Michael Leo Owens
@milophd.bsky.social
A pluviophile, melomaniac, gardener, karaoke fiend, & academic, punching above his weight in any ring and on any street. Atlantan by labor; New Yorker by birth. Coauthor of Deadly Force: Police Shootings in Urban America (Princeton University Press, 2025).
Pinned
Michael Leo Owens
@milophd.bsky.social
· Jan 20
The Mastery of Fear
kinginstitute.stanford.edu
“A further step in mastering fear is to remember that it always involves the misuse of the imagination…” - MLK Jr. kinginstitute.stanford.edu/king-papers/...
“It’s particularly ironic that these men who are incredibly brave – and frankly, scholars – and have learned the law and have been leaders and always observe nonviolent means of protest, are always met with violence by authorities.”
February 1, 2026 at 7:16 AM
“It’s particularly ironic that these men who are incredibly brave – and frankly, scholars – and have learned the law and have been leaders and always observe nonviolent means of protest, are always met with violence by authorities.”
Reposted by Michael Leo Owens
Two things can be true: we’re a competitive authoritarian state with all sorts of efforts to put a thumb on the scale of who has power AND we have sufficiently free and sufficiently fair elections that every month we see the party in power lose.
JUST IN: Democrats flip a red seat in the Texas Senate.
Taylor Rehmet wins against Leigh Wambsganss, a conservative activist who helped lead right-wing efforts to take over TX school boards.
With all early vote, and 95% of precincts, in, Dem up 57/43.
Trump won this seat by 17% in Tarrant County.
Taylor Rehmet wins against Leigh Wambsganss, a conservative activist who helped lead right-wing efforts to take over TX school boards.
With all early vote, and 95% of precincts, in, Dem up 57/43.
Trump won this seat by 17% in Tarrant County.
February 1, 2026 at 6:28 AM
Two things can be true: we’re a competitive authoritarian state with all sorts of efforts to put a thumb on the scale of who has power AND we have sufficiently free and sufficiently fair elections that every month we see the party in power lose.
“Boxer Jarrell Miller brought new meaning to “getting your wig pushed back” during a Saturday night bout at Madison Square Garden.” 😵💫
Boxer Jarrell Miller has hairpiece punched off in split-decision victory
In between rounds, the heavyweight fighter threw the hairpiece into the stands.
www.nytimes.com
February 1, 2026 at 6:41 AM
“Boxer Jarrell Miller brought new meaning to “getting your wig pushed back” during a Saturday night bout at Madison Square Garden.” 😵💫
Reposted by Michael Leo Owens
A voice of sanity
Portland Mayor Keith Wilson issues late-night statement, telling ICE officers to resign and ‘ask yourselves why you have gassed children.’
www.instagram.com/p/DUNC_tJlm4...
www.instagram.com/p/DUNC_tJlm4...
Keith Wilson on Instagram: "Today, federal forces deployed heavy waves of chemical munitions, impacting a peaceful daytime protest where the vast majority of those present violated no laws, made no th...
398 likes, 31 comments - portlandgovmayor on January 31, 2026: "Today, federal forces deployed heavy waves of chemical munitions, impacting a peaceful daytime protest where the vast majority of those ...
www.instagram.com
February 1, 2026 at 6:26 AM
A voice of sanity
A fantastic and fascinating choice for an extremely challenging municipal position, perhaps one of the most challenging positions in any city in the USA.
Mayor Mamdani names criminal justice reformer Stanley Richards as NYC’s new Department of Correction commissioner
Richards is the first formerly incarcerated person to lead the city’s jails system
@gothamist.com @wnyc.org
gothamist.com/news/mamdani...
Richards is the first formerly incarcerated person to lead the city’s jails system
@gothamist.com @wnyc.org
gothamist.com/news/mamdani...
Mamdani names reformer Stanley Richards to steer chaotic Rikers complex
Exactly one month into his term, Mayor Zohran Mamdani has appointed a formerly incarcerated person to manage the facility.
gothamist.com
February 1, 2026 at 6:24 AM
A fantastic and fascinating choice for an extremely challenging municipal position, perhaps one of the most challenging positions in any city in the USA.
Reposted by Michael Leo Owens
I hope Trump blames the Texas loss on Republicans going to see Melania's movie instead of voting.
February 1, 2026 at 5:54 AM
I hope Trump blames the Texas loss on Republicans going to see Melania's movie instead of voting.
Reposted by Michael Leo Owens
Again, these are the kinds of lies that the South African apartheid-era police told journalists and judges when they murdered activists like Steve Biko.
February 1, 2026 at 2:18 AM
Again, these are the kinds of lies that the South African apartheid-era police told journalists and judges when they murdered activists like Steve Biko.
Reposted by Michael Leo Owens
You know who really ought to pay attention the result in TX Sen 9? Democratic leadership in Congress.
February 1, 2026 at 5:15 AM
You know who really ought to pay attention the result in TX Sen 9? Democratic leadership in Congress.
Reposted by Michael Leo Owens
you can’t focus group this. you can’t means test it. just make it fucking stop.
February 1, 2026 at 4:53 AM
you can’t focus group this. you can’t means test it. just make it fucking stop.
Reposted by Michael Leo Owens
Trump thinks the federal government is his own personal ATM – and every dollar he steals, he takes away from your healthcare.
Trump on his multiple suits against the federal government: "I'm supposed to work out a settlement with myself ... We could make it a substantial amount, nobody would care, because it's gonna go to numerous, very good charities."
February 1, 2026 at 4:56 AM
Trump thinks the federal government is his own personal ATM – and every dollar he steals, he takes away from your healthcare.
Reposted by Michael Leo Owens
Like Willie Sutton with the banks but the president literally taking money out of the US Treasury
Trump on his multiple suits against the federal government: "I'm supposed to work out a settlement with myself ... We could make it a substantial amount, nobody would care, because it's gonna go to numerous, very good charities."
February 1, 2026 at 4:25 AM
Like Willie Sutton with the banks but the president literally taking money out of the US Treasury
The Smashing Machine is not a good film.
February 1, 2026 at 4:27 AM
The Smashing Machine is not a good film.
Reposted by Michael Leo Owens
The president of the United States had his DOJ raid the Fulton County election office and seized ballots. This is clearly a dry run for 2026. Yet, this is treated by too many in legacy media as normal.
I founded Democracy Docket in 2020 because you deserve better. Subscribe now. hubs.ly/Q03M8rql0
I founded Democracy Docket in 2020 because you deserve better. Subscribe now. hubs.ly/Q03M8rql0
January 31, 2026 at 11:15 PM
The president of the United States had his DOJ raid the Fulton County election office and seized ballots. This is clearly a dry run for 2026. Yet, this is treated by too many in legacy media as normal.
I founded Democracy Docket in 2020 because you deserve better. Subscribe now. hubs.ly/Q03M8rql0
I founded Democracy Docket in 2020 because you deserve better. Subscribe now. hubs.ly/Q03M8rql0
Reposted by Michael Leo Owens
ICE will respond by requiring all non-citizens to wear special badges, perhaps in a unique shape and color so everyone can recognize who's who in the streets.
In Minneapolis, they are starting to *wear their passports at all times*
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/31/u...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/31/u...
Minneapolis Residents Wear Their Passports, Desperate to Ward Off ICE
www.nytimes.com
January 31, 2026 at 3:31 PM
ICE will respond by requiring all non-citizens to wear special badges, perhaps in a unique shape and color so everyone can recognize who's who in the streets.
Reposted by Michael Leo Owens
"It's believed to be the first time a local police department in Minnesota intervened in a federal law enforcement action since the surge in immigration enforcement began two months ago."
"MPR News has learned that the police chief in the small southern Minnesota city of St. Peter intervened Thursday afternoon to prevent federal immigration agents from arresting a local resident" who had been observing federal agents. www.mprnews.org/story/2026/0...
St. Peter police chief intervenes, prevents federal agents from arresting resident
The police chief of St. Peter intervened to prevent federal agents from taking a local resident who was observing ICE enforcement actions into custody. It is believed to the first time local police in...
www.mprnews.org
January 31, 2026 at 3:33 PM
"It's believed to be the first time a local police department in Minnesota intervened in a federal law enforcement action since the surge in immigration enforcement began two months ago."
“When asked what the record meant to her, she thought for a moment and said, ‘It’s never too late to begin to make yourself stronger.’” ✊🏾
To Set a World Record at 81, All She Had to Do Was Hold On
www.nytimes.com
January 31, 2026 at 6:39 AM
“When asked what the record meant to her, she thought for a moment and said, ‘It’s never too late to begin to make yourself stronger.’” ✊🏾
Reposted by Michael Leo Owens
the alarm this sounds is not just for journalists, it's for all of us.
January 31, 2026 at 2:59 AM
the alarm this sounds is not just for journalists, it's for all of us.
Reposted by Michael Leo Owens
“I mean he was actively resisting,” Saracco said. “He wouldn’t let me take his phone out of his hands.”
Little glimpse into how their minds work:
“He get physical with you at all?” the Brookfield officer asks in response.
“I mean he was actively resisting,” Saracco [ICE agent] said. “He wouldn’t let me take his phone out of his hands.”
“He get physical with you at all?” the Brookfield officer asks in response.
“I mean he was actively resisting,” Saracco [ICE agent] said. “He wouldn’t let me take his phone out of his hands.”
New body camera footage shows aftermath of ICE officer allegedly attacking activist near Chicago
Robert Held told Brookfield police he followed ICE Officer Adam Saracco from the Broadview ICE facility and was recording him as he stopped for gas. He said Saracco then threw him to the ground.
chicago.suntimes.com
January 31, 2026 at 4:08 AM
“I mean he was actively resisting,” Saracco said. “He wouldn’t let me take his phone out of his hands.”
Reposted by Michael Leo Owens
"It may take time to prove you're right, but you have to stick to it."
- Fred Korematsu
Jailed for refusing to abide by FDR's Exec Order 9066, he took his case against internment all the way to the Supreme Court - and lost. Remember him on Korematsu Day, January 30th. 1/
- Fred Korematsu
Jailed for refusing to abide by FDR's Exec Order 9066, he took his case against internment all the way to the Supreme Court - and lost. Remember him on Korematsu Day, January 30th. 1/
January 30, 2026 at 10:32 PM
"It may take time to prove you're right, but you have to stick to it."
- Fred Korematsu
Jailed for refusing to abide by FDR's Exec Order 9066, he took his case against internment all the way to the Supreme Court - and lost. Remember him on Korematsu Day, January 30th. 1/
- Fred Korematsu
Jailed for refusing to abide by FDR's Exec Order 9066, he took his case against internment all the way to the Supreme Court - and lost. Remember him on Korematsu Day, January 30th. 1/
Reposted by Michael Leo Owens
All I am saying is if I had inflicted a plague of bigoted grifters onto my country and had gotten filthy rich doing it, I would be at a fucking minimum out there calling them out and helping take them down.
January 31, 2026 at 12:34 AM
All I am saying is if I had inflicted a plague of bigoted grifters onto my country and had gotten filthy rich doing it, I would be at a fucking minimum out there calling them out and helping take them down.
Reposted by Michael Leo Owens
They think we're stupid.
🤔 Deputy AG Todd Blanche: “Men that abused these girls? What does that mean?”
Incredibly, the Trump regime now pretends they don’t even understand that Epstein survivors were victimized by powerful men.
A jaw-dropping insult to everyone’s intelligence. #TrumpEpsteinCoverup
Incredibly, the Trump regime now pretends they don’t even understand that Epstein survivors were victimized by powerful men.
A jaw-dropping insult to everyone’s intelligence. #TrumpEpsteinCoverup
January 31, 2026 at 12:36 AM
They think we're stupid.
Reposted by Michael Leo Owens
The march in Chicago has continued on past Trump Tower and is turning back south into downtown.
The snow is coming down hard now.
As it does, the column chants, "say it once and say it twice, we do not fuck with ICE"
The snow is coming down hard now.
As it does, the column chants, "say it once and say it twice, we do not fuck with ICE"
January 31, 2026 at 12:27 AM
The march in Chicago has continued on past Trump Tower and is turning back south into downtown.
The snow is coming down hard now.
As it does, the column chants, "say it once and say it twice, we do not fuck with ICE"
The snow is coming down hard now.
As it does, the column chants, "say it once and say it twice, we do not fuck with ICE"
Reposted by Michael Leo Owens
Holy shit. So this just happened at Minneapolis's legendary First Avenue club. That's Tom Morello introducing Springsteen. www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jHe...
Bruce Springsteen - Streets of Minneapolis - First Ave 260130
YouTube video by Nate Reiter
www.youtube.com
January 30, 2026 at 11:39 PM
Holy shit. So this just happened at Minneapolis's legendary First Avenue club. That's Tom Morello introducing Springsteen. www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jHe...
Reposted by Michael Leo Owens
Kids got off at the bus drop-off in Ypsilanti and their parents weren't there to pick them up because ICE kidnaped them
Federal officials confirm taking 4 people into ICE custody in Ypsilanti - CBS Detroit
Federal authorities have confirmed that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement took four people into custody earlier this week in Ypsilanti.
www.cbsnews.com
January 30, 2026 at 1:36 PM
Kids got off at the bus drop-off in Ypsilanti and their parents weren't there to pick them up because ICE kidnaped them
Reposted by Michael Leo Owens
Re-upping this, from two weeks ago, in light of Don Lemon's outrageous arrest:
Some context for the FBI search of a WaPo reporter's home, from last May: "Press freedom in the U.S. now falls in line with developing countries, such as Gambia, Uruguay and Sierra Leone."
U.S. press freedom falls to historical low
Reporters Without Borders cites economic strains on the media as the biggest driver of press freedom declines globally.
www.axios.com
January 30, 2026 at 1:37 PM
Re-upping this, from two weeks ago, in light of Don Lemon's outrageous arrest: