Rachel Goodman
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rachelegoodman.bsky.social
Rachel Goodman
@rachelegoodman.bsky.social
5K followers 440 following 250 posts
In no particular order: Attorney, advocate, civil libertarian, anti-authoritarian, urbanite, parent, spouse, technoskeptic. Views mine. https://protectdemocracy.org/
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Reposted by Rachel Goodman
rachelegoodman.bsky.social
I am extremely excited to announce that PD is doing this hiring-- please share with your folks ASAP because we are moving as fast as the moment demands.
protectdemocracy.org Protect Democracy @protectdemocracy.org · 14h
We're hiring ASAP for a new team dedicated to ensuring that communities can continue to speak out & engage politically despite the increasing use of levers of federal power to quash protests, quell dissent, and intimidate political opponents. Priority deadline: 12/7
https://protectdemocracy.org/jobs
Join our team ⚫ Communications Strategist ($112-125k) ⚫ Counsel, National Security ($170-193k) ⚫ Special Counsel, First Amendment ($170-193k) ⚫ Counsel, First Amendment ($138-157k) ⚫ Paralegal Associate ($72-81k) https://protectdemocracy.org/jobs
November 26, 2025 at 7:57 PM
rachelegoodman.bsky.social
I am extremely excited to announce that PD is doing this hiring-- please share with your folks ASAP because we are moving as fast as the moment demands.
protectdemocracy.org Protect Democracy @protectdemocracy.org · 14h
We're hiring ASAP for a new team dedicated to ensuring that communities can continue to speak out & engage politically despite the increasing use of levers of federal power to quash protests, quell dissent, and intimidate political opponents. Priority deadline: 12/7
https://protectdemocracy.org/jobs
Join our team ⚫ Communications Strategist ($112-125k) ⚫ Counsel, National Security ($170-193k) ⚫ Special Counsel, First Amendment ($170-193k) ⚫ Counsel, First Amendment ($138-157k) ⚫ Paralegal Associate ($72-81k) https://protectdemocracy.org/jobs
November 26, 2025 at 7:57 PM
rachelegoodman.bsky.social
Listen to Mark Fowler, Reagan's FCC chair: www.wsj.com/opinion/put-...
Opinion | Put the ‘News Distortion’ Rule in the Dustbin
Former FCC Chairman Mark Fowler has some advice for Brendan Carr.
www.wsj.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Reposted by Rachel Goodman
protectdemocracy.org
We're hiring! Legislative & Advocacy Specialist to develop integrated advocacy approaches using policy & comms strategies. Seeking candidates with 3+ yrs of experience, at least 1 yr working on the Hill or fed legislative advocacy. Hybrid position based in D.C. Details: https://protdem.org/3LVQP4q
Protect Democracy Join our team Legislative & Advocacy Specialist $84,300 - $94,000 Protectdemocracy.org/JOBs
November 24, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Reposted by Rachel Goodman
jameeljaffer.bsky.social
Tomorrow morning, the DC Circuit will consider whether Trump violated the First Amendment by ejecting @apnews.com from the White House press pool after it refused to call the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America. Very glad that the AP is fighting this. knightcolumbia.org/blog/the-fig...
November 23, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Reposted by Rachel Goodman
reichlinmelnick.bsky.social
THREAD: Judge Ellis is the first federal judge to review extensive body cam video of DHS's actions in Chicago. She finds that DHS *repeatedly* misled the public and made claims that were disproven by agents' own videos.

I'll go through some of the most egregious ones here.
II. Credibility The Court next addresses the credibility of the parties’ evidence and witnesses. After reviewing all the evidence submitted to the Court and listening to the testimony elicited at the preliminary injunction hearing, during depositions, and in other court proceedings, the Court finds Defendants’ evidence simply not credible. [FN 6] Plaintiffs submitted a mountain of evidence, providing the Court with over eighty declarations, numerous videos and articles, and other evidence. Defendants did not rebut anything that Plaintiffs set forth in their declarations or testimony, even with BWC footage. [FN 6] In another case considering some of the same evidence presented to this Court, another court in this district also found that the perceptions of certain of Defendants’ declarants, such as Hott and Parra, were not reliable. See Illinois v. Trump, No. 25-cv-12174, 2025 WL 2886645, at *5 (N.D. Ill. Oct. 10, 2025) (noting a “troubling trend of Defendants’ declarants equating protests with riots and a lack of appreciation for the wide spectrum that exists between citizens who are observing, questioning, and criticizing their government, and those who are obstructing, assaulting, or doing violence”), motion to stay denied in part, 155 F.4th 929 (7th Cir. 2025).
November 20, 2025 at 11:04 PM
Reposted by Rachel Goodman
carolinaforward.bsky.social
Dang - how bad was the Border Patrol invasion in North Carolina?

None other than Thom Tillis himself is blasting DHS for gross overreach, and demanding lists of those detained, property damage caused by CBP agents, and their plan for restitution.
www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politic...
November 20, 2025 at 9:21 PM
Reposted by Rachel Goodman
jackjenkins.me
NEW: Churches in Charlotte are hosting trainings on how to response to ICE agents — with *hundreds* filling pews.

