Ariel Swartley
@lastseacoast.bsky.social
Takes photographs, makes books, grows things. Used to write about musicartfilmpopculture
Reposted by Ariel Swartley
Insiders described that decision as an unforgivable “sin” in Trump’s eyes.
U.S. plan to ‘run’ Venezuela clouded in confusion
In Washington and Caracas, the vision for administering Venezuela in the weeks and months ahead appears uncertain and stubbornly complex.
www.washingtonpost.com
January 5, 2026 at 4:20 PM
Insiders described that decision as an unforgivable “sin” in Trump’s eyes.
Reposted by Ariel Swartley
“‘If a fire occurs in the cabin ... don’t check on the immigrants. Just make sure that you and the guards and the people that work for the government get off," one flight attendant was told.
“It was as if the detainees’ lives were worthless,’” said another.
Our #3 most-read story of 2025:
“It was as if the detainees’ lives were worthless,’” said another.
Our #3 most-read story of 2025:
Inside ICE Air: Flight Attendants on Deportation Planes Say Disaster Is “Only a Matter of Time”
Current and former flight attendants for GlobalX, the private charter airline at the center of Trump’s immigration crackdown, expressed concern about their inability to treat passengers humanely and t...
www.propublica.org
January 5, 2026 at 4:00 AM
“‘If a fire occurs in the cabin ... don’t check on the immigrants. Just make sure that you and the guards and the people that work for the government get off," one flight attendant was told.
“It was as if the detainees’ lives were worthless,’” said another.
Our #3 most-read story of 2025:
“It was as if the detainees’ lives were worthless,’” said another.
Our #3 most-read story of 2025:
Reposted by Ariel Swartley
NEWS: A source confirms DOJ has NOT provided Congress the legally required explanation for redactions in the Epstein file releases, despite a Jan. 3 statutory deadline under the Epstein Files Transparency Act.
Department of Justice Violates Epstein Files Law By Failing to Inform Congress of Reasons Behind Redactions
The Justice Department has now blown through another deadline.
meidasnews.com
January 5, 2026 at 12:39 AM
NEWS: A source confirms DOJ has NOT provided Congress the legally required explanation for redactions in the Epstein file releases, despite a Jan. 3 statutory deadline under the Epstein Files Transparency Act.
Reposted by Ariel Swartley
The weak response from Can, EU and UN to Trump's flagrant crimes in Venezuela is striking.
It exposes that much of the world has been cowed.
Most notable exception: the Latin American left.
That is why the Trump Admin has gone to enormous lengths to defeat the left across the continent. 1/3
It exposes that much of the world has been cowed.
Most notable exception: the Latin American left.
That is why the Trump Admin has gone to enormous lengths to defeat the left across the continent. 1/3
January 4, 2026 at 6:35 PM
The weak response from Can, EU and UN to Trump's flagrant crimes in Venezuela is striking.
It exposes that much of the world has been cowed.
Most notable exception: the Latin American left.
That is why the Trump Admin has gone to enormous lengths to defeat the left across the continent. 1/3
It exposes that much of the world has been cowed.
Most notable exception: the Latin American left.
That is why the Trump Admin has gone to enormous lengths to defeat the left across the continent. 1/3
Reposted by Ariel Swartley
The Epstein Files Transparency Act is a law, passed by Congress on November 19 with an overwhelming vote. Complying with it was not optional. The Department of Justice did not comply.
I want to make sure this is very clear.
I want to make sure this is very clear.
January 4, 2026 at 6:18 PM
The Epstein Files Transparency Act is a law, passed by Congress on November 19 with an overwhelming vote. Complying with it was not optional. The Department of Justice did not comply.
I want to make sure this is very clear.
I want to make sure this is very clear.
Reposted by Ariel Swartley
Out here starting a war because someone made fun of them
January 4, 2026 at 5:56 PM
Out here starting a war because someone made fun of them
Reposted by Ariel Swartley
Trump oversaw an operation that left 40 Venezuelans dead while forcibly seizing Maduro. Was this about justice—or a deliberate distraction from the Epstein revelations and Jack Smith’s explosive congressional testimony?
January 4, 2026 at 6:21 PM
Trump oversaw an operation that left 40 Venezuelans dead while forcibly seizing Maduro. Was this about justice—or a deliberate distraction from the Epstein revelations and Jack Smith’s explosive congressional testimony?
