Ben Bellows
@benbellows.bsky.social
Cofounder & CBO, Nivi Inc
A Michigan farm kid a long time ago. Husband, dad, researcher, neighbor, founder.
pubs: orcid.org/0000-0001-9205-6623
#UMich #Econ #PeaceCorps #Ecuador 🇪🇨 #CDC #UCBerkeley #Epi #PopCouncil #Kenya 🇰🇪 #Zambia 🇿🇲 #digitalhealth #AI
A Michigan farm kid a long time ago. Husband, dad, researcher, neighbor, founder.
pubs: orcid.org/0000-0001-9205-6623
#UMich #Econ #PeaceCorps #Ecuador 🇪🇨 #CDC #UCBerkeley #Epi #PopCouncil #Kenya 🇰🇪 #Zambia 🇿🇲 #digitalhealth #AI
Reposted by Ben Bellows
We are seeing ordinary citizens — a children’s face painter and a doctor — come forth with sworn affidavits to describe the killing of the Minneapolis nurse.
In case you were wondering what courage looks like.
Links threaded below
In case you were wondering what courage looks like.
Links threaded below
January 25, 2026 at 2:17 AM
We are seeing ordinary citizens — a children’s face painter and a doctor — come forth with sworn affidavits to describe the killing of the Minneapolis nurse.
In case you were wondering what courage looks like.
Links threaded below
In case you were wondering what courage looks like.
Links threaded below
Reposted by Ben Bellows
This is self-evidently true, and also apparently too difficult for many people to wrap their minds around
Seems that “abolish ICE” or, really, any political reference to ICE as a concept captures both ICE and CBP in one swoop, which may become a problem when it’s time to develop abolition policy, but in the meantime is a convenient rhetorical device.
All the focus is on abolish ICE but CBP seems honestly the worse of the two. Bovino, today’s shooting, and Ross was former CBP.
January 25, 2026 at 4:39 AM
This is self-evidently true, and also apparently too difficult for many people to wrap their minds around
Reposted by Ben Bellows
It’s crucial that networks with Sunday morning shows not let Republicans lie about what happened today. Interrupt them, cut their mics, cut away. It’s reckless and inaccurate to let them spin a murder. The video is clear. I don’t expect this to happen, but the journalistic imperative is clear.
January 25, 2026 at 4:28 AM
It’s crucial that networks with Sunday morning shows not let Republicans lie about what happened today. Interrupt them, cut their mics, cut away. It’s reckless and inaccurate to let them spin a murder. The video is clear. I don’t expect this to happen, but the journalistic imperative is clear.
Reposted by Ben Bellows
Minnesota says the US government will engage in a cover up:
"The actions of federal authorities to date indicate Defendants will continue to withhold, destroy, alter, or conceal (or allowed to be withheld, destroyed, altered, or concealed) evidence, if not restrained from doing so."
"The actions of federal authorities to date indicate Defendants will continue to withhold, destroy, alter, or conceal (or allowed to be withheld, destroyed, altered, or concealed) evidence, if not restrained from doing so."
January 25, 2026 at 4:17 AM
Minnesota says the US government will engage in a cover up:
"The actions of federal authorities to date indicate Defendants will continue to withhold, destroy, alter, or conceal (or allowed to be withheld, destroyed, altered, or concealed) evidence, if not restrained from doing so."
"The actions of federal authorities to date indicate Defendants will continue to withhold, destroy, alter, or conceal (or allowed to be withheld, destroyed, altered, or concealed) evidence, if not restrained from doing so."
Reposted by Ben Bellows
Minnesota's state FBI-like bureau is suing Noem. It says before pre-emptively declaring the killing righteous and abandoning the crime scene, feds took exclusive custody of evidence, including "apparently seized cellphones."
MN asserts a sovereign right to investigate crimes within its borders.
MN asserts a sovereign right to investigate crimes within its borders.
