Jeff Alworth
@alworth.bsky.social
Politics/news account. Like all people, I have a life beyond my career. Part of it involves civic engagement. For beer check out beervana.bsky.social.
Longer essays: https://substack.com/@jeffalworth/
Longer essays: https://substack.com/@jeffalworth/
Pinned
ICE is a paramilitary force deployed to terrorize people living in blue states. The claim that it exists to secure the border is a lie and a subtext for its terrorism.
They can beat us and tear gas us and shoot us in the face with pepper spray, but they can't make us watch Melania.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
January 27, 2026 at 2:19 AM
They can beat us and tear gas us and shoot us in the face with pepper spray, but they can't make us watch Melania.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Reposted by Jeff Alworth
For 53 weeks, the Trump admin has played a double game of occupying blue cities and applying illegal force while holding their hands up innocently and claiming to be protecting the border. That ended over the weekend. Now it’s just about whether you’re cool with invading blue states.
This Is Not the Plan Gone Awry; This Is the Plan
Indiscriminately grabbing people off the streets based on the color of their skin, beating, abusing, and killing them publicly: these are the intentional tools of fascism, not accidental overreach.
jeffalworth.substack.com
January 26, 2026 at 4:24 PM
For 53 weeks, the Trump admin has played a double game of occupying blue cities and applying illegal force while holding their hands up innocently and claiming to be protecting the border. That ended over the weekend. Now it’s just about whether you’re cool with invading blue states.
For 53 weeks, the Trump admin has played a double game of occupying blue cities and applying illegal force while holding their hands up innocently and claiming to be protecting the border. That ended over the weekend. Now it’s just about whether you’re cool with invading blue states.
This Is Not the Plan Gone Awry; This Is the Plan
Indiscriminately grabbing people off the streets based on the color of their skin, beating, abusing, and killing them publicly: these are the intentional tools of fascism, not accidental overreach.
jeffalworth.substack.com
January 26, 2026 at 4:24 PM
For 53 weeks, the Trump admin has played a double game of occupying blue cities and applying illegal force while holding their hands up innocently and claiming to be protecting the border. That ended over the weekend. Now it’s just about whether you’re cool with invading blue states.
“President Trump said the U.S. used an unusual weapon to capture then-Venezuelan President Maduro. ‘The discombobulator,’ he said. ‘I’m not allowed to talk about it.’ The president may be conflating several capabilities into a single weapon that doesn’t exist, a senior U.S. official said.” (CNN)
January 26, 2026 at 3:33 PM
“President Trump said the U.S. used an unusual weapon to capture then-Venezuelan President Maduro. ‘The discombobulator,’ he said. ‘I’m not allowed to talk about it.’ The president may be conflating several capabilities into a single weapon that doesn’t exist, a senior U.S. official said.” (CNN)
Tom Brady is terrible. I literally have to have to mute him half the time he opens his mouth. I have to assume at least half the people listening have this reaction. Why is he part of Fox’s primary team?
January 26, 2026 at 2:27 AM
Tom Brady is terrible. I literally have to have to mute him half the time he opens his mouth. I have to assume at least half the people listening have this reaction. Why is he part of Fox’s primary team?
Reposted by Jeff Alworth
Kristi Noem and her department’s latest attempt to mislead the American public regarding the brutal and unjustified killing of Alex Pretti is deeply shameful, and she must be impeached and removed from office immediately.
January 25, 2026 at 10:56 PM
Kristi Noem and her department’s latest attempt to mislead the American public regarding the brutal and unjustified killing of Alex Pretti is deeply shameful, and she must be impeached and removed from office immediately.
Reposted by Jeff Alworth
I'm listening to music as I walk Rosie on this sunny Sunday morning. I know what's happening in MN and the country, and yet my experience right now is relaxed and joyful. It's a weird, contradictory feeling, and I feel slightly guilty. This is where we've come, feeling guilty about positive emotion.
