#Tag · BT Free Social

"Arrest records... provide the clearest picture yet of what led to the controversial & aggressive operation, in which agents descended from a Blackhawk helicopter, broke down doors and zip-tied #US citizens and #immigrants.

[It was *NOT* because Tren de Aragua had taken over the building, but]...“based on intelligence that there were illegal aliens unlawfully occupying apartments.”"
- @ProPublica
https://www.propublica.org/article/chicago-venezuela-immigration-ice-raid-landlord-tren-de-aragua

#ICE #CBP #DHS #Violence #Trump #Lies #News #Chicago #USA #UnitedStates

ProPublica

The Real Story Behind the Midnight Immigration Raid on a Chicago Apartment Building

The Trump administration has claimed the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua had taken over the building. But new documents make no mention of the gang and reveal federal agents had information about “illegal aliens unlawfully occupying apartments.”

womble boosted

Zhi Zhu 🕸️

@ZhiZhu@newsie.social · 18 hours ago

“We are getting constant calls for victims because their names, despite them never coming forward, being completely unknown to the public, have all just been released for #public consumption,” victims’ attorney Brad Edwards told ABC News after the release of the files. “It's literally thousands of mistakes.”
https://www.404media.co/the-doj-redacted-a-photo-of-the-mona-lisa-in-the-epstein-files/

[DOJ doxes survivors, protects #pedophiles.]

#JeffreyEpstein #Epstein #EpsteinFiles #DonaldTrump #Trump #DOJ #News #Press #Media #US #USA #UnitedStates #America

404 Media

The DOJ Redacted a Photo of the Mona Lisa in the Epstein Files

While Epstein’s victims endure the fallout of their photos and names being exposed in the Department of Justice’s latest tranche of files, investigators redacted the identity of the most famous portrait in the world.

Zhi Zhu 🕸️

@ZhiZhu@newsie.social · 18 hours ago

[DOJ doxes survivors, protects #pedophiles.]

#JeffreyEpstein #Epstein #EpsteinFiles #DonaldTrump #Trump #DOJ #News #Press #Media #US #USA #UnitedStates #America

404 Media

The DOJ Redacted a Photo of the Mona Lisa in the Epstein Files

Social Media Channel boosted

Ukraine War Bulletins and News

@SocraticEthics@mastodon.online · 4 months ago

⛔️🇺🇸🇬🇧🇪🇺Ex-NATO Chief Says Alliance Let Ukraine Down, US Was 'Defeatist' (more) http://www.rferl.org/a/33564843.html #Ukraine #Mastodon #Poland #Warsaw #Netherlands #Norway #Sweden #Estonia #Latvia #Lithuania #Paris #Rome #London #Berlin #Canada #Finland #Brussels #Denmark #Germany #France #Italy #OSCE #PACE #CoE #SouthKorea #Press #News #Taiwan #Media #Japan #USA #US #UN #UK #EU #NATO #UnitedStates #UnitedKingdom #EuropeanUnion #Czechia #Romania #russiaUkraineWar #11yrInvasionofUkraine
#RussiaIsATerroristState

RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty

Ex-NATO Chief Stoltenberg Says Alliance Let Ukraine Down, US Was 'Defeatist'

Former NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg says the alliance “was letting Ukraine down” by failing to deliver enough support during 2023-24, describing a “defeatist” mood in Washington and European nations as they failed to make promised arms deliveries.

Zhi Zhu 🕸️

@ZhiZhu@newsie.social · 2 days ago

"State Rep. Erin Zwiener, a Democrat whose district encompasses Buda, said, “Instead of calling for justice against the grown man that assaulted a girl, Governor Abbott is celebrating the arrest of students and calling for the criminal investigation of #schools and teachers,” she said. “He is also threatening the funding of our #school districts""
https://www.texasstandard.org/stories/buda-texas-ice-protest-students-fight-man-arrested/

#GregAbbott #MAGA #Fascism #GOP #News #Texas #USA #US #America #Education #Children

Text from article:
Abbott weighed in on the Hays CISD walkouts in a social media post on Tuesday, referencing an unrelated incident involving Kyle High School students.