#1 in Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension v. Noem (D. Minnesota, 0:26-cv-00628) – CourtListener.com
COMPLAINT against All Defendants (filing fee $ 405, receipt number AMNDC-12575332) filed by Hennepin County Attorney's Office, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. Filer requests summons issued....
storage.courtlistener.com
January 25, 2026 at 4:11 AM
Minnesota's state FBI-like bureau is suing Noem. It says before pre-emptively declaring the killing righteous and abandoning the crime scene, feds took exclusive custody of evidence, including "apparently seized cellphones."
MN asserts a sovereign right to investigate crimes within its borders.
MN asserts a sovereign right to investigate crimes within its borders.
Reposted by Ben Bellows
As I explained earlier this month, we're too literal abt what amounts to military occupation. The ICE/CPB operations in Blue cities are the kinds of garrisoning of civilian towns that the founding documents opposed. talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/dont-...
Don’t Be So Literal About What Counts as a Military Occupation
I want to return to a topic I’ve alluded to in several...
talkingpointsmemo.com
January 25, 2026 at 1:35 AM
As I explained earlier this month, we're too literal abt what amounts to military occupation. The ICE/CPB operations in Blue cities are the kinds of garrisoning of civilian towns that the founding documents opposed. talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/dont-...
Reposted by Ben Bellows
This is extremely upsetting, especially so because my mom and dad had this exact same conversation with me
January 25, 2026 at 3:44 AM
This is extremely upsetting, especially so because my mom and dad had this exact same conversation with me
Reposted by Ben Bellows
Good to see from @nytimes.com
Please note that NYT is leading with what the videos show, not the lies from the feds. This is what every news organization should be doing. This is how you cover a government that lies as it breathes. https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/us/minneapolis-shooting-ice
Minneapolis Live Updates: Man Killed by Federal Agents Was Holding a Phone, Not a Gun
www.nytimes.com
January 25, 2026 at 3:57 AM
Good to see from @nytimes.com
Reposted by Ben Bellows
This is an account from a physician, filed in court, who ran to the scene of where federal agents shot Alex Pretti and rendered aid. She testifies she was delayed by officers from performing CPR. She noticed at least 3 bullet wounds to his back, one on his chest, and possibly one his neck.
January 25, 2026 at 3:09 AM
This is an account from a physician, filed in court, who ran to the scene of where federal agents shot Alex Pretti and rendered aid. She testifies she was delayed by officers from performing CPR. She noticed at least 3 bullet wounds to his back, one on his chest, and possibly one his neck.
Reposted by Ben Bellows
A Truth and Reconciliation Commission is what you do when the regime voluntarily cedes power, and as part of the deal, gets immunity from prosecution.
A criminal tribunal is what you do when they cling to power and are unrepentant about their crimes.
The USA needs a criminal tribunal.
A criminal tribunal is what you do when they cling to power and are unrepentant about their crimes.
The USA needs a criminal tribunal.
January 25, 2026 at 3:54 AM
A Truth and Reconciliation Commission is what you do when the regime voluntarily cedes power, and as part of the deal, gets immunity from prosecution.
A criminal tribunal is what you do when they cling to power and are unrepentant about their crimes.
The USA needs a criminal tribunal.
A criminal tribunal is what you do when they cling to power and are unrepentant about their crimes.
The USA needs a criminal tribunal.
Reposted by Ben Bellows
James Talarico earlier today at the Democratic debate for the TX Senate primary when asked about Israel-Palestine:
"I would not vote to send weapons to Netanyahu which he is currently using to slaughter children in Gaza”
"I would not vote to send weapons to Netanyahu which he is currently using to slaughter children in Gaza”
January 25, 2026 at 2:18 AM
James Talarico earlier today at the Democratic debate for the TX Senate primary when asked about Israel-Palestine:
"I would not vote to send weapons to Netanyahu which he is currently using to slaughter children in Gaza”
"I would not vote to send weapons to Netanyahu which he is currently using to slaughter children in Gaza”
Reposted by Ben Bellows
A video of Alex Pretti reading out the final salute of an unnamed veteran he cared for until the end of his life in the ICU, posted to Facebook by his son.
