Deborah Ahrens
@deborahahrens.bsky.social
Crimprof, evidence curmudgeon, former public defender, Seattle University School of Law professor, true crime enthusiast, parent of many, fan of bitter food.
As an alum of the Kennedy School glad he will no longer be in front of students but also sorry he was in front of them in the first place.
“Former Harvard President Lawrence H. Summers will immediately leave his role as an instructor at Harvard while the University investigates his ties to child sex trafficker Jeffrey E. Epstein.
“His co-teachers will complete the remaining three class sessions of the courses he has been teaching”
“His co-teachers will complete the remaining three class sessions of the courses he has been teaching”
Summers Will Not Finish Semester of Teaching as Harvard Investigates Epstein Ties | News | The Harvard Crimson
Former Harvard President Lawrence H. Summers will immediately leave his role as an instructor at Harvard while the University investigates his ties to child sex trafficker Jeffrey E. Epstein.
www.thecrimson.com
November 20, 2025 at 1:47 AM
As an alum of the Kennedy School glad he will no longer be in front of students but also sorry he was in front of them in the first place.
Reposted by Deborah Ahrens
"When I picked up my granddaughter from the federal agents, she had a dirty diaper, a bruise on her face, and was developing a rash. She was exhausted and cried… My heart aches knowing this could happen to others, to my kids, or even me, despite being U.S. citizens.”
November 8, 2025 at 3:26 PM
"When I picked up my granddaughter from the federal agents, she had a dirty diaper, a bruise on her face, and was developing a rash. She was exhausted and cried… My heart aches knowing this could happen to others, to my kids, or even me, despite being U.S. citizens.”
My father’s childhood best friend was sent to a concentration camp with his Japanese immigrant parents when they were kids. The only time I ever saw him cry was meeting up with that friend as adults. Human rights violations and lifetime scars.
I actually think what ICE is doing under Trump 2.0 is shaping up to be a world-historic campaign of human rights violations in an advanced industrialized ~democracy
I’m not sure I have many modern parallels. Japanese internment? Treatment of French-Algerians in the Algerian war? Those were wartime.
I’m not sure I have many modern parallels. Japanese internment? Treatment of French-Algerians in the Algerian war? Those were wartime.
"When I picked up my granddaughter from the federal agents, she had a dirty diaper, a bruise on her face, and was developing a rash. She was exhausted and cried… My heart aches knowing this could happen to others, to my kids, or even me, despite being U.S. citizens.”
November 8, 2025 at 7:53 PM
My father’s childhood best friend was sent to a concentration camp with his Japanese immigrant parents when they were kids. The only time I ever saw him cry was meeting up with that friend as adults. Human rights violations and lifetime scars.
Can’t indict a ham sandwich, can’t convict a Subway sandwich.
November 6, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Can’t indict a ham sandwich, can’t convict a Subway sandwich.
Sorry!
It can't be that much longer, but is it 30 mins, is it an hour, no idea
October 26, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Sorry!
Reposted by Deborah Ahrens
In Germany, the police academy is 2.5 years. In Finland, 3 years.
Even the NYPD is 6 months.
ICE is was already 3 months. Now 1.5 months.
Pure indifference to any actual skill or ability. Makes them both more dangerous and less effective.
Hell of a double-edged sword.
Even the NYPD is 6 months.
ICE is was already 3 months. Now 1.5 months.
Pure indifference to any actual skill or ability. Makes them both more dangerous and less effective.
Hell of a double-edged sword.
October 23, 2025 at 2:35 PM
In Germany, the police academy is 2.5 years. In Finland, 3 years.
Even the NYPD is 6 months.
ICE is was already 3 months. Now 1.5 months.
Pure indifference to any actual skill or ability. Makes them both more dangerous and less effective.
Hell of a double-edged sword.
Even the NYPD is 6 months.
ICE is was already 3 months. Now 1.5 months.
Pure indifference to any actual skill or ability. Makes them both more dangerous and less effective.
