May-lee Chai (she/her)
@mayleechai.bsky.social
Writer. Prof at SFSU. Tomorrow in Shanghai & Other Stories; Useful Phrases for Immigrants; The Girl from Purple Mountain, etc. Board member of NBCC @bookcritics. Web: https://may-leechai.com/
Reposted by May-lee Chai (she/her)
one thing this harrowing post reminds me of is arendt’s almost spiritual insistence on the importance - the power, the authority, the mutually reinforcing dignity - of bearing witness.
New at Can We Still Govern?
"I am writing as an ordinary citizen of Minneapolis/St Paul...to share with the outside world what is really going on ─ the terror being inflicted upon a U.S. city and state by our federal government."
Please read, share, help. 🧵
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/dispatch-f...
"I am writing as an ordinary citizen of Minneapolis/St Paul...to share with the outside world what is really going on ─ the terror being inflicted upon a U.S. city and state by our federal government."
Please read, share, help. 🧵
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/dispatch-f...
Dispatch from the occupation
What life is like in Minneapolis now
donmoynihan.substack.com
January 17, 2026 at 4:00 PM
one thing this harrowing post reminds me of is arendt’s almost spiritual insistence on the importance - the power, the authority, the mutually reinforcing dignity - of bearing witness.
Reposted by May-lee Chai (she/her)
There are still 5,000,000+ pages of Epstein files that have not been released. Trump and Pam Bondi want to keep them hidden but we will not rest until we have every single file. Release the files, NOW.
January 16, 2026 at 6:08 PM
There are still 5,000,000+ pages of Epstein files that have not been released. Trump and Pam Bondi want to keep them hidden but we will not rest until we have every single file. Release the files, NOW.
Reposted by May-lee Chai (she/her)
A massive "Hands off Greenland" protest is happening right now in Copenhagen to demonstrate against Trump's threats.
"The aim is to send a clear and unified message of respect for Greenland's democracy," organisers said.
“Respect for Greenland, respect for Greenlanders, respect for Denmark.”
"The aim is to send a clear and unified message of respect for Greenland's democracy," organisers said.
“Respect for Greenland, respect for Greenlanders, respect for Denmark.”
January 17, 2026 at 3:52 PM
A massive "Hands off Greenland" protest is happening right now in Copenhagen to demonstrate against Trump's threats.
"The aim is to send a clear and unified message of respect for Greenland's democracy," organisers said.
“Respect for Greenland, respect for Greenlanders, respect for Denmark.”
"The aim is to send a clear and unified message of respect for Greenland's democracy," organisers said.
“Respect for Greenland, respect for Greenlanders, respect for Denmark.”
Uh oh
The South Carolina measles outbreak is growing at an astounding speed
More than 500 people are in a 21-day quarantine and about 200 are "actively infected." The largest outbreak currently in the U.S. has spread to at least three other states
More than 500 people are in a 21-day quarantine and about 200 are "actively infected." The largest outbreak currently in the U.S. has spread to at least three other states
'Staring over the edge': South Carolina measles outbreak doubles in a week
More than 500 people are in a 21-day quarantine and about 200 are "actively infected." The largest outbreak currently in the U.S. has spread to at least three other states.
www.nbcnews.com
January 17, 2026 at 4:16 PM
Uh oh
Reposted by May-lee Chai (she/her)
Photo by Pierre Lavie. Yes this is me. And I threw my Leica. It landed on the bass plate with hardly a scratch. Another Photographer grabbed it along with my phone and I was able to track him later. I was held face down tear gas deployed right in front of me and pepper sprayed directly into the eye.
January 17, 2026 at 2:57 PM
Photo by Pierre Lavie. Yes this is me. And I threw my Leica. It landed on the bass plate with hardly a scratch. Another Photographer grabbed it along with my phone and I was able to track him later. I was held face down tear gas deployed right in front of me and pepper sprayed directly into the eye.
Reposted by May-lee Chai (she/her)
Just hours after Renee Good was shot, one member of Customs and Border Patrol’s elite tactical team on an adjacent street fired a less-lethal weapon five times in less than five minutes, with four shots aimed at the faces of protestors. www.bellingcat.com/news/2026/01...
Analysing One Federal Agent’s Use of Less-Lethal Launcher in Minneapolis
After the fatal shooting of Renee Good, Border Patrol agent "EZ-17" was filmed shooting less-lethal munitions at protesters five times in five minutes.
www.bellingcat.com
January 16, 2026 at 4:52 PM
Just hours after Renee Good was shot, one member of Customs and Border Patrol’s elite tactical team on an adjacent street fired a less-lethal weapon five times in less than five minutes, with four shots aimed at the faces of protestors. www.bellingcat.com/news/2026/01...
Oh no, are the tech billionaires going to start suing each other over AI? That would be terrible. Jk jk
Elon Musk wants OpenAI and Microsoft to pay him damages in the range of $79 billion to $134 billion over his claims that the generative AI company defrauded him by abandoning its nonprofit roots and partnering with the software giant
Musk Seeks Up to $134 Billion Damages From OpenAI, Microsoft
Elon Musk wants OpenAI Inc. and Microsoft to pay him damages in the range of $79 billion to $134 billion over his claims that the generative AI company defrauded him by abandoning its nonprofit roots and partnering with the software giant.
bloom.bg
January 17, 2026 at 9:41 AM
Oh no, are the tech billionaires going to start suing each other over AI? That would be terrible. Jk jk
Reposted by May-lee Chai (she/her)
DAILY MEMO: Ten-Year-Old Child, Gardeners, and Vendors, Among the More Than 88 Kidnapped in SoCal This Week
Plus, another death in ICE detention, and Memo breaks down what’s happening with the mask ban for ICE and law enforcement.
@eltragon.bsky.social
Plus, another death in ICE detention, and Memo breaks down what’s happening with the mask ban for ICE and law enforcement.
@eltragon.bsky.social
January 17, 2026 at 2:46 AM
DAILY MEMO: Ten-Year-Old Child, Gardeners, and Vendors, Among the More Than 88 Kidnapped in SoCal This Week
Plus, another death in ICE detention, and Memo breaks down what’s happening with the mask ban for ICE and law enforcement.
@eltragon.bsky.social
Plus, another death in ICE detention, and Memo breaks down what’s happening with the mask ban for ICE and law enforcement.
@eltragon.bsky.social
Reposted by May-lee Chai (she/her)
“The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many, and whether hereditary, self-appointed, or elective, may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny.”
–The Federalist Papers
–The Federalist Papers
January 17, 2026 at 1:57 AM
“The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many, and whether hereditary, self-appointed, or elective, may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny.”
–The Federalist Papers
–The Federalist Papers
Reposted by May-lee Chai (she/her)
ICE raids are not the first time this was made explicit. I think people downplay how much Jim Crow was not just about controlling Black people but it was also about controlling white people. If you thought racism was dumb and acted that way you could end up with a bomb in your home
Just keep coming back to the fact that keeping people in a constant state of terror is a form of mass disablement and essential to the eugenic project that is the United States.
January 17, 2026 at 6:08 AM
ICE raids are not the first time this was made explicit. I think people downplay how much Jim Crow was not just about controlling Black people but it was also about controlling white people. If you thought racism was dumb and acted that way you could end up with a bomb in your home
Reposted by May-lee Chai (she/her)
By assaulting our communities with such brutality, ferocity, violence, murders, and chaos, DHS/ICE/Border Patrol/DOJ match the profile of a terrorist network terrorizing the American People. Only the organized resistance of the people can stop this nonsense.
apple.news/AJaHz9TSgTbK...
apple.news/AJaHz9TSgTbK...
Federal judge bars ICE agents from ‘retaliating’ against protesters in Minnesota — The Minnesota Star Tribune
The injunction filed Jan. 16 follows a lawsuit brought by six Minnesota residents during the early days of Operation Metro Surge last month.
apple.news
January 17, 2026 at 5:45 AM
By assaulting our communities with such brutality, ferocity, violence, murders, and chaos, DHS/ICE/Border Patrol/DOJ match the profile of a terrorist network terrorizing the American People. Only the organized resistance of the people can stop this nonsense.
apple.news/AJaHz9TSgTbK...
apple.news/AJaHz9TSgTbK...
Reposted by May-lee Chai (she/her)
“Richard Nixon is a no good, lying bastard. He can lie out of both sides of his mouth at the same time, and if he ever caught himself telling the truth, he'd lie just to keep his hand in.”
Harry Truman
Harry Truman
January 17, 2026 at 3:37 AM
“Richard Nixon is a no good, lying bastard. He can lie out of both sides of his mouth at the same time, and if he ever caught himself telling the truth, he'd lie just to keep his hand in.”
Harry Truman
Harry Truman
Reposted by May-lee Chai (she/her)
Gene Roddenberry designed Star Trek to depict a future in which racial and gender equality were the norm. Not only did he give his ship had a diverse crew, but he fought for the alien character, Spock, as a constant reminder of the variety of life and of the diversity of thought.
January 17, 2026 at 5:20 AM
Gene Roddenberry designed Star Trek to depict a future in which racial and gender equality were the norm. Not only did he give his ship had a diverse crew, but he fought for the alien character, Spock, as a constant reminder of the variety of life and of the diversity of thought.
It’s been a rough week so I got us a sweet treat from Japantown today.
January 17, 2026 at 5:18 AM
It’s been a rough week so I got us a sweet treat from Japantown today.
Reposted by May-lee Chai (she/her)
Reposted by May-lee Chai (she/her)
Abolition now!!💥
in other words, the more we demand we abolish ICE, the more other people will tell us that’s unpopular, or unstrategic. that’s why they are saying that: because it is becoming popular, and it is strategic (if your goal is “end ICE violence,” not “protect some Democrats from taking a stand on ICE”)
January 17, 2026 at 5:11 AM
Abolition now!!💥
Reposted by May-lee Chai (she/her)
Money that could have gone to healthcare or education is going to an armed militia
You're paying for this.
Trump's Big Ugly Bill gave BILLIONS to ICE and giant corporations—using money meant to lower your health care costs.
Instead of helping your mom get cancer treatment, your tax dollars are being used to terrorize communities.
Trump's Big Ugly Bill gave BILLIONS to ICE and giant corporations—using money meant to lower your health care costs.
Instead of helping your mom get cancer treatment, your tax dollars are being used to terrorize communities.
CNN airs a compilation of escalating ICE aggression towards peaceful protesters.
January 17, 2026 at 5:12 AM
Money that could have gone to healthcare or education is going to an armed militia
Reposted by May-lee Chai (she/her)
DHS employees entered our store this afternoon and served us a Notice of Inspection, demanding copies of I9 forms for each employee.
In 27 years as shopkeepers, we have never been subjected to this type of investigation.
In 27 years as shopkeepers, we have never been subjected to this type of investigation.
January 17, 2026 at 12:23 AM
DHS employees entered our store this afternoon and served us a Notice of Inspection, demanding copies of I9 forms for each employee.
In 27 years as shopkeepers, we have never been subjected to this type of investigation.
In 27 years as shopkeepers, we have never been subjected to this type of investigation.
Reposted by May-lee Chai (she/her)
"People are being too purist about Gavin Newsom."
He invited yet another rightwing extremist to have a podcast conversation and instead of pushing back against that extremism, Newsom, yet again, backed down immediately.
I want a leader who isn't going to placate extremists. That's not a tough ask.
He invited yet another rightwing extremist to have a podcast conversation and instead of pushing back against that extremism, Newsom, yet again, backed down immediately.
I want a leader who isn't going to placate extremists. That's not a tough ask.
January 17, 2026 at 4:26 AM
"People are being too purist about Gavin Newsom."
He invited yet another rightwing extremist to have a podcast conversation and instead of pushing back against that extremism, Newsom, yet again, backed down immediately.
I want a leader who isn't going to placate extremists. That's not a tough ask.
He invited yet another rightwing extremist to have a podcast conversation and instead of pushing back against that extremism, Newsom, yet again, backed down immediately.
I want a leader who isn't going to placate extremists. That's not a tough ask.
Reposted by May-lee Chai (she/her)
Seeing messages like this all over the hood…
January 16, 2026 at 11:47 PM
Seeing messages like this all over the hood…
Reposted by May-lee Chai (she/her)
Reposted by May-lee Chai (she/her)
BREAKING: Judge orders federal law enforcement in Minnesota to stop detaining, pepper spraying and pulling over peaceful protesters.
U.S. judge orders federal agents to stop pepper spraying, retaliating against peaceful Minnesota protesters
The ruling in a case from December applies to federal agents participating in immigration enforcement under Operation Metro Surge.
nbcnews.to
January 17, 2026 at 3:33 AM
BREAKING: Judge orders federal law enforcement in Minnesota to stop detaining, pepper spraying and pulling over peaceful protesters.
Reposted by May-lee Chai (she/her)
So to reiterate now they are attacking an orphaned child
School of Renee Good’s son targeted by right-wing attacks
Threats to Southside Family Charter School in Minneapolis came after New York Post articles and a series of social media posts from right-wing commentators.
sahanjournal.com
January 17, 2026 at 3:34 AM
So to reiterate now they are attacking an orphaned child
Reposted by May-lee Chai (she/her)
The Virginia legislature today passed four constitutional amendments, all by day 3 of 2026 session:
—protect abortion rights
—repeal the same-sex marriage ban
—allow mid-decade redistricting
—greatly expand voting rights restoration.
These will all go to 2026 referendums.
—protect abortion rights
—repeal the same-sex marriage ban
—allow mid-decade redistricting
—greatly expand voting rights restoration.
These will all go to 2026 referendums.
January 16, 2026 at 7:50 PM
The Virginia legislature today passed four constitutional amendments, all by day 3 of 2026 session:
—protect abortion rights
—repeal the same-sex marriage ban
—allow mid-decade redistricting
—greatly expand voting rights restoration.
These will all go to 2026 referendums.
—protect abortion rights
—repeal the same-sex marriage ban
—allow mid-decade redistricting
—greatly expand voting rights restoration.
These will all go to 2026 referendums.