mitchell atencio (he·him·his)
@mitchellatencio.com
i'm a very religious religion journalist. (news editor @sojo.net / writing a biography of Clarence Jordan)
i post somewhat incoherently about tennis, the WNBA, leftist politics, theology, Godzilla, photography, etc.
based in Chicago
i post somewhat incoherently about tennis, the WNBA, leftist politics, theology, Godzilla, photography, etc.
based in Chicago
Pinned
have a sensitive news tip to deliver? here’s how to do that
SIGNAL: 202-656-8846 / matencio.97
PROTON: [email protected]
confidentiality is always respected.
SIGNAL: 202-656-8846 / matencio.97
PROTON: [email protected]
confidentiality is always respected.
Reposted by mitchell atencio (he·him·his)
We set out to determine how many images of women and girls Grok created during its nudifying spree. What we found was “industrial-scale abuse,” experts said. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/22/t...
Musk’s Chatbot Flooded X With Millions of Sexualized Images in Days, New Estimates Show
www.nytimes.com
January 22, 2026 at 2:56 PM
We set out to determine how many images of women and girls Grok created during its nudifying spree. What we found was “industrial-scale abuse,” experts said. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/22/t...
Reposted by mitchell atencio (he·him·his)
January 22, 2026 at 9:20 AM
Reposted by mitchell atencio (he·him·his)
Always love working with Bolts!
A reminder: Bolts is always looking for pitches for reporting on criminal justice and law enforcement (including immigration enforcement), and voting rights & democracy.
We’ve put together a guide on what we may be looking for (below).
If you’re a freelancer reporter with an idea, get in touch!!
We’ve put together a guide on what we may be looking for (below).
If you’re a freelancer reporter with an idea, get in touch!!
Please pitch us! - Bolts
If you have a story pitch that would fit Bolts, we would love to hear from you.
Boltsmag.org
January 23, 2026 at 1:04 AM
Always love working with Bolts!
Reposted by mitchell atencio (he·him·his)
I keep seeing leftists from outside of Minneapolis say they’ve seen all this before, and no, you haven’t. I’ve been at this for 30+ years and I haven’t either. It’s not what you’re picturing. This is something else
I know people keep saying this but it’s hard to communicate the depth of active resistance here. Like, I’m on random cafes and people are checking in for observation shifts. Signs everywhere. Folks in visibility vests on the corners. It’s wild. Absolutely wild.
January 22, 2026 at 6:18 PM
I keep seeing leftists from outside of Minneapolis say they’ve seen all this before, and no, you haven’t. I’ve been at this for 30+ years and I haven’t either. It’s not what you’re picturing. This is something else
Reposted by mitchell atencio (he·him·his)
Ah, it's clearer now, from the complete "photo", that they are trying to portray her as defeated and fearful.
Regardless what you think of her actions, distribution of falsified photos by the White House isn't "memes", it's dishonesty and abuse of power.
Regardless what you think of her actions, distribution of falsified photos by the White House isn't "memes", it's dishonesty and abuse of power.
The White House is just outright admitting that it's posting fake and misleading information about a defendant who has been criminally charged by the feds.
January 23, 2026 at 12:50 AM
Ah, it's clearer now, from the complete "photo", that they are trying to portray her as defeated and fearful.
Regardless what you think of her actions, distribution of falsified photos by the White House isn't "memes", it's dishonesty and abuse of power.
Regardless what you think of her actions, distribution of falsified photos by the White House isn't "memes", it's dishonesty and abuse of power.
repentance often starts like this. good stuff.
Incredible quote here from a Somali small business owner in Minneapolis who voted for Trump. minnesotareformer.com/2026/01/19/a...
January 23, 2026 at 12:41 AM
repentance often starts like this. good stuff.
Reposted by mitchell atencio (he·him·his)
Tomorrow’s front page of the Minnesota Star Tribune: Jan. 23, 2026
January 22, 2026 at 11:19 PM
Tomorrow’s front page of the Minnesota Star Tribune: Jan. 23, 2026
Reposted by mitchell atencio (he·him·his)
MPR News photojournalist Ben Hovland was at the scene of the arrest and said the agents took a teenage girl and boy into custody after rear-ending their SUV. At least two bystanders were arrested as the agents deployed tear gas and pepper spray.
