Caroline Ledbetter
@carolineledbetter.bsky.social
Data person. Other stuff.
Reposted by Caroline Ledbetter
Colorado lawmakers brace for their biggest battle yet over AI data centers www.cpr.org/2026/01/20/c... via @sambrasch.bsky.social #copolitics
Colorado lawmakers brace for their biggest battle yet over AI data centers
The data center boom is coming for Colorado. Lawmakers are set to decide whether to incentivize it or guard against the potential impacts.
www.cpr.org
January 21, 2026 at 12:44 AM
Colorado lawmakers brace for their biggest battle yet over AI data centers www.cpr.org/2026/01/20/c... via @sambrasch.bsky.social #copolitics
Reposted by Caroline Ledbetter
"The constitution is not self-enforcing." Here's our latest with @smotus.bsky.social for Colorado Matters's series "If You Can Keep It."
'If You Can Keep It' returns in 2026 with Colorado in Trump's crosshairs | Colorado Public Radio
Donald Trump returned to the White House a year ago. Since then, his administration has consolidated executive-branch power. Colorado Matters' series “If You Can Keep It”— based on that famous utteran...
www.cpr.org
January 14, 2026 at 8:34 PM
"The constitution is not self-enforcing." Here's our latest with @smotus.bsky.social for Colorado Matters's series "If You Can Keep It."
Reposted by Caroline Ledbetter
Raise your hand if you're a tall Black man that's ever flown through Atlanta Airport! 🙋🏿♂️
Wait, why is no one else's hand up?
Anyway...
1. Cops stop and ask if they can search you
2. If you are silly enough to say yes, they just take your cash
3. They don't even pretend to charge you for a crime🤡
Wait, why is no one else's hand up?
Anyway...
1. Cops stop and ask if they can search you
2. If you are silly enough to say yes, they just take your cash
3. They don't even pretend to charge you for a crime🤡
Flying with cash? Law enforcement can seize your money without telling you why
YouTube video by WSB-TV
m.youtube.com
January 14, 2026 at 8:46 PM
Raise your hand if you're a tall Black man that's ever flown through Atlanta Airport! 🙋🏿♂️
Wait, why is no one else's hand up?
Anyway...
1. Cops stop and ask if they can search you
2. If you are silly enough to say yes, they just take your cash
3. They don't even pretend to charge you for a crime🤡
Wait, why is no one else's hand up?
Anyway...
1. Cops stop and ask if they can search you
2. If you are silly enough to say yes, they just take your cash
3. They don't even pretend to charge you for a crime🤡
Reposted by Caroline Ledbetter
About a year ago, a self-appointed education journalism critic made a lot of tweets about how Chalkbeat was fear mongering about immigration enforcement and the possible effects on students and schools.
What it actually looks like is different than we imagined — but in many ways, it's worse.
What it actually looks like is different than we imagined — but in many ways, it's worse.
January 15, 2026 at 1:53 AM
About a year ago, a self-appointed education journalism critic made a lot of tweets about how Chalkbeat was fear mongering about immigration enforcement and the possible effects on students and schools.
What it actually looks like is different than we imagined — but in many ways, it's worse.
What it actually looks like is different than we imagined — but in many ways, it's worse.
Reposted by Caroline Ledbetter
I've read most of the scholarship about US policing since the early 20th century. What you learn from this is that violence is inherent. You cannot "separate" out violence from policing. Police in the U.S. are violence workers.
January 15, 2026 at 2:33 AM
I've read most of the scholarship about US policing since the early 20th century. What you learn from this is that violence is inherent. You cannot "separate" out violence from policing. Police in the U.S. are violence workers.
Reposted by Caroline Ledbetter
The false idea that there is a difference, is promoted by people that are very uncomfortable with one type of fascism (against white and brown people by ICE), but are very okay with another form of fascism (anti-Black racism by US policing).
But it doesn't work that way.
All fascism is bad.
