Great LakesQ
@qglpolicywonk.bsky.social
🌈Passionate advocate. Loves working with smarty pants folks to create innovative solutions to seemingly intractable challenges.
Great Lakes, LGBTQ, health (HIV/cancer) enviro bi-national with 🇨🇦 policy wonk. Loves elevating 🎶 & women’s sports ball.
Great Lakes, LGBTQ, health (HIV/cancer) enviro bi-national with 🇨🇦 policy wonk. Loves elevating 🎶 & women’s sports ball.
Reposted by Great LakesQ
Another Dem win for the House.
Thank you, TX-18.
Thank you, TX-18.
February 1, 2026 at 5:59 AM
Another Dem win for the House.
Thank you, TX-18.
Thank you, TX-18.
Reposted by Great LakesQ
Reposted by Great LakesQ
Reposted by Great LakesQ
Statement from Leigh Wambsganss after loss to Taylor Rehmet in Tarrant County: "Tonight is a wake up call for Republicans in Tarrant County, Texas and the nation."
February 1, 2026 at 6:24 AM
Statement from Leigh Wambsganss after loss to Taylor Rehmet in Tarrant County: "Tonight is a wake up call for Republicans in Tarrant County, Texas and the nation."
Congratulations to my friend and our newest State Senator from Tarrant County, Taylor Rehmet! I met Taylor years ago through labor organizing.
Don’t tell us what can’t be done in Texas. When we show up #TexasTough, we change the game. Today we proved what we’ve known all along: Texas is in play.
Don’t tell us what can’t be done in Texas. When we show up #TexasTough, we change the game. Today we proved what we’ve known all along: Texas is in play.
February 1, 2026 at 7:24 AM
Reposted by Great LakesQ
Hey Texas.
Check and double check your voter registration.
The GOP just lost in an R+17 district so take nothing for granted.
Check and double check your voter registration.
The GOP just lost in an R+17 district so take nothing for granted.
Texas: the voter registration deadline is just a few days away on Monday, February 2nd.
To check your registration visit IWillVote.com
To check your registration visit IWillVote.com
February 1, 2026 at 6:59 AM
Hey Texas.
Check and double check your voter registration.
The GOP just lost in an R+17 district so take nothing for granted.
Check and double check your voter registration.
The GOP just lost in an R+17 district so take nothing for granted.
Reposted by Great LakesQ
As you see the reports out of Texas SD-9, keep in mind: This was the cash discrepancy.
Money speaks -- but it's not as loud as it used to be.
Money speaks -- but it's not as loud as it used to be.
February 1, 2026 at 2:03 AM
As you see the reports out of Texas SD-9, keep in mind: This was the cash discrepancy.
Money speaks -- but it's not as loud as it used to be.
Money speaks -- but it's not as loud as it used to be.
Reposted by Great LakesQ
2026 is going to be a great year to run for office. Filing deadlines are coming up fast -- in most places, it's not too late to get on the ballot. We'll help you get started. runforwhat.net
Where Can I Run by Run for Something
Take the next step: Look up offices you can run for
runforwhat.net
February 1, 2026 at 2:09 AM
2026 is going to be a great year to run for office. Filing deadlines are coming up fast -- in most places, it's not too late to get on the ballot. We'll help you get started. runforwhat.net
Yippeee 🎉🥳🎉🥳
Folks give @amandalitman.bsky.social & @runforsomething.net 💰💰
& LFG!
& fight for our freedom & democracy !!!
Folks give @amandalitman.bsky.social & @runforsomething.net 💰💰
& LFG!
& fight for our freedom & democracy !!!
He won 🥹😎😭🎉✨
Whether he wins or not, @runforsomething.net is so proud to be part of Taylor Rehmet’s team - and to have planted the seed for him to run back in 2019! 😎
February 1, 2026 at 7:07 AM
Yippeee 🎉🥳🎉🥳
Folks give @amandalitman.bsky.social & @runforsomething.net 💰💰
& LFG!
& fight for our freedom & democracy !!!
Folks give @amandalitman.bsky.social & @runforsomething.net 💰💰
& LFG!
& fight for our freedom & democracy !!!
Check out the funding disparity in the TX SD-9 race ‼️
As you see the reports out of Texas SD-9, keep in mind: This was the cash discrepancy.
Money speaks -- but it's not as loud as it used to be.
Money speaks -- but it's not as loud as it used to be.
February 1, 2026 at 7:05 AM
Check out the funding disparity in the TX SD-9 race ‼️
👇👇👇‼️👇👇
Here is Konni Burton, a conservative former state Senator from the area who was a central part of the Tarrant County Tea Party, agreeing that a Rehmet win would be a 9.5 on the Richter scale.
February 1, 2026 at 7:04 AM
👇👇👇‼️👇👇
Hard to overstate how big a deal a Rehmet win would be. Tarrant County is the epicenter of Christian nationalism in Texas, an incubator for far-right policies, and nexus of billionaire Tim Dunn's network, which is riding hard for Wambsganss. Rehmet almost entirely funded by donations of $100 or less
‼️‼️ Still a lot TBD, but Rehmet is leading early vote count by **13 POINTS** in a district that Trump won by 17 points. I'll be updating in this thread throughout the night.
February 1, 2026 at 7:03 AM
📣📣Good news alert 📣📣
Friends! When we fight & stand together we can win!!
Just flipped TX state house from R → D Won by 12 pts
It's been 35 yrs! LFG!!!!
Friends! When we fight & stand together we can win!!
Just flipped TX state house from R → D Won by 12 pts
It's been 35 yrs! LFG!!!!
Hasn’t elected a Democrat since 1991
February 1, 2026 at 7:02 AM
📣📣Good news alert 📣📣
Friends! When we fight & stand together we can win!!
Just flipped TX state house from R → D Won by 12 pts
It's been 35 yrs! LFG!!!!
Friends! When we fight & stand together we can win!!
Just flipped TX state house from R → D Won by 12 pts
It's been 35 yrs! LFG!!!!
📣📣Good news alert 📣📣
Friends! When we fight & