What Caught My Eye forJanuary 29 - February 4 (#2)

A great article talking about what Minneapolis residents are dealing with and doing in the face of adversity and occupation. Adam interviews residents on the streets who are doing fantastic work helping those who are at risk and struggling as well as helping build the community.

No matter how many more armed men Trump sends to impose his will on the people of Minnesota, all he can do is accentuate their valor. No application of armed violence can make the men with guns as heroic as the people who choose to stand in their path with empty hands in defense of their neighbors. These agents, and the president who sent them, are no one’s heroes, no one’s saviors—just men with guns who have to hide their faces to shoot a mom in the face, and a nurse in the back.

An absolute scathing piece on the current administration, DHS, and ICE by Mike Masnick.

Criticizing government officials, even obnoxiously, is perhaps the core function of the First Amendment. Marcus seems to have confused “speech that annoys federal agents” with “criminal conspiracy.” And he’s using his own confusion to justify murder.

They will never take responsibility for their own actions. They will never reflect on their own culpability. Because to reflect would require admitting what everyone already knows: they have no argument. They have no legal justification. They have no constitutional authority for what they’re doing.

All they have is the authoritarian’s playbook: dehumanize your critics, commit violence, blame the victims, and threaten more violence if the criticism doesn’t stop. It’s the logic of every tinpot dictator in history, now being deployed by federal law enforcement on American streets.

There is no question that they’ll murder again. Homan has already promised they will. And it’s why we need to keep exercising our First Amendment rights to speak out against this authoritarian nonsense, rather than capitulating and letting them win.

The administration continues to go after anyone and everyone who tries to shed light on their actions.

At a moment of national crisis, the public needs journalists more than ever. Their work is protected for a reason. Yet Bondi’s prosecutors were so determined to arrest Lemon that they continued seeking a warrant even after two judges refused to sign one. If there is any justice left in our system, the judge who hears this case will dismiss the charges and strike a blow for press freedom.

Between this and his threats to nationalize elections, democracy is in the balance.