Kavitha Rajagopalan
@kxraja.bsky.social
Founding director, Asian Media Initiative @ccmnewmarkj.bsky.social. Writer. Previously Sr Fellow Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affrs. Global migration + Asia-Pacific. Pediatric transplant mom.
Pinned
Kavitha Rajagopalan
@kxraja.bsky.social
· Dec 18
Protecting immigrant journalists has to be an industry-wide priority
"Immigrant journalists face the double threat of trying to stay safe while running headlong into unsafe situations in order to do their jobs."
www.niemanlab.org
Honored to have been invited to share my thoughts for @niemanlab.org’s 2026 predictions. The safety and survival of immigrant journos working in in-language and community news is essential to protecting multiracial democracy at this moment. Please read and share:
www.niemanlab.org/2025/12/prot...
www.niemanlab.org/2025/12/prot...
Reposted by Kavitha Rajagopalan
How cheap Chinese phones propelled Kenya into the global digital economy
https://restofworld.org/2026/china-kenya-silicon-elsewhere-book/
https://restofworld.org/2026/china-kenya-silicon-elsewhere-book/
February 16, 2026 at 12:15 AM
How cheap Chinese phones propelled Kenya into the global digital economy
https://restofworld.org/2026/china-kenya-silicon-elsewhere-book/
https://restofworld.org/2026/china-kenya-silicon-elsewhere-book/
Reposted by Kavitha Rajagopalan
PBS News Hour: U.S. citizens detained by immigration agents describe how they were treated.
Watch the segment here www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMgC...
I'm clipping transcripts of the citizens speaking in this thread 1/3
Watch the segment here www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMgC...
I'm clipping transcripts of the citizens speaking in this thread 1/3
February 15, 2026 at 8:24 PM
PBS News Hour: U.S. citizens detained by immigration agents describe how they were treated.
Watch the segment here www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMgC...
I'm clipping transcripts of the citizens speaking in this thread 1/3
Watch the segment here www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMgC...
I'm clipping transcripts of the citizens speaking in this thread 1/3
Reposted by Kavitha Rajagopalan
This is the cancer my son was diagnosed with at first, when we thought he would die. The outcome for alveolar is bad and I won't go into details, because we were unspeakably lucky, but I am so sad and angry and I'm so sorry Ofelia.
On every level.
www.cbsnews.com/amp/chicago/...
On every level.
www.cbsnews.com/amp/chicago/...
Ofelia Torres, teen who fought to have her father released from ICE custody, dies from rare cancer
Ofelia Torres, 16, died on Friday from Stage 4 alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer, her father's lawyer confirmed.
www.cbsnews.com
February 15, 2026 at 10:01 PM
This is the cancer my son was diagnosed with at first, when we thought he would die. The outcome for alveolar is bad and I won't go into details, because we were unspeakably lucky, but I am so sad and angry and I'm so sorry Ofelia.
On every level.
www.cbsnews.com/amp/chicago/...
On every level.
www.cbsnews.com/amp/chicago/...
Reposted by Kavitha Rajagopalan
The use of unlawful imprisonment during the “war on terror” set the stage for the U.S. government’s detentions and deportations today, argues Jana K. Lipman.
From Guantanamo to Minneapolis
The use of unlawful imprisonment during the ‘war on terror’ set the stage for the US government’s detentions and deportations today
newlinesmag.com
February 15, 2026 at 4:52 PM
The use of unlawful imprisonment during the “war on terror” set the stage for the U.S. government’s detentions and deportations today, argues Jana K. Lipman.
Reposted by Kavitha Rajagopalan
mostly I am tired of people with 3 passports and 6 multinational conglomerates lecturing me on the virtues of ethnic nationalism
February 15, 2026 at 4:32 PM
mostly I am tired of people with 3 passports and 6 multinational conglomerates lecturing me on the virtues of ethnic nationalism
Reposted by Kavitha Rajagopalan
The @washingtonpost.com layoffs disproportionately affected union members of color, per data from the @postguild.bsky.social.
50% of Hispanic/Latino guild members, 45% of Black members, and 43% of Asian members were laid off, compared to 37% of white members.
www.niemanlab.org/2026/02/wash...
