Amanda Carpenter
@amandacarpenter.bsky.social
Writer/Editor
@protectdemocracy.org. Views are my own. NeverTrump from the jump, Bulwark fam & stan. Former reporter, Hill staffer, CNN contributor. Subscribe to our FREE newsletter! http://IfYouCanKeepIt.org 🇺🇸
@protectdemocracy.org. Views are my own. NeverTrump from the jump, Bulwark fam & stan. Former reporter, Hill staffer, CNN contributor. Subscribe to our FREE newsletter! http://IfYouCanKeepIt.org 🇺🇸
My @protectdemocracy.org colleague Hayden Johnson did an incredible job explaining the importance of the legal win against ICE in Chicago yesterday. Give it a watch and repost and/or give a reply I can send to him and the rest of the legal crew!
www.ifyoucankeepit.org/p/is-the-aut...
www.ifyoucankeepit.org/p/is-the-aut...
Is the authoritarian project faltering?
Trump is running out of options
www.ifyoucankeepit.org
November 7, 2025 at 6:00 PM
My @protectdemocracy.org colleague Hayden Johnson did an incredible job explaining the importance of the legal win against ICE in Chicago yesterday. Give it a watch and repost and/or give a reply I can send to him and the rest of the legal crew!
www.ifyoucankeepit.org/p/is-the-aut...
www.ifyoucankeepit.org/p/is-the-aut...
Reposted by Amanda Carpenter
FULL STORY: Border Patrol chief Greg Bovino, who led a series of increasingly aggressive raids across Chicago and its suburbs, lied about firing tear gas at protesters in Little Village and tackling a man outside the Broadview ICE facility, a federal judge said Thursday. @wttw.bsky.social
Border Patrol Chief Greg Bovino Admitted He Lied About Firing Tear Gas, Tackling Protester: Federal Judge
U.S. District Court Judge Sara Ellis is the second federal judge in the Northern District of Illinois to find that federal agents have presented unreliable testimony about their actions and the action...
news.wttw.com
November 6, 2025 at 9:36 PM
FULL STORY: Border Patrol chief Greg Bovino, who led a series of increasingly aggressive raids across Chicago and its suburbs, lied about firing tear gas at protesters in Little Village and tackling a man outside the Broadview ICE facility, a federal judge said Thursday. @wttw.bsky.social
Reposted by Amanda Carpenter
VICTORY: Judge Ellis granted the most powerful rebuke of the Trump admin’s immigration enforcement tactics yet — a preliminary injunction to more permanently stop the violent and lawless tactics federal agents have deployed against protestors, press, and clergy in the Chicago area.
November 6, 2025 at 6:47 PM
VICTORY: Judge Ellis granted the most powerful rebuke of the Trump admin’s immigration enforcement tactics yet — a preliminary injunction to more permanently stop the violent and lawless tactics federal agents have deployed against protestors, press, and clergy in the Chicago area.
Breaking news out of Chicago!
CHICAGO (WGN) — A federal judge is further restricting the use of force by federal immigration enforcement agents in the Chicago area as part of the Trump administration’s deportation campaign known as “Operation Midway Blitz.”
wgntv.com/news/operati...
CHICAGO (WGN) — A federal judge is further restricting the use of force by federal immigration enforcement agents in the Chicago area as part of the Trump administration’s deportation campaign known as “Operation Midway Blitz.”
wgntv.com/news/operati...
November 6, 2025 at 6:52 PM
Breaking news out of Chicago!
CHICAGO (WGN) — A federal judge is further restricting the use of force by federal immigration enforcement agents in the Chicago area as part of the Trump administration’s deportation campaign known as “Operation Midway Blitz.”
wgntv.com/news/operati...
CHICAGO (WGN) — A federal judge is further restricting the use of force by federal immigration enforcement agents in the Chicago area as part of the Trump administration’s deportation campaign known as “Operation Midway Blitz.”
wgntv.com/news/operati...
Maybe the prospect of a President Mamdani using Trump's emergency powers would also help nudge key judges in the right direction...
November 5, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Maybe the prospect of a President Mamdani using Trump's emergency powers would also help nudge key judges in the right direction...
The military uses classified information to protect national security.
The idea that Trump would impose NDAs on the military to shield Trump from political scrutiny should be DOA.
