Christopher Whitaker
@civicwhitaker.com
Civic Technologist | Executive Director, Alliance of Civic Technologists | Army Veteran | Alumni of Code for America, Defense Digital Service and USDS #civictech #chicago
Really doesn’t like bullies
Signal: civicwhitaker.53
Really doesn’t like bullies
Signal: civicwhitaker.53
Pinned
Christopher Whitaker
@civicwhitaker.com
· Nov 10
Home
ACT is a decentralized network of civic tech volunteer organizations.
www.civictechnologists.org
#Introductions
Hi, I'm Christopher Whitaker & I'm a civic technologist w/ a hybrid background as a product manager & bureaucrat. I currently serve as director of the Alliance of Civic Technologists - a network of local #civictech volunteer groups. www.civictechnologists.org
Army vet / #chicago
Hi, I'm Christopher Whitaker & I'm a civic technologist w/ a hybrid background as a product manager & bureaucrat. I currently serve as director of the Alliance of Civic Technologists - a network of local #civictech volunteer groups. www.civictechnologists.org
Army vet / #chicago
There are those that think that Chicago will stop fighting after they are gone and take a rest.
And they would be very, very, wrong.
And they would be very, very, wrong.
///BREAKING/// Controversial Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino and a surge of agents appear to be leaving Chicago within days as "Operation Midway Blitz" winds down after two months, sources tell the Tribune.
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/10/f...
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/10/f...
Federal Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino and agents said to be leaving Chicago, sources say
Cmdr. Gregory Bovino was expected to depart Chicago within days, while most Border Patrol agents under this command would soon be redeployed elsewhere, three sources told the Tribune Monday.
www.chicagotribune.com
November 11, 2025 at 5:13 AM
There are those that think that Chicago will stop fighting after they are gone and take a rest.
And they would be very, very, wrong.
And they would be very, very, wrong.
Reposted by Christopher Whitaker
Understand that he's talking about distances of ~50 miles apart here.
feds have also been seen at or abducted people from bensenville, blue island, glendale heights, and mount prospect.
November 10, 2025 at 10:48 PM
Understand that he's talking about distances of ~50 miles apart here.
Reposted by Christopher Whitaker
The US Digital Service was taken over by DOGE, and then destroyed the federal gov't. Our paper shows how the pre-DOGE USDS prevented 100,000s of eligible Medicaid beneficiaries from losing coverage. Implementing Medicaid work requirements with a gutted federal government will be disastrous
New at Can We Still Govern? New Medicaid work requirements will see an estimated 5 million lose coverage.
Small investments in in-house tech capacity could allow states to start preparing now to expand automatic renewal of clients. Here is the evidence 🧵
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/how-a-van-...
Small investments in in-house tech capacity could allow states to start preparing now to expand automatic renewal of clients. Here is the evidence 🧵
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/how-a-van-...
Lessons from Pandemic Era Medicaid Automation for Work Requirements
Small tech capacity investments offer big returns
donmoynihan.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 3:35 PM
The US Digital Service was taken over by DOGE, and then destroyed the federal gov't. Our paper shows how the pre-DOGE USDS prevented 100,000s of eligible Medicaid beneficiaries from losing coverage. Implementing Medicaid work requirements with a gutted federal government will be disastrous
Reposted by Christopher Whitaker
Kyle Kingsbury is not a journalist. He is not an op-ed writer.
He is a computer safety researcher.
And he has written one of the most compelling, comprehensive accounts of the ongoing hell in Chicago that you could possibly imagine.
In under 1600 words.
aphyr.com/posts/397-i-...
He is a computer safety researcher.
And he has written one of the most compelling, comprehensive accounts of the ongoing hell in Chicago that you could possibly imagine.
In under 1600 words.
aphyr.com/posts/397-i-...
November 9, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Kyle Kingsbury is not a journalist. He is not an op-ed writer.
He is a computer safety researcher.
And he has written one of the most compelling, comprehensive accounts of the ongoing hell in Chicago that you could possibly imagine.
In under 1600 words.
aphyr.com/posts/397-i-...
He is a computer safety researcher.
And he has written one of the most compelling, comprehensive accounts of the ongoing hell in Chicago that you could possibly imagine.
In under 1600 words.
aphyr.com/posts/397-i-...
Reposted by Christopher Whitaker
Trump and Republicans refuse to fight for American families, but I refuse to give up on them.
I simply cannot vote to do nothing to help protect them from Trump’s vindictive efforts in exchange for a vague promise from the least trustworthy Republican party in our nation’s history.
I simply cannot vote to do nothing to help protect them from Trump’s vindictive efforts in exchange for a vague promise from the least trustworthy Republican party in our nation’s history.
November 10, 2025 at 1:33 AM
Trump and Republicans refuse to fight for American families, but I refuse to give up on them.
I simply cannot vote to do nothing to help protect them from Trump’s vindictive efforts in exchange for a vague promise from the least trustworthy Republican party in our nation’s history.
I simply cannot vote to do nothing to help protect them from Trump’s vindictive efforts in exchange for a vague promise from the least trustworthy Republican party in our nation’s history.
Reposted by Christopher Whitaker
Throughout this shutdown, Democrats have shown that we have the backbone to actually fight for what we believe in: lower costs, accessible healthcare, and a Congress that can be a check on Trump’s chaos.
Vague Republican promises are not enough — no deal without real progress on healthcare.
Vague Republican promises are not enough — no deal without real progress on healthcare.
November 10, 2025 at 12:08 AM
Throughout this shutdown, Democrats have shown that we have the backbone to actually fight for what we believe in: lower costs, accessible healthcare, and a Congress that can be a check on Trump’s chaos.
Vague Republican promises are not enough — no deal without real progress on healthcare.
Vague Republican promises are not enough — no deal without real progress on healthcare.
Reposted by Christopher Whitaker
not enough chatter about how frequently members fly and how attacking airport capacity directly affects them in a way that cutting SNAP does not
November 9, 2025 at 11:07 PM
not enough chatter about how frequently members fly and how attacking airport capacity directly affects them in a way that cutting SNAP does not
If @durbin.senate.gov caves, it’s time for @govpritzker.illinois.gov and @duckworth.senate.gov to pull him aside and have him retire now. Put @julianastratton.bsky.social in the slot. Illinois is under attack and it’s time for fighters.
November 9, 2025 at 10:17 PM
If @durbin.senate.gov caves, it’s time for @govpritzker.illinois.gov and @duckworth.senate.gov to pull him aside and have him retire now. Put @julianastratton.bsky.social in the slot. Illinois is under attack and it’s time for fighters.
It’s not enough to drive ICE and Border Patrol out of Illinois. Everyone involved from leadership to individual agent must face accountability and justice.
ICIRR posted this video on their IG of a man and a baby struggling after they’ve both been pepper sprayed by federal agents.
November 9, 2025 at 5:45 PM
It’s not enough to drive ICE and Border Patrol out of Illinois. Everyone involved from leadership to individual agent must face accountability and justice.
Reposted by Christopher Whitaker
This is an absolutely insane administrative process. Within the space of a week, states were told by judges/White House
*no SNAP benefits
*half benefits
*full benefits
*pause provision of benefits.
Result is chaos, uncertainty, and uneven access to benefits depending on where people live.
*no SNAP benefits
*half benefits
*full benefits
*pause provision of benefits.
Result is chaos, uncertainty, and uneven access to benefits depending on where people live.
NEW: The Trump admin told states it must immediately "undo" the work to provide full food stamp benefits, or face penalties. The feds sent this in a late-night memo, only adding to the chaos and confusion around SNAP. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/09/b...
Trump Administration Demands States ‘Undo’ Work to Send Full Food Stamps
www.nytimes.com
November 9, 2025 at 2:34 PM
This is an absolutely insane administrative process. Within the space of a week, states were told by judges/White House
*no SNAP benefits
*half benefits
*full benefits
*pause provision of benefits.
Result is chaos, uncertainty, and uneven access to benefits depending on where people live.
*no SNAP benefits
*half benefits
*full benefits
*pause provision of benefits.
Result is chaos, uncertainty, and uneven access to benefits depending on where people live.
Somebody correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t pepper spray more of an aimed weapon versus tear gas which is used to incapacitate an area?
Meaning, border patrol had to fire it knowing there was a *baby* in the car?
Meaning, border patrol had to fire it knowing there was a *baby* in the car?
The @chicagotribune.com has updated its story to clarify that the baby was exposed to pepper spray, not tear gas
Shots fired at immigration agents in Little Village as residents confront Bovino, Border Patrol, authorities say
Community members once again confronted a convoy of Border Patrol agents led by Cmdr. Gregory Bovino as it moved through Chicago’s South Side neighborhoods.
www.chicagotribune.com
November 9, 2025 at 4:28 AM
Somebody correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t pepper spray more of an aimed weapon versus tear gas which is used to incapacitate an area?
Meaning, border patrol had to fire it knowing there was a *baby* in the car?
Meaning, border patrol had to fire it knowing there was a *baby* in the car?
Regular reminder that DHS consistently lies when it comes to the use of force and why they did it.