50% of Hispanic/Latino guild members, 45% of Black members, and 43% of Asian members were laid off, compared to 37% of white members.
www.niemanlab.org/2026/02/wash...
Washington Post layoffs disproportionately affected union members of color, preliminary Guild data shows
"We cannot ignore what this means for equity, representation, and the future of this organization."
www.niemanlab.org
February 13, 2026 at 10:48 PM
The @washingtonpost.com layoffs disproportionately affected union members of color, per data from the @postguild.bsky.social.
50% of Hispanic/Latino guild members, 45% of Black members, and 43% of Asian members were laid off, compared to 37% of white members.
www.niemanlab.org/2026/02/wash...
50% of Hispanic/Latino guild members, 45% of Black members, and 43% of Asian members were laid off, compared to 37% of white members.
www.niemanlab.org/2026/02/wash...
Reposted by Kavitha Rajagopalan
A beautiful and deeply important piece. Please read.
The Love We See in Minneapolis Isn’t Exceptional — It’s How We Survive Together
A beautiful web is being woven in Minnesota: not with new materials but with wisdom that was already here.
truthout.org
February 15, 2026 at 3:35 PM
A beautiful and deeply important piece. Please read.
Reposted by Kavitha Rajagopalan
In last week's First 100 Days newsletter, our weekly deep dive into what's actually going on in the Mamdani administration, we crunched some budget numbers as the rubber meets the road in the Mamdani administration.
Mamdani's Budget Blame Game Backfires
Numbers crunched. Tisch in control. And CityFHEPS stalled out. The rubber is meeting the road in the Mamdani administration.
hellgatenyc.com
February 15, 2026 at 2:45 PM
In last week's First 100 Days newsletter, our weekly deep dive into what's actually going on in the Mamdani administration, we crunched some budget numbers as the rubber meets the road in the Mamdani administration.
Reposted by Kavitha Rajagopalan
“I’ve never protested before - but I just watched 4th & 5th grade kids run away from our own government.” 😕🇺🇸💔
(From @crindivisible.bsky.social )
(From @crindivisible.bsky.social )
February 15, 2026 at 12:45 AM
“I’ve never protested before - but I just watched 4th & 5th grade kids run away from our own government.” 😕🇺🇸💔
(From @crindivisible.bsky.social )
(From @crindivisible.bsky.social )
Reposted by Kavitha Rajagopalan
"The first person to be executed for treason in the US was not a spy or someone who sold secrets to a foreign government. It was not a Confederate general who took up arms against his government. It was an abolitionist named John Brown." from @nhannahjones.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/2026/02/13/m...
The Transformative Power of the White ‘Race Traitor’
www.nytimes.com
February 13, 2026 at 3:16 PM
"The first person to be executed for treason in the US was not a spy or someone who sold secrets to a foreign government. It was not a Confederate general who took up arms against his government. It was an abolitionist named John Brown." from @nhannahjones.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/2026/02/13/m...
Reposted by Kavitha Rajagopalan
Three species of Red Sea fish appear to rely on special “hybrid” retina cells to see in dim environments
How do deep-sea fish see in dark water? This new study could hold the clue
Three species of Red Sea fish appear to rely on special “hybrid” retina cells to see in dim environments
www.scientificamerican.com
February 12, 2026 at 1:55 PM
Three species of Red Sea fish appear to rely on special “hybrid” retina cells to see in dim environments
Reposted by Kavitha Rajagopalan
“.. using millions of dollars from the former U.S. foreign aid agency to pay for the security detail of Russell Vought ..”
@reuters.com
www.reuters.com/world/us/whi...
@reuters.com
www.reuters.com/world/us/whi...
February 13, 2026 at 12:45 PM
“.. using millions of dollars from the former U.S. foreign aid agency to pay for the security detail of Russell Vought ..”
@reuters.com
www.reuters.com/world/us/whi...
@reuters.com
www.reuters.com/world/us/whi...
Reposted by Kavitha Rajagopalan
Pregnant immigrants in Minnesota have been postponing their abortions, skipping aftercare, and delaying birth control visits and urgent cancer screening follow-ups to avoid coming in contact with federal immigration agents.
