Susie Banikarim
@banikarim.bsky.social
journalist, laurels & darts column, CJR, “widely respected”
Pinned
jmail.world is such a brilliant project & public service. i talked to @igel.bsky.social who came up w the idea last wk. everyone working on it is volunteering their time & they’ve had more than 450m views just since the latest epstein release a few wks ago. if you haven’t checked it out, you should.
Jmail, logged in as jeevacation@gmail.com
You are logged into jeevacation@gmail.com, Jeffrey Epstein's email. Sourced from the November 2025 House Oversight Committee data release.
jmail.world
February 16, 2026 at 9:17 PM
jmail.world is such a brilliant project & public service. i talked to @igel.bsky.social who came up w the idea last wk. everyone working on it is volunteering their time & they’ve had more than 450m views just since the latest epstein release a few wks ago. if you haven’t checked it out, you should.
Reposted by Susie Banikarim
In Laurels and Darts, a tool for parsing the Epstein dumps. Plus: Papers clash in the Deep South; a decades-long Florida waitlist. Read @banikarim.bsky.social. www.cjr.org/laurels-and-...
Laurels and Darts: You've got Jmail.
A tool for parsing the Epstein dumps. Plus: Papers clash in the Deep South; a decades-long Florida waitlist.
www.cjr.org
February 13, 2026 at 1:16 PM
In Laurels and Darts, a tool for parsing the Epstein dumps. Plus: Papers clash in the Deep South; a decades-long Florida waitlist. Read @banikarim.bsky.social. www.cjr.org/laurels-and-...
it’s so interesting that everyone who appears in the epstein files only ever met him that one documented time and knew he was a demon but never said anything.
February 10, 2026 at 2:33 AM
it’s so interesting that everyone who appears in the epstein files only ever met him that one documented time and knew he was a demon but never said anything.
Reposted by Susie Banikarim
A desperate plea sent to me by a Minneapolis resident who's been on the front lines since the beginning of the ICE occupation:
February 8, 2026 at 5:06 AM
A desperate plea sent to me by a Minneapolis resident who's been on the front lines since the beginning of the ICE occupation:
My favorite dart this week goes to Axios for its bizarre and lazy AI-generated “New Yorker-style” review of Josh Shapiro’s book. Who is it for? Who knows!
February 6, 2026 at 7:53 PM
My favorite dart this week goes to Axios for its bizarre and lazy AI-generated “New Yorker-style” review of Josh Shapiro’s book. Who is it for? Who knows!
Reposted by Susie Banikarim
A laurel for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, which obtained exclusive body cam footage of an FBI raid on an election center in Georgia. Read all the latest Laurels and Darts by @banikarim.bsky.social.
www.cjr.org
February 6, 2026 at 12:24 PM
A laurel for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, which obtained exclusive body cam footage of an FBI raid on an election center in Georgia. Read all the latest Laurels and Darts by @banikarim.bsky.social.
Reposted by Susie Banikarim
Must’ve had an open bar
. @nickijhabvala.bsky.social: "Will Lewis was too busy to join the call to tell his staff he’s destroying the @washingtonpost.com sports department yesterday … but he did have time to walk the red carpet at NFL Honors here in San Francisco today. Amazing."
February 6, 2026 at 2:28 AM
Must’ve had an open bar
should we start a will lewis watch to see how long it takes him to show his face at the company he in theory runs during an actual crisis?
February 5, 2026 at 4:26 PM
should we start a will lewis watch to see how long it takes him to show his face at the company he in theory runs during an actual crisis?
Reposted by Susie Banikarim
The DA of Santa Clara County, California, is the only prosecutor in the country to try a felony case against pro-Palestine student protesters since campus demonstrations began. The trial began last month and a verdict is expected soon.
In Bay Area, Felony Charges Against Student Protesters Prompt Free Speech Concerns
Local prosecutors are seeking felony-level charges against pro-Palestine demonstrators. Even if they don’t stick, critics say the response is harsh and could chill protests.
boltsmag.org
February 5, 2026 at 3:35 PM
The DA of Santa Clara County, California, is the only prosecutor in the country to try a felony case against pro-Palestine student protesters since campus demonstrations began. The trial began last month and a verdict is expected soon.
“the feeling in the newsroom is that the way they’ve handled this is like some kind of sick psychological warfare," a washington post reporter tells cjr.
www.cjr.org/news/layoffs...
www.cjr.org/news/layoffs...
Layoffs at the Washington Post
“Our leadership destroyed our brand.”
www.cjr.org
February 4, 2026 at 3:24 PM
“the feeling in the newsroom is that the way they’ve handled this is like some kind of sick psychological warfare," a washington post reporter tells cjr.
www.cjr.org/news/layoffs...
www.cjr.org/news/layoffs...
all of this is stupid but i’m told that the post reports podcast has hundreds of thousands of subscribers which makes cutting it particularly weird given that podcasts are considered a huge revenue growth opportunity in most newsrooms.
