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pmonies.bsky.social
Paul Monies
@pmonies.bsky.social
1.5K followers 1.5K following 610 posts
“Bluesky ain’t real life.” 🤷‍♂️ Native Scotsman. Honorary Texan and Okie. Reporting without fear or favor. #FOI Send me news tips: pmonies@oklahomawatch.org.
https://oklahomawatch.org/author/paulmonies/
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pmonies.bsky.social
Paul Monies @pmonies.bsky.social · Feb 7
I’ve been waiting here since September. Just sayin’…. 😉
(Photo by Doug Hoke)
Reposted by Paul Monies
politico.com
Republicans’ tax cuts shaved billions off Amazon’s tax bill, new government filings show.

The company says it ran a $1.2 billion tax bill last year, down from $9 billion the previous year — even as its profits jumped by 45 percent to nearly $90 billion.

More on Amazon's 87% drop in taxes👇
Amazon's tax bill plunges after GOP tax cuts
The 87 percent drop is largely due to a more generous depreciation break in the 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act.'
www.politico.com
February 6, 2026 at 7:29 PM
Reposted by Paul Monies
gelliottmorris.com
if you spend any significant amount of time on X the everything app, your brain is being cooked
February 6, 2026 at 2:56 PM
Reposted by Paul Monies
ashtonpittman.bsky.social
NEW: Amid local opposition, ICE has ditched plans for an 8,500-capacity facility in Byhalia, Mississippi.

“I just spoke with DHS Secretary Noem about the proposed ICE detention facility in Marshall County. ... I appreciate her for agreeing to look elsewhere,” Republican Sen. Roger Wicker says.
Byhalia ICE Facility Plans Ditched Amid Mississippi Opposition, Wicker Says
A proposed ICE detention facility that would have held 8,500 immigrants in a warehouse in Byhalia, Mississippi, won’t happen, Sen. Roger Wicker says.
www.mississippifreepress.org
February 6, 2026 at 7:31 PM
Reposted by Paul Monies
oklahomawatch.bsky.social
Oklahoma's Family Representation Advocacy Program expanded to 50 counties in February but needs $5.5 million more to reach all 77 counties. The program provides attorneys, social workers and peer mentors for parents whose children are removed by the state.

https://ow.ly/UUyV50Y9A4J
February 6, 2026 at 1:01 PM
Reposted by Paul Monies
kgou.org
Jail officials say a 22-year-old man died in custody at the Oklahoma County Detention Center in January. His death is the first in more than six months, but follows in a long line of deaths at the troubled facility.

www.kgou.org/criminal-jus...
Oklahoma County jail sees first death of 2026 as budget shortfalls continue
Jail officials say a 22-year-old man died in custody at the Oklahoma County Detention Center in January. His death is the first in more than six months, but follows in a long line of deaths at the…
www.kgou.org
February 4, 2026 at 10:03 PM
Reposted by Paul Monies
oklahomawatch.bsky.social
Mike Mazzei, Charles McCall and Chip Keating have loaned themselves a combined $7.6 million ahead of the June 16 primary election. Unlike individual contributions, state ethics rules don’t cap self-funding.

https://ow.ly/8nTf50Y96ys
February 5, 2026 at 1:01 PM
Reposted by Paul Monies
dmgoforth.bsky.social
I promise you all that journalism is still being done across the country, sometimes in unlikely places. It just needs your support.
marcelias.bsky.social Marc Elias @marcelias.bsky.social · 2d
The morning after mass layoffs, The Washington Post publishes this as their lead editorial. The owner and publisher clearly have no idea why they are losing subscribers. Meanwhile they have destroyed a storied brand.