January 25, 2026 at 6:13 PM
I'm listening to music as I walk Rosie on this sunny Sunday morning. I know what's happening in MN and the country, and yet my experience right now is relaxed and joyful. It's a weird, contradictory feeling, and I feel slightly guilty. This is where we've come, feeling guilty about positive emotion.
Reposted by Jeff Alworth
ICE is a paramilitary force deployed to terrorize people living in blue states. The claim that it exists to secure the border is a lie and a subtext for its terrorism.
January 24, 2026 at 9:14 PM
ICE is a paramilitary force deployed to terrorize people living in blue states. The claim that it exists to secure the border is a lie and a subtext for its terrorism.
Trump’s ‘24 coalition included four categories of voters: disconnected normies who wanted cheap eggs and three levels of MAGA. MAGA is an onion of hate. Outermost are those who hate “woke” and want to secure the border; next, a group who want White national authoritarians. Finally, the real Nazis.
January 25, 2026 at 3:22 PM
Trump’s ‘24 coalition included four categories of voters: disconnected normies who wanted cheap eggs and three levels of MAGA. MAGA is an onion of hate. Outermost are those who hate “woke” and want to secure the border; next, a group who want White national authoritarians. Finally, the real Nazis.
Reposted by Jeff Alworth
This is an actual post from Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth: Praising ICE after Alex Pretti was killed, blaming the Democratic leadership of Minnesota, and writing that ICE is greater/better than Minnesota.
He is actively demeaning the people of Minnesota just hours after Pretti was murdered.
He is actively demeaning the people of Minnesota just hours after Pretti was murdered.
January 24, 2026 at 10:26 PM
This is an actual post from Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth: Praising ICE after Alex Pretti was killed, blaming the Democratic leadership of Minnesota, and writing that ICE is greater/better than Minnesota.
He is actively demeaning the people of Minnesota just hours after Pretti was murdered.
He is actively demeaning the people of Minnesota just hours after Pretti was murdered.
ICE is a paramilitary force deployed to terrorize people living in blue states. The claim that it exists to secure the border is a lie and a subtext for its terrorism.
January 24, 2026 at 9:14 PM
ICE is a paramilitary force deployed to terrorize people living in blue states. The claim that it exists to secure the border is a lie and a subtext for its terrorism.
The Trump era had many parents. The one that pains me the most are members of my tribe, the writers and journalists who could have warned it was happening but did exactly the opposite.
Death to Super Weasels
The Trump era had many parents. The one that pains me the most are members of my tribe, the writers and journalists who could have warned it was happening but did exactly the opposite.
jeffalworth.substack.com
January 24, 2026 at 3:44 PM
The Trump era had many parents. The one that pains me the most are members of my tribe, the writers and journalists who could have warned it was happening but did exactly the opposite.
Reposted by Jeff Alworth
They know their audience has an insatiable appetite for seeing black women humiliated for exceeding their station, so when it didn’t happen they used AI to complete the fantasy bsky.app/profile/nyti...
The White House posted a digitally altered image showing a demonstrator involved in interrupting a church service in Minnesota last weekend crying as she was arrested on Thursday.
A previous version of the image, also posted by an official government account, showed her looking forward calmly.
A previous version of the image, also posted by an official government account, showed her looking forward calmly.
White House Posts Altered Photo Showing Arrested Minnesota Protester Crying
The New York Times ran the image posted by Kristi Noem, the homeland security secretary, as well as the one posted by the White House through an A.I. detection system. It concluded that the White House’s version showed signs of manipulation.
nyti.ms
January 23, 2026 at 1:33 PM
They know their audience has an insatiable appetite for seeing black women humiliated for exceeding their station, so when it didn’t happen they used AI to complete the fantasy bsky.app/profile/nyti...
Reposted by Jeff Alworth
One of my soapboxes is that this place has never been a "white homeland." This is Indigenous land! Native nation and people have been here since before the glaciers receded.
Every group the fascists are tormenting has a 500 year history here. Black Americans are not alone in that thanks to empire.
Every group the fascists are tormenting has a 500 year history here. Black Americans are not alone in that thanks to empire.
