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
I mean, in fairness Vance should be booed if he entered a supermarket.
Vance gets a chilly Winter Olympics reception in Milan, with booing and jeering
Vance gets a chilly Winter Olympics reception in Milan, with booing and jeering
The moment highlighted the growing unpopularity of the Trump administration on the world stage, especially in Europe.
www.ms.now
February 7, 2026 at 9:58 PM
I mean, in fairness Vance should be booed if he entered a supermarket.
Reposted by Matt Szafranski
NYT confirming MS NOW reporting:
Prosecutors began investigating Renee Good's killing, then Washington told them to stop.
Federal prosecutors had a warrant to collect evidence from Good's vehicle, but Trump leaders said to drop it. About a dozen prosecutors have since departed.
Prosecutors began investigating Renee Good's killing, then Washington told them to stop.
Federal prosecutors had a warrant to collect evidence from Good's vehicle, but Trump leaders said to drop it. About a dozen prosecutors have since departed.
Prosecutors Began Investigating Renee Good’s Killing. Washington Told Them to Stop.
www.nytimes.com
February 7, 2026 at 8:10 PM
NYT confirming MS NOW reporting:
Prosecutors began investigating Renee Good's killing, then Washington told them to stop.
Federal prosecutors had a warrant to collect evidence from Good's vehicle, but Trump leaders said to drop it. About a dozen prosecutors have since departed.
Prosecutors began investigating Renee Good's killing, then Washington told them to stop.
Federal prosecutors had a warrant to collect evidence from Good's vehicle, but Trump leaders said to drop it. About a dozen prosecutors have since departed.
Reposted by Matt Szafranski
On a platter, my Liege
@anntelnaes.bsky.social
@anntelnaes.bsky.social
February 7, 2026 at 7:33 PM
On a platter, my Liege
@anntelnaes.bsky.social
@anntelnaes.bsky.social
Reposted by Matt Szafranski
I’ve been following Greg Bovino and Border Patrol around for months. Here’s some of my footage (and thoughts).
Following the killings of Renée Good and Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minnesota, "Commander at Large" Gregory Bovino was reassigned away from his leadership role in the operation.
Journalist Amanda Moore notes the violent culture and widespread fear he helped create won't be so easily removed.
Journalist Amanda Moore notes the violent culture and widespread fear he helped create won't be so easily removed.
February 7, 2026 at 8:23 PM
I’ve been following Greg Bovino and Border Patrol around for months. Here’s some of my footage (and thoughts).
Reposted by Matt Szafranski
Body camera footage obtained by the AJC indicates issues with the search warrant slowed the FBI, even as agents came prepared to take 2020 ballots by force.
Police body cam footage shows confusion at FBI raid of Fulton elections office
www.ajc.com
February 7, 2026 at 8:42 PM
Body camera footage obtained by the AJC indicates issues with the search warrant slowed the FBI, even as agents came prepared to take 2020 ballots by force.
Reposted by Matt Szafranski
Before The Washington Post layoffs came down, a group of wealthy D.C. locals approached CEO Will Lewis with a proposal.
@passantino.bsky.social has the details in his Saturday @status.news column: www.status.news/p/washington...
@passantino.bsky.social has the details in his Saturday @status.news column: www.status.news/p/washington...
February 7, 2026 at 4:37 PM
Before The Washington Post layoffs came down, a group of wealthy D.C. locals approached CEO Will Lewis with a proposal.
@passantino.bsky.social has the details in his Saturday @status.news column: www.status.news/p/washington...
@passantino.bsky.social has the details in his Saturday @status.news column: www.status.news/p/washington...
Reposted by Matt Szafranski
A Mexican immigrant whose skull was broken during his arrest by immigration officers last month in Minnesota says the beating was unprovoked. A judge ruled his arrest was unlawful.