At one training, a child led those gathered in "This Little Light of Mine" — but changed the words to “All around Border Patrol, I’m gonna let it shine" religionnews.com/2025/11/20/a...
As ICE descends on Charlotte, faith leaders draw on other cities' actions to aid immigrants
(RNS) — As many as 500 people, a mix of clergy and other volunteers, have appeared at the training sessions on how to counter ICE.
religionnews.com
November 20, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Reposted by Rachel Goodman
jameeljaffer.bsky.social
Perhaps there's a version of the news distortion doctrine that's consistent with the First Amendment, but the version of it that Carr is wielding here is not going to survive constitutional scrutiny.
timkarr.bsky.social Tim Karr @timkarr.bsky.social · 7d
Trump's censor in chief at the FCC, Brendan Carr, just sent a letter to the heads of BBC, NPR and PBS informing them he's launching a "news distortion" probe into the BBC's editing of a documentary on Trump's Jan. 6 activities.

Here it is:
November 19, 2025 at 10:40 PM
rachelegoodman.bsky.social
The WSJ ed board agrees the FCC should repeal the news distortion policy, and concludes "If [Carr] won’t do it, then maybe a free-speech caucus of Republicans and Democrats in Congress will. How about it?" www.wsj.com/opinion/medi...
Opinion | A Progressive ‘News Distortion’ Epiphany
The folks who tried to use the FCC against the right now cry foul.
www.wsj.com
November 20, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Reposted by Rachel Goodman
aahrens430.bsky.social
“Bovino seems focused on becoming the Nathan Bedford Forrest of the Trump immigration era, complete with the blatant racism, illegal tactics, and ignominious losing place in history.”

Another hope-filled essay by @vermontgmg.bsky.social
vermontgmg.bsky.social Garrett M. Graff @vermontgmg.bsky.social · 9d
Greg Bovino is leading a rebel cavalry terrorizing America—and it's important to recognize that it's in retreat. While the trauma and terror Bovino’s raiders instill is real and damaging, it’s remarkable to note how ineffective the force has turned out to be. www.doomsdayscenario.co/p/trump-bord...
Trump, Border Patrol Retreat in Failure from Chicago
Five important lessons of the first six months of Trump’s immigration raids — and why CBP’s Greg Bovino is the Nathan Bedford Forrest of the Trump era.
www.doomsdayscenario.co
November 18, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Reposted by Rachel Goodman
brunojnavarro.bsky.social
New Yorkers responding to raids and bracing for more are taking a cue from activists there, passing out thousands of whistles in recent weeks as a low-tech way to alert people of ICE activity when they see it.
As ICE Street Raids Ramp Up, New Yorkers Stock Up On Whistles
Taking a cue from Chicago, community groups have distributed thousands of whistles in recent weeks — a grassroots system people in other cities have adopted to help neighbors sound the alarm.
www.thecity.nyc
November 17, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Reposted by Rachel Goodman
joshua-goodman.com
The Trump administration is decreasing the affordability of higher education for US students.

(By discouraging enrollment of international students who pay full tuition and subsidize domestic students.)

www.nytimes.com/2025/11/17/u...
New International Student Enrollments Plummeted This Fall, Survey Finds
www.nytimes.com
November 17, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Reposted by Rachel Goodman
reichlinmelnick.bsky.social
Thanks to @juansaaa.com for letting me know that this excellent Johnny Harris video on ICE enforcement is out. I talked to his producer for over an hour during the research process and I think it's a good overview of how we got here.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDbt...
Why the US is deporting so many people
YouTube video by Johnny Harris
www.youtube.com
November 15, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Reposted by Rachel Goodman
juliepeppito.bsky.social
Join us TOMORROW, 1:30-3:30pm at Kensington Plaza in Brooklyn.
Your neighbors are organizing yo share resources and build community so that WE KEEP US SAFE.

More @handsoffnyc.bsky.social
November 14, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Reposted by Rachel Goodman
walterolson.bsky.social
"This assault on higher education is best understood as a means of destroying a locus of political opposition."
qjurecic.bsky.social Quinta Jurecic @qjurecic.bsky.social · 16d
Over the last 10 months, the federal government has cracked down on political expression with a persistence and viciousness reminiscent of some of the darkest periods of U.S. history. Welcome to the Third Red Scare.
The First Amendment Won’t Go Quietly
Welcome to the third Red Scare.
www.theatlantic.com
November 14, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Reposted by Rachel Goodman
daphnek.bsky.social
This is President Reagan's FCC chair, among others, signing on to extremely strong condemnation. Here's a taste:
November 13, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Reposted by Rachel Goodman
techfreedom.org
Government has no business policing media for viewpoint bias or balance. The FCC must repeal its news distortion policy, urges a bipartisan group of 11 former FCC Chairs, Commissioners & other top officials in a petition we filed today with @protectdemocracy.org
protectdemocracy.org/work/fcc-new...
November 13, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Reposted by Rachel Goodman
newsjennifer.bsky.social
"You know us...So please trust us now when we say that what is happening in the Chicago area is wrong."