An important read from @markhertling.bsky.social
www.thebulwark.com/p/why-milita...
The idea that Trump would impose NDAs on the military to shield Trump from political scrutiny should be DOA.
An important read from @markhertling.bsky.social
www.thebulwark.com/p/why-milita...
Why Commanders Don’t Sign NDAs
Existing rules and laws applying to military secrecy are sufficient—and asking officers to sign NDAs is deeply inappropriate.
www.thebulwark.com
October 29, 2025 at 3:39 PM
The military uses classified information to protect national security.
The idea that Trump would impose NDAs on the military to shield Trump from political scrutiny should be DOA.
An important read from @markhertling.bsky.social
www.thebulwark.com/p/why-milita...
The idea that Trump would impose NDAs on the military to shield Trump from political scrutiny should be DOA.
An important read from @markhertling.bsky.social
www.thebulwark.com/p/why-milita...
Unlocked NYT article, pls share.
"The judge then ordered Bovino, who took the stand in his usual green fatigues and Border Patrol insignia, to appear at the federal courthouse at the end of every weekday to personally provide her with a report on the day’s arrests and incidents."
shorturl.at/Cx7Al
"The judge then ordered Bovino, who took the stand in his usual green fatigues and Border Patrol insignia, to appear at the federal courthouse at the end of every weekday to personally provide her with a report on the day’s arrests and incidents."
shorturl.at/Cx7Al
Judge Admonishes Border Patrol Leader for Tactics in Chicago
www.nytimes.com
October 29, 2025 at 12:12 PM
Unlocked NYT article, pls share.
"The judge then ordered Bovino, who took the stand in his usual green fatigues and Border Patrol insignia, to appear at the federal courthouse at the end of every weekday to personally provide her with a report on the day’s arrests and incidents."
shorturl.at/Cx7Al
"The judge then ordered Bovino, who took the stand in his usual green fatigues and Border Patrol insignia, to appear at the federal courthouse at the end of every weekday to personally provide her with a report on the day’s arrests and incidents."
shorturl.at/Cx7Al
Politico: "Bit of a jaw-dropper in the Senate last night, w/ the chamber actually defying the WH (yes, really) and approving a resolution to zero-out Trump’s tariffs on Brazil. The chamber voted 52-48 to end the national emergencies Trump used to justify the levies." www.politico.com/live-updates...
Senate votes against Trump’s 50 percent tariff on Brazil
The vote comes while the president is in Asia touting his trade agenda.
www.politico.com
October 29, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Politico: "Bit of a jaw-dropper in the Senate last night, w/ the chamber actually defying the WH (yes, really) and approving a resolution to zero-out Trump’s tariffs on Brazil. The chamber voted 52-48 to end the national emergencies Trump used to justify the levies." www.politico.com/live-updates...
Reposted by Amanda Carpenter
We are proud to stand with our partners in this lawsuit: @loevy.com, Northwestern Pritzker School of Law's Community Justice and Civil Rights Clinic, UChicago Law's Mandel Legal Aid Clinic, First Defense Legal Aid, and the ACLU of Illinois.
Protecting protesters and the press from unconstitutional federal force in Illinois
Protect Democracy is suing the Trump administration for violating the First Amendment in Northern Illinois.
protdem.org
October 29, 2025 at 1:52 AM
We are proud to stand with our partners in this lawsuit: @loevy.com, Northwestern Pritzker School of Law's Community Justice and Civil Rights Clinic, UChicago Law's Mandel Legal Aid Clinic, First Defense Legal Aid, and the ACLU of Illinois.
Accountability matters!
NEW: Gregory Bovino is facing the consequences for violating our court order protecting Illinois protesters & press. Now, he must personally report to her at the courthouse every day — a crucial step in defending the First Amendment. Read Federal judge Sara L. Ellis' rebuke of CBP's top official ⬇️
Judge Admonishes Border Patrol Leader for Tactics in Chicago
www.nytimes.com
October 29, 2025 at 11:59 AM
Accountability matters!
When Trump goes after big targets, the smaller ones often make consequential, silent choices. This is the chilling effect in action.
www.politico.com/news/magazin...
www.politico.com/news/magazin...