Immigrant whose skull was broken in eight places during ICE arrest says beating was unprovoked
A Mexican immigrant whose skull was broken during his arrest by immigration officers last month in Minnesota says the beating was unprovoked.
bit.ly
February 7, 2026 at 3:57 PM
A Mexican immigrant whose skull was broken during his arrest by immigration officers last month in Minnesota says the beating was unprovoked. A judge ruled his arrest was unlawful.
A huge win for callous inhumanity maybe.
NEW: A huge win for ICE in the 5th Circuit tonight clears the way for the agency to mass detain people facing (and fighting) deportation proceedings. District judges all over the country — including dozens of Trump appointees — had rejected this policy.
www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
February 7, 2026 at 5:40 AM
A huge win for callous inhumanity maybe.
Reposted by Matt Szafranski
Stop putting people in charge of newsrooms who know the cost of everything and the value of nothing.
UPDATE: The layoffs announcements at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution are trickling in. They include:
• Allie Gross, an investigative reporter, and
• Jozsef Papp, a crime and public safety reporter
So far, all of the (publicly) laid-off reporters are women and/or people of color.
• Allie Gross, an investigative reporter, and
• Jozsef Papp, a crime and public safety reporter
So far, all of the (publicly) laid-off reporters are women and/or people of color.
BREAKING: @ajc.com on Tuesday evening said it will lay off approximately 50 staffers, about 15% of its headcount, as it seeks to cut costs and marshal resources to invest in its growth.
The AJC published its last print edition on 12/31. About half of those laid off will come from the newsroom.
The AJC published its last print edition on 12/31. About half of those laid off will come from the newsroom.
February 7, 2026 at 5:34 AM
Stop putting people in charge of newsrooms who know the cost of everything and the value of nothing.
Reposted by Matt Szafranski
It really pays to remind ourselves frequently that this whole immigration "crisis" is made up out of whole cloth. There was no emergency,danger or problem, only a demagogue stirring up racist grievances for political advantage.
February 7, 2026 at 3:38 AM
It really pays to remind ourselves frequently that this whole immigration "crisis" is made up out of whole cloth. There was no emergency,danger or problem, only a demagogue stirring up racist grievances for political advantage.
Reposted by Matt Szafranski
My Op Ed in Today's Washington Post: "The long-lasting effects of viruses — and the anti-vaccine movement. For some people, a viral infection can have devastating long-term effects."
wapo.st/4qjFtWk
wapo.st/4qjFtWk
February 6, 2026 at 3:37 PM
My Op Ed in Today's Washington Post: "The long-lasting effects of viruses — and the anti-vaccine movement. For some people, a viral infection can have devastating long-term effects."
wapo.st/4qjFtWk
wapo.st/4qjFtWk
Reposted by Matt Szafranski
Indiana candidate filing deadline was today:
Dems got candidates in 91/100 State House districts and 25/25 State Senate districts!
The Republicans? 79/100 State House districts and nearly all of their incumbents in the Senate are facing primary challenges.
Hoosier Republicans in disarray
Dems got candidates in 91/100 State House districts and 25/25 State Senate districts!
The Republicans? 79/100 State House districts and nearly all of their incumbents in the Senate are facing primary challenges.
Hoosier Republicans in disarray
February 7, 2026 at 1:37 AM
Indiana candidate filing deadline was today:
Dems got candidates in 91/100 State House districts and 25/25 State Senate districts!
The Republicans? 79/100 State House districts and nearly all of their incumbents in the Senate are facing primary challenges.
Hoosier Republicans in disarray
Dems got candidates in 91/100 State House districts and 25/25 State Senate districts!
The Republicans? 79/100 State House districts and nearly all of their incumbents in the Senate are facing primary challenges.
Hoosier Republicans in disarray
Reposted by Matt Szafranski
The part I want to add is that oral argument on this case was on Wednesday. So, I’d guess this was all written up already.
