Amy Jo (AJ) Cousins
@ajcousins.bsky.social
Queer romance author. Obsessive book buyer. Slow runner. Fascinated birder. She/her, bi. Rep'd by Handspun Literary Agency. Volunteer Child Advocate for detained immigrant kiddos. Views my own.
Pinned
I released a new audiobook last year and neglected to tell anyone! 😂 Grumpy-grumpy, found-family holiday romance.
Adam Beckett did a FANTASTIC job with this one. He's an amazing performer.
Glass Tidings: www.amazon.com/Audible-Glas...
Adam Beckett did a FANTASTIC job with this one. He's an amazing performer.
Glass Tidings: www.amazon.com/Audible-Glas...
Reposted by Amy Jo (AJ) Cousins
Saw this card in a shop in Chicago today.
I acknowledge the authority of this bishop, although I’m from the tradition of the Carolina Slaw Dog. Different liturgy. ⚓️
I acknowledge the authority of this bishop, although I’m from the tradition of the Carolina Slaw Dog. Different liturgy. ⚓️
February 15, 2026 at 12:03 AM
Saw this card in a shop in Chicago today.
I acknowledge the authority of this bishop, although I’m from the tradition of the Carolina Slaw Dog. Different liturgy. ⚓️
I acknowledge the authority of this bishop, although I’m from the tradition of the Carolina Slaw Dog. Different liturgy. ⚓️
Reposted by Amy Jo (AJ) Cousins
Hey a very great maker of plastic for 3d printers has set up a thing where you pay $20 and they ship a spool of filament to members of our printing crew. One spool makes 500 whistles or more. Help out!
proto-pasta.com/products/the...
proto-pasta.com/products/the...
"We Keep Us Safe" by The Whistle Crew
The Protopasta Fil-anthropy Fund is proud to partner with the Whistle Crew, "a loose federation united by our love for 3D printing and community safety." Across the nation, our communities' lives are ...
proto-pasta.com
February 14, 2026 at 2:18 AM
Hey a very great maker of plastic for 3d printers has set up a thing where you pay $20 and they ship a spool of filament to members of our printing crew. One spool makes 500 whistles or more. Help out!
proto-pasta.com/products/the...
proto-pasta.com/products/the...
Holy shit. Gray is on fire. 😍
February 14, 2026 at 11:25 PM
Holy shit. Gray is on fire. 😍
Reposted by Amy Jo (AJ) Cousins
I love the murder husbands and highly recommend these books.
Also, if you want more Gothic shenanigans with a cozy queer vibe, here are some books about murder husbands trying to solve murders without incurring more murders
www.aliettedebodard.com/bibliography...
(one of my current WIP is book 3 in that series)
www.aliettedebodard.com/bibliography...
(one of my current WIP is book 3 in that series)
February 14, 2026 at 7:45 PM
I love the murder husbands and highly recommend these books.
I realized I was in a college campus 7-Eleven when I spotted the swedish fish w/edible glitter that glows under a blacklight. 😂
In related news, there's a fabulous Hamdia Traoré exhibit at the Northwestern art museum. Photos of marabouts (religious teachers in Mali). Free! This was my favorite.
In related news, there's a fabulous Hamdia Traoré exhibit at the Northwestern art museum. Photos of marabouts (religious teachers in Mali). Free! This was my favorite.
February 14, 2026 at 7:43 PM
I realized I was in a college campus 7-Eleven when I spotted the swedish fish w/edible glitter that glows under a blacklight. 😂
In related news, there's a fabulous Hamdia Traoré exhibit at the Northwestern art museum. Photos of marabouts (religious teachers in Mali). Free! This was my favorite.
In related news, there's a fabulous Hamdia Traoré exhibit at the Northwestern art museum. Photos of marabouts (religious teachers in Mali). Free! This was my favorite.
Reposted by Amy Jo (AJ) Cousins
In incredible news, the European Parliament has voted overwhelmingly for "The Full Recognition Of Trans Women As Women."
Even the center-right European People's Party voted for the declaration.
It will form a foundation for their position at the UN Commission on the Status of Women.
Our latest.
Even the center-right European People's Party voted for the declaration.
It will form a foundation for their position at the UN Commission on the Status of Women.
Our latest.
European Parliament Votes Overwhelmingly For "The Full Recognition Of Trans Women As Women"
The resolution, though nonbinding, is a significant shot at those who seek to erode transgender rights on the continent.
www.erininthemorning.com
February 13, 2026 at 5:17 PM
In incredible news, the European Parliament has voted overwhelmingly for "The Full Recognition Of Trans Women As Women."
Even the center-right European People's Party voted for the declaration.
It will form a foundation for their position at the UN Commission on the Status of Women.
Our latest.
Even the center-right European People's Party voted for the declaration.
It will form a foundation for their position at the UN Commission on the Status of Women.
Our latest.
Had a @theyoungcenter.bsky.social event at a knitting shop earlier & it was near Trader Joe's. So now I have olive bread, dairy-free garlic & herb boursin, prosciutto, dried salami, smoked trout, cheap syrah, roasted red peppers, olives, peanut butter-filled pretzels & dairy-free chocolate. #WINNING
February 14, 2026 at 12:09 AM
Had a @theyoungcenter.bsky.social event at a knitting shop earlier & it was near Trader Joe's. So now I have olive bread, dairy-free garlic & herb boursin, prosciutto, dried salami, smoked trout, cheap syrah, roasted red peppers, olives, peanut butter-filled pretzels & dairy-free chocolate. #WINNING
Reposted by Amy Jo (AJ) Cousins
“DHS is shutting down because it refuses to obey the law” is excellent framing
DHS is shutting down because it refuses to obey the law. They are tear-gassing schools, killing American citizens, and disappearing legal immigrants. Democrats shouldn’t fund an out of control ICE.
February 13, 2026 at 9:13 PM
“DHS is shutting down because it refuses to obey the law” is excellent framing
100% accurate. 👇
it's backwards. obama and biden conceded the republican framework of border obsession, sliding right and setting off a near-inevitable push to where we are today. once again the democrats triangulated themselves into becoming republicans, allowing republicans to publicly embrace explicit fascism.
Not going to read them all because jesus fucking christ but this is nasty work from Friedersdorf
February 14, 2026 at 12:02 AM
100% accurate. 👇
Reposted by Amy Jo (AJ) Cousins
The more we learn about the attack on Marimar Martinez, the worse it gets: Greg Bovino actually THANKED the agent who shot a U.S. citizen five times.
This agency is rotten from top to bottom and should absolutely be held accountable.
This agency is rotten from top to bottom and should absolutely be held accountable.
February 13, 2026 at 3:27 PM
The more we learn about the attack on Marimar Martinez, the worse it gets: Greg Bovino actually THANKED the agent who shot a U.S. citizen five times.
This agency is rotten from top to bottom and should absolutely be held accountable.
This agency is rotten from top to bottom and should absolutely be held accountable.
" I say this often, ‘Courage is not the absence of fear. It’s the willingness to act despite the fear.’ I'm a little scared [in that moment], because if I'm being blunt with you, every time I speak there's a death threat."
Rep. Ramirez's colleagues should follow her leadership.
Rep. Ramirez's colleagues should follow her leadership.
NEW — I spoke with Rep. Delia Ramirez (@ramirez.house.gov) about her calling DHS leaders "inheritors of the Klan hood and the slave patrol," the prospect of one day seeing them behind bars, and what it's like to see the public [finally] embrace her long-held dream to abolish ICE.
Our conversation:
Our conversation:
"The day of accountability will come": Rep. Delia Ramirez on abolishing and prosecuting DHS
The Handbasket spoke with the congresswoman who called out ICE long before it was popular.
www.thehandbasket.co
February 13, 2026 at 11:45 PM
" I say this often, ‘Courage is not the absence of fear. It’s the willingness to act despite the fear.’ I'm a little scared [in that moment], because if I'm being blunt with you, every time I speak there's a death threat."
Rep. Ramirez's colleagues should follow her leadership.
Rep. Ramirez's colleagues should follow her leadership.
Reposted by Amy Jo (AJ) Cousins
Today was the first day of the Great Backyard Bird Count! Did you count any birds today? It’s easy to participate (no backyard, required!) www.birdcount.org
#birds #GBBC
#birds #GBBC
Great Backyard Bird Count – Join us each February when the world comes together to watch, learn about, count, and celebrate birds.
Each year people from around the world come together to watch, learn about, count, and celebrate birds. Join us in February!
www.birdcount.org
February 13, 2026 at 11:11 PM
Today was the first day of the Great Backyard Bird Count! Did you count any birds today? It’s easy to participate (no backyard, required!) www.birdcount.org
#birds #GBBC
#birds #GBBC
Reposted by Amy Jo (AJ) Cousins
ICYMI: I introduced my Trans Bill of Rights with @markey.senate.gov — legislation to defend trans people across this country as Republicans continue to push anti-trans rhetoric and bills.