Pregnant patients in Minnesota have postponed abortion appointments to avoid ICE
Planned Parenthood’s no-show rate has gone up almost 10 percent since the federal government’s Minnesota operation began.
19thnews.org
February 13, 2026 at 2:38 AM
Pregnant immigrants in Minnesota have been postponing their abortions, skipping aftercare, and delaying birth control visits and urgent cancer screening follow-ups to avoid coming in contact with federal immigration agents.
Reposted by Kavitha Rajagopalan
today on my blog, I wrote an op-ed about the history of lynching, and why its extrajudicial nature is so aptly documented by Black journalists like Georgia Fort and Black activists like Nekima Levy-Armstrong the-haters-guide-to-international-politics.ghost.io/on-lynchings...
On Lynchings in America
Support my blog with a Tip
Typically when we think about lynching, we rightfully connect the killings to the tremendous numbers of Black men, women and children killed during the Jim Crow Era. They w...
the-haters-guide-to-international-politics.ghost.io
February 12, 2026 at 8:45 PM
today on my blog, I wrote an op-ed about the history of lynching, and why its extrajudicial nature is so aptly documented by Black journalists like Georgia Fort and Black activists like Nekima Levy-Armstrong the-haters-guide-to-international-politics.ghost.io/on-lynchings...
Reposted by Kavitha Rajagopalan
Delighted to see the TrumpActionTracker feature in this @timeshighered.bsky.social profile by @patrickjack.bsky.social today :-)
was great to chat to him about it!
www.timeshighereducation.com/news/mathema...
was great to chat to him about it!
www.timeshighereducation.com/news/mathema...
The mathematician lifting the lid on Trump’s ‘attacks’
Scientist behind Trump Action Tracker uses skills in data collection to look for patterns in president’s seemingly scattergun approach
www.timeshighereducation.com
February 13, 2026 at 1:56 PM
Delighted to see the TrumpActionTracker feature in this @timeshighered.bsky.social profile by @patrickjack.bsky.social today :-)
was great to chat to him about it!
www.timeshighereducation.com/news/mathema...
was great to chat to him about it!
www.timeshighereducation.com/news/mathema...
Reposted by Kavitha Rajagopalan
“Scholarly attention has rightly focused on the forced reproduction of enslaved Black women, but that focus need not come at the expense of understanding the position of enslaved Black men, who were also denied sexual autonomy, including the ability to choose with whom they would have children.”
Black Men Endured Sexual Exploitation Under Slavery. Their Story Is Rarely Told.
Historian Thomas A. Foster discusses his new book Rethinking Rufus: Sexual Violations of Enslaved Men.
truthout.org
February 12, 2026 at 10:31 PM
“Scholarly attention has rightly focused on the forced reproduction of enslaved Black women, but that focus need not come at the expense of understanding the position of enslaved Black men, who were also denied sexual autonomy, including the ability to choose with whom they would have children.”
Reposted by Kavitha Rajagopalan
More than 400 people, including hundreds of citizens, were “sorted” at gun point into racial and ethnic groups by 200 ICE agents who fired flash-bang grenades into cars with people inside, pointed guns at children & demanded their zip tied parents not comfort them. apple.news/Ausdx6kWtT0e...
Idaho families sue over immigration raid that swept up hundreds, including U.S. citizens — NBC News
About 400 people, including children and U.S. citizens, were detained for four hours while they were denied food and water in the raid, according to the lawsuit.
apple.news
February 12, 2026 at 1:35 AM
More than 400 people, including hundreds of citizens, were “sorted” at gun point into racial and ethnic groups by 200 ICE agents who fired flash-bang grenades into cars with people inside, pointed guns at children & demanded their zip tied parents not comfort them. apple.news/Ausdx6kWtT0e...
Reposted by Kavitha Rajagopalan
Crooked Beak (1994)
Beau Dick
Frye Art Museum, Seattle, Washington
Beau Dick
Frye Art Museum, Seattle, Washington
February 11, 2026 at 3:45 PM
Crooked Beak (1994)
Beau Dick
Frye Art Museum, Seattle, Washington
Beau Dick
Frye Art Museum, Seattle, Washington
Reposted by Kavitha Rajagopalan
The El Paso-Las Cruces combined statistical area has 1.1 million people, the 56th largest in the US, and no nearby cities.
