Barry Johnson
@flightrisk51.bsky.social
Oregon-centric attention to history, culture, the arts.
Reposted by Barry Johnson
This right here!
Good to see that many Dem elected officials now want to be seen getting involved in the cases of immigrants who have been wrongly detained by ICE.
Let's spare a word for @vanhollen.senate.gov, who did this for Kilmar Abrego Garcia back when wise pundits said this was politically dangerous.
Let's spare a word for @vanhollen.senate.gov, who did this for Kilmar Abrego Garcia back when wise pundits said this was politically dangerous.
February 2, 2026 at 12:25 AM
This right here!
Reposted by Barry Johnson
Poverty is a policy choice. Concentrated wealth is a policy choice. Inequality is a policy choice. None of it is natural or inevitable. Remember: We have the power to build a system that serves the many, not the powerful few.
February 1, 2026 at 7:01 PM
Poverty is a policy choice. Concentrated wealth is a policy choice. Inequality is a policy choice. None of it is natural or inevitable. Remember: We have the power to build a system that serves the many, not the powerful few.
Reposted by Barry Johnson
A ProPublica-@readfrontier.bsky.social investigation found that in the past five years, toxic oil field waste has spewed out of the ground more than 150 times.
Oklahoma’s regulatory agency, however, previously said it prefers “to lead with a handshake instead of a hammer.”
Oklahoma’s regulatory agency, however, previously said it prefers “to lead with a handshake instead of a hammer.”
New Bills Seek to Rein In Oil Companies’ Pollution of Oklahoma Groundwater
The legislation comes after The Frontier and ProPublica found over 150 incidents where oilfield wastewater had gushed from the earth, releasing toxic chemicals — including some that cause cancer — nea...
www.propublica.org
February 2, 2026 at 12:00 AM
A ProPublica-@readfrontier.bsky.social investigation found that in the past five years, toxic oil field waste has spewed out of the ground more than 150 times.
Oklahoma’s regulatory agency, however, previously said it prefers “to lead with a handshake instead of a hammer.”
Oklahoma’s regulatory agency, however, previously said it prefers “to lead with a handshake instead of a hammer.”
Reposted by Barry Johnson
Good article on the camping ban in Portland from Sisters of the Road
www.sistersoftheroad.org/news/crimina... #pdx
www.sistersoftheroad.org/news/crimina... #pdx
Criminalizing Survival Is Not Care — Sisters of the Road
How Portland’s Camping Ban Is Overwhelming Service Providers At Sisters of the Road, we believe that poverty is not a personal failure and that housing, food, and dignity are human rights . Our wo...
www.sistersoftheroad.org
February 2, 2026 at 12:25 AM
Good article on the camping ban in Portland from Sisters of the Road
www.sistersoftheroad.org/news/crimina... #pdx
www.sistersoftheroad.org/news/crimina... #pdx
Reposted by Barry Johnson
February 2, 2026 at 1:18 AM
Reposted by Barry Johnson
Folds on the Kennedy Center 3 weeks ago: I was sick to my stomach when I quit because I knew they were going to run it into the ground. No one that they were appointing had any experience in arts administration, but that was never the point. The point was to take that, run over it, and move on.
February 2, 2026 at 1:50 AM
Folds on the Kennedy Center 3 weeks ago: I was sick to my stomach when I quit because I knew they were going to run it into the ground. No one that they were appointing had any experience in arts administration, but that was never the point. The point was to take that, run over it, and move on.
Reposted by Barry Johnson
GOP Rep. Thomas Massie: “How will we know if this bill has been successful? We will know when rich men are being perp walked in handcuffs to the jail. Until then, this is still a coverup.”
#EpsteinFiles
#EpsteinFiles
February 1, 2026 at 8:17 PM
GOP Rep. Thomas Massie: “How will we know if this bill has been successful? We will know when rich men are being perp walked in handcuffs to the jail. Until then, this is still a coverup.”
#EpsteinFiles
#EpsteinFiles
Reposted by Barry Johnson
Amid fears that Irish cast members could be denied U.S. entry because of increased federal pressure, the Ashland-born show drops plans to rehearse and preview in Ireland.
Immigration hurdles force Irish-rooted musical to bypass Ireland and head straight to Off-Broadway • Oregon ArtsWatch
Amid fears that Irish cast members could be denied U.S. entry because of increased federal pressure, the Ashland-born show drops plans to rehearse and preview in Ireland.
www.orartswatch.org
February 1, 2026 at 2:10 PM
Amid fears that Irish cast members could be denied U.S. entry because of increased federal pressure, the Ashland-born show drops plans to rehearse and preview in Ireland.
Reposted by Barry Johnson
Portland elected leaders are responding quickly to the scenes out of the large and peaceful
protest last night that was indiscriminately gassed and attacked by federal officers.
Councilor Green seeks reports of gassed children. (1/x)
protest last night that was indiscriminately gassed and attacked by federal officers.
Councilor Green seeks reports of gassed children. (1/x)
If your children got tear gassed today I want to hear from you, even if you don’t live in my district. You can contact my office at councilor.green@portlandoregon.gov
February 1, 2026 at 5:58 PM
Portland elected leaders are responding quickly to the scenes out of the large and peaceful
protest last night that was indiscriminately gassed and attacked by federal officers.
Councilor Green seeks reports of gassed children. (1/x)
protest last night that was indiscriminately gassed and attacked by federal officers.
Councilor Green seeks reports of gassed children. (1/x)
Reposted by Barry Johnson
The force that teargassed workers, families, children, and elders who were peacefully protesting is the same force that has kidnapped sick kids and murdered two Minneapolis neighbors on our streets.
We can’t appeal to the moral conscience of a system that has none. We have to win.
We can’t appeal to the moral conscience of a system that has none. We have to win.
February 1, 2026 at 8:17 PM
The force that teargassed workers, families, children, and elders who were peacefully protesting is the same force that has kidnapped sick kids and murdered two Minneapolis neighbors on our streets.
We can’t appeal to the moral conscience of a system that has none. We have to win.
We can’t appeal to the moral conscience of a system that has none. We have to win.
Reposted by Barry Johnson
Trump's ICE has no place in Oregon. The use of tear gas against families, children, and peaceful demonstrators yesterday is a horrific abuse of authority that undermines public safety and violates constitutional rights. Federal agents must stand down and be held accountable.
Anti-ICE protest draws massive crowd at South Portland facility, feds deploy tear gas
Thousands of demonstrators who marched to the ICE building were met with pepper balls and tear gas within minutes of their arrival.
www.oregonlive.com
February 1, 2026 at 8:45 PM
Trump's ICE has no place in Oregon. The use of tear gas against families, children, and peaceful demonstrators yesterday is a horrific abuse of authority that undermines public safety and violates constitutional rights. Federal agents must stand down and be held accountable.
Reposted by Barry Johnson
A few more images from yesterday's rally. Thousands strong against ICE terror!
February 1, 2026 at 9:14 PM
A few more images from yesterday's rally. Thousands strong against ICE terror!
Reposted by Barry Johnson
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has said that in regards to immigration, Spain needs to choose between being an open and prosperous country or a closed-off, poor country.
I don’t know if this has sunk in here yet, but Oregon has the same choice. www.oregonlive.com/business/202...
I don’t know if this has sunk in here yet, but Oregon has the same choice. www.oregonlive.com/business/202...
People from other countries account for most of Oregon’s growth
Domestic migration is essentially flat but immigrants kept Oregon growing — barely.
www.oregonlive.com
February 1, 2026 at 9:23 PM
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has said that in regards to immigration, Spain needs to choose between being an open and prosperous country or a closed-off, poor country.
I don’t know if this has sunk in here yet, but Oregon has the same choice. www.oregonlive.com/business/202...
I don’t know if this has sunk in here yet, but Oregon has the same choice. www.oregonlive.com/business/202...
Reposted by Barry Johnson
February 1, 2026 at 11:15 PM
Reposted by Barry Johnson
'measles outbreak at the child prison' seems entirely avoidable, it's really the kind of thing that only happens if you do several unthinkably evil things on purpose all at once
Horrifying. ICE confirms measles outbreak at Dilley family detention center. www.cbsnews.com/news/ice-dil...
ICE halts "all movement" at Texas detention facility due to measles infections
The measles cases at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center were detected Friday, Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement to CBS News.
www.cbsnews.com
February 2, 2026 at 4:31 AM
'measles outbreak at the child prison' seems entirely avoidable, it's really the kind of thing that only happens if you do several unthinkably evil things on purpose all at once
Reposted by Barry Johnson
Lots of teargas at ICE tonight in Portland. People were just standing and chanting.
February 2, 2026 at 3:23 AM
Lots of teargas at ICE tonight in Portland. People were just standing and chanting.
Reposted by Barry Johnson
Just got off the phone with my younger brother who participated in the march tonight.
He was tear gassed for the first time.
He was tear gassed for the first time.
I remember how terrifying & painful it was to get tear gassed for the first time and I’m so angry that a bunch of people had to experience that yesterday.
I have seen a lot of horrible shit in my life, but watching a bunch of kids struggle through the pain of being tear gassed is high on the list.
I have seen a lot of horrible shit in my life, but watching a bunch of kids struggle through the pain of being tear gassed is high on the list.
February 2, 2026 at 3:42 AM
Just got off the phone with my younger brother who participated in the march tonight.
He was tear gassed for the first time.
He was tear gassed for the first time.
Reposted by Barry Johnson
Just experienced the most intense tear gassing of my life by federal officers outside the ICE facility in Portland where marchers gathered. There was no fast exit as they indiscriminately threw loads of gas and flash bangs. Children were in the crowd screaming. @oregoncapitalchronicle.com
February 1, 2026 at 12:50 AM
Just experienced the most intense tear gassing of my life by federal officers outside the ICE facility in Portland where marchers gathered. There was no fast exit as they indiscriminately threw loads of gas and flash bangs. Children were in the crowd screaming. @oregoncapitalchronicle.com
Reposted by Barry Johnson
They may have gassed our comrades, our families and our children, but today was MASSIVE. If the surge comes, Portland is ready to defend our communities! ICE OUT!
February 1, 2026 at 6:28 AM
They may have gassed our comrades, our families and our children, but today was MASSIVE. If the surge comes, Portland is ready to defend our communities! ICE OUT!
Reposted by Barry Johnson
I join my City Councilors in calling for prosecution of ICE for this flagrant violation of city and state law. This is illegal, and if ICE does this to families and children on a sunny peaceful daytime protest, I shudder to think what they do without that kind of daylight and public scrutiny.
I just got tear gassed along with thousands of union members, many of whom had their families with them. Federal agents at the ICE facility tear gassed children. We must abolish ICE, DHS, and we must have prosecutions. I expect to see enforcement of our city code prohibiting the use of tear gas.
February 1, 2026 at 5:11 AM
I join my City Councilors in calling for prosecution of ICE for this flagrant violation of city and state law. This is illegal, and if ICE does this to families and children on a sunny peaceful daytime protest, I shudder to think what they do without that kind of daylight and public scrutiny.
Reposted by Barry Johnson
I wonder if the New York Times will go after any of the prominent academics in the Epstein files for being rapists as hard as they went after Claudine Gay for being kind of sloppy with citations in her graduate thesis.
If not, why not?
If not, why not?
Here’s Duke behavioral economist Dan Ariely asking Jeffrey Epstein for “the name and email of the redhead that was here with you.” This is four years after Epstein’s 2008 conviction for procuring a child for prostitution.
Doo do doo
January 31, 2026 at 2:34 PM
I wonder if the New York Times will go after any of the prominent academics in the Epstein files for being rapists as hard as they went after Claudine Gay for being kind of sloppy with citations in her graduate thesis.
If not, why not?
If not, why not?
Reposted by Barry Johnson
NEW: The @wired.com Security desk put together a comprehensive guide to filming ICE—with tips for reducing risk at the forefront. No paywall, but please consider subscribing to help find these kinds of resources. And stay safe out there. www.wired.com/story/how-to...
www.wired.com/v2/offers/wi...
www.wired.com/v2/offers/wi...
How to Film ICE
Filming federal agents in public is legal, but avoiding a dangerous—even deadly—confrontation isn’t guaranteed. Here’s how to record ICE and CBP agents as safely as possible and have an impact.
www.wired.com
January 31, 2026 at 10:55 AM
NEW: The @wired.com Security desk put together a comprehensive guide to filming ICE—with tips for reducing risk at the forefront. No paywall, but please consider subscribing to help find these kinds of resources. And stay safe out there. www.wired.com/story/how-to...
www.wired.com/v2/offers/wi...
www.wired.com/v2/offers/wi...
Reposted by Barry Johnson
A little dinnertime reading
The City of Portland published its collection of 2025 Q4 lobbying reports, closing out the first full year of operation under the reformed City Charter. Q4 was a big quarter for lobbying and lobbyists and the Big Blink's back to help break it down. 🧵
bigblinkpdx.org/sources/97
bigblinkpdx.org/sources/97
Data Sources · The Big Blink PDX
Activity from Lobbying Activity Report for Q4 2025 according to lobbying data published by the City of Portland, Oregon
bigblinkpdx.org
January 31, 2026 at 2:22 AM
A little dinnertime reading
Reposted by Barry Johnson
Telling people to be peaceful is not the same as telling people how to be strategic. In my new Hey Portland! column, I’m talking about why electeds need to stop tone policing & start offering tangible guidance, & two new initiatives I’m starting this year that can help build true community power.
January 31, 2026 at 2:47 AM
Telling people to be peaceful is not the same as telling people how to be strategic. In my new Hey Portland! column, I’m talking about why electeds need to stop tone policing & start offering tangible guidance, & two new initiatives I’m starting this year that can help build true community power.
Reposted by Barry Johnson
I tend to be pretty anti-conspiracy theory but there are a few that I nod at and go, "yeah, I can see it." www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
January 31, 2026 at 7:41 PM
I tend to be pretty anti-conspiracy theory but there are a few that I nod at and go, "yeah, I can see it." www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...