Alex Russell
@infrequently.org
Trying to make a web that works for everyone.
Also at https://toot.cafe/@slightlyoff
For more: https://infrequently.org/about-me/
https://infrequently.org/
Also at https://toot.cafe/@slightlyoff
For more: https://infrequently.org/about-me/
https://infrequently.org/
Pinned
Alex Russell
@infrequently.org
· Oct 27
Platform Strategy and Its Discontents - Infrequently Noted
Alex Russell on browsers, standards, and the process of progress.
infrequently.org
Platforms are competitions, and the web is losing. We can do simple, straightforward things to combat that decline...but contemporary frontend isn't doing those things.
Why not?
A consolidated thread from last week:
infrequently.org/2024/10/platform…
Why not?
A consolidated thread from last week:
infrequently.org/2024/10/platform…
Reposted by Alex Russell
Also a stylish dude who loves cats
January 14, 2026 at 6:24 AM
Also a stylish dude who loves cats
Reposted by Alex Russell
There is a crisis of impunity. The Musk/Grok stuff is just one f many examples of people who are counting on there never being any consequences. And it all makes me just incandescently mad.
Elon Musk Cannot Get Away With This
If there is no red line around AI-generated sex abuse, then no line exists.
www.theatlantic.com
January 14, 2026 at 12:27 AM
There is a crisis of impunity. The Musk/Grok stuff is just one f many examples of people who are counting on there never being any consequences. And it all makes me just incandescently mad.
Reposted by Alex Russell
People not in Minnesota: please read this excellent summary of what life is like in Minneapolis since the murderous scum ICE swarmed here. And more are on their way. By local reporter / writer / bike dude / legend @dbrauer.net .
January 13, 2026 at 10:38 PM
People not in Minnesota: please read this excellent summary of what life is like in Minneapolis since the murderous scum ICE swarmed here. And more are on their way. By local reporter / writer / bike dude / legend @dbrauer.net .
Reposted by Alex Russell
Reposted by Alex Russell
Think you have to retire the phrase “immigration crackdown” when every major violent spectacle — at least those the news is choosing to highlight — involve US citizens screaming “Check my ID!”
As the Trump administration escalates its immigration crackdown in Minneapolis, arrests and aggressive tactics by ICE and the Border Patrol, many seen on viral videos, have intensified the frustration and fear among residents, business owners and immigrant workers. trib.al/zVm2mk5
January 13, 2026 at 10:45 PM
Think you have to retire the phrase “immigration crackdown” when every major violent spectacle — at least those the news is choosing to highlight — involve US citizens screaming “Check my ID!”
Reposted by Alex Russell
Abolish ICE.
If you work for ICE, quit right now.
If you work for ICE, quit right now.
A mom in Houston reported her 15-year-old son with autism missing. She spent 6 days terrified, searching for him. The whole time, Houston police knew exactly where he was since they helped ICE place him in a refugee facility.
This is beyond cruel.
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
This is beyond cruel.
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
Missing teen with autism transferred to refugee facility by HPD
He is currently being held at an Office for Refugee Resettlement facility.
www.houstonchronicle.com
October 13, 2025 at 10:30 PM
Abolish ICE.
If you work for ICE, quit right now.
If you work for ICE, quit right now.
Reposted by Alex Russell
Reposted by Alex Russell
ICE are thug scum.
This is 10th-grader Arnoldo Bazan.
A citizen.
Immigration agents grabbed him and put him in a chokehold.
"We're from the United States bro!' he screamed.
Agents took and sold his phone
And when he finally got home hours later, his shirt was ripped, he neck had angry, red welts, and he sobbed.
A citizen.
Immigration agents grabbed him and put him in a chokehold.
"We're from the United States bro!' he screamed.
Agents took and sold his phone
And when he finally got home hours later, his shirt was ripped, he neck had angry, red welts, and he sobbed.
January 13, 2026 at 11:37 PM
ICE are thug scum.
Reposted by Alex Russell
No money for the government waging war against its own people. None.
this is wildly illegal and the courts will rule it such, but congressional democrats should be thinking long and hard about the terms under which they will agree to continue funding this government
Trump: "Starting February 1, we're not making any payments to sanctuary cities or states having sanctuary cities"
January 13, 2026 at 8:26 PM
No money for the government waging war against its own people. None.
Reposted by Alex Russell
Well if you rescind qualified immunity for police then answer me this: who will thwart Hans Gruber’s Christmastime hijacking of Nakatomi Plaza? I’ll wait.
January 13, 2026 at 10:06 PM
Well if you rescind qualified immunity for police then answer me this: who will thwart Hans Gruber’s Christmastime hijacking of Nakatomi Plaza? I’ll wait.
Reposted by Alex Russell
They are unlawfully detaining people for First Amendment protected activities, as far as I can tell. Dragging people out of their vehicles absent witnessing a crime and without a judicial warrant is repugnant to our constitutional order.
New video shows ICE agents detaining a US citizen legal observer in Minneapolis.
The agents smashed his car window, dragged him out, and placed a knee on his neck.
The agents smashed his car window, dragged him out, and placed a knee on his neck.
