MN State Senator ⬇️

In law school, states-as-robust-and-independent-checks-on-federal-power was taught as an explicitly conservative philosophy. Assume now there is a more nuanced discussion of corporate regulation vs criminal enforcement vs civil rights in thinking about the political coding of states' rights.

Ian Austin, an Army veteran, was arrested for protesting ICE in Minneapolis. But he’s continued protesting. Senior reporter @julialurie.bsky.social spoke to him. “When they say, ‘Why would you be out here?’ How the fuck could I not be out here?” he says. “My nation is under attack."

Signs of spine growth have been detected among Dem leaders!

Cynddaredd is my part of the world tree barbarian and I love this depiction of her. Karina was awesome to work with.

One of the great educations of my adult life was that unspoken understandings of "human neutral" - who is normal and who is different - are extremely powerful and need to be challenged. And yet, we're going backwards, making human neutral conditions explicit and reinforcing them.

Characteristically thoughtful 🧵

There is not a lawyer in America who would have told you this was a plausible series of events even 6 months ago.

“Get it all on record now — get the films — get the witnesses — because somewhere down the road of history some bastard will get up and say that this never happened.” Dwight D. Eisenhower, after visiting liberated concentration camps in April 1945

Poetry train. Repost with a poem in solidarity with MN. Emma Lazarus, 1883

Defenceless under the night Our world in stupor lies; Yet, dotted everywhere, Ironic points of light Flash out wherever the Just Exchange their messages: May I, composed like them Of Eros and of dust, Beleaguered by the same Negation and despair, Show an affirming flame. — W.H. Auden, Sept. 1, 1939

YouGov is out with a new poll after ICE killed another person in Minnesota today. Abolishing ICE is now +5 among all adults, and **+12 among independents** substack.com/@gelliottmor...

You have to read this. Firsthand affidavit from one of the women who was there and recording the video. She talks about how Alex Pretti was directing traffic when she arrived. She watched him be killed in front of her. She's afraid to go home, worried she'll be arrested.

you don't become a martyr because you were a saint, you become a saint because you were martyred

Videos verified by The New York Times show Alex Jeffrey Pretti, the man federal agents shot and killed in Minneapolis on Saturday, was holding a phone, not a gun, when the agents took him to the ground and shot him. In total, at least 10 shots appear to have been fired within five seconds.

I insult Schumer a lot, so credit where it is due. This is good.

Nuremberg trials for ICE is the moderate position

Abolishing ICE is not nearly sufficient. State and local officials need to start arresting and prosecuting these kidnappers and murderers.

Need unambiguous statements of support by everyone — from Walz and Klobuchar and Smith to Schumer and Jeffries— for state and city law enforcement standing up to lawless DHS.

Recommend doing this right now

Inspiring.

Stand with the people 💪💪

This captures a huge part of what made me love America when I moved here.

Mom, if I create enough noise, my friends can get away Mom, if I create enough noise, my friends can get away Mom, if I create enough noise, my friends can get away

People love to go into Tom's mentions and get into an argument about whether a left or moderate dem will do best. What about the last 10 years of elections makes you think that the deciding vote is cast on policy? The Dems should nominate someone with high charisma who crafts a good narrative.

This 👇, completely. (But also, watch ND Stevenson's She-Ra because it's even better than Kevin Smith's He-Man.)

I try to save most of my ire for those directly causing harm, but Dem leadership genuinely disgusts me in their spinelessness and failure to meet the moment.

I have commissioned work from Karina, and she was a pleasure to work with in addition to producing a beautiful portrait. Highly recommend.

First they said "abolish ICE" and I thought, "now, now, let's not be hasty" and then stuff happened and I realized we need to abolish ICE. Then they said "we'll need our own Nuremberg" and I thought, "now, now, let's not be hasty" and then stuff happened and I realized we need our own Nuremberg.

Pick up the nearest book. Turn to page 42, post the second sentence. "You gain the following benefits."

Immediate punishment for speaking out against the regime.

I wish more American elites cared more about their dignity.

I grew up in a parliamentary system and the lack of a formal opposition leader in the US system is very jarring. GOP tries: Gingrich during Clinton, McConnell during Obama, Trump during Biden. Closest on Dem side is Pelosi during Trump 1? Fact that only one became Prez shows the poor incentive.

I am reminded of a TKD instructor I know who often says, "The easiest way to get a black belt is to buy one on Amazon. But you won't have earned it, so it won't mean anything."

The first edition of @fangeo.bsky.social is out and I am absurdly excited.

This dude is intense and correct

Excellent use of Churchill.

I think this is largely correct, but I do think events are mediated through narratives and that certain politicians are more skilled at creating narratives that shade events in their favor and push public opinion.

Feminists, repeatedly: This single incident is symptomatic of wide-spread violent misogyny. Everyone: 🙄It's one tragic event. RW Reaction to MN: I'm ok with murdering women when they're mouthy.

I love red carpets. Deeply frustrating how uncreative men's clothes are, though. Look at all the different shapes, colors, and cuts women are playing with. Me man. Me wear suit. Me Chalamet. Me wear casual suit. Barf.

The “prosecute the former regime at every level” candidate has my vote in 2028.

This is not self defense. Nor is it where you aim your gun if you are trying to disable a moving vehicle before providing someone with due process. This is a federal agent choosing to murder.

Mayor Jacob Frey: "They are already trying to spin this as an action of self defense. Having seen the video myself, I want to tell everybody directly that is bullshit."

I recommend this. I do not believe that the obligation to be informed requires watching videos of murder. I'm glad the video exists. I hope the perpetrator is arrested and tried. I hope resistance to ICE grows. But I'm not watching the video.

As of today, and for the next year, I am now the answer to life, the universe, and everything. Still working on the question.

Let your last act of the year be supporting needless puns. (Like the embedded post to vote.)

Let your last act of the year be supporting needless puns. (Like the embedded post to vote.)

🎇The Second 2025 Headline of the Year Finalist🎇 Police Are Scrambling

I tend to view a wealth tax as solving a problem the tax code created that would be better solved through tax code reform. Make the incurrence of indebtedness a liquidation event and end the basis step up during inheritance and you've cured a huge portion of the problem + improved incentives.

Quarterfinal, Match 4 of 4 a. Emerges With Girlfriend