Ahmed Baba
@ahmedbaba.bsky.social
Journalist. Political Analyst. Tech. Founder - https://www.AhmedBaba.News/. Columnist at The Independent. Co-Founded Rantt Media. Seen on MSNBC, CNN, NYT, WaPo, etc. Bookings: ahmed@rantt.com. Newsletter, features, and socials: linktr.ee/ahmedbaba
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Ahmed Baba
@ahmedbaba.bsky.social
· Nov 16
I documented every day of Trump’s first term and I’ve covered Project 2025 since 2023.
The threat of Trump’s authoritarianism has been the focal point of my journalism for a decade.
So I’m not spreading false hope when I say Trump is weakening & MAGA is fracturing. It’s clear.
The threat of Trump’s authoritarianism has been the focal point of my journalism for a decade.
So I’m not spreading false hope when I say Trump is weakening & MAGA is fracturing. It’s clear.
The fact that our election system isn’t nationalized and run by the states, is the primary guardrail preventing Trump from directly interfering in our elections.
Of course he wants this, but it’s unconstitutional (literally in Article 1).
Of course he wants this, but it’s unconstitutional (literally in Article 1).
Trump says Republicans should ‘nationalize’ elections
The comments come less than a week after the FBI raided an elections facility in Georgia.
www.politico.com
February 2, 2026 at 10:40 PM
The fact that our election system isn’t nationalized and run by the states, is the primary guardrail preventing Trump from directly interfering in our elections.
Of course he wants this, but it’s unconstitutional (literally in Article 1).
Of course he wants this, but it’s unconstitutional (literally in Article 1).
The fact that our election system isn’t nationalized and run by the states, is the primary guardrail preventing Trump from directly interfering in our elections.
Of course he wants this, but it’s unconstitutional (literally in Article 1).
Of course he wants this, but it’s unconstitutional (literally in Article 1).
Trump says Republicans should ‘nationalize’ elections
The comments come less than a week after the FBI raided an elections facility in Georgia.
www.politico.com
February 2, 2026 at 10:37 PM
The fact that our election system isn’t nationalized and run by the states, is the primary guardrail preventing Trump from directly interfering in our elections.
Of course he wants this, but it’s unconstitutional (literally in Article 1).
Of course he wants this, but it’s unconstitutional (literally in Article 1).
Donald Trump is the most transparently corrupt president in American history
Trump on his multiple suits against the federal government: "I'm supposed to work out a settlement with myself ... We could make it a substantial amount, nobody would care, because it's gonna go to numerous, very good charities."
February 1, 2026 at 3:58 PM
Donald Trump is the most transparently corrupt president in American history
The politically weak Trump regime wants to scare us. Wants us to pipe down. Wants us not to report on what they're doing. Wants everyday people and independent journalists to stop recording and telling the truth about their authoritarianism.
Let's do the opposite. Speak louder.
Let's do the opposite. Speak louder.
January 30, 2026 at 3:39 PM
The politically weak Trump regime wants to scare us. Wants us to pipe down. Wants us not to report on what they're doing. Wants everyday people and independent journalists to stop recording and telling the truth about their authoritarianism.
Let's do the opposite. Speak louder.
Let's do the opposite. Speak louder.
At what point do journalists start referring to the Trump administration as the Trump regime, because I’m at that point
January 30, 2026 at 2:24 PM
At what point do journalists start referring to the Trump administration as the Trump regime, because I’m at that point
Hearing a second journalist was taken into custody, not just Don Lemon.
Independent journalist Georgia Fort was also arrested.
Two Black journalists arrested.
Independent journalist Georgia Fort was also arrested.
Two Black journalists arrested.
January 30, 2026 at 2:14 PM
Hearing a second journalist was taken into custody, not just Don Lemon.
Independent journalist Georgia Fort was also arrested.
Two Black journalists arrested.
Independent journalist Georgia Fort was also arrested.
Two Black journalists arrested.
