We are what we pretend to be
@whatwepretend.bsky.social
AuDHD. Midwest commie. Reading: Perdido Street Station by China Mieville.
Reposted by We are what we pretend to be
Let's be clear about what's happening here: this is an escalation in unconstitutional federal repression of Minnesotans for exercising their rights.
Cowardly federal agents are hiding from the cameras for a reason: what they're doing is utterly shameful.
Cowardly federal agents are hiding from the cameras for a reason: what they're doing is utterly shameful.
Scrolling through the photos of Pam Bondi's "Minnesota rioters," it's just hero after hero. Every photo includes a cowardly DHS agent with their back to the camera.
Bondi thinks she's going to win the propaganda war with this shit, but it's never been more clear that they're losing.
Bondi thinks she's going to win the propaganda war with this shit, but it's never been more clear that they're losing.
January 28, 2026 at 10:10 PM
Let's be clear about what's happening here: this is an escalation in unconstitutional federal repression of Minnesotans for exercising their rights.
Cowardly federal agents are hiding from the cameras for a reason: what they're doing is utterly shameful.
Cowardly federal agents are hiding from the cameras for a reason: what they're doing is utterly shameful.
Reposted by We are what we pretend to be
Reposted by We are what we pretend to be
Very little if anything seems to have changed on the ground. ICE is still out there terrorizing neighborhoods and trying to disappear neighbors. None of us on the ground are buying this bullshit. We will keep organizing and fighting.
The intense fallout from the killing of Alex Pretti has forced President Trump to publicly change course in Minneapolis.
Listen to our White House reporters discuss the changes on today's episode of "The Daily."
Listen to our White House reporters discuss the changes on today's episode of "The Daily."
Trump Changes Course in Minneapolis
The White House has been met with broad outcry over the killing of Alex Pretti, as well as pushback from Congress.
nyti.ms
January 28, 2026 at 1:27 PM
Very little if anything seems to have changed on the ground. ICE is still out there terrorizing neighborhoods and trying to disappear neighbors. None of us on the ground are buying this bullshit. We will keep organizing and fighting.
Reposted by We are what we pretend to be
We’re knee deep in a class war and the Democratic and Republican parties are on the other side playing a game of good cop / bad cop.
At long last, look at how Democrats helped create the modern police state and helped ICE grow. See their performed helplessness for what it is.
At long last, look at how Democrats helped create the modern police state and helped ICE grow. See their performed helplessness for what it is.
January 27, 2026 at 5:21 PM
We’re knee deep in a class war and the Democratic and Republican parties are on the other side playing a game of good cop / bad cop.
At long last, look at how Democrats helped create the modern police state and helped ICE grow. See their performed helplessness for what it is.
At long last, look at how Democrats helped create the modern police state and helped ICE grow. See their performed helplessness for what it is.
Thought Walz was better than this, even after he rolled over on his beliefs to became the VP nominee. But he didn't seize the moment then, so why would he now?
January 28, 2026 at 2:01 PM
Thought Walz was better than this, even after he rolled over on his beliefs to became the VP nominee. But he didn't seize the moment then, so why would he now?
Reposted by We are what we pretend to be
Kamala Harris's actual 2024 policies:
January 28, 2026 at 7:14 AM
Kamala Harris's actual 2024 policies:
Reposted by We are what we pretend to be
Ilhan Omar is an American hero. www.nytimes.com/live/2026/01...
January 28, 2026 at 2:06 AM
Ilhan Omar is an American hero. www.nytimes.com/live/2026/01...
Reposted by We are what we pretend to be
Ilhan Omar has more courage in her little pinky than the entire Democratic Party leadership has. And the party has repeatedly thrown her to the wolves over the years because she speaks the truth.
And who was around her caring for her after this attack? BLACK WOMEN. So protect them all.
And who was around her caring for her after this attack? BLACK WOMEN. So protect them all.
January 28, 2026 at 2:49 AM
Ilhan Omar has more courage in her little pinky than the entire Democratic Party leadership has. And the party has repeatedly thrown her to the wolves over the years because she speaks the truth.
And who was around her caring for her after this attack? BLACK WOMEN. So protect them all.
And who was around her caring for her after this attack? BLACK WOMEN. So protect them all.
Reposted by We are what we pretend to be
I’m ok. I’m a survivor so this small agitator isn’t going to intimidate me from doing my work.
I don’t let bullies win.
Grateful to my incredible constituents who rallied behind me. Minnesota strong.
I don’t let bullies win.
Grateful to my incredible constituents who rallied behind me. Minnesota strong.
January 28, 2026 at 2:26 AM
I’m ok. I’m a survivor so this small agitator isn’t going to intimidate me from doing my work.
I don’t let bullies win.
Grateful to my incredible constituents who rallied behind me. Minnesota strong.
I don’t let bullies win.
Grateful to my incredible constituents who rallied behind me. Minnesota strong.
Reposted by We are what we pretend to be
its looking like the local & state administrators might have folded and will let ice continue to operate in minneapolis WITH local law enforcement protection in exchange for some fake promises that there will be a real investigation into the two murders & a "scaleback
Don't fall for the hype! Bovino was reassigned and that's significant but the broader mission is far from over
Federal deployment to Minneapolis "is steady state and expected to continue as planned," per Border Patrol memo leaked to me
January 27, 2026 at 10:33 PM
its looking like the local & state administrators might have folded and will let ice continue to operate in minneapolis WITH local law enforcement protection in exchange for some fake promises that there will be a real investigation into the two murders & a "scaleback
Reposted by We are what we pretend to be
I am. But there are three things at play here regarding ICE collecting private data. Quick rundown on the issue, why you should be paying attention, and what I'm doing about it:
So which politician is calling for the dismantling of the probably illegal database that ice & this government is collecting biometric data of protesters?
January 27, 2026 at 9:28 PM
I am. But there are three things at play here regarding ICE collecting private data. Quick rundown on the issue, why you should be paying attention, and what I'm doing about it:
Reposted by We are what we pretend to be
Does it inspire any introspection on the part of the Democratic foreign policy establishment that backing Israel to the hilt no matter what it did at any time undermined America's global position and image while also not getting any credit from Israel itself
January 27, 2026 at 8:57 PM
Does it inspire any introspection on the part of the Democratic foreign policy establishment that backing Israel to the hilt no matter what it did at any time undermined America's global position and image while also not getting any credit from Israel itself
Reposted by We are what we pretend to be
getting feds to say shit like this on camera with their face exposed is NUTS -- you can not reform this agency, everyone involved must go, there is no practical way to root out all of these guys
"You raise your voice, I erase your voice."
ICE in Minneapolis are erasing your rights.
Please share our new video of what's happening in our city. youtu.be/W1dyNcRGRXY
ICE in Minneapolis are erasing your rights.
Please share our new video of what's happening in our city. youtu.be/W1dyNcRGRXY
January 27, 2026 at 6:10 PM
getting feds to say shit like this on camera with their face exposed is NUTS -- you can not reform this agency, everyone involved must go, there is no practical way to root out all of these guys
real awkward to manage a dude who you need to work with 1 on 1 a lot, but dislikes you being their boss because you're female. love my industry, love my job.
January 27, 2026 at 6:17 PM
real awkward to manage a dude who you need to work with 1 on 1 a lot, but dislikes you being their boss because you're female. love my industry, love my job.
Reposted by We are what we pretend to be
UPDATE: After seeing this video, I informed ICE of my intent to visit the Baltimore facility today. I was told I would be denied entry.
It’s clear Trump's ICE would rather engage in a cover up. I will not stop pressing until we get answers. We need transparency & accountability.
It’s clear Trump's ICE would rather engage in a cover up. I will not stop pressing until we get answers. We need transparency & accountability.
Like many of you, I have seen this video, and I'm demanding answers.
My team has reached out to ICE repeatedly and have yet to get clear answers.
[1/2]
My team has reached out to ICE repeatedly and have yet to get clear answers.
[1/2]
January 27, 2026 at 4:42 PM
UPDATE: After seeing this video, I informed ICE of my intent to visit the Baltimore facility today. I was told I would be denied entry.
It’s clear Trump's ICE would rather engage in a cover up. I will not stop pressing until we get answers. We need transparency & accountability.
It’s clear Trump's ICE would rather engage in a cover up. I will not stop pressing until we get answers. We need transparency & accountability.
I haven't liked Ro given his relationship to Silicon Valley. (He has personal friends in industries he opines on, not just David Sacks fundraisers.) Yet he's one of the only reps that went to MSP, and one of the few to outline real steps that would actually change the on-the-ground reality.
January 27, 2026 at 1:44 PM
I haven't liked Ro given his relationship to Silicon Valley. (He has personal friends in industries he opines on, not just David Sacks fundraisers.) Yet he's one of the only reps that went to MSP, and one of the few to outline real steps that would actually change the on-the-ground reality.
Reposted by We are what we pretend to be
Murphy repeatedly bragged in public that "we followed Republicans' instructions to the letter" on drafting the far right immigration bill.