BREAKING: A 5th Circuit panel has backed ICE's mass detention policy, a decision that clears the way for the administration to lock up people who are in immigration proceedings
It's a 2-1 ruling
Majority: Jones (Reagan), Duncan (Trump)
Minority: Douglas (Obama)
s3.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
It's a 2-1 ruling
Majority: Jones (Reagan), Duncan (Trump)
Minority: Douglas (Obama)
s3.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
February 7, 2026 at 3:38 AM
The part I want to add is that oral argument on this case was on Wednesday. So, I’d guess this was all written up already.
Reposted by Matt Szafranski
TUNNEL T.R.O - On Day Federal Funding to NY NJ Hudson Tunnel Was to Stop Temporary Restraining Order Granted in SDNY - Inner City Press story: innercitypress.com/sdny11vargas... TRO Order on Patreon here www.patreon.com/posts/tunnel...
On Day Federal Funding to NY NJ Hudson Tunnel Was to Stop TRO
Granted in SDNYInner City Press: Investigative Reporting from the United
Nations
InnerCityPress.com is engaged
these days in reporting on the SDNY and other courts, and still
investigative journalism about the United Nations, including the
World Bank, the IMF, th...
innercitypress.com
February 7, 2026 at 2:43 AM
TUNNEL T.R.O - On Day Federal Funding to NY NJ Hudson Tunnel Was to Stop Temporary Restraining Order Granted in SDNY - Inner City Press story: innercitypress.com/sdny11vargas... TRO Order on Patreon here www.patreon.com/posts/tunnel...
You love to see it.
February 7, 2026 at 2:12 AM
You love to see it.
The Sun didn't finally set on the British Empire on July 1, 1997. It set on September 19, 2022.
A minority didn't care for our extended discussion and analysis when the late Queen died. It's not an exaggeration to say that she personally kept Britain united and relevant for 50 years longer than it should have been.
People underestimate the Queen's vital role in maintaining London's lingering political influence on the world.
February 7, 2026 at 1:49 AM
The Sun didn't finally set on the British Empire on July 1, 1997. It set on September 19, 2022.
Reposted by Matt Szafranski
Yesterday folks asked me who is keeping track of the invasion prosecutions. Here, @brittnymejia.bsky.social profiles the Federal Public Defenders who keep kicking Bill Essayli's fanny in LA.
www.latimes.com/california/s...
www.latimes.com/california/s...
L.A. public defenders are on a win streak as Trump's Justice Department charges activists
The federal public defender's office in L.A. was 5 and 0 against prosecutors in trials related to immigration raids and protests. Trial No. 6 was last month.
www.latimes.com
February 6, 2026 at 9:38 PM
Yesterday folks asked me who is keeping track of the invasion prosecutions. Here, @brittnymejia.bsky.social profiles the Federal Public Defenders who keep kicking Bill Essayli's fanny in LA.
www.latimes.com/california/s...
www.latimes.com/california/s...
👇
An easy way to tell that the White House’s “a staffer posted the racist video, not the president, who would never do such a thing” story is a lie is that, if it were true, the obvious next steps would be to (1) name the staffer and (2) make a big show of firing them www.nytimes.com/2026/02/06/u...
February 6, 2026 at 11:54 PM
👇
I'd worry the Muppets would somehow think Murdoc was their leader.
Gorillaz
Also:
Vince Staples
Janelle Monáe
The Ting Tings
Rhiannon GIddens
Also:
Vince Staples
Janelle Monáe
The Ting Tings
Rhiannon GIddens
Who do you want to guest host a potential revival of The Muppet Show?
February 6, 2026 at 11:53 PM
I'd worry the Muppets would somehow think Murdoc was their leader.
Reposted by Matt Szafranski
ICYMI: Rep Richard @neal.house.gov and @repmcgovern.bsky.social have joined the push to boot Homeland Security Security Kristi Noem from office. #mapoli wmasspi.com/2026/01/mcgo...
