John Koester
@johnkoester.bsky.social
Motorcycles are good. Dogs are better. I have mixed opinions on humans.
Other things I like, my lovely wife, our sunny and warm straw bale home, the night sky. I hope to get another dog soon so I can add it to the list.
Other things I like, my lovely wife, our sunny and warm straw bale home, the night sky. I hope to get another dog soon so I can add it to the list.
Reposted by John Koester
The president had his DOJ raid an election office and prosecute political opponents while he threatens to take over elections, Sadly, this is treated by legacy media as just another normal day.
I founded Democracy Docket because you deserve better. Subscribe now. hubs.ly/Q03M8rql0
I founded Democracy Docket because you deserve better. Subscribe now. hubs.ly/Q03M8rql0
February 6, 2026 at 3:04 AM
The president had his DOJ raid an election office and prosecute political opponents while he threatens to take over elections, Sadly, this is treated by legacy media as just another normal day.
I founded Democracy Docket because you deserve better. Subscribe now. hubs.ly/Q03M8rql0
I founded Democracy Docket because you deserve better. Subscribe now. hubs.ly/Q03M8rql0
Reposted by John Koester
There's exactly one normal man left on planet Earth.
Child at the podium: “A woo woo woo.”
Mamdani: That’s how I felt when we came up with this plan. Together, we will expand the idea of what is possible in our city—and what sounds and noises we can make at a press conference.
Mamdani: That’s how I felt when we came up with this plan. Together, we will expand the idea of what is possible in our city—and what sounds and noises we can make at a press conference.
February 6, 2026 at 5:12 AM
There's exactly one normal man left on planet Earth.
Reposted by John Koester
THE MOST SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS THREAT TO AMERICA IS THE PRESIDENT AND "HIS" GOVERNMENT.
February 6, 2026 at 8:41 AM
THE MOST SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS THREAT TO AMERICA IS THE PRESIDENT AND "HIS" GOVERNMENT.
Reposted by John Koester
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 John Koester
NEW: A new tool searches your LinkedIn connections for people who are mentioned in the Epstein files.
404 Media tested the tool, called EpsteIn—as in, a mash up of Epstein and LinkedIn—and it appears to work.
404 Media tested the tool, called EpsteIn—as in, a mash up of Epstein and LinkedIn—and it appears to work.
This Tool Searches the Epstein Files For Your LinkedIn Contacts
EpsteIN—as in, Epstein and LinkedIn—searches your connections on the social network for names that match those in the released files.
www.404media.co
February 5, 2026 at 4:04 PM
NEW: A new tool searches your LinkedIn connections for people who are mentioned in the Epstein files.
404 Media tested the tool, called EpsteIn—as in, a mash up of Epstein and LinkedIn—and it appears to work.
404 Media tested the tool, called EpsteIn—as in, a mash up of Epstein and LinkedIn—and it appears to work.
Reposted by John Koester
Revealed: private jet owned by Trump friend used by ICE to deport Palestinians to West Bank
Revealed: private jet owned by Trump friend used by ICE to deport Palestinians to West Bank
Exclusive: Luxury aircraft owned by property tycoon close to US president’s family has twice flown Palestinian men from Arizona to Tel Aviv
On the morning of 21 January, Israeli authorities left eight Palestinian men at a West Bank checkpoint. Disoriented and cold, they were dressed in prison-issued tracksuits and carried their few belongings in plastic bags.
Hours earlier, they had been sitting with their wrists and ankles shackled on the plush leather seats of a private jet owned by the Florida property tycoon Gil Dezer, a longtime business partner of Donald Trump. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
February 5, 2026 at 5:37 PM
Revealed: private jet owned by Trump friend used by ICE to deport Palestinians to West Bank
Reposted by John Koester
Governor JB Pritzker pledges to put ‘science, preparedness and people’ first by participating in global response network
Illinois joins WHO network after Trump pulls US out of global health body
www.theguardian.com
February 5, 2026 at 3:07 PM
Governor JB Pritzker pledges to put ‘science, preparedness and people’ first by participating in global response network
Reposted by John Koester
Reposted by John Koester
NEW: It doesn’t happen often, but local law enforcement can arrest and charge federal agents.
Legal experts say there’s a moral obligation to at least try to hold federal immigration officers accountable when they violate the Constitution and the law.
Legal experts say there’s a moral obligation to at least try to hold federal immigration officers accountable when they violate the Constitution and the law.
“You’re Not Going to Investigate a Federal Officer”
It doesn’t happen often, but local law enforcement can arrest and charge federal agents. Legal experts say there’s a moral obligation to at least try to hold federal immigration officers accountable w...
www.propublica.org
February 5, 2026 at 1:00 PM
NEW: It doesn’t happen often, but local law enforcement can arrest and charge federal agents.
Legal experts say there’s a moral obligation to at least try to hold federal immigration officers accountable when they violate the Constitution and the law.
Legal experts say there’s a moral obligation to at least try to hold federal immigration officers accountable when they violate the Constitution and the law.
Reposted by John Koester
We believe there are few investigations that deserve more sunlight and public scrutiny than this one, in which two masked agents fired 10 shots at Alex Pretti as he lay on the ground after being pepper-sprayed.
Read our full story: https://propub.li/4qUNfXH
Read our full story: https://propub.li/4qUNfXH
February 5, 2026 at 4:00 AM
We believe there are few investigations that deserve more sunlight and public scrutiny than this one, in which two masked agents fired 10 shots at Alex Pretti as he lay on the ground after being pepper-sprayed.
Read our full story: https://propub.li/4qUNfXH
Read our full story: https://propub.li/4qUNfXH
Reposted by John Koester
BREAKING: Fulton County demanded in court that the federal government return all of the 2020 election related materials the FBI seized from its central election hub last week.
One county official stated that “our Constitution itself is at stake over this fight.”
One county official stated that “our Constitution itself is at stake over this fight.”
‘Our Constitution itself is at stake’: Fulton County officials challenge FBI’s seizure of 2020 election records
"We will fight using all resources against those who seek to take over our elections."
www.democracydocket.com
February 4, 2026 at 4:23 PM
BREAKING: Fulton County demanded in court that the federal government return all of the 2020 election related materials the FBI seized from its central election hub last week.
One county official stated that “our Constitution itself is at stake over this fight.”
One county official stated that “our Constitution itself is at stake over this fight.”
We need much more of this.
And follow through. We're going to have to insist on the follow through this time.
And follow through. We're going to have to insist on the follow through this time.
Ranking Member Jamie Raskin delivers opening remarks
YouTube video by House Committee on the Judiciary
www.youtube.com
February 4, 2026 at 9:01 PM
We need much more of this.
And follow through. We're going to have to insist on the follow through this time.
And follow through. We're going to have to insist on the follow through this time.
If they want voters to show up they need to run candidates exciting enough to get people off their couches.
Democrats launch aggressive campaign to win back infrequent voters
DNC’s Local Listeners initiative will target one million ‘infrequent’ voters in battleground districts
www.theguardian.com
February 4, 2026 at 8:39 PM
If they want voters to show up they need to run candidates exciting enough to get people off their couches.
Reposted by John Koester
“The masses of the people, however, did not realize how much the industrial tycoons, the Army and the State were benefiting from the ruin of the currency.”
— William L. Shirer, “The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich: A History of Nazi Germany”
— William L. Shirer, “The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich: A History of Nazi Germany”
February 4, 2026 at 1:31 AM
“The masses of the people, however, did not realize how much the industrial tycoons, the Army and the State were benefiting from the ruin of the currency.”
— William L. Shirer, “The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich: A History of Nazi Germany”
— William L. Shirer, “The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich: A History of Nazi Germany”
Reposted by John Koester
Three rules in FBI firearm training:
1. Always point your weapon downrange
2. Do not point your weapon at anything you do not intend to shoot
3. Don’t put your finger on the trigger unless you intend to shoot
Guns are not for threatening compliance for unarmed people doing things you don’t like
1. Always point your weapon downrange
2. Do not point your weapon at anything you do not intend to shoot
3. Don’t put your finger on the trigger unless you intend to shoot
Guns are not for threatening compliance for unarmed people doing things you don’t like
happening this morning in Minneapolis -- ICE agents drawing guns on observers. I reiterate again that it is only a matter of time before DHS kills more innocent people in Minnesota. Congress needs to shut this shit down right now.
February 3, 2026 at 4:50 PM
Three rules in FBI firearm training:
1. Always point your weapon downrange
2. Do not point your weapon at anything you do not intend to shoot
3. Don’t put your finger on the trigger unless you intend to shoot
Guns are not for threatening compliance for unarmed people doing things you don’t like
1. Always point your weapon downrange
2. Do not point your weapon at anything you do not intend to shoot
3. Don’t put your finger on the trigger unless you intend to shoot
Guns are not for threatening compliance for unarmed people doing things you don’t like
Reposted by John Koester
The six senators’ demands come shortly after a nonpartisan watchdog group asked for an investigation into Blanche, alleging that his orders violated the law because they benefited the crypto industry broadly, including his own investments.
Six Senators Accuse Deputy Attorney General of “Glaring” Crypto Conflict, Cite ProPublica Investigation
The senators presented a letter demanding that top DOJ official Todd Blanche clarify the legality of his actions, pointing to ProPublica reporting that found he owned at least $159,000 in related asse...
www.propublica.org
February 3, 2026 at 1:00 PM
The six senators’ demands come shortly after a nonpartisan watchdog group asked for an investigation into Blanche, alleging that his orders violated the law because they benefited the crypto industry broadly, including his own investments.
Reposted by John Koester
President Trump is threatening to sue Trevor Noah over a joke at last night's Grammy Awards, saying that Noah's crack claiming he visited Jeffrey Epstein's island was "false and defamatory."
Trump threatens to sue Trevor Noah over joke about Epstein's island
President Donald Trump called the joke, which Noah made at last night's Grammy Awards, "false and defamatory," again insisting he has never visited Jeffrey Epstein's island.
www.nbcnews.com
February 2, 2026 at 2:11 PM
President Trump is threatening to sue Trevor Noah over a joke at last night's Grammy Awards, saying that Noah's crack claiming he visited Jeffrey Epstein's island was "false and defamatory."
Reposted by John Koester
“You are not entitled to a response from us, or anyone, ever,” is what an Education Department spokesperson wrote to one of our reporters, @megomatz.bsky.social, after she repeatedly tried to get comment from the department and its officials.
(Published Dec. 2025)
(Published Dec. 2025)
Our Reporters Reached Out for Comment. They Were Accused of Stalking and Intimidation.
Our journalists reach out to people they’re writing about to ensure fairness. But in this environment, they’ve found their efforts to do so are more likely to be vilified than appreciated.
www.propublica.org
February 2, 2026 at 2:00 PM
“You are not entitled to a response from us, or anyone, ever,” is what an Education Department spokesperson wrote to one of our reporters, @megomatz.bsky.social, after she repeatedly tried to get comment from the department and its officials.
(Published Dec. 2025)
(Published Dec. 2025)
Global Leaders Leverage the World Cup Against Trump
open.substack.com/pub/briantyl...
open.substack.com/pub/briantyl...
Global Leaders Leverage the World Cup Against Trump
With the FIFA World Cup as leverage, allies are rethinking how to respond to Trump’s norm-breaking without sanctions or war
open.substack.com
February 1, 2026 at 12:11 AM
Global Leaders Leverage the World Cup Against Trump
open.substack.com/pub/briantyl...
open.substack.com/pub/briantyl...
This is hysterical.
substack.com/@cliffsedge/...
substack.com/@cliffsedge/...
Cliff Schecter (@cliffsedge)
This has to be one of the funniest and most truthful things I’ve seen all day
substack.com
January 31, 2026 at 9:45 PM
This is hysterical.
substack.com/@cliffsedge/...
substack.com/@cliffsedge/...
Reposted by John Koester
Arresting Black journalists is also vice signaling. Their base is racist and hates journalists and they want to get them excited again. The mainstream media industry has never protected Black journalists or journalists of color the way it should.
January 30, 2026 at 3:33 PM
Arresting Black journalists is also vice signaling. Their base is racist and hates journalists and they want to get them excited again. The mainstream media industry has never protected Black journalists or journalists of color the way it should.
Reposted by John Koester
Following in a long American tradition of identifying fascists, a network of leftists has set out to name and shame Trump’s immigration agents
Antifa used to unmask neo-Nazis, now it’s exposing ICE: ‘Predators don’t get anonymity’
www.theguardian.com
January 30, 2026 at 3:33 PM
Following in a long American tradition of identifying fascists, a network of leftists has set out to name and shame Trump’s immigration agents
Reposted by John Koester
Critics say U.S. Agency for Global Media's Kari Lake risks making Voice of America sound like a propaganda outlet in her remarks on the air praising President Trump. n.pr/46eFnIj
Kari Lake promotes Trump on Voice of America. Does that break the law?
Critics say U.S. Agency for Global Media's Kari Lake risks making Voice of America sound like a propaganda outlet in her remarks on the air praising President Trump.
n.pr
January 30, 2026 at 11:00 AM
Critics say U.S. Agency for Global Media's Kari Lake risks making Voice of America sound like a propaganda outlet in her remarks on the air praising President Trump. n.pr/46eFnIj
Reposted by John Koester
A U.S. Customs and Border Patrol employee is facing charges after a Minnesota state trooper found him passed out in his car this week, "covered in vomit," according to a report.
Border Patrol agent arrested in MN after being found passed out in car 'covered in vomit'
A U.S. Customs and Border Patrol employee is facing charges after a Minnesota state trooper found him passed out in his car this week, "covered in vomit," according to a report.Alfredo Mancillas Jr., 31, of Corpus Christi, Texas, was found in St. Paul "slumped over in the driver's seat" around 3:30 ...
bit.ly
January 30, 2026 at 11:20 AM
A U.S. Customs and Border Patrol employee is facing charges after a Minnesota state trooper found him passed out in his car this week, "covered in vomit," according to a report.
This administration is great at coming up with bold, innovative new ways to be absolutely reprehensible and cruel.
The Trump admin is suing a Virginia woman for almost $1 million as part of an escalating drive to get undocumented immigrants to leave the U.S.
Officials appeared to impose a $998 daily fine for the 943 days after a DOJ appeals panel ruled against her.
Officials appeared to impose a $998 daily fine for the 943 days after a DOJ appeals panel ruled against her.
Trump admin sues woman who failed to self deport for nearly $1 million
The new lawsuit is part of a wave of litigation seeking fines for undocumented immigrants for failing to depart the country.
politi.co
January 29, 2026 at 11:41 PM
This administration is great at coming up with bold, innovative new ways to be absolutely reprehensible and cruel.