Powerful letter from retired Chicago broadcast journalists about what ICE/CBP is doing to our city: "it is terror"

www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/13/l...
You know us. For years, you watched and listened to our coverage of the Chicago area. As journalists, we did our best to bring you accurate, objective information about the people, events and issues that mattered. We hope we gained your trust. So please trust us now when we say that what is happening in the Chicago area is wrong. The fact that some federal immigration forces may be leaving soon is cold comfort given the damage they’ve done and what they may do in other cities. We are retired, but our colleagues who are still on the job have shown you a brutal and illegal campaign against fellow Chicagoans, mainly Latinos: violent abductions, gutting families, using tear gas around children, roughing up witnesses, ramming cars and even taking a day care teacher from her school.
November 13, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Reposted by Rachel Goodman
agomezfcc.bsky.social
This FCC has deployed a vague News Distortion policy as a weapon to stretch its licensing authority and pressure newsrooms.

As federal regulators, we must respect the rule of law, uphold the Constitution, and ensure that a free press is never subjected to regulatory interference.
November 13, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Reposted by Rachel Goodman
amandacarpenter.bsky.social
Brendan Carr is weaponizing the FCC's news distortion policy to punish speech MAGA doesn't like.

A bipartisan coalition of seven former chairs and commissioners, including five Republicans, and senior staff is calling on the FCC to end it. 👀

protectdemocracy.org/work/fcc-new...
The FCC's News Distortion Policy should be rescinded
A bipartisan group of former FCC commissioners call for repeal of the News Distortion Policy, which chills broadcaster speech
protectdemocracy.org
November 13, 2025 at 3:15 PM
rachelegoodman.bsky.social
Reagan and Obama appointees agree: this is kind of a no brainer.
protectdemocracy.org Protect Democracy @protectdemocracy.org · 13d
The gov has no business policing free speech & expression. That’s why we’re helping a bipartisan group of former FCC chairs + commissioners, & former senior-level FCC staff, file a petition to end the news distortion policy. Read why respected Republicans and Democrats agree it should be rescinded.
Former FCC chairs urge agency to repeal 'news distortion' policy invoked by Trump administration
The policy was directly referenced by FCC Chair Brendan Carr in disputes over Jimmy Kimmel and "60 Minutes."
www.nbcnews.com
November 13, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Reposted by Rachel Goodman
ryanjreilly.com
"The juror told me that she and her fellow jurors used words like absurd, laughable, and waste of government money. 'We’re supposed to be looking at the evidence, but a clear majority felt it was nonsensical, like Don’t waste our time or money,' she said." www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
Inside the Sandwich Guy’s Jury Deliberations
Can a flung sandwich cause bodily harm?
www.theatlantic.com
November 13, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Reposted by Rachel Goodman
reichlinmelnick.bsky.social
NEW: @propublica.org investigated the Chicago apartment raid where kids were zip-tied and citizens detained for hours. They find:

- NONE of the arrested were criminally charged
- NO evidence the building was "filled with TdA terrorists."
- ZERO legitimate reason for DHS to rappel from a Blackhawk.
As a Black Hawk helicopter roared overhead, the slender, 28-year-old immigrant from Venezuela answered softly, his eyes darting to a television crew invited to film the raid. Next to Caicedo, masked Border Patrol agents inspected another man’s tattoos and asked him if he belonged to Tren de Aragua, the Venezuelan gang that the Trump administration has designated a terrorist group. Until that moment, Caicedo’s only interaction with law enforcement in his two-and-a-half years in the United States had been a traffic stop two weeks earlier for driving without a license or insurance, according to the records we reviewed. Chicago police had run a background check on him and found no prior arrests, no warrants and no evidence that he was in a gang. Caicedo said he had a pending asylum application, a steady job at a taco joint and a girlfriend whose daughter attended elementary school across the street. None of that mattered. The U.S. government paraded him and his neighbors in front of the cameras and called their arrests a spectacular victory against terrorism. But later, after the cameras had gone, prosecutors didn’t charge Caicedo with a crime. They didn’t accuse him of being a terrorist. And after a brief hearing in immigration court, the government sent him back to the country he had fled nine years earlier. “I lost everything,” he said in a phone interview from his mother’s home in the Venezuelan city of Valencia. “For those fools, everyone from Venezuela is a criminal.”
November 13, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Reposted by Rachel Goodman
protectdemocracy.org
ICYMI: Protect Democracy filed a “friend of the court” brief to show how the wrongful prosecution of Mr. Comey reverberates far beyond his case and poses a grave danger to the fundamental rights forming the base of our democratic system of government. Read more:
Protect Democracy files amicus brief, warning Comey indictment is 'hallmark of authoritarianism’
Protect Democracy filed an amicus brief in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia in the indictment of former FBI Director James Comey.
protectdemocracy.org
November 10, 2025 at 5:04 PM