Jason Cochran
@jascochran.bsky.social
Writer, nerd, outfluencer. EIC at Frommer’s. Trapped in Biffhorrific. Author of “Here Lies America”
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Jason Cochran
@jascochran.bsky.social
· Jan 8
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Check the list of every Starter Pack before mass following or mass unfollowing.
Reposted by Jason Cochran
Reposted by Jason Cochran
🚨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.
When their elected representatives refuse to protect, promote, and represent them, the people have no choice but to put matters into the hands of the mob.
January 15, 2026 at 10:14 PM
When their elected representatives refuse to protect, promote, and represent them, the people have no choice but to put matters into the hands of the mob.
Reposted by Jason Cochran
#LondonCalling
Dr Joanne Freeman. Explains what is going on in a cool measured way. She says “the reason for the upswing in violence against citizens is because the government knows they are losing. ⬇️
Dr Joanne Freeman. Explains what is going on in a cool measured way. She says “the reason for the upswing in violence against citizens is because the government knows they are losing. ⬇️
January 15, 2026 at 9:12 PM
#LondonCalling
Dr Joanne Freeman. Explains what is going on in a cool measured way. She says “the reason for the upswing in violence against citizens is because the government knows they are losing. ⬇️
Dr Joanne Freeman. Explains what is going on in a cool measured way. She says “the reason for the upswing in violence against citizens is because the government knows they are losing. ⬇️
Reposted by Jason Cochran
Having seen several abductions up close, it is really hard to convey how much the thing they’re doing is roaming in military convoys until they see someone who is alone and isn’t white, and then jumping out in large numbers, pulling them into a van, and screeching off, all in 90 seconds or so.
"“They specifically asked me if I knew where the Hmong families lived on my street & in the neighborhood.” Lugert-Thom responded, “I don’t know anything about that” & she said they then asked, “Well, what about the Asian families?”"
"“I was a bit shaken & a bit shocked of what I was asked to do.”"
"“I was a bit shaken & a bit shocked of what I was asked to do.”"
A St. Paul resident says federal officers knocked on her door and asked her to identify Hmong and Asian households in her North End neighborhood last week.
January 14, 2026 at 2:31 PM
Having seen several abductions up close, it is really hard to convey how much the thing they’re doing is roaming in military convoys until they see someone who is alone and isn’t white, and then jumping out in large numbers, pulling them into a van, and screeching off, all in 90 seconds or so.
If you truly needed to invoke the Insurrection Act, you wouldn’t have time to tease it.
January 15, 2026 at 8:24 PM
If you truly needed to invoke the Insurrection Act, you wouldn’t have time to tease it.
Reposted by Jason Cochran
The main bank account holding revenue from the Venezuelan oil sales is located in Qatar.
“There is no basis in law for a president to set up an offshore account that he controls so that he can sell assets seized by the American military,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren.
www.semafor.com/article/01/1...
“There is no basis in law for a president to set up an offshore account that he controls so that he can sell assets seized by the American military,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren.
www.semafor.com/article/01/1...
Exclusive: US gets first $500 million Venezuelan oil deal, holding some proceeds in Qatar
The details shared with Semafor mark an initial milestone in the administration’s plan following the ouster of Nicolás Maduro.
www.semafor.com
January 15, 2026 at 4:42 AM
The main bank account holding revenue from the Venezuelan oil sales is located in Qatar.
“There is no basis in law for a president to set up an offshore account that he controls so that he can sell assets seized by the American military,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren.
www.semafor.com/article/01/1...
“There is no basis in law for a president to set up an offshore account that he controls so that he can sell assets seized by the American military,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren.
www.semafor.com/article/01/1...
Reposted by Jason Cochran
Non-protesting dad just trying to hustle his kids, as young as 6mo, out of the neighborhood. ICE threw a flash-bang INTO HIS car, all 6 kids in the hospital now.
If anyone wondered how things turn against occupying armies there's a case study playing out in front of you.
If anyone wondered how things turn against occupying armies there's a case study playing out in front of you.
That is what was relayed
January 15, 2026 at 4:27 AM
Non-protesting dad just trying to hustle his kids, as young as 6mo, out of the neighborhood. ICE threw a flash-bang INTO HIS car, all 6 kids in the hospital now.
If anyone wondered how things turn against occupying armies there's a case study playing out in front of you.
If anyone wondered how things turn against occupying armies there's a case study playing out in front of you.
Reposted by Jason Cochran
This is important and, also, not not new. There were reports of this in LA, Portland, and Chicago, at least, as well.
Just so people outside of MN know - a lot of the US citizens getting “arrested” by ICE never get processed at Whipple. They are roughed up during the arrest and then often dropped off miles from where they were picked up. It means we don’t know the true scale of what ICE is doing based on ICE stats
January 15, 2026 at 7:04 PM
This is important and, also, not not new. There were reports of this in LA, Portland, and Chicago, at least, as well.
Reposted by Jason Cochran
Arnoldo Bazan, a 16-year-old U.S. citizen, was put in a chokehold by ICE agents.
Agents took his phone, which he tracked to a used electronics vending machine near an ICE detention center.
Yes: ICE is stealing and selling people’s things after brutalizing them. There are no words.
Agents took his phone, which he tracked to a used electronics vending machine near an ICE detention center.
Yes: ICE is stealing and selling people’s things after brutalizing them. There are no words.
We Found More Than 40 Cases of Immigration Agents Using Banned Chokeholds and Other Moves That Can Cut Off Breathing
Civilians have had apparent seizures. One had his eyes roll back. Another had ribs broken. “I felt like I was going to p
www.propublica.org
January 15, 2026 at 7:15 PM
Arnoldo Bazan, a 16-year-old U.S. citizen, was put in a chokehold by ICE agents.
Agents took his phone, which he tracked to a used electronics vending machine near an ICE detention center.
Yes: ICE is stealing and selling people’s things after brutalizing them. There are no words.
Agents took his phone, which he tracked to a used electronics vending machine near an ICE detention center.
Yes: ICE is stealing and selling people’s things after brutalizing them. There are no words.
Just so we’re clear about this Insurrection Act threat, the Feds are the ones who have done all the shooting of people. No ICE have been killed or maimed in Minnesota, only citizens.
January 15, 2026 at 6:06 PM
Just so we’re clear about this Insurrection Act threat, the Feds are the ones who have done all the shooting of people. No ICE have been killed or maimed in Minnesota, only citizens.
Reposted by Jason Cochran
Koh: Trump has now spent $30 billion from the last bill for 10,000 more I.C.E. Agents that are going to be on the streets. That $30 billion would cover all the ACA subsidies for a year. It would eliminate all co-pays for prescription drugs for people from a year, and eliminate all medical debt.
January 15, 2026 at 3:08 AM
Koh: Trump has now spent $30 billion from the last bill for 10,000 more I.C.E. Agents that are going to be on the streets. That $30 billion would cover all the ACA subsidies for a year. It would eliminate all co-pays for prescription drugs for people from a year, and eliminate all medical debt.
Reposted by Jason Cochran
🚨"This is nuts! What the f*ck is going on, this is insane! ICE is just trying to scare people; they tell you it's only immigrants—it's f*cking anybody!" -furious Minneapolis resident tells our @zdroberts.bsky.social after ICE shot a man in the leg tonight. LIVE NOW ⬇️
January 15, 2026 at 3:59 AM
🚨"This is nuts! What the f*ck is going on, this is insane! ICE is just trying to scare people; they tell you it's only immigrants—it's f*cking anybody!" -furious Minneapolis resident tells our @zdroberts.bsky.social after ICE shot a man in the leg tonight. LIVE NOW ⬇️
Reposted by Jason Cochran
Saint Paul schools will be closed Tuesday and Wednesday to prepare for optional online learning.
I’ve seen schools close for snow, for pandemic, for natural disaster. I’ve never seen schools close because of threat from our own government.
I’ve seen schools close for snow, for pandemic, for natural disaster. I’ve never seen schools close because of threat from our own government.
January 15, 2026 at 1:05 AM
Saint Paul schools will be closed Tuesday and Wednesday to prepare for optional online learning.
I’ve seen schools close for snow, for pandemic, for natural disaster. I’ve never seen schools close because of threat from our own government.
I’ve seen schools close for snow, for pandemic, for natural disaster. I’ve never seen schools close because of threat from our own government.
Reposted by Jason Cochran
At a time when multiple federal departments run by Donald Trump have posted Nazi slogans or imagery or songs in the last week—with the total number of incidents being impossible to count just on one hand—Trump is now demanding lists of Jews from U.S. institutions.
Time to wake the fuck up, all.
Time to wake the fuck up, all.
UPenn faculty condemn Trump administration’s demand for ‘lists of Jews’
Groups say EEOC demand for names and personal details echoes dark history and threatens safety and civil rights
www.theguardian.com
January 14, 2026 at 11:59 PM
At a time when multiple federal departments run by Donald Trump have posted Nazi slogans or imagery or songs in the last week—with the total number of incidents being impossible to count just on one hand—Trump is now demanding lists of Jews from U.S. institutions.
Time to wake the fuck up, all.
Time to wake the fuck up, all.
Reposted by Jason Cochran
Just guessing here, but I suspect the White House is pushing so hard for wars of conquest on multiple fronts because they see their support collapsing ahead of the midterms and worry they won't get another shot. An example of how tyrants become more dangerous as they get weaker, not less.
January 14, 2026 at 7:51 PM
Just guessing here, but I suspect the White House is pushing so hard for wars of conquest on multiple fronts because they see their support collapsing ahead of the midterms and worry they won't get another shot. An example of how tyrants become more dangerous as they get weaker, not less.
Reposted by Jason Cochran
so much to cover right now, but a thread i just want to throw out there from my reporting is that the car rental market in minneapolis is reportedly totally screwed up right now because ICE has cleared the inventory. rental companies should have to answer for supplying vehicles used in terror.
January 14, 2026 at 8:59 PM
so much to cover right now, but a thread i just want to throw out there from my reporting is that the car rental market in minneapolis is reportedly totally screwed up right now because ICE has cleared the inventory. rental companies should have to answer for supplying vehicles used in terror.
Remove them and we can have a living wage.
Remove them and we can have health care.
Remove them and we can have gun reform.
Remove them and we can have clean food, air, and water.
Remove them and we can have peace.
Remove them and we can have health care.
Remove them and we can have gun reform.
Remove them and we can have clean food, air, and water.
Remove them and we can have peace.
January 14, 2026 at 9:15 PM
Remove them and we can have a living wage.
Remove them and we can have health care.
Remove them and we can have gun reform.
Remove them and we can have clean food, air, and water.
Remove them and we can have peace.
Remove them and we can have health care.
Remove them and we can have gun reform.
Remove them and we can have clean food, air, and water.
Remove them and we can have peace.
Reposted by Jason Cochran
telling the secret police they have immunity to harm & kill citizens really lays bare the hollowness of decades of right-wing GOP screeching about encroaching Big Government - it was never a problem they had with government per se, just that it wasn't being used to harm the people they wanted to
January 14, 2026 at 6:43 AM
telling the secret police they have immunity to harm & kill citizens really lays bare the hollowness of decades of right-wing GOP screeching about encroaching Big Government - it was never a problem they had with government per se, just that it wasn't being used to harm the people they wanted to
Reposted by Jason Cochran
As resignations like this take place, we're ending up with a harder and harder core of fbi/doj willing to do whatever the president wants, no matter how egregious.
This is appalling: Top DOJ officials are actively pushing for a criminal investigation into the widow of Renee Good, leading prosecutors to quit en masse, NYT is reporting.
Who in the White House ordered DOJ to do this? That's the next thing to establish.
Who in the White House ordered DOJ to do this? That's the next thing to establish.
January 13, 2026 at 7:03 PM
As resignations like this take place, we're ending up with a harder and harder core of fbi/doj willing to do whatever the president wants, no matter how egregious.
We could have had taco trucks on every corner.
January 14, 2026 at 4:17 AM
We could have had taco trucks on every corner.
Reposted by Jason Cochran
We are dealing with an institution modeled on slave catching and the great news is that we also have resistance models
This is a great book about the Underground Railroad in an urban environment, New York City:
wwnorton.com/books/gatewa...
This is a great book about the Underground Railroad in an urban environment, New York City:
wwnorton.com/books/gatewa...
Gateway to Freedom
The dramatic story of fugitive slaves and the antislavery activists who defied the law to help them reach freedom., Gateway to Freedom, The Hidden History of the Underground Railroad, Eric Foner, 9780...
wwnorton.com
January 13, 2026 at 2:03 PM
We are dealing with an institution modeled on slave catching and the great news is that we also have resistance models
This is a great book about the Underground Railroad in an urban environment, New York City:
wwnorton.com/books/gatewa...
This is a great book about the Underground Railroad in an urban environment, New York City:
wwnorton.com/books/gatewa...
Reposted by Jason Cochran
Someone said ICE is more like slave catchers than the Gestapo.
And I can’t shake it.
So so so so true.
My ancestors are weeping.
And I can’t shake it.
So so so so true.
My ancestors are weeping.
January 13, 2026 at 2:23 PM
Someone said ICE is more like slave catchers than the Gestapo.
And I can’t shake it.
So so so so true.
My ancestors are weeping.
And I can’t shake it.
So so so so true.
My ancestors are weeping.
Reposted by Jason Cochran
We are up against a murderous fascist regime, an unscrupulous oligarchy, a corrupted DOJ, a cowardly Congress and a supine SCOTUS.
We have lost our guard rails, from co-equal branches to the fourth estate.
It’s a lot.
It’s past time to put all our petty differences aside and band together.
…
We have lost our guard rails, from co-equal branches to the fourth estate.
It’s a lot.
It’s past time to put all our petty differences aside and band together.
…
January 13, 2026 at 3:50 PM
We are up against a murderous fascist regime, an unscrupulous oligarchy, a corrupted DOJ, a cowardly Congress and a supine SCOTUS.
We have lost our guard rails, from co-equal branches to the fourth estate.
It’s a lot.
It’s past time to put all our petty differences aside and band together.
…
We have lost our guard rails, from co-equal branches to the fourth estate.
It’s a lot.
It’s past time to put all our petty differences aside and band together.
…
Reposted by Jason Cochran
Breaking NYT:
The Pentagon used a secret aircraft painted to look like a civilian plane in its first boat attack, according to officials briefed on the matter.
The laws of armed conflict forbid combatants from feigning civilian status.
That is a war crime called "perfidy."
The Pentagon used a secret aircraft painted to look like a civilian plane in its first boat attack, according to officials briefed on the matter.
The laws of armed conflict forbid combatants from feigning civilian status.
That is a war crime called "perfidy."
U.S. Attacked Boat With Aircraft That Looked Like a Civilian Plane
www.nytimes.com
January 13, 2026 at 12:05 AM
Breaking NYT:
The Pentagon used a secret aircraft painted to look like a civilian plane in its first boat attack, according to officials briefed on the matter.
The laws of armed conflict forbid combatants from feigning civilian status.
That is a war crime called "perfidy."
The Pentagon used a secret aircraft painted to look like a civilian plane in its first boat attack, according to officials briefed on the matter.
The laws of armed conflict forbid combatants from feigning civilian status.
That is a war crime called "perfidy."