In addition to sports, the Washington Post is killing its book section, suspending its Post Reports podcast, restructuring its metro section, and shrinking its international footprint.
February 4, 2026 at 3:04 PM
all of this is stupid but i’m told that the post reports podcast has hundreds of thousands of subscribers which makes cutting it particularly weird given that podcasts are considered a huge revenue growth opportunity in most newsrooms.
Reposted by Susie Banikarim
A lot of people cannot just start a paid newsletter or become freelancers to sustain their careers. The sports, metro, and international desks did work that requires *team* resources, like legal checks, documents, access to archives, and long-term beat experience.
February 4, 2026 at 2:42 PM
A lot of people cannot just start a paid newsletter or become freelancers to sustain their careers. The sports, metro, and international desks did work that requires *team* resources, like legal checks, documents, access to archives, and long-term beat experience.
Reposted by Susie Banikarim
I just got off the phone with Elizabeth's dad...she and her mom were freed tonight! Updated story: sahanjournal.com/education/co...
February 4, 2026 at 3:50 AM
I just got off the phone with Elizabeth's dad...she and her mom were freed tonight! Updated story: sahanjournal.com/education/co...
Reposted by Susie Banikarim
The next reporter's question was on ... healthcare savings accounts.
KAITLAN COLLINS: What would say to Epstein survivo---
TRUMP: You are so bad. You are the worst report. No wonder CNN has no ratings. She's a young woman. I don't think I've ever seen you smile. They should be ashamed of you.
TRUMP: You are so bad. You are the worst report. No wonder CNN has no ratings. She's a young woman. I don't think I've ever seen you smile. They should be ashamed of you.
February 3, 2026 at 10:58 PM
The next reporter's question was on ... healthcare savings accounts.
This is incredible work from the team @thenation.com.
"The writers who have shared stories with us have done so in conditions that veer toward the impossible. They have written through hunger and grief, while huddling in makeshift shelters, and while listening to the thud of still-falling bombs."
"The writers who have shared stories with us have done so in conditions that veer toward the impossible. They have written through hunger and grief, while huddling in makeshift shelters, and while listening to the thud of still-falling bombs."
Media coverage of Gaza has plummeted. So today on @thenation.com, we're doing something pretty special: we're only running pieces by people in and from Gaza.
We're calling it "A Day for Gaza." You can find links to all of the incredible pieces here. Please read! www.thenation.com/article/worl...
We're calling it "A Day for Gaza." You can find links to all of the incredible pieces here. Please read! www.thenation.com/article/worl...
A Day for Gaza
Today, The Nation is turning over its website exclusively to stories from Gaza and its people. This is why.
www.thenation.com
February 3, 2026 at 9:21 PM
This is incredible work from the team @thenation.com.
"The writers who have shared stories with us have done so in conditions that veer toward the impossible. They have written through hunger and grief, while huddling in makeshift shelters, and while listening to the thud of still-falling bombs."
"The writers who have shared stories with us have done so in conditions that veer toward the impossible. They have written through hunger and grief, while huddling in makeshift shelters, and while listening to the thud of still-falling bombs."
if you haven't read this harrowing investigation about the use of spit hoods in mental health settings from @hannahfurfaro.bsky.social for the @seattletimes-rss.bsky.social, you should.
www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...
www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...
February 2, 2026 at 5:49 PM
if you haven't read this harrowing investigation about the use of spit hoods in mental health settings from @hannahfurfaro.bsky.social for the @seattletimes-rss.bsky.social, you should.
www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...
www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...
Reposted by Susie Banikarim
Former Texas Lege reporter here. A Dem hasn't held this seat since 1990. Tarrant is the safest of red suburban counties. There is no way the TX and national GOP aren't in panic mode right now.
JUST IN: Democrats flip a red seat in the Texas Senate.
Taylor Rehmet wins against Leigh Wambsganss, a conservative activist who helped lead right-wing efforts to take over TX school boards.
With all early vote, and 95% of precincts, in, Dem up 57/43.
Trump won this seat by 17% in Tarrant County.
Taylor Rehmet wins against Leigh Wambsganss, a conservative activist who helped lead right-wing efforts to take over TX school boards.
With all early vote, and 95% of precincts, in, Dem up 57/43.
Trump won this seat by 17% in Tarrant County.
February 1, 2026 at 5:29 AM
Former Texas Lege reporter here. A Dem hasn't held this seat since 1990. Tarrant is the safest of red suburban counties. There is no way the TX and national GOP aren't in panic mode right now.
Reposted by Susie Banikarim
Democrat Taylor Rehmet won a Texas state Senate election in a reliably Republican district that Trump won by 17 points in 2024
GOP STUNNED: Democrat Flips Reliably Republican Texas State Senate Seat
Democrat Taylor Rehmet won a special election in a Texas state Senate district that President Donald Trump won by 17 points in 2024.
www.huffpost.com
February 1, 2026 at 5:45 AM
Democrat Taylor Rehmet won a Texas state Senate election in a reliably Republican district that Trump won by 17 points in 2024
this order is really worth reading in full.
Order to release Adrian and Liam Arias is a real barn burner storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
January 31, 2026 at 10:58 PM
this order is really worth reading in full.
I talked to @ntabrizy.bsky.social about covering the brutal crackdown in Iran during a near-total communication blackout. “The level of violence that I’ve seen is completely incomparable to any other protest that I’ve covered in Iran,” she told me.
www.cjr.org/laurels-and-...
www.cjr.org/laurels-and-...
January 30, 2026 at 9:55 PM
I talked to @ntabrizy.bsky.social about covering the brutal crackdown in Iran during a near-total communication blackout. “The level of violence that I’ve seen is completely incomparable to any other protest that I’ve covered in Iran,” she told me.
www.cjr.org/laurels-and-...
www.cjr.org/laurels-and-...
it’s been chaotic weekend full of very bad news so i haven’t had a chance to share yet but in my column this week i highlight some great local reporting from @texasobserver.org & @prx.org. the value of local reporting could not be more clear than it is in this moment.
www.cjr.org/laurels-and-...
www.cjr.org/laurels-and-...
Laurels and Darts: ICE directive discovery; silent Bezos; a post-fire future; an investigation in Texas.
Plus: silent Bezos, post-fire future, and an investigation in Texas.
www.cjr.org
January 25, 2026 at 9:33 PM
it’s been chaotic weekend full of very bad news so i haven’t had a chance to share yet but in my column this week i highlight some great local reporting from @texasobserver.org & @prx.org. the value of local reporting could not be more clear than it is in this moment.
www.cjr.org/laurels-and-...
www.cjr.org/laurels-and-...
i don’t know how we’re supposed to live like this. we have seen more people die on camera in the last few years than i think any decent person can absorb or process.
January 24, 2026 at 6:34 PM
i don’t know how we’re supposed to live like this. we have seen more people die on camera in the last few years than i think any decent person can absorb or process.
Reposted by Susie Banikarim
ICE Directive Discovery. Plus: silent Bezos, post-fire future, and an investigation in Texas. Read this week's Laurels and Darts by @banikarim.bsky.social. www.cjr.org/laurels-and-...
Laurels and Darts: ICE directive discovery; silent Bezos; a post-fire future; an investigation in Texas.
Plus: silent Bezos, post-fire future, and an investigation in Texas.
www.cjr.org
January 23, 2026 at 1:41 PM
ICE Directive Discovery. Plus: silent Bezos, post-fire future, and an investigation in Texas. Read this week's Laurels and Darts by @banikarim.bsky.social. www.cjr.org/laurels-and-...
Reposted by Susie Banikarim
Yes - you have the right to film ICE agents, as long as you don't interfere with their law enforcement activities.
Documenting ICE's actions can add a layer of accountability and shine a light on violent tactics, as well as help us advocate to abolish harmful policies.
Documenting ICE's actions can add a layer of accountability and shine a light on violent tactics, as well as help us advocate to abolish harmful policies.
Is it legal to record ICE agents making arrests in NY?
Learn what the law protects when recording ICE operations and how to safely document immigration encounters in public spaces.
www.democratandchronicle.com
January 16, 2026 at 8:41 PM
Yes - you have the right to film ICE agents, as long as you don't interfere with their law enforcement activities.
Documenting ICE's actions can add a layer of accountability and shine a light on violent tactics, as well as help us advocate to abolish harmful policies.
Documenting ICE's actions can add a layer of accountability and shine a light on violent tactics, as well as help us advocate to abolish harmful policies.
All the valid criticism & snark has obscured a more fundamental problem for Weiss & Dokoupil’s reshaping of CBS’s evening news: nothing they’ve tried so far is interesting or new. As the abysmal ratings prove, pulling CBS out of 3rd place is going to take more than online noise.
My latest column:
My latest column:
Laurels and Darts: Going to the tape.
Vital footage in Minneapolis. Plus, shopworn “new ideas” at CBS; mixed messages for American Samoans; and they shoot horses (up), don’t they?
www.cjr.org
January 16, 2026 at 6:37 PM
All the valid criticism & snark has obscured a more fundamental problem for Weiss & Dokoupil’s reshaping of CBS’s evening news: nothing they’ve tried so far is interesting or new. As the abysmal ratings prove, pulling CBS out of 3rd place is going to take more than online noise.
My latest column:
My latest column: