Ethan White
LightNews LightNews
banner
ethanwhite.weecology.org
Ethan White
@ethanwhite.weecology.org
4.2K followers 230 following 660 posts
Environmental data scientist/professor using technology to understand nature. #rstats, Python, open data, open source. he/him
Posts Replies Media Videos
Pinned
ethanwhite.weecology.org
Ethan White @ethanwhite.weecology.org · Nov 13
I am sorry to inform you that "That's not how we've done it in the past" is not a good reason not to try something new.
Reposted by Ethan White
artologica.net
A new set of itty-bitty neuron watercolors ko-fi.com/s/3da65869e4 #sciart
3 small matted watercolors of neurons in blue
January 26, 2026 at 4:24 PM
Reposted by Ethan White
pressley.house.gov
There's no ICE accountability without ending qualified immunity.

They're murdering people. There won't be justice for the lives they've stolen, but there must be accountability.

My bill with @markey.senate.gov would ensure families can sue the agents murdering their loved ones.
January 27, 2026 at 9:02 PM
Reposted by Ethan White
nbedera.bsky.social
A reminder that ICE hasn’t slowed down in Minneapolis at all.

Outside of Minnesota, it might feel like everything has changed since Alex Pretti’s murder. But ICE hasn’t actually lost any power and they’re continuing to terrorize our communities.
January 27, 2026 at 7:57 PM
Reposted by Ethan White
niais.bsky.social
Oh, this is really heartbreaking.
January 27, 2026 at 11:06 PM
Reposted by Ethan White
smokiwuff.bsky.social
I'm a resident of the Twin Cities. A small team and I spent 3 days sculpting this for a competition/festival in extremely cold temperatures. We were disqualified for political messaging and one of the organizers defaced it. I have no regrets and I have never been more proud to be Minnesotan. (cont)
January 25, 2026 at 11:16 PM
Reposted by Ethan White
weecology.bsky.social
New update on the regime shift at our long-term study site from
@skmorgane.bsky.social

"...our kangaroo rats losing their battle with the forces of dryness, but if you squint real hard you might be able to see them pushing themselves back up. Maybe."

doi.org/10.59350/4y0...
Portal Regime Shift Update: How bad can it get?
Well, 2025 was a wild ride. The lack of updates on the potential regime shift at Portal isn’t because it fizzled, but because [wave hands at the world]. And Portal was not immune to [waves hands at…
doi.org
January 26, 2026 at 2:20 PM
Reposted by Ethan White
historyiswhat.bsky.social
"Indigenous students speak out following Oglala Sioux ICE arrests"
Indigenous students speak out following Oglala Sioux ICE arrests
Earlier this month, four members of the Oglala Sioux Tribe in Minnesota were reportedly detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Amid national outrage, local voices have provided guidanc...
lanthorn.com
January 26, 2026 at 1:38 PM
ethanwhite.weecology.org
If you’re calling your representatives this morning, and they aren’t answering and their voicemails are full (which happened to me this morning) you can look up the numbers for their regional offices in your state and reach them there.
January 26, 2026 at 1:29 PM
Reposted by Ethan White
mjmcoomber.bsky.social
My friend Sara posted this about the superb care her father received from with Alex Pretti

Absolutely heartbreaking
Photos of Alex Pretti with Sara’s caption: On August 16th at approximately 10:00 pm I received a call from the ICU at the VA saying my Dad had sepsis and needed to be intubated to stay alive so Josh and I headed in. We were greeted by the kindest, most calming and warm soul who helped us understand what was happening and showed deep care for us and my Dad. He continued to show utmost patience and kindness over the next few days as my Dad remained in the ICU and we were there continually. It was Alex Pretti, the man shot today by ICE. If you see this video and don't think it's murder, I don't understand your thinking and ask you to question your heart. He was out there trying to help and protect and from the little we knew of him, it doesn't surprise me he was not afraid to be on the front lines of this horrible scene in our Minneapolis. Weeping for his family and all those at the VA who no longer get to work with him or receive his care.
January 25, 2026 at 4:19 PM
Reposted by Ethan White
404media.co
And what is happening inside ICE detention centers? 404 Media also learned that the federal government claimed that the day after it was sued for allegedly abusing detainees at an ICE detention center, a “system crash” deleted nearly two weeks of surveillance footage from inside the facility.
ICE Says Critical Evidence In Abuse Case Was Lost In 'System Crash' a Day After It Was Sued
The government also said "we don't have resources" to retain all footage and that plaintiffs could supply "endless hard drives that we could save things to."
www.404media.co
January 25, 2026 at 5:17 PM
Reposted by Ethan White
alexaphilippou.bsky.social
Unrivaled co-founder and WNBA MVP Breanna Stewart held up an “Abolish ICE” sign during player intros ahead of Mist’s game this afternoon.

Photo via @unrivaledwbb.bsky.social
January 25, 2026 at 6:12 PM
Reposted by Ethan White
djbyrnes1.bsky.social
A moment of silence that ends with someone shouting "fuck ICE!" and the crowd roaring in response
reichten.bsky.social Ryan Eichten @reichten.bsky.social · 5d
Timberwolves hold a moment of silence for Alex Pretti
January 25, 2026 at 11:52 PM
Reposted by Ethan White
jbyoder.org
STOP PRETENDING JESUS WAS CRUCIFIED
BECAUSE HE PREACHED GOOD VIBES AND PERSONAL GROWTH
gregolear.bsky.social Greg Olear @gregolear.bsky.social · 5d
One of the best things I’ve read in a while:
January 25, 2026 at 11:51 PM
Reposted by Ethan White
skwinnicki.bsky.social
Feels like society’s really broken down in the US in a way that’s deeply traumatic.

But also there are college students knocking on doors asking for shovels (they’re not well-prepared) and helping trapped motorists by shoveling and pushing out cars. Up to 24 of them now, wandering streets together
Tree mostly obscuring the view of a bunch of college kids in the snowy street, ready to help motorists, in Columbus Ohio
January 25, 2026 at 7:00 PM
Reposted by Ethan White
startribune.com
Vigils were held around Minneapolis and beyond Saturday night in the wake of the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by federal agents.

Photo and video: Jeff Wheeler, Anthony Souffle, Simon Peter Groebner/The Minnesota Star Tribune.
January 25, 2026 at 3:06 AM
Reposted by Ethan White
thejackofkingfield.bsky.social
Mood in minneapolis right now
January 24, 2026 at 11:31 PM
Reposted by Ethan White
redderbeanpaste.bsky.social
The guy that runs the Reddit where people post about patting their cat on the butt like bongos has put his foot down
January 25, 2026 at 12:44 AM
Reposted by Ethan White
mayor.nyc.gov
As tens of thousands across America protest the violence that ICE sows with impunity, federal agents shot and killed another person in Minneapolis today.

