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/...
Reposted by Michael Leo Owens
This article is a very good example of why "more training" and "more vetting" isn't the answer. Jesus Ochoa and Raymundo Gutierrez joined Border Patrol in 2018 and 2014 respectively. These aren't new agents. www.propublica.org/article/alex...
Two CBP Agents Identified in Alex Pretti Shooting
The two federal immigration agents who fired on Minneapolis protester Alex Pretti are identified in government records as Border Patrol agent Jesus Ochoa and Customs and Border Protection officer Raym...
www.propublica.org
February 1, 2026 at 10:02 PM
This article is a very good example of why "more training" and "more vetting" isn't the answer. Jesus Ochoa and Raymundo Gutierrez joined Border Patrol in 2018 and 2014 respectively. These aren't new agents. www.propublica.org/article/alex...
Reposted by Michael Leo Owens
Trump, our lawbreaker-in-chief, is defiant like a bad guy in an old gangster movie. #Trump #TrumpIsUnfitForOffice #ImpeachTrumpNow #TrumpisaNationalDisgrace #TrumpCorruption
February 1, 2026 at 9:55 PM
Trump, our lawbreaker-in-chief, is defiant like a bad guy in an old gangster movie. #Trump #TrumpIsUnfitForOffice #ImpeachTrumpNow #TrumpisaNationalDisgrace #TrumpCorruption
Reposted by Michael Leo Owens
Grift goals www.reddit.com/r/BlueskySke...
February 1, 2026 at 10:12 PM
Grift goals www.reddit.com/r/BlueskySke...
Reposted by Michael Leo Owens
Trump paid $750 in federal income taxes in 2016 and 2017 and now wants $10 billion because a leaker pointed that out www.wsj.com/us-news/law/...
Trump Lawsuit Against IRS Puts Him on Both Sides of the Same Case
President Trump’s lawsuit against the government that he runs presents a mind-bending minefield of conflicts that could end with his appointees approving a federal payout to him.
www.wsj.com
February 1, 2026 at 7:31 PM
Trump paid $750 in federal income taxes in 2016 and 2017 and now wants $10 billion because a leaker pointed that out www.wsj.com/us-news/law/...
TIL: “The construction industry has one of the highest suicide rates of any major industry in the country, second only to mining… Add in drug overdoses, where construction workers die at a greater rate than workers in any other industry, and a bleak picture emerges of a population in crisis.” 😐
A Construction Worker’s Suicide Highlights a Wider Crisis
www.nytimes.com
February 1, 2026 at 10:17 PM
TIL: “The construction industry has one of the highest suicide rates of any major industry in the country, second only to mining… Add in drug overdoses, where construction workers die at a greater rate than workers in any other industry, and a bleak picture emerges of a population in crisis.” 😐
Reposted by Michael Leo Owens
Trump endorsed the loser and sent three posts in the days ahead of the election backing the loser. See: bsky.app/profile/chri...
Q: In Texas, a Democrat won a special election in an area you won by 17 points. Your reaction?
TRUMP: I don't know. I didn't hear about it. Somebody ran -- where?
Q: In Texas
TRUMP: I'm not involved. You mean I won by 17, and this person lost? Things like that happen. I'm not on the ballot
TRUMP: I don't know. I didn't hear about it. Somebody ran -- where?
Q: In Texas
TRUMP: I'm not involved. You mean I won by 17, and this person lost? Things like that happen. I'm not on the ballot
February 1, 2026 at 6:10 PM
Trump endorsed the loser and sent three posts in the days ahead of the election backing the loser. See: bsky.app/profile/chri...
Soooooooo much snow and ice on the grounds of Lil Rudyshire. I truly understand now the anxiety of the last few days over the weather forecast for this weekend. Oof. I doubt I’ll make it to campus tomorrow. Too much to dig out. I’ll just cancel my classes now. 🤭
February 1, 2026 at 5:58 PM
Soooooooo much snow and ice on the grounds of Lil Rudyshire. I truly understand now the anxiety of the last few days over the weather forecast for this weekend. Oof. I doubt I’ll make it to campus tomorrow. Too much to dig out. I’ll just cancel my classes now. 🤭
Reposted by Michael Leo Owens
there has been no de-escalation.