January 13, 2026 at 7:09 PM
They are unlawfully detaining people for First Amendment protected activities, as far as I can tell. Dragging people out of their vehicles absent witnessing a crime and without a judicial warrant is repugnant to our constitutional order.
Reposted by Alex Russell
They don't seem to realize that the video of them abusing a legal observer is probably worse than whatever video the legal observer had already obtained of them.
New video shows ICE agents detaining a US citizen legal observer in Minneapolis.
The agents smashed his car window, dragged him out, and placed a knee on his neck.
The agents smashed his car window, dragged him out, and placed a knee on his neck.
January 13, 2026 at 4:28 PM
They don't seem to realize that the video of them abusing a legal observer is probably worse than whatever video the legal observer had already obtained of them.
Reposted by Alex Russell
Despicable for a government to lie about a victim of a state-sponsored execution, caught on tape, blaming her for her own murder, protecting the killer, cleansing the crime scene, blocking legitimate investigators, then *threatening the victim's family* with investigations.
Gutter fascism.
Gutter fascism.
The majority of the leadership team inside Minnesota’s U.S. Attorney’s Office resigned Tuesday in protest of directives from federal officials in the wake of the killing of Renee Good, according to sources familiar with the decision.
Joe Thompson, U.S. Attorney who uncovered massive fraud in Minnesota, resigns from office
Thompson has been at the center of the national debate around fraud in Minnesota and has claimed that billions have been stolen from tax payers.
bit.ly
January 13, 2026 at 8:59 PM
Despicable for a government to lie about a victim of a state-sponsored execution, caught on tape, blaming her for her own murder, protecting the killer, cleansing the crime scene, blocking legitimate investigators, then *threatening the victim's family* with investigations.
Gutter fascism.
Gutter fascism.
Reposted by Alex Russell
Breaking NYT:
The Pentagon used a secret aircraft painted to look like a civilian plane in its first boat attack, according to officials briefed on the matter.
The laws of armed conflict forbid combatants from feigning civilian status.
That is a war crime called "perfidy."
The Pentagon used a secret aircraft painted to look like a civilian plane in its first boat attack, according to officials briefed on the matter.
The laws of armed conflict forbid combatants from feigning civilian status.
That is a war crime called "perfidy."
U.S. Attacked Boat With Aircraft That Looked Like a Civilian Plane
www.nytimes.com
January 13, 2026 at 12:05 AM
Breaking NYT:
The Pentagon used a secret aircraft painted to look like a civilian plane in its first boat attack, according to officials briefed on the matter.
The laws of armed conflict forbid combatants from feigning civilian status.
That is a war crime called "perfidy."
The Pentagon used a secret aircraft painted to look like a civilian plane in its first boat attack, according to officials briefed on the matter.
The laws of armed conflict forbid combatants from feigning civilian status.
That is a war crime called "perfidy."
Reposted by Alex Russell
The same people now claiming Somalia is “safe” increased the State Department’s advisory to “Do Not Travel,” while barring immigration from Somalia over concerns about human trafficking, terrorism, and murder.
You can't have it both ways.
Let’s call this what it is: collective retribution.
You can't have it both ways.
Let’s call this what it is: collective retribution.
January 13, 2026 at 5:16 PM
The same people now claiming Somalia is “safe” increased the State Department’s advisory to “Do Not Travel,” while barring immigration from Somalia over concerns about human trafficking, terrorism, and murder.
You can't have it both ways.
Let’s call this what it is: collective retribution.
You can't have it both ways.
Let’s call this what it is: collective retribution.
Reposted by Alex Russell
Trump is doing this to try to legitimize ICE actions in MN. "Look at how many people are illegally here (because we just made them so)!"
This is so cruel and vindictive.
Trump's decision to revoke Temporary Protected Status from every Somali in the U.S. will put lives at risk, including here in Maine.
Doing this with no grace period or automatic extension means hundreds of thousands are now vulnerable to detention and removal.
Trump's decision to revoke Temporary Protected Status from every Somali in the U.S. will put lives at risk, including here in Maine.
Doing this with no grace period or automatic extension means hundreds of thousands are now vulnerable to detention and removal.
Trump Moves to End Temporary Protected Status for Somalis
www.nytimes.com
January 13, 2026 at 5:52 PM
Trump is doing this to try to legitimize ICE actions in MN. "Look at how many people are illegally here (because we just made them so)!"
Reposted by Alex Russell
BREAKING:
We've found 40+ cases of agents using banned chokeholds & other moves that can cut off breathing
People have had seizures. They passed out.
“I felt like I was going to die” said 16-yr-old citizen
Admin won't say whether any agents have been punished
www.propublica.org/article/vide...
We've found 40+ cases of agents using banned chokeholds & other moves that can cut off breathing
People have had seizures. They passed out.
“I felt like I was going to die” said 16-yr-old citizen
Admin won't say whether any agents have been punished
www.propublica.org/article/vide...
January 13, 2026 at 12:06 PM
BREAKING:
We've found 40+ cases of agents using banned chokeholds & other moves that can cut off breathing
People have had seizures. They passed out.