But it doesn't work that way.
All fascism is bad.
January 12, 2026 at 1:37 PM
The false idea that there is a difference, is promoted by people that are very uncomfortable with one type of fascism (against white and brown people by ICE), but are very okay with another form of fascism (anti-Black racism by US policing).
But it doesn't work that way.
All fascism is bad.
But it doesn't work that way.
All fascism is bad.
Reposted by Caroline Ledbetter
If he wants to declare martial law, he will. It won't be based on reality. I don't know why some people continue to say: "be peaceful or he'll invoke martial law." Are you all living in this country in 2026???? Haven't you seen them make things up out of whole cloth???? Are you 10 years old?
January 12, 2026 at 2:10 AM
If he wants to declare martial law, he will. It won't be based on reality. I don't know why some people continue to say: "be peaceful or he'll invoke martial law." Are you all living in this country in 2026???? Haven't you seen them make things up out of whole cloth???? Are you 10 years old?
Reposted by Caroline Ledbetter
When people say “stop making things political”, they mean you should stop making them feel uncomfortable that the system that oppresses you benefits them.
January 11, 2026 at 3:05 PM
When people say “stop making things political”, they mean you should stop making them feel uncomfortable that the system that oppresses you benefits them.
Reposted by Caroline Ledbetter
I don't know what percentage of the democratic backsliding this country has experienced over the last decade can be attributed to the pattern of elite journalistic failure embodied in the use of the word "clash" here, but it's not zero.
Breaking News: U.S. prosecutors are said to have opened an inquiry into Jerome Powell, an escalation of the clash between the Fed chair and President Trump.
Federal Prosecutors Are Said to Have Opened Inquiry Into Fed Chair Powell
The investigation, which centers on renovations of the Federal Reserve’s headquarters in Washington, signals an escalation in the long-running clash between President Trump and the chair.
nyti.ms
January 12, 2026 at 12:49 AM
I don't know what percentage of the democratic backsliding this country has experienced over the last decade can be attributed to the pattern of elite journalistic failure embodied in the use of the word "clash" here, but it's not zero.
Reposted by Caroline Ledbetter
ICE has everything to do with law enforcement.
It's literally the same private prison contractors, running the same private prison facilities, implementing programs designed by the same government officials using the same tactics.
Cops fire tear gas + rubber bullets directly at people's faces too.
It's literally the same private prison contractors, running the same private prison facilities, implementing programs designed by the same government officials using the same tactics.
Cops fire tear gas + rubber bullets directly at people's faces too.
This is an image of a federal agent shooting chemical munitions at a crowd at point blank range in Minneapolis on the day Renee Good was executed
Whatever your feelings on law enforcement, understand they don't apply here whatsoever because ICE categorically *has nothing to do with law enforcement*
Whatever your feelings on law enforcement, understand they don't apply here whatsoever because ICE categorically *has nothing to do with law enforcement*
January 11, 2026 at 2:03 AM
ICE has everything to do with law enforcement.
It's literally the same private prison contractors, running the same private prison facilities, implementing programs designed by the same government officials using the same tactics.
Cops fire tear gas + rubber bullets directly at people's faces too.
It's literally the same private prison contractors, running the same private prison facilities, implementing programs designed by the same government officials using the same tactics.
Cops fire tear gas + rubber bullets directly at people's faces too.
Reposted by Caroline Ledbetter
Anyway, shout out to the people that hear the GOP saying "We can't defund ICE!🤡" and think, "They don't know that the world thinks that they're evil fascists!"
But then turn around and unironically say, "We can't defund the police!🤡" knowing full well how many innocent people US cops kill.
🙂🙃
But then turn around and unironically say, "We can't defund the police!🤡" knowing full well how many innocent people US cops kill.
🙂🙃
January 9, 2026 at 6:01 AM
Anyway, shout out to the people that hear the GOP saying "We can't defund ICE!🤡" and think, "They don't know that the world thinks that they're evil fascists!"
