Robyn Eckhardt
@robyneckhardt.bsky.social
Former food journalist with past lives in Asia and Italy. Author, “Istanbul & Beyond”, about Turkey’s lesser known eastern cuisines. Dogs/cats/nature. The Pacific Northwest is best. 🌧️
Pinned
Change of season is official: The Sisters have entered Winter Mode.
LOL who would choose to visit the USA while this regime is in power.
It's not just social media. Looks like visitors to the US from Europe and other countries that are part of the visa waiver program will have to submit an enormous amount of data about themselves and their families, including DNA, if proposed new rules are accepted
December 14, 2025 at 4:46 PM
LOL who would choose to visit the USA while this regime is in power.
Reposted by Robyn Eckhardt
The way the word elites has become devoid of all meaning is interesting. It’s a placeholder for “someone I don’t like” and it fascinates me that the people who use it most are wealthy, went to “elite” schools and hold positions of power. Look in the damn mirror. You’re talking about yourself.
December 14, 2025 at 4:18 AM
The way the word elites has become devoid of all meaning is interesting. It’s a placeholder for “someone I don’t like” and it fascinates me that the people who use it most are wealthy, went to “elite” schools and hold positions of power. Look in the damn mirror. You’re talking about yourself.
Reposted by Robyn Eckhardt
Our ex-BuzzFeed team has provided a testimonial to the immigration court about the value of Guan's work and his incredible bravery. I hope that this man - who I am in absolute awe of - is granted the asylum he needs and deserves. You can read more here: hrichina.substack.com/p/man-who-fi...
Man who filmed Uyghur concentration camps now fights for his own freedom in the United States
In 2020, Guan Heng embarked on a risky mission to prove the existence of concentration camp facilities used to imprison Uyghurs. Now, he faces the threat of deportation back to China, where he would f...
hrichina.substack.com
December 13, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Our ex-BuzzFeed team has provided a testimonial to the immigration court about the value of Guan's work and his incredible bravery. I hope that this man - who I am in absolute awe of - is granted the asylum he needs and deserves. You can read more here: hrichina.substack.com/p/man-who-fi...
Reposted by Robyn Eckhardt
He has been held in a detention centre in New York State since August and on Monday (15 December) there will be an immigration hearing to decide whether he can remain in the US, or will be sent back to China, where human rights experts believe he will be in extreme danger.
December 13, 2025 at 3:39 PM
He has been held in a detention centre in New York State since August and on Monday (15 December) there will be an immigration hearing to decide whether he can remain in the US, or will be sent back to China, where human rights experts believe he will be in extreme danger.
Reposted by Robyn Eckhardt
In late 2020 a Chinese man called Guan Heng travelled to Xinjiang with our BuzzFeed map of detention facilities to provide ground truth for our work - he provided the first corroborating evidence for many sites.
He escaped to the US - then ICE detained him.
www.wsj.com/world/china/...
He escaped to the US - then ICE detained him.
www.wsj.com/world/china/...
ICE Holding Chinese Man Who Documented Uyghur Camps
Heng Guan is awaiting an immigration hearing on Monday that could lead to his removal from the U.S. and ultimately land him back in China, according to his lawyer and a New York-based activist group.
www.wsj.com
December 13, 2025 at 3:17 PM
In late 2020 a Chinese man called Guan Heng travelled to Xinjiang with our BuzzFeed map of detention facilities to provide ground truth for our work - he provided the first corroborating evidence for many sites.
He escaped to the US - then ICE detained him.
www.wsj.com/world/china/...
He escaped to the US - then ICE detained him.
www.wsj.com/world/china/...
Reposted by Robyn Eckhardt
The reason folks are focusing on DHS's refusal to honor Real IDs is that it means that the Trump regime is asserting the right to detain anyone in America, resident or visitor, without probable cause. It's an erasure of habeas corpus for all Americans.
bsky.app/profile/jare...
bsky.app/profile/jare...