“I felt like I was going to die” said 16-yr-old citizen
Admin won't say whether any agents have been punished
www.propublica.org/article/vide...
We've found 40+ cases of agents using banned chokeholds & other moves that can cut off breathing
People have had seizures. They passed out.
“I felt like I was going to die” said 16-yr-old citizen
Admin won't say whether any agents have been punished
www.propublica.org/article/vide...
Reposted by Alex Russell
Reposted by Alex Russell
Read Frank Foer's amazing essay on the civil servants we have lost
www.theatlantic.com/magazine/202...
www.theatlantic.com/magazine/202...
The Purged
Donald Trump’s destruction of the civil service is a tragedy not just for the roughly 300,000 workers who have been discarded, but for an entire nation.
www.theatlantic.com
January 13, 2026 at 4:44 AM
Read Frank Foer's amazing essay on the civil servants we have lost
www.theatlantic.com/magazine/202...
www.theatlantic.com/magazine/202...
Reposted by Alex Russell
Connecting the dots with @dahlialithwick.bsky.social slate.com/news-and-pol...
January 9, 2026 at 8:30 PM
Connecting the dots with @dahlialithwick.bsky.social slate.com/news-and-pol...
Reposted by Alex Russell
i know this isn't exactly mindblowing but i'm fucking mad that it's easier to become an ice agent than to get a us visa slate.com/news-and-pol...
You’ve Heard About Who ICE Is Recruiting. The Truth Is Far Worse. I’m the Proof.
What happens when you do minimal screening before hiring agents, arming them, and sending them into the streets? We're all finding out.
slate.com
January 13, 2026 at 6:10 PM
i know this isn't exactly mindblowing but i'm fucking mad that it's easier to become an ice agent than to get a us visa slate.com/news-and-pol...
Reposted by Alex Russell
A few months ago, ICE hired me
I didn't sign and submit any paperwork. I almost certainly failed the drug test. I'm real outspoken about my opposition to the Trump administration, and I am extremely googlable
And yet, there it was, in plain English. "Welcome to ICE!"
My latest for Slate
I didn't sign and submit any paperwork. I almost certainly failed the drug test. I'm real outspoken about my opposition to the Trump administration, and I am extremely googlable
And yet, there it was, in plain English. "Welcome to ICE!"
My latest for Slate
You’ve Heard About Who ICE Is Recruiting. The Truth Is Far Worse. I’m the Proof.
What happens when you do minimal screening before hiring agents, arming them, and sending them into the streets? We're all finding out.
slate.com
January 13, 2026 at 2:11 PM
A few months ago, ICE hired me
I didn't sign and submit any paperwork. I almost certainly failed the drug test. I'm real outspoken about my opposition to the Trump administration, and I am extremely googlable
And yet, there it was, in plain English. "Welcome to ICE!"
My latest for Slate
I didn't sign and submit any paperwork. I almost certainly failed the drug test. I'm real outspoken about my opposition to the Trump administration, and I am extremely googlable
And yet, there it was, in plain English. "Welcome to ICE!"
My latest for Slate
Reposted by Alex Russell
Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen,
"Now we are faced with a geopolitical crisis, and if we have to choose between the USA and Denmark here and now, we will choose Denmark"
"We choose NATO"
"We choose the Kingdom of Denmark"
"We choose the EU"
"Now we are faced with a geopolitical crisis, and if we have to choose between the USA and Denmark here and now, we will choose Denmark"
"We choose NATO"
"We choose the Kingdom of Denmark"
"We choose the EU"
January 13, 2026 at 4:13 PM
Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen,
"Now we are faced with a geopolitical crisis, and if we have to choose between the USA and Denmark here and now, we will choose Denmark"
"We choose NATO"
"We choose the Kingdom of Denmark"
"We choose the EU"
"Now we are faced with a geopolitical crisis, and if we have to choose between the USA and Denmark here and now, we will choose Denmark"
"We choose NATO"
"We choose the Kingdom of Denmark"
"We choose the EU"
Reposted by Alex Russell
Early 2025: Trump admin tries to illegally shut down the CFPB, the newest member of the Federal Reserve system. Jay Powell says nothing.
Summer 2025: Trump admin tries to illegally fire Fed Governor Lisa Cook. Powell says nothing.
2026: Trump admin comes for Powell. He finally finds his voice.
Summer 2025: Trump admin tries to illegally fire Fed Governor Lisa Cook. Powell says nothing.
2026: Trump admin comes for Powell. He finally finds his voice.
Video message from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KckG...
www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/s...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KckG...
www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/s...
Statement by Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell
YouTube video by Federal Reserve
www.youtube.com
January 12, 2026 at 1:57 AM
Early 2025: Trump admin tries to illegally shut down the CFPB, the newest member of the Federal Reserve system. Jay Powell says nothing.
Summer 2025: Trump admin tries to illegally fire Fed Governor Lisa Cook. Powell says nothing.
2026: Trump admin comes for Powell. He finally finds his voice.
Summer 2025: Trump admin tries to illegally fire Fed Governor Lisa Cook. Powell says nothing.
2026: Trump admin comes for Powell. He finally finds his voice.