But then turn around and unironically say, "We can't defund the police!🤡" knowing full well how many innocent people US cops kill.
🙂🙃
But then turn around and unironically say, "We can't defund the police!🤡" knowing full well how many innocent people US cops kill.
🙂🙃
Reposted by Caroline Ledbetter
”Man I wish Trump cared about cost control as much as he cared about starting World War III” is just such a bizarre thing to say.
January 7, 2026 at 5:15 PM
”Man I wish Trump cared about cost control as much as he cared about starting World War III” is just such a bizarre thing to say.
Reposted by Caroline Ledbetter
The destruction doesn't make for a photo-op like tearing down the East Wing of the White House or bulldozing the Rose Garden, but it's every bit as bad. Generations of American children learned to spell and count, learned the Preamble to the Constitution, from watching shows produced by the CPB.
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting has been dissolved, ending its 58 years as the primary funder for PBS, NPR and local TV and radio stations
Corporation For Public Broadcasting Is Dissolved After 58 Years Of Service
www.huffpost.com
January 5, 2026 at 8:04 PM
The destruction doesn't make for a photo-op like tearing down the East Wing of the White House or bulldozing the Rose Garden, but it's every bit as bad. Generations of American children learned to spell and count, learned the Preamble to the Constitution, from watching shows produced by the CPB.
Reposted by Caroline Ledbetter
The subpoena seeks patients’ medical records and employees’ personnel files among other documents.
Children’s Hospital Colorado is fighting the DOJ in court over a subpoena about gender-affirming care
Children's Hospital Colorado is fighting in court to quash a U.S. Department of Justice subpoena about gender-affirming care.
coloradosun.com
December 29, 2025 at 11:30 PM
The subpoena seeks patients’ medical records and employees’ personnel files among other documents.
removing the blackness and ignoring the racism pretty much sums it up.
Black person: Makes a Black post about racism.
White person: I would have said it differently, removing the Blackness, and ignoring the racism!
Black person: That's fair. But the post I made was a Black post, speaking about racism. I said what I said.
White person: Blocks Black person.
🤷🏿♂️
White person: I would have said it differently, removing the Blackness, and ignoring the racism!
Black person: That's fair. But the post I made was a Black post, speaking about racism. I said what I said.
White person: Blocks Black person.
🤷🏿♂️
You're more than welcome to make the broader point that you would make about art in general, ignoring identity👍🏿
I made the very specific point about the undeniable connection between Black identity and jazz, and Black joy.
And I praise white jazz musicians that understand this, and that choose us.
I made the very specific point about the undeniable connection between Black identity and jazz, and Black joy.
And I praise white jazz musicians that understand this, and that choose us.
December 28, 2025 at 4:31 PM
removing the blackness and ignoring the racism pretty much sums it up.
Reposted by Caroline Ledbetter
One day we're gonna talk about long covid. My cynical self says it'll probably be decades from now. Scientists will be studying history and be like "wow! It fucked everybody up and they just didn't talk about it."
Just like we didn't acknowledge that a million plus people literally died.
Just like we didn't acknowledge that a million plus people literally died.
💜
My memory is terrible. Like I literally can't remember what I was like before covid. But I know it wasn't like this.
My memory is terrible. Like I literally can't remember what I was like before covid. But I know it wasn't like this.
December 27, 2025 at 11:05 PM
One day we're gonna talk about long covid. My cynical self says it'll probably be decades from now. Scientists will be studying history and be like "wow! It fucked everybody up and they just didn't talk about it."
Just like we didn't acknowledge that a million plus people literally died.
Just like we didn't acknowledge that a million plus people literally died.
Reposted by Caroline Ledbetter
Seriously, are there any tax lawyers who will tell a widow at the end of their rope what to do?
I don't know how to tell the iRS my husband is dead.
I don't know how to tell the iRS my husband is dead.
