Emily J
@emexastris.bsky.social
She/her. Science, politics, cats, Judaism.
Reposted by Emily J
We're seeing this very clearly in Minneapolis and other cities 'raided' by DHS: they do not have enough agents, enough sources of violence, to hold even a medium-sized city by force of arms.
They rely on the cooperation of the populace (power); when that is gone, they're cooked.
They rely on the cooperation of the populace (power); when that is gone, they're cooked.
January 25, 2026 at 7:39 PM
We're seeing this very clearly in Minneapolis and other cities 'raided' by DHS: they do not have enough agents, enough sources of violence, to hold even a medium-sized city by force of arms.
They rely on the cooperation of the populace (power); when that is gone, they're cooked.
They rely on the cooperation of the populace (power); when that is gone, they're cooked.
Reposted by Emily J
Good thread
Other folks have already noted much of this, but I think the MAGA 'theory of victory' here is:
1) DHS provocations trigger a riot or attack on agents which
2) Leads to widespread civil unrest in many 'blue' cities so that
3) Trump can invoke the insurrection act and send in the troops...
1) DHS provocations trigger a riot or attack on agents which
2) Leads to widespread civil unrest in many 'blue' cities so that
3) Trump can invoke the insurrection act and send in the troops...
Curious if anyone has a plausible theory of victory for the administration if it were to invoke the Insurrection Act.
How does the administration "win" in such a scenario?
Best I can tell, it is magical thinking by a certain somebody at the White House, but maybe I'm missing something.
How does the administration "win" in such a scenario?
Best I can tell, it is magical thinking by a certain somebody at the White House, but maybe I'm missing something.
January 26, 2026 at 12:20 AM
Good thread
Reposted by Emily J
And I know, I hear you read to shout, 'but ACAB!' and I get it.
But you, the blue-team protestor, do not need the cops to be heroes. It'd be nice, but you don't need it.
The *regime* needs them to be villains. You just need them to either 1) just do their jobs or 2) decide to be somewhere else.
But you, the blue-team protestor, do not need the cops to be heroes. It'd be nice, but you don't need it.
The *regime* needs them to be villains. You just need them to either 1) just do their jobs or 2) decide to be somewhere else.
January 25, 2026 at 10:51 PM
And I know, I hear you read to shout, 'but ACAB!' and I get it.
But you, the blue-team protestor, do not need the cops to be heroes. It'd be nice, but you don't need it.
The *regime* needs them to be villains. You just need them to either 1) just do their jobs or 2) decide to be somewhere else.
But you, the blue-team protestor, do not need the cops to be heroes. It'd be nice, but you don't need it.
The *regime* needs them to be villains. You just need them to either 1) just do their jobs or 2) decide to be somewhere else.
Reposted by Emily J
Meanwhile the physical topography is unfavorable: relatively little of the security apparatus that does exist is near the capital, but the capital is extremely blue, surrounded by high density blue areas.
The largest local supplies of force (VA/MD/DC guard/cops) are not regime-reliable.
The largest local supplies of force (VA/MD/DC guard/cops) are not regime-reliable.
January 25, 2026 at 10:51 PM
Meanwhile the physical topography is unfavorable: relatively little of the security apparatus that does exist is near the capital, but the capital is extremely blue, surrounded by high density blue areas.
The largest local supplies of force (VA/MD/DC guard/cops) are not regime-reliable.
The largest local supplies of force (VA/MD/DC guard/cops) are not regime-reliable.
Reposted by Emily J
The construction of regime security forces tends to be a pretty deliberate, focused project in authoritarian regimes for this reason. The Iranian regime's security apparatus - their staggering brutality on display recently - is a very intentional construct.
Trump does not cut the cops' paychecks.
Trump does not cut the cops' paychecks.
January 25, 2026 at 10:51 PM
The construction of regime security forces tends to be a pretty deliberate, focused project in authoritarian regimes for this reason. The Iranian regime's security apparatus - their staggering brutality on display recently - is a very intentional construct.
Trump does not cut the cops' paychecks.
Trump does not cut the cops' paychecks.
Reposted by Emily J
Meanwhile, there are a ton of unexamined assumptions about the loyalty of key groups. Local cops may be no friends of protestors, but are they so tied to MAGA that they'll jump on the 30-side of a 70/30 national split with potentially fatal personal consequences?
Will the guard? Active military?
Will the guard? Active military?
January 25, 2026 at 10:51 PM
Meanwhile, there are a ton of unexamined assumptions about the loyalty of key groups. Local cops may be no friends of protestors, but are they so tied to MAGA that they'll jump on the 30-side of a 70/30 national split with potentially fatal personal consequences?
Will the guard? Active military?
Will the guard? Active military?
Reposted by Emily J
First, they've been stuck on Stage 1 for a year because protestors have been largely too disciplined to give them the riot.
