Information
@erininformation.bsky.social
Using this account to gift and share articles, mostly about climate change and the ongoing disassembly of American democracy, while keeping everything that brings me joy in life over at @erininkentucky
'“This just looks like a way to use the might of the federal government to further Trump’s voter fraud narratives,” Hasen said.'
FBI’s Search of Georgia Election Center Is “Dangerous,” Experts Warn
The search warrant, which sought 2020 election ballots, tabulator tapes, digital data and voter rolls from Fulton County, marked what experts described as a significant escalation in President Donald ...
www.propublica.org
January 29, 2026 at 3:39 PM
'“This just looks like a way to use the might of the federal government to further Trump’s voter fraud narratives,” Hasen said.'
Gift article: "Democratic lawmakers and civil rights groups say the agency’s expanding use of its surveillance tools infringes on privacy and free speech rights of immigrants and U.S. citizens alike."
The powerful tools in ICE’s arsenal to track suspects — and protesters
Biometric trackers, cellphone location databases and drones are among the surveillance technologies agents are using in their immigration enforcement campaign.
wapo.st
January 29, 2026 at 3:33 PM
Gift article: "Democratic lawmakers and civil rights groups say the agency’s expanding use of its surveillance tools infringes on privacy and free speech rights of immigrants and U.S. citizens alike."
"We reviewed footage with a panel of eight former police officers and law enforcement experts. They were appalled.
This is what bad policing looks like, they said. And it puts everyone at risk."
This is what bad policing looks like, they said. And it puts everyone at risk."
We Found More Than 40 Cases of Immigration Agents Using Banned Chokeholds and Other Moves That Can Cut Off Breathing
Civilians have had apparent seizures. One had his eyes roll back. Another had ribs broken. “I felt like I was going to pass out and die,” said a 16-year-old citizen put in a chokehold. The government ...
www.propublica.org
January 27, 2026 at 5:31 PM
"We reviewed footage with a panel of eight former police officers and law enforcement experts. They were appalled.
This is what bad policing looks like, they said. And it puts everyone at risk."
This is what bad policing looks like, they said. And it puts everyone at risk."
Gift article: “This is not something that the National Park Service should be blamed for,” said Bob Krumenaker, superintendent of Big Bend until 2023. “They are being told they have to do these things. And my hope is they’re saving these exhibits for when things change so they can put them back up.”
More history exhibits pulled from national parks, including Grand Canyon
A new wave of takedown orders from Trump officials targets signs about climate and Native Americans at several national parks, including Big Bend and Glacier.
wapo.st
January 27, 2026 at 5:23 PM
Gift article: “This is not something that the National Park Service should be blamed for,” said Bob Krumenaker, superintendent of Big Bend until 2023. “They are being told they have to do these things. And my hope is they’re saving these exhibits for when things change so they can put them back up.”
Gift article: "To adopt the language of Second Amendment enthusiasts, perhaps the only thing that can eventually stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a camera."
Opinion | The Best Weapon You Have in the Fight Against ICE
www.nytimes.com
January 27, 2026 at 5:14 PM
Gift article: "To adopt the language of Second Amendment enthusiasts, perhaps the only thing that can eventually stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a camera."
"These agents, and the president who sent them, are no one’s heroes, no one’s saviors—just men with guns who have to hide their faces to shoot a mom in the face, and a nurse in the back."
Minnesota Proved MAGA Wrong
The pushback against ICE exposed a series of mistaken assumptions.
www.theatlantic.com
January 27, 2026 at 4:59 PM
"These agents, and the president who sent them, are no one’s heroes, no one’s saviors—just men with guns who have to hide their faces to shoot a mom in the face, and a nurse in the back."
Reposted by Information
This morning, I recorded a video on TikTok about why DHS’s arguments for the power to enter homes without judicial warrants in immigration cases are bunk.
Nine hours later, TikTok still says my video is “under review,” and can’t be shared.
Well, here’s a link:
georgetown.box.com/v/Vladeck-IC...
Nine hours later, TikTok still says my video is “under review,” and can’t be shared.
Well, here’s a link:
georgetown.box.com/v/Vladeck-IC...
January 26, 2026 at 2:00 AM
This morning, I recorded a video on TikTok about why DHS’s arguments for the power to enter homes without judicial warrants in immigration cases are bunk.
Nine hours later, TikTok still says my video is “under review,” and can’t be shared.
Well, here’s a link:
georgetown.box.com/v/Vladeck-IC...
Nine hours later, TikTok still says my video is “under review,” and can’t be shared.
Well, here’s a link:
georgetown.box.com/v/Vladeck-IC...
Gift article: 'The lawsuit, filed two weeks ago, argues that the surge in immigration enforcement in Minnesota is motivated by a “desire to punish political opponents and score partisan points.”'
Minnesota Claims the ICE Surge Is Illegal. A Judge Will Hear Arguments on Monday.
www.nytimes.com
January 26, 2026 at 4:57 PM
Gift article: 'The lawsuit, filed two weeks ago, argues that the surge in immigration enforcement in Minnesota is motivated by a “desire to punish political opponents and score partisan points.”'
"Those who actively lie are directly complicit in the deaths that just happen and in any deaths to come. But those in media who choose to treat propaganda as the story, to begin from lies rather than from events, are also complicit."
Lies and Lawlessness
The Camps, the Executions, and the Future
open.substack.com
January 26, 2026 at 4:49 PM
"Those who actively lie are directly complicit in the deaths that just happen and in any deaths to come. But those in media who choose to treat propaganda as the story, to begin from lies rather than from events, are also complicit."
Gift article: "[...] what is needed immediately — urgently — is deterring such conduct from happening going forward. Federal officers who are wearing masks to obscure their faces (and those who aren’t) must understand that they will be held accountable if and when they break the law."
Opinion | This May Be the Only Path to Accountability for the Minneapolis Shootings
www.nytimes.com
January 26, 2026 at 4:45 PM
Gift article: "[...] what is needed immediately — urgently — is deterring such conduct from happening going forward. Federal officers who are wearing masks to obscure their faces (and those who aren’t) must understand that they will be held accountable if and when they break the law."
"Knutson told me he had never been a protester. It seemed pointless, or just a way for people to expiate their sense of guilt. But when he saw those ICE agents laughing, something broke inside him."
Welcome to the American Winter
In the frozen streets of Minneapolis, something profound is happening.
www.theatlantic.com
January 26, 2026 at 4:35 PM
"Knutson told me he had never been a protester. It seemed pointless, or just a way for people to expiate their sense of guilt. But when he saw those ICE agents laughing, something broke inside him."
"Ultimately, destroying trust is the currency of autocrats, and it’s one of the saddest things. And we know, when autocracies finally fall, rebuilding that trust is one of the most difficult things to do."
Defund Science, Distort Culture, Mock Education
It’s not just about cuts to research. It’s about power.
www.theatlantic.com
January 26, 2026 at 1:36 AM
"Ultimately, destroying trust is the currency of autocrats, and it’s one of the saddest things. And we know, when autocracies finally fall, rebuilding that trust is one of the most difficult things to do."
Reposted by Information
Also, may I say that I don’t agree with people saying ICE and CBP need “more training.” They’re doing exactly what this administration has trained them to—impose a reign of fear in blue cities. They don’t need more training. They need to be ripped up root and branch.
January 24, 2026 at 11:01 PM
Also, may I say that I don’t agree with people saying ICE and CBP need “more training.” They’re doing exactly what this administration has trained them to—impose a reign of fear in blue cities. They don’t need more training. They need to be ripped up root and branch.
Reposted by Information
You have to read this. Firsthand affidavit from one of the women who was there and recording the video. She talks about how Alex Pretti was directing traffic when she arrived. She watched him be killed in front of her. She's afraid to go home, worried she'll be arrested.
January 25, 2026 at 1:15 AM
You have to read this. Firsthand affidavit from one of the women who was there and recording the video. She talks about how Alex Pretti was directing traffic when she arrived. She watched him be killed in front of her. She's afraid to go home, worried she'll be arrested.
Gift article: "[...] Hazareesingh and Gibson invite us to see ourselves as inheritors of something much broader too: a powerful history of political thought and on-the-ground resistance—in many forms, always against seemingly insurmountable odds—that stretched across continents and centuries."
The New History of Fighting Slavery
What we learn by tracing rebellions from Africa to the Americas
www.theatlantic.com
January 25, 2026 at 3:21 AM
Gift article: "[...] Hazareesingh and Gibson invite us to see ourselves as inheritors of something much broader too: a powerful history of political thought and on-the-ground resistance—in many forms, always against seemingly insurmountable odds—that stretched across continents and centuries."
'Of the videos circulating on the shooting, Shaukat told the paper: “It just feels so wrong. Knowing Alex, he was probably trying to protect or help or shield somebody from the agents. He had not a single mean bone in his body; always spoke about doing the right thing.”'
Man killed in Minneapolis by federal agents identified as VA nurse Alex Pretti: ‘He wanted to help people’
Alex Pretti, 37, worked in the ICU at the Minneapolis VA Health Care System and had assisted on scientific research
www.theguardian.com
January 25, 2026 at 3:03 AM
'Of the videos circulating on the shooting, Shaukat told the paper: “It just feels so wrong. Knowing Alex, he was probably trying to protect or help or shield somebody from the agents. He had not a single mean bone in his body; always spoke about doing the right thing.”'
Gift article: "The agent removes the weapon, which matches the profile of a gun D.H.S. says belonged to Mr. Pretti, from the scene. Then, while Mr. Pretti is on his knees and restrained, the agent standing directly above him appears to fire one shot at Mr. Pretti at close range."
Timeline: How the Shooting of Alex Jeffrey Pretti Unfolded (Gift Article)
A moment-by-moment analysis of video from the scene shows that Mr. Pretti was already restrained when fatal shots were fired, which appears to contradict the federal government’s account of the event.
www.nytimes.com
January 25, 2026 at 2:59 AM
Gift article: "The agent removes the weapon, which matches the profile of a gun D.H.S. says belonged to Mr. Pretti, from the scene. Then, while Mr. Pretti is on his knees and restrained, the agent standing directly above him appears to fire one shot at Mr. Pretti at close range."
