sephora) and quietly one of the more fascinating retailers in the country. Gift link: www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...
Reposted by Akoto Ofori-Atta
Hi writers! I’m looking to assign a couple of features for Slate before the end of the year. If you have anything in mind that you think would be a fit please send me a pitch! Jenée.Desmond- [email protected] or dm me.
RTs are appreciated so this can reach more people. Thanks!
RTs are appreciated so this can reach more people. Thanks!
November 10, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Hi writers! I’m looking to assign a couple of features for Slate before the end of the year. If you have anything in mind that you think would be a fit please send me a pitch! Jenée.Desmond- [email protected] or dm me.
RTs are appreciated so this can reach more people. Thanks!
RTs are appreciated so this can reach more people. Thanks!
Reposted by Akoto Ofori-Atta
This is just fantastic read from @notus.com. Democracy is indeed a letter to the editor www.notus.org/perspectives...
The Washington Post Got 21,000 Emails After It Didn't Endorse. I Read Them All.
Reading and editing letters gave me a theory about what is wrong with America — and how it could be fixed.
www.notus.org
November 8, 2025 at 2:05 PM
This is just fantastic read from @notus.com. Democracy is indeed a letter to the editor www.notus.org/perspectives...
Reposted by Akoto Ofori-Atta
So immigration agents drove off in a citizen’s car with a toddler in the back.
**Then DHS refused to answer questions about it.**
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/u...
**Then DHS refused to answer questions about it.**
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/u...
November 8, 2025 at 2:14 AM
So immigration agents drove off in a citizen’s car with a toddler in the back.
**Then DHS refused to answer questions about it.**
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/u...
**Then DHS refused to answer questions about it.**
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/u...
Reposted by Akoto Ofori-Atta
The Food and Drug Administration is scrambling to hire contractors to replace fired employees who helped plan thousands of food and drug safety inspections throughout the world.
FDA hiring contractors to replace fired staff who supported safety inspections
The Food and Drug Administration is scrambling to hire contractors to replace fired employees who helped plan thousands of food and drug safety inspections throughout the world.
bit.ly
April 18, 2025 at 10:00 PM
The Food and Drug Administration is scrambling to hire contractors to replace fired employees who helped plan thousands of food and drug safety inspections throughout the world.
Reposted by Akoto Ofori-Atta
One analytical model shows that, as of November 5th, the dismantling of U.S.A.I.D. has already caused the deaths of 600,000 people, two-thirds of them children. https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/jUzNSc
The Shutdown of U.S.A.I.D. Has Already Killed Hundreds of Thousands
The short documentary “Rovina’s Choice” tells the story of what goes when aid goes.
newyorkermag.visitlink.me
November 6, 2025 at 9:00 PM
One analytical model shows that, as of November 5th, the dismantling of U.S.A.I.D. has already caused the deaths of 600,000 people, two-thirds of them children. https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/jUzNSc
Reposted by Akoto Ofori-Atta
This is the teacher federal agents grabbed yesterday at Rayito De Sol daycare in front of children. Attorneys for Diana Santillana have filed a petition in federal court to have her freed from ICE custody.
November 6, 2025 at 3:56 PM
This is the teacher federal agents grabbed yesterday at Rayito De Sol daycare in front of children. Attorneys for Diana Santillana have filed a petition in federal court to have her freed from ICE custody.
Reposted by Akoto Ofori-Atta
November 5, 2025 at 11:09 PM
Reposted by Akoto Ofori-Atta
here is my story about how Zohran's focus on community amid the loneliness epidemic helped young people connect their politics to an organizing infrastructure, that interviewed ZM, and does not use the NYT's framing of "they don't know how to make friends" :-) and also ran 4 days before NYT's lol
Zohran Mamdani's Establishment-Fighting Campaign Built Community for Young People
“What Mamdani has done is not only inspire and mobilize young people, but he has exposed the establishment and some of their calcified views of participation and inclusion.”
www.teenvogue.com
November 5, 2025 at 2:14 PM
here is my story about how Zohran's focus on community amid the loneliness epidemic helped young people connect their politics to an organizing infrastructure, that interviewed ZM, and does not use the NYT's framing of "they don't know how to make friends" :-) and also ran 4 days before NYT's lol
Reposted by Akoto Ofori-Atta
For those of us with Caribbean roots, seeing the damage from Hurricane Melissa hits especially hard. Privileged to talk to organizers in Jamaica who are already looking ahead. @adamlmahoney.bsky.social @capitalb.bsky.social
capitalbnews.org/hurricane-me...
capitalbnews.org/hurricane-me...
Jamaican Americans Mobilize After the Island's Worst Hurricane in a Century
It is unknown how long it could take the island to recover from the storm, one of the strongest storms on record in the Atlantic.
capitalbnews.org
October 31, 2025 at 12:07 AM
For those of us with Caribbean roots, seeing the damage from Hurricane Melissa hits especially hard. Privileged to talk to organizers in Jamaica who are already looking ahead. @adamlmahoney.bsky.social @capitalb.bsky.social
capitalbnews.org/hurricane-me...
capitalbnews.org/hurricane-me...
Reposted by Akoto Ofori-Atta
BREAKING: A Department of Homeland Security officer shot at an unarmed black man during a traffic stop in DC, and the DC police officer said he was told by superiors not to mention the shooting in his incident report. 1/ www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/202...
Lawyers allege cover-up after fed shoots at man during D.C. traffic stop
Neither D.C. police nor the Department of Homeland Security have explained why the Homeland Security agent fired his weapon.
www.washingtonpost.com
October 28, 2025 at 2:33 AM
BREAKING: A Department of Homeland Security officer shot at an unarmed black man during a traffic stop in DC, and the DC police officer said he was told by superiors not to mention the shooting in his incident report. 1/ www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/202...
Reposted by Akoto Ofori-Atta
Not all heroes wear capes. Please support local, independent, and student journalists.
“𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘧𝘧 𝘰𝘧 13, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 @loyolachicago.bsky.social 𝘗𝘩𝘰𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘹 𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘐𝘊𝘌 𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘢𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦, 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘱…”
www.newsnationnow.com/us-news/immi...
“𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘧𝘧 𝘰𝘧 13, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 @loyolachicago.bsky.social 𝘗𝘩𝘰𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘹 𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘐𝘊𝘌 𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘢𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦, 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘱…”
www.newsnationnow.com/us-news/immi...
October 25, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Not all heroes wear capes. Please support local, independent, and student journalists.
“𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘧𝘧 𝘰𝘧 13, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 @loyolachicago.bsky.social 𝘗𝘩𝘰𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘹 𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘐𝘊𝘌 𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘢𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦, 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘱…”
www.newsnationnow.com/us-news/immi...
“𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘧𝘧 𝘰𝘧 13, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 @loyolachicago.bsky.social 𝘗𝘩𝘰𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘹 𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘐𝘊𝘌 𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘢𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦, 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘱…”
www.newsnationnow.com/us-news/immi...
Reposted by Akoto Ofori-Atta
Important: Sen Chris Murphy just sent pointed questions to Kristi Noem about DHS's account of shooting of US citizen by Trump's paramilitary forces in Chicago. The official line is imploding. Murphy wants Noem to explain why DHS misled. More like this, Ds.
New piece:
newrepublic.com/article/2019...
New piece:
newrepublic.com/article/2019...
Trump’s Secret Police Shot a Citizen. Then Damning New Info Emerged.
As the official Trump administration line about the shooting of a Chicago woman crumbles, Senator Chris Murphy is asking pointed questions about what really happened here. Will we ever get answers?
newrepublic.com
October 17, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Important: Sen Chris Murphy just sent pointed questions to Kristi Noem about DHS's account of shooting of US citizen by Trump's paramilitary forces in Chicago. The official line is imploding. Murphy wants Noem to explain why DHS misled. More like this, Ds.
New piece:
newrepublic.com/article/2019...
New piece:
newrepublic.com/article/2019...
Reposted by Akoto Ofori-Atta
The USC Thornton School of Music has appointed Solange as the school’s first scholar in residence
She will she will teach a course on music curation, host student-focused workshops and more
She will she will teach a course on music curation, host student-focused workshops and more
Solange to build programming and teach course at USC Thornton School of Music
Grammy winner Solange Knowles is bringing her expertise to the USC Thornton School of Music, where she has been named the school's first all-school scholar in residence.
www.latimes.com
October 14, 2025 at 7:14 PM
The USC Thornton School of Music has appointed Solange as the school’s first scholar in residence
She will she will teach a course on music curation, host student-focused workshops and more
She will she will teach a course on music curation, host student-focused workshops and more
Reposted by Akoto Ofori-Atta
In a court filing, Martin Berchie says ICE forged his name on the travel document used to deport him to his native Ghana on Tuesday.
Minnesota man says ICE illegally deported him to Ghana
A Ghanaian immigrant living in Minnesota alleges in a court filing that U.S. immigration officials forged his name on a travel document and deported him to Ghana this week.
sahanjournal.com
October 9, 2025 at 9:24 PM
In a court filing, Martin Berchie says ICE forged his name on the travel document used to deport him to his native Ghana on Tuesday.
Reposted by Akoto Ofori-Atta
Good reporting on the South Shore raid from South Side weekly here.
Confirms one thing I was told but didn't put in my own piece because I didn't have a second source and it seemed too insane: border agents segregated arrested residents by race
southsideweekly.com/federal-agen...
Confirms one thing I was told but didn't put in my own piece because I didn't have a second source and it seemed too insane: border agents segregated arrested residents by race
southsideweekly.com/federal-agen...
Federal Agents Storm South Shore Building, Detaining Families and Children
Families were woken by flashbangs and helicopters as hundreds of federal agents raided their homes. Days later, neighbors are still searching for the missing.
southsideweekly.com
October 8, 2025 at 12:36 AM
Good reporting on the South Shore raid from South Side weekly here.
Confirms one thing I was told but didn't put in my own piece because I didn't have a second source and it seemed too insane: border agents segregated arrested residents by race
southsideweekly.com/federal-agen...
Confirms one thing I was told but didn't put in my own piece because I didn't have a second source and it seemed too insane: border agents segregated arrested residents by race
southsideweekly.com/federal-agen...
Reposted by Akoto Ofori-Atta
Horrific reporting from the AP on the Myanmar families watching their kids starve to death from Trump and Musk’s aid cuts apnews.com/article/myan...
Starving children screaming for food as US aid cuts unleash devastation and death across Myanmar
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has repeatedly said “no one has died" because of his government’s decision to gut its foreign aid program.
apnews.com
October 8, 2025 at 10:41 AM
Horrific reporting from the AP on the Myanmar families watching their kids starve to death from Trump and Musk’s aid cuts apnews.com/article/myan...
Reposted by Akoto Ofori-Atta
Big Tech is ‘donating’ to Trump’s ‘nonprofits’
Big Tech is ‘donating’ to Trump’s ‘nonprofits’
Those ballrooms aren’t going to pay for themselves.
buff.ly
October 7, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Big Tech is ‘donating’ to Trump’s ‘nonprofits’
Reposted by Akoto Ofori-Atta
ICE lied about the person it shot, claiming he was a "criminal," but NBC finds that he had no criminal history whatsoever. Not even traffic tickets in 12 years! It also lied about the extent of the injuries to its agents....
October 1, 2025 at 4:59 PM
ICE lied about the person it shot, claiming he was a "criminal," but NBC finds that he had no criminal history whatsoever. Not even traffic tickets in 12 years! It also lied about the extent of the injuries to its agents....
Reposted by Akoto Ofori-Atta
Longtime Pentagon reporter Helene Cooper said that she can't find any military officials who attended the meeting in Virginia with President Donald Trump and Secretary Pete Hegseth and liked what they heard.
www.rawstory.com/trump-milita...
www.rawstory.com/trump-milita...
'Disbelief': Pentagon reporter can't find one military official who liked Hegseth's speech
Longtime Pentagon reporter Helene Cooper said that she can't find any military officials who attended the meeting in Virginia with President Donald Trump and Secretary Pete Hegseth and liked what the...
www.rawstory.com
September 30, 2025 at 8:30 PM
Longtime Pentagon reporter Helene Cooper said that she can't find any military officials who attended the meeting in Virginia with President Donald Trump and Secretary Pete Hegseth and liked what they heard.
www.rawstory.com/trump-milita...
www.rawstory.com/trump-milita...
Reposted by Akoto Ofori-Atta
“When … DOGE initiated its … spree, federal offices lost, on average, about 10% …. Within the Office of Fair Housing, the reduction was 65% …. More concerning … 100s of cases … halted or dropped…. ‘This is a deliberate plan, & it’s about shutting down fair housing.’” www.nytimes.com/2025/09/22/r...
Trump Appointees Roll Back Enforcement of Fair Housing Laws
www.nytimes.com
September 29, 2025 at 1:43 AM
“When … DOGE initiated its … spree, federal offices lost, on average, about 10% …. Within the Office of Fair Housing, the reduction was 65% …. More concerning … 100s of cases … halted or dropped…. ‘This is a deliberate plan, & it’s about shutting down fair housing.’” www.nytimes.com/2025/09/22/r...
Reposted by Akoto Ofori-Atta
"Cracker Barrel Outrage Was Almost Certainly Driven by Bots, Researchers Say" gizmodo.com/cracker-barr...
Cracker Barrel Outrage Was Almost Certainly Driven by Bots, Researchers Say
Doesn't that make more sense than lots of people caring about Cracker Barrel?
gizmodo.com
September 27, 2025 at 12:35 AM
"Cracker Barrel Outrage Was Almost Certainly Driven by Bots, Researchers Say" gizmodo.com/cracker-barr...
Reposted by Akoto Ofori-Atta
Broadview Police have opened an investigation into an attack from federal agents on a CBS crew at Broadview, per BPD Chief Mills.
September 28, 2025 at 9:32 PM
Broadview Police have opened an investigation into an attack from federal agents on a CBS crew at Broadview, per BPD Chief Mills.