I just spoke to Don Lemon, in one of our recent weekly Substack Lives, about the Trump Admin targeting him.
He was fearless and said he stood by his reporting and the First Amendment.
We all have to speak out, especially journalists. This is unacceptable and unconstitutional.
He was fearless and said he stood by his reporting and the First Amendment.
We all have to speak out, especially journalists. This is unacceptable and unconstitutional.
January 30, 2026 at 2:08 PM
I just spoke to Don Lemon, in one of our recent weekly Substack Lives, about the Trump Admin targeting him.
He was fearless and said he stood by his reporting and the First Amendment.
We all have to speak out, especially journalists. This is unacceptable and unconstitutional.
He was fearless and said he stood by his reporting and the First Amendment.
We all have to speak out, especially journalists. This is unacceptable and unconstitutional.
The Trump Admin just arrested Don Lemon for daring to do journalism in the Trump era.
Don is a friend and colleague. He’s a fearless truth-teller and good person.
This is an outrageously authoritarian attack on the First Amendment. It’s intimidation. We all have to stand up.
Don is a friend and colleague. He’s a fearless truth-teller and good person.
This is an outrageously authoritarian attack on the First Amendment. It’s intimidation. We all have to stand up.
January 30, 2026 at 1:43 PM
The Trump Admin just arrested Don Lemon for daring to do journalism in the Trump era.
Don is a friend and colleague. He’s a fearless truth-teller and good person.
This is an outrageously authoritarian attack on the First Amendment. It’s intimidation. We all have to stand up.
Don is a friend and colleague. He’s a fearless truth-teller and good person.
This is an outrageously authoritarian attack on the First Amendment. It’s intimidation. We all have to stand up.
You can watch my full conversation with Dr. Terry Anne Scott here:
From The Fugitive Slave Act To ICE: The Historical Parallels Of The Trump Admin's Abuses
Dr. Scott explained why the most important parallels to ICE aren’t overseas. They’re in America’s own history, and they come with lessons for how we can organize to protect our neighbors and win 2026.
www.ahmedbaba.news
January 29, 2026 at 4:34 PM
You can watch my full conversation with Dr. Terry Anne Scott here:
The Trump Admin overplayed its hand.
The American people pushed back against their morally repulsive cruelty.
Now, the Trump Admin is squirming. They're not the all-powerful regime they pretend to be.
The American people pushed back against their morally repulsive cruelty.
Now, the Trump Admin is squirming. They're not the all-powerful regime they pretend to be.
January 29, 2026 at 4:33 PM
The Trump Admin overplayed its hand.
The American people pushed back against their morally repulsive cruelty.
Now, the Trump Admin is squirming. They're not the all-powerful regime they pretend to be.
The American people pushed back against their morally repulsive cruelty.
Now, the Trump Admin is squirming. They're not the all-powerful regime they pretend to be.
Just a blatantly transparent quid pro quo grift. Publicly glazed Donald in exchange for a pathway to citizenship.
Nicki Minaj has received Donald Trump’s Gold Card, which grants her U.S. residency.
January 28, 2026 at 11:03 PM
Just a blatantly transparent quid pro quo grift. Publicly glazed Donald in exchange for a pathway to citizenship.
Choosing to go full MAGA while Trump is approaching peak unpopularity and his ICE agents brutally terrorize Americans is a choice
Nicki Minaj on Trump: “I am probably the president’s number one fan — and that’s not going to change.”
January 28, 2026 at 5:28 PM
Choosing to go full MAGA while Trump is approaching peak unpopularity and his ICE agents brutally terrorize Americans is a choice
The central story of Trump's second term has been his depraved authoritarian escalation being met with profound backlash among everyday Americans, who are showing more courage and capacity to check the power of the President than any Republican "leader" walking the halls of Congress.
January 27, 2026 at 8:12 PM
The central story of Trump's second term has been his depraved authoritarian escalation being met with profound backlash among everyday Americans, who are showing more courage and capacity to check the power of the President than any Republican "leader" walking the halls of Congress.
Oh that’s awesome! Appreciate you. The support means a lot, truly!
January 26, 2026 at 9:16 PM
Oh that’s awesome! Appreciate you. The support means a lot, truly!
I’ve written extensively about how Stephen Miller is driving Trump’s cruel approach to immigration and talked about it in my appearance on MS NOW last week.
Check it out and consider becoming a free or paid subscriber to my newsletter while you’re there. It supports my independent journalism 👇🏾
Check it out and consider becoming a free or paid subscriber to my newsletter while you’re there. It supports my independent journalism 👇🏾
Making The Moral Case Against ICE On MS NOW
On MS NOW, I made clear that Donald Trump and Stephen Miller’s ICE operations are not only legally dubious, economically damaging, and politically foolish; they’re just plain morally wrong.
www.ahmedbaba.news
January 26, 2026 at 8:52 PM
I’ve written extensively about how Stephen Miller is driving Trump’s cruel approach to immigration and talked about it in my appearance on MS NOW last week.
Check it out and consider becoming a free or paid subscriber to my newsletter while you’re there. It supports my independent journalism 👇🏾
Check it out and consider becoming a free or paid subscriber to my newsletter while you’re there. It supports my independent journalism 👇🏾
White House desperately trying to make Trump appear to be the sensible one. As always, he will throw his underlings, particularly Noem, under the bus to protect himself.
But, we all saw what happened. Trump ordered ICE to MN and actively participated in smearing ICE’s victims.
But, we all saw what happened. Trump ordered ICE to MN and actively participated in smearing ICE’s victims.
ABC: Noem said Pretti committed an act of domestic terrorism. Stephen Miller labeled him a domestic terrorist. Does the president agree?
LEAVITT: I have not heard the president characterize Mr Pretti in that way
LEAVITT: I have not heard the president characterize Mr Pretti in that way
January 26, 2026 at 8:28 PM
White House desperately trying to make Trump appear to be the sensible one. As always, he will throw his underlings, particularly Noem, under the bus to protect himself.
But, we all saw what happened. Trump ordered ICE to MN and actively participated in smearing ICE’s victims.
But, we all saw what happened. Trump ordered ICE to MN and actively participated in smearing ICE’s victims.
Kristi Noem will be thrown under the bus for this, but the real focus needs to be on getting Stephen Miller as far away from Trump as possible. He is a poisonous presence in the administration. Trump's worst ethnonationalist authoritarian impulses are amplified by Miller.
January 26, 2026 at 6:17 PM
Kristi Noem will be thrown under the bus for this, but the real focus needs to be on getting Stephen Miller as far away from Trump as possible. He is a poisonous presence in the administration. Trump's worst ethnonationalist authoritarian impulses are amplified by Miller.
Looks like Trump is gearing up to do what he did after family separation sparked outrage in 2018: back off and pretend he was never for it.
When Trump withdraws from Minnesota, never forget that he, Vance, Miller, & the whole admin backed this & mobilized to smear ICE's victims.
When Trump withdraws from Minnesota, never forget that he, Vance, Miller, & the whole admin backed this & mobilized to smear ICE's victims.
January 26, 2026 at 6:09 PM
Looks like Trump is gearing up to do what he did after family separation sparked outrage in 2018: back off and pretend he was never for it.
When Trump withdraws from Minnesota, never forget that he, Vance, Miller, & the whole admin backed this & mobilized to smear ICE's victims.
When Trump withdraws from Minnesota, never forget that he, Vance, Miller, & the whole admin backed this & mobilized to smear ICE's victims.
The walk-back begins.
Whatever changes Trump makes with DHS, ICE, & its presence in Minnesota it is not out of decency. It’s a political calculation because GOP is worried about the midterms.
But the damage is done. Americans see his cruel, authoritarian project for what it is.
Whatever changes Trump makes with DHS, ICE, & its presence in Minnesota it is not out of decency. It’s a political calculation because GOP is worried about the midterms.
But the damage is done. Americans see his cruel, authoritarian project for what it is.
Trump: "Walz called me w/ the request to work together with respect to MN... we are looking for are any and all Criminals that they have in their possession. The Governor, very respectfully, understood that, and I will be speaking to him in the near future. He was happy that Homan was going to MN"
January 26, 2026 at 4:52 PM
The walk-back begins.
Whatever changes Trump makes with DHS, ICE, & its presence in Minnesota it is not out of decency. It’s a political calculation because GOP is worried about the midterms.
But the damage is done. Americans see his cruel, authoritarian project for what it is.
Whatever changes Trump makes with DHS, ICE, & its presence in Minnesota it is not out of decency. It’s a political calculation because GOP is worried about the midterms.
But the damage is done. Americans see his cruel, authoritarian project for what it is.
Kanye has awoken from his right-wing haze. Celebrities are speaking out against ICE. Apolitical people are sharing IG stories blasting Trump.
Welcome to Woke 2, the anti-fascist vibe shift.
Welcome to Woke 2, the anti-fascist vibe shift.
January 26, 2026 at 4:30 PM
Kanye has awoken from his right-wing haze. Celebrities are speaking out against ICE. Apolitical people are sharing IG stories blasting Trump.
Welcome to Woke 2, the anti-fascist vibe shift.
Welcome to Woke 2, the anti-fascist vibe shift.
I’m seeing people who don’t usually speak out on politics express horror at Alex Pretti’s killing. A chorus of celebrities are slamming ICE. Trump’s polling continues to nose-dive.
Once again, Trump’s authoritarian overreach is backfiring and turning the country against him.
Once again, Trump’s authoritarian overreach is backfiring and turning the country against him.
January 26, 2026 at 4:17 PM
I’m seeing people who don’t usually speak out on politics express horror at Alex Pretti’s killing. A chorus of celebrities are slamming ICE. Trump’s polling continues to nose-dive.
Once again, Trump’s authoritarian overreach is backfiring and turning the country against him.
Once again, Trump’s authoritarian overreach is backfiring and turning the country against him.
How many more people have to be killed and posthumously smeared by this administration before Republicans realize this sycophantic authoritarian charade wasn’t worth their souls? 2 more? 5 more? 100? No amount of power or money or clout is worth this. None.
January 25, 2026 at 9:10 PM
How many more people have to be killed and posthumously smeared by this administration before Republicans realize this sycophantic authoritarian charade wasn’t worth their souls? 2 more? 5 more? 100? No amount of power or money or clout is worth this. None.
The Trump Admin has lost what remains of its mind. They’re out of control and need to be reined in. At what point do GOP lawmakers step in? At what point do GOP voters demand decency? Enough already.
January 25, 2026 at 9:02 PM
The Trump Admin has lost what remains of its mind. They’re out of control and need to be reined in. At what point do GOP lawmakers step in? At what point do GOP voters demand decency? Enough already.
In a sane reality, the bare minimum Trump would do now is fire Kristi Noem, Greg Bovino, and Stephen Miller. DOJ would charge the ICE agents. They would withdraw ICE completely from Minnesota, pause all operations, and let an IG probe its operations.
But we don’t have a sane regime.
But we don’t have a sane regime.
January 25, 2026 at 8:57 PM
In a sane reality, the bare minimum Trump would do now is fire Kristi Noem, Greg Bovino, and Stephen Miller. DOJ would charge the ICE agents. They would withdraw ICE completely from Minnesota, pause all operations, and let an IG probe its operations.
But we don’t have a sane regime.
But we don’t have a sane regime.
If you want to support independent journalism that properly pushes back on Trump Admin lies, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber to my newsletter:
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www.ahmedbaba.news
January 25, 2026 at 7:15 PM
If you want to support independent journalism that properly pushes back on Trump Admin lies, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber to my newsletter: