emptywheel
@emptywheel.bsky.social
Coverage of American authoritarianism with a focus on legal cases. An American-Irish in Limerick, Ireland.
Legendary potty mouth!
Legendary potty mouth!
Remember that Tom Barrack was prosecuted (but acquitted) for being the foreign agent of these folks.
This is corruption on a breathtaking level. Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, an Abu Dhabi royal nicknamed the "spy sheikh", pumped $187mn into Trump family businesses. A WSJ team has the whole story, reported here for the first time. Remember: Jimmy Carter had to sell his peanut farm.
‘Spy Sheikh’ Bought Secret Stake in Trump Company
$500 million investment for 49% of World Liberty came months before U.A.E. won access to tightly guarded American AI chips.
www.wsj.com
February 1, 2026 at 11:02 AM
Remember that Tom Barrack was prosecuted (but acquitted) for being the foreign agent of these folks.
Reposted by emptywheel
He won 🥹😎😭🎉✨
Whether he wins or not, @runforsomething.net is so proud to be part of Taylor Rehmet’s team - and to have planted the seed for him to run back in 2019! 😎
February 1, 2026 at 6:57 AM
He won 🥹😎😭🎉✨
Reposted by emptywheel
Reposted by emptywheel
JUST IN: Democrats flip a red seat in the Texas Senate.
Taylor Rehmet wins against Leigh Wambsganss, a conservative activist who helped lead right-wing efforts to take over TX school boards.
With all early vote, and 95% of precincts, in, Dem up 57/43.
Trump won this seat by 17% in Tarrant County.
Taylor Rehmet wins against Leigh Wambsganss, a conservative activist who helped lead right-wing efforts to take over TX school boards.
With all early vote, and 95% of precincts, in, Dem up 57/43.
Trump won this seat by 17% in Tarrant County.
February 1, 2026 at 5:05 AM
JUST IN: Democrats flip a red seat in the Texas Senate.
Taylor Rehmet wins against Leigh Wambsganss, a conservative activist who helped lead right-wing efforts to take over TX school boards.
With all early vote, and 95% of precincts, in, Dem up 57/43.
Trump won this seat by 17% in Tarrant County.
Taylor Rehmet wins against Leigh Wambsganss, a conservative activist who helped lead right-wing efforts to take over TX school boards.
With all early vote, and 95% of precincts, in, Dem up 57/43.
Trump won this seat by 17% in Tarrant County.
A sound piece of messaging and also an explanation of the way Schumer and Jeffries MAY buy leverage with this deal.
February 1, 2026 at 12:21 AM
A sound piece of messaging and also an explanation of the way Schumer and Jeffries MAY buy leverage with this deal.
Reposted by emptywheel
I can’t stress this enough. The state of 4th Amendment law is that the cops can’t force you to type in a passcode but they can force you to swipe your finger or present your face. Never stop using passcodes/passwords to unlock your devices. And consider additional code to unlock Signal.
The FBI was able to access Washington Post reporter Hannah Natanson's Signal messages because she used Signal on her work laptop. The laptop accepted Touch ID for authentication, meaning the agents were allowed to require her to unlock it. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
February 1, 2026 at 12:08 AM
I can’t stress this enough. The state of 4th Amendment law is that the cops can’t force you to type in a passcode but they can force you to swipe your finger or present your face. Never stop using passcodes/passwords to unlock your devices. And consider additional code to unlock Signal.
Reposted by emptywheel
IF YOU ARE A LAWYER AND ARE INTERESTED IN BEING AN AUSA DM ME!
January 31, 2026 at 10:38 PM
IF YOU ARE A LAWYER AND ARE INTERESTED IN BEING AN AUSA DM ME!
Reposted by emptywheel
“There was no way this person ran headfirst into a wall.”
abc7ny.com/post/ice-min...
abc7ny.com/post/ice-min...
ICE claim that a man shattered his skull running into wall triggers tension at a Minnesota hospital
Intensive care nurses immediately doubted the word of federal immigration officers when they arrived at a Minneapolis hospital with a Mexican immigrant who had broken bones in his face and skull.
abc7ny.com
January 31, 2026 at 8:04 PM
“There was no way this person ran headfirst into a wall.”
abc7ny.com/post/ice-min...
abc7ny.com/post/ice-min...
Reposted by emptywheel
For those in southwest Ohio worried about a possible ICE surge next week, you can sign up to connect with community here:
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
GET INVOLVED
This group is for communities in the Greater Cincinnati & Northern KY area to protect neighbors targeted by ICE and over-policing—especially Hispanic, Black, immigrant, undocumented, trans, queer, and...
docs.google.com
January 31, 2026 at 7:41 PM
For those in southwest Ohio worried about a possible ICE surge next week, you can sign up to connect with community here:
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Reposted by emptywheel
Looking at the list of 19 new CBS News commentators, the median number of times they appear in the searchable Epstein database is 2 and the mean is 100
January 31, 2026 at 4:46 PM
Looking at the list of 19 new CBS News commentators, the median number of times they appear in the searchable Epstein database is 2 and the mean is 100
Reup: A quarter of the people Bondi was so aroused about arresting last week were charged in significant part bc of felony spitting.
emptywheel.net/2026/01/31/p...
emptywheel.net/2026/01/31/p...