December 28, 2025 at 12:25 AM
Seriously, are there any tax lawyers who will tell a widow at the end of their rope what to do?
I don't know how to tell the iRS my husband is dead.
I don't know how to tell the iRS my husband is dead.
Reposted by Caroline Ledbetter
Y'all want to vote your way out of this mess in 2026 and 2028. But some of y'all are still pushing "tough on crime?" candidates?
Good luck with that.
"Tough on crime" is a euphemism for "super racist."
As I said would happen, crime is *decreasing* in Baltimore and Chicago with *fewer* cops.
🙂🙃
Good luck with that.
"Tough on crime" is a euphemism for "super racist."
As I said would happen, crime is *decreasing* in Baltimore and Chicago with *fewer* cops.
🙂🙃
December 27, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Y'all want to vote your way out of this mess in 2026 and 2028. But some of y'all are still pushing "tough on crime?" candidates?
Good luck with that.
"Tough on crime" is a euphemism for "super racist."
As I said would happen, crime is *decreasing* in Baltimore and Chicago with *fewer* cops.
🙂🙃
Good luck with that.
"Tough on crime" is a euphemism for "super racist."
As I said would happen, crime is *decreasing* in Baltimore and Chicago with *fewer* cops.
🙂🙃
Reposted by Caroline Ledbetter
Under Trump 2024, the pain of fascism is shared by more groups of people. More people are in the undesirables group, and more are exposed to state violence.
Under Biden, it was more heavily concentrated just on Black people.
"Trump is worse!" does not mean "Biden was awesome!"
Under Biden, it was more heavily concentrated just on Black people.
"Trump is worse!" does not mean "Biden was awesome!"
December 27, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Under Trump 2024, the pain of fascism is shared by more groups of people. More people are in the undesirables group, and more are exposed to state violence.
Under Biden, it was more heavily concentrated just on Black people.
"Trump is worse!" does not mean "Biden was awesome!"
Under Biden, it was more heavily concentrated just on Black people.
"Trump is worse!" does not mean "Biden was awesome!"
Reposted by Caroline Ledbetter
Again, this take is why Trump is president today. 🤷🏿♂️
1. The year in which cops killed the most people? During Biden years.
2. Mass incarceration (ramped up under Reagan using Biden policies) was finally turning around and decreasing under Bush, Obama, and Trump. Under Biden, it increased again.
1. The year in which cops killed the most people? During Biden years.
2. Mass incarceration (ramped up under Reagan using Biden policies) was finally turning around and decreasing under Bush, Obama, and Trump. Under Biden, it increased again.
The Biden years were really good years; outside being very personally unlucky, if you couldn't make it use of that labor market, and those conditions, then that's kind of a fucking you problem.
December 27, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Again, this take is why Trump is president today. 🤷🏿♂️
1. The year in which cops killed the most people? During Biden years.
2. Mass incarceration (ramped up under Reagan using Biden policies) was finally turning around and decreasing under Bush, Obama, and Trump. Under Biden, it increased again.
1. The year in which cops killed the most people? During Biden years.
2. Mass incarceration (ramped up under Reagan using Biden policies) was finally turning around and decreasing under Bush, Obama, and Trump. Under Biden, it increased again.
Reposted by Caroline Ledbetter
67 people-tracking Flock cameras across the U.S. were live-streaming on the internet, easily accessible with no login needed, @404media.co & @bennjordan.bsky.social found.
We know of five compromised Flock cams in Colorado.
One belongs to Douglas County, and it's at an open space trailhead.
We know of five compromised Flock cams in Colorado.
One belongs to Douglas County, and it's at an open space trailhead.
December 24, 2025 at 2:52 AM
67 people-tracking Flock cameras across the U.S. were live-streaming on the internet, easily accessible with no login needed, @404media.co & @bennjordan.bsky.social found.
We know of five compromised Flock cams in Colorado.
One belongs to Douglas County, and it's at an open space trailhead.
