Patrick G. Eddington
@pgeddington.com
Out now: The Triumph of Fear: Domestic Surveillance and Political Repression from McKinley through Eisenhower. Order direct from GU Press & use code TGUF to get 30% off: https://press.georgetown.edu/Book/The-Triumph-of-Fear
Views mine alone.
Views mine alone.
Reposted by Patrick G. Eddington
BREAKING: The Trump administraiton has committed a mass violation of ICE detainees' constitutional rights in MN, effectively blocking their acess to attorneys in the Whipple building, a judge ruled tonight.
The judge: Trump appointeee Nancy Brasel
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
The judge: Trump appointeee Nancy Brasel
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
February 13, 2026 at 12:00 AM
BREAKING: The Trump administraiton has committed a mass violation of ICE detainees' constitutional rights in MN, effectively blocking their acess to attorneys in the Whipple building, a judge ruled tonight.
The judge: Trump appointeee Nancy Brasel
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
The judge: Trump appointeee Nancy Brasel
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Reposted by Patrick G. Eddington
NEW: We’re publishing a full list of the 373 federal judges who have ruled against ICE’s mass detention policy and the 28 who have endorsed it — as well as links to key rulings by each.
Trump appointees have split 44 against/ 20 for the policy.
www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
Trump appointees have split 44 against/ 20 for the policy.
www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
February 12, 2026 at 10:01 PM
NEW: We’re publishing a full list of the 373 federal judges who have ruled against ICE’s mass detention policy and the 28 who have endorsed it — as well as links to key rulings by each.
Trump appointees have split 44 against/ 20 for the policy.
www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
Trump appointees have split 44 against/ 20 for the policy.
www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
Reposted by Patrick G. Eddington
Border czar Tom Homan said the ICE surge will soon end, but protest leaders say there’s a need for continued vigilance.
Minnesota resistance movement says drawdown is ‘hard-fought community victory’
Border czar Tom Homan said the ICE surge will soon end, but protest leaders say there’s a need for continued vigilance.
www.startribune.com
February 12, 2026 at 10:33 PM
Border czar Tom Homan said the ICE surge will soon end, but protest leaders say there’s a need for continued vigilance.
Reposted by Patrick G. Eddington
you're doing amazing everybody ❤️
Kansas City developers halt sale of warehouse for ICE detention center as public pressure mounts
Federal officials first toured the building in January, sparking speculation over whether the owners had sold the building to the U.S. government. Media reports suggested the sale was part of a push t...
www.kcur.org
February 12, 2026 at 7:19 PM
you're doing amazing everybody ❤️
The word is spreading...
FBI gathered intelligence on reporters, religious orgs using ‘assessment’ authority, watchdog report says
The bureau also undercounts analysts’ non-compliance with assessment policies because it relies on self-reporting and infrequent audits, the sensitive GAO review adds.
www.nextgov.com
February 12, 2026 at 8:56 PM
The word is spreading...
Reposted by Patrick G. Eddington
The Minnesota state motto is officially now “We’ll Believe It When We See It.”
I don’t make the rules.
I don’t make the rules.
February 12, 2026 at 6:14 PM
The Minnesota state motto is officially now “We’ll Believe It When We See It.”
I don’t make the rules.
I don’t make the rules.
Reposted by Patrick G. Eddington
Q: Rep. Jayapal accused the DOJ of tracking her search history. Is that appropriate conduct?
MIKE JOHNSON: I don't know anything about that
Q: Bondi had a piece of paper with Jayapal's search history
JOHNSON: I don't know anything about that but it would be inappropriate if it happened
MIKE JOHNSON: I don't know anything about that
Q: Bondi had a piece of paper with Jayapal's search history
JOHNSON: I don't know anything about that but it would be inappropriate if it happened
February 12, 2026 at 4:38 PM
Q: Rep. Jayapal accused the DOJ of tracking her search history. Is that appropriate conduct?
MIKE JOHNSON: I don't know anything about that
Q: Bondi had a piece of paper with Jayapal's search history
JOHNSON: I don't know anything about that but it would be inappropriate if it happened
MIKE JOHNSON: I don't know anything about that
Q: Bondi had a piece of paper with Jayapal's search history
JOHNSON: I don't know anything about that but it would be inappropriate if it happened
DoJ & FBI have been doing a lot of unsavory surveillance, including targeting politicians, political candidates, religious organizations, and academics according to a newly leaked GAO report:
February 12, 2026 at 5:28 PM
DoJ & FBI have been doing a lot of unsavory surveillance, including targeting politicians, political candidates, religious organizations, and academics according to a newly leaked GAO report:
cc: @normative.bsky.social @dell.bsky.social @rethinkintel.bsky.social @blanksslate.bsky.social @radleybalko.bsky.social @stevanzetti.bsky.social @americalabs.org @krhawkins.bsky.social @cjciaramella.bsky.social @charliesavage.bsky.social
Over four years ago, Cato asked @raskin.house.gov & Rep. Nancy Mace to have GAO look at an insidious FBI investigative authority called an "Assessment." GAO completed the report in January but withheld it from the public as "Restricted." Racket News leaked it, & here's my take.