Reposted by Information
The People vs. ICE
Renee Good’s death galvanized a city eager to push back against Trump’s invasion.
nymag.com
January 23, 2026 at 12:32 PM
Gift article: "The fact that the United States has crossed the line into competitive authoritarianism does not mean that its democratic decline has reached a point of no return. Trump’s authoritarian offensive is now unmistakable, but it is reversible."
www.foreignaffairs.com/guest-pass/r...
www.foreignaffairs.com/guest-pass/r...
The Price of American Authoritarianism
What can reverse democratic decline?
www.foreignaffairs.com
January 19, 2026 at 7:31 PM
Gift article: "The fact that the United States has crossed the line into competitive authoritarianism does not mean that its democratic decline has reached a point of no return. Trump’s authoritarian offensive is now unmistakable, but it is reversible."
www.foreignaffairs.com/guest-pass/r...
www.foreignaffairs.com/guest-pass/r...
Gift article: "[...] Trump’s attempts to annex Greenland threaten to be the greatest geopolitical shock that Europe has faced since the Berlin Wall fell in 1989. That was a moment for joyous celebration. The only people celebrating this time will be Russia’s Vladimir Putin and China’s Xi Jinping."
Opinion | Trump’s Greenland threats convey a deeper assault
U.S. tariffs against eight European nations will start Feb. 1 unless the president’s demands are met.
wapo.st
January 19, 2026 at 7:10 PM
Gift article: "[...] Trump’s attempts to annex Greenland threaten to be the greatest geopolitical shock that Europe has faced since the Berlin Wall fell in 1989. That was a moment for joyous celebration. The only people celebrating this time will be Russia’s Vladimir Putin and China’s Xi Jinping."
"The bewildering array of labels, tactical gear and clothing accessories begs scrutiny, even though it is sometimes not possible to identify which agency an individual works for."
Who is on the frontline of Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown?
These are the federal agencies detaining people across the US – mostly, but not all, under the umbrella of the Department of Homeland Security
www.theguardian.com
January 19, 2026 at 2:40 PM
"The bewildering array of labels, tactical gear and clothing accessories begs scrutiny, even though it is sometimes not possible to identify which agency an individual works for."
Gift article: "Like the agent who slipped on ice, they have misjudged the ground beneath their feet: a state full of ordinary people — real estate agents, high school students, solar energy consultants — who’ve decided that watching their neighbors being dragged away is an intolerable sin."
Opinion | In Minneapolis, I Glimpsed a Civil War
www.nytimes.com
January 19, 2026 at 2:28 PM
Gift article: "Like the agent who slipped on ice, they have misjudged the ground beneath their feet: a state full of ordinary people — real estate agents, high school students, solar energy consultants — who’ve decided that watching their neighbors being dragged away is an intolerable sin."
Gift article: "[...] the Trump administration imposed travel restrictions or entry bans on people from 39 countries. Plot all of these countries on a map—newly targeted and old—and you will see that most of Africa, large swaths of Asia, and much of the Muslim world are now unwelcome."
Trump Doesn’t Want Legal Immigrants Either
New limits reflect sloppy reasoning and a desire for collective punishment.
www.theatlantic.com
January 18, 2026 at 3:44 PM
Gift article: "[...] the Trump administration imposed travel restrictions or entry bans on people from 39 countries. Plot all of these countries on a map—newly targeted and old—and you will see that most of Africa, large swaths of Asia, and much of the Muslim world are now unwelcome."
Gift article: "The Pentagon has ordered about 1,500 active-duty soldiers to prepare for a possible deployment to Minnesota, defense officials told The Washington Post late Saturday, after President Donald Trump threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act in response to unrest there."
Pentagon readies 1,500 soldiers to possibly deploy to Minnesota, officials say
Troops with the Army’s 11th Airborne Division in Alaska are preparing after President Donald Trump’s Insurrection Act threat, according to defense officials.
wapo.st
January 18, 2026 at 3:38 PM
Gift article: "The Pentagon has ordered about 1,500 active-duty soldiers to prepare for a possible deployment to Minnesota, defense officials told The Washington Post late Saturday, after President Donald Trump threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act in response to unrest there."
"Jennifer Jones, director for the Center for Science and Democracy at the Union of Concerned Scientists, called the directive a “throwback to McCarthyism” [...] “Asking scientists to spy on and report on their fellow co-authors” is a “classic hallmark of authoritarianism,” Jones said."
Trump Administration Orders USDA Employees to Investigate Foreign Researchers They Work With
The new directive asks workers to check the backgrounds of foreign nationals collaborating with the department’s scientists for evidence of “subversive or criminal activity.” Their names are being sen...
www.propublica.org
January 18, 2026 at 3:35 PM
"Jennifer Jones, director for the Center for Science and Democracy at the Union of Concerned Scientists, called the directive a “throwback to McCarthyism” [...] “Asking scientists to spy on and report on their fellow co-authors” is a “classic hallmark of authoritarianism,” Jones said."