“Schools and staff who allow this behavior should be treated as co-conspirators and should not be immune for criminal behavior,” Abbott said. “We are also looking into stripping the funding of schools that abandon their duty to teach our kids the curriculum required by law.”

State Rep. Erin Zwiener, a Democrat whose district encompasses Buda, said, “Instead of calling for justice against the grown man that assaulted a girl, Governor Abbott is celebrating the arrest of students and calling for the criminal investigation of schools and teachers,” she said. “He is also threatening the funding of our school districts and spreading the lie that schools are inciting our kids to protest.” — Text from article: Abbott weighed in on the Hays CISD walkouts in a social media post on Tuesday, referencing an unrelated incident involving Kyle High School students. “Schools and staff who allow this behavior should be treated as co-conspirators and should not be immune for criminal behavior,” Abbott said. “We are also looking into stripping the funding of schools that abandon their duty to teach our kids the curriculum required by law.” State Rep. Erin Zwiener, a Democrat whose district encompasses Buda, said, “Instead of calling for justice against the grown man that assaulted a girl, Governor Abbott is celebrating the arrest of students and calling for the criminal investigation of schools and teachers,” she said. “He is also threatening the funding of our school districts and spreading the lie that schools are inciting our kids to protest.”

Texas Standard

Man arrested after fight with Central Texas students during anti-ICE walkout

A viral video of the incident appears to show a driver pushing a high school student to the ground and hitting her several times.

Zhi Zhu 🕸️

@ZhiZhu@newsie.social replied · 2 days ago

"Ayaan Moledina, federal policy director for Students Engaged in Advancing Texas (SEAT), spoke ... about the incident.

"Students have the right to #protest and display their #FirstAmendment rights in educational environments. That's exactly what these #students were doing," Moledina said.

SEAT is a student-led movement working to get young people involved in the policy-making process at all levels of #government."
https://www.fox7austin.com/news/video-student-protest-assault-buda-texas

#Education #Texas #USA #News #US #UnitedStates

Headline from Fox News:
Kyle man arrested for assault in connection with Buda student protest: police

By Elizabeth Evans and Jenna King
Updated February 3, 2026 7:04pm CST
Buda, FOX 7 Austin

The Brief
- Law enforcement investigating physical confrontation between an adult and student at a walkout protest
- Videos from the incident went viral on social media
- Buda police say the man was arrested — Headline from Fox News: Kyle man arrested for assault in connection with Buda student protest: police By Elizabeth Evans and Jenna King Updated February 3, 2026 7:04pm CST Buda, FOX 7 Austin The Brief - Law enforcement investigating physical confrontation between an adult and student at a walkout protest - Videos from the incident went viral on social media - Buda police say the man was arrested

FOX 7 Austin

Kyle man arrested for assault in connection with Buda student protest: police

Law enforcement is investigating after videos surfaced online of a man confronting Buda-area students protesting ICE operations on Monday afternoon.

Zhi Zhu 🕸️

@ZhiZhu@newsie.social · 2 days ago

"Chad Michael Watts, a resident of Kyle, #Texas, was taken into custody on 3 February 2026 & charged with two counts of assault causing bodily injury following a confrontation with minors during a student-led protest near Buda schools...

Watts was booked into the Hays County Jail & remains subject to further court proceedings. Under Texas #law, a Class A misdemeanour carries a maximum penalty of one year in jail & a fine of up to £3,650 ($5,000) per count."
https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/who-chad-michael-watts-45-year-old-maga-that-got-beaten-bunch-kids-making-racist-remarks-1776327

#News #US

Headline from International Business Times:
Trending
Who is Chad Michael Watts? 45-Year-Old MAGA That Got Beaten Up By a Bunch of Kids For Making Racist Remarks

Police identify Kyle resident Chad Michael Watts as adult aggressor in assault involving minors.

By Chelsie Napiza
Published 04 February 2026, 12:58 PM GMT — Headline from International Business Times: Trending Who is Chad Michael Watts? 45-Year-Old MAGA That Got Beaten Up By a Bunch of Kids For Making Racist Remarks Police identify Kyle resident Chad Michael Watts as adult aggressor in assault involving minors. By Chelsie Napiza Published 04 February 2026, 12:58 PM GMT

Zhi Zhu 🕸️

@ZhiZhu@newsie.social replied · 2 days ago

"Chad Michael Watts, who lives in Kyle, was charged Tuesday afternoon with two counts of assault causing bodily injury.