Hell of a double-edged sword.
Reposted by Deborah Ahrens
WashU in STL just announced, in a university-wide email, that we will NOT be signing The Compact.
This statement, I believe, exists thanks to the tremendous energy generated w/in our community by, among others, the Faculty Senate, the revived AAUP, and student journalists. I'm proud of everybody.
This statement, I believe, exists thanks to the tremendous energy generated w/in our community by, among others, the Faculty Senate, the revived AAUP, and student journalists. I'm proud of everybody.
October 22, 2025 at 4:35 PM
WashU in STL just announced, in a university-wide email, that we will NOT be signing The Compact.
This statement, I believe, exists thanks to the tremendous energy generated w/in our community by, among others, the Faculty Senate, the revived AAUP, and student journalists. I'm proud of everybody.
This statement, I believe, exists thanks to the tremendous energy generated w/in our community by, among others, the Faculty Senate, the revived AAUP, and student journalists. I'm proud of everybody.
New evidentiary privilege just dropped.
A spokesperson for Texas Gov. Greg Abbott argued his office’s emails with Elon Musk are confidential under a “common-law privacy” exception to public records laws because they may include “intimate and embarrassing” information.
(Published July)
With @kutnews.bsky.social @texastribune.org
(Published July)
With @kutnews.bsky.social @texastribune.org
Texas Governor’s Office Says Its Emails With Elon Musk May Be, in Part, Too “Embarrassing” to Release to the Public
We asked Abbott for his and his staff’s emails with Elon Musk and Musk’s companies. The governor’s office won’t turn them over, saying some contain “intimate and embarrassing” information that is “not...
www.propublica.org
October 21, 2025 at 1:51 AM
New evidentiary privilege just dropped.
I would email my students to let them know Canvas is down but guess what
October 20, 2025 at 5:22 PM
I would email my students to let them know Canvas is down but guess what
Who robbed the Louvre? Right answers only.
October 19, 2025 at 8:30 PM
Who robbed the Louvre? Right answers only.
You’ll be pleased to hear that I am a verified adult in Ohio for Bluesky purposes.
October 18, 2025 at 1:15 AM
You’ll be pleased to hear that I am a verified adult in Ohio for Bluesky purposes.
Reposted by Deborah Ahrens
Reposted by Deborah Ahrens
Brown's rejection of the compact would not have been possible without the amazing mobilization of faculty, students and staff last week! When we fight, we win!! Score this as another victory for workers and students!
@aaup.org
@aaup.org
Over 100 Brown U students & 20 faculty members gathered outside
the campus today to demand that the university reject Trump’s loyalty oath compact. Professors & students taped their mouths shut to symbolize the compact’s threat to free speech, #academicfreedom & diversity of thought.
#DefendHigherEd
the campus today to demand that the university reject Trump’s loyalty oath compact. Professors & students taped their mouths shut to symbolize the compact’s threat to free speech, #academicfreedom & diversity of thought.
#DefendHigherEd
October 15, 2025 at 7:55 PM
Brown's rejection of the compact would not have been possible without the amazing mobilization of faculty, students and staff last week! When we fight, we win!! Score this as another victory for workers and students!
@aaup.org
@aaup.org
Some good news.
Brown rejects the compact!
President Paxson’s letter references the views of stakeholders - & I know as an alum how activated the Brown community was while the school considered its response - an important reminder of how much organizing matters
President Paxson’s letter references the views of stakeholders - & I know as an alum how activated the Brown community was while the school considered its response - an important reminder of how much organizing matters
Breaking News: Brown University became the second college to reject a White House deal offering preferential treatment for federal grants.
October 15, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Some good news.
Tell you what, they can have country star Zach Bryan come out and sing “Bad News” to open.
Dusty, taxidermic armadillo in American flag bandana makes case to replace Lee Greenwood.
October 10, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Tell you what, they can have country star Zach Bryan come out and sing “Bad News” to open.
Reposted by Deborah Ahrens
To put it another way, I have represented thousands of people. I cannot think of a single instance in which the initial police report was entirely correct. Not one.
Journalists, please stop copying them down as if they were. Or at least give context re credibility!
Journalists, please stop copying them down as if they were. Or at least give context re credibility!
Whether you're a casual news reader or a breaking news reporter at the NYTimes, I implore you--please, please, please--do not believe or report DHS/ICE/CBP's side of events uncritically. End the state's monopoly on legitimate storytelling. They are not the objective arbiter of what really happened.
Body-camera video appears to contradict the government’s claim that Marimar Martinez, 30, drove toward officers before one of them opened fire at her late Saturday morning in Brighton Park, her attorney claimed.
trib.al/9Sxu9IN
trib.al/9Sxu9IN
October 7, 2025 at 12:16 PM
To put it another way, I have represented thousands of people. I cannot think of a single instance in which the initial police report was entirely correct. Not one.
Journalists, please stop copying them down as if they were. Or at least give context re credibility!
Journalists, please stop copying them down as if they were. Or at least give context re credibility!
Reposted by Deborah Ahrens
WE WON: "This case -– perhaps the most important ever to fall w/in..this district court squarely presents the issue whether non-citizens lawfully present here in US..have the same free speech rights as the rest of us. The Court answers this Constitutional question unequivocally “yes, they do.”"
October 1, 2025 at 12:03 AM
WE WON: "This case -– perhaps the most important ever to fall w/in..this district court squarely presents the issue whether non-citizens lawfully present here in US..have the same free speech rights as the rest of us. The Court answers this Constitutional question unequivocally “yes, they do.”"
Hugo Black Sabbath.
Ruin a band with a Supreme Court Justice
Byron White Stripes
Byron White Stripes
Ruin a band with a Supreme Court Justice
Queens of the Harlan Fiske Stone Age
Queens of the Harlan Fiske Stone Age
September 24, 2025 at 12:27 AM
Hugo Black Sabbath.
Nothing more Seattle than signing a permission slip for my kids to do a protest walkout at school tomorrow.
September 15, 2025 at 3:05 AM
Nothing more Seattle than signing a permission slip for my kids to do a protest walkout at school tomorrow.
I have 15-year-old twins who are boys and athletes. In light of a lot of the obvious things going on in male youth culture, I worry. Today, they came through the door and said mom, there are police detaining a guy on our street, you should go make sure that guy is ok. I think they are all right.
September 13, 2025 at 2:23 AM
I have 15-year-old twins who are boys and athletes. In light of a lot of the obvious things going on in male youth culture, I worry. Today, they came through the door and said mom, there are police detaining a guy on our street, you should go make sure that guy is ok. I think they are all right.
w/o downloading anything new, where are you mentally?
August 25, 2025 at 9:05 PM
w/o downloading anything new, where are you mentally?
How quickly do we think I can cross-stitch this for my door?
August 25, 2025 at 4:27 PM
How quickly do we think I can cross-stitch this for my door?
Look, kid #5 is like half Kettle brand salt-and-vinegar chips based on what I ate while pregnant, that’s mine.
My bag of bribe chips would be Hot Cheetos Puffs; can add some heft to the roll
August 21, 2025 at 1:49 AM
Look, kid #5 is like half Kettle brand salt-and-vinegar chips based on what I ate while pregnant, that’s mine.
Just got an email from the UK crafts company I’ve subscribed to for years letting us know that end of the de minimus tariff exception means they are pausing US purchases and will hopefully resume in a month with customs fees included in their pricing.
August 20, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Just got an email from the UK crafts company I’ve subscribed to for years letting us know that end of the de minimus tariff exception means they are pausing US purchases and will hopefully resume in a month with customs fees included in their pricing.
Reposted by Deborah Ahrens
thanks to the New Yorker
August 14, 2025 at 12:18 PM
thanks to the New Yorker