Add to this that HSI just filed a declaration in our case challenging these policies saying they can’t trust REAL IDs as proof of status.
So showing your papers isn’t even enough to end the stop.
So showing your papers isn’t even enough to end the stop.
December 13, 2025 at 2:53 PM
The reason folks are focusing on DHS's refusal to honor Real IDs is that it means that the Trump regime is asserting the right to detain anyone in America, resident or visitor, without probable cause. It's an erasure of habeas corpus for all Americans.
bsky.app/profile/jare...
bsky.app/profile/jare...
Reposted by Robyn Eckhardt
To give you a sense of how big a departure this year, the government doesn't do this for wanted criminals.
SCOOP: The Trump administration is providing the names of all travelers passing through U.S. airports to immigration officials in search of people with deportation orders, a substantial expansion of government efforts to draw on data to hunt down immigrants.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/12/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/12/u...
Immigration Agents Are Using Air Passenger Data for Deportation Effort
www.nytimes.com
December 12, 2025 at 11:19 PM
To give you a sense of how big a departure this year, the government doesn't do this for wanted criminals.
Reposted by Robyn Eckhardt
The third-country removal tracker has been updated with this week's transfer deportation/chain refoulement. Egypt took Russians in ICE custody and forced them onto a plane to Moscow; Kuwait took Iranians in ICE custody and forced them onto a plane to Tehran. hardghistory.ghost.io/tracking-all...
December 12, 2025 at 7:48 PM
The third-country removal tracker has been updated with this week's transfer deportation/chain refoulement. Egypt took Russians in ICE custody and forced them onto a plane to Moscow; Kuwait took Iranians in ICE custody and forced them onto a plane to Tehran. hardghistory.ghost.io/tracking-all...
Reposted by Robyn Eckhardt
This is not going to go well for the GOP. I really don't think they comprehend how large this is.
Q: At the end of this year, those extended Obamacare subsidies expire. What's your message to those 24m Americans who will see their premiums go up?
TRUMP: Don't make it sound so bad. Obviously you're a sycophant for Democrats. You're obviously a provider of bad news for Republicans.
TRUMP: Don't make it sound so bad. Obviously you're a sycophant for Democrats. You're obviously a provider of bad news for Republicans.
December 12, 2025 at 11:53 PM
This is not going to go well for the GOP. I really don't think they comprehend how large this is.
Reposted by Robyn Eckhardt
Look I am famously opposed to Democrats focusing on kitchen-table stuff like healthcare but when the president is out here saying "Stop whining about your healthcare going away, losers" you pretty much gotta take that ball and run with it
Q: At the end of this year, those extended Obamacare subsidies expire. What's your message to those 24m Americans who will see their premiums go up?
TRUMP: Don't make it sound so bad. Obviously you're a sycophant for Democrats. You're obviously a provider of bad news for Republicans.
TRUMP: Don't make it sound so bad. Obviously you're a sycophant for Democrats. You're obviously a provider of bad news for Republicans.
December 12, 2025 at 11:54 PM
Look I am famously opposed to Democrats focusing on kitchen-table stuff like healthcare but when the president is out here saying "Stop whining about your healthcare going away, losers" you pretty much gotta take that ball and run with it
Reposted by Robyn Eckhardt
🎯
Democratic leadership didn’t want to stick their necks out for him. The GOP didn’t want him even referred to as a “Maryland man.” Sen. Chris Van Hollen, his congressional representative fought for him. And we should never forget any of this. apnews.com/article/abre...
Kilmar Abrego Garcia freed from federal immigration detention, his attorney's office says
Kilmar Abrego Garcia has been released from an immigration detention center in Pennsylvania following an order from a federal judge issued Thursday, according to his attorney’s office.
apnews.com
December 12, 2025 at 8:59 PM
🎯
Visiting snow for the weekend (Minneapolis).
December 12, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Visiting snow for the weekend (Minneapolis).