This morning, federal agents staged at the Powderhorn Park Recreation Center lot and began to throw chemical irritants at observers. They also kidnapped an observer. Our parks are meant for our children, youth, and neighbors. They should never be militarized zones meant to separate families. 1/
February 1, 2026 at 3:45 PM
there has been no de-escalation.
Reposted by Michael Leo Owens
What a hero. A mom who lost her pension to do what’s right. 1 bajillion times more courageous and heroic than so many leaders in politics, law, universities, corporations, media, and journalism
IRS executive Kathleen Walters was asked to break the law by the Trump administration, and refused.
February 1, 2026 at 4:53 PM
What a hero. A mom who lost her pension to do what’s right. 1 bajillion times more courageous and heroic than so many leaders in politics, law, universities, corporations, media, and journalism
Reposted by Michael Leo Owens
💔
For those objecting to comparisons between Germany then & the U.S. now:
“About 500 seniors live at Sinai Residences in Boca Raton, Florida, including many Holocaust survivors. Recently, some of them asked if they could hide the building’s Haitian staff in their apartments.”
“About 500 seniors live at Sinai Residences in Boca Raton, Florida, including many Holocaust survivors. Recently, some of them asked if they could hide the building’s Haitian staff in their apartments.”
'Reminds me of Anne Frank': Jewish seniors are offering to hide their Haitian caregivers as Trump's TPS end looms - Jewish Telegraphic Agency
The end of Temporary Protected Status has Holocaust survivors offering to hide Haitian staffers, according to the CEO of a senior-living center in Florida.
www.jta.org
February 1, 2026 at 5:24 PM
💔
Reposted by Michael Leo Owens
Reposted by Michael Leo Owens
He’s just describing The American Dream but you’re supposed to hate it for some reason
February 1, 2026 at 3:33 PM
He’s just describing The American Dream but you’re supposed to hate it for some reason
Reposted by Michael Leo Owens
Feb 1st - After finding a golden ticket in a Wonka Bar, Veruca Salt, Violet Beauregarde, Mike Teavee, Augustus Gloop and Charlie Bucket all visited the Wonka factory.
📽️📅 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)
📽️📅 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)
February 1, 2026 at 12:30 PM
Feb 1st - After finding a golden ticket in a Wonka Bar, Veruca Salt, Violet Beauregarde, Mike Teavee, Augustus Gloop and Charlie Bucket all visited the Wonka factory.
📽️📅 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)
📽️📅 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)
Reposted by Michael Leo Owens
Historical and current distribution of Lions
www.reddit.com/r/MapPorn/co...
www.reddit.com/r/MapPorn/co...
February 1, 2026 at 5:27 PM
Historical and current distribution of Lions
www.reddit.com/r/MapPorn/co...
www.reddit.com/r/MapPorn/co...
“Like Ray in the [Best Animated Short Film] movie, I had such big plans. First on my list was mastering German. Now I’ll have to settle with what I already know. This includes the phrase “I am old and have many ghosts,” which, honestly, might be all I’ll need at age ninety-two.” 😂 Watch the film!
The Dream of Finishing One’s To-Do List in “Retirement Plan”
In John Kelly’s animated short film, narrated by Domhnall Gleeson, nothing’s off limits when it comes to thinking about the future—particularly when there’s so much left to do.
www.newyorker.com
February 1, 2026 at 5:29 PM
“Like Ray in the [Best Animated Short Film] movie, I had such big plans. First on my list was mastering German. Now I’ll have to settle with what I already know. This includes the phrase “I am old and have many ghosts,” which, honestly, might be all I’ll need at age ninety-two.” 😂 Watch the film!
“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.