FBI Assessments: A First Amendment and Surveillance Nightmare
Now would be an excellent time for Congress to initiate a Church Committee-style review of every single existing surveillance program being employed by executive branch elements.
www.cato.org
February 12, 2026 at 4:45 PM
Over four years ago, Cato asked @raskin.house.gov & Rep. Nancy Mace to have GAO look at an insidious FBI investigative authority called an "Assessment." GAO completed the report in January but withheld it from the public as "Restricted." Racket News leaked it, & here's my take.
FBI Assessments: A First Amendment and Surveillance Nightmare
Now would be an excellent time for Congress to initiate a Church Committee-style review of every single existing surveillance program being employed by executive branch elements.
www.cato.org
February 12, 2026 at 4:37 PM
Over four years ago, Cato asked @raskin.house.gov & Rep. Nancy Mace to have GAO look at an insidious FBI investigative authority called an "Assessment." GAO completed the report in January but withheld it from the public as "Restricted." Racket News leaked it, & here's my take.
Reposted by Patrick G. Eddington
Internal Revenue Service improperly shared confidential tax information of thousands of individuals with immigration enforcement officials, according to three people familiar with the situation, appearing to breach a legal fire wall intended to protect taxpayer data.
IRS improperly disclosed confidential immigrant tax data to DHS
The tax agency only recently discovered it improperly disclosed tax information on thousands of the wrong people to immigration enforcement.
www.washingtonpost.com
February 11, 2026 at 9:47 PM
Internal Revenue Service improperly shared confidential tax information of thousands of individuals with immigration enforcement officials, according to three people familiar with the situation, appearing to breach a legal fire wall intended to protect taxpayer data.
Reposted by Patrick G. Eddington
Investigators say one immigration official abused his girlfriend for years. Another admitted he sexually abused a woman in his custody. A third is charged with taking bribes.
As ICE expands, an AP review of crimes committed by agents shows how their powers can be abused
Investigators say one immigration official abused his girlfriend for years. Another admitted he sexually abused a woman in his custody. A third is charged with taking bribes.
www.mprnews.org
February 11, 2026 at 4:40 PM
Investigators say one immigration official abused his girlfriend for years. Another admitted he sexually abused a woman in his custody. A third is charged with taking bribes.
Reposted by Patrick G. Eddington
NEW: CBP signs a new deal with Clearview AI to access its scraped image database for "tactical targeting," including efforts to “disrupt, degrade, and dismantle” networks of people labeled security threats.
CBP Signs Clearview AI Deal to Use Face Recognition for ‘Tactical Targeting’
US Border Patrol intelligence units will gain access to a face recognition tool built on billions of images scraped from the internet.
www.wired.com
February 11, 2026 at 4:37 PM
NEW: CBP signs a new deal with Clearview AI to access its scraped image database for "tactical targeting," including efforts to “disrupt, degrade, and dismantle” networks of people labeled security threats.
The problem with proposals to fund everything at DHS except ICE & CBP is that they fail to deal with the fact that the entire department is a failed, constitutional rights-violating obscenity created during the post 9/11 panic. It should be abolished in its entirety.
thehill.com
February 11, 2026 at 9:01 PM
The problem with proposals to fund everything at DHS except ICE & CBP is that they fail to deal with the fact that the entire department is a failed, constitutional rights-violating obscenity created during the post 9/11 panic. It should be abolished in its entirety.
Reposted by Patrick G. Eddington
All federalized National Guard troops have been withdrawn from LA, Chicago, and Portland per WaPo.
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
February 11, 2026 at 4:24 PM
All federalized National Guard troops have been withdrawn from LA, Chicago, and Portland per WaPo.
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Reposted by Patrick G. Eddington
Affidavit in Fulton County search is out. Trump lawyer/election denier Kurt Olsen authorized the search. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
February 10, 2026 at 8:02 PM
Affidavit in Fulton County search is out. Trump lawyer/election denier Kurt Olsen authorized the search. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
The Speech and Debate clause is a marvelous thing. Especially when House/Senate members actually use it for oversight purposes.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/live...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/live...
February 10, 2026 at 8:33 PM
The Speech and Debate clause is a marvelous thing. Especially when House/Senate members actually use it for oversight purposes.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/live...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/live...
Reposted by Patrick G. Eddington
It also remains one of the saddest things about this whole sordid era: Bad enough to have a major party succumb to a demagogue, but it’s a personality cult around a doddering buffoon who is, along every personal, professional, and moral dimension, one of the least admirable humans on earth.
Trumpism is a personality cult. This is bad because the cultists have no loyalty to anything beyond Trump and no principles outside of pleasing Trump. But it also means Trumpism is unlikely to have much force without Trump himself.