While that happened, public opinion decisively curdled, meaning assumption 5a, always false is now very false: they do not have majority support and won't have it in a crisis.
While that happened, public opinion decisively curdled, meaning assumption 5a, always false is now very false: they do not have majority support and won't have it in a crisis.
January 25, 2026 at 10:51 PM
First, they've been stuck on Stage 1 for a year because protestors have been largely too disciplined to give them the riot.
While that happened, public opinion decisively curdled, meaning assumption 5a, always false is now very false: they do not have majority support and won't have it in a crisis.
While that happened, public opinion decisively curdled, meaning assumption 5a, always false is now very false: they do not have majority support and won't have it in a crisis.
Reposted by Emily J
We’re approaching 50,000 signups for tomorrow’s training on exercising your rights at a time when federal agents are terrorizing our communities. We hope to see you there.
Exercising our constitutional right to document and record ICE and other federal agents is more important than ever. This call will give you the tools to exercise your rights in a moment when federal agents are terrorizing our communities and using excessive force: www.mobilize.us/nokings/even...
January 26, 2026 at 12:42 AM
We’re approaching 50,000 signups for tomorrow’s training on exercising your rights at a time when federal agents are terrorizing our communities. We hope to see you there.
Reposted by Emily J
People should be ashamed to post this. I have mutuals who follow this account and I am ashamed on your behalf.
January 26, 2026 at 12:25 AM
People should be ashamed to post this. I have mutuals who follow this account and I am ashamed on your behalf.
Reposted by Emily J
Holocaust victims and survivors aren't NPCs in your twisted game of Advance Edgy Opinions Online. If you don't view refugee status as a giant step above going to the death camps, that says a lot about you and how you view Jews
January 26, 2026 at 12:33 AM
Holocaust victims and survivors aren't NPCs in your twisted game of Advance Edgy Opinions Online. If you don't view refugee status as a giant step above going to the death camps, that says a lot about you and how you view Jews
Reposted by Emily J
I am once again asking for wealthy, powerful CEOs to display a fraction of the courage that regular people are showing every day in Minnesota
January 25, 2026 at 11:59 PM
I am once again asking for wealthy, powerful CEOs to display a fraction of the courage that regular people are showing every day in Minnesota
Every time the county animal shelter has to put dogs on deadline the comments are full of people yelling at them for deadlining dogs with zero understanding of how the shelter operates or why they’re in a space crisis and it makes me irrationally angry.
January 25, 2026 at 11:48 PM
Every time the county animal shelter has to put dogs on deadline the comments are full of people yelling at them for deadlining dogs with zero understanding of how the shelter operates or why they’re in a space crisis and it makes me irrationally angry.
Reposted by Emily J
For those who are unaware of this particular fandom…that’s a helluva group to radicalize.
In case anyone was wondering how it’s going over on American Girl doll Instagram
January 25, 2026 at 11:27 PM
For those who are unaware of this particular fandom…that’s a helluva group to radicalize.
Reposted by Emily J
Want to learn how to document and record ICE activities? You can join this call on Monday:
Eyes on ICE: Document and Record · No Kings
On Saturday, federal agents horrifically shot and killed 37-year-old Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse who cared for veterans, in the Eat Street neighborhood of south Minneapolis after brutally beating him in...
www.mobilize.us
January 25, 2026 at 10:06 PM
Want to learn how to document and record ICE activities? You can join this call on Monday:
The prejudice that gluten-free food is automatically gross is just that, a prejudice, but sometimes it is true and men are the Kroger gluten free place-and-bake sugar cookies one of those times.
January 25, 2026 at 10:20 PM
The prejudice that gluten-free food is automatically gross is just that, a prejudice, but sometimes it is true and men are the Kroger gluten free place-and-bake sugar cookies one of those times.
Reposted by Emily J
Well-played, tbh
Minnesota National Guard members have arrived at a federal building and were directed to distribute donuts, coffee, and hot chocolate to anti-ICE protesters. Guard members were issued reflective vests so they would not be mistaken for federal agents.
January 25, 2026 at 9:52 PM
Well-played, tbh
Reposted by Emily J
Of course no one should assume Signal is perfectly secure, and yes, for certain extreme circumstances, you should use no electronic comms.
But for 99.9% of Americans right now? “Signal is just as insecure as other forms of comms” is utterly irresponsible and counterproductive advice.
But for 99.9% of Americans right now? “Signal is just as insecure as other forms of comms” is utterly irresponsible and counterproductive advice.
January 25, 2026 at 7:17 PM
Of course no one should assume Signal is perfectly secure, and yes, for certain extreme circumstances, you should use no electronic comms.
But for 99.9% of Americans right now? “Signal is just as insecure as other forms of comms” is utterly irresponsible and counterproductive advice.
But for 99.9% of Americans right now? “Signal is just as insecure as other forms of comms” is utterly irresponsible and counterproductive advice.
Reposted by Emily J
I think it is *incredibly* irresponsible for someone like @stonekettle.bsky.social, with a huge following, to claim that Signal is just as insecure as texts or other public social media.
This is a classic “making perfect the enemy of the good” error.
This is a classic “making perfect the enemy of the good” error.
January 25, 2026 at 7:17 PM
I think it is *incredibly* irresponsible for someone like @stonekettle.bsky.social, with a huge following, to claim that Signal is just as insecure as texts or other public social media.
This is a classic “making perfect the enemy of the good” error.
This is a classic “making perfect the enemy of the good” error.
Reposted by Emily J
It also betrays a fundamental lack of understanding about sensible risk assessment in organizing.
There are some organizing activities that are so sensitive that yeah, have that conversation offline and put your phone in a Faraday bag.
AND there's some stuff you can do in an unvetted group chat.
There are some organizing activities that are so sensitive that yeah, have that conversation offline and put your phone in a Faraday bag.
AND there's some stuff you can do in an unvetted group chat.
I think it is *incredibly* irresponsible for someone like @stonekettle.bsky.social, with a huge following, to claim that Signal is just as insecure as texts or other public social media.
This is a classic “making perfect the enemy of the good” error.
This is a classic “making perfect the enemy of the good” error.
January 25, 2026 at 10:06 PM
It also betrays a fundamental lack of understanding about sensible risk assessment in organizing.
There are some organizing activities that are so sensitive that yeah, have that conversation offline and put your phone in a Faraday bag.
AND there's some stuff you can do in an unvetted group chat.
There are some organizing activities that are so sensitive that yeah, have that conversation offline and put your phone in a Faraday bag.
AND there's some stuff you can do in an unvetted group chat.
Reposted by Emily J
There is a lot of SARS-CoV-2 and influenza circulating here in Minnesota right now.
And tear gas and smoke increase transmission risks for respiratory viruses.
One crisis intersecting with another.
And tear gas and smoke increase transmission risks for respiratory viruses.
One crisis intersecting with another.
Nobody wants to hear about Covid in 2026 when there is so much more going on but I don’t think we can build the solidarity we need right now without reflecting on how poorly we as a society did over the last six years.
January 25, 2026 at 8:53 PM
There is a lot of SARS-CoV-2 and influenza circulating here in Minnesota right now.
And tear gas and smoke increase transmission risks for respiratory viruses.
One crisis intersecting with another.
And tear gas and smoke increase transmission risks for respiratory viruses.
One crisis intersecting with another.
My new robot vacuum is overall a ton smarter than my previous robot vacuum, but my previous robot vacuum never got lost in the middle of the room.
January 25, 2026 at 8:01 PM
My new robot vacuum is overall a ton smarter than my previous robot vacuum, but my previous robot vacuum never got lost in the middle of the room.
Reposted by Emily J
Good thread. I think what people mean is "where are the evangelical churches" and the answer is that they will largely stay loyal to Trump or stay out of it. And also we must not use their language - despite what they claim, evangelicals are not the only Christians.
Okay, since I’m in a mood, do you know what is annoying mild *annoyance* about all this, rather than a gut-wrenching crisis?
I’m not a Christian but my sense of fairness keeps requiring me to defend the church because people keep posting shit about “Why aren’t Christians speaking up?!”
I’m not a Christian but my sense of fairness keeps requiring me to defend the church because people keep posting shit about “Why aren’t Christians speaking up?!”
January 25, 2026 at 7:54 PM
Good thread. I think what people mean is "where are the evangelical churches" and the answer is that they will largely stay loyal to Trump or stay out of it. And also we must not use their language - despite what they claim, evangelicals are not the only Christians.
Reposted by Emily J
This is our fight as Jewish Americans, too. The work of combating antisemitism and protecting democracy are one in the same. Jewish safety requires a healthy democracy, including a government that doesn't wage war against its own people.
January 25, 2026 at 7:57 PM
This is our fight as Jewish Americans, too. The work of combating antisemitism and protecting democracy are one in the same. Jewish safety requires a healthy democracy, including a government that doesn't wage war against its own people.
Reposted by Emily J
I have noticed a lot of largely apolitical influencers (horsegirls, weightlifters, animal rescues) throwing down over this, it’s conspicuous and remarkable
January 25, 2026 at 5:39 PM
I have noticed a lot of largely apolitical influencers (horsegirls, weightlifters, animal rescues) throwing down over this, it’s conspicuous and remarkable
Reposted by Emily J
Nobody wants to hear about Covid in 2026 when there is so much more going on but I don’t think we can build the solidarity we need right now without reflecting on how poorly we as a society did over the last six years.
January 25, 2026 at 6:23 PM
Nobody wants to hear about Covid in 2026 when there is so much more going on but I don’t think we can build the solidarity we need right now without reflecting on how poorly we as a society did over the last six years.