Chris Murphy helped draft one of the most fascist immigration bills in the history of the United States.
That he appears to be the Democrat lead on what to do about ICE is immensely disturbing.
That he appears to be the Democrat lead on what to do about ICE is immensely disturbing.
The Democrats’ Hard-Right Turn on Immigration Is a Disaster in Every Way
It’s amoral. It’s desperate. It’s politically reckless. It’s wrong no matter how you look at it.
www.thenation.com
January 27, 2026 at 1:15 PM
Murphy repeatedly bragged in public that "we followed Republicans' instructions to the letter" on drafting the far right immigration bill.
This means nothing without cutting DHS' budget and explicitly & substantially limiting ICE's scope. That's a politically feasible objective. Allowing this administration its own secret police force (that will now run security ops in foreign countries for our admin) is genuinely dangerous.
Dems coalescing around 5 restrictions on ICE, I'm told:
DHS required to cooperate with state probes (big)
CBP stays at border
warrants for arrests
IDs, bodycams
ICE out of churches, schools
"That package unites a lot of Dems," Sen Chris Murphy tells me on the pod:
newrepublic.com/article/2057...
DHS required to cooperate with state probes (big)
CBP stays at border
warrants for arrests
IDs, bodycams
ICE out of churches, schools
"That package unites a lot of Dems," Sen Chris Murphy tells me on the pod:
newrepublic.com/article/2057...
A Dem Senator’s Harsh Takedown of Trump Hits Home: “Breaking Point”
As Trump scrambles to contain the damage from the latest ICE horrors, Senator Chris Murphy offers a sharp indictment of Trump-ICE lawlessness—and explains how Dems can meet the urgency of the moment.
newrepublic.com
January 27, 2026 at 1:21 PM
This means nothing without cutting DHS' budget and explicitly & substantially limiting ICE's scope. That's a politically feasible objective. Allowing this administration its own secret police force (that will now run security ops in foreign countries for our admin) is genuinely dangerous.
Reposted by We are what we pretend to be
Reminder that, as of the latest reports, Liam Ramos is still in prison in Texas - now for 5 days.
His parents are legal asylum seekers with no criminal record.
His parents are legal asylum seekers with no criminal record.
January 27, 2026 at 12:30 AM
Reminder that, as of the latest reports, Liam Ramos is still in prison in Texas - now for 5 days.
His parents are legal asylum seekers with no criminal record.
His parents are legal asylum seekers with no criminal record.
Reposted by We are what we pretend to be
The ICE budget is so astronomical you have to imagine they will keep inventing new ways to use it and the mission creep has only begun. The budget will create its own permanent constituency of overreach on its own. Thanks Dems.
January 27, 2026 at 12:24 PM
The ICE budget is so astronomical you have to imagine they will keep inventing new ways to use it and the mission creep has only begun. The budget will create its own permanent constituency of overreach on its own. Thanks Dems.
Reposted by We are what we pretend to be
senate democratic leaders, including mark warner, joined house republican leaders just before the 2024 election to vastly expand the government's wiretap powers. they also fought against efforts to require the FBI to get a warrant before searching those wiretaps for information about americans.
FBI Director Kash Patel said Monday that he had opened an investigation into the Signal group text chats that Minnesota residents are using www.nbcnews.com/tech/interne...
FBI investigating Minnesota Signal chats tracking ICE, Patel says
The statement from FBI Director Kash Patel comes after right-wing media figures said they joined the chats and claimed participants were obstructing law enforcement.
www.nbcnews.com
January 27, 2026 at 1:08 AM
senate democratic leaders, including mark warner, joined house republican leaders just before the 2024 election to vastly expand the government's wiretap powers. they also fought against efforts to require the FBI to get a warrant before searching those wiretaps for information about americans.
Reposted by We are what we pretend to be
ICE murdered Renée Good in broad daylight. Less than 3 weeks later, they killed Alex Pretti, shooting him 10 times. Every day, we watch as people are ripped from their cars, their homes, their lives.
We can't allow ourselves to look away from this cruelty. Abolish ICE.
We can't allow ourselves to look away from this cruelty. Abolish ICE.
January 26, 2026 at 10:14 PM
ICE murdered Renée Good in broad daylight. Less than 3 weeks later, they killed Alex Pretti, shooting him 10 times. Every day, we watch as people are ripped from their cars, their homes, their lives.
We can't allow ourselves to look away from this cruelty. Abolish ICE.
We can't allow ourselves to look away from this cruelty. Abolish ICE.