Reposted by Robyn Eckhardt
Ron DeSantis stole $36 million in state money "intended to assist needy Floridians" in order to brazenly campaign against ballot measures to legalize recreational marijuana and overturn the state's six-week abortion ban
both amendments got majority support but fell just short of the 60% threshold
both amendments got majority support but fell just short of the 60% threshold
DeSantis admin diverted child welfare and medical funds for consultants, ads
DeSantis admin diverted child welfare and medical funds for consultants, ads
A Miami Herald and Tampa Bay Times investigation found the DeSantis’ administration’s use of public money to fund a campaign against marijuana and abortion access was more sprawling than previously kn...
www.miamiherald.com
December 12, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Ron DeSantis stole $36 million in state money "intended to assist needy Floridians" in order to brazenly campaign against ballot measures to legalize recreational marijuana and overturn the state's six-week abortion ban
both amendments got majority support but fell just short of the 60% threshold
both amendments got majority support but fell just short of the 60% threshold
Reposted by Robyn Eckhardt
One of the most gripping moments I've ever seen in a congressional hearing.
Magaziner: How many US military veterans have you deported?
Noem: We have not deported military veterans.
Magaziner: We are joined on zoom by a gentleman who is an army combat veteran who was shot twice while serving our country. You deported him to Korea.
Noem: We have not deported military veterans.
Magaziner: We are joined on zoom by a gentleman who is an army combat veteran who was shot twice while serving our country. You deported him to Korea.
December 11, 2025 at 9:55 PM
One of the most gripping moments I've ever seen in a congressional hearing.
Reposted by Robyn Eckhardt
Making this threat was an incredibly stupid thing to do. If he follows through now, he risks a revolt inside his own party over the fact that he's attacking a red state. If he doesn't follow through, he's announcing to the world that he's a paper tiger.
December 11, 2025 at 9:54 PM
Making this threat was an incredibly stupid thing to do. If he follows through now, he risks a revolt inside his own party over the fact that he's attacking a red state. If he doesn't follow through, he's announcing to the world that he's a paper tiger.
Reposted by Robyn Eckhardt
The thing a lot of people dont think about often is that walls dont just keep other people out, they keep you in as well
The thing to understand about Trump II's new proposed ESTA requirements is that once the outside world is seen and framed as a threat and a hardened border the only protection from it, the distinction between friend and enemy becomes meaningless, and there's no such thing as safe passage.
December 10, 2025 at 12:50 PM
The thing a lot of people dont think about often is that walls dont just keep other people out, they keep you in as well
Reposted by Robyn Eckhardt
The thing to understand about Trump II's new proposed ESTA requirements is that once the outside world is seen and framed as a threat and a hardened border the only protection from it, the distinction between friend and enemy becomes meaningless, and there's no such thing as safe passage.
December 10, 2025 at 12:44 PM
The thing to understand about Trump II's new proposed ESTA requirements is that once the outside world is seen and framed as a threat and a hardened border the only protection from it, the distinction between friend and enemy becomes meaningless, and there's no such thing as safe passage.
Pretty sure that any American on a health care plan with a deductible (which is every American with a health care plan) is pretty freaking aware of “what the actual prices are” you imbecile.
Roger Marshall: "We want patients to become consumers again. We want patients to see what the actual prices are. We believe that if we would add the price tags to this bill, that it would save the country a trillion dollars a year."
December 11, 2025 at 2:39 AM
Pretty sure that any American on a health care plan with a deductible (which is every American with a health care plan) is pretty freaking aware of “what the actual prices are” you imbecile.
Reposted by Robyn Eckhardt
JUST IN: A federal judge has blocked DHS from enforcing a new prohibition on “unusual noise” outside a government building in Oregon, saying it unconstitutionally criminalizes and chills free speech storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
December 10, 2025 at 11:38 PM
JUST IN: A federal judge has blocked DHS from enforcing a new prohibition on “unusual noise” outside a government building in Oregon, saying it unconstitutionally criminalizes and chills free speech storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Reposted by Robyn Eckhardt
We now learn that Fifa had a very specific "ask" in exchange for its "Peace Award" to Trump, with loads of gold trinkets, and that was dismissal of a criminal corruption case against senior Fifa officials. And Trump granted it. Another corrupt bargain, barely noticed (and ignored by US media).
December 11, 2025 at 12:59 AM
We now learn that Fifa had a very specific "ask" in exchange for its "Peace Award" to Trump, with loads of gold trinkets, and that was dismissal of a criminal corruption case against senior Fifa officials. And Trump granted it. Another corrupt bargain, barely noticed (and ignored by US media).
Reposted by Robyn Eckhardt
Amazon is making money off AI copies of books - and putting the onus on authors to prove they’ve been plagiarised.
Honestly, just stop buying books from Amazon. Get them from an actual bookshop or order them from a reputable book supplier like bookshop.org
www.rollingstone.com/culture/cult...
Honestly, just stop buying books from Amazon. Get them from an actual bookshop or order them from a reputable book supplier like bookshop.org
www.rollingstone.com/culture/cult...
Amazon Is the World's Biggest Online Book Marketplace. It's Filled With AI Knockoffs
Authors say Amazon's knockoff book problem is leaving them frustrated — and making the internet worse in the process.
www.rollingstone.com
December 10, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Amazon is making money off AI copies of books - and putting the onus on authors to prove they’ve been plagiarised.
Honestly, just stop buying books from Amazon. Get them from an actual bookshop or order them from a reputable book supplier like bookshop.org
www.rollingstone.com/culture/cult...
Honestly, just stop buying books from Amazon. Get them from an actual bookshop or order them from a reputable book supplier like bookshop.org
www.rollingstone.com/culture/cult...
Reposted by Robyn Eckhardt
We are in Medieval times.
16 cases are linked to a church, which followed exposures at four schools last week.
The outbreaks are threatening to cost the country its measles elimination status, which was earned in 2000 after vaccination efforts stopped the virus from spreading continuously. 🧪
16 cases are linked to a church, which followed exposures at four schools last week.
The outbreaks are threatening to cost the country its measles elimination status, which was earned in 2000 after vaccination efforts stopped the virus from spreading continuously. 🧪
Over 250 people quarantined in South Carolina as measles outbreak rages
16 cases are linked to a church, which followed exposures at four schools last week.
arstechnica.com
December 10, 2025 at 4:03 PM
We are in Medieval times.
16 cases are linked to a church, which followed exposures at four schools last week.
The outbreaks are threatening to cost the country its measles elimination status, which was earned in 2000 after vaccination efforts stopped the virus from spreading continuously. 🧪
16 cases are linked to a church, which followed exposures at four schools last week.
The outbreaks are threatening to cost the country its measles elimination status, which was earned in 2000 after vaccination efforts stopped the virus from spreading continuously. 🧪
Reposted by Robyn Eckhardt
If you think Trump's bad polling doesn't matter, I hope you reconsider after tonight's elections. Maybe his unpopularity doesn't affect *his* behavior, but it definitely impacts tons of other people—including many GOP voters who are either switching sides or staying home.
December 10, 2025 at 3:13 AM
If you think Trump's bad polling doesn't matter, I hope you reconsider after tonight's elections. Maybe his unpopularity doesn't affect *his* behavior, but it definitely impacts tons of other people—including many GOP voters who are either switching sides or staying home.
Reposted by Robyn Eckhardt
Thinking back to how people were "hysterical" for calling trump white supremacist and now he's doing nordic theory on the campaign trail
December 10, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Thinking back to how people were "hysterical" for calling trump white supremacist and now he's doing nordic theory on the campaign trail
What prospective foreign *tourist* in their right mind (which precludes the MAGA allies) would agree to do this?
December 10, 2025 at 2:55 AM
What prospective foreign *tourist* in their right mind (which precludes the MAGA allies) would agree to do this?