Support independent media. hubs.ly/Q03M8rql0
February 5, 2026 at 1:44 PM
Reposted by Paul Monies
couriernewsroom.bsky.social
ICE wants to turn 23 industrial warehouses across the country into detention ‘death camps.’ COURIER shares the details on the status of each location, alongside an interactive map.
MAP: All 23 industrial warehouses ICE wants to turn into detention ‘death camps’
In an apparent attempt to avoid public outcry and scrutiny, ICE has sought to secure these leases in private. So we made a searchable map of every proposed site.
www.beltway.news
February 4, 2026 at 7:44 PM
Reposted by Paul Monies
cnn.com
The Supreme Court has allowed California to use a new congressional map that will undermine President Donald Trump’s effort to keep control of the House of Representatives. https://cnn.it/45OlXKl
February 4, 2026 at 7:52 PM
Reposted by Paul Monies
benjaminpenn.bsky.social
Exclusive: DOJ is requiring all 93 US attorneys to designate prosecutors for "emergency jump teams" supporting surge districts dealing with assaults & obstruction of federal officers, per internal memo. Comes as more Minn. prosecutors resign. news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
DOJ Demands Emergency Surge Prosecutors From All US Attorneys
The Justice Department is requiring all US attorneys to rapidly assign prosecutors for “emergency jump teams” supporting districts handling alleged assaults or obstruction of law enforcement, accordin...
news.bloomberglaw.com
February 3, 2026 at 8:35 PM
Reposted by Paul Monies
oklahomawatch.bsky.social
Discovery fights are heating up: An Osage County judge has twice ruled against attorneys for the Oklahoma AG over delays in turning over evidence to ET Gathering and Processing, which denies market manipulation during Winter Storm Uri in 2021. #oilandgas #okgov #okwx

https://ow.ly/Pfpo50Y7Xso
February 3, 2026 at 1:01 PM
Reposted by Paul Monies
drewharwell.com
A retiree wrote this email to a DHS attorney. Within five hours, DHS demanded Google turn over records for his account.

A Kafkaesque form of domestic surveillance, intimidating Americans for lawful speech.

New from us at the Post: www.washingtonpost.com/investigatio... @johnwoodrowcox.bsky.social
“Unconscionable,” Jon thought as he found an email address online for the lead prosecutor, Joseph Dernbach, who was named in the story. Peering through metal-rimmed glasses, Jon opened Gmail on his computer monitor. “Mr. Dernbach, don’t play Russian roulette with H’s life,” he wrote. “Err on the side of caution. There’s a reason the US government along with many other governments don’t recognise the Taliban. Apply principles of common sense and decency.” That was it. In five minutes, Jon said, he finished the note, signed his first and last name, pressed send and hoped his plea would make a difference. Five hours and one minute later, Jon was watching TV with his wife when an email popped up in his inbox. He noticed it on his phone. “Google,” the message read, “has received legal process from a Law Enforcement authority compelling the release of information related to your Google Account.”
February 3, 2026 at 3:15 PM
pmonies.bsky.social
One of Oklahoma’s Winter Storm Uri lawsuits accusing natural gas marketers of price manipulation could go to trial later this year, more than two years after it was filed. A pretrial conference is set for August in Osage County.
oklahomawatch.org/2026/02/03/o... #oilandgas #okgov #okwx
Oklahoma’s Winter Storm Uri Lawsuits Coming Out Of Cold Storage  - Oklahoma Watch
Oklahoma’s lawsuit accusing natural gas marketers of price manipulation during Winter Storm Uri could reach trial later this year, as discovery disputes continue in Osage County. The case unfolds amid...
oklahomawatch.org
February 3, 2026 at 1:32 PM
Reposted by Paul Monies
oklahomawatch.bsky.social
A curious bill from Oklahoma’s last legislative session has some politicians wondering how much Oklahoma insurance law is being written by insurance companies.

https://ow.ly/pNWW50Y7xH6

February 2, 2026 at 1:35 PM
pmonies.bsky.social
By His Clawd Appendage. 😂

“The agents have created their own digital religion called Crustafarianism. One built a website, wrote theology, created a scripture system and began evangelizing. By morning it had recruited 43 AI prophets.”
January 31, 2026 at 3:06 PM
pmonies.bsky.social
INBOX: Oklahoma #measles case and possible community exposure in Norman last week, per Oklahoma State Department of Health.