A driver fired shots at Customs and Border Patrol agents, according to the Department of Homeland Security. https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/shots-fired-at-border-patrol-agents-on-chicagos-west-side-dhs-says/
Shots fired at Border Patrol agents on Chicago's West Side, DHS says
A driver fired shots at Customs and Border Patrol agents in Chicago's Little Village neighborhood on Saturday, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
www.cbsnews.com
November 8, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Regular reminder that DHS consistently lies when it comes to the use of force and why they did it.
When even the lake has had enough of your shit
November 8, 2025 at 6:34 PM
When even the lake has had enough of your shit
Reposted by Christopher Whitaker
District Judge Sara Ellis' injunction order limits how and when feds can use gas in the Chicago area.
It restricts the use of gas in "residential or commercial areas" that could risk injury to a plaintiff class member "who is not causing an immediate threat of physical harm to another person"
It restricts the use of gas in "residential or commercial areas" that could risk injury to a plaintiff class member "who is not causing an immediate threat of physical harm to another person"
November 8, 2025 at 6:02 PM
District Judge Sara Ellis' injunction order limits how and when feds can use gas in the Chicago area.
It restricts the use of gas in "residential or commercial areas" that could risk injury to a plaintiff class member "who is not causing an immediate threat of physical harm to another person"
It restricts the use of gas in "residential or commercial areas" that could risk injury to a plaintiff class member "who is not causing an immediate threat of physical harm to another person"
Reposted by Christopher Whitaker
Federal immigration agents have deployed gas in Little Village, on 26th between Komensky and Pulaski, per videos shared online after 11 am this morning.
November 8, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Federal immigration agents have deployed gas in Little Village, on 26th between Komensky and Pulaski, per videos shared online after 11 am this morning.
Reposted by Christopher Whitaker
A city known for its resilience and take-no-nonsense attitude has found another reason to unite.
Inside Chicago’s growing resistance movement against Operation Midway Blitz: ‘Small acts have huge consequences’
In Chicago, the resistance to President Donald Trump’s mass deportation mission has taken many forms. A movement has grown through acts large and small.
trib.al
November 8, 2025 at 4:30 PM
A city known for its resilience and take-no-nonsense attitude has found another reason to unite.
Reposted by Christopher Whitaker
NEW: @govpritzker.illinois.gov's office says 3 masked ICE agents stopped & questioned an IL Department of Transportation employee working in Park Ridge about his immigration status & whether he had traveled to New York and his awareness of NYC Mayor-elect @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social before leaving.
November 8, 2025 at 1:49 AM
NEW: @govpritzker.illinois.gov's office says 3 masked ICE agents stopped & questioned an IL Department of Transportation employee working in Park Ridge about his immigration status & whether he had traveled to New York and his awareness of NYC Mayor-elect @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social before leaving.
Reposted by Christopher Whitaker
Pritzker: "I am appalled they would stop and question a state employee working hard on the job to help improve our state’s roads and infrastructure. Our state employees should be able to go to work and do their jobs without masked agents targeting them for no legitimate reason."
November 8, 2025 at 1:54 AM
Pritzker: "I am appalled they would stop and question a state employee working hard on the job to help improve our state’s roads and infrastructure. Our state employees should be able to go to work and do their jobs without masked agents targeting them for no legitimate reason."
New signs seen in Skokie today
November 7, 2025 at 11:49 PM
New signs seen in Skokie today
Reposted by Christopher Whitaker
Attorneys say the arrest of a daycare worker at a North Center preschool violated a consent decree. blockclubchi.co/4p3jjYm
November 7, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Attorneys say the arrest of a daycare worker at a North Center preschool violated a consent decree. blockclubchi.co/4p3jjYm
These people drove around my block all morning asking every brown person for their papers.
They've fucking stormed a day care and took a teacher.
Somebody starts beating somebody on the ground in front of a school, you think Miles Morales or Peter Parker is gonna be good with that?
They've fucking stormed a day care and took a teacher.
Somebody starts beating somebody on the ground in front of a school, you think Miles Morales or Peter Parker is gonna be good with that?
Border Patrol's Greg Bovino just posted a new Batman-themed propaganda video to social media
November 7, 2025 at 7:57 PM
These people drove around my block all morning asking every brown person for their papers.
They've fucking stormed a day care and took a teacher.
Somebody starts beating somebody on the ground in front of a school, you think Miles Morales or Peter Parker is gonna be good with that?
They've fucking stormed a day care and took a teacher.
Somebody starts beating somebody on the ground in front of a school, you think Miles Morales or Peter Parker is gonna be good with that?