Mothers. Shrewsbury, PA. 2026.

On the train home I listened to a song about people on a bus and played games with faces. There were no men in gaberdine suits; everyone’s everything is a camera.

After a brief rain. Overlea, MD. 2026.

Evergreen.

Ivanhoe. Wilson Park. Baltimore, MD. 2026.

Officially in my "experimenting with Darktable" era.

The weekly papal rebuke of Vance continues.

I still think of this and wince. Washington County commissioners: rolled over on an ICE detention facility, told residents to pound sand, sent Kristi Noem a two-page email and an awkward group photo begging for $381 million and a presidential visit. Kristi Noem: 👁️ 👄 👁️

Every day checking my email: “Oh no, it’s the praxis police!”

The things I wish had existed when I was a kid…

This is incredibly irresponsible journalism. You cannot write this headline without acknowledging all the times Elon Musk has promised to pay for things, then didn't. Let's take a stroll down memory lane. 🧵

A Country Squire. Liberty Square. Baltimore, MD. 2026.

Thinking about how I used to take photos for fun. Harlem Park. Baltimore, MD. 2026.

From my own military experience, the Strait of Hormuz is one of the most strategically vital waterways on earth. No sortie, operation, or mission was ever planned without also accounting for Iran's reaction there. This is insane.

On a Friday that caps an ugly week, I’m turning to the beauty of a David Gilmour guitar solo to rekindle some hope and honor the legend’s 80th birthday. The evergreen anthem for hope in dark times: ‘On the Turning Away.’

Another great post by @mwriston.bsky.social of @projectsaltbox.bsky.social, in which he skewers DHS for planned #ICE facility in #Hagerstown warehouse: projectsaltbox.substack.com/p/ices-new-m... Inadequate water and sewer capabilities. Environmental impact.

On All Rise News, host Adam Klasfeld speaks with Michael Wriston about the impact of Project Salt Box's campaign, which has helped spur nationwide opposition and cancel at least 12 ICE warehouse contracts. @klasfeldreports.com @allrisenews.com

As I work on our next story, all I can say is… Maryland, please stay frosty.

In which the pedantic "well actually" crowd on Bluesky completely misses the forest for the trees.

Slowly wrapping my head around a future where I am sitting in a DHS prison camp for writing about public records.

Let me break down simply why DHS’ claim that they used industry standard software with highly complicated tools and datasets to create these forecasts is empty jargon: I drew this in an industry standard software with highly sophisticated tools.

This is the testimony our team will be submitting tomorrow in support of HB 630. We are providing this to other Marylanders to use for inspiration, or to model their own submissions on.

Hahahahahahaha history nerds for the win

“Michael, I followed you for photography, not politics or ICE activism.” I am afraid that I have but one life to live and this moment to rise to, and I dare not use it idly.

Marylanders, put it on your calendar, take the day off, and get writing. Feb. 16th is the first day you can submit testimony on HB 630, which would limit the ability for anyone to turn a pre-existing building into a im/migant detention site. More info + instructions how in the Salt Box today.

🚨 New: We built a visual tracker of the warehouses ICE is targeting across the US. Working off an idea from @actualkatherine.bsky.social, we’ve mapped active searches, canceled deals, and linked state property records. Explore the map here: tinyurl.com/ICEWarehouse...

Jesus Saves. Carrollton Ridge. Baltimore, MD. 2026.

If you've thought about supporting PSB financially — do this instead, please. Baltimore and Maryland need this!

Join PSB at @redemmas.org to talk about how we are using public records — from federal procurement databases and land deeds to local plumbing and HVAC permits — to track Homeland Security’s unprecedented growth under the One Big Beautiful Bill. Sat, Feb. 28, 7:00 PM 3128 Greenmount Ave, Baltimore

The Wash Co council has mechanisms to slow and delay the conversion of a warehouse and its surrounding lot into a detention center. But they are choosing not to use them.

Hey that’s us!

Taking this photo today absolutely broke me. Downtown. Baltimore, MD. 2026.

Today in Baltimore….

For anyone following along, I am 95% sure those full hotels have nothing to do with ICE and are not something to be worried about. Unless you think junior volleyball moms and music educators and mental health professionals are scary

Kinda weird!

It’s been a busy week. RIP my inbox. Here’s how to help.

Had to take a selfie for an upcoming thing (maybe).

The rabbit hole on the proposed Hagerstown detention center is deep.

CASH USA. Druid Heights. Baltimore, MD. 2026.

ICE HSI is exploring companies to help them buy user data revealed by ad tech capabilities, a recent SAM.gov RFI suggests.

Humbled that @projectsaltbox.bsky.social's work was included in reporting from WYPR and @thebaltimorebanner.com today. The team is really working relentlessly to piece together the rapidly expanding homeland security industrial complex... in Baltimore, and around the U.S.

My favorite fence in the city. Druid Heights. Baltimore, MD. 2026.

The purchase of this warehouse places a massive detainee holding and processing facility at the nexus of I-70 and I-81 and further bolsters DHS' growing detention and transportation network in the Maryland region.

Today I am: 1. Calling my senators 2. Telling them my city and state of residence so they log my call 3. Telling them not to fund DHS, no matter what 4. Posting receipts 5. Challenging you to do the same thing Total time = 1 minute, 45 seconds

On a story about allegations of detainees being beaten, abused, and kept in inhumane conditions without access to restrooms, water, and food... This headline is in such bad taste.

The Department of Homeland Security blamed winter weather for severe overcrowding at a Baltimore immigration facility, but weather records and the video’s timeline contradict that explanation.

Nine. Penn North. Baltimore, MD. 2026.

WATCH: alleged overcrowding at the Baltimore ICE Field Office.

An alarming video — allegedly happening here in Baltimore.

Protestors display signs during a counter-ICE demonstration Saturday. Downtown. Baltimore, MD. 2026.