Potential measles exposure location:
Business: Logie’s on the Corner
Address: 749 Asp Ave., Norman
Date: January 24, 2026
Time: 9:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. (January 25)
#okhealth
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK—Today, the Oklahoma State Department of Health received confirmation of a measles case. During the investigation, the OSDH learned that the individual was in a public setting in Cleveland County while contagious, posing a potential risk to the public. Potential measles exposure location: Business: Logie’s on the Corner Address: 749 Asp Ave., Norman Date: January 24, 2026 Time: 9:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. (January 25) If an individual visited this location within the date and timeframe listed and is unvaccinated, unsure of vaccine or immune status, or has concerns, they are encouraged to provide their name and contact information on this form, and someone from the OSDH will contact them between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., 7 days a week, with further information and guidance. Possibly exposed individuals who are not immune through vaccination or prior infection should exclude themselves from public settings for 21 days from the date of their potential exposure. Additionally, if anyone is experiencing flu-like symptoms, fever and/or a new rash illness and has visited any of these locations during the identified timeframe, they should immediately exclude themselves from public settings. If an individual needs to seek medical care, they should call their health care provider ahead of time to report their symptoms and this exposure. Contact the OSDH Epidemiologist-on-Call at 405.426.8710, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., 7 days a week, to notify us of your symptoms. Individuals with measles are contagious four days before rash onset through four days after rash onset.
January 30, 2026 at 11:21 PM
Reposted by Paul Monies
aurabogado.bsky.social
Georgia Fort's is chilling, and it's being overshadowed by the equally chilling arrest of Don Lemon.

A GoFundMe is being set up for Fort. In the meantime, you can support her work directly – without paying massive fundraising platform fees – through her website:

www.georgiafort.com/support
Support Independent Journalism | GF
www.georgiafort.com
January 30, 2026 at 4:28 PM
Reposted by Paul Monies
minnesotareformer.com
January 30, 2026 at 6:22 PM
Reposted by Paul Monies
oklahomawatch.bsky.social
Rising costs are crushing Oklahoma farmers even as yields soar. One grower explains what's changed. Read More: https://ow.ly/bIOA50Y60sH
January 30, 2026 at 1:23 PM
Reposted by Paul Monies
bradheath.bsky.social
President Trump has filed a lawsuit against the IRS, in which he demands that the IRS, which he as president controls, pay him $10 billion.

storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
January 30, 2026 at 12:56 AM
Reposted by Paul Monies
kfor4.bsky.social
After growing opposition to plans for an ICE detention center in Oklahoma City, the owners of the property have apparently pulled out of the deal. 
OKC Mayor says landowners pull out of deal to sell to ICE for an OKC detention center 
After growing opposition to plans for an ICE detention center in Oklahoma City, the owners of the property have apparently pulled out of the deal. 
kfor.com
January 29, 2026 at 5:49 PM
Reposted by Paul Monies
tarablume.bsky.social
Breaking! The ICE detention center deal with DHS appears to be off.
January 29, 2026 at 5:31 PM
Reposted by Paul Monies
aljazeera.com
The Congressional Budget Office estimates that ongoing military operations in US cities will cost $93m a month.
Trump's troop deployment in US cities cost almost $500m in 2025
The Congressional Budget Office estimates that ongoing military operations in US cities will cost $93m a month.
www.aljazeera.com
January 29, 2026 at 4:30 PM
Reposted by Paul Monies
texastribune.org
SpaceX wants a tax break meant to create jobs in low-income areas. Critics question the benefits.
Critics question SpaceX winning tax credits for jobs
Elon Musk’s company got a boost in its application by the Starbase City Commissioners. Two commissioners are SpaceX employees.
www.texastribune.org
January 29, 2026 at 4:34 PM
Reposted by Paul Monies
oklahomawatch.bsky.social
Oklahoma public schools saw 10,000 fewer students enroll this year—the largest drop since the pandemic. What’s behind the decline? Experts point to falling birth rates and increased school choice options. Read more: ow.ly/zn9J50Y4NE7

#OKLAED #PublicSchools #Enrollment #EducationNews #OklahomaWatch
January 28, 2026 at 1:23 PM