@jrbrand07.bsky.social
"The pace of oppression outstrips our ability to understand it, and that is the real trick of the Imperial thought machine. It's easier to hide behind forty atrocities than a single incident." Wren Collective, PDSDC, LJJP.
I work with such smart people. Read my colleague, Candace Mitchell, on the affront currently happening to DC residents in Congress.
“I think it’s really important for visions of safety, visions of justice, to be crafted by the people who live in those communities and care about those communities, I don’t think it should be based on partisan agendas." Candace Mitchell on Congress's attack on DC
washingtonian.com/2025/11/21/w...
washingtonian.com/2025/11/21/w...
What Congress’s New Crime Bills Would Mean for DC - Washingtonian
From imposing cash bail to decreasing police oversight, Congress is weighing changes that could remake DC’s justice system and revive long-running fights over who controls public safety in the Distric...
washingtonian.com
November 21, 2025 at 5:41 PM
I work with such smart people. Read my colleague, Candace Mitchell, on the affront currently happening to DC residents in Congress.
House is now debating an unprecedented bill to demand mandatory detention in DC. We start off with a totally misleading description of "cashless" bail in DC. Currently, judges have discretion to hold most people charged with a violent offense after a hearing. Factless description here
November 19, 2025 at 7:06 PM
House is now debating an unprecedented bill to demand mandatory detention in DC. We start off with a totally misleading description of "cashless" bail in DC. Currently, judges have discretion to hold most people charged with a violent offense after a hearing. Factless description here
The Republicans are quietly destroying the biggest way people's constitutional rights are protected- by failing to pay federal defenders. Kudos to the LA Times for covering this crisis that needs far more attention
www.latimes.com/california/s...
www.latimes.com/california/s...
Federal defense lawyers 'face financial ruin' after months without pay, memo says
Last month, federal prosecutors told the court that judges could appoint defense attorneys to work without pay. In a memo this week, defense attorneys said months of nonpayment have "already taken a d...
www.latimes.com
November 13, 2025 at 12:38 AM
The Republicans are quietly destroying the biggest way people's constitutional rights are protected- by failing to pay federal defenders. Kudos to the LA Times for covering this crisis that needs far more attention
www.latimes.com/california/s...
www.latimes.com/california/s...
Reposted
this needs to known far and wide
A Republican sheriff in a swing county that Trump won by 0.1% signed a contract to help ICE, then lost last week by 11.
New by me in @boltsmag.org: boltsmag.org/sheriff-of-b...
New by me in @boltsmag.org: boltsmag.org/sheriff-of-b...
Voters Ousted This Pennsylvania Sheriff After He Signed Up to Collaborate With ICE - Bolts
A populous, swing county replaced its GOP sheriff on Tuesday after months of controversy over his joining ICE’s 287(g) program. The Democratic winner promises he’ll end the contract.
boltsmag.org
November 11, 2025 at 4:27 PM
this needs to known far and wide
The comparison between the reaction to this, vs. when someone is out pretrial and commits a new theft, shows just how insincere most of the coverage of our criminal justice system is.
The fact that this, and every other Trump pardonee who has subsequently broken the law, has not ended Trump's political career, that it barely even registers on the national discourse, underlines just how far we are from a functioning democracy that values accountability.
A man pardoned by Donald Trump for his role in January 6th - he assaulted Capitol Police officers with bear spray & a metal whip - has avoided prison for child sex crimes because of the president’s sweeping pardon, despite pleading guilty to soliciting what he believed was a 15-year-old girl for sex
November 12, 2025 at 1:45 AM
The comparison between the reaction to this, vs. when someone is out pretrial and commits a new theft, shows just how insincere most of the coverage of our criminal justice system is.
Reposted
A Republican sheriff in a swing county that Trump won by 0.1% signed a contract to help ICE, then lost last week by 11.
New by me in @boltsmag.org: boltsmag.org/sheriff-of-b...
New by me in @boltsmag.org: boltsmag.org/sheriff-of-b...
Voters Ousted This Pennsylvania Sheriff After He Signed Up to Collaborate With ICE - Bolts
A populous, swing county replaced its GOP sheriff on Tuesday after months of controversy over his joining ICE’s 287(g) program. The Democratic winner promises he’ll end the contract.
boltsmag.org
November 10, 2025 at 7:20 PM
A Republican sheriff in a swing county that Trump won by 0.1% signed a contract to help ICE, then lost last week by 11.
New by me in @boltsmag.org: boltsmag.org/sheriff-of-b...
New by me in @boltsmag.org: boltsmag.org/sheriff-of-b...
It feels like when the TX Dems fled to DC (and then last session just fled) and then came back and said we've made our point and then won nothing.
Dems have spent the past two months saying they're fighting to address the crisis of spiking healthcare costs and now they're caving for a deal that does nothing to address healthcare costs ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
November 10, 2025 at 12:55 AM
It feels like when the TX Dems fled to DC (and then last session just fled) and then came back and said we've made our point and then won nothing.
it is right by the DC jail
Trump has decided that DC's Northwest football stadium must be renamed the "Trump Stadium."
November 8, 2025 at 10:17 PM
it is right by the DC jail
Reposted
The San Francisco Public Defender’s Office later confirmed that the man was one of its investigators and had lawfully served Altman
"Altman was subpoenaed as a potential witness in a pending criminal case” after several prior attempts to reach him at OpenAI’s HQ and through its online portal
"Altman was subpoenaed as a potential witness in a pending criminal case” after several prior attempts to reach him at OpenAI’s HQ and through its online portal
November 7, 2025 at 8:06 PM
The San Francisco Public Defender’s Office later confirmed that the man was one of its investigators and had lawfully served Altman
"Altman was subpoenaed as a potential witness in a pending criminal case” after several prior attempts to reach him at OpenAI’s HQ and through its online portal
"Altman was subpoenaed as a potential witness in a pending criminal case” after several prior attempts to reach him at OpenAI’s HQ and through its online portal
Many of us at Wren once worked in the death penalty space, and its horrifying to see its resurgence - especially given the lack of progress in some parts of this country in terms of representation. You can read our take on what's happening in this week's newsletter
In our latest newsletter, we look at the increased use of the death penalty in the last year and our move toward a more retributive and cruel society-- often at the cost of basic constitutional rights or even a person's innocence. You can read this edition here:
bit.ly/49Homch
bit.ly/49Homch
The Resurgence of the Death Penalty
us5.campaign-archive.com
November 7, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Many of us at Wren once worked in the death penalty space, and its horrifying to see its resurgence - especially given the lack of progress in some parts of this country in terms of representation. You can read our take on what's happening in this week's newsletter
Reposted
Even if the case is dropped -- which in Harris County happens on the regular -- there is a huge cost that the accused and their family experience. Read this piece by Wrener Jay Jenkins.
November 6, 2025 at 11:40 PM
Even if the case is dropped -- which in Harris County happens on the regular -- there is a huge cost that the accused and their family experience. Read this piece by Wrener Jay Jenkins.
Reposted
There is a lot of harm that comes from mandatory pretrial detention. One that is less discussed but critically important: prosecutors upcharge cases to detain people even though they know they will never be able to prove the case at trial.
www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/outl...
www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/outl...
Proposition 3 is built on fear, not facts — and Texans will suffer | Opinion
Proposition 3 won’t make Texans safer, says Jay Jenkins of the Wren Collective. It will expand pretrial detention, overcrowd already deadly jails and punish legally innocent people.
www.houstonchronicle.com
November 6, 2025 at 11:40 PM
There is a lot of harm that comes from mandatory pretrial detention. One that is less discussed but critically important: prosecutors upcharge cases to detain people even though they know they will never be able to prove the case at trial.
www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/outl...
www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/outl...
Reposted
The D.C. man accused of assaulting a U.S. Border Patrol agent with a Subway sandwich was found not guilty by a jury
DC ‘Sandwich Guy’ Found Not Guilty After Defense Successfully Highlights Absurdity Of It All
Jeanine Pirro tried to make an example of Sean Dunn. She ended up delivering a hero to Washington, D.C.
www.huffpost.com
November 6, 2025 at 7:37 PM
The D.C. man accused of assaulting a U.S. Border Patrol agent with a Subway sandwich was found not guilty by a jury
Texas - pushing culture wars while letting hospitals close and schools crumble. Real government of the people.
@politico.com JUST IN: 5th Circuit will allow Texas to enforce law against minors attending drag shows. Majority: Southwick (GWBush), Engelhardt (Trump). Partial dissent: Dennis (Clinton). Doc: www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
WoodlandPride110625
www.documentcloud.org
November 6, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Texas - pushing culture wars while letting hospitals close and schools crumble. Real government of the people.
Reposted
RESULT: Soren Stevenson is elected to the Minneapolis City Council in the Eighth Ward.
Stevenson lost an eye during a 2020 BLM protest after he was shot by police with a foam projectile.
Stevenson lost an eye during a 2020 BLM protest after he was shot by police with a foam projectile.
November 5, 2025 at 4:18 AM
RESULT: Soren Stevenson is elected to the Minneapolis City Council in the Eighth Ward.
Stevenson lost an eye during a 2020 BLM protest after he was shot by police with a foam projectile.
Stevenson lost an eye during a 2020 BLM protest after he was shot by police with a foam projectile.
How do these guys like Dugan get so deluded that they think they will switch parties in a city like Philadelphia, run as a fearmongering racist republican, and win? He got fewer results this time around.
November 5, 2025 at 3:46 AM
How do these guys like Dugan get so deluded that they think they will switch parties in a city like Philadelphia, run as a fearmongering racist republican, and win? He got fewer results this time around.
Reposted
Dear Lord.
Armed ICE agents STOLE A BABY.
Both the baby and the dad were US Citizens.
www.latimes.com/0000019a-51e...
Armed ICE agents STOLE A BABY.
Both the baby and the dad were US Citizens.
www.latimes.com/0000019a-51e...
Armed federal immigration agents drive away with a toddler in the backseat
A video shared with the Times shows armed federal immigration agents driving away with a toddler in the backseat of a car after detaining her father during a raid at a Home Depot in Cypress Park Tuesd...
www.latimes.com
November 5, 2025 at 3:29 AM
Dear Lord.
Armed ICE agents STOLE A BABY.
Both the baby and the dad were US Citizens.
www.latimes.com/0000019a-51e...
Armed ICE agents STOLE A BABY.
Both the baby and the dad were US Citizens.
www.latimes.com/0000019a-51e...
Reposted
The first of at least two such losses for such people looking to be two-time losers in one race tonight, one hopes.
just in: Philadelphia DA Larry Krasner is on track to win easily.
With roughly a quarter of the vote reporting, he leads Pat Dugan 81% to 19%.
Krasner already beat Dugan in the Dem primary... and Dugan kept running as the GOP nominee. (My write-up: boltsmag.org/2025-prosecu...)
With roughly a quarter of the vote reporting, he leads Pat Dugan 81% to 19%.
Krasner already beat Dugan in the Dem primary... and Dugan kept running as the GOP nominee. (My write-up: boltsmag.org/2025-prosecu...)
November 5, 2025 at 1:45 AM
The first of at least two such losses for such people looking to be two-time losers in one race tonight, one hopes.
well, he is right that palantir has consistently worked very well in practice at human rights abuses an abject racism - its not just in theory!
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
November 4, 2025 at 6:54 PM
well, he is right that palantir has consistently worked very well in practice at human rights abuses an abject racism - its not just in theory!
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The media has got to stop reporting like the Trump DOJ gives a shit about public safety. This is how they are spending federal resources. Its totally unserious.
Lairmore testifies that other agents gave him a plush sandwich toy, which he placed on the shelf in his office, and a patch that said "Felony Footlong," which he put on his lunch box.
Lairmore has chuckled with the rest of us at times. Defense really trying to underscore the unseriousness of it all
Lairmore has chuckled with the rest of us at times. Defense really trying to underscore the unseriousness of it all
November 4, 2025 at 4:53 PM
The media has got to stop reporting like the Trump DOJ gives a shit about public safety. This is how they are spending federal resources. Its totally unserious.
We've moved from I "smelled the odor of marijuana" to "i smelled onions and mustard." Truly amazing this is in federal court or court at all
Border Patrol agent Lairmore testifies that he was not injured by the sandwich, but he felt the impact through his ballistic vest.
The sandwich came apart and "kind of exploded" on his chest upon impact, he says.
"I could smell the onions and mustard."
The sandwich came apart and "kind of exploded" on his chest upon impact, he says.
"I could smell the onions and mustard."
November 4, 2025 at 4:28 PM
We've moved from I "smelled the odor of marijuana" to "i smelled onions and mustard." Truly amazing this is in federal court or court at all
While Trump and his buds let their friends who endager public safety off the hook, the level of gvt overreach and overcharging happening against his opponents, w/ the help of VA AG Miyares, is incredible. Thanks to @bradleyrhaywood.bsky.social for his advocacy.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/03/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/03/u...
The Battle in Virginia Over an Activist Who Protested Stephen Miller
www.nytimes.com
November 4, 2025 at 2:12 AM
While Trump and his buds let their friends who endager public safety off the hook, the level of gvt overreach and overcharging happening against his opponents, w/ the help of VA AG Miyares, is incredible. Thanks to @bradleyrhaywood.bsky.social for his advocacy.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/03/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/03/u...
Its not that he's gone mad. Its that he and the Rs in this state have so to protect 90% of their residents- hospitals are closing, schools are failing because of terrible state funding, they burned money on the idea of a border wall- that they will say anything to distract from their failures.
They’ve all gone mad.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott: “After the polls close tomorrow night, I will impose a 100% tariff on anyone moving to Texas from NYC.”
Texas Governor Greg Abbott: “After the polls close tomorrow night, I will impose a 100% tariff on anyone moving to Texas from NYC.”
November 3, 2025 at 11:08 PM
Its not that he's gone mad. Its that he and the Rs in this state have so to protect 90% of their residents- hospitals are closing, schools are failing because of terrible state funding, they burned money on the idea of a border wall- that they will say anything to distract from their failures.
Reposted
Thanks, as always @philinvestigates.com, for your essential work.
MUST WATCH: Tennessee sheriff defends jailing liberal activist for posting Trump meme about school shooting www.newschannel5.com/news/newscha...
Tennessee sheriff defends jailing liberal activist for posting Trump meme about school shooting
A Middle Tennessee sheriff is defending the arrest of a man for posting an online meme quoting President Donald Trump.
www.newschannel5.com
October 29, 2025 at 4:52 AM
Thanks, as always @philinvestigates.com, for your essential work.
Just incredible to see the DOJ argue like my four year old- but if I have to do it she does too! She did it too! Prosecutors have a duty not to speak to reporters about a case because, among other reasons, it might prejudice a jury in their favor. Pretty clear law on this one.
Letitia James’s lawyers asked the judge to make DOJ keep a log of its media contacts about the case.
DOJ argues that if that happens, James should have to keep a log, too.
DOJ's filing claims that Tish James's public comments are more problematic than Halligan’s texts.
bsky.app/profile/anna...
DOJ argues that if that happens, James should have to keep a log, too.
DOJ's filing claims that Tish James's public comments are more problematic than Halligan’s texts.
bsky.app/profile/anna...
October 29, 2025 at 2:54 AM
Just incredible to see the DOJ argue like my four year old- but if I have to do it she does too! She did it too! Prosecutors have a duty not to speak to reporters about a case because, among other reasons, it might prejudice a jury in their favor. Pretty clear law on this one.