Francine McKenna
@fmckenna.bsky.social
Teacher/writer/speaker/reader. CPA. Using tools so tools can’t use me. Dogs rule! She/her Kundera: “In the sunset of dissolution, everything is illuminated by the aura of nostalgia.” I Dig. https://TheDig.Substack.com @retheauditors Chgo-born, Philly-based
Reposted by Francine McKenna
I wrote yesterday about Kevin Warsh, saying what everyone who really follows monetary debates knows: he's a bullshitter who uses big words to make incoherent arguments that always amount to stimulus for Republicans, austerity for Dems 1/
paulkrugman.substack.com/p/a-bad-heir...
paulkrugman.substack.com/p/a-bad-heir...
A Bad Heir Day at the Fed
No, Kevin Warsh isn’t qualified
paulkrugman.substack.com
January 31, 2026 at 2:39 PM
I wrote yesterday about Kevin Warsh, saying what everyone who really follows monetary debates knows: he's a bullshitter who uses big words to make incoherent arguments that always amount to stimulus for Republicans, austerity for Dems 1/
paulkrugman.substack.com/p/a-bad-heir...
paulkrugman.substack.com/p/a-bad-heir...
Reposted by Francine McKenna
The FBI long ago concluded that animal cruelty "is a predictive or co-occurring crime with violence against humans."
Right, Kristi Noem?
leb.fbi.gov/articles/fea...
Right, Kristi Noem?
leb.fbi.gov/articles/fea...
The Link Between Animal Cruelty and Human Violence | FBI: Law Enforcement Bulletin
When investigating claims of animal cruelty, law enforcement should be aware of the well-documented link to violence against humans and other types of violent crime.
leb.fbi.gov
February 6, 2026 at 5:31 PM
The FBI long ago concluded that animal cruelty "is a predictive or co-occurring crime with violence against humans."
Right, Kristi Noem?
leb.fbi.gov/articles/fea...
Right, Kristi Noem?
leb.fbi.gov/articles/fea...
Reposted by Francine McKenna
US Marshals, acting on behalf of the DOJ in Memphis, TN, kicked a dog during an arrest, leaving it with a broken rib.
February 6, 2026 at 3:28 PM
US Marshals, acting on behalf of the DOJ in Memphis, TN, kicked a dog during an arrest, leaving it with a broken rib.
Reposted by Francine McKenna
it's so, so, so frustrating how they act like people applying for asylum are subject to removal proceedings. that is not the law!!!!
Just heard back from DHS on why they abruptly expedited Ramos' asylum hearing:
“These are regular removal proceedings. This is standard procedure and there is nothing retaliatory about enforcing the nation’s immigration laws. He will receive full due process."
(This is not standard procedure.)
“These are regular removal proceedings. This is standard procedure and there is nothing retaliatory about enforcing the nation’s immigration laws. He will receive full due process."
(This is not standard procedure.)
February 6, 2026 at 8:17 PM
it's so, so, so frustrating how they act like people applying for asylum are subject to removal proceedings. that is not the law!!!!
Reposted by Francine McKenna
1. It was not an accident.
2. It was not a staffer.
3. While the president may have dementia his racism is not due to dementia.
4. He isn’t sorry. He means every racist thought he shares.
5. His base agrees with him.
6. He will do it again.
7. No one in power will hold him accountable.
2. It was not a staffer.
3. While the president may have dementia his racism is not due to dementia.
4. He isn’t sorry. He means every racist thought he shares.
5. His base agrees with him.
6. He will do it again.
7. No one in power will hold him accountable.
February 6, 2026 at 5:42 PM
1. It was not an accident.
2. It was not a staffer.
3. While the president may have dementia his racism is not due to dementia.
4. He isn’t sorry. He means every racist thought he shares.
5. His base agrees with him.
6. He will do it again.
7. No one in power will hold him accountable.
2. It was not a staffer.
3. While the president may have dementia his racism is not due to dementia.
4. He isn’t sorry. He means every racist thought he shares.
5. His base agrees with him.
6. He will do it again.
7. No one in power will hold him accountable.
Reposted by Francine McKenna
It was only a matter of time before the mom from last week's SNL skit called in to CSPAN
Three-time Trump voter: I'm looking at this awful picture of the Obamas. What an embarrassment to our country. He is not worthy of the presidency. He takes bribes blatantly, and now he's being a racist blatantly. He's pathetic as a president, and I want to apologize for supporting this rotten man.
