Madi's work on this article is tremendous. It's so important to document this moment. This family's story about self-deportation is a sadly common one that I've heard variations on so, so many times. But it's the photo that rips me apart. The boy, Mateo, is the same age as my son. Heartbreaking.

One More Time: The Average American K-12 Student is Doing Fine Relative to the International Baseline open.substack.com/pub/freddied...

Explore this gift article from The New York Times. You can read it for free without a subscription. www.nytimes.com/2026/05/18/w...

To be very clear for anybody seeing this post who doesn’t follow St. Paul politics, Bowie is the woman on the right!

Who would you nominate to speak with filmmakers about MN ICE resistance ? They have access to politicians, I'm talking about the day to day neighbor folks. Pls ask the deserving & willing to contact me directly, not in public post.

Fined for parking in your own driveway? Threatened with foreclosure for trash bin violations? Good news! The HOA Bill of Rights," championed by Legal Aid Attorneys Ron Elwood and Colleen Daly, passed with bipartisan #MNLeg support to curb overreach of homeowner associations! https://bit.ly/4txOCfG

The lawsuit said former director Trahern Pollard used $6 million of that to pay for luxury cars, trips, child support and his own private businesses.

Years ago, a developer we were working with on a local project asked my firm to design an office space for this group in one of his buildings (pro-bono no less!). I didn’t know anything about them but bowed out the minute I saw they wanted a whole room dedicated to gun storage. Nah. Felt off.

Help neighbors in ICE custody! Legal Aid is seeking Spanish-speaking attorneys or law students for four volunteer opportunities with our Immigration Law Project. https://mylegalaid.org/take-action/volunteer/volunteer-opportunities/

Appreciate this detail from CBS News reporter Jennifer Jacobs. It's an important part of the story that seems to be missing from a lot of comments & coverage.

We're hiring! Passionate about disability rights? Join our MN Disability Law Center as our newest Legal Advocate. In this role, you will connect with clients, consult with team leaders and be a trusted resource. Required: One year of intake or case management experience! https://bit.ly/4mJZntg

The Texas legislature rammed through a gerrymandering bill at the request of Trump. Virginia actually voted in favor of redistricting to counterbalance what Texas and other Republican-controlled states have done. Yet only one is considered a "power grab." Oligarch-owned media in a nutshell.

Concerning my colleague, friend and teacher. www.twincities.com/2026/04/20/y...

If we don't defend the 180,000 Minnesotans living in the most affordable housing found in rural MN, private capital will take everything they have. We have to stand up for each other, no matter where we live. Thank you @minnesotareformer.com for the support and Ms. McDonough for your hospitality!

Re-sharing this @racketmn.com piece I wrote last year about how slam poetry can be (and very often is) so much better than the dominant pop culture stereotype of it. See for yourself at the annual Midwest Poetry Mashup, 4/30-5/2 in MPLS. Tickets available now: app.showslinger.com/e/midwest-po...

What's up ? The Mpls School board voted to move Callahan from the finance to the policy committee & Adriana Cerrillo to the finance committee. Cerrillo has not attended a school board meeting in several months, & the policy committee last month had to cancel a meeting because of lack of a quorum.

What my ancestors were up to 100 and 300 years ago.Driven from Silesia for refusing to bow to Lutherans or Catholics. Children kidnapped for failing to do catechism. Sound familiar?

Bigos developer wants $5 million from St Paul to convert Galtier offices to market rate apts. $630k each w/30k city $. Maybe worth it if each unit pays ~~ $13k prop tax yearly. Not sure how much Galtier pays now. I asked if they seek other public $. No doubt developer will make out well.

They are a lawless force that assassinates people without consequences. We cannot let this go unremarked because the attempted target was an immigrant!

It is sad when the vice-president of the United States sees his job as spreading Kremlin propaganda.

A judge has ordered charges dismissed against an anti-ICE protester who was arrested Sunday outside a St. Paul church.

The Garden of Earthly Delights (detail), by Hieronymus Bosch, 1480-1505, 📸 by @alexbrandon

Background:

great news stereogum.com/2494293/dill...

St. Paul opens applications TODAY to apply for emergency rental assistance. The application window will remain open for two days.

Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid is expanding free legal help for seniors (60+) in Central MN. No foolin'! Get legal help with housing, public benefits, consumer, and family law issues. See our list of service locations. https://bit.ly/4s2BaPV

Newly released ICE data provides the clearest picture yet of Operation Metro Surge: ICE arrested more than 3,700 immigrants, and less than 3% were Somali, even though the surge initially purported to target Somali Minnesotans.

one my my favorite thinkers and poets, Aurora Levins Morales, is selling prints and the proceeds are all going to our matching rent fund for Stand with Minnesota. if you can pick one up, here is the link! kaartist.com/products/tra...

During the active Operation Metro Surge, federal agents arrested an average of about 33 people a day. About 30 of those arrested were age 16 and under. One of the arrests involved a child who was just two or three years old. A handful were over 70 years old. (4)

Four-byline alert: 🚨 “.. A broker for Pete Hegseth, the US defence secretary, attempted to make a big investment in major defence companies in the weeks leading up to the US-Israeli attack on Iran, according to three people familiar with the matter.” www.ft.com/content/744e...

ICYMI: St. Paul to pay $9.5 million to family of teen shot by Jimmy Lee Rec Center worker after a tussle. The staffer was sentenced to 10 years. www.twincities.com/2026/03/25/s... Story by @NFerraroPiPress

...and one quick addition: this is what I wrote after the first No Kings: "What's Next? Things To Do After a Big March." Just a few notes, resources, and links that I've found useful, especially in the context of working with new folks just taking those first steps into political consciousness.

No Kings #TwinCities

Leah Greenberg: It is incredible to be here with you today! #NoKings

🚨 UPDATE to story on Rep. Elliott Engen's DUI arrest. He went drinking after skipping out of an Education Finance Committee meeting when they were hearing a bill related to absenteeism.

"'There is something particularly craven about transferring a nursing refugee mother out-of-state,' U.S. District Judge Michael J. Davis wrote in a particularly sharp rebuke ordering Lah’s release." Another tough but important story by the Strib's Susan Du www.startribune.com/how-ice-deta...

Activist who pushed 2020 election fraud claims convicted of election fraud www.nbcnews.com/politics/pol...

Explore this gift article from The New York Times. You can read it for free without a subscription. www.nytimes.com/2026/03/24/o...

Explore this gift article from The New York Times. You can read it for free without a subscription. www.nytimes.com/2026/03/24/o...

Scam profiteer theory:

rare bare minimum W from the NYT headline writing department www.nytimes.com/2026/03/24/u...

More openings at the Housing Justice Center—please take a look & share with your network. I cannot speak highly enough of the work of this critically important organization. *Executive Director *Director of Litigation *Special Counsel for Federal Response jobs.minnesotanonprofits.org/e-housing-ju...

We honor the legacy of Nancy Brick, a cherished member of the Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid family for 45 years. Nancy was a legal secretary (1974-2019), who's warm spirit and dedication to our mission left an indelible mark. She passed away March 16 and will be deeply missed. https://bit.ly/4sAy5YM

Outrageous. Stripping Liam Conejo Ramos and his family of asylum is beyond cruel and indefensible. This decision must be overturned. Shame.

Explore this gift article from The New York Times. You can read it for free without a subscription. www.nytimes.com/2026/03/18/u...

In Minnesota, we’ve seen the federal government at its worst -- and showed the world how to fight back. Now, I'm honored that the flagship No Kings protest will be held here in the Twin Cities. Together, we'll show Donald Trump that we don't do kings.

Etienne Davignon, 93, is the only one alive among 10 Belgians accused by the Congolese leader's family of complicity.

OH HEY who remembers the lady who attempted to intimidate a tenant by throwing a tarantula at her? This FINALLY went to trial (and she was convicted). eplocalnews.org/2026/03/13/j...

Alison Griffith, a supervising attorney with Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid, shares a message in Spanish about legal help available to people in need. #LegalAid https://cbsn.ws/4cDUgrM