Federal agents detain two teenagers in Minneapolis
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers handcuffed and detained two teenagers in south Minneapolis Wednesday afternoon.
www.mprnews.org
January 21, 2026 at 11:18 PM
MPR News photojournalist Ben Hovland was at the scene of the arrest and said the agents took a teenage girl and boy into custody after rear-ending their SUV. At least two bystanders were arrested as the agents deployed tear gas and pepper spray.
i totally spaced and missed my therapy session and i am gonna have to spend the whole next session apologizing for letting my therapist down.
January 23, 2026 at 12:21 AM
i totally spaced and missed my therapy session and i am gonna have to spend the whole next session apologizing for letting my therapist down.
Reposted by mitchell atencio (he·him·his)
I just thought everyone should see this
January 22, 2026 at 11:02 PM
I just thought everyone should see this
Reposted by mitchell atencio (he·him·his)
this story has now been corrected but there is no note stating a correction was made. purely an “update” — not what journalists do, period
January 22, 2026 at 4:09 PM
this story has now been corrected but there is no note stating a correction was made. purely an “update” — not what journalists do, period
Reposted by mitchell atencio (he·him·his)
"In less than two minutes, they smashed his window and dragged him out of the car."
More Gestapo shit in Maine
More Gestapo shit in Maine
Masked agents detain civil engineer in Portland
The man is in the U.S. on a work visa after receiving a master’s degree. Agents left his car running in the street with a smashed window.
themainemonitor.org
January 22, 2026 at 11:20 PM
"In less than two minutes, they smashed his window and dragged him out of the car."
More Gestapo shit in Maine
More Gestapo shit in Maine
the baby has been incessantly saying "mom mom mom mom momma momma mom mom mom" which IS cute, but it's also terribly confusing because Mick goes by "Poppy" and I go by "Dadda"
January 22, 2026 at 11:35 PM
the baby has been incessantly saying "mom mom mom mom momma momma mom mom mom" which IS cute, but it's also terribly confusing because Mick goes by "Poppy" and I go by "Dadda"
Reposted by mitchell atencio (he·him·his)
We have been rightly afraid of the threat of bad actors using AI to create disinformation.
It's appalling that one of the first of those bad actors is in the White House. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
It's appalling that one of the first of those bad actors is in the White House. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
White House posts digitally altered image of woman arrested after ICE protest
Guardian analysis shows images are the same, with Nekima Levy Armstrong looking composed in original but sobbing after alteration
www.theguardian.com
January 22, 2026 at 9:37 PM
We have been rightly afraid of the threat of bad actors using AI to create disinformation.
It's appalling that one of the first of those bad actors is in the White House. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
It's appalling that one of the first of those bad actors is in the White House. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
every accusation etc. etc.
The president is now demanding the investigation of a member of Congress for “Political Crimes”
January 22, 2026 at 10:50 PM
every accusation etc. etc.
Reposted by mitchell atencio (he·him·his)
“We all have a stake in this. Lines are being crossed that should alarm all Americans when it comes to due process, arbitrary detention, the rule of law and harassment and violence against peaceful protesters"
_ DC (and former MNP) Episcopal Bishop Budde why some 700 clergy and others are in MNP
_ DC (and former MNP) Episcopal Bishop Budde why some 700 clergy and others are in MNP
January 22, 2026 at 10:27 PM
“We all have a stake in this. Lines are being crossed that should alarm all Americans when it comes to due process, arbitrary detention, the rule of law and harassment and violence against peaceful protesters"
_ DC (and former MNP) Episcopal Bishop Budde why some 700 clergy and others are in MNP
_ DC (and former MNP) Episcopal Bishop Budde why some 700 clergy and others are in MNP
"I like the idea of 'death cults' and 'satanism' (quote me on that!)" — @tylerhuckabee.bsky.social
January 22, 2026 at 9:51 PM
"I like the idea of 'death cults' and 'satanism' (quote me on that!)" — @tylerhuckabee.bsky.social
Reposted by mitchell atencio (he·him·his)
John Allen, a powerhouse Vatican reporter for decades, has died after a long struggle with cancer. He was 61.
Peace to his memory.
cruxnow.com/church/2026/...