We know of five compromised Flock cams in Colorado.
One belongs to Douglas County, and it's at an open space trailhead.
Reposted by Caroline Ledbetter
CBS didn't run the 60 Minutes segment on CECOT, but over here at @propublica.org we've been working on the story since March, including finding out who each and every man sent to that maximum security prison was.
You can see our reporting here: www.propublica.org/series/depor...
You can see our reporting here: www.propublica.org/series/depor...
Deported and Imprisoned Archives
A case-by-case investigation that examines the Trump administration’s claims that these immigrants are all “sick criminals” and “terrorists” and that shows what they suffered during months in one of t...
www.propublica.org
December 22, 2025 at 4:08 PM
CBS didn't run the 60 Minutes segment on CECOT, but over here at @propublica.org we've been working on the story since March, including finding out who each and every man sent to that maximum security prison was.
You can see our reporting here: www.propublica.org/series/depor...
You can see our reporting here: www.propublica.org/series/depor...
Reposted by Caroline Ledbetter
This thread is not to minimize the horrors of CECOT.
This thread is to say that I wish more people knew about and cared about how many innocent Black people have had their lives destroyed by the exact same horrors.
This tears Black families apart.
This thread is to say that I wish more people knew about and cared about how many innocent Black people have had their lives destroyed by the exact same horrors.
This tears Black families apart.
December 23, 2025 at 5:14 AM
This thread is not to minimize the horrors of CECOT.
This thread is to say that I wish more people knew about and cared about how many innocent Black people have had their lives destroyed by the exact same horrors.
This tears Black families apart.
This thread is to say that I wish more people knew about and cared about how many innocent Black people have had their lives destroyed by the exact same horrors.
This tears Black families apart.
Reposted by Caroline Ledbetter
Just gonna point out that the people who are resigning from Heritage Foundation NOW were fine with Project 2025.
Quitting because of a right-wing slapfight about exactly how much Nazism is acceptable is not the same as quitting because you fixed your moral compass.
Quitting because of a right-wing slapfight about exactly how much Nazism is acceptable is not the same as quitting because you fixed your moral compass.
December 22, 2025 at 11:25 PM
Just gonna point out that the people who are resigning from Heritage Foundation NOW were fine with Project 2025.
Quitting because of a right-wing slapfight about exactly how much Nazism is acceptable is not the same as quitting because you fixed your moral compass.
Quitting because of a right-wing slapfight about exactly how much Nazism is acceptable is not the same as quitting because you fixed your moral compass.
Reposted by Caroline Ledbetter
Hey, since we're all talking about CECOT again, And how sending innocent people to solitary confinement is a fundamentally evil practice...
Can we talk about solitary confinement in US prisons and jails yet? No?
It's only bad when the GOP does it?
It's okay when it happens to Black people?
Can we talk about solitary confinement in US prisons and jails yet? No?
It's only bad when the GOP does it?
It's okay when it happens to Black people?
Fine. Let's compare CECOT to being in solitary confinement in a US jail.
In both cases we have innocent people.
In both cases we have what international organizations have defined as torture.
In one case we have people in a cell 23.5 hrs a day (CECOT), and in the other 23.26 hrs a day (county).
In both cases we have innocent people.
In both cases we have what international organizations have defined as torture.
In one case we have people in a cell 23.5 hrs a day (CECOT), and in the other 23.26 hrs a day (county).
Solitary Confinement Is Inhumane
YouTube video by Partners for Justice
m.youtube.com
December 23, 2025 at 12:04 AM
Hey, since we're all talking about CECOT again, And how sending innocent people to solitary confinement is a fundamentally evil practice...
Can we talk about solitary confinement in US prisons and jails yet? No?
It's only bad when the GOP does it?
It's okay when it happens to Black people?
Can we talk about solitary confinement in US prisons and jails yet? No?
It's only bad when the GOP does it?
It's okay when it happens to Black people?