Michelle Shephard
@michelleshephard.bsky.social
Journalist, NYT best-selling author, Emmy-nominated filmmaker, Podcast host and producer. Co-president of Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (@CJFE.) May post photos of adorable dogs. www.michelleshephard.ca
Reposted by Michelle Shephard
Pentagon abruptly calls a press conference for 11 am. Or, since hard-pass holders are now right-wing orgs & influencers, something orchestrated but flavored like a press conference: "For in-person attendance, this briefing is limited to invited press only. There is no Zoom call dial-in available."
December 2, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Pentagon abruptly calls a press conference for 11 am. Or, since hard-pass holders are now right-wing orgs & influencers, something orchestrated but flavored like a press conference: "For in-person attendance, this briefing is limited to invited press only. There is no Zoom call dial-in available."
Reposted by Michelle Shephard
I Urge you to read #Journalist @markmackinnon.bsky.social superb in depth reporting from #Syria. In this "new media" world of sound bites_this is a truly comprehensive report full of rich detail one yr after the fall of murderous #Assad
December 2, 2025 at 5:11 PM
I Urge you to read #Journalist @markmackinnon.bsky.social superb in depth reporting from #Syria. In this "new media" world of sound bites_this is a truly comprehensive report full of rich detail one yr after the fall of murderous #Assad
Reposted by Michelle Shephard
I wrote about a novel approach to tackling misinformation currently being discussed in Wales--and which some say Canada should try, too. What if we made a rule so politicians couldn't lie? www.thestar.com/politics/fed...
Is it time to make it illegal for politicians to lie to us?
That’s the question currently on the table in Wales, which has just released a draft of the “globally pioneering” sanctions for politicians.
www.thestar.com
November 27, 2025 at 3:28 PM
I wrote about a novel approach to tackling misinformation currently being discussed in Wales--and which some say Canada should try, too. What if we made a rule so politicians couldn't lie? www.thestar.com/politics/fed...
Grateful for the support from @msf.ca & @thewalrus.ca, allowing me report on the war in #Sudan.
Please give a listen to today's CBC Front Burner episode (and thank you Jayme Poisson and Matt Amha).
www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtNa...
More stories to come:
Please give a listen to today's CBC Front Burner episode (and thank you Jayme Poisson and Matt Amha).
www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtNa...
More stories to come:
November 27, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Grateful for the support from @msf.ca & @thewalrus.ca, allowing me report on the war in #Sudan.
Please give a listen to today's CBC Front Burner episode (and thank you Jayme Poisson and Matt Amha).
www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtNa...
More stories to come:
Please give a listen to today's CBC Front Burner episode (and thank you Jayme Poisson and Matt Amha).
www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtNa...
More stories to come:
Grateful for chance to shed light on the war in #Sudan with support from @msf.ca & @thewalrus.ca … stories coming soon.
November 26, 2025 at 12:47 AM
Grateful for chance to shed light on the war in #Sudan with support from @msf.ca & @thewalrus.ca … stories coming soon.
Reposted by Michelle Shephard
"However terrible the war and its consequent famine in Sudan is today, it can still get much worse"
From Alex de Waal, who knows Sudan better than anyone
www.foreignaffairs.com/guest-pass/r...
From Alex de Waal, who knows Sudan better than anyone
www.foreignaffairs.com/guest-pass/r...
Terror Returns to Darfur
Only American pressure can stop the killing in Sudan.
www.foreignaffairs.com
November 7, 2025 at 11:17 PM
"However terrible the war and its consequent famine in Sudan is today, it can still get much worse"
From Alex de Waal, who knows Sudan better than anyone
www.foreignaffairs.com/guest-pass/r...
From Alex de Waal, who knows Sudan better than anyone
www.foreignaffairs.com/guest-pass/r...
Reposted by Michelle Shephard
Hundreds of people have been doxxed, fired or threatened for social media posts that were seen as callous or celebratory after Charlie Kirk’s assassination. In a Texas town, people flooded online feeds with attacks that spilled into the real world for a paramedic. nyti.ms/4n7CSND
October 12, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Hundreds of people have been doxxed, fired or threatened for social media posts that were seen as callous or celebratory after Charlie Kirk’s assassination. In a Texas town, people flooded online feeds with attacks that spilled into the real world for a paramedic. nyti.ms/4n7CSND
Thank you Criminal Podcast, for such a thoughtful episode.
Appreciate the interview and care Phoebe Judge & @jackiesojico.bsky.social
thisiscriminal.com
Appreciate the interview and care Phoebe Judge & @jackiesojico.bsky.social
thisiscriminal.com
Criminal
A Podcast About Crime
thisiscriminal.com
October 10, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Thank you Criminal Podcast, for such a thoughtful episode.
Appreciate the interview and care Phoebe Judge & @jackiesojico.bsky.social
thisiscriminal.com
Appreciate the interview and care Phoebe Judge & @jackiesojico.bsky.social
thisiscriminal.com
“I know that’s not as interesting as muzzling a comedian, but it’s so important to have a free press and it is nuts that we aren’t paying more attention.” 🙏🏻 @jimmykimmel.com …
Good piece by Allan Woods @thestar.com (And I hope he’s right ..)
Good piece by Allan Woods @thestar.com (And I hope he’s right ..)
Late night comedian Jimmy Kimmel’s return to regularly scheduled programming could be a prelude to a larger war over free speech in the United States. #Analysis
Jimmy Kimmel’s return could be a prelude to a larger free-speech war
Kimmel called political interference and threats that led to Stephen Colbert losing is show this year and almost cost him his own show “un-American and … so dangerous.”
www.thestar.com
September 24, 2025 at 4:39 PM
“I know that’s not as interesting as muzzling a comedian, but it’s so important to have a free press and it is nuts that we aren’t paying more attention.” 🙏🏻 @jimmykimmel.com …
Good piece by Allan Woods @thestar.com (And I hope he’s right ..)
Good piece by Allan Woods @thestar.com (And I hope he’s right ..)
Reposted by Michelle Shephard
Journalists should not face such harassment or threats for doing their job. Informed reporting or analysis is part of free expression and a cornerstone of democracy. #journalismisnotacrime
September 16, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Journalists should not face such harassment or threats for doing their job. Informed reporting or analysis is part of free expression and a cornerstone of democracy. #journalismisnotacrime
Reposted by Michelle Shephard
J6ers and militia leaders are newly energized in the wake of Charlie Kirk's assassination. “I’m going to be rebuilding Oath Keepers,” vowed Stewart Rhodes, leader of the militia group. www.motherjones.com/politics/202... by @juliannemcshane.bsky.social and me
Pardoned insurrectionists are using Charlie Kirk’s death to call for civil war
“Charlie Kirk's assassination pulled me out of retirement. More work must be done.”
www.motherjones.com
September 11, 2025 at 10:38 PM
J6ers and militia leaders are newly energized in the wake of Charlie Kirk's assassination. “I’m going to be rebuilding Oath Keepers,” vowed Stewart Rhodes, leader of the militia group. www.motherjones.com/politics/202... by @juliannemcshane.bsky.social and me
“(T)he President doesn’t care one bit about all those sanctimonious calls for healing,” writes @sbg1.bsky.social. “It is not a dialogue about the crisis of political violence in America that he wants right now but an aggressive new policy of political vengeance.”
In his speech about the death of Charlie Kirk on Wednesday night, Donald Trump seemed to blame the large chunk of the nation that reviles his divisive policies and those promoted by Kirk “as surely as if they had pulled the trigger,” @sbg1.bsky.social writes.
Did Trump Just Declare War on the American Left?
After Charlie Kirk’s tragic killing, the President speaks not of ending political violence but of seeking political vengeance.
www.newyorker.com
September 12, 2025 at 4:37 AM
“(T)he President doesn’t care one bit about all those sanctimonious calls for healing,” writes @sbg1.bsky.social. “It is not a dialogue about the crisis of political violence in America that he wants right now but an aggressive new policy of political vengeance.”
Reposted by Michelle Shephard
BREAKING: Canada has now joined a coalition of 27 other governments in calling on Israel to allow immediate foreign media access to Gaza and to protect journalists.
August 22, 2025 at 8:19 PM
BREAKING: Canada has now joined a coalition of 27 other governments in calling on Israel to allow immediate foreign media access to Gaza and to protect journalists.
If you’re in Toronto, and a fan of our book “Code Name: Pale Horse,” or the CBC podcast series, White Hot Hate, please join us Saturday! Scott will be in town for the MOTIVE festival. The lovely @debdundas.bsky.social will be our moderator.
Passes 👇🏻
festivalofauthors.ca/event/code-n...
Passes 👇🏻
festivalofauthors.ca/event/code-n...
Code Name: Pale Horse: Scott Payne with Michelle Shephard - TIFA
Scott Payne risked everything to take down America’s most dangerous white supremacist groups, living undercover as “Pale Horse” inside The Base—a violent neo-Nazi network. A decorated agent dubbed the...
festivalofauthors.ca
June 25, 2025 at 12:57 PM
If you’re in Toronto, and a fan of our book “Code Name: Pale Horse,” or the CBC podcast series, White Hot Hate, please join us Saturday! Scott will be in town for the MOTIVE festival. The lovely @debdundas.bsky.social will be our moderator.
Passes 👇🏻
festivalofauthors.ca/event/code-n...
Passes 👇🏻
festivalofauthors.ca/event/code-n...
Reposted by Michelle Shephard
Reposted by Michelle Shephard
for a look at what could come next in the Trump administration’s war on immigrants, read @davidgilbert.bsky.social on the upcoming US ‘Office of Remigration’ —
Remigration is an immigration policy touted by extremists that calls for the removal of all migrants—including “non-assimilated” citizens.
Remigration is an immigration policy touted by extremists that calls for the removal of all migrants—including “non-assimilated” citizens.
The Trump Administration Wants to Create an ‘Office of Remigration’ to Kick Immigrants Out of the Country
"Remigration"—a far-right European plan to expel minorities and immigrants from Western nations—may soon have a dedicated office following a Trump administration reorganization of the State Department...
www.wired.com
June 8, 2025 at 4:42 PM
for a look at what could come next in the Trump administration’s war on immigrants, read @davidgilbert.bsky.social on the upcoming US ‘Office of Remigration’ —
Remigration is an immigration policy touted by extremists that calls for the removal of all migrants—including “non-assimilated” citizens.
Remigration is an immigration policy touted by extremists that calls for the removal of all migrants—including “non-assimilated” citizens.
Reposted by Michelle Shephard
Law enforcement is violently targeting press at protests around Los Angeles, from easily recognizable "mainstream" outlets to freelancers and independents. ALL press have explicit legal protections in California. #JournalismIsNotACrime.
This evidence thread may get graphic. 🧵👇
This evidence thread may get graphic. 🧵👇
June 8, 2025 at 11:25 AM
Law enforcement is violently targeting press at protests around Los Angeles, from easily recognizable "mainstream" outlets to freelancers and independents. ALL press have explicit legal protections in California. #JournalismIsNotACrime.
This evidence thread may get graphic. 🧵👇
This evidence thread may get graphic. 🧵👇
Reposted by Michelle Shephard
President Trump took extraordinary action on Saturday by deploying 2,000 National Guard troops to quell immigration protesters in California, making rare use of federal powers and bypassing the authority of the state’s governor, Gavin Newsom.
Trump Is Deploying National Guard Troops Under a Rarely Used Power
President Trump bypassed the authority of Gov. Gavin Newsom by sending 2,000 National Guard troops to quell immigration protesters.
trib.al
June 8, 2025 at 2:48 AM
President Trump took extraordinary action on Saturday by deploying 2,000 National Guard troops to quell immigration protesters in California, making rare use of federal powers and bypassing the authority of the state’s governor, Gavin Newsom.
Reposted by Michelle Shephard
ICE raids hit across Los Angeles today—and locals are rising up. This is what resistance looks like. ✊🏾
This was about an hour ago…
This was about an hour ago…
June 7, 2025 at 1:43 AM
ICE raids hit across Los Angeles today—and locals are rising up. This is what resistance looks like. ✊🏾
This was about an hour ago…
This was about an hour ago…
Reposted by Michelle Shephard
“I suppose if there were something valuable that I could leave you with, it would be to say that you can play tiny invisible games inside of your plainest tasks.” The comedian and writer Jenny Slate offers some words of wisdom to new graduates.
nyer.cm/9R5a4jH
nyer.cm/9R5a4jH
June 5, 2025 at 5:39 PM
“I suppose if there were something valuable that I could leave you with, it would be to say that you can play tiny invisible games inside of your plainest tasks.” The comedian and writer Jenny Slate offers some words of wisdom to new graduates.
nyer.cm/9R5a4jH
nyer.cm/9R5a4jH
Reposted by Michelle Shephard
DELETED: Trump administration deleted a webpage summarizing evidence that “undocumented immigrants are arrested at less than half the rate of native-born U.S. citizens for violent and drug crimes and a quarter the rate of native-born citizens for property crimes.” 1/2
June 5, 2025 at 1:21 AM
DELETED: Trump administration deleted a webpage summarizing evidence that “undocumented immigrants are arrested at less than half the rate of native-born U.S. citizens for violent and drug crimes and a quarter the rate of native-born citizens for property crimes.” 1/2
Reposted by Michelle Shephard
“Social solidarity is destroyed when you have too much migration too quickly,” JD Vance tells our columnist Ross Douthat in this episode of “Interesting Times.” “That’s not because I hate the migrants or I’m motivated by grievance. That’s because I’m trying to preserve something in my own country.”
Opinion | JD Vance on His Faith and Trump’s Most Controversial Policies
The vice president joins Ross Douthat in Rome to discuss immigration, trade and the new pope.
www.nytimes.com
May 21, 2025 at 9:12 PM
“Social solidarity is destroyed when you have too much migration too quickly,” JD Vance tells our columnist Ross Douthat in this episode of “Interesting Times.” “That’s not because I hate the migrants or I’m motivated by grievance. That’s because I’m trying to preserve something in my own country.”
Reposted by Michelle Shephard
NEW: We obtained the province's internal investigations into the Dec 2023 crackdown on inmates at Maplehurst jail. The reports show widespread institutional failure, from the supt to rank-and-file guards. Solicitor General Michael Kerzner didn't respond to questions.
www.thestar.com/news/investi...
www.thestar.com/news/investi...
‘Code of silence’: Jail guards broke rules, then misled investigators probing crackdown on Maplehurst inmates, internal reports show
The ministry launched its investigation into the violent incident one day after the Star sent questions about it to Ontario’s solicitor general.
www.thestar.com
May 29, 2025 at 12:20 PM
NEW: We obtained the province's internal investigations into the Dec 2023 crackdown on inmates at Maplehurst jail. The reports show widespread institutional failure, from the supt to rank-and-file guards. Solicitor General Michael Kerzner didn't respond to questions.
www.thestar.com/news/investi...
www.thestar.com/news/investi...
“It’s not ‘complicated.’ “
And it’s too late.
But let the image of Ward grab hold and save what lives we still can.”
A short column for @thestar.com.
#Gaza
And it’s too late.
But let the image of Ward grab hold and save what lives we still can.”
A short column for @thestar.com.
#Gaza
Everyone must see this photo — thousands of lives depend on it
Saying “it’s complicated” has become synonymous with “look away.”
www.thestar.com
May 29, 2025 at 12:32 PM
“It’s not ‘complicated.’ “
And it’s too late.
But let the image of Ward grab hold and save what lives we still can.”
A short column for @thestar.com.
#Gaza
And it’s too late.
But let the image of Ward grab hold and save what lives we still can.”
A short column for @thestar.com.
#Gaza
Reposted by Michelle Shephard
Until Donald Trump put it front and centre again, Guantánamo was meant to be a “footnote” in US history—but it wasn’t. “It was always,” writes @michelleshephard.bsky.social, “a harbinger of what could come.” thewalrus.ca/guantanamo-bay/
May 22, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Until Donald Trump put it front and centre again, Guantánamo was meant to be a “footnote” in US history—but it wasn’t. “It was always,” writes @michelleshephard.bsky.social, “a harbinger of what could come.” thewalrus.ca/guantanamo-bay/