January 22, 2026 at 3:06 PM
One of my soapboxes is that this place has never been a "white homeland." This is Indigenous land! Native nation and people have been here since before the glaciers receded.
Every group the fascists are tormenting has a 500 year history here. Black Americans are not alone in that thanks to empire.
Every group the fascists are tormenting has a 500 year history here. Black Americans are not alone in that thanks to empire.
These state-level approval ratings for Trump from @gelliottmorris.com are enlightening. He’s got majority support in only nine states.
January 22, 2026 at 2:57 PM
These state-level approval ratings for Trump from @gelliottmorris.com are enlightening. He’s got majority support in only nine states.
ICE is a paramilitary force the Trump administration is using to enforce White supremacist fascism on the US.
BREAKING: Immigration officers are asserting sweeping power to enter homes without a judge’s warrant, a memo obtained by AP says.
Immigration officers assert sweeping power to enter homes without a judge's warrant, memo says
An Immigration and Customs Enforcement memo obtained by The Associated Press reveals that the agency allows immigration officers to forcibly enter homes to make arrests without a judicial warrant.
bit.ly
January 22, 2026 at 5:53 AM
ICE is a paramilitary force the Trump administration is using to enforce White supremacist fascism on the US.
Reposted by Jeff Alworth
When Ds are asked about “abolishing ICE,” which is a vague phrase meant as wedge framing (it evokes abolishing the police), they should reframe. “ICE is a paramilitary force Trump and Stephen Miller are using to abduct Americans and I oppose all illegal paramilitary forces, including ICE.”
This poll shows that 74% of Democrats support abolishing ICE, with 53% *strongly* supporting getting rid of the agency.
Any elected Democrat who wants ICE to exist is outside the mainstream of their party and the people they purport to represent.
Any elected Democrat who wants ICE to exist is outside the mainstream of their party and the people they purport to represent.
YouGov poll - In the future, would you support or oppose...
Eliminating ICE as a federal agency?
Support 42%
Oppose 45%
Reducing ICE’s size and funding
Support 48%
Oppose 37%
d3nkl3psvxxpe9.cloudfront.net/documents/IC...
Eliminating ICE as a federal agency?
Support 42%
Oppose 45%
Reducing ICE’s size and funding
Support 48%
Oppose 37%
d3nkl3psvxxpe9.cloudfront.net/documents/IC...
January 21, 2026 at 5:09 AM
When Ds are asked about “abolishing ICE,” which is a vague phrase meant as wedge framing (it evokes abolishing the police), they should reframe. “ICE is a paramilitary force Trump and Stephen Miller are using to abduct Americans and I oppose all illegal paramilitary forces, including ICE.”
Reposted by Jeff Alworth
People can say they didn’t vote for this but people are liars
January 22, 2026 at 2:10 AM
People can say they didn’t vote for this but people are liars
Reposted by Jeff Alworth
Revisiting my thoughts from a year ago, when I outlined how democracy would collapse.
“The ways Trump can monetize being president with the DOJ, courts, and Congress aligned with him are going to be something to witness. They will be so bountiful and resplendent we will soon lose track of them.”
“The ways Trump can monetize being president with the DOJ, courts, and Congress aligned with him are going to be something to witness. They will be so bountiful and resplendent we will soon lose track of them.”
Regress Report: One Year Later
What happened over the last year was crazy, terrible … and predictable.
jeffalworth.substack.com
January 21, 2026 at 3:34 PM
Revisiting my thoughts from a year ago, when I outlined how democracy would collapse.
“The ways Trump can monetize being president with the DOJ, courts, and Congress aligned with him are going to be something to witness. They will be so bountiful and resplendent we will soon lose track of them.”
“The ways Trump can monetize being president with the DOJ, courts, and Congress aligned with him are going to be something to witness. They will be so bountiful and resplendent we will soon lose track of them.”
Revisiting my thoughts from a year ago, when I outlined how democracy would collapse.
“The ways Trump can monetize being president with the DOJ, courts, and Congress aligned with him are going to be something to witness. They will be so bountiful and resplendent we will soon lose track of them.”
