Derek Johnson
@derekjesq.bsky.social
Chaos Muppet, Order Rising. Managing Director, ResearchCollaborative.org. Young(ish) Leader, Munich Security Conference + Friends of Europe. Former CEO of GlobalZero.org. Radicalized by basic decency. Made in #Iowa with parts from #Iran. he/him 🇦🇲
Pinned
Derek Johnson
@derekjesq.bsky.social
· Sep 20
“Fascism” isn’t a slur for politics we don’t like. It’s a precise word with precise meaning. And in the face of what’s happening right now in America, it’s the most honest one we have.
I’ll lay it out as plainly as I can. 🧵
I’ll lay it out as plainly as I can. 🧵
Reposted by Derek Johnson
Homeland Security is protecting us from roofers, doctors, cooks, musicians and the lady who gives your elderly mom a bath.
January 18, 2026 at 2:02 PM
Homeland Security is protecting us from roofers, doctors, cooks, musicians and the lady who gives your elderly mom a bath.
Reposted by Derek Johnson
Whoa whoa whoa buddy who is this Jesus Christ you’re expecting me to emulate and what exactly did you say happened to him.
The Episcopal bishop of New Hampshire told priests protesting ICE to get their wills and affairs in order. Some praise the bishop, while other priests say they never signed up to be martyrs. n.pr/45TIwwT
Amid ICE clashes, New Hampshire bishop urges clergy to prepare their wills
The Episcopal bishop of New Hampshire told priests protesting ICE to get their wills and affairs in order. Some praise the bishop, while other priests say they never signed up to be martyrs.
n.pr
January 18, 2026 at 10:20 AM
Whoa whoa whoa buddy who is this Jesus Christ you’re expecting me to emulate and what exactly did you say happened to him.
Reposted by Derek Johnson
"Repulsive hardly describes Vance’s performative spectacle last week justifying the public execution of an American citizen by state militia. "
Commentary: Repulsive JD Vance spectacle tells America to reject what we saw with our own eyes ohiocapitaljournal.com/2026/01/15/r...
Repulsive JD Vance spectacle tells America to reject what we saw with our own eyes • Ohio Capital Journal
Repulsive hardly describes JD Vance’s performative spectacle last week justifying the public execution of an American citizen by state militia. The horrific killing was all over social media but…
ohiocapitaljournal.com
January 18, 2026 at 2:04 PM
"Repulsive hardly describes Vance’s performative spectacle last week justifying the public execution of an American citizen by state militia. "
Reposted by Derek Johnson
Looks like the EU-US trade deal is now dead, with all three major groups in the EU Parliament calling at least for suspension. The downward spiral has already begun.
January 17, 2026 at 10:27 PM
Looks like the EU-US trade deal is now dead, with all three major groups in the EU Parliament calling at least for suspension. The downward spiral has already begun.
Reposted by Derek Johnson
Talked to a Somali man today who said his mosque last night was surrounded by neighbors ready to protect them against ICE if needed. Made me feel proud to live in this city.
January 17, 2026 at 10:05 PM
Talked to a Somali man today who said his mosque last night was surrounded by neighbors ready to protect them against ICE if needed. Made me feel proud to live in this city.
Reposted by Derek Johnson
Abigail Spanberger was told to throw trans youth under the bus during her campaign. She refused to do so.
She won the election by 15 percent. A dominant victory. A landslide.
She was just sworn-in as the 75th Governor of Virginia, the first woman to lead the state.
She won the election by 15 percent. A dominant victory. A landslide.
She was just sworn-in as the 75th Governor of Virginia, the first woman to lead the state.
January 17, 2026 at 6:31 PM
Abigail Spanberger was told to throw trans youth under the bus during her campaign. She refused to do so.
She won the election by 15 percent. A dominant victory. A landslide.
She was just sworn-in as the 75th Governor of Virginia, the first woman to lead the state.
She won the election by 15 percent. A dominant victory. A landslide.
She was just sworn-in as the 75th Governor of Virginia, the first woman to lead the state.
Reposted by Derek Johnson
a few things I want people to get from this:
-how tense it is here. I was death-gripping the steering wheel during this, even watching it makes me tense up
-how organized the community is. the rapid response networks are ENORMOUS and highly effective
-how completely the city is united against ICE
-how tense it is here. I was death-gripping the steering wheel during this, even watching it makes me tense up
-how organized the community is. the rapid response networks are ENORMOUS and highly effective
-how completely the city is united against ICE
January 17, 2026 at 12:59 AM
a few things I want people to get from this:
-how tense it is here. I was death-gripping the steering wheel during this, even watching it makes me tense up
-how organized the community is. the rapid response networks are ENORMOUS and highly effective
-how completely the city is united against ICE
-how tense it is here. I was death-gripping the steering wheel during this, even watching it makes me tense up
-how organized the community is. the rapid response networks are ENORMOUS and highly effective
-how completely the city is united against ICE
Reposted by Derek Johnson
If you keep bending the knee to a fascist, they will keep bullying you. They see weakness as opportunity, complicity as agreement.
The fact Schumer is still willing to fund DHS should OUTRAGE all of you.
The fact Schumer is still willing to fund DHS should OUTRAGE all of you.
January 17, 2026 at 12:31 AM
If you keep bending the knee to a fascist, they will keep bullying you. They see weakness as opportunity, complicity as agreement.
The fact Schumer is still willing to fund DHS should OUTRAGE all of you.
The fact Schumer is still willing to fund DHS should OUTRAGE all of you.
Of course he feels empathy for a man who owns a bunch of shit holes and spreads his filth everywhere.
NEW: Trump pardoned a porta-potty magnate named Arie Eric De Jong III who was sentenced to 5 months in federal prison for illegally disposing of sludge in cities across southern California.
January 16, 2026 at 11:45 PM
Of course he feels empathy for a man who owns a bunch of shit holes and spreads his filth everywhere.
Reposted by Derek Johnson
i have been reading Tom Ricks’ “Fighting the Good War” which is a military analysis of the civil rights movement, and one thing that comes abundantly across is that movement leaders and ordinary people made it a practice to refuse to fall into despair and cynicism.
January 16, 2026 at 1:55 PM
i have been reading Tom Ricks’ “Fighting the Good War” which is a military analysis of the civil rights movement, and one thing that comes abundantly across is that movement leaders and ordinary people made it a practice to refuse to fall into despair and cynicism.
Reposted by Derek Johnson
every single successful general strike in US history has had union backing through the local AFL-CIO
this is the first time it’s been called for since the 1940s
this is the first time it’s been called for since the 1940s
January 16, 2026 at 10:18 PM
Reposted by Derek Johnson
Democrats almost always prefer to follow polls over actually leading. The fact that they're *not* following polls on ICE (which a plurality of voters want to abolish) tells us a lot about who they actually work for.
Indeed. Progressive Democrats in the Senate should be pushing to slash, decrease (if not just zero out) ICE funding - instead of looking to maintain the status quo of "zero increases."
The status quo shouldn't be acceptable.
The status quo shouldn't be acceptable.
Zero increases is not actually good.
January 16, 2026 at 10:01 PM
Democrats almost always prefer to follow polls over actually leading. The fact that they're *not* following polls on ICE (which a plurality of voters want to abolish) tells us a lot about who they actually work for.
Reposted by Derek Johnson
When you focus on the regular people showing up magnificently in all of their flawed beauty, it helps you to keep going.
January 16, 2026 at 11:34 AM
When you focus on the regular people showing up magnificently in all of their flawed beauty, it helps you to keep going.
Reposted by Derek Johnson
breathtakingly embarrassing for absolutely everyone involved lol
January 15, 2026 at 10:01 PM
breathtakingly embarrassing for absolutely everyone involved lol
Reposted by Derek Johnson
🚨WHOA. The El Paso Medical Examiner says it will rule the death of a 55-year-old Cuban man at ICE's "Camp East Montana" tent camp as a homicide.
He was allegedly choked to death by a guard during a "struggle" after he refused to enter a housing unit without his medications.
He was allegedly choked to death by a guard during a "struggle" after he refused to enter a housing unit without his medications.
January 15, 2026 at 11:03 PM
🚨WHOA. The El Paso Medical Examiner says it will rule the death of a 55-year-old Cuban man at ICE's "Camp East Montana" tent camp as a homicide.
He was allegedly choked to death by a guard during a "struggle" after he refused to enter a housing unit without his medications.
He was allegedly choked to death by a guard during a "struggle" after he refused to enter a housing unit without his medications.
Reposted by Derek Johnson
“ICE is doing what ICE is designed to do” is Mike Johnson accidentally making the most important, ironclad case for abolishing ICE I’ve ever heard.
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 10:07 PM
“ICE is doing what ICE is designed to do” is Mike Johnson accidentally making the most important, ironclad case for abolishing ICE I’ve ever heard.
“ICE is doing what ICE is designed to do” is Mike Johnson accidentally making the most important, ironclad case for abolishing ICE I’ve ever heard.
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 10:07 PM
“ICE is doing what ICE is designed to do” is Mike Johnson accidentally making the most important, ironclad case for abolishing ICE I’ve ever heard.
Reposted by Derek Johnson
I can’t believe that memo. Searchlight Institute is way behind the times. Abolish ICE is the most popular position now. Their attempt to compare it to defund the police, which never even reached 30% support, is misleading and insane
January 14, 2026 at 4:41 PM
I can’t believe that memo. Searchlight Institute is way behind the times. Abolish ICE is the most popular position now. Their attempt to compare it to defund the police, which never even reached 30% support, is misleading and insane
Reposted by Derek Johnson
The history of civilian mass detention on the basis of identity without due process or recourse (which is how I defined concentration camps in my history of them) shows that it invariably leads to permanent harm—and typically significant loss of life as well. The longer it goes on the worse it gets.
As detention expands, conditions get worse, thanks to overcrowding and the chaotic transfers of people all over the country.
ICE detention has always had problems, but they're worse than ever now and the impact is clear. Deaths hit a record level in 2025, and 2026 is already looking to be worse.
ICE detention has always had problems, but they're worse than ever now and the impact is clear. Deaths hit a record level in 2025, and 2026 is already looking to be worse.
The detention system has grown so rapidly that already harmful conditions have worsened.
Thousands of immigrants arrested in the interior are detained in hastily built tent camps, where conditions are brutal.
More people died in ICE detention in 2025 than in the past four years combined.
Thousands of immigrants arrested in the interior are detained in hastily built tent camps, where conditions are brutal.
More people died in ICE detention in 2025 than in the past four years combined.
January 14, 2026 at 4:43 PM
The history of civilian mass detention on the basis of identity without due process or recourse (which is how I defined concentration camps in my history of them) shows that it invariably leads to permanent harm—and typically significant loss of life as well. The longer it goes on the worse it gets.
Reposted by Derek Johnson
Asking the ICE agent beating a guy up on the pavement to hold still so I can scan his QR code that he was required to wear instead of a badge that can simply be read
I am introducing the Quick Recognition (QR) Act, which requires ICE and CBP officers to wear uniforms featuring QR codes. When scanned, the code would generate a digital ID displaying the officer’s name, badge number, and law enforcement agency.
ICE should be unmasked both physically and digitally.
ICE should be unmasked both physically and digitally.
January 14, 2026 at 5:11 PM
Asking the ICE agent beating a guy up on the pavement to hold still so I can scan his QR code that he was required to wear instead of a badge that can simply be read
Reposted by Derek Johnson
We are so far beyond "show us your papers." They don't want to see the papers. We are now into the "give us the names" stage of the occupation.
January 14, 2026 at 4:18 PM
We are so far beyond "show us your papers." They don't want to see the papers. We are now into the "give us the names" stage of the occupation.
Respectfully, you’re talking about masked men who shot a mother in the face in broad daylight, on camera, in front of many witnesses. Americans can and should bravely stand witness, but let’s be honest about reality on the ground. People are taking real risks to protect their immigrant neighbors.
The First Amendment protects the public’s right to:
1. Film ICE in public
2. Photograph ICE in public
3. Observe what ICE does in public
ICE and DHS officials cannot lay a finger on any American who is peacefully exercising First Amendment rights.
1. Film ICE in public
2. Photograph ICE in public
3. Observe what ICE does in public
ICE and DHS officials cannot lay a finger on any American who is peacefully exercising First Amendment rights.
January 14, 2026 at 4:20 PM
Respectfully, you’re talking about masked men who shot a mother in the face in broad daylight, on camera, in front of many witnesses. Americans can and should bravely stand witness, but let’s be honest about reality on the ground. People are taking real risks to protect their immigrant neighbors.
If you ever wondered what you'd have done in Germany in the 1930s… it's what you're doing now.
ICE in Minneapolis: Scenes from the streets
Images from the streets of Minneapolis after tensions erupted following the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE officer last week.
www.reuters.com
January 14, 2026 at 2:13 PM
If you ever wondered what you'd have done in Germany in the 1930s… it's what you're doing now.
Personally, I’m rooting for the blood clot
January 14, 2026 at 1:51 AM
Personally, I’m rooting for the blood clot
Reposted by Derek Johnson
AOC: So long as the Republican Party and the Trump administration is using ICE to attack American citizens and shoot mothers in the face. I'm not willing to have a conversation with them about any other bad faith attempts to terrorize US citizens.
January 14, 2026 at 12:51 AM
AOC: So long as the Republican Party and the Trump administration is using ICE to attack American citizens and shoot mothers in the face. I'm not willing to have a conversation with them about any other bad faith attempts to terrorize US citizens.