Pam Bondi Responded to Alex Pretti's Murder by Criminalizing Spitting - emptywheel
Four of the Minnesota "assault" arrests Pam Bondi bragged about last week significantly involved spitting.
emptywheel.net
January 31, 2026 at 10:09 PM
Reup: A quarter of the people Bondi was so aroused about arresting last week were charged in significant part bc of felony spitting.
emptywheel.net/2026/01/31/p...
emptywheel.net/2026/01/31/p...
Among the other painful but delicious details in this Fred Biery opinion ordering Liam Ramos be freed is this subtweet of Stephen Miller.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
January 31, 2026 at 9:45 PM
Among the other painful but delicious details in this Fred Biery opinion ordering Liam Ramos be freed is this subtweet of Stephen Miller.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Reposted by emptywheel
the judge put liam's picture in the court order for his release. say what you will about the decision to include the bible verses here, but jesus isn't the only one who wept.
January 31, 2026 at 8:50 PM
the judge put liam's picture in the court order for his release. say what you will about the decision to include the bible verses here, but jesus isn't the only one who wept.
I suck at pop culture and so don't know abt Brett Ratner or even his famous movies.
But it seems relevant to discussion of his ties to Epstein that the movie sort of arose out of effort to push back on Epstein-thru-Wolff claims that Epstein fucked Melania first.
But it seems relevant to discussion of his ties to Epstein that the movie sort of arose out of effort to push back on Epstein-thru-Wolff claims that Epstein fucked Melania first.
January 31, 2026 at 8:23 PM
I suck at pop culture and so don't know abt Brett Ratner or even his famous movies.
But it seems relevant to discussion of his ties to Epstein that the movie sort of arose out of effort to push back on Epstein-thru-Wolff claims that Epstein fucked Melania first.
But it seems relevant to discussion of his ties to Epstein that the movie sort of arose out of effort to push back on Epstein-thru-Wolff claims that Epstein fucked Melania first.
Reposted by emptywheel
Homeland Security doesn’t like it when we call ICE and Border Patrol “the Gestapo.”
So let’s set the Gestapo aside. Instead I’ll use this thread to compare Trump’s thugs to other secret police and terror squads from different times and places. It’s tyranny, no matter where it comes from. 1/10🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵
So let’s set the Gestapo aside. Instead I’ll use this thread to compare Trump’s thugs to other secret police and terror squads from different times and places. It’s tyranny, no matter where it comes from. 1/10🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵
January 26, 2026 at 3:51 PM
Homeland Security doesn’t like it when we call ICE and Border Patrol “the Gestapo.”
So let’s set the Gestapo aside. Instead I’ll use this thread to compare Trump’s thugs to other secret police and terror squads from different times and places. It’s tyranny, no matter where it comes from. 1/10🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵
So let’s set the Gestapo aside. Instead I’ll use this thread to compare Trump’s thugs to other secret police and terror squads from different times and places. It’s tyranny, no matter where it comes from. 1/10🧵🧵🧵🧵🧵
Oh, this Wormtongue thing is catching on!
January 31, 2026 at 8:10 PM
Oh, this Wormtongue thing is catching on!
Reposted by emptywheel
Not only is that the very same Nellie Bowles, but she pops up 17 different times in the files!
January 31, 2026 at 4:23 PM
Not only is that the very same Nellie Bowles, but she pops up 17 different times in the files!
Reposted by emptywheel
Wowsers look at what happened to posts on Twitter/X about London crime after monetisation of posts was introduced…
economist.com/britain/2026...
economist.com/britain/2026...
January 31, 2026 at 6:07 PM
Wowsers look at what happened to posts on Twitter/X about London crime after monetisation of posts was introduced…
economist.com/britain/2026...
economist.com/britain/2026...
Reposted by emptywheel
The group bike ride for Alex Pretti is about to depart in Minneapolis, stopping at his memorial, then Renee Good’s, and finishing at the VFW. If you can join, hop on anywhere. It’s a warm 17° & sunny!
I’ve never seen this many cyclists for a group ride. ⚡️✊🏽⚡️🚲⚡️✊🏽⚡️ #RIPPretti
I’ve never seen this many cyclists for a group ride. ⚡️✊🏽⚡️🚲⚡️✊🏽⚡️ #RIPPretti
January 31, 2026 at 7:41 PM
The group bike ride for Alex Pretti is about to depart in Minneapolis, stopping at his memorial, then Renee Good’s, and finishing at the VFW. If you can join, hop on anywhere. It’s a warm 17° & sunny!