To our beloved trans community: We see you, we love you, and we will always stand with you.
To our beloved trans community: We see you, we love you, and we will always stand with you.
February 13, 2026 at 7:30 PM
ICYMI: I introduced my Trans Bill of Rights with @markey.senate.gov — legislation to defend trans people across this country as Republicans continue to push anti-trans rhetoric and bills.
To our beloved trans community: We see you, we love you, and we will always stand with you.
To our beloved trans community: We see you, we love you, and we will always stand with you.
Reposted by Amy Jo (AJ) Cousins
In other words, the vast majority of the $45 billion in reconciliation funding is going to go to the new system of warehouse detention camps.
The other $6.8 billion will presumably serve mainly to keep the existing system of detention running without any other major changes.
The other $6.8 billion will presumably serve mainly to keep the existing system of detention running without any other major changes.
"ICE plans to spend $38.3 billion turning warehouses into detention centers."
Senate Democrats: Do not appropriate any more funds for ICE.
wapo.st/3OfarSk
Senate Democrats: Do not appropriate any more funds for ICE.
wapo.st/3OfarSk
ICE plans to spend $38.3 billion turning warehouses into detention centers
ICE plans to spend $38.3 billion converting warehouses into detention centers, according to planning documents, more than the annual budgets of 22 states.
wapo.st
February 13, 2026 at 9:08 PM
In other words, the vast majority of the $45 billion in reconciliation funding is going to go to the new system of warehouse detention camps.
The other $6.8 billion will presumably serve mainly to keep the existing system of detention running without any other major changes.
The other $6.8 billion will presumably serve mainly to keep the existing system of detention running without any other major changes.
Remember, Social Security staff: people make mistakes at work all the time. Forgetting to follow orders can happen to anyone. 🤷🏻♀️
SCOOP: ICE is asking Social Security for peoples' in-person appointment dates and times, and SSA staff are being told to give it to them. From me + @leahfeiger.bsky.social + @zoeschiffer.bsky.social @wired.com
wired.com/story/social...
wired.com/story/social...
Social Security Workers Are Being Told to Hand Over Appointment Details to ICE
The recent request goes against decades of precedent, and puts noncitizens at further risk of immigration enforcement actions.
wired.com
February 13, 2026 at 9:25 PM
Remember, Social Security staff: people make mistakes at work all the time. Forgetting to follow orders can happen to anyone. 🤷🏻♀️
Not hesitating to block people who want to spend *years* talking about why we have to be ready to vote for Newsome, instead of talking about all the other better possible candidates, is my new religion. You are literally not worth listening to.
February 13, 2026 at 9:20 PM
Not hesitating to block people who want to spend *years* talking about why we have to be ready to vote for Newsome, instead of talking about all the other better possible candidates, is my new religion. You are literally not worth listening to.
Reposted by Amy Jo (AJ) Cousins
On Thanksgiving, the immigrant children held at the Dilley detention center gathered in the gym for what they thought was a holiday feast.
The kids salivated over a spread of turkey, sandwiches, pastries and pies, a family told me.
But the food wasn’t for detainees — it was for the staff.
The kids salivated over a spread of turkey, sandwiches, pastries and pies, a family told me.
But the food wasn’t for detainees — it was for the staff.
February 13, 2026 at 7:41 PM
On Thanksgiving, the immigrant children held at the Dilley detention center gathered in the gym for what they thought was a holiday feast.
The kids salivated over a spread of turkey, sandwiches, pastries and pies, a family told me.
But the food wasn’t for detainees — it was for the staff.
The kids salivated over a spread of turkey, sandwiches, pastries and pies, a family told me.
But the food wasn’t for detainees — it was for the staff.
Reposted by Amy Jo (AJ) Cousins
I need folks to understand this. The idea that local police forces will intervene at scale against ICE is a utopian fantasy totally disconnected from how policing has always worked
Police departments across the US are quietly leveraging school district security cameras to assist Donald Trump’s mass immigration enforcement campaign, an investigation by @the74.bsky.social reveals.
February 13, 2026 at 5:12 PM
I need folks to understand this. The idea that local police forces will intervene at scale against ICE is a utopian fantasy totally disconnected from how policing has always worked
Reposted by Amy Jo (AJ) Cousins
good piece by @hayesbrown.bsky.social
"It is for the best that Sen. Wicker came out against [the concentration camp in his state]. It doesn’t detract from the fact that Wicker cast his vote alongside his fellow Republicans to authorize and fund the construction of these sites in the first place."
"It is for the best that Sen. Wicker came out against [the concentration camp in his state]. It doesn’t detract from the fact that Wicker cast his vote alongside his fellow Republicans to authorize and fund the construction of these sites in the first place."
Opinion | ICE’s warehouse detention centers run up against NIMBYism
A surprising number of Republican communities are coming out against the idea of ICE deportation facilities in their backyards.
www.ms.now
February 13, 2026 at 5:33 PM
good piece by @hayesbrown.bsky.social
"It is for the best that Sen. Wicker came out against [the concentration camp in his state]. It doesn’t detract from the fact that Wicker cast his vote alongside his fellow Republicans to authorize and fund the construction of these sites in the first place."
"It is for the best that Sen. Wicker came out against [the concentration camp in his state]. It doesn’t detract from the fact that Wicker cast his vote alongside his fellow Republicans to authorize and fund the construction of these sites in the first place."
Reposted by Amy Jo (AJ) Cousins
for better or worse, this will probably be the most successful and compelling argument by communities against ICE concentration camps being built:
(from this piece: archive.is/eGsQf)
(from this piece: archive.is/eGsQf)
February 13, 2026 at 5:03 PM
for better or worse, this will probably be the most successful and compelling argument by communities against ICE concentration camps being built:
(from this piece: archive.is/eGsQf)
(from this piece: archive.is/eGsQf)
The end of this article describes how Mark Zuckerberg knows what they're doing will be illegal, violating Meta's agreement with the FCC, but he "wants to push the bounds a little." Abolish billionaires.
Meta's plan for launching glasses that people can use to secretly identify strangers on the street is to do it "during a dynamic political environment" when people who care about why that's bad are "focused on other concerns."
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/13/t...
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/13/t...
Meta Plans to Add Facial Recognition Technology to Its Smart Glasses
www.nytimes.com
February 13, 2026 at 4:13 PM
The end of this article describes how Mark Zuckerberg knows what they're doing will be illegal, violating Meta's agreement with the FCC, but he "wants to push the bounds a little." Abolish billionaires.
Reposted by Amy Jo (AJ) Cousins
🚨IT’S HERE🚨: @injusticewatch.org’s guide to the 2026 Cook County judicial primary elections is live! With detailed info on all the judicial candidates on your ballot, from their legal experience, to bar ratings, top campaign donors, and more. #checkyourjudges injusticewatch.org/checkyourjudges
March 2026 Cook County Judicial Election Guide | Injustice Watch
Injustice Watch's guide to the March 2026 Cook County judicial primary elections.
injusticewatch.org
February 13, 2026 at 12:26 PM
🚨IT’S HERE🚨: @injusticewatch.org’s guide to the 2026 Cook County judicial primary elections is live! With detailed info on all the judicial candidates on your ballot, from their legal experience, to bar ratings, top campaign donors, and more. #checkyourjudges injusticewatch.org/checkyourjudges
Reposted by Amy Jo (AJ) Cousins
Five years ago @ashoncrawley.bsky.social posted a thing about care that feels really timely again. www.facebook.com/ashon/posts/...
February 13, 2026 at 2:00 PM
Five years ago @ashoncrawley.bsky.social posted a thing about care that feels really timely again. www.facebook.com/ashon/posts/...
Reposted by Amy Jo (AJ) Cousins
“Despite making up only 6 percent of the population in the 18th District, Black drivers were given 44 percent of its tickets. That’s over six times the rate of tickets expected for the Black population in the area, the highest disparity in the city.”
February 13, 2026 at 2:05 PM
“Despite making up only 6 percent of the population in the 18th District, Black drivers were given 44 percent of its tickets. That’s over six times the rate of tickets expected for the Black population in the area, the highest disparity in the city.”
Reposted by Amy Jo (AJ) Cousins
“Pretextual traffic stops are the new stop-and-frisk,” said Amy Thompson, staff counsel at Impact for Equity and a researcher on the new study. Police “are not only concentrating traffic stops in communities of color, but also for drivers of color driving throughout the city.”
Black and Hispanic drivers get the majority of Chicago’s traffic tickets — including in mostly white areas. blockclubchi.co/4aLWrrL
February 13, 2026 at 2:03 PM
“Pretextual traffic stops are the new stop-and-frisk,” said Amy Thompson, staff counsel at Impact for Equity and a researcher on the new study. Police “are not only concentrating traffic stops in communities of color, but also for drivers of color driving throughout the city.”