Peace to his memory.
cruxnow.com/church/2026/...
John L. Allen Jr, 1965-2026
John L. Allen Jr. was a force of nature, certainly as a journalist who was not only our principal but also a model for us, whose counsel and whose company we already and forever shall sorely miss.
cruxnow.com
January 22, 2026 at 9:16 PM
John Allen, a powerhouse Vatican reporter for decades, has died after a long struggle with cancer. He was 61.
Peace to his memory.
cruxnow.com/church/2026/...
Peace to his memory.
cruxnow.com/church/2026/...
Reposted by mitchell atencio (he·him·his)
The 5-year-old arrested by ICE In Minnesota is detained at Dilley. We reported on conditions there in the below article.
Parents said the food was contaminated with mold and worms & that children were so under so much stress that they were hitting their own faces & wetting themselves.
Parents said the food was contaminated with mold and worms & that children were so under so much stress that they were hitting their own faces & wetting themselves.
Analysis by The Marshall Project of ICE data obtained by the Deportation Data Project found that the Trump administration’s revival of family detention has swept thousands of children into ICE custody. At least 3,800 children under 18, including 20 infants, have been booked since Trump took office.
ICE Threw Thousands of Kids in Detention, Many For Longer Than Court-Prescribed Limit
Former immigration staffers argue ICE is choosing to detain families for prolonged periods to speed deportations and compel them to leave.
www.themarshallproject.org
January 22, 2026 at 8:30 PM
The 5-year-old arrested by ICE In Minnesota is detained at Dilley. We reported on conditions there in the below article.
Parents said the food was contaminated with mold and worms & that children were so under so much stress that they were hitting their own faces & wetting themselves.
Parents said the food was contaminated with mold and worms & that children were so under so much stress that they were hitting their own faces & wetting themselves.
saw a billboard for THC-based "margaritas" that advertised them as the easiest way to "cheat dry January" and i have so many issues with that i do not know where to begin
January 22, 2026 at 9:14 PM
saw a billboard for THC-based "margaritas" that advertised them as the easiest way to "cheat dry January" and i have so many issues with that i do not know where to begin
FWIW, I didn't do this because Levy Armstrong's own website doesn't refer to her as a pastor or reverend or clergy. She referred to herself as a "preacher and activist" nearly a decade ago and may still consider herself a pastor or minister, but I didn't feel confident she still uses that term.
January 22, 2026 at 8:57 PM
FWIW, I didn't do this because Levy Armstrong's own website doesn't refer to her as a pastor or reverend or clergy. She referred to herself as a "preacher and activist" nearly a decade ago and may still consider herself a pastor or minister, but I didn't feel confident she still uses that term.
could argue he's not contradicting himself, he's just saying the shooting wasn't wrongdoing.
JD Vance: "I didn't say that officers who engaged in wrongdoing would enjoy immunity. That's absurd. What I did say is that when federal law enforcement officers violate the law that's typically something federal officials would look into. We don't want these guys to have kangaroo courts."
January 22, 2026 at 8:32 PM
could argue he's not contradicting himself, he's just saying the shooting wasn't wrongdoing.
newest from me: sojo.net/articles/new...
FBI Arrests Leaders of Protest Inside Minnesota Church
Protesters had demonstrated against Cities Church in St. Paul, where a vocational minister also works as acting director of the ICE St. Paul field office.
sojo.net
January 22, 2026 at 6:08 PM
newest from me: sojo.net/articles/new...
Reposted by mitchell atencio (he·him·his)
Very cool—thanks for the update! Today I got gassed by the federal government two times within a few blocks of my house
I joined agriculture leaders from across the state today in Mankato for the Minnesota Ag Expo. Minnesota farmers are the backbone of our economy, and we must ensure they have what they need to thrive—strong markets and stable trade policies.
January 22, 2026 at 2:37 AM
Very cool—thanks for the update! Today I got gassed by the federal government two times within a few blocks of my house
ESPN doing 20 minutes of Djokovic warm up instead of the ongoing Ben Shelton match is gonna break me
January 22, 2026 at 2:44 AM
ESPN doing 20 minutes of Djokovic warm up instead of the ongoing Ben Shelton match is gonna break me