Anthony Pignataro
@apignataro.bsky.social
Current journalist at the co-op @lbwatchdog.bsky.social, former MauiTime editor. My new novel The B Girls and new memoir Remembering Lahaina are now available. He/him.
Pinned
Remembering Lahaina: What I Learned about Tourism, the ‘Āina, and Myself during Twelve Years on Maui
The August 8, 2023, Lahaina fire was the worst thing to happen to West Maui since the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom in the late nineteenth century. The fire was a tragic disaster, but it didn’t…
uhpress.hawaii.edu
I was going to skip doing a rundown of my best writing this year but I somehow had 3 books published so yeah here it goes. First up is my Maui memoir Remembering Lahaina, the story of what I learned living on Maui and how it relates to the 2023 Lahaina wildfire. uhpress.hawaii.edu/title/rememb...
Reposted by Anthony Pignataro
The lesson from the Press Secretary's disassembling here is that more journalists should take their adversarial obligations seriously. The question itself was strictly factual; the characterization he then offered was prompted by Leavitt herself. It's fair, and more importantly good, journalism.
Reporter: Renee Good was shot in the head and killed by an ICE Agent.
Leavitt: Why was she killed?
Reporter: Because an ICE agent acted recklessly and killed her unjustifiably
Leavitt: You’re a left-wing hack. You’re not a reporter.
Leavitt: Why was she killed?
Reporter: Because an ICE agent acted recklessly and killed her unjustifiably
Leavitt: You’re a left-wing hack. You’re not a reporter.
January 15, 2026 at 8:20 PM
The lesson from the Press Secretary's disassembling here is that more journalists should take their adversarial obligations seriously. The question itself was strictly factual; the characterization he then offered was prompted by Leavitt herself. It's fair, and more importantly good, journalism.
Reposted by Anthony Pignataro
Police are asking for the public’s help in identifying a person of interest in the robbery and fatal shooting of a man in North Long Beach back in June.
Read more from @apignataro.bsky.social on the Watchdog. lbwatchdog.com/police-ask-f...
Read more from @apignataro.bsky.social on the Watchdog. lbwatchdog.com/police-ask-f...
January 15, 2026 at 8:45 PM
Police are asking for the public’s help in identifying a person of interest in the robbery and fatal shooting of a man in North Long Beach back in June.
Read more from @apignataro.bsky.social on the Watchdog. lbwatchdog.com/police-ask-f...
Read more from @apignataro.bsky.social on the Watchdog. lbwatchdog.com/police-ask-f...
Reposted by Anthony Pignataro
All of the years that folks supported stop and frisk has also led to this moment.
January 15, 2026 at 8:19 PM
All of the years that folks supported stop and frisk has also led to this moment.
Reposted by Anthony Pignataro
Every time you tweet in anger about some centrist memo "warning" Dems not to talk about "Abolish ICE," you're just persuading reporters that the memo is newsworthy and getting the memo's authors the media attention they originally set out to get, thus rewarding them for baiting you.
January 15, 2026 at 7:19 PM
Every time you tweet in anger about some centrist memo "warning" Dems not to talk about "Abolish ICE," you're just persuading reporters that the memo is newsworthy and getting the memo's authors the media attention they originally set out to get, thus rewarding them for baiting you.
Reposted by Anthony Pignataro
and frequently in the past when such charges have been filed they've been later dismissed because they were made up bsky.app/profile/step...
January 15, 2026 at 7:06 PM
and frequently in the past when such charges have been filed they've been later dismissed because they were made up bsky.app/profile/step...
Reposted by Anthony Pignataro
ICE keeps saying the people protesting it are being paid without any evidence, but we have receipts showing that the people *defending* ICE are absolutely being paid.
And yet we only hear lies about the former on cable news.
And yet we only hear lies about the former on cable news.
relevant to the debate over whether we should keep funding DHS without reforms and accountability for how out of control their spending is
January 15, 2026 at 4:28 PM
ICE keeps saying the people protesting it are being paid without any evidence, but we have receipts showing that the people *defending* ICE are absolutely being paid.
And yet we only hear lies about the former on cable news.
And yet we only hear lies about the former on cable news.
Reposted by Anthony Pignataro
“As a reasonable centrist, I think the paramilitary death squads need better training.”
January 15, 2026 at 4:04 PM
“As a reasonable centrist, I think the paramilitary death squads need better training.”
Reposted by Anthony Pignataro
How I look at Tim Walz now after previously thinking he was some kind of badass
January 15, 2026 at 5:37 PM
How I look at Tim Walz now after previously thinking he was some kind of badass
Reposted by Anthony Pignataro
Correct.
Dems/patriots should be straight-up committed to abolishing ICE.
We must never again have masked, armed, untrained, unscreened, embittered rogue agents patrolling our streets, destroying civil order rather than trying to maintain it.
Empowered by 'Kavanaugh stop' and 'Roberts waiver.'
Dems/patriots should be straight-up committed to abolishing ICE.
