Matt Szafranski
@mszafranski.bsky.social
Attorney; Editor-in-Chief, @WMassPI.com; #Spfldpoli when you need it; #MaPoli when you want it. "Retweets" ≠ Seal of Approval. Likes = ??? Fasten your seatbelt, please.
"You must go on. I can't go on. I'll go on." -Samuel Beckett
Always Eccles. 1:9
"You must go on. I can't go on. I'll go on." -Samuel Beckett
Always Eccles. 1:9
They're plausible and more substantive and numerous than Dem leaders had been kicking around before today.
People are going to be really mad that the ask here isn’t abolishing any deportation ever (which would be my choice if it was just up to me) but this is a very calculated list of reasonable asks that Republicans will lose their minds over, reinforcing revulsion in the American lizard brain.
Schumer & Jeffries lay out the Democratic demands for a DHS funding deal in a letter to the top Republican leaders
February 5, 2026 at 4:26 AM
They're plausible and more substantive and numerous than Dem leaders had been kicking around before today.
Reposted by Matt Szafranski
Suddenly realizing that in 10-20 years, the MN Historical Society will have an exhibit about *all this* and there will be a whole wall showing different types of whistles
We have favorite whistles now. I never could have imagined.
February 5, 2026 at 2:12 AM
Suddenly realizing that in 10-20 years, the MN Historical Society will have an exhibit about *all this* and there will be a whole wall showing different types of whistles
Reposted by Matt Szafranski
February 5, 2026 at 4:03 AM
Reposted by Matt Szafranski
Normal people are out there doing extraordinary things. My mom's health aide emailed me: ICE took 2 of her neighbors; when she told them they weren't welcome, she was met w/a rifle. Now she's driving a neighbor to work hidden in the back of her car & escorting the neighbor's kids to the bus stop.
“If I am killed doing this, throw my body at the White House, martyr the shit out of me & raise hell. Do not be sad. Do not think I would do anything differently. I would do it over & over again — this is too important to sit down & shut up and not do anything.” www.mprnews.org/story/2026/0...
Pursued by federal agents, suburban ICE observers remain resolved
After a frightening pursuit by federal agents, suburban ICE observers say fear hasn’t stopped them from protecting their communities.
www.mprnews.org
February 4, 2026 at 7:43 PM
Normal people are out there doing extraordinary things. My mom's health aide emailed me: ICE took 2 of her neighbors; when she told them they weren't welcome, she was met w/a rifle. Now she's driving a neighbor to work hidden in the back of her car & escorting the neighbor's kids to the bus stop.
A related question is what had he done to lead the post at all? Put aside that deputizing Murray to do this was cowardly. What has Lewis done to improve the paper's position other than cuts, let alone get people to read (and pay for) his reporters' stuff? Bupkes as far as I can see.
I don't see how Will Lewis can effectively lead WaPo.
Lewis did not save Bezos from himself on opinion pages. (375K+ cancelations) His innovations did not stem enough red ink.
And he has not taken any ownership of the devastating ensuing cuts. He's making Murray own it alone.
Lewis did not save Bezos from himself on opinion pages. (375K+ cancelations) His innovations did not stem enough red ink.
And he has not taken any ownership of the devastating ensuing cuts. He's making Murray own it alone.
February 5, 2026 at 4:09 AM
A related question is what had he done to lead the post at all? Put aside that deputizing Murray to do this was cowardly. What has Lewis done to improve the paper's position other than cuts, let alone get people to read (and pay for) his reporters' stuff? Bupkes as far as I can see.
Reposted by Matt Szafranski
i think people should consider the extent to which bannon, a known bullshit artist, knows that you will see this and panic. www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/...
Steve Bannon says ICE will ‘surround the polls’ as Trump doubles down on taking over elections
Trump doubled down on his comments to nationalize voting Tuesday during an Oval Office press conference. “If you think about it, a state is an agent for the federal government in elections,” Trump sai...
www.democracydocket.com
February 5, 2026 at 3:58 AM
i think people should consider the extent to which bannon, a known bullshit artist, knows that you will see this and panic. www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/...
