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
Pinned
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 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.
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.
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.
So Kyle Rittenhouse, who attended a protest armed with a loaded assault rifle and killed 2 people is a right-wing hero.
But Alex Pretti who had a holstered, permitted handgun, was recording ICE, and tried to help a pepper-sprayed woman deserved to die?
No one is buying this BS.
But Alex Pretti who had a holstered, permitted handgun, was recording ICE, and tried to help a pepper-sprayed woman deserved to die?
No one is buying this BS.
Kash Patel: "You cannot bring a firearm, loaded, with multiple magazines to any sort of protest that you want. It's that simple. You don't have a right to break the law." (Pretti was carrying a gun legally.)
January 25, 2026 at 5:21 PM
So Kyle Rittenhouse, who attended a protest armed with a loaded assault rifle and killed 2 people is a right-wing hero.
But Alex Pretti who had a holstered, permitted handgun, was recording ICE, and tried to help a pepper-sprayed woman deserved to die?
No one is buying this BS.
But Alex Pretti who had a holstered, permitted handgun, was recording ICE, and tried to help a pepper-sprayed woman deserved to die?
No one is buying this BS.
I don’t call ICE law enforcement. Police are law enforcement.
Masked men, stalking the streets in unmarked cars harassing random people for papers and killing people who dare to record them is not law enforcement.
ICE is systemically violating the law and Constitution.
Masked men, stalking the streets in unmarked cars harassing random people for papers and killing people who dare to record them is not law enforcement.
ICE is systemically violating the law and Constitution.
January 25, 2026 at 4:16 PM
I don’t call ICE law enforcement. Police are law enforcement.
Masked men, stalking the streets in unmarked cars harassing random people for papers and killing people who dare to record them is not law enforcement.
ICE is systemically violating the law and Constitution.
Masked men, stalking the streets in unmarked cars harassing random people for papers and killing people who dare to record them is not law enforcement.
ICE is systemically violating the law and Constitution.
Bartiromo has fallen. I repeat. Bartiromo has fallen.
You know the regime’s lies are falling flat when even Fox News starts fact-checking.
You know the regime’s lies are falling flat when even Fox News starts fact-checking.
BARTIROMO: But how was he threatening Border Patrol? How was he using a gun to threaten? He was filming it
KASH PATEL: That's something I'll let DHS because they are investigating that case
(Notable that even Bartiromo seems to be bothered by this!)
KASH PATEL: That's something I'll let DHS because they are investigating that case
(Notable that even Bartiromo seems to be bothered by this!)
January 25, 2026 at 3:46 PM
Bartiromo has fallen. I repeat. Bartiromo has fallen.
You know the regime’s lies are falling flat when even Fox News starts fact-checking.
You know the regime’s lies are falling flat when even Fox News starts fact-checking.
Reposted by Ahmed Baba
Ahmed Baba suggests "Disbelief before quotation" as the MO for journalists.
I think it should apply to all media—including those on social media with large platforms—responding to Trump's administration.
I think it should apply to all media—including those on social media with large platforms—responding to Trump's administration.
At this point, we have to assume DHS is lying until proven true. They keep lying about ICE's victims. Journalists can not take their lies at face value.
I had this conversation with Don Lemon a couple weeks ago.
I said journalists' M.O. should be "disbelief before quotation."
I had this conversation with Don Lemon a couple weeks ago.
I said journalists' M.O. should be "disbelief before quotation."
January 25, 2026 at 2:08 PM
Ahmed Baba suggests "Disbelief before quotation" as the MO for journalists.
I think it should apply to all media—including those on social media with large platforms—responding to Trump's administration.
I think it should apply to all media—including those on social media with large platforms—responding to Trump's administration.
At this point, we have to assume DHS is lying until proven true. They keep lying about ICE's victims. Journalists can not take their lies at face value.
I had this conversation with Don Lemon a couple weeks ago.
I said journalists' M.O. should be "disbelief before quotation."
I had this conversation with Don Lemon a couple weeks ago.
I said journalists' M.O. should be "disbelief before quotation."
January 25, 2026 at 1:52 PM
At this point, we have to assume DHS is lying until proven true. They keep lying about ICE's victims. Journalists can not take their lies at face value.
I had this conversation with Don Lemon a couple weeks ago.
I said journalists' M.O. should be "disbelief before quotation."
I had this conversation with Don Lemon a couple weeks ago.
I said journalists' M.O. should be "disbelief before quotation."
Having a hard time sleeping tonight. Alex Pretti killed within weeks of Renee Good, a death I still haven’t shaken my fury over. Then this vile admin runs the exact same playbook, and smearing Alex, an innocent VA ICU nurse. Just monstrous behavior.
Defending this is complicity.