We must never again have masked, armed, untrained, unscreened, embittered rogue agents patrolling our streets, destroying civil order rather than trying to maintain it.
Empowered by 'Kavanaugh stop' and 'Roberts waiver.'
ICE must be abolished. It has become a lawless, rogue agency. Federal law enforcement agencies must follow the law, if they're going to have any credibility enforcing it.
We are demanding justice for Renee Good and the prosecution of ICE agent Jonathan Ross for her murder.
We are demanding justice for Renee Good and the prosecution of ICE agent Jonathan Ross for her murder.
January 15, 2026 at 5:35 PM
Correct.
Dems/patriots should be straight-up committed to abolishing ICE.
We must never again have masked, armed, untrained, unscreened, embittered rogue agents patrolling our streets, destroying civil order rather than trying to maintain it.
Empowered by 'Kavanaugh stop' and 'Roberts waiver.'
Dems/patriots should be straight-up committed to abolishing ICE.
We must never again have masked, armed, untrained, unscreened, embittered rogue agents patrolling our streets, destroying civil order rather than trying to maintain it.
Empowered by 'Kavanaugh stop' and 'Roberts waiver.'
Reposted by Anthony Pignataro
The People will stand up. I want the elected officials to help them out, on the ground, instead of being scared pussies
Posts from Minneapolis residents read like they'll be read in voiceover in a Ken Burns-like doc one day
January 15, 2026 at 5:06 PM
The People will stand up. I want the elected officials to help them out, on the ground, instead of being scared pussies
Reposted by Anthony Pignataro
ICE can't even deal with irate middle-aged midwesterners. how does he occupy hundreds, if not thousands, of polling cites and precincts? trump v. illinois clarified that he has no legal authority to unilaterally commandeer national guards, how does he move forward from there?
January 15, 2026 at 4:32 PM
ICE can't even deal with irate middle-aged midwesterners. how does he occupy hundreds, if not thousands, of polling cites and precincts? trump v. illinois clarified that he has no legal authority to unilaterally commandeer national guards, how does he move forward from there?
Reposted by Anthony Pignataro
the question to ask about this is, okay, he wants to cancel the midterms. how does he get the VA state board of elections to cancel the midterms? how does he get the georgia board of elections to do it? how does he convince republican house members to quit their jobs and give up their paychecks?
Trump says a lot of deranged shit, but, per this Reuters article — and the threats of invoking the Insurrection Act in Minnesota this morning — he is very clearly exploring how to cancel the midterms.
www.reuters.com/world/us/fiv...
www.reuters.com/world/us/fiv...
January 15, 2026 at 4:29 PM
the question to ask about this is, okay, he wants to cancel the midterms. how does he get the VA state board of elections to cancel the midterms? how does he get the georgia board of elections to do it? how does he convince republican house members to quit their jobs and give up their paychecks?
Reposted by Anthony Pignataro
When a TV guest goes the predictable route of claiming they're "paid protestors," hosts must immediately ask if they have any proof.
When they sputter that they're guessing, ask if *they* were paid to come on TV and lie about it.
No? You're offended by that? Gosh, I'm just guessing here like you.
When they sputter that they're guessing, ask if *they* were paid to come on TV and lie about it.
No? You're offended by that? Gosh, I'm just guessing here like you.
"You're seeing a lot of paid protesters" -- Rep. Mike Haridopolos's attempt to defend ICE's tactics in Minneapolis during a CNN panel discussion this morning did not go well. Bad used car salesman vibes.
January 15, 2026 at 2:00 PM
When a TV guest goes the predictable route of claiming they're "paid protestors," hosts must immediately ask if they have any proof.
When they sputter that they're guessing, ask if *they* were paid to come on TV and lie about it.
No? You're offended by that? Gosh, I'm just guessing here like you.
When they sputter that they're guessing, ask if *they* were paid to come on TV and lie about it.
No? You're offended by that? Gosh, I'm just guessing here like you.
Reposted by Anthony Pignataro
A competent opposition political party would cut together the footage of what ICE had been doing in the twin cities with Mike Johnson saying "ICE is doing what ICE is designed to do" and have it in ads all across the country
Mike Johnson comes out against additional guardrails on ICE as Democrats call for it.
“I think there's a lot of Democrats playing games right now with national security and with law enforcement. And I think it's dangerous. Ice is doing what ice is designed to do by its very name.”
“I think there's a lot of Democrats playing games right now with national security and with law enforcement. And I think it's dangerous. Ice is doing what ice is designed to do by its very name.”
January 14, 2026 at 11:58 PM
A competent opposition political party would cut together the footage of what ICE had been doing in the twin cities with Mike Johnson saying "ICE is doing what ICE is designed to do" and have it in ads all across the country
Reposted by Anthony Pignataro
This is the safest, most moderate course of action that offers some prospect of de-escalation. It is the only way for Democrats.
Don't do it and we're on a glide path toward brutal fascist dictatorship or civil war. This isn't going to just stop on its own.
Don't do it and we're on a glide path toward brutal fascist dictatorship or civil war. This isn't going to just stop on its own.
Senate Democrats absolutely have to shut the govt down to stop this ICE insanity in the Twin Cities. This is not sustainable & cannot be normalized. Any Democratic vote to provide money to the thugs who are brutalizing this community is a grave betrayal to the people here. Accountability can't wait.
January 15, 2026 at 3:53 AM
This is the safest, most moderate course of action that offers some prospect of de-escalation. It is the only way for Democrats.
Don't do it and we're on a glide path toward brutal fascist dictatorship or civil war. This isn't going to just stop on its own.
Don't do it and we're on a glide path toward brutal fascist dictatorship or civil war. This isn't going to just stop on its own.
Reposted by Anthony Pignataro
Trump is desperately trying to cause a Kent state. People forget about how he tear gassed the protestors in Lafayette Park
January 15, 2026 at 3:24 AM
Trump is desperately trying to cause a Kent state. People forget about how he tear gassed the protestors in Lafayette Park
Reposted by Anthony Pignataro
Honestly, I think a desire to punish Walz for offering an alternate model of masculinity is driving a nonzero percentage of this atrocity.
Walz: "What's happening in MN defies belief. News reports simply don't do justice to the level of chaos & disruption & trauma the federal govt is raining down... This long ago stopped being a matter of immigration enforcement. Instead, it's a campaign of organized brutality against the people of MN"
January 15, 2026 at 2:40 AM
Honestly, I think a desire to punish Walz for offering an alternate model of masculinity is driving a nonzero percentage of this atrocity.
Reposted by Anthony Pignataro
Democratic establishment has to once again follow the lead of the public
Enten: "Americans at this point do not like ICE. And that's very different from what we saw during Trump's first term. We're talking about -17 approval rating. That's a 17 point drop from where we were during Trump's first term. Among independents, the number is even lower."
January 15, 2026 at 2:49 AM
Democratic establishment has to once again follow the lead of the public
Reposted by Anthony Pignataro
Cripes a’mighty people, Steven Miller is not staging a militarized ethnic cleansing and sending the border cops to murder people in the street to distract from the Epstein files. He’s doing it because he and Trump (and Vance and Homan and Noem etc) really really want to.
January 15, 2026 at 2:39 AM
Cripes a’mighty people, Steven Miller is not staging a militarized ethnic cleansing and sending the border cops to murder people in the street to distract from the Epstein files. He’s doing it because he and Trump (and Vance and Homan and Noem etc) really really want to.
Reposted by Anthony Pignataro
Walz: "What's happening in MN defies belief. News reports simply don't do justice to the level of chaos & disruption & trauma the federal govt is raining down... This long ago stopped being a matter of immigration enforcement. Instead, it's a campaign of organized brutality against the people of MN"
January 15, 2026 at 2:17 AM
Walz: "What's happening in MN defies belief. News reports simply don't do justice to the level of chaos & disruption & trauma the federal govt is raining down... This long ago stopped being a matter of immigration enforcement. Instead, it's a campaign of organized brutality against the people of MN"
Reposted by Anthony Pignataro
It really cannot be overstated at this point enough that literally in some of the whitest suburbs of the city, we have armed Gestapo agents going door-to-door, asking people to turn in their neighbors.
I live in Cottage Grove and they were in my neighborhood last week. It’s ridiculous.
January 14, 2026 at 9:59 PM
It really cannot be overstated at this point enough that literally in some of the whitest suburbs of the city, we have armed Gestapo agents going door-to-door, asking people to turn in their neighbors.
Reposted by Anthony Pignataro
The flopsweat desperation of an administration that can feel the walls closing in, just smashing and grabbing everything they can before the reckoning comes.
And it's coming in one form or another -- the Epstein Files, Trump's death spiral, maybe just the midterm elections. And they all know it.
And it's coming in one form or another -- the Epstein Files, Trump's death spiral, maybe just the midterm elections. And they all know it.
I don't know about all of you, but I am finding it difficult to process Venezuela, Greenland, Minneapolis, and the Fed all at once.
January 15, 2026 at 1:01 AM
The flopsweat desperation of an administration that can feel the walls closing in, just smashing and grabbing everything they can before the reckoning comes.
And it's coming in one form or another -- the Epstein Files, Trump's death spiral, maybe just the midterm elections. And they all know it.
And it's coming in one form or another -- the Epstein Files, Trump's death spiral, maybe just the midterm elections. And they all know it.
Reposted by Anthony Pignataro
the first democratic district attorney to arrest an ice agent will become a top tier presidential candidate
January 14, 2026 at 11:51 PM
the first democratic district attorney to arrest an ice agent will become a top tier presidential candidate
Reposted by Anthony Pignataro
99% chance this is what they mean
January 14, 2026 at 5:25 PM
99% chance this is what they mean
Reposted by Anthony Pignataro
Shorter Jon Del Aroz: "I don't know anything about Star Trek."
January 14, 2026 at 3:22 PM
Shorter Jon Del Aroz: "I don't know anything about Star Trek."