October 26, 2025 at 4:53 PM
When Trump goes after big targets, the smaller ones often make consequential, silent choices. This is the chilling effect in action.
www.politico.com/news/magazin...
www.politico.com/news/magazin...
Because Mike Johnson and the rest of MAGA is quite content to let Donald Trump run everything.
Congress remaining shutdown is an ideal situation for them.
Trump is steamrolling ahead enacting policy & spending money, no Congress required!
Congress remaining shutdown is an ideal situation for them.
Trump is steamrolling ahead enacting policy & spending money, no Congress required!
October 26, 2025 at 12:34 AM
Because Mike Johnson and the rest of MAGA is quite content to let Donald Trump run everything.
Congress remaining shutdown is an ideal situation for them.
Trump is steamrolling ahead enacting policy & spending money, no Congress required!
Congress remaining shutdown is an ideal situation for them.
Trump is steamrolling ahead enacting policy & spending money, no Congress required!
Very much appreciate the opportunity to participate in the Society for Rule of Law's event this week with @greggnunziata.bsky.social
@comstockb.bsky.social @ilyasomin.bsky.social and so many other wonderful people.
Thank you @avecruth.bsky.social for the amazing photos!
@comstockb.bsky.social @ilyasomin.bsky.social and so many other wonderful people.
Thank you @avecruth.bsky.social for the amazing photos!
October 25, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Very much appreciate the opportunity to participate in the Society for Rule of Law's event this week with @greggnunziata.bsky.social
@comstockb.bsky.social @ilyasomin.bsky.social and so many other wonderful people.
Thank you @avecruth.bsky.social for the amazing photos!
@comstockb.bsky.social @ilyasomin.bsky.social and so many other wonderful people.
Thank you @avecruth.bsky.social for the amazing photos!
Yup. Trump is NOT consolidating all this power so he and the MAGA faction can give it up in 2028.
That is not how authoritarians work.
They consolidate power to crack down on their opponents and then KEEP themselves in power.
www.mediaite.com/media/podcas...
That is not how authoritarians work.
They consolidate power to crack down on their opponents and then KEEP themselves in power.
www.mediaite.com/media/podcas...
Steve Bannon Insists There’s Already a Plan in Motion to Get Trump a Third Term: He’s ‘Gonna Be President in ’28’
Steve Bannon insisted in a Thursday interview with The Economist that Donald Trump will somehow receive a third term and there is already a plan in place.
www.mediaite.com
October 24, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Yup. Trump is NOT consolidating all this power so he and the MAGA faction can give it up in 2028.
That is not how authoritarians work.
They consolidate power to crack down on their opponents and then KEEP themselves in power.
www.mediaite.com/media/podcas...
That is not how authoritarians work.
They consolidate power to crack down on their opponents and then KEEP themselves in power.
www.mediaite.com/media/podcas...
Just so I'm understanding correctly Trump has, again, taken power of the purse from Congress to somehow fund the military with money from....who?
Why would Trump ever want Congress to come back?
With Congress essentially ruling itself out he's getting his authoritarianism on autopilot.
Why would Trump ever want Congress to come back?
With Congress essentially ruling itself out he's getting his authoritarianism on autopilot.
October 24, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Just so I'm understanding correctly Trump has, again, taken power of the purse from Congress to somehow fund the military with money from....who?
Why would Trump ever want Congress to come back?
With Congress essentially ruling itself out he's getting his authoritarianism on autopilot.
Why would Trump ever want Congress to come back?
With Congress essentially ruling itself out he's getting his authoritarianism on autopilot.
Reposted by Amanda Carpenter
"The United States cannot remain a federalist system when soldiers from one state are sent to police another state against the explicit wishes of its elected leaders and when the justification for it is a lie.” @amandacarpenter.bsky.social
The ‘Chipocalypse’ is now
A training ground for the military?
www.ifyoucankeepit.org
October 14, 2025 at 5:47 PM
"The United States cannot remain a federalist system when soldiers from one state are sent to police another state against the explicit wishes of its elected leaders and when the justification for it is a lie.” @amandacarpenter.bsky.social
A very good & sober discussion about what's happening in Chicago. It's subscriber-only, but this is why you should subscribe!
