Will Fries
@willfries.bsky.social
(Personal account). I’m delightfully weird. We can be friends.
Based in Salisbury, Maryland.
https://willfries.substack.com
Based in Salisbury, Maryland.
https://willfries.substack.com
Pinned
Will Fries
@willfries.bsky.social
· Aug 14
How Marylanders can defend democracy | GUEST COMMENTARY
A commitment to accountability is crucial to preserving democracy, writes Will Fries.
www.baltimoresun.com
Frederick Douglass's legacy isn’t a monument. It’s a mission.
In Maryland, power still concedes nothing without a demand.
Speak. Show up. Refuse silence.
Support a free press. Defend open government.
We got this.
#Democracy #PressFreedom #Maryland #MDPol
www.baltimoresun.com/2025/08/13/h...
In Maryland, power still concedes nothing without a demand.
Speak. Show up. Refuse silence.
Support a free press. Defend open government.
We got this.
#Democracy #PressFreedom #Maryland #MDPol
www.baltimoresun.com/2025/08/13/h...
Reposted by Will Fries
“Structural ignorance.” Yes.
Public health depends on citizens accepting scientifically-grounded guidance. When official institutions produce politically-determined science and independent verification infrastructure is eliminated, the capacity for evidence-based health policy collapses, writes Renée DiResta.
How Political Power is Capturing Knowledge Systems and Manufacturing Structural Ignorance | TechPolicy.Press
We're witnessing the simultaneous capture of knowledge-producing institutions and the elimination of independent verification mechanisms, writes Renée DiResta.
www.techpolicy.press
November 10, 2025 at 4:19 PM
“Structural ignorance.” Yes.
Reposted by Will Fries
Buried inside the deal to reopen government is a provision that would give Senators private right of action to sue for millions in damages over their phone records being analyzed by Jack Smith's team.
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
Shutdown Deal Would Let Senators Sue Over Jack Smith Searches
Senators whose phone records were sought by Special Counsel Jack Smith would gain authority to sue for millions in damages under a provision buried in the Senate-advanced deal to reopen the government...
news.bloomberglaw.com
November 10, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Buried inside the deal to reopen government is a provision that would give Senators private right of action to sue for millions in damages over their phone records being analyzed by Jack Smith's team.
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
Reposted by Will Fries
Someone is currently camping out in the crosswalk or at the crosswalks to prevent the city in their efforts....folx are heading to the city council meeting tonight
Salisbury Mayor Randy Taylor labeled a ‘bigot’ by community members after announcing plans to remove the city’s rainbow crosswalk, drawing widespread backlash and raising questions about media ethics and corruption. Full story: willfries.substack.com/p/mayor-rand...
Mayor Declared Bigot, Harmful For Plans to Remove Rainbow Crosswalk
Randy Taylor's Actions Draw Accusations of Bigotry and Media Corruption
willfries.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 10:44 PM
Someone is currently camping out in the crosswalk or at the crosswalks to prevent the city in their efforts....folx are heading to the city council meeting tonight
Reposted by Will Fries
Salisbury MD had the states first 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈 crosswalk and the mayor is repaving them, Will Fries covers the fallout since the city's announcement on Facebook. Following the hate crime last year the city keeps regressing.
open.substack.com/pub/willfrie...
open.substack.com/pub/willfrie...
Mayor Declared Bigot, Harmful For Plans to Remove Rainbow Crosswalk
Randy Taylor's Actions Draw Accusations of Bigotry and Media Corruption
open.substack.com
November 9, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Salisbury MD had the states first 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈 crosswalk and the mayor is repaving them, Will Fries covers the fallout since the city's announcement on Facebook. Following the hate crime last year the city keeps regressing.
open.substack.com/pub/willfrie...
open.substack.com/pub/willfrie...
In our first guest op-ed for The Watershed Observer, A. Dreamer shares an idea to consider while looking up. willfries.substack.com/p/opinion-le...
OPINION: Let’s Call Her Hope
The Fourth Planet and the Stories We Craft Together
willfries.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 12:57 PM
In our first guest op-ed for The Watershed Observer, A. Dreamer shares an idea to consider while looking up. willfries.substack.com/p/opinion-le...
Salisbury Mayor Randy Taylor labeled a ‘bigot’ by community members after announcing plans to remove the city’s rainbow crosswalk, drawing widespread backlash and raising questions about media ethics and corruption. Full story: willfries.substack.com/p/mayor-rand...
Mayor Declared Bigot, Harmful For Plans to Remove Rainbow Crosswalk
Randy Taylor's Actions Draw Accusations of Bigotry and Media Corruption
willfries.substack.com
November 9, 2025 at 7:26 AM
Salisbury Mayor Randy Taylor labeled a ‘bigot’ by community members after announcing plans to remove the city’s rainbow crosswalk, drawing widespread backlash and raising questions about media ethics and corruption. Full story: willfries.substack.com/p/mayor-rand...
Reposted by Will Fries
Le typhon Kalmaegi touche terre dans le centre du Vietnam, des milliers de personnes évacuées
Le typhon Kalmaegi touche terre dans le centre du Vietnam, des milliers de personnes évacuées
Les vents soufflent à 149 kilomètres/heure sur le centre du pays, encore sous le choc d’une semaine d’inondations et de pluies record qui ont fait au moins 47 morts et submergé des sites historiques.
www.lemonde.fr
November 6, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Le typhon Kalmaegi touche terre dans le centre du Vietnam, des milliers de personnes évacuées
Reposted by Will Fries
“The government is attempting to lay a foundation for dissenting political beliefs as grounds for terrorism. And people like Ya’akub — non-white [or] non-Christian — have been made its primary examples. Both journalists; like Mario Guevara… and civilians.”
When Storytelling Is Called ‘Terrorism’: How My Friend and Fellow Journalist Was Targeted by ICE
As a DACA recipient, Ya'akub Ira Vijandre’s arrest holds drastic implications for the state of free speech in America.
thebarbedwire.com
November 6, 2025 at 4:23 PM
“The government is attempting to lay a foundation for dissenting political beliefs as grounds for terrorism. And people like Ya’akub — non-white [or] non-Christian — have been made its primary examples. Both journalists; like Mario Guevara… and civilians.”
Reposted by Will Fries
Elections aux Etats-Unis : les démocrates remportent une première bataille en Virginie
Elections aux Etats-Unis : les démocrates remportent une première bataille en Virginie
Abigail Spanberger va succéder au républicain Glenn Youngkin au poste de gouverneur de Virginie, à l’issue d’une campagne centrée sur le rejet de Donald Trump.
www.lemonde.fr
November 5, 2025 at 1:55 AM
Elections aux Etats-Unis : les démocrates remportent une première bataille en Virginie
Salisbury native @randiformd.com is running for Congress in Maryland’s 1st District. She talks about her path from local radio to politics and how her grandmother’s lessons in civic duty continue to guide her. willfries.substack.com/p/chesapeake...
Chesapeake Contenders: Randi White Has Been Asking Questions Since Childhood — Now She’s Running for Congress
After a career in radio and community outreach, Randi White seeks to bring local engagement to Capitol Hill.
willfries.substack.com
November 5, 2025 at 2:07 AM
Salisbury native @randiformd.com is running for Congress in Maryland’s 1st District. She talks about her path from local radio to politics and how her grandmother’s lessons in civic duty continue to guide her. willfries.substack.com/p/chesapeake...
The Watershed Observer again ranked as the #1 Rising International Substack outlet.
A big thank you to everyone in the community who made this possible!
willfries.substack.com/p/were-1-aga...
A big thank you to everyone in the community who made this possible!
willfries.substack.com/p/were-1-aga...
We’re #1, Again! And it's all your fault!