Reposted by Ariel Swartley
EXCLUSIVE: In an interview with @michaelscherer, Donald Trump threatened Venezuela’s interim leader, Delcy Rodríguez, with a fate worse than Maduro’s; defended regime change in the country; and expressed renewed interest in the U.S. seizing Greenland.
www.theatlantic.com/national-sec...
www.theatlantic.com/national-sec...
Trump Threatens Venezuela’s New Leader With a Fate Worse Than Maduro’s
The president told The Atlantic that Delcy Rodríguez needs to comply with U.S. wishes—or else.
www.theatlantic.com
January 4, 2026 at 6:19 PM
EXCLUSIVE: In an interview with @michaelscherer, Donald Trump threatened Venezuela’s interim leader, Delcy Rodríguez, with a fate worse than Maduro’s; defended regime change in the country; and expressed renewed interest in the U.S. seizing Greenland.
www.theatlantic.com/national-sec...
www.theatlantic.com/national-sec...
Reposted by Ariel Swartley
It's an old and obvious pattern. An unpopular president - failing on the economy and losing his grip on power at home - decides to launch a war for regime change abroad.
The American people don’t want to “run” a foreign country while our leaders fail to improve life in this one.
The American people don’t want to “run” a foreign country while our leaders fail to improve life in this one.
January 3, 2026 at 5:08 PM
It's an old and obvious pattern. An unpopular president - failing on the economy and losing his grip on power at home - decides to launch a war for regime change abroad.
The American people don’t want to “run” a foreign country while our leaders fail to improve life in this one.
The American people don’t want to “run” a foreign country while our leaders fail to improve life in this one.
Reposted by Ariel Swartley
Just a couple of things trump is terrified of: Jack Smith and the release of the Trump/Epstein files. Let’s make sure they aren’t forgotten. Make sure 2026 is the year of accountability for this vile regime.
Jack Smith is a hero.
Believe women.
Believe the survivors.
youtube.com/shorts/WP2wf...
Jack Smith is a hero.
Believe women.
Believe the survivors.
youtube.com/shorts/WP2wf...
Jack Smith: I had proof "beyond a reasonable doubt" of Trump's crimes
YouTube video by MeidasTouch
youtube.com
January 3, 2026 at 3:00 PM
Just a couple of things trump is terrified of: Jack Smith and the release of the Trump/Epstein files. Let’s make sure they aren’t forgotten. Make sure 2026 is the year of accountability for this vile regime.
Jack Smith is a hero.
Believe women.
Believe the survivors.
youtube.com/shorts/WP2wf...
Jack Smith is a hero.
Believe women.
Believe the survivors.
youtube.com/shorts/WP2wf...
Reposted by Ariel Swartley
So it’s ok for a country to invade another country and kidnap its president? I hope that the rest of the world is paying attention. I have a president . . .
January 3, 2026 at 2:15 PM
So it’s ok for a country to invade another country and kidnap its president? I hope that the rest of the world is paying attention. I have a president . . .
Reposted by Ariel Swartley
Congressman Thomas Massie’s first reaction to the invasion/abduction of Venezuelan leader.
January 3, 2026 at 3:21 PM
Congressman Thomas Massie’s first reaction to the invasion/abduction of Venezuelan leader.
Reposted by Ariel Swartley
goddamn do they swear all their politicians in at midnight or just the ones who can stay up that late
January 1, 2026 at 5:27 AM
goddamn do they swear all their politicians in at midnight or just the ones who can stay up that late
Our first today was happier. Serenaded by 2 coyote packs while in a local Trader Joe’s lot.
No cytruck around but another brand with creepy band across the nose headlights
No cytruck around but another brand with creepy band across the nose headlights
A first today: Saw an Asshole Mobile (Cybertruck) driven by a woman. True to the brand, she was blocking the middle of a parking lane at Costco waiting for a space to open up, and nobody could get by or around her.
December 30, 2025 at 3:32 AM
Our first today was happier. Serenaded by 2 coyote packs while in a local Trader Joe’s lot.
No cytruck around but another brand with creepy band across the nose headlights
No cytruck around but another brand with creepy band across the nose headlights
Reposted by Ariel Swartley
Bill Barr had the reporter who broke the Epstein story surveilled. Nothing to see here, folks.
December 30, 2025 at 2:31 AM
Bill Barr had the reporter who broke the Epstein story surveilled. Nothing to see here, folks.
Reposted by Ariel Swartley
John Gai carried his sick father to a nearby clinic in a wheelbarrow, but he died from cholera on the way.
Gai then pushed the wheelbarrow for hours through the camp to take him to the cemetery: “Nobody should have to carry a dead body among the living.”
Gai then pushed the wheelbarrow for hours through the camp to take him to the cemetery: “Nobody should have to carry a dead body among the living.”
Trump Officials Celebrated With Cake After Slashing Aid. Then People Died of Cholera.
Behind closed doors in Washington, top advisers made a series of decisions that had devastating repercussions for the poorest country on earth. We went to South Sudan and found people who died as a re...
www.propublica.org
December 30, 2025 at 3:00 AM
John Gai carried his sick father to a nearby clinic in a wheelbarrow, but he died from cholera on the way.
Gai then pushed the wheelbarrow for hours through the camp to take him to the cemetery: “Nobody should have to carry a dead body among the living.”
Gai then pushed the wheelbarrow for hours through the camp to take him to the cemetery: “Nobody should have to carry a dead body among the living.”
Reposted by Ariel Swartley
Remember this. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/29/m...
December 29, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Remember this. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/29/m...
Reposted by Ariel Swartley
Yeah this is just what his communications team wants right now
Trump: I am fine. You sound beautiful and cute. How old are you?
Caller: I am eight
Caller: I am eight
December 24, 2025 at 10:05 PM
Yeah this is just what his communications team wants right now
Reposted by Ariel Swartley
This is John Roberts' America.
The blatant selling of pardons is perhaps the clearest instance of criminal conduct authorized by SCOTUS. Pardons are a quintessential "official act." So, even when Trump takes a bribe to issue one, he is presumably above the criminal law.
The president’s own chief of staff was reportedly stunned by his pardon of a former Honduran president.
December 25, 2025 at 5:29 PM
This is John Roberts' America.
Reposted by Ariel Swartley
A clean copy of the entire 60 Minutes report is on TikTok in case anyone needs it:
www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8yy2hu6/
www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8yy2hu6/
There's a reason they don't want you to see this video.
TikTok video by COURIER
www.tiktok.com
December 23, 2025 at 9:43 PM
A clean copy of the entire 60 Minutes report is on TikTok in case anyone needs it:
www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8yy2hu6/
www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8yy2hu6/
Reposted by Ariel Swartley
Good data viz of some real fucked up shit.
"Each dot here represents the movement of someone arrested or deported by Immigration and Customs Enforcement this year."
• 67,000 transfers per month
• 23,000 removals per month
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
• 67,000 transfers per month
• 23,000 removals per month
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
December 23, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Good data viz of some real fucked up shit.
Reposted by Ariel Swartley
Reposted by Ariel Swartley
This victim told a driver that she couldn't report Trump raping her because "They will kill me." In 2021, another victim said that Epstein told her girls who don't behave are fed to alligators and took her where they die. He threatened to kill her and her son.
December 23, 2025 at 5:33 PM
This victim told a driver that she couldn't report Trump raping her because "They will kill me." In 2021, another victim said that Epstein told her girls who don't behave are fed to alligators and took her where they die. He threatened to kill her and her son.
Reposted by Ariel Swartley
On left:
Bari Weiss: 60 Minutes segment failed to show Government view that CECOT detainees are due judicial review
On right:
Judge Boasberg Dec 22: "The Government itself has not even contested that the detainees who now make up the CECOT class received inadequate process prior to their removal"
Bari Weiss: 60 Minutes segment failed to show Government view that CECOT detainees are due judicial review
On right:
Judge Boasberg Dec 22: "The Government itself has not even contested that the detainees who now make up the CECOT class received inadequate process prior to their removal"
December 23, 2025 at 12:23 AM
On left:
Bari Weiss: 60 Minutes segment failed to show Government view that CECOT detainees are due judicial review
On right:
Judge Boasberg Dec 22: "The Government itself has not even contested that the detainees who now make up the CECOT class received inadequate process prior to their removal"
Bari Weiss: 60 Minutes segment failed to show Government view that CECOT detainees are due judicial review
On right:
Judge Boasberg Dec 22: "The Government itself has not even contested that the detainees who now make up the CECOT class received inadequate process prior to their removal"