Ian James
@ianjames.bsky.social
Reporter focusing on water and climate change, Los Angeles Times. ian.james@latimes.com
Signal: ianjames.77
Signal: ianjames.77
@timothysnyder.bsky.social: "The moral horror of those killings is enough. But there is a political logic as well. And the two are connected. Those who resist the lawlessness and the lies are doing right." snyder.substack.com/p/lies-and-l...
Lies and Lawlessness
The Camps, the Executions, and the Future
snyder.substack.com
January 25, 2026 at 6:54 PM
@timothysnyder.bsky.social: "The moral horror of those killings is enough. But there is a political logic as well. And the two are connected. Those who resist the lawlessness and the lies are doing right." snyder.substack.com/p/lies-and-l...
Reposted by Ian James
Vigils were held around Minneapolis and beyond Saturday night in the wake of the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by federal agents.
Photo and video: Jeff Wheeler, Anthony Souffle, Simon Peter Groebner/The Minnesota Star Tribune.
Photo and video: Jeff Wheeler, Anthony Souffle, Simon Peter Groebner/The Minnesota Star Tribune.
January 25, 2026 at 3:06 AM
Vigils were held around Minneapolis and beyond Saturday night in the wake of the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by federal agents.
Photo and video: Jeff Wheeler, Anthony Souffle, Simon Peter Groebner/The Minnesota Star Tribune.
Photo and video: Jeff Wheeler, Anthony Souffle, Simon Peter Groebner/The Minnesota Star Tribune.
Reposted by Ian James
"They shot him so many times. I don't know why they shot him," says one witness.
"none of the ICE agents who were near the victim were performing CPR," says another. "Instead...ICE agents appeared to be counting his bullet wounds."
"none of the ICE agents who were near the victim were performing CPR," says another. "Instead...ICE agents appeared to be counting his bullet wounds."
And another declaration from a medical doctor who was on scene and attempted to treat the man who was shot. Doc: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
#109 in Tincher v. Noem (D. Minnesota, 0:25-cv-04669) – CourtListener.com
DECLARATION of Witness No. 2 re 108 Declaration in Support by John Biestman, Alan Crenshaw, Janet Lee, Abdikadir Noor, Susan Tincher, Lucia Webb . (Fisher, Caitlinrose) (Entered: 01/24/2026)
storage.courtlistener.com
January 25, 2026 at 3:50 AM
"They shot him so many times. I don't know why they shot him," says one witness.
"none of the ICE agents who were near the victim were performing CPR," says another. "Instead...ICE agents appeared to be counting his bullet wounds."
"none of the ICE agents who were near the victim were performing CPR," says another. "Instead...ICE agents appeared to be counting his bullet wounds."
Reposted by Ian James
Water, water everywhere, and nary a foot of snow? Warm temperatures across the West are fueling low snowpack from California to the Rockies, which is not good for water supplies: www.latimes.com/environment/... via @ianjames.bsky.social
Rain, not snow: Extraordinary warmth leaves mountains less snowy across the West
The snowpack this winter is smaller than average in California's Sierra Nevada as well as the Rocky Mountains. The lack of snow reflects record warmth.
www.latimes.com
January 25, 2026 at 2:55 AM
Water, water everywhere, and nary a foot of snow? Warm temperatures across the West are fueling low snowpack from California to the Rockies, which is not good for water supplies: www.latimes.com/environment/... via @ianjames.bsky.social
Reposted by Ian James
“Everything that’s below about 6,000 or 7,000 feet anywhere in the West is not doing well in terms of snowpack because it has been record warm,” @weatherwest.bsky.social @ucanr.edu told @ianjames.bsky.social
Record warmth this winter has left a diminished snowpack in many areas of California's Sierra Nevada and the Rocky Mountains. The meager snowpack in the Rockies will worsen the Colorado River's chronic water shortages. www.latimes.com/environment/...
Rain, not snow: Extraordinary warmth leaves mountains less snowy across the West
The snowpack this winter is smaller than average in California's Sierra Nevada as well as the Rocky Mountains. The lack of snow reflects record warmth.
www.latimes.com
January 25, 2026 at 2:27 AM
“Everything that’s below about 6,000 or 7,000 feet anywhere in the West is not doing well in terms of snowpack because it has been record warm,” @weatherwest.bsky.social @ucanr.edu told @ianjames.bsky.social
Record warmth this winter has left a diminished snowpack in many areas of California's Sierra Nevada and the Rocky Mountains. The meager snowpack in the Rockies will worsen the Colorado River's chronic water shortages. www.latimes.com/environment/...
Rain, not snow: Extraordinary warmth leaves mountains less snowy across the West
The snowpack this winter is smaller than average in California's Sierra Nevada as well as the Rocky Mountains. The lack of snow reflects record warmth.
www.latimes.com
January 25, 2026 at 1:00 AM
Record warmth this winter has left a diminished snowpack in many areas of California's Sierra Nevada and the Rocky Mountains. The meager snowpack in the Rockies will worsen the Colorado River's chronic water shortages. www.latimes.com/environment/...
Reposted by Ian James
“.. He cared about people deeply ..,” said Michael Pretti, Alex’s father. “He thought it was terrible, you know, kidnapping children, just grabbing people off the street. He cared about those people, and he knew it was wrong ..”
@washingtonpost.com
www.washingtonpost.com/national/202...
@washingtonpost.com
www.washingtonpost.com/national/202...
January 24, 2026 at 10:22 PM
“.. He cared about people deeply ..,” said Michael Pretti, Alex’s father. “He thought it was terrible, you know, kidnapping children, just grabbing people off the street. He cared about those people, and he knew it was wrong ..”
@washingtonpost.com
www.washingtonpost.com/national/202...
@washingtonpost.com
www.washingtonpost.com/national/202...
Reposted by Ian James
This was murder. Pretti did not initiate the confrontation. He didn’t strike them. He didn’t brandish his gun. They tackled him, beat him, disarmed him, and shot him.
Holy crap.
This is the most damning video yet.
It shows Border Patrol agents clearly taking Alex's firearm, running it away, and THEN executed him in cold blood by emptying a clip into his face.
Murder.
This is the most damning video yet.
It shows Border Patrol agents clearly taking Alex's firearm, running it away, and THEN executed him in cold blood by emptying a clip into his face.
Murder.
January 24, 2026 at 9:46 PM
This was murder. Pretti did not initiate the confrontation. He didn’t strike them. He didn’t brandish his gun. They tackled him, beat him, disarmed him, and shot him.
Reposted by Ian James
Absolutely massive turnout at the ICE Rapid Response training in Pittsburgh tonight, hosted by Frontline Dignity. Over 500 people showed up, including dozens from out of county & out of state.
January 21, 2026 at 1:13 AM
Absolutely massive turnout at the ICE Rapid Response training in Pittsburgh tonight, hosted by Frontline Dignity. Over 500 people showed up, including dozens from out of county & out of state.
Reposted by Ian James
Footage taken moments before a struggle shows that the man was filming, holding a phone in his right hand, backing up. His left hand is up, visible, palm facing out, as he backs away from the area. An agent uses his right hand, on the torso of the victim, pushing him back, while the man complies.
January 24, 2026 at 7:01 PM
Footage taken moments before a struggle shows that the man was filming, holding a phone in his right hand, backing up. His left hand is up, visible, palm facing out, as he backs away from the area. An agent uses his right hand, on the torso of the victim, pushing him back, while the man complies.
Reposted by Ian James
"The gentleman I was standing next to was focused on helping people who were coming into Nicollet Avenue understand that they needed to take it slow and helping them get through. ...
"Next thing I knew, they shot him." www.mprnews.org/story/2026/0...
"Next thing I knew, they shot him." www.mprnews.org/story/2026/0...
January 24, 2026 at 5:56 PM
"The gentleman I was standing next to was focused on helping people who were coming into Nicollet Avenue understand that they needed to take it slow and helping them get through. ...
"Next thing I knew, they shot him." www.mprnews.org/story/2026/0...
"Next thing I knew, they shot him." www.mprnews.org/story/2026/0...
Reposted by Ian James
It’s worth keeping in mind what the admin ^does after they’ve shot someone*
They’ve tried kick local police out of the are/. Killing police’s ability to investigate
And they’ve made sure their officers aren’t wearing body cams—that can be vital for evidence
www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/...
They’ve tried kick local police out of the are/. Killing police’s ability to investigate
And they’ve made sure their officers aren’t wearing body cams—that can be vital for evidence
www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/...
January 24, 2026 at 5:56 PM
It’s worth keeping in mind what the admin ^does after they’ve shot someone*
They’ve tried kick local police out of the are/. Killing police’s ability to investigate
And they’ve made sure their officers aren’t wearing body cams—that can be vital for evidence
www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/...
They’ve tried kick local police out of the are/. Killing police’s ability to investigate
And they’ve made sure their officers aren’t wearing body cams—that can be vital for evidence
www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/...
Reposted by Ian James
Woman tells Minnesota Public Radio that the man killed today was helping vehicle traffic get around the area where ICE agents and observers had started to gather and "next thing I knew, they shot him." www.mprnews.org/live-updates....
The latest on ICE in Minnesota
Live updates on ICE enforcement in Minnesota, with the latest developments and links to deeper reporting as events unfold.
www.mprnews.org
January 24, 2026 at 5:47 PM
Woman tells Minnesota Public Radio that the man killed today was helping vehicle traffic get around the area where ICE agents and observers had started to gather and "next thing I knew, they shot him." www.mprnews.org/live-updates....
Reposted by Ian James
Rain, not snow: Extraordinary warmth leaves mountains less snowy across the West
Rain, not snow: Extraordinary warmth leaves mountains less snowy across the West
The snowpack this winter is smaller than average in California's Sierra Nevada as well as the Rocky Mountains. The lack of snow reflects record warmth.
www.latimes.com
January 24, 2026 at 11:15 AM
Rain, not snow: Extraordinary warmth leaves mountains less snowy across the West
Reposted by Ian James
NEW: I was one of 3 reporters granted access to the convening of 600+ clergy in Minneapolis this week.
It was a striking show of solidarity with MN clergy resisting ICE, but heralded something else: the emergence of a vast, faith-based network trained to resist ICE. religionnews.com/2026/01/23/i...
It was a striking show of solidarity with MN clergy resisting ICE, but heralded something else: the emergence of a vast, faith-based network trained to resist ICE. religionnews.com/2026/01/23/i...
Inside the effort to organize clergy nationwide to resist ICE
(RNS)— Hundreds of clergy from around the country gathered in Minneapolis to learn from Minnesota faith leaders how to protest against ICE enforcement. Then they took to the streets and helped block t...
religionnews.com
January 24, 2026 at 12:40 AM
NEW: I was one of 3 reporters granted access to the convening of 600+ clergy in Minneapolis this week.
It was a striking show of solidarity with MN clergy resisting ICE, but heralded something else: the emergence of a vast, faith-based network trained to resist ICE. religionnews.com/2026/01/23/i...
It was a striking show of solidarity with MN clergy resisting ICE, but heralded something else: the emergence of a vast, faith-based network trained to resist ICE. religionnews.com/2026/01/23/i...
“It seems everyone is an insurrectionist these days.”
I got a request from a reporter about Trump's statement that "what happened to global warming?" w.r.t. the cold event covering much of the U.S. this weekend. Here is my reply.
January 24, 2026 at 7:41 AM
“It seems everyone is an insurrectionist these days.”
Reposted by Ian James
It’s -9 degrees. Downtown Minneapolis is packed for the anti-ICE rally and the crowd keeps growing
January 23, 2026 at 8:16 PM
It’s -9 degrees. Downtown Minneapolis is packed for the anti-ICE rally and the crowd keeps growing
Reposted by Ian James
ICE detained a 2-year-old girl in Minneapolis and put the child on a flight to a detention center in Texas, despite a court ordering her release: www.startribune.com/agents-detai...
January 24, 2026 at 12:29 AM
ICE detained a 2-year-old girl in Minneapolis and put the child on a flight to a detention center in Texas, despite a court ordering her release: www.startribune.com/agents-detai...
Reposted by Ian James
Dramatic rise in water-related violence recorded since 2022.
“We can solve our water problems – I don’t argue that we will or that we will do it soon, but we can" Peter Gleick said.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
“We can solve our water problems – I don’t argue that we will or that we will do it soon, but we can" Peter Gleick said.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Dramatic rise in water-related violence recorded since 2022
Experts say climate crisis, corruption and lack or misuse of infrastructure among factors driving water conflicts
www.theguardian.com
January 23, 2026 at 8:25 PM
Dramatic rise in water-related violence recorded since 2022.
“We can solve our water problems – I don’t argue that we will or that we will do it soon, but we can" Peter Gleick said.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
“We can solve our water problems – I don’t argue that we will or that we will do it soon, but we can" Peter Gleick said.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Ian James
Trump administration approves plan backed by Newsom to build largest California reservoir in 50 years www.mercurynews.com/2026/01/23/t...
Trump administration approves plan backed by Newsom to build largest California reservoir in 50 years
Sites Reservoir would be 8th largest in California, providing water to Bay Area, farms, LA
www.mercurynews.com
January 24, 2026 at 5:03 AM
Trump administration approves plan backed by Newsom to build largest California reservoir in 50 years www.mercurynews.com/2026/01/23/t...
Arizona takes action on groundwater overuse
And ‘nonfunctional turf’ is taken to court
A fascinating read by @danielrothberg.bsky.social — and thanks for flagging the story, Daniel!
open.substack.com/pub/invisibl...
And ‘nonfunctional turf’ is taken to court
A fascinating read by @danielrothberg.bsky.social — and thanks for flagging the story, Daniel!
open.substack.com/pub/invisibl...
Arizona takes action on groundwater overuse
And "nonfunctional turf" taken to court.
open.substack.com
January 24, 2026 at 5:12 AM
Arizona takes action on groundwater overuse
And ‘nonfunctional turf’ is taken to court
A fascinating read by @danielrothberg.bsky.social — and thanks for flagging the story, Daniel!
open.substack.com/pub/invisibl...
And ‘nonfunctional turf’ is taken to court
A fascinating read by @danielrothberg.bsky.social — and thanks for flagging the story, Daniel!
open.substack.com/pub/invisibl...
Reposted by Ian James
The depiction of the work and its deadly toll is 100% spot-on. It's not "heroic", it's just real and one of the myriad reasons to get off fossil fuels. As I report, most oil workers I've interviewed would prefer to work in renewables if given the opportunity (and pay). This show helps explain why.
January 23, 2026 at 9:08 PM
The depiction of the work and its deadly toll is 100% spot-on. It's not "heroic", it's just real and one of the myriad reasons to get off fossil fuels. As I report, most oil workers I've interviewed would prefer to work in renewables if given the opportunity (and pay). This show helps explain why.
“Unfortunately, that’s what ‘Landman’ preaches: complacency. Continued fossil fuel addiction. Whatever the costs.”
Wrote about Season 2 of “Landman,” which wrapped up on Sunday. No more anti-renewables propaganda, thank goodness, but this is still a show about the noble and manly work of pulling oil from the ground. www.climatecoloredgoggles.com/p/landman-se...
The grim barbarity of "Landman," Season 2
Spoilers abound. You have been warned.
www.climatecoloredgoggles.com
January 24, 2026 at 5:05 AM
“Unfortunately, that’s what ‘Landman’ preaches: complacency. Continued fossil fuel addiction. Whatever the costs.”
Reposted by Ian James
An incredible story here about a journalist who used to document displacement is now living it.
"After a life spent both crossing borders and freely reporting on those who struggled to overcome them, I didn’t expect one to rise up beneath my feet."
stevescherer.substack.com/p/my-journey...
"After a life spent both crossing borders and freely reporting on those who struggled to overcome them, I didn’t expect one to rise up beneath my feet."
stevescherer.substack.com/p/my-journey...
My journey from foreign correspondent to Uber driver in Trump's America
I once documented human displacement and desperation; now I am living it
stevescherer.substack.com
January 22, 2026 at 8:58 PM
An incredible story here about a journalist who used to document displacement is now living it.
"After a life spent both crossing borders and freely reporting on those who struggled to overcome them, I didn’t expect one to rise up beneath my feet."
stevescherer.substack.com/p/my-journey...
"After a life spent both crossing borders and freely reporting on those who struggled to overcome them, I didn’t expect one to rise up beneath my feet."
stevescherer.substack.com/p/my-journey...
Reposted by Ian James
CARNEY: “.. We can show that another way is possible, that the arc of history isn’t destined to be warped toward authoritarianism and exclusion.”
@apnews.com
apnews.com/article/trum...
@apnews.com
apnews.com/article/trum...
January 24, 2026 at 3:28 AM
CARNEY: “.. We can show that another way is possible, that the arc of history isn’t destined to be warped toward authoritarianism and exclusion.”
@apnews.com
apnews.com/article/trum...
@apnews.com
apnews.com/article/trum...