“The ways Trump can monetize being president with the DOJ, courts, and Congress aligned with him are going to be something to witness. They will be so bountiful and resplendent we will soon lose track of them.”
Regress Report: One Year Later
What happened over the last year was crazy, terrible … and predictable.
jeffalworth.substack.com
January 21, 2026 at 3:34 PM
Revisiting my thoughts from a year ago, when I outlined how democracy would collapse.
“The ways Trump can monetize being president with the DOJ, courts, and Congress aligned with him are going to be something to witness. They will be so bountiful and resplendent we will soon lose track of them.”
“The ways Trump can monetize being president with the DOJ, courts, and Congress aligned with him are going to be something to witness. They will be so bountiful and resplendent we will soon lose track of them.”
When Ds are asked about “abolishing ICE,” which is a vague phrase meant as wedge framing (it evokes abolishing the police), they should reframe. “ICE is a paramilitary force Trump and Stephen Miller are using to abduct Americans and I oppose all illegal paramilitary forces, including ICE.”
This poll shows that 74% of Democrats support abolishing ICE, with 53% *strongly* supporting getting rid of the agency.
Any elected Democrat who wants ICE to exist is outside the mainstream of their party and the people they purport to represent.
Any elected Democrat who wants ICE to exist is outside the mainstream of their party and the people they purport to represent.
YouGov poll - In the future, would you support or oppose...
Eliminating ICE as a federal agency?
Support 42%
Oppose 45%
Reducing ICE’s size and funding
Support 48%
Oppose 37%
d3nkl3psvxxpe9.cloudfront.net/documents/IC...
Eliminating ICE as a federal agency?
Support 42%
Oppose 45%
Reducing ICE’s size and funding
Support 48%
Oppose 37%
d3nkl3psvxxpe9.cloudfront.net/documents/IC...
January 21, 2026 at 5:09 AM
When Ds are asked about “abolishing ICE,” which is a vague phrase meant as wedge framing (it evokes abolishing the police), they should reframe. “ICE is a paramilitary force Trump and Stephen Miller are using to abduct Americans and I oppose all illegal paramilitary forces, including ICE.”
Reposted by Jeff Alworth
I want to emphasize that at this time the unconfirmed reports that President Trump has both arms stuck "elbow deep" in the airplane toilet are just that. We will be monitoring this story. Please be responsible about spreading news that both his arms are "as far as they can go" into the toilet hole.
January 21, 2026 at 4:07 AM
I want to emphasize that at this time the unconfirmed reports that President Trump has both arms stuck "elbow deep" in the airplane toilet are just that. We will be monitoring this story. Please be responsible about spreading news that both his arms are "as far as they can go" into the toilet hole.
This is not actually policy “getting out of hand.” It’s policy functioning as intended. This was always the plan. The administration’s naked racism has always been its central feature and function.
Federal agents are pulling over off duty cops based on the color of their skin.
This is not a serious operation to enforce immigration law. It’s a performative show of force and it’s gotten way out of hand.
This is not a serious operation to enforce immigration law. It’s a performative show of force and it’s gotten way out of hand.
January 21, 2026 at 2:06 AM
This is not actually policy “getting out of hand.” It’s policy functioning as intended. This was always the plan. The administration’s naked racism has always been its central feature and function.
Surprised at how Democratic the NFL is and how Republican MLB is.
Using public voter files, Peter Lutz takes a first-of-its-kind look at partisan registration among pro athletes by league.
January 21, 2026 at 1:53 AM
Surprised at how Democratic the NFL is and how Republican MLB is.
Reposted by Jeff Alworth
The lesson of the civil rights movement isn’t that goodness always wins out. It’s that for goodness to win out, people must be prepared for a very long, hard fight.
You Are Here
The lesson of the civil rights movement isn’t that goodness always wins out. It’s that for goodness to win out, people must be prepared for a very long, hard fight.
jeffalworth.substack.com
January 19, 2026 at 9:32 PM
The lesson of the civil rights movement isn’t that goodness always wins out. It’s that for goodness to win out, people must be prepared for a very long, hard fight.