Of course, I'm a Bulwark stan, but $10 a month gives you a TON of content, and their Bulwark Takes gives you rapid analysis. Do it! :)
www.thebulwark.com/p/trump-is-t...
Of course, I'm a Bulwark stan, but $10 a month gives you a TON of content, and their Bulwark Takes gives you rapid analysis. Do it! :)
www.thebulwark.com/p/trump-is-t...
Trump is Turning ICE and the National Guard Into His Militia
JVL and Andrew Egger take on Donald Trump’s latest threats to jail his political opponents—including governors and protesters—as he sends National Guard troops into Chicago.
www.thebulwark.com
October 9, 2025 at 3:45 PM
A very good & sober discussion about what's happening in Chicago. It's subscriber-only, but this is why you should subscribe!
Of course, I'm a Bulwark stan, but $10 a month gives you a TON of content, and their Bulwark Takes gives you rapid analysis. Do it! :)
www.thebulwark.com/p/trump-is-t...
Of course, I'm a Bulwark stan, but $10 a month gives you a TON of content, and their Bulwark Takes gives you rapid analysis. Do it! :)
www.thebulwark.com/p/trump-is-t...
Reposted by Amanda Carpenter
Nine former service secretaries + retired four-star admirals and generals filed a brief in federal court in Illinois today challenging the administration’s deployment of National Guard troops to Chicago as a dangerous trend of politicizing the military, and militarizing society. 🔗 bit.ly/48gA25b
October 8, 2025 at 9:59 PM
Nine former service secretaries + retired four-star admirals and generals filed a brief in federal court in Illinois today challenging the administration’s deployment of National Guard troops to Chicago as a dangerous trend of politicizing the military, and militarizing society. 🔗 bit.ly/48gA25b
Masked ICE agents are running around the streets, storming buildings and indiscriminately pointing guns at people.
But if you look scared when you see an ICE officer that's suspicious.
Watch this clip. This cannot stand.
But if you look scared when you see an ICE officer that's suspicious.
Watch this clip. This cannot stand.
Greg Bovino Admits: You Can Be Detained for Gripping Your Steering Wheel Too Tight
October 8, 2025 at 11:08 PM
Masked ICE agents are running around the streets, storming buildings and indiscriminately pointing guns at people.
But if you look scared when you see an ICE officer that's suspicious.
Watch this clip. This cannot stand.
But if you look scared when you see an ICE officer that's suspicious.
Watch this clip. This cannot stand.
Kristi Noem is running around with a make-your-own reality TV crew to manufacture media hype for their invasion of blue cities.
www.thebulwark.com/p/ice-propag...
www.thebulwark.com/p/ice-propag...
The ICE Propaganda Campaign Goes Into Overdrive
MAGA commentators are stepping up as soldiers in Trump’s culture war to provoke confrontations against “Antifa” with the backing of DHS.
www.thebulwark.com
October 8, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Kristi Noem is running around with a make-your-own reality TV crew to manufacture media hype for their invasion of blue cities.
www.thebulwark.com/p/ice-propag...
www.thebulwark.com/p/ice-propag...
Every single other governor should be saying the same.
If you come for my people, you come through me.
October 8, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Every single other governor should be saying the same.
It's not a distraction.
It's subjugation.
It's subjugation.
Pritzker/Newsom see it as a defining fact of the moment that Trump is consolidating authoritarian power daily and using it to subjugate Blue America like an enemy nation within. Other Dems should stop the Beltway-speak about Trump laying "traps" for them and engage.
newrepublic.com/article/2014...
newrepublic.com/article/2014...
October 8, 2025 at 2:36 PM
It's not a distraction.
It's subjugation.
It's subjugation.
Troops descending on Chicago gave no notice to local officials.
“They have not communicated,” Mayor Brandon Johnson said.
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/07/n...
“They have not communicated,” Mayor Brandon Johnson said.
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/07/n...
Texas National Guard arrives in the Chicago area
Texas National Guard members have arrived in Illinois. City and state officials say Donald Trump is using them as “political props” in Chicago.
www.chicagotribune.com
October 8, 2025 at 11:52 AM
Troops descending on Chicago gave no notice to local officials.
“They have not communicated,” Mayor Brandon Johnson said.
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/07/n...
“They have not communicated,” Mayor Brandon Johnson said.
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/07/n...