January 25, 2026 at 1:18 AM
A video of Alex Pretti reading out the final salute of an unnamed veteran he cared for until the end of his life in the ICU, posted to Facebook by his son.
Reposted by Ben Bellows
The Devil: A guy who has never had a friend will yell at you for saying something that's not wrong, and not said in the wrong way, but in a way that the guy thinks is wrong.
Me: That sounds very cool. And this all happens on my telephone?
Me: That sounds very cool. And this all happens on my telephone?
January 25, 2026 at 1:51 AM
The Devil: A guy who has never had a friend will yell at you for saying something that's not wrong, and not said in the wrong way, but in a way that the guy thinks is wrong.
Me: That sounds very cool. And this all happens on my telephone?
Me: That sounds very cool. And this all happens on my telephone?
Reposted by Ben Bellows
You might say to yourself "this seems like bad politics" which is almost certainly true, but the truth of the matter is that this is who they are. They cannot help themselves. It's White Nationalism and a desire for social dominance all the way to the bottom.
This is an actual post from Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth: Praising ICE after Alex Pretti was killed, blaming the Democratic leadership of Minnesota, and writing that ICE is greater/better than Minnesota.
He is actively demeaning the people of Minnesota just hours after Pretti was murdered.
He is actively demeaning the people of Minnesota just hours after Pretti was murdered.
January 24, 2026 at 11:24 PM
You might say to yourself "this seems like bad politics" which is almost certainly true, but the truth of the matter is that this is who they are. They cannot help themselves. It's White Nationalism and a desire for social dominance all the way to the bottom.
Reposted by Ben Bellows
Beyond helping establish DHS itself in 2003, Mr. Mitnick was a senate-confirmed Trump choice for General Counsel for DHS in his first term. I've talked with him a few times, and he's not a man for hyperbole. So bear that in mind when you see him calling out DHS's "lawlessness, fascism, and cruelty."
January 25, 2026 at 1:05 AM
Beyond helping establish DHS itself in 2003, Mr. Mitnick was a senate-confirmed Trump choice for General Counsel for DHS in his first term. I've talked with him a few times, and he's not a man for hyperbole. So bear that in mind when you see him calling out DHS's "lawlessness, fascism, and cruelty."
Reposted by Ben Bellows
Reposted by Ben Bellows
Stephen Miller is a very sick person, more so, IMO, than the president. And he is calling the shots.
I remember when Terry Moran dared to make this observation and got fired from ABC for it.
I remember when Terry Moran dared to make this observation and got fired from ABC for it.
January 25, 2026 at 12:58 AM
Stephen Miller is a very sick person, more so, IMO, than the president. And he is calling the shots.
I remember when Terry Moran dared to make this observation and got fired from ABC for it.
I remember when Terry Moran dared to make this observation and got fired from ABC for it.
Reposted by Ben Bellows
The montage towards the end hits especially hard. www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_71...
ICE Kills Another American
YouTube video by Takes™ by Jamelle Bouie
www.youtube.com
January 24, 2026 at 10:16 PM
The montage towards the end hits especially hard. www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_71...
Reposted by Ben Bellows
Confident regimes understand this. You can only use the stick so often before it is no longer feared.
See the thing is, authority is brittle. It requires constant effort. Oppression is a mask, you know? That fear wears.
fear.
they need to demonstrate that resistance is worse than useless, that it will be broken, and that their agents have impunity regardless of their actions.
they need to demonstrate that resistance is worse than useless, that it will be broken, and that their agents have impunity regardless of their actions.
January 24, 2026 at 1:38 AM
Confident regimes understand this. You can only use the stick so often before it is no longer feared.
Reposted by Ben Bellows
Absolutley heartbreaking that parents of a man gunned down by federal agents have to put out a statement because the president and his cowardly minions are defaming their son. We’re way past sick.
Kare 11 local news just read, in full, this statement from Michael and Susan Pretti, the parents of Alex Pretti.
"Please get the truth out about our son."
"Please get the truth out about our son."
January 25, 2026 at 12:48 AM
Absolutley heartbreaking that parents of a man gunned down by federal agents have to put out a statement because the president and his cowardly minions are defaming their son. We’re way past sick.
Reposted by Ben Bellows
Pam Bondi just sent a letter to Minnesota officials saying ICE will leave if the state turns over its voter database to Trump.
Guess what? This has never been about safety or immigration. It’s a pretext for Trump to take over elections in swing states.
Guess what? This has never been about safety or immigration. It’s a pretext for Trump to take over elections in swing states.
January 25, 2026 at 12:35 AM
Pam Bondi just sent a letter to Minnesota officials saying ICE will leave if the state turns over its voter database to Trump.
Guess what? This has never been about safety or immigration. It’s a pretext for Trump to take over elections in swing states.
Guess what? This has never been about safety or immigration. It’s a pretext for Trump to take over elections in swing states.
Reposted by Ben Bellows
Peaceful resistance does in fact work, and has worked many times before
Peaceful protest does not and has never worked. Its clearly done nothing in Minnesota considering ICE is murdering citizens in broad daylight now with no repercussions.
ALL MN PROTESTERS
Absolutely nothing could be worse for our cause than violence and rioting. It is what ICE and Trump obviously want. Do not burn down our own city to protest invaders; they do not care; they will enjoy it. Do not do it. Do not let your fellow protesters do it.
Absolutely nothing could be worse for our cause than violence and rioting. It is what ICE and Trump obviously want. Do not burn down our own city to protest invaders; they do not care; they will enjoy it. Do not do it. Do not let your fellow protesters do it.
January 24, 2026 at 10:06 PM
Peaceful resistance does in fact work, and has worked many times before
Reposted by Ben Bellows
there's some degree of political opportunism and wind-shifting here from Democrat leaders here, but I don't think we should underestimate genuine moral outrage as a factor too.
Both of Nevada's senators--Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen--have officially come out against the DHS funding bill following the execution of Alex Pretti by ICE agents in Minneapolis this morning. This effectively ends the DHS funding bill in the Senate.
January 24, 2026 at 9:48 PM
there's some degree of political opportunism and wind-shifting here from Democrat leaders here, but I don't think we should underestimate genuine moral outrage as a factor too.
Reposted by Ben Bellows
AOC: "How rich is it that she is saying showing up to the scene of a protest with a legally owned weapon should be grounds for a person's death, execution at the hands of the state, by the same party and administration that praises Kyle Rittenhouse."
January 24, 2026 at 11:07 PM
AOC: "How rich is it that she is saying showing up to the scene of a protest with a legally owned weapon should be grounds for a person's death, execution at the hands of the state, by the same party and administration that praises Kyle Rittenhouse."
Reposted by Ben Bellows
The abolitionists helping enslaved people were imprisoned or worse if caught. The resistance members who helped Jewish people were sent to concentration camps or worse if caught
And now look at what's happening to Americans helping their immigrant neighbors
And now look at what's happening to Americans helping their immigrant neighbors
Breaking: ICE is now reportedly following white people on grocery runs in Minnesota, suspecting they're delivering food to neighbors too afraid to leave their homes.
Neighborhood instructions:
Don't put the address in your phone.
Don't use GPS.
Write it on paper.
And if you get stopped, eat it.
Neighborhood instructions:
Don't put the address in your phone.
Don't use GPS.
Write it on paper.
And if you get stopped, eat it.
January 25, 2026 at 12:08 AM
The abolitionists helping enslaved people were imprisoned or worse if caught. The resistance members who helped Jewish people were sent to concentration camps or worse if caught
And now look at what's happening to Americans helping their immigrant neighbors
And now look at what's happening to Americans helping their immigrant neighbors