Kate Birrell
@kamabi.bsky.social
Born one of Scotland’s many creative engineers. R Feynman is a hero and an inspiration. Not always obvious.
Reposted by Kate Birrell
‘One officer told me that I "had no chance of returning to Minnesota" and that "the best thing for (me] is self-deportation." …
She offered me $2600 to self-deport.
I refused.
I wanted to talk to my attorney.
They didn't tell me the judge had already ordered my release and return to Minnesota.’
She offered me $2600 to self-deport.
I refused.
I wanted to talk to my attorney.
They didn't tell me the judge had already ordered my release and return to Minnesota.’
![…
25. This Cibola jail was horrible. It was cramped. I was chained up again.
The officers mocked
me and called me their enemy. They laughed at me. I was kept at the jail for what felt like around three hours. I wasn't given an explanation for why I was there.
26. Security
guards then put me on a bus. I think it was around January 27.
No one said
anything about where I was going. I was handcuffed. It felt like the middle of the night. It was freezing cold in the bus because the driver had the AC on. We had no jackets. The bus eventually took me back to El Paso in the carly morning of Tuesday, January 27th.
27. I was put in a cold cell where I had to sleep on the bare cement floor. Around 10 in the morning my cellmate asked to speak to an ICE officer. Three officers came into the cell so I had a chance to speak to them too. One officer told me that I "had no chance of returning to Minnesota" and that "the best thing for (me] is self-deportation." She told me that if I fought my case, I would spend two to three more months here in El Paso. She offered me $2600 to self-deport. I refused. I wanted to talk to my attorney. They didn't tell me the judge had already ordered my release and return to Minnesota. If I hadn't managed to talk to my attorney who told me a while back that I was ordered released. I might have given up at this point and signed the self-deportation forms because the conditions were so unbearable.
…
30. When I was taken back to the detention center from the airport, after missing the flight, I overheard an ICE officer saying in English, "the judge in Minnesota wants this one back." I was put in a cold jail cell again until early next morning (January 28). But again no one had told me directly that a judge had ordered my release
…
32. When I arrived in Minneapolis, I was handed off to ICE
… I had to sign lots of papers saying that I wasn't going to be a part of any "groups." I didn't know what they meant by "groups." They never told me why I was detained](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:5cn3kbi4g5blrtahon34xbu4/bafkreiccqxmfncofjqinoveiqscwale2ox5xpiqt46veqjdh3jmimkrxhq@jpeg)
February 5, 2026 at 6:04 AM
‘One officer told me that I "had no chance of returning to Minnesota" and that "the best thing for (me] is self-deportation." …
She offered me $2600 to self-deport.
I refused.
I wanted to talk to my attorney.
They didn't tell me the judge had already ordered my release and return to Minnesota.’
She offered me $2600 to self-deport.
I refused.
I wanted to talk to my attorney.
They didn't tell me the judge had already ordered my release and return to Minnesota.’
Reposted by Kate Birrell
That Jeff Bezos's Amazon gave Brett Ratner, someone photographed with Jeffrey Epstein and in the Epstein Files, $75 million to make a doc about Melania Trump, while he chooses to destroy The Washington Post, says about all you need to know.
February 4, 2026 at 9:48 PM
That Jeff Bezos's Amazon gave Brett Ratner, someone photographed with Jeffrey Epstein and in the Epstein Files, $75 million to make a doc about Melania Trump, while he chooses to destroy The Washington Post, says about all you need to know.
Reposted by Kate Birrell
Note that @wydenpress.bsky.social sent this shortly after the Gang of 8 were briefed on the alleged misconduct of Tulsi which implicated another agency.
February 5, 2026 at 12:05 AM
Note that @wydenpress.bsky.social sent this shortly after the Gang of 8 were briefed on the alleged misconduct of Tulsi which implicated another agency.
Reposted by Kate Birrell
Reposted by Kate Birrell
A fair point well made by David Aaronovitch.
February 4, 2026 at 5:56 PM
A fair point well made by David Aaronovitch.
Reposted by Kate Birrell
Reposted by Kate Birrell
I think one thing people outside Minnesota don't understand is that after Good and Pretti were killed by feds while observing, the most normal people you could imagine have made peace with the fact that they could be next, and they are still out there because they say it's the right thing to do.
“If I am killed doing this, throw my body at the White House, martyr the shit out of me & raise hell. Do not be sad. Do not think I would do anything differently. I would do it over & over again — this is too important to sit down & shut up and not do anything.” www.mprnews.org/story/2026/0...
Pursued by federal agents, suburban ICE observers remain resolved
After a frightening pursuit by federal agents, suburban ICE observers say fear hasn’t stopped them from protecting their communities.
www.mprnews.org
February 4, 2026 at 4:30 PM
I think one thing people outside Minnesota don't understand is that after Good and Pretti were killed by feds while observing, the most normal people you could imagine have made peace with the fact that they could be next, and they are still out there because they say it's the right thing to do.
Reposted by Kate Birrell
🚨🚨Given current situation and with the sharply deteriorating situation in #trumpland, I think it is unwise, imprudent and just a very bad idea for the EU to go ahead with plans to grant #US border authorities unprecedented access to Europeans’ data. 🧵
www.politico.eu/article/eu-m...
www.politico.eu/article/eu-m...
EU plan to share data with US border force sparks surveillance fears
Washington is demanding access to sensitive data as ICE heightens fears in Europe.
www.politico.eu
February 4, 2026 at 7:53 AM
🚨🚨Given current situation and with the sharply deteriorating situation in #trumpland, I think it is unwise, imprudent and just a very bad idea for the EU to go ahead with plans to grant #US border authorities unprecedented access to Europeans’ data. 🧵
www.politico.eu/article/eu-m...
www.politico.eu/article/eu-m...
Reposted by Kate Birrell
New York Times:
'In the first malpractice verdict against providers of gender-affirming care for minors, a jury in New York State has awarded a woman $2 million in damages for a double mastectomy she received as a teenager that she said had left her disfigured.'
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/03/h...
'In the first malpractice verdict against providers of gender-affirming care for minors, a jury in New York State has awarded a woman $2 million in damages for a double mastectomy she received as a teenager that she said had left her disfigured.'
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/03/h...
Woman Wins Malpractice Suit Over Gender Surgery as a Minor
www.nytimes.com
February 4, 2026 at 8:28 AM
New York Times:
'In the first malpractice verdict against providers of gender-affirming care for minors, a jury in New York State has awarded a woman $2 million in damages for a double mastectomy she received as a teenager that she said had left her disfigured.'
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/03/h...
'In the first malpractice verdict against providers of gender-affirming care for minors, a jury in New York State has awarded a woman $2 million in damages for a double mastectomy she received as a teenager that she said had left her disfigured.'
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/03/h...
Reposted by Kate Birrell
Still the greatest list ever complied.
February 3, 2026 at 4:43 PM
Still the greatest list ever complied.
Reposted by Kate Birrell
👇🏽👇🏻♥️‼️ B O O M ‼️♥️✊🏽✊🏻
February 3, 2026 at 3:35 PM
👇🏽👇🏻♥️‼️ B O O M ‼️♥️✊🏽✊🏻
Reposted by Kate Birrell
Artists have always loved to sketch!
Sketch of a sparrow from Egypt dated c. 1479–1458 BC.
Some 3,500 years ago in Egypt, artists used flakes of limestone as sketchpads!
MMA excavations 1922-23, Deir el-Bahri. 📷 The Met www.metmuseum.org/art/collecti...
#Archaeology
Sketch of a sparrow from Egypt dated c. 1479–1458 BC.
Some 3,500 years ago in Egypt, artists used flakes of limestone as sketchpads!
MMA excavations 1922-23, Deir el-Bahri. 📷 The Met www.metmuseum.org/art/collecti...
#Archaeology
February 3, 2026 at 10:59 AM
Artists have always loved to sketch!
Sketch of a sparrow from Egypt dated c. 1479–1458 BC.
Some 3,500 years ago in Egypt, artists used flakes of limestone as sketchpads!
MMA excavations 1922-23, Deir el-Bahri. 📷 The Met www.metmuseum.org/art/collecti...
#Archaeology
Sketch of a sparrow from Egypt dated c. 1479–1458 BC.
Some 3,500 years ago in Egypt, artists used flakes of limestone as sketchpads!
MMA excavations 1922-23, Deir el-Bahri. 📷 The Met www.metmuseum.org/art/collecti...
#Archaeology
Reposted by Kate Birrell
"OMG, [Yacht] has been completely delisted and all data on it has vanished!"
[Does fifteen second check on name of [Yacht].]
[Gets precise location of [Yacht] and normal public history.]
[Notes yet again that credulousness and wishful thinking are large parts of why libel lawyers have nice cars.]
[Does fifteen second check on name of [Yacht].]
[Gets precise location of [Yacht] and normal public history.]
[Notes yet again that credulousness and wishful thinking are large parts of why libel lawyers have nice cars.]
February 3, 2026 at 3:13 PM
"OMG, [Yacht] has been completely delisted and all data on it has vanished!"
[Does fifteen second check on name of [Yacht].]
[Gets precise location of [Yacht] and normal public history.]
[Notes yet again that credulousness and wishful thinking are large parts of why libel lawyers have nice cars.]
[Does fifteen second check on name of [Yacht].]
[Gets precise location of [Yacht] and normal public history.]
[Notes yet again that credulousness and wishful thinking are large parts of why libel lawyers have nice cars.]
Reposted by Kate Birrell
February 3, 2026 at 1:21 PM
Reposted by Kate Birrell
Standing up to Trump worked for Harvard. Here's why it never would have worked at Columbia.
February 3, 2026 at 3:46 AM
Standing up to Trump worked for Harvard. Here's why it never would have worked at Columbia.
Reposted by Kate Birrell
Apparently there was a city meeting in Hutchins, Texas, tonight. Hutchins is the location of DHS's newly announced 10,000-person concentration camp. What I've been told is that city officials were unanimously and adamantly opposed to it.
Unfortunately, I'm seeing this nowhere online.
Unfortunately, I'm seeing this nowhere online.
February 3, 2026 at 3:02 AM
Apparently there was a city meeting in Hutchins, Texas, tonight. Hutchins is the location of DHS's newly announced 10,000-person concentration camp. What I've been told is that city officials were unanimously and adamantly opposed to it.
Unfortunately, I'm seeing this nowhere online.
Unfortunately, I'm seeing this nowhere online.
Reposted by Kate Birrell
Yes, Peter decided that the continued existence of our democracies isn't compatible with his desired level of personal freedom.
An absolute enemy of humanity.
An absolute enemy of humanity.
February 3, 2026 at 12:06 AM
Yes, Peter decided that the continued existence of our democracies isn't compatible with his desired level of personal freedom.
An absolute enemy of humanity.
An absolute enemy of humanity.
Reposted by Kate Birrell
Peter Thiel has been open about this for a long time. Trump is a way to break the republic, which can then be replaced by “free economic zones” with oligarchs as dictators and tech as a taskmaster for helpless humans without any rights. (1/2)
February 2, 2026 at 11:44 PM
Peter Thiel has been open about this for a long time. Trump is a way to break the republic, which can then be replaced by “free economic zones” with oligarchs as dictators and tech as a taskmaster for helpless humans without any rights. (1/2)
Reposted by Kate Birrell
"Populist politics, online disinformation, cyber warfare, & cryptocurrency were all just scaffolding for his work as a financier and sex trafficker. A way to destabilize the global order, make connections with the world’s elites, and continue enriching himself and preying on vulnerable young girls."
I read thousands of pages of Epstein files this weekend trying to understand what he wanted out of his meeting with 4chan's Christopher Poole. Here's everything we know about Epstein's plans to dismantle the internet and, eventually, democracy.
www.garbageday.email/p/here-s-how...
www.garbageday.email/p/here-s-how...
February 3, 2026 at 12:21 AM
"Populist politics, online disinformation, cyber warfare, & cryptocurrency were all just scaffolding for his work as a financier and sex trafficker. A way to destabilize the global order, make connections with the world’s elites, and continue enriching himself and preying on vulnerable young girls."
Reposted by Kate Birrell
Compare this kind of hot-headed idiocy with the incredible heroism of random (unarmed) older women who observe ICE and keep their calm and their wits about them while being dragged out of their at gunpoint. Ask yourself who has done more to stop the feds.
February 2, 2026 at 11:11 AM
Compare this kind of hot-headed idiocy with the incredible heroism of random (unarmed) older women who observe ICE and keep their calm and their wits about them while being dragged out of their at gunpoint. Ask yourself who has done more to stop the feds.
Reposted by Kate Birrell
Haiti’s TPS continues for now!!!!! And zowie: https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.283214/gov.uscourts.dcd.283214.124.0_1.pdf
February 3, 2026 at 12:36 AM
Haiti’s TPS continues for now!!!!! And zowie: https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.283214/gov.uscourts.dcd.283214.124.0_1.pdf
Reposted by Kate Birrell
a lot of americans are convinced we need to re-invent the entire financial wheel just because they're still paying for things with cheques. This is a you problem/skill issue, guys
February 2, 2026 at 9:53 AM
a lot of americans are convinced we need to re-invent the entire financial wheel just because they're still paying for things with cheques. This is a you problem/skill issue, guys
Reposted by Kate Birrell
Elon Musk about to look straight into a camera and solemnly declare that publicly calling someone a paedophile should have consequences.
Donald Trump threatens to sue Trevor Noah for telling jokes at the Grammy Awards. I'm sure the self-declared free speech absolutists will be rushing to Noah's defence at any moment.
February 2, 2026 at 8:29 AM
Elon Musk about to look straight into a camera and solemnly declare that publicly calling someone a paedophile should have consequences.
Reposted by Kate Birrell
this is the most obvious attempt to change the narrative ever, and the letter is objectively quite funny
February 1, 2026 at 10:36 PM
this is the most obvious attempt to change the narrative ever, and the letter is objectively quite funny
Reposted by Kate Birrell
Wonderful Ice Age art!
Some 40,000 years ago, this tiny head of a cave lion was skilfully sculpted from mammoth ivory. It is one of the oldest known works of figurative art!
📷 by me
#Archaeology
Some 40,000 years ago, this tiny head of a cave lion was skilfully sculpted from mammoth ivory. It is one of the oldest known works of figurative art!
📷 by me
#Archaeology
February 1, 2026 at 10:09 AM
Wonderful Ice Age art!
Some 40,000 years ago, this tiny head of a cave lion was skilfully sculpted from mammoth ivory. It is one of the oldest known works of figurative art!
📷 by me
#Archaeology
Some 40,000 years ago, this tiny head of a cave lion was skilfully sculpted from mammoth ivory. It is one of the oldest known works of figurative art!
📷 by me
#Archaeology