I’ve never seen this many cyclists for a group ride. ⚡️✊🏽⚡️🚲⚡️✊🏽⚡️ #RIPPretti
I’ve never seen this many cyclists for a group ride. ⚡️✊🏽⚡️🚲⚡️✊🏽⚡️ #RIPPretti
Among the things Harmeet Dhillon did during her media campaign leading up to when her office indicted Don Lemon:
> RT Tweets discussing BETTiNG on the outcome
> Falsely state 8th C had found probable cause
> Disseminate racist AI slop of Nekima Levy Armstrong
emptywheel.net/2026/01/31/d...
> RT Tweets discussing BETTiNG on the outcome
> Falsely state 8th C had found probable cause
> Disseminate racist AI slop of Nekima Levy Armstrong
emptywheel.net/2026/01/31/d...
"Demonic," "Godless," "Un-American:" Harmeet Dhillon's Own Misconduct Will Be an Issue in Don Lemon Case - emptywheel
Among the many insane things Harmeet Dhillon did in the fortnight before her office charged Don Lemon after two judges said there was not probable cause against him was to platform tweets betting on t...
emptywheel.net
January 31, 2026 at 7:45 PM
Among the things Harmeet Dhillon did during her media campaign leading up to when her office indicted Don Lemon:
> RT Tweets discussing BETTiNG on the outcome
> Falsely state 8th C had found probable cause
> Disseminate racist AI slop of Nekima Levy Armstrong
emptywheel.net/2026/01/31/d...
> RT Tweets discussing BETTiNG on the outcome
> Falsely state 8th C had found probable cause
> Disseminate racist AI slop of Nekima Levy Armstrong
emptywheel.net/2026/01/31/d...
"Demonic," "Godless," "Un-American:" Harmeet Dhillon's Own Misconduct Will Be an Issue in Don Lemon Case
emptywheel.net/2026/01/31/d...
emptywheel.net/2026/01/31/d...
"Demonic," "Godless," "Un-American:" Harmeet Dhillon's Own Misconduct Will Be an Issue in Don Lemon Case - emptywheel
Among the many insane things Harmeet Dhillon did in the fortnight before her office charged Don Lemon after two judges said there was not probable cause against him was to platform tweets betting on t...
emptywheel.net
January 31, 2026 at 7:10 PM
"Demonic," "Godless," "Un-American:" Harmeet Dhillon's Own Misconduct Will Be an Issue in Don Lemon Case
emptywheel.net/2026/01/31/d...
emptywheel.net/2026/01/31/d...
Harmeet Dhillon spent 10 days posting nearly non-stop about Church protest before her office took primary role in charging Don Lemon and others.
One of the first responses to what would become an obsession of hers was conservative Civil Liberties lawyer Patrick Jaicomo asking abt DHS violations.
One of the first responses to what would become an obsession of hers was conservative Civil Liberties lawyer Patrick Jaicomo asking abt DHS violations.
January 31, 2026 at 4:37 PM
Harmeet Dhillon spent 10 days posting nearly non-stop about Church protest before her office took primary role in charging Don Lemon and others.
One of the first responses to what would become an obsession of hers was conservative Civil Liberties lawyer Patrick Jaicomo asking abt DHS violations.
One of the first responses to what would become an obsession of hers was conservative Civil Liberties lawyer Patrick Jaicomo asking abt DHS violations.
Reposted by emptywheel
The Epstein emails should really end the debate over whether society should have billionaires. "Do you want there to be a class of people so powerful they can fuck your kids and no one will even try to do anything" seems like an easy sell if everyone in politics wasn't trying to get on their payroll
January 30, 2026 at 11:21 PM
The Epstein emails should really end the debate over whether society should have billionaires. "Do you want there to be a class of people so powerful they can fuck your kids and no one will even try to do anything" seems like an easy sell if everyone in politics wasn't trying to get on their payroll
Two weeks ago, @thefarce.org and I did a video arguing that Stephen Miller considered his invasions of Venezuela and Minnesota to be the same.
The other day, Tim Walz confirmed we were right. So we updated the video.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGM8...
The other day, Tim Walz confirmed we were right. So we updated the video.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGM8...
Murder on ICE and Water, Updated
YouTube video by emptywheel
www.youtube.com
January 31, 2026 at 3:49 PM
Two weeks ago, @thefarce.org and I did a video arguing that Stephen Miller considered his invasions of Venezuela and Minnesota to be the same.
The other day, Tim Walz confirmed we were right. So we updated the video.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGM8...
The other day, Tim Walz confirmed we were right. So we updated the video.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGM8...