Reposted by Matt Szafranski
Trump's constant degradation of female reporters is unsurprising but the press corps' collective decision to treat it as background noise is actually kind of sickening
February 4, 2026 at 11:24 PM
Trump's constant degradation of female reporters is unsurprising but the press corps' collective decision to treat it as background noise is actually kind of sickening
Reposted by Matt Szafranski
Now would be a convenient time for the partnership to blame their collaboration on Karp and disavow his appeasement of Trump.
Brad Karp to step down as Paul Weiss chair after Epstein revelations ft.trib.al/H1vYT7B
Brad Karp to step down as Paul Weiss chair after Epstein revelations
Files released by US Department of Justice detailed his relationship with the child sex offender
ft.trib.al
February 5, 2026 at 2:07 AM
Now would be a convenient time for the partnership to blame their collaboration on Karp and disavow his appeasement of Trump.
Krasner is powerful and successful as long as he doesn't get ideas. Ambition has destroyed as much as it has created. If he stays focused on his job and protecting Philadelphia no matter the threat, he remains strong.
Crime is down in Philadelphia as it is everywhere, but Krasner isn't as beloved as his numbers have it. There's bitterness that certain people shouldn't be on the street. Nevertheless, he is right to go after Shapiro. There is no appetite for mincing words on ICE. It overrides whatever Krasner gets.
February 5, 2026 at 3:48 AM
Krasner is powerful and successful as long as he doesn't get ideas. Ambition has destroyed as much as it has created. If he stays focused on his job and protecting Philadelphia no matter the threat, he remains strong.
He's also too proud to admit Lewis was a disastrous choice...or worse, admit Lewis conned him.
Bezos doesn't want to run the Post out of business. No one ever bought a newspaper who didn't want to use it for his own ends. He is doing what he does well; slashing everything that doesn't work toward his ends.
February 5, 2026 at 3:44 AM
He's also too proud to admit Lewis was a disastrous choice...or worse, admit Lewis conned him.
Reposted by Matt Szafranski
This can get votes now and is a realistic first step towards more action when they have the Congress.
SENATE AND HOUSE DEMOCRATS ARE UNITED ON REINING IN THE ABUSES OF ICE
Americans have watched in horror as ICE has terrorized communities across the country
Federal agents can’t continue to cause chaos in our cities while more Americans are killed
We must rein in ICE
Here’s what we're demanding:
Americans have watched in horror as ICE has terrorized communities across the country
Federal agents can’t continue to cause chaos in our cities while more Americans are killed
We must rein in ICE
Here’s what we're demanding:
February 5, 2026 at 3:39 AM
This can get votes now and is a realistic first step towards more action when they have the Congress.
Reposted by Matt Szafranski
Fact
Jeff Bezos’s wealth has increased an average of $70 million every day of 2026, meaning that he could have offset The Post’s losses with what he’s made since Monday.
February 5, 2026 at 3:40 AM
Fact
Reposted by Matt Szafranski
So while this would not abolish ICE - which should remain a goal - it would heavily curtail the ability of Trump-Miller to attempt ethnic cleansing.
in real terms, #7 would give states leverage to put an end to surges, #8 would give states the ability to outright stop construction of new detention facilities, #1 and #6 would slow the rate at which DHS could train and deploy officers, #2 and #10 would likely shrink the pool of recruits
Schumer & Jeffries lay out the Democratic demands for a DHS funding deal in a letter to the top Republican leaders
February 5, 2026 at 3:21 AM
So while this would not abolish ICE - which should remain a goal - it would heavily curtail the ability of Trump-Miller to attempt ethnic cleansing.