House Oversight hearing on ICE opens with the rules:
"It is also a clear violation of the rules of the House to make statements that might personally be offensive to the President or the Vice President of the United States."
"It is also a clear violation of the rules of the House to make statements that might personally be offensive to the President or the Vice President of the United States."
February 10, 2026 at 7:11 PM
It also remains one of the saddest things about this whole sordid era: Bad enough to have a major party succumb to a demagogue, but it’s a personality cult around a doddering buffoon who is, along every personal, professional, and moral dimension, one of the least admirable humans on earth.
He either 1) perjured himself or 2) has no idea what's going on in his own agency, because all those facial recognition shots they're taking of people on the streets of this country are going somewhere besides the agents' smartphone. Multiple media outlets have named the database(s) at issue.
THANEDAR: What did your ICE agent mean when he said, 'you raise your voice, I erase your voice' in the video all of us have seen?
LYONS: I'm not aware of that video. I can't comment
LYONS: I'm not aware of that video. I can't comment
February 10, 2026 at 7:16 PM
He either 1) perjured himself or 2) has no idea what's going on in his own agency, because all those facial recognition shots they're taking of people on the streets of this country are going somewhere besides the agents' smartphone. Multiple media outlets have named the database(s) at issue.
Reposted by Patrick G. Eddington
The FTC has subpoenaed the records of the American Academy of Pediatrics and WPATH as part of its campaign to eliminate access to gender affirming care. The FTC does not have the legal authority to regulate nonprofit medical professional orgs like this.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
FTC Targets Medical Nonprofits in Trans Kids’ Health Probe
Federal enforcers have opened a consumer protection probe into the American Academy of Pediatrics and the leading professional association focused on transgender health care, extending the Trump admin...
www.bloomberg.com
February 10, 2026 at 6:31 PM
The FTC has subpoenaed the records of the American Academy of Pediatrics and WPATH as part of its campaign to eliminate access to gender affirming care. The FTC does not have the legal authority to regulate nonprofit medical professional orgs like this.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
If you want to know why legislation along the lines of the Fourth Amendment is Not For Sale Act needs to be law, read on.
Google Handed ICE Student Journalist’s Bank and Credit Card Numbers
Amandla Thomas-Johnson didn't know how much information ICE requested in a subpoena now. Google never gave him a chance to fight it.
theintercept.com
February 10, 2026 at 6:00 PM
If you want to know why legislation along the lines of the Fourth Amendment is Not For Sale Act needs to be law, read on.
Reposted by Patrick G. Eddington
Pair of Ontario First Nations issue U.S. travel advisory due to potential ‘ICE tribal targeting’
www.ctvnews.ca/london/artic...
www.ctvnews.ca/london/artic...
Pair of Ontario First Nations issue U.S. travel advisory due to potential ‘ICE tribal targeting’
Native Americans from Minnesota have been printing off their tribal identification so they had documentation in the event they are stopped by U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers.
www.ctvnews.ca
February 10, 2026 at 5:10 PM
Pair of Ontario First Nations issue U.S. travel advisory due to potential ‘ICE tribal targeting’
www.ctvnews.ca/london/artic...
www.ctvnews.ca/london/artic...
Reposted by Patrick G. Eddington
While everyone’s on the topic of libertarians who got in bed with MAGA authoritarianism, here’s what I wrote about it, including the history of how we got here, way back in 2022. The years since have, I believe, made my worries look, if anything, understated. www.aaronrosspowell.com/3m2fgwdmc7c2a
How the Right Distorted Libertarianism - Aaron Ross Powell's Blog
Once rooted in liberalism, libertarianism's detour through the conservative movement has blunted its radical edge and commitment to principle.
www.aaronrosspowell.com
February 9, 2026 at 4:58 PM
While everyone’s on the topic of libertarians who got in bed with MAGA authoritarianism, here’s what I wrote about it, including the history of how we got here, way back in 2022. The years since have, I believe, made my worries look, if anything, understated. www.aaronrosspowell.com/3m2fgwdmc7c2a
Reposted by Patrick G. Eddington
Very expensive, taxpayer funded concentration camps. Trump's America, 2026.
ICE HAS PURCHASED A WAREHOUSE NEAR EL PASO, TX.
The cost of this warehouse was $123M. It will operate at an estimated cost of $620.5M per year. It removes $300K from the state’s annual tax revenue. It will hold up to 8,500 detainees.
The cost of this warehouse was $123M. It will operate at an estimated cost of $620.5M per year. It removes $300K from the state’s annual tax revenue. It will hold up to 8,500 detainees.
DHS buys El Paso warehouses for $123 million ICE mega detention center as deportation capacity expands nationwide
El Paso is a strategic location for the Trump administration because of Biggs Army Airfield, from which deportation flights have increasingly taken place. The mega facility is among several nationwide...
elpasomatters.org
February 7, 2026 at 9:13 PM
Very expensive, taxpayer funded concentration camps. Trump's America, 2026.