The Watershed Observer returns to #1 in Substack’s Rising International
willfries.substack.com
November 5, 2025 at 12:42 AM
The Watershed Observer again ranked as the #1 Rising International Substack outlet.
A big thank you to everyone in the community who made this possible!
willfries.substack.com/p/were-1-aga...
A big thank you to everyone in the community who made this possible!
willfries.substack.com/p/were-1-aga...
The Watershed Observer agained ranked as the #1 Rising International Substack outlet.
A big thank you to everyone in the community who made this possible!
willfries.substack.com/p/were-1-aga...
A big thank you to everyone in the community who made this possible!
willfries.substack.com/p/were-1-aga...
We’re #1, Again! And it's all your fault!
The Watershed Observer returns to #1 in Substack’s Rising International
willfries.substack.com
November 4, 2025 at 5:26 PM
The Watershed Observer agained ranked as the #1 Rising International Substack outlet.
A big thank you to everyone in the community who made this possible!
willfries.substack.com/p/were-1-aga...
A big thank you to everyone in the community who made this possible!
willfries.substack.com/p/were-1-aga...
Community accountability is devotion, not division.
As queer people, we know why integrity matters and the value of being honest with ourselves and our communities.
www.washingtonblade.com/2025/10/30/o...
As queer people, we know why integrity matters and the value of being honest with ourselves and our communities.
www.washingtonblade.com/2025/10/30/o...
The importance of holding queer leaders accountable
They must reflect the best of who we are: brave and inclusive
www.washingtonblade.com
November 3, 2025 at 7:09 AM
Community accountability is devotion, not division.
As queer people, we know why integrity matters and the value of being honest with ourselves and our communities.
www.washingtonblade.com/2025/10/30/o...
As queer people, we know why integrity matters and the value of being honest with ourselves and our communities.
www.washingtonblade.com/2025/10/30/o...
Reposted by Will Fries
A wide-ranging FBI sting has ensnared some of the top law enforcement officers around multiple Delta counties, in what the agency is alleging amounts to a “Delta drug conspiracy.”
buff.ly/qVM7tUz
buff.ly/qVM7tUz
FBI Sting Ensnares 14 Mississippi Law Enforcement Officers in Alleged ‘Delta Drug Conspiracy’
An FBI drug sting has ensnared some of the top law enforcement officers in multiple Mississippi counties for an alleged “Delta Drug conspiracy.”
www.mississippifreepress.org
October 30, 2025 at 11:36 PM
A wide-ranging FBI sting has ensnared some of the top law enforcement officers around multiple Delta counties, in what the agency is alleging amounts to a “Delta drug conspiracy.”
buff.ly/qVM7tUz
buff.ly/qVM7tUz
City says public can’t be trusted with city email addresses.
Expert calls that “not credible.”
Then the city admits personal accounts are used for government work.
willfries.substack.com/p/city-says-...
Expert calls that “not credible.”
Then the city admits personal accounts are used for government work.
willfries.substack.com/p/city-says-...
City Says Public Can’t Be Trusted With Email Addresses, Admits Records Misconduct
Claims of “security risk” mask mismanagement and likely violations of public records law
willfries.substack.com
October 31, 2025 at 7:07 AM
City says public can’t be trusted with city email addresses.
Expert calls that “not credible.”
Then the city admits personal accounts are used for government work.
willfries.substack.com/p/city-says-...
Expert calls that “not credible.”
Then the city admits personal accounts are used for government work.
willfries.substack.com/p/city-says-...
Reposted by Will Fries
NEW: For the third time, a judge has ruled that one of the Trump administration's temporary U.S. attorney picks was unlawfully appointed and disqualified from the job. This time, it was Bill Essayli, the top federal prosecutor in L.A.
w/ @joshgerstein.bsky.social
www.politico.com/news/2025/10...
w/ @joshgerstein.bsky.social
www.politico.com/news/2025/10...
October 29, 2025 at 2:31 AM
NEW: For the third time, a judge has ruled that one of the Trump administration's temporary U.S. attorney picks was unlawfully appointed and disqualified from the job. This time, it was Bill Essayli, the top federal prosecutor in L.A.
w/ @joshgerstein.bsky.social
www.politico.com/news/2025/10...
w/ @joshgerstein.bsky.social
www.politico.com/news/2025/10...
It's never too late for now. Check out these stories from around the world in the time it takes to brew a cuppa. willfries.substack.com/p/the-monday...
The Monday 4 Minutes: October 27, 2025
Look at this stuff, isn't it neat
willfries.substack.com
October 27, 2025 at 11:54 PM
It's never too late for now. Check out these stories from around the world in the time it takes to brew a cuppa. willfries.substack.com/p/the-monday...
Reposted by Will Fries
🔔 Public records-based reporting belongs to the public. @404media.co and @wired.com are leading the way.
Hear why this is a public service and good for business, featuring @josephcox.bsky.social and @katie-drummond.bsky.social.
🗓️ Oct. 29, 2 p.m. EDT
RSVP: freedom.press/unpaywalled
Hear why this is a public service and good for business, featuring @josephcox.bsky.social and @katie-drummond.bsky.social.
🗓️ Oct. 29, 2 p.m. EDT
RSVP: freedom.press/unpaywalled
October 23, 2025 at 1:56 PM
🔔 Public records-based reporting belongs to the public. @404media.co and @wired.com are leading the way.
Hear why this is a public service and good for business, featuring @josephcox.bsky.social and @katie-drummond.bsky.social.
🗓️ Oct. 29, 2 p.m. EDT
RSVP: freedom.press/unpaywalled
Hear why this is a public service and good for business, featuring @josephcox.bsky.social and @katie-drummond.bsky.social.
🗓️ Oct. 29, 2 p.m. EDT
RSVP: freedom.press/unpaywalled
Reposted by Will Fries
Yes, deleting those texts was a crime but this kind of reminds us of getting Al Capone for tax evasion.
The former police chief has done a lot worse, like illegally raiding a newspaper publisher’s home, likely resulting in Joan Meyer’s death.
The former police chief has done a lot worse, like illegally raiding a newspaper publisher’s home, likely resulting in Joan Meyer’s death.
Judge orders ex-police chief who led raid on Kansas newspaper to stand trial for deleted texts • Kansas Reflector
Former Marion Police Chief Gideon Cody probably committed a felony crime when he told a witness to delete text messages they exchanged before, during and after he led raids on a newspaper office and the publisher's home, a district judge ruled Wednesday.
kansasreflector.com
October 26, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Yes, deleting those texts was a crime but this kind of reminds us of getting Al Capone for tax evasion.
The former police chief has done a lot worse, like illegally raiding a newspaper publisher’s home, likely resulting in Joan Meyer’s death.
The former police chief has done a lot worse, like illegally raiding a newspaper publisher’s home, likely resulting in Joan Meyer’s death.
Reposted by Will Fries
Reminding folks that subscribing to and sharing the work of local outlets are pro-democracy actions.
Here’s our 50 state 2,200+ outlet local journalism directory.
www.mediaanddemocracyproject.org/journalism-d...
Here’s our 50 state 2,200+ outlet local journalism directory.
www.mediaanddemocracyproject.org/journalism-d...
Local Journalism Directory | Media and Democracy Project
We created a directory to help you find local journalism and local news sources in your area worth reading and supporting.
www.mediaanddemocracyproject.org
October 26, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Reminding folks that subscribing to and sharing the work of local outlets are pro-democracy actions.
Here’s our 50 state 2,200+ outlet local journalism directory.
www.mediaanddemocracyproject.org/journalism-d...
Here’s our 50 state 2,200+ outlet local journalism directory.
www.mediaanddemocracyproject.org/journalism-d...