McGovern and Neal Join Drive to Boot Noem from the Cabinet… — Western Mass Politics & Insight
Both of the 413’s Congressmen, Richard Neal and James McGovern have cosponsored an impeachment resolution against DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.
wmasspi.com
February 6, 2026 at 11:00 PM
ICYMI: Rep Richard @neal.house.gov and @repmcgovern.bsky.social have joined the push to boot Homeland Security Security Kristi Noem from office. #mapoli wmasspi.com/2026/01/mcgo...
Reposted by Matt Szafranski
It shouldn’t be hard for Ashley Hinson to condemn Donald Trump’s post depicting the Obama’s as apes. But that would require her to have an ounce of political courage.
February 6, 2026 at 10:31 PM
It shouldn’t be hard for Ashley Hinson to condemn Donald Trump’s post depicting the Obama’s as apes. But that would require her to have an ounce of political courage.
Reposted by Matt Szafranski
The @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social portal that drew 80,000 enthused NYers to city government has resulted in just 31 hires, largely because most city jobs are civil service.
To me, this was a lost opportunity to draw talent & skills to NYC.
www.thecity.nyc/2026/02/06/m...
To me, this was a lost opportunity to draw talent & skills to NYC.
www.thecity.nyc/2026/02/06/m...
80,000 People Applied to Work for Mamdani. City Hall Has Hired Just 31 of Them.
The successful 0.039% includes new Transportation Commissioner Mike Flynn — a DOT veteran who had also been selected as a member of Mamdani’s transition team..
www.thecity.nyc
February 6, 2026 at 9:31 PM
The @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social portal that drew 80,000 enthused NYers to city government has resulted in just 31 hires, largely because most city jobs are civil service.
To me, this was a lost opportunity to draw talent & skills to NYC.
www.thecity.nyc/2026/02/06/m...
To me, this was a lost opportunity to draw talent & skills to NYC.
www.thecity.nyc/2026/02/06/m...
Reposted by Matt Szafranski
it's so, so, so frustrating how they act like people applying for asylum are subject to removal proceedings. that is not the law!!!!
Just heard back from DHS on why they abruptly expedited Ramos' asylum hearing:
“These are regular removal proceedings. This is standard procedure and there is nothing retaliatory about enforcing the nation’s immigration laws. He will receive full due process."
(This is not standard procedure.)
“These are regular removal proceedings. This is standard procedure and there is nothing retaliatory about enforcing the nation’s immigration laws. He will receive full due process."
(This is not standard procedure.)
February 6, 2026 at 8:17 PM
it's so, so, so frustrating how they act like people applying for asylum are subject to removal proceedings. that is not the law!!!!
Not to downplay this, but Lewis ordered the Post to not cover the tumult over his leadership long ago. Not surprising he'd spike a story on these layoffs.
Spiking the Kamala Harris endorsement can be rationalized as something that was done on the opinion side of the newspaper so less dire, but management spiking a news story means the outlet is official dead.
Scoop w/ @nataliekorach.bsky.social: Washington Post leadership spiked a story that had been prepared by the newspaper's media desk, covering the historic layoffs at the Jeff Bezos-owned newspaper. Details in @status.news: link.status.news/4ai6W4C
February 6, 2026 at 8:06 PM
Not to downplay this, but Lewis ordered the Post to not cover the tumult over his leadership long ago. Not surprising he'd spike a story on these layoffs.
Reposted by Matt Szafranski
Everything is terrible but a really bad part of all of this is these guys became Nazis to seek revenge for a lie.
NEW VIDEO: Federal Agent in Coon Rapids: ‘The more people that you lose in Minnesota, you then lose a voting right to stay blue.’
Two observers talk with this agent who mentions “blue state media” and “voting rights.” Recorded at 4 p.m. on February 4.
Two observers talk with this agent who mentions “blue state media” and “voting rights.” Recorded at 4 p.m. on February 4.
February 6, 2026 at 7:40 PM
Everything is terrible but a really bad part of all of this is these guys became Nazis to seek revenge for a lie.