Reposted by Matt Szafranski
in real terms, #7 would give states leverage to put an end to surges, #8 would give states the ability to outright stop construction of new detention facilities, #1 and #6 would slow the rate at which DHS could train and deploy officers, #2 and #10 would likely shrink the pool of recruits
Schumer & Jeffries lay out the Democratic demands for a DHS funding deal in a letter to the top Republican leaders
February 5, 2026 at 3:18 AM
in real terms, #7 would give states leverage to put an end to surges, #8 would give states the ability to outright stop construction of new detention facilities, #1 and #6 would slow the rate at which DHS could train and deploy officers, #2 and #10 would likely shrink the pool of recruits
Reposted by Matt Szafranski
Some significant asks on there. Legislative text will matter quite a lot.
Schumer & Jeffries lay out the Democratic demands for a DHS funding deal in a letter to the top Republican leaders
February 5, 2026 at 3:05 AM
Some significant asks on there. Legislative text will matter quite a lot.
Allowing states to sue is arguably the most important thing they could realistically get.
Schumer & Jeffries lay out the Democratic demands for a DHS funding deal in a letter to the top Republican leaders
February 5, 2026 at 2:47 AM
Allowing states to sue is arguably the most important thing they could realistically get.
[facepalm]
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is investigating allegations that Nike’s diversity, equity and inclusion objectives resulted in ‘a pattern or practice of disparate treatment against white employees.’ on.wsj.com/3ZV5XCA
Nike Is Investigated for Alleged Discrimination Against White Workers
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is investigating allegations that Nike’s diversity, equity and inclusion objectives resulted in ‘a pattern or practice of disparate treatment against white employees.’
on.wsj.com
February 4, 2026 at 10:42 PM
[facepalm]
Chocolatey.
Registration just went live for the next Third Circuit conference! May 6-8 in Hershey, Pa.
web.cvent.com/event/335665...
web.cvent.com/event/335665...
2026 Third Circuit Judicial Conference. Online registration by Cvent
2026 Third Circuit Judicial Conference
web.cvent.com
February 4, 2026 at 10:41 PM
Chocolatey.
Reposted by Matt Szafranski
FWIW, Wyden can just stand up on the Senate floor and tell us all exactly what this is about.
February 4, 2026 at 9:56 PM
FWIW, Wyden can just stand up on the Senate floor and tell us all exactly what this is about.
Sigh
This system is broken. It’s time for term limits.
February 4, 2026 at 9:58 PM
Sigh
Reposted by Matt Szafranski
I suspect part is also a necessity these days. A district judge is at risk of a social media storm (plus threats) when they rule against the admin, so it's in their interest—and the public's—to explain the ruling clearly in non-legal terms, including by showing the stakes via dramatic prose.
This is just a guess, but maybe the rise in dramatic prose from district court judges is partly due to a growing belief among those judges that it's pointless to try to persuade SCOTUS and they must therefore focus on other potential audiences.
February 4, 2026 at 9:56 PM
I suspect part is also a necessity these days. A district judge is at risk of a social media storm (plus threats) when they rule against the admin, so it's in their interest—and the public's—to explain the ruling clearly in non-legal terms, including by showing the stakes via dramatic prose.
OMFG
February 4, 2026 at 9:57 PM
OMFG
Reposted by Matt Szafranski
This is just a guess, but maybe the rise in dramatic prose from district court judges is partly due to a growing belief among those judges that it's pointless to try to persuade SCOTUS and they must therefore focus on other potential audiences.
February 3, 2026 at 2:04 PM
This is just a guess, but maybe the rise in dramatic prose from district court judges is partly due to a growing belief among those judges that it's pointless to try to persuade SCOTUS and they must therefore focus on other potential audiences.
Reposted by Matt Szafranski
BREAKING from me at MassLive: The City of Worcester is banning ICE from using city property to conduct federal immigration operations. www.masslive.com/worcester/20...
Worcester bans ICE from using city property for immigration operations
The ban prohibits ICE from assembling, mobilizing and deploying vehicles, equipment, materials or personnel for immigration operations on municipal property.
www.masslive.com
February 4, 2026 at 9:42 PM
BREAKING from me at MassLive: The City of Worcester is banning ICE from using city property to conduct federal immigration operations. www.masslive.com/worcester/20...