Paul Placzek
@pjplaczek.bsky.social
Born again atheist, husband, fly fishing enthusiast, self proclaimed music snob, connoisseur of toast and friend to beagles. Fan of Huskers, STL Cardinals and Packers.
Reposted by Paul Placzek
I would argue that the case for dismantling ICE has, at this point, virtually nothing to do with larger questions of immigration enforcement and reform, it's just clearly incompatible with a free and democratic society to maintain a secret police force with sweeping and arbitrary authority.
Senator Gallego weighs in as well. Note that at the start of 2025 he was considered a *moderate* on immigration and co-sponsored the Laken Riley Act. Him and many other Dems have been increasingly horrified at what ICE is doing and shifted away from a "more enforcement" focus.
January 21, 2026 at 11:09 PM
I would argue that the case for dismantling ICE has, at this point, virtually nothing to do with larger questions of immigration enforcement and reform, it's just clearly incompatible with a free and democratic society to maintain a secret police force with sweeping and arbitrary authority.
Reposted by Paul Placzek
This is the most astonishing graph of what the Trump regime has done to US science. They have destroyed the federal science workforce across the board. The negative impacts on Americans will be felt for generations, and the US might never be the same again.
www.nature.com/immersive/d4...
www.nature.com/immersive/d4...
January 20, 2026 at 10:53 PM
This is the most astonishing graph of what the Trump regime has done to US science. They have destroyed the federal science workforce across the board. The negative impacts on Americans will be felt for generations, and the US might never be the same again.
www.nature.com/immersive/d4...
www.nature.com/immersive/d4...
Reposted by Paul Placzek
Acting Field Director David Easterwood.
VAN SUSTEREN: The church -- that's a particularly troubling issue because you got a pastor, I purposely didn't name it, he's reportedly associated with ICE
NOEM: Thank you for not naming him. People don't realize that when you keep naming someone over and over, you increase the threats against them
NOEM: Thank you for not naming him. People don't realize that when you keep naming someone over and over, you increase the threats against them
January 20, 2026 at 9:35 PM
Acting Field Director David Easterwood.
Reposted by Paul Placzek
If you can’t admit Trump is a dangerous, lunatic moron, you’re part of the problem. My latest.
www.thedailybeast.com/now-is-the-t...
www.thedailybeast.com/now-is-the-t...
Now Is the Time to Admit It, America: Trump Is a Dangerous, Lunatic Moron
If you can’t see it now, you’re the problem.
www.thedailybeast.com
January 20, 2026 at 12:48 AM
If you can’t admit Trump is a dangerous, lunatic moron, you’re part of the problem. My latest.
www.thedailybeast.com/now-is-the-t...
www.thedailybeast.com/now-is-the-t...
Reposted by Paul Placzek
"Cardinal Tobin said he was struck by voices in the Trump administration who seemed to be advancing a moral framework he described as 'almost a Darwinian calculus that the powerful survive and the weak don’t deserve to.'
'I would say that’s less than human'...”
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/19/u...
'I would say that’s less than human'...”
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/19/u...
Top Catholic Clerics Denounce U.S. Foreign Policy
www.nytimes.com
January 19, 2026 at 4:54 PM
"Cardinal Tobin said he was struck by voices in the Trump administration who seemed to be advancing a moral framework he described as 'almost a Darwinian calculus that the powerful survive and the weak don’t deserve to.'
'I would say that’s less than human'...”
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/19/u...
'I would say that’s less than human'...”
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/19/u...
Reposted by Paul Placzek
Dr. King did amazing things, but often we only talk about his successes. Dr. King also had some "failures", and they are important to discuss because we often learn a great deal from failure. And failure can inform or grow a movement, like Albany, Georgia's failure did for Dr. King. /1
January 19, 2026 at 3:24 PM
Dr. King did amazing things, but often we only talk about his successes. Dr. King also had some "failures", and they are important to discuss because we often learn a great deal from failure. And failure can inform or grow a movement, like Albany, Georgia's failure did for Dr. King. /1
Reposted by Paul Placzek
This is a good article if you’re looking for more sports accounts to follow. I picked up a few more that I hadn’t realized migrated to bsky
I went ahead and made an unofficial guide to Bluesky, the official app of sports. I hope it helps you find your various sports/team communities.
badfaithtimes.com/your-guide-t...
badfaithtimes.com/your-guide-t...
Your Guide To Bluesky, The Official App of Sports
Using the power of sports, we can extract people from the society-destroying influence of Elon Musk
badfaithtimes.com
January 19, 2026 at 2:56 AM
This is a good article if you’re looking for more sports accounts to follow. I picked up a few more that I hadn’t realized migrated to bsky
Reposted by Paul Placzek
January 17, 2026 at 6:26 AM
Reposted by Paul Placzek
His 6 month old stopped breathing!
HIS SIX MONTH OLD STOPPED BREATHING!
A father was getting his kids out of the neighborhood because it was unsafe & ICE threw flash bangs & tear gas at his car with children & a baby inside!
His 6 month old stopped breathing & all the children were hospitalized!
HIS SIX MONTH OLD STOPPED BREATHING!
A father was getting his kids out of the neighborhood because it was unsafe & ICE threw flash bangs & tear gas at his car with children & a baby inside!
His 6 month old stopped breathing & all the children were hospitalized!
January 15, 2026 at 9:19 AM
His 6 month old stopped breathing!
HIS SIX MONTH OLD STOPPED BREATHING!
A father was getting his kids out of the neighborhood because it was unsafe & ICE threw flash bangs & tear gas at his car with children & a baby inside!
His 6 month old stopped breathing & all the children were hospitalized!
HIS SIX MONTH OLD STOPPED BREATHING!
A father was getting his kids out of the neighborhood because it was unsafe & ICE threw flash bangs & tear gas at his car with children & a baby inside!
His 6 month old stopped breathing & all the children were hospitalized!
Reposted by Paul Placzek
Walz: "What's happening in MN defies belief. News reports simply don't do justice to the level of chaos & disruption & trauma the federal govt is raining down... This long ago stopped being a matter of immigration enforcement. Instead, it's a campaign of organized brutality against the people of MN"
January 15, 2026 at 2:17 AM
Walz: "What's happening in MN defies belief. News reports simply don't do justice to the level of chaos & disruption & trauma the federal govt is raining down... This long ago stopped being a matter of immigration enforcement. Instead, it's a campaign of organized brutality against the people of MN"
Reposted by Paul Placzek
The letter from Bill and Hillary Clinton to James Comer explaining their refusal to testify in his Epstein investigation is really remarkable, not like any letter of this genre I've seen. It's signed by them, not a lawyer, and the arguments are not legal ones. Reprinted from their X account:
January 13, 2026 at 6:20 PM
The letter from Bill and Hillary Clinton to James Comer explaining their refusal to testify in his Epstein investigation is really remarkable, not like any letter of this genre I've seen. It's signed by them, not a lawyer, and the arguments are not legal ones. Reprinted from their X account:
Reposted by Paul Placzek
People who think the right-wing revealing in the killing of citizens is anything new--or just some product of social media--should really, really read Nixonland by Rick Perlstein. (See below passages about the Kent State killings)
January 10, 2026 at 1:17 AM
People who think the right-wing revealing in the killing of citizens is anything new--or just some product of social media--should really, really read Nixonland by Rick Perlstein. (See below passages about the Kent State killings)
Reposted by Paul Placzek
Please support Michael de Adder, who does great work:
January 8, 2026 at 5:05 PM
Please support Michael de Adder, who does great work:
Reposted by Paul Placzek
"Ohio" (1971) - written by Neil Young in reaction to the Kent State shootings of May 4, 1970. Performed by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. 🗃️
www.youtube.com/watch?v=MN_9...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=MN_9...
Ohio - Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (Music And Song Courtesy:Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young)
YouTube video by peaceandfreedom2011
www.youtube.com
January 7, 2026 at 8:15 PM
"Ohio" (1971) - written by Neil Young in reaction to the Kent State shootings of May 4, 1970. Performed by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. 🗃️
www.youtube.com/watch?v=MN_9...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=MN_9...
Reposted by Paul Placzek
I've watched thousands of videos from the Jan. 6 riot as part of NPR's reporting and archive project on that day.
Here are some of the lesser known videos that have really stuck with me.
🧵
Here are some of the lesser known videos that have really stuck with me.
🧵
January 6, 2026 at 1:23 PM
I've watched thousands of videos from the Jan. 6 riot as part of NPR's reporting and archive project on that day.
Here are some of the lesser known videos that have really stuck with me.
🧵
Here are some of the lesser known videos that have really stuck with me.
🧵
Reposted by Paul Placzek
“I’m sure you’re aware of our connections with the Trump Administration,” the North Carolina Republican Party's communications director wrote in an email response to us. “I would strongly suggest dropping this story.”
We didn't. #ICYMI, read the story that he wanted dropped:
We didn't. #ICYMI, read the story that he wanted dropped:
“Biblical Justice, Equal Justice, for All”: How North Carolina’s Chief Justice Transformed His State and America
Paul Newby, a born-again Christian, has turned his perch atop North Carolina’s Supreme Court into an instrument of political power. Over two decades, he’s driven changes that have reverberated well be...
www.propublica.org
January 2, 2026 at 4:00 AM
“I’m sure you’re aware of our connections with the Trump Administration,” the North Carolina Republican Party's communications director wrote in an email response to us. “I would strongly suggest dropping this story.”
We didn't. #ICYMI, read the story that he wanted dropped:
We didn't. #ICYMI, read the story that he wanted dropped:
Reposted by Paul Placzek
Today's newsletter: I read the Jack Smith transcript Republicans released on New Year's Eve so you don't have to. Here are 12 takeaways:
www.readtpa.com/p/house-repu...
www.readtpa.com/p/house-repu...
House Republicans Buried the Jack Smith Transcript on New Year’s Eve. I Read It So You Don’t Have To.
12 takeaways from Smith's closed-door testimony
www.readtpa.com
January 1, 2026 at 8:53 PM
Today's newsletter: I read the Jack Smith transcript Republicans released on New Year's Eve so you don't have to. Here are 12 takeaways:
www.readtpa.com/p/house-repu...
www.readtpa.com/p/house-repu...
Reposted by Paul Placzek
"Nothing's really as it seems" - Richard Feynman
Richard Feynman introduces the core truth of our world: everything is made of atoms in perpetual motion. Watch how he connects this invisible, eternal motion to the way energy transfers through contact as the atoms jiggle. ⚛️
seriouslyscientific.com
Richard Feynman introduces the core truth of our world: everything is made of atoms in perpetual motion. Watch how he connects this invisible, eternal motion to the way energy transfers through contact as the atoms jiggle. ⚛️
seriouslyscientific.com
December 29, 2025 at 12:10 PM
"Nothing's really as it seems" - Richard Feynman
Richard Feynman introduces the core truth of our world: everything is made of atoms in perpetual motion. Watch how he connects this invisible, eternal motion to the way energy transfers through contact as the atoms jiggle. ⚛️
seriouslyscientific.com
Richard Feynman introduces the core truth of our world: everything is made of atoms in perpetual motion. Watch how he connects this invisible, eternal motion to the way energy transfers through contact as the atoms jiggle. ⚛️
seriouslyscientific.com
Reposted by Paul Placzek
It's not that they don't know. They want to own the culture that would have hated them or hates them now, so they conveniently ignore the heart of the issues so they can claim the shiny part. I'll tell you what though—they know their voters are stupid enough not to know.
Yup.
I'm telling y'all, these dudes don't know anything.🤡
Frank Sinatra was a vocal anti-racist. He fought racism with his actions, his words, and his money.
Actions:
Refused to stay at segregated hotels. Made sure Black artists got paid fairly.
Words:
Literally wrote an article in Ebony Magazine
I'm telling y'all, these dudes don't know anything.🤡
Frank Sinatra was a vocal anti-racist. He fought racism with his actions, his words, and his money.
Actions:
Refused to stay at segregated hotels. Made sure Black artists got paid fairly.
Words:
Literally wrote an article in Ebony Magazine
December 27, 2025 at 2:48 AM
It's not that they don't know. They want to own the culture that would have hated them or hates them now, so they conveniently ignore the heart of the issues so they can claim the shiny part. I'll tell you what though—they know their voters are stupid enough not to know.
Reposted by Paul Placzek
Can someone please respond to Stephen Miller with this message from Frank Sinatra?
December 26, 2025 at 8:04 PM
Can someone please respond to Stephen Miller with this message from Frank Sinatra?
Reposted by Paul Placzek
Did you know? Every year, the Supreme Court’s nine justices fill out a form that discloses their financial connections to companies and people.
Our database allows you to search for organizations and people that have paid them, reimbursed them for travel and given them gifts.
Our database allows you to search for organizations and people that have paid them, reimbursed them for travel and given them gifts.
Supreme Connections: Search Supreme Court Disclosures — ProPublica
Search Supreme Court financial disclosures for organizations and people that have paid justices, reimbursed them for travel, given them gifts and more.
projects.propublica.org
December 26, 2025 at 2:30 AM
Did you know? Every year, the Supreme Court’s nine justices fill out a form that discloses their financial connections to companies and people.
Our database allows you to search for organizations and people that have paid them, reimbursed them for travel and given them gifts.
Our database allows you to search for organizations and people that have paid them, reimbursed them for travel and given them gifts.
Reposted by Paul Placzek
December 25, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Reposted by Paul Placzek
Read this. Merry Christmas indeed
December 25, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Read this. Merry Christmas indeed
Reposted by Paul Placzek
DOJ briefly uploaded this letter from Jeff Epstein to serial child molester Larry Nassar:
"Our president shares our love of young, nubile girls. When a young beauty walked by he loved to 'grab snatch,' whereas we ended up snatching grub in the mess halls of the system."
"Our president shares our love of young, nubile girls. When a young beauty walked by he loved to 'grab snatch,' whereas we ended up snatching grub in the mess halls of the system."
December 23, 2025 at 6:03 AM
DOJ briefly uploaded this letter from Jeff Epstein to serial child molester Larry Nassar:
"Our president shares our love of young, nubile girls. When a young beauty walked by he loved to 'grab snatch,' whereas we ended up snatching grub in the mess halls of the system."
"Our president shares our love of young, nubile girls. When a young beauty walked by he loved to 'grab snatch,' whereas we ended up snatching grub in the mess halls of the system."
Reposted by Paul Placzek
I wrote about Bari Weiss, 60 Minutes, CBS News, and what all of this says about the state of mainstream media. www.readtpa.com/p/the-kill-s...
The Kill Switch
How Bari Weiss handed the Trump administration a veto over CBS News
www.readtpa.com
December 22, 2025 at 5:35 PM
I wrote about Bari Weiss, 60 Minutes, CBS News, and what all of this says about the state of mainstream media. www.readtpa.com/p/the-kill-s...