February 6, 2026 at 5:06 PM
It was only a matter of time before the mom from last week's SNL skit called in to CSPAN
Reposted by Francine McKenna
COONS: Joe, it's same rules NYPD follows. Do you see roving bands of NYPD w/ masks using bear spray on people?
KERNEN: You lost the election! That doesn't give you right to shut down govt
C: I have to fight for the core value of our democracy, including law enforcement that doesn't murder citizens
KERNEN: You lost the election! That doesn't give you right to shut down govt
C: I have to fight for the core value of our democracy, including law enforcement that doesn't murder citizens
February 6, 2026 at 1:38 PM
COONS: Joe, it's same rules NYPD follows. Do you see roving bands of NYPD w/ masks using bear spray on people?
KERNEN: You lost the election! That doesn't give you right to shut down govt
C: I have to fight for the core value of our democracy, including law enforcement that doesn't murder citizens
KERNEN: You lost the election! That doesn't give you right to shut down govt
C: I have to fight for the core value of our democracy, including law enforcement that doesn't murder citizens
Reposted by Francine McKenna
NEW: Trump has deleted the racist video he posted depicting the Obamas as monkeys after the press secretary defended it saying it was not racist, just a meme depicting democrats as characters from the Lion King. So which is it?
February 6, 2026 at 5:22 PM
NEW: Trump has deleted the racist video he posted depicting the Obamas as monkeys after the press secretary defended it saying it was not racist, just a meme depicting democrats as characters from the Lion King. So which is it?
Reposted by Francine McKenna
Yeah, this is like when their "surrender to us!" demand letter to Harvard was sent "by mistake."
POLITICO reporting that the White House has now claimed the ape video was an accident and removed it.
February 6, 2026 at 5:56 PM
Yeah, this is like when their "surrender to us!" demand letter to Harvard was sent "by mistake."
Reposted by Francine McKenna
The banality of evil is shocking. An ex-Big Lots warehouse for cheap consumer junk is bought by ICE to ship as many as 7,500 handcuffed human beings, as the Trump regime builds a U.S. gulag archipelago
The unthinkable comes to Pa. coal country. My special report www.inquirer.com/opinion/ice-...
The unthinkable comes to Pa. coal country. My special report www.inquirer.com/opinion/ice-...
From Big Lots to warehousing humans: ICE plan sparks fear in Schuylkill County | Will Bunch
A massive warehouse in Tremont. Pa. that once moved cheap goods will now detain migrants in an $119 million ICE deal.
www.inquirer.com
February 5, 2026 at 5:54 PM
The banality of evil is shocking. An ex-Big Lots warehouse for cheap consumer junk is bought by ICE to ship as many as 7,500 handcuffed human beings, as the Trump regime builds a U.S. gulag archipelago
The unthinkable comes to Pa. coal country. My special report www.inquirer.com/opinion/ice-...
The unthinkable comes to Pa. coal country. My special report www.inquirer.com/opinion/ice-...
Reposted by Francine McKenna
See, The Guardian did it correctly. They observed and verified something that is racist and referred to it as such directly, without hiding behind uncertainty that's really a reflection of discomfort about telling the truth. News media can be honest if they want to be. #journalism
Donald Trump prompts fury after posting racist video about Barack and Michelle Obama – US politics live
Donald Trump prompts fury after posting racist video about Barack and Michelle Obama – US politics live
The US president posted a racist video on Truth Social that included disproven allegations about ballot-counting
Hello and welcome to today’s live coverage.
Donald Trump went on a massive social media spree overnight that included posting on Truth Social an election conspiracy video that ended with a clip depicting former president Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama as monkeys. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
February 6, 2026 at 12:48 PM
See, The Guardian did it correctly. They observed and verified something that is racist and referred to it as such directly, without hiding behind uncertainty that's really a reflection of discomfort about telling the truth. News media can be honest if they want to be. #journalism
Reposted by Francine McKenna
You have to understand that these are fundamentally bad people with hatred in their hearts.
BREAKING: The federal government has filed a motion seeking to end asylum claims for the family of Liam Conejo Ramos, according to the lawyer representing the family.
DHS has requested expedited deportation proceedings against family of Liam Conejo Ramos
The federal government has filed a motion seeking to end asylum claims for the family of Liam Conejo Ramos, according to the lawyer representing the family.
www.mprnews.org
February 6, 2026 at 3:21 AM
You have to understand that these are fundamentally bad people with hatred in their hearts.