The incident was captured in a now viral #video.

A man and a student protester are seen getting into a verbal argument that quickly turns physical and... the man throwing the girl to the ground and striking her repeatedly until other students intervene and pull him away."
https://www.texasstandard.org/stories/buda-texas-ice-protest-students-fight-man-arrested/

#MAGA #Violence #Children #News #Texas #USA #US #UnitedStates #America

Texas Standard

Man arrested after fight with Central Texas students during anti-ICE walkout

A viral video of the incident appears to show a driver pushing a high school student to the ground and hitting her several times.

Zhi Zhu 🕸️

@ZhiZhu@newsie.social · 2 days ago

"Le normally doesn’t work for the #US Attorney’s Office. She used to work as an attorney for ICE in #immigration court, and last month volunteered to help prosecutors in the US Attorney’s Office deal with the many habeas petitions from #immigrants in ICE detention seeking their release. But Le admitted to Blackwell that ICE is out of its depth, and was not prepared to argue cases in federal court."
https://newrepublic.com/post/206115/this-job-sucks-doj-attorney-judge-contempt-ice-court-orders

#ICE #DHS #CBP #Law #News #Minnesota #USA #US #UnitedStates #America

Text from article:
“Some of this is of your own making because of non-compliance with orders,” Blackwell said.

Le normally doesn’t work for the U.S. Attorney’s Office. She used to work as an attorney for ICE in immigration court, and last month volunteered to help prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney’s Office deal with the many habeas petitions from immigrants in ICE detention seeking their release. But Le admitted to Blackwell that ICE is out of its depth, and was not prepared to argue cases in federal court.

“We have no guidance or direction on what we need to do,” Le said. — Text from article: “Some of this is of your own making because of non-compliance with orders,” Blackwell said. Le normally doesn’t work for the U.S. Attorney’s Office. She used to work as an attorney for ICE in immigration court, and last month volunteered to help prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney’s Office deal with the many habeas petitions from immigrants in ICE detention seeking their release. But Le admitted to Blackwell that ICE is out of its depth, and was not prepared to argue cases in federal court. “We have no guidance or direction on what we need to do,” Le said.

The New Republic

“This Job Sucks”: DOJ Attorney Asks Judge to Hold Her in Contempt

A lawyer working with the Minnesota attorney’s office said she just wants some sleep, after working so hard to try to get ICE to follow court orders.

Zhi Zhu 🕸️

@ZhiZhu@newsie.social replied · 2 days ago

"Trump’s #Minnesota crackdown has proceeded with little regard for the #law, drawing a backlash from local residents who have scrambled to #protest against the massive deployment of federal agents & their violent tactics. Since the deaths of #Good and #Pretti, those #protests have only intensified, and Trump’s response has been to double down. The US attorneys who haven’t quit in protest now have to deal with the #legal fallout."
https://newrepublic.com/post/206115/this-job-sucks-doj-attorney-judge-contempt-ice-court-orders

#ICE #DHS #News #US #USA #UnitedStates

The New Republic

“This Job Sucks”: DOJ Attorney Asks Judge to Hold Her in Contempt

A lawyer working with the Minnesota attorney’s office said she just wants some sleep, after working so hard to try to get ICE to follow court orders.

Zhi Zhu 🕸️

@ZhiZhu@newsie.social · 2 days ago

"Attorney Julie Le was representing the #government at a hearing over ICE’s failure to follow #court orders and immediately release people that it had wrongfully detained. When Judge Jerry Blackwell asked why the agency is not complying, Le said that the government was “overwhelmed” by the legal challenges... and that trying to get ICE to comply with court orders has required nonstop work for an office depleted by resignations."
https://newrepublic.com/post/206115/this-job-sucks-doj-attorney-judge-contempt-ice-court-orders

#ICE #CBP #DHS #Law #News #US #USA

Headline:
“This Job Sucks”: DOJ Attorney Asks Judge to Hold Her in Contempt

A lawyer working with the Minnesota attorney’s office said she just wants some sleep, after working so hard to try to get ICE to follow court orders.