ICE terrorizes our cities. ICE puts us all in danger. Abolish ICE.
January 24, 2026 at 6:00 PM
Reposted by Ethan White
reichlinmelnick.bsky.social
You have to read this. Firsthand affidavit from one of the women who was there and recording the video. She talks about how Alex Pretti was directing traffic when she arrived. She watched him be killed in front of her. She's afraid to go home, worried she'll be arrested.
1. I am a resident of the Whittier neighborhood of Minneapolis, Minnesota. I am over 18 years of age. I am a children's entertainer who specializes in face painting. 2. On Saturday, January 24, 2026, at about 8:50 am, I was getting ready to go to work when I heard whistles outside. I knew the whistles meant that ICE agents were in the area, so I decided to check it out on my way to work. I've been involved in observing in my community because it is so important to document what ICE is doing to my neighbors. Connecting to your local community and knowing who your neighbors are is something I profoundly value. 3. I drove to Nicollet Ave. and 26th where I could hear the whistles coming from. I turned south onto Nicollet. There were already several ICE agents there and they'd set up a sort of vehicle convoy on Nicollet and 28th. There were also about 15 observers there, recording and observing ICE. 4. I saw ICE agents surrounding cars and punching car windows. I also saw them stopping vehicles further down Nicollet, so I backed up because I didn't feel safe continuing on. 5. I noticed a man sort of acting to help traffic move more smoothly. He helped me find a place to park. I got out with my whistle and my camera. I went over to him and said something like, "I'm going to film and use my whistle." 6. It seemed like most ICE activity was happening a little farther down the street from us, near 27th. Someone was being thrown to the ground. 7. I started recording. There was an agent by a car across the street. Two observers were a few feet away from the agent, blowing their whistles. One was wearing a backpack. 8. I and the man who was observing and helping direct traffic were standing in the street. There was a phone in the man's hand recording a video. 9. An agent approached and asked us to back up, so I moved slowly back onto the sidewalk. 10. The man stayed in the street, filming as the other observers I mentioned earlier were being forced backward by another ICE agent threatening them with pepper spray. The man went closer to support them as they got threatened, just with his camera out. I didn't see him reach for or hold a gun. 11. Then the ICE agent shoved one of the other observers to the ground. Then he started pepper spraying all three of them directly in the face and all over. The man with the phone put his hands above his head and the agent sprayed him again and pushed him. 12. Then the man tried to help up the woman the ICE agent had shoved to the ground. The ICE agents just kept spraying. More agents came over and grabbed the man who was still trying to help the woman get up. All three of the observers looked to have been badly affected by the pepper spray. I could feel the pepper spray in my eyes. 13. The agents pulled the man on the ground. I didn't see him touch any of them-he wasn't even turned toward them. It didn't look like he was trying to resist, just trying to help the woman up. I didn't see him with a gun. They threw him to the ground. Four or five agents had him on the ground and they just started shooting him. They shot him so many times. 14.1 don't know why they shot him. He was only helping. I was five feet from him and they just shot him. 15. The video I recorded of what happened accurately depicts the events leading up to the agents shooting him and several minutes afterwards. The video is attached as Exhibit 1. 16. I have read the statement from DHS about what happened and it is wrong. The man did not approach the agents with a gun. He approached them with a camera. He was just trying to help a woman get up and they took him to the ground. 17. I feel afraid. Only hours have passed since they shot a man right in front me and I don't feel like I can go home because I heard agents were looking for me. I don't know what the agents will do when they find me. I do know that they're not telling the truth about what happened. I've heard that other witnesses might have been arrested and taken to the Whipple Building. 18. I am disgusted and gutted at how they are treating my neighbors and my state. I keep alternating between crying and feeling determined it is important to remember the value of documenting injustice. We show up for the people who need us to bear witness, because it can't just be one group of people bearing the brunt of their tyranny. This is a struggle to protect our freedom and democracy, those things are on the line. He lost his life for those values. I declare under penalty of perjury that everything I have stated in this document is true and correct. Dated and signed on Jan 24, 2026 in Hennepin County, State of Minnesota.
January 25, 2026 at 1:15 AM
Reposted by Ethan White
whstancil.bsky.social
in case you're curious about how angry Minnesota is about ICE, it was -20 today
January 24, 2026 at 12:38 AM
Reposted by Ethan White
altnps.bsky.social
Amazing! Way to go Minneapolis!
January 23, 2026 at 11:53 PM
Reposted by Ethan White
artologica.net
Watercolor inspired by xylem #sciart
This one is cool because it's box-mounted, no framing required
artologica.etsy.com/listing/4441...
blue and red abstract watercolor with blobby shapes painting shown at an angle so the side is visible
January 22, 2026 at 11:31 PM
Reposted by Ethan White
jakemgrumbach.bsky.social
My loose info so far is that the Minneapolis General Strike today had about 80 unions sign on, and it might be one of the biggest labor actions in decades depending on your definition
January 23, 2026 at 11:16 PM
Reposted by Ethan White
clairewillett.bsky.social
“fuck ICE”
“and also with you”
January 23, 2026 at 11:41 PM