Reposted by Francine McKenna
Ian McKellen performs “The Strangers’ Case” speech from “Sir Thomas More” on Colbert.
February 5, 2026 at 1:07 PM
Ian McKellen performs “The Strangers’ Case” speech from “Sir Thomas More” on Colbert.
Reposted by Francine McKenna
No joke: I got angry hate mail today for writing an obituary of a Black woman scientist—because the person felt she did didn’t deserve the recognition.
Which just makes me want to share it again: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Which just makes me want to share it again: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Gladys Mae West obituary: mathematician who pioneered GPS technology
She made key contributions to US cold-war science despite facing huge barriers as a Black woman.
www.nature.com
February 6, 2026 at 9:09 AM
No joke: I got angry hate mail today for writing an obituary of a Black woman scientist—because the person felt she did didn’t deserve the recognition.
Which just makes me want to share it again: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Which just makes me want to share it again: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by Francine McKenna
Reggie Strong returns to basketball as 24-year-old freshman at Moraine Valley, where he’s the team’s leading scorer.
Moraine Valley’s Reggie Strong, told he would never walk again, returns to basketball as 24-year-old freshman
Reggie Strong returns to basketball as 24-year-old freshman at Moraine Valley, where he’s the team’s leading scorer.
trib.al
February 5, 2026 at 9:30 PM
Reggie Strong returns to basketball as 24-year-old freshman at Moraine Valley, where he’s the team’s leading scorer.
Reposted by Francine McKenna
Cops were frequently getting caught planting drugs in 2017 because body cameras were new and many of them didn't understand how the technology worked.
When cops hit "record" it saved the 30 seconds from *before* they hit the button. Eventually, they figured it out.
When cops hit "record" it saved the 30 seconds from *before* they hit the button. Eventually, they figured it out.
Why Cops Frequently Got Caught Planting Drugs in 2017
Look. All technology comes with a learning curve.
gizmodo.com
February 5, 2026 at 9:21 PM
Cops were frequently getting caught planting drugs in 2017 because body cameras were new and many of them didn't understand how the technology worked.
When cops hit "record" it saved the 30 seconds from *before* they hit the button. Eventually, they figured it out.
When cops hit "record" it saved the 30 seconds from *before* they hit the button. Eventually, they figured it out.
Reposted by Francine McKenna
My story on Elon Musk cutting safeguards at xAI is on the front page of today's @washingtonpost.com. I’m also among 100’s of reporters laid off. I absolutely loved my job my brilliant coworkers & the thrill of reporting @ the center of forces upending the world: AI & Silicon Valley’s political power
February 4, 2026 at 7:40 PM
My story on Elon Musk cutting safeguards at xAI is on the front page of today's @washingtonpost.com. I’m also among 100’s of reporters laid off. I absolutely loved my job my brilliant coworkers & the thrill of reporting @ the center of forces upending the world: AI & Silicon Valley’s political power
Reposted by Francine McKenna
While reporting this, I had something happen that's never happened. A comms rep for one of the co's disputed my reporting and said what I was telling them was untrue because it was not in Grok, xAI's chatbot.
I was looking directly at the files. And this person was using AI to challenge the truth.
I was looking directly at the files. And this person was using AI to challenge the truth.
Epstein had many known connections to Silicon Valley CEOs, but less known was how he made money from those relationships.
We did a deep dive into how he got dealflow in Silicon Valley, giving him shots to invest in Coinbase, Palantir, SpaceX and other companies.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/05/b...
We did a deep dive into how he got dealflow in Silicon Valley, giving him shots to invest in Coinbase, Palantir, SpaceX and other companies.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/05/b...
Jeffrey Epstein’s Money Mingled With Silicon Valley Start-Ups
www.nytimes.com
February 5, 2026 at 5:38 PM
While reporting this, I had something happen that's never happened. A comms rep for one of the co's disputed my reporting and said what I was telling them was untrue because it was not in Grok, xAI's chatbot.
I was looking directly at the files. And this person was using AI to challenge the truth.
I was looking directly at the files. And this person was using AI to challenge the truth.
Reposted by Francine McKenna
Here is Epstein asking Peter Thiel if he should invest in Spotify or Palantir. Thiel was (and still is) Palantir's chairman and tells Epstein there is "no need to rush." This is one of several emails where Thiel gives Epstein advice.
Epstein later invested $40m into one of Thiel's VC funds.
Epstein later invested $40m into one of Thiel's VC funds.
February 5, 2026 at 3:36 PM
Here is Epstein asking Peter Thiel if he should invest in Spotify or Palantir. Thiel was (and still is) Palantir's chairman and tells Epstein there is "no need to rush." This is one of several emails where Thiel gives Epstein advice.
Epstein later invested $40m into one of Thiel's VC funds.
Epstein later invested $40m into one of Thiel's VC funds.
Reposted by Francine McKenna
For example, here is Coinbase cofounder Fred Ehrsam in 2014 emailing w/ people around Epstein, including crypto entrepreneur Brock Pierce, asking to meet Epstein before the financier invested $3m in Coinbase.
Coinbase was a two year old startup. Epstein netted multimillion dollar returns from this.
Coinbase was a two year old startup. Epstein netted multimillion dollar returns from this.
February 5, 2026 at 3:30 PM
For example, here is Coinbase cofounder Fred Ehrsam in 2014 emailing w/ people around Epstein, including crypto entrepreneur Brock Pierce, asking to meet Epstein before the financier invested $3m in Coinbase.
Coinbase was a two year old startup. Epstein netted multimillion dollar returns from this.
Coinbase was a two year old startup. Epstein netted multimillion dollar returns from this.
Reposted by Francine McKenna
Epstein had many known connections to Silicon Valley CEOs, but less known was how he made money from those relationships.
We did a deep dive into how he got dealflow in Silicon Valley, giving him shots to invest in Coinbase, Palantir, SpaceX and other companies.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/05/b...
We did a deep dive into how he got dealflow in Silicon Valley, giving him shots to invest in Coinbase, Palantir, SpaceX and other companies.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/05/b...
Jeffrey Epstein’s Money Mingled With Silicon Valley Start-Ups
www.nytimes.com
February 5, 2026 at 3:21 PM
Epstein had many known connections to Silicon Valley CEOs, but less known was how he made money from those relationships.
We did a deep dive into how he got dealflow in Silicon Valley, giving him shots to invest in Coinbase, Palantir, SpaceX and other companies.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/05/b...
We did a deep dive into how he got dealflow in Silicon Valley, giving him shots to invest in Coinbase, Palantir, SpaceX and other companies.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/05/b...
Reposted by Francine McKenna
Wait! The public face of nationwide immigration enforcement, Gregory Bovino, said in a newly discovered email that his boss wasn’t the head of CBP. He reported to Corey Lewandowski instead.
He’s a political operative with zero law-enforcement background calling the shots on immigration enforcement.
He’s a political operative with zero law-enforcement background calling the shots on immigration enforcement.
February 5, 2026 at 4:41 PM
Wait! The public face of nationwide immigration enforcement, Gregory Bovino, said in a newly discovered email that his boss wasn’t the head of CBP. He reported to Corey Lewandowski instead.
He’s a political operative with zero law-enforcement background calling the shots on immigration enforcement.
He’s a political operative with zero law-enforcement background calling the shots on immigration enforcement.
Reposted by Francine McKenna
Yale prof David Gelernter defends his letter urging Epstein to hire "v small goodlooking blonde" student by saying that he was "keep[ing] the potential boss's habits in mind."
This creep shouldn't be allowed anywhere near students.
yaledailynews.com/articles/gel...
This creep shouldn't be allowed anywhere near students.
yaledailynews.com/articles/gel...
February 5, 2026 at 2:27 PM
Yale prof David Gelernter defends his letter urging Epstein to hire "v small goodlooking blonde" student by saying that he was "keep[ing] the potential boss's habits in mind."
This creep shouldn't be allowed anywhere near students.
yaledailynews.com/articles/gel...
This creep shouldn't be allowed anywhere near students.
yaledailynews.com/articles/gel...
Reposted by Francine McKenna
Jesse Jackson's son, Illinois Congressman Jonathan Jackson.
February 5, 2026 at 4:48 PM
Jesse Jackson's son, Illinois Congressman Jonathan Jackson.
Reposted by Francine McKenna
That's U.S. Rep. Jonathan Jackson, a Democrat, who represents Illinois' 1st Congressional District, which includes much of the South Side of Chicago
wow -- with Trump standing behind him, a man (not sure who he is) offers this prayer: "We pray that he would be mindful of the poor and that he would be invested in the alleviation of suffering happening in the families preparing to bury their loved ones in Minneapolis."
February 5, 2026 at 3:32 PM
That's U.S. Rep. Jonathan Jackson, a Democrat, who represents Illinois' 1st Congressional District, which includes much of the South Side of Chicago