by Hafiz Rashid
February 3, 2026 / 5:23 p.m. ET — Headline: “This Job Sucks”: DOJ Attorney Asks Judge to Hold Her in Contempt A lawyer working with the Minnesota attorney’s office said she just wants some sleep, after working so hard to try to get ICE to follow court orders. by Hafiz Rashid February 3, 2026 / 5:23 p.m. ET

Zhi Zhu 🕸️

@ZhiZhu@newsie.social replied · 2 days ago

#ICE #DHS #CBP #Law #News #Minnesota #USA #US #UnitedStates #America

The New Republic

“This Job Sucks”: DOJ Attorney Asks Judge to Hold Her in Contempt

A lawyer working with the Minnesota attorney’s office said she just wants some sleep, after working so hard to try to get ICE to follow court orders.

Joe Cardillo (Disinfo Dad) and 1 other boosted

Zhi Zhu 🕸️

@ZhiZhu@newsie.social · 3 days ago

"The #politics of careful positioning and poll-tested moderation have been tested, and on their own, they have failed to deliver the victories needed to protect democracy. The choice now is to transform the party’s strategy to meet the scale of the threat, or to fail.

👉 In this contest, failure is not just an electoral defeat; it may be the end of democratic self-governance."👈

https://www.bostonreview.net/forum/how-not-to-defeat-authoritarianism/

#Trump #Authoritarian #USPol #Democrats #News #US #USA #UnitedStates #America #Democracy

Text from article(edited for length):
Democrats can keep debating whether to stand 5 degrees or 15 degrees left of center, fine-tuning messages drowned out by the latest Trump spectacle. They can chase moderate voters our data shows won’t materialize while their base stays home...

Or they can accept the evidence: the old rules are dead. ...with an authoritarian movement capturing one major party, electoral politics has become existential conflict. This requires not moderation but mobilization... not just messaging but genuine reform to prove that Democrats will fight for democracy itself by first attacking the corruption that rots it from within.

Scholars of democratic breakdown know that moments like this demand institutional coordination, civil society mobilization, and the political courage to name and confront the authoritarian threat on its weakest flank. Every democracy facing this challenge has learned you don’t defeat authoritarians by being more reasonable. You defeat them by being more determined and by uniting the country against their most visible vulnerability: their corruption.

History won’t judge Democrats on whether they were moderate enough. It will judge them on whether they fought hard enough, and smart enough, when democracy was threatened... The choice now is to transform the party’s strategy to meet the scale of the threat, or to fail. In this contest, failure is not just an electoral defeat; it may be the end of democratic self-governance. — Text from article(edited for length): Democrats can keep debating whether to stand 5 degrees or 15 degrees left of center, fine-tuning messages drowned out by the latest Trump spectacle. They can chase moderate voters our data shows won’t materialize while their base stays home... Or they can accept the evidence: the old rules are dead. ...with an authoritarian movement capturing one major party, electoral politics has become existential conflict. This requires not moderation but mobilization... not just messaging but genuine reform to prove that Democrats will fight for democracy itself by first attacking the corruption that rots it from within. Scholars of democratic breakdown know that moments like this demand institutional coordination, civil society mobilization, and the political courage to name and confront the authoritarian threat on its weakest flank. Every democracy facing this challenge has learned you don’t defeat authoritarians by being more reasonable. You defeat them by being more determined and by uniting the country against their most visible vulnerability: their corruption. History won’t judge Democrats on whether they were moderate enough. It will judge them on whether they fought hard enough, and smart enough, when democracy was threatened... The choice now is to transform the party’s strategy to meet the scale of the threat, or to fail. In this contest, failure is not just an electoral defeat; it may be the end of democratic self-governance.

Boston Review

How Not to Defeat Authoritarianism

Moderation used to help Democrats win, but its advantages now have been greatly exaggerated.

Zhi Zhu 🕸️

@ZhiZhu@newsie.social · 3 days ago

"Every #democracy facing this challenge has learned you don’t defeat authoritarians by being more reasonable. You defeat them by being more determined and by uniting the country against their most visible vulnerability: their #corruption.

#History won’t judge #Democrats on whether they were moderate enough. It will judge them on whether they fought hard enough, and smart enough, when democracy was threatened."
https://www.bostonreview.net/forum/how-not-to-defeat-authoritarianism/

#Trump #Authoritarianism #Politics #News #US #USA #America

Headline:
Forum
How Not to Defeat Authoritarianism

Moderation used to help Democrats win, but its advantages now have been greatly exaggerated.

by Adam Bonica and Jake Grumbach

With responses from: Cori Bush, Amanda Litman, Matthew Yglesias, G. Elliott Morris, Julia Serano, Eric Rauchway, Suzanne Mettler & Trevor E. Brown, Thomas Ferguson, Timothy Shenk, Jared Abbott & Milan Loewer, Jenifer Fernandez Ancona, Lily Geismer, Danielle Wiggins, William A. Galston, and Henry Burke — Headline: Forum How Not to Defeat Authoritarianism Moderation used to help Democrats win, but its advantages now have been greatly exaggerated. by Adam Bonica and Jake Grumbach With responses from: Cori Bush, Amanda Litman, Matthew Yglesias, G. Elliott Morris, Julia Serano, Eric Rauchway, Suzanne Mettler & Trevor E. Brown, Thomas Ferguson, Timothy Shenk, Jared Abbott & Milan Loewer, Jenifer Fernandez Ancona, Lily Geismer, Danielle Wiggins, William A. Galston, and Henry Burke

Boston Review

How Not to Defeat Authoritarianism

Moderation used to help Democrats win, but its advantages now have been greatly exaggerated.

Zhi Zhu 🕸️

@ZhiZhu@newsie.social replied · 3 days ago

👉 In this contest, failure is not just an electoral defeat; it may be the end of democratic self-governance."👈

https://www.bostonreview.net/forum/how-not-to-defeat-authoritarianism/

#Trump #Authoritarian #USPol #Democrats #News #US #USA #UnitedStates #America #Democracy

Boston Review

How Not to Defeat Authoritarianism

Moderation used to help Democrats win, but its advantages now have been greatly exaggerated.

Witchzilla boosted

Zhi Zhu 🕸️

@ZhiZhu@newsie.social · 3 days ago

"Secretary Noem complains of strains unlawful immigrants place on our immigration-enforcement system. Her answer? Turn 352,959 lawful immigrants into unlawful immigrants overnight. She complains of strains to our economy. Her answer? Turn employed lawful immigrants who contribute billions in taxes into the legally unemployable... 👉 This approach is many things—in the public interest is not one of them."👈 🔥
https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.283214/gov.uscourts.dcd.283214.124.0_1.pdf

#Immigration #Courts #KristiNoem #News #US #USA #UnitedStates

Text from court document:
Dkt. 100 (§ 705 Reply) at 20–21.4 “Do not travel to Haiti for any reason” does not exactly scream, as Secretary Noem concluded, suitable for return. And so, the Government studiously does not argue that Plaintiffs will suffer no harm if removed to Haiti. Instead, it argues Plaintiffs will not certainly suffer irreparable harm because DHS might not remove them. But this fails to take Secretary Noem at her word: “WE DON’T WANT THEM. NOT ONE.” See Section IV.B.2.b.

Finally, the balance of equities and public interest favor a stay. The Government does not cite any reason termination must occur post haste. Secretary Noem complains of strains unlawful immigrants place on our immigration-enforcement system. Her answer? Turn 352,959 lawful immigrants into unlawful immigrants overnight. She complains of strains to our economy. Her answer? Turn employed lawful immigrants who contribute billions in taxes into the legally unemployable. She complains of strains to our healthcare system. Her answer? Turn the insured into the uninsured. This approach is many things—in the public interest is not one of them.

For the reasons below, the Court GRANTS Plaintiffs’ Renewed Motion for a Stay Under 5 U.S.C. § 705, Dkt. 81. — Text from court document: Dkt. 100 (§ 705 Reply) at 20–21.4 “Do not travel to Haiti for any reason” does not exactly scream, as Secretary Noem concluded, suitable for return. And so, the Government studiously does not argue that Plaintiffs will suffer no harm if removed to Haiti. Instead, it argues Plaintiffs will not certainly suffer irreparable harm because DHS might not remove them. But this fails to take Secretary Noem at her word: “WE DON’T WANT THEM. NOT ONE.” See Section IV.B.2.b. Finally, the balance of equities and public interest favor a stay. The Government does not cite any reason termination must occur post haste. Secretary Noem complains of strains unlawful immigrants place on our immigration-enforcement system. Her answer? Turn 352,959 lawful immigrants into unlawful immigrants overnight. She complains of strains to our economy. Her answer? Turn employed lawful immigrants who contribute billions in taxes into the legally unemployable. She complains of strains to our healthcare system. Her answer? Turn the insured into the uninsured. This approach is many things—in the public interest is not one of them. For the reasons below, the Court GRANTS Plaintiffs’ Renewed Motion for a Stay Under 5 U.S.C. § 705, Dkt. 81.

View (PDF)

Zhi Zhu 🕸️

@ZhiZhu@newsie.social · 3 days ago

#Immigration #Courts #KristiNoem #News #US #USA #UnitedStates

View (PDF)

Zhi Zhu 🕸️

@ZhiZhu@newsie.social · 3 days ago

"The complaint was filed last May with the intelligence community’s inspector general...

The November letter from [whistleblower’s lawyer] Bakaj was shared with the #House and #Senate intelligence panels, making them aware of the complaint’s filing for the first time. Months later, lawmakers still haven’t received the complaint itself."
https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/classified-whistleblower-complaint-about-tulsi-gabbard-stalls-within-her-agency-027f5331?st=SYNN9K&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

#TulsiGabbard #Trump #Politics #Corruption #Crime #Whistleblower #Congress #News #US #USA #UnitedStates #America

#TulsiGabbard #News

Text from article:
Gabbard has been an enigmatic figure in the Trump administration, sidelined from major national-security matters and tasked with investigating the results of the 2020 election that President Trump lost.

The November letter from Bakaj was shared with the House and Senate intelligence panels, making them aware of the complaint’s filing for the first time. Months later, lawmakers still haven’t received the complaint itself. Some Democratic staffers on the intelligence committees have tried to learn more about the complaint in recent weeks, with little success, congressional aides said.

The complaint is so highly classified that Bakaj said he hasn’t been able to view it himself. The Wall Street Journal couldn’t learn the substance of the allegations. — Text from article: Gabbard has been an enigmatic figure in the Trump administration, sidelined from major national-security matters and tasked with investigating the results of the 2020 election that President Trump lost. The November letter from Bakaj was shared with the House and Senate intelligence panels, making them aware of the complaint’s filing for the first time. Months later, lawmakers still haven’t received the complaint itself. Some Democratic staffers on the intelligence committees have tried to learn more about the complaint in recent weeks, with little success, congressional aides said. The complaint is so highly classified that Bakaj said he hasn’t been able to view it himself. The Wall Street Journal couldn’t learn the substance of the allegations.

Zhi Zhu 🕸️

@ZhiZhu@newsie.social replied · 3 days ago

"The lengthy delay on sending the complaint to Congress is without known precedent, according to watchdog experts and former intelligence officials. The inspector general is generally required to assess whether the complaint is credible within two weeks of receiving it, and share it with lawmakers within another week if it determines it is credible."
https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/classified-whistleblower-complaint-about-tulsi-gabbard-stalls-within-her-agency-027f5331?st=SYNN9K&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

#TulsiGabbard #Trump #Politics #Corruption #Crime #News #Press #US #USA #UnitedStates #America

Zhi Zhu 🕸️

@ZhiZhu@newsie.social · 3 days ago

"A US #intelligence official has alleged wrongdoing by Director of National Intelligence #TulsiGabbard in a whistleblower complaint that is so highly classified it has sparked months of wrangling over how to share it with #Congress...

It also implicates another federal agency beyond Gabbard’s, and raises potential claims of executive privilege that may involve the #WhiteHouse"
https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/classified-whistleblower-complaint-about-tulsi-gabbard-stalls-within-her-agency-027f5331?st=SYNN9K&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

#Trump #GOP #Politics #Corruption #Crime #News #Press #USA #UnitedStates #America