Shutting its airspace for 10 days without explanation is unacceptable. Asking questions and demanding answers is our civic duty in a democracy.
Shutting its airspace for 10 days without explanation is unacceptable. Asking questions and demanding answers is our civic duty in a democracy.
February 11, 2026 at 2:09 PM
The El Paso-Las Cruces combined statistical area has 1.1 million people, the 56th largest in the US, and no nearby cities.
Shutting its airspace for 10 days without explanation is unacceptable. Asking questions and demanding answers is our civic duty in a democracy.
Shutting its airspace for 10 days without explanation is unacceptable. Asking questions and demanding answers is our civic duty in a democracy.
Reposted by Kavitha Rajagopalan
Look at what they’re doing to schools. Attendance cut in half or more in many. Armed, masked agents lurking in the parking lots at dropoff time, forcing families to physically protect children with their bodies. The other day ICE drew weapons outside an elementary school, forcing it into lockdown.
February 11, 2026 at 11:07 AM
Look at what they’re doing to schools. Attendance cut in half or more in many. Armed, masked agents lurking in the parking lots at dropoff time, forcing families to physically protect children with their bodies. The other day ICE drew weapons outside an elementary school, forcing it into lockdown.
Reposted by Kavitha Rajagopalan
A dresser inside a museum in New York City has been discovered as a secret stop on the Underground Railroad — the first of its kind discovered in Manhattan in over 100 years
February 11, 2026 at 3:43 AM
A dresser inside a museum in New York City has been discovered as a secret stop on the Underground Railroad — the first of its kind discovered in Manhattan in over 100 years
This is the guy who bragged after the shooting he’d unloaded 5 into her and left her with 7 holes. Sicko.
in a text string after the shooting, a fellow agent told Exum he's a "legend"
"Beers on me"
"Beers on me"
February 11, 2026 at 1:35 AM
This is the guy who bragged after the shooting he’d unloaded 5 into her and left her with 7 holes. Sicko.
Reposted by Kavitha Rajagopalan
Friends from Minneapolis reporting to me that things are at the point where folks are being hidden in other people's houses and we are in the "again" part of "never again" which the "never" was supposed to preclude
February 10, 2026 at 10:54 PM
Friends from Minneapolis reporting to me that things are at the point where folks are being hidden in other people's houses and we are in the "again" part of "never again" which the "never" was supposed to preclude
Reposted by Kavitha Rajagopalan
"One might say, 'I don’t care because that only happens to THOSE people.' Perhaps. But what if someone here legally, or even a United States citizen, is afforded no due process after being seized by mistake?... Or by a choice?
Fortunately, our Constitution demands more, including the rule of law.."
Fortunately, our Constitution demands more, including the rule of law.."
BONUS RULING: Judge Thomas Johnston, a George W. Bush appoiintee in West Virginia, used a recent ruling to warn of the dangers of defying due process for immigrants because of what it could also mean for Americans. It's worth a read.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
February 10, 2026 at 3:38 PM
"One might say, 'I don’t care because that only happens to THOSE people.' Perhaps. But what if someone here legally, or even a United States citizen, is afforded no due process after being seized by mistake?... Or by a choice?
Fortunately, our Constitution demands more, including the rule of law.."
Fortunately, our Constitution demands more, including the rule of law.."
Reposted by Kavitha Rajagopalan
Evidence that mainstream journalism has adapted to the times, exhibit whatever:
An article about TX GOP animus towards Muslims that makes it clear from the top it’s entirely a cynical political project.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/10/u...
An article about TX GOP animus towards Muslims that makes it clear from the top it’s entirely a cynical political project.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/10/u...
Without a Border ‘Invasion,’ Texas G.O.P. Turns to an Old Enemy, Islam
www.nytimes.com
February 10, 2026 at 12:50 PM
Evidence that mainstream journalism has adapted to the times, exhibit whatever:
An article about TX GOP animus towards Muslims that makes it clear from the top it’s entirely a cynical political project.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/10/u...
An article about TX GOP animus towards Muslims that makes it clear from the top it’s entirely a cynical political project.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/10/u...