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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
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
Reposted by Paul Monies
foiok.bsky.social
#foioklahoma From rcfp.org: The Oklahoma State Department of Education reached an agreement with Oklahoma Watch to turn over records related to resignation of a senior official at the agency, acknowledging in a court filing that its refusal to do so last year violated the state’s public records law.
Oklahoma education agency settles public records dispute with Oklahoma Watch
Represented by an RCFP attorney, Oklahoma Watch sued the state last year for records related to the resignation of a senior education official.
www.rcfp.org
January 28, 2026 at 1:30 PM
pmonies.bsky.social
Pretty sure it was @vermontgmg.bsky.social who said last year that Trump's EO's were just longform tweets of old. Please correct me if I'm wrong. 🙃
bradleyonishi.bsky.social Dr. Bradley Onishi @bradleyonishi.bsky.social · 7d
Or, hear me out, the legislative branch could act without Daddy’s approval or aid.
seancasten.bsky.social Sean Casten @seancasten.bsky.social · 7d
As Republican Senators pitch the idea of having Trump issue executive orders to dial down ICE in exchange for funding DHS, let's all be very clear: AN EXECUTIVE ORDER IS NOT THE LAW. (1/x)
January 28, 2026 at 2:03 AM
Reposted by Paul Monies
acatwithnews.bsky.social
Minneapolis, MN -

US Rep. Ilhan Omar was just sprayed by an unknown substance during a town hall meeting in North Minneapolis. Despite some telling her she needed to change, she continued to speak to the crowd.

(From a Reuters feed)
January 28, 2026 at 1:20 AM
pmonies.bsky.social
This response has "concepts of a plan" vibes.
sarahdwire.bsky.social Sarah D. Wire @sarahdwire.bsky.social · 7d
The Justice Department said in a Jan. 27 court filing that it expects to complete processing millions of files on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein "in the near term," but did not provide a timeline to release the information
www.usatoday.com/story/news/p... via @usatoday.com
Epstein files deadline is long gone. When will more docs be released?
It's been a month since the Congressionally imposed deadline for the Department of Justice to release its files on Jeffrey Epstein. What's the latest?
www.usatoday.com
January 28, 2026 at 1:45 AM
Reposted by Paul Monies
apnews.com
A man wearing a black jacket was tackled to the ground after spraying an unknown substance on U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar at a town hall she was hosting in Minneapolis on Tuesday.
Man tackled to ground after spraying unknown substance on Rep. Ilhan Omar at Minneapolis town hall
A man wearing a black jacket has been tackled to the ground after spraying an unknown substance on U.S. Rep.
bit.ly
January 28, 2026 at 1:36 AM
Reposted by Paul Monies
zacheverson.com
New: "House Health Panel Member Kevin Hern Sold UnitedHealth Amid Stock-Trading Ban Push"

me, for @forbes.com
Rep. Kevin Hern Sold UnitedHealth Stock While Sitting On House Health Subcommittee
Disclosures show the Oklahoma Republican sold up to $500,000 in UnitedHealth stock while serving on a committee that oversees payments for health care.
www.forbes.com
January 27, 2026 at 10:40 PM
Reposted by Paul Monies
oklahomawatch.bsky.social
Long Story Short: How Oklahoma’s Domestic Violence Sentencing Law is Failing in Practice

ow.ly/9b5A50Y4upN
How Oklahoma’s Domestic Violence Sentencing Law is Failing in Practice - Oklahoma Watch
Oklahoma Watch · How Oklahoma’s Domestic Violence Sentencing Law is Failing in Practice Stephen Martin’s latest story was a deep dive into the Survivors’ Act and how, a year after it became law, imple...
ow.ly
January 27, 2026 at 7:21 PM
pmonies.bsky.social
Wind and natural gas working pretty well together in the SPP electric region during this winter storm. Coal staying steady, too.
www.eia.gov/electricity/... #okwx
A snapshot of electricity generation by energy source in the Southwest Power Pool from Jan. 20, 2026, to Jan. 27, 2026. It shows wind, natural gas and coal fluctuating, but working together well. Data is from the federal Energy Information Administration.
January 27, 2026 at 7:33 PM
pmonies.bsky.social
This kind of response from a public comms person is infuriating. It will come out at some point. There's no need to be so hostile about basic questions regarding public expenditures. #FOI #transparency #OU #okleg #okgov
January 27, 2026 at 4:57 PM