Defending this is complicity.
January 25, 2026 at 4:40 AM
Having a hard time sleeping tonight. Alex Pretti killed within weeks of Renee Good, a death I still haven’t shaken my fury over. Then this vile admin runs the exact same playbook, and smearing Alex, an innocent VA ICU nurse. Just monstrous behavior.
Defending this is complicity.
Defending this is complicity.
Repeating this lie over and over again will not make it a reality. It will only continue to shred the credibility of DHS. We all saw the videos. This is BS, plain and simple.
Noem: This looks like a situation where an individual arrived at the scene to inflict maximum damage on individuals and to kill law enforcement.
January 24, 2026 at 11:00 PM
Repeating this lie over and over again will not make it a reality. It will only continue to shred the credibility of DHS. We all saw the videos. This is BS, plain and simple.
Loud silence or open support for ICE’s outrageous abuses of federal power from the 2nd Amendment, “Don’t Tread On Me” crowd
January 24, 2026 at 9:38 PM
Loud silence or open support for ICE’s outrageous abuses of federal power from the 2nd Amendment, “Don’t Tread On Me” crowd
New York Times video analysis upholds objective reality, agreeing with all of our eyes and ears, reporting how the DHS narrative on the killing of Alex Pretti is contradicted by the videos.
www.nytimes.com/live/2026/us...
www.nytimes.com/live/2026/us...
January 24, 2026 at 8:57 PM
New York Times video analysis upholds objective reality, agreeing with all of our eyes and ears, reporting how the DHS narrative on the killing of Alex Pretti is contradicted by the videos.
www.nytimes.com/live/2026/us...
www.nytimes.com/live/2026/us...
It’s the same playbook again here.
ICE kills someone. DHS immediately presents a totally fabricated narrative, lying about how the victim was a threat.
Multiple videos directly debunk their official narrative. They double down, right-wing media falls in line.
Enough is enough
ICE kills someone. DHS immediately presents a totally fabricated narrative, lying about how the victim was a threat.
Multiple videos directly debunk their official narrative. They double down, right-wing media falls in line.
Enough is enough
January 24, 2026 at 8:51 PM
It’s the same playbook again here.
ICE kills someone. DHS immediately presents a totally fabricated narrative, lying about how the victim was a threat.
Multiple videos directly debunk their official narrative. They double down, right-wing media falls in line.
Enough is enough
ICE kills someone. DHS immediately presents a totally fabricated narrative, lying about how the victim was a threat.
Multiple videos directly debunk their official narrative. They double down, right-wing media falls in line.
Enough is enough
Every video I’ve seen directly contradicts the DHS narrative.
They say he approached the officers armed and ready to “massacre law enforcement.”
In reality, he was recording ICE then after they shoved a woman, he got in between them.
They then surrounded him and killed him.
They say he approached the officers armed and ready to “massacre law enforcement.”
In reality, he was recording ICE then after they shoved a woman, he got in between them.
They then surrounded him and killed him.
Bovino shamelessly lies: "This looks like a situation where an individual wanted to do maximum damage and massacre law enforcement"
January 24, 2026 at 8:42 PM
Every video I’ve seen directly contradicts the DHS narrative.
They say he approached the officers armed and ready to “massacre law enforcement.”
In reality, he was recording ICE then after they shoved a woman, he got in between them.
They then surrounded him and killed him.
They say he approached the officers armed and ready to “massacre law enforcement.”
In reality, he was recording ICE then after they shoved a woman, he got in between them.
They then surrounded him and killed him.
If the Civil Rights heroes could beat authoritarianism in their era, with far fewer legal protections, surely we can do it in ours.
From the end of my MLK day speech at the Wisconsin Capitol this week.
From the end of my MLK day speech at the Wisconsin Capitol this week.
January 23, 2026 at 8:52 PM
If the Civil Rights heroes could beat authoritarianism in their era, with far fewer legal protections, surely we can do it in ours.
From the end of my MLK day speech at the Wisconsin Capitol this week.
From the end of my MLK day speech at the Wisconsin Capitol this week.
Trump is embarrassing the US on the world stage while recklessly pursuing an imperialistic "re-hemisphering" agenda straight out of Project 2025.
This is why Canadian PM Mark Carney's speech was so important.
For once, Trump was met with strength.
This is why Canadian PM Mark Carney's speech was so important.
For once, Trump was met with strength.
January 23, 2026 at 6:40 PM
Trump is embarrassing the US on the world stage while recklessly pursuing an imperialistic "re-hemisphering" agenda straight out of Project 2025.
This is why Canadian PM Mark Carney's speech was so important.
For once, Trump was met with strength.
This is why Canadian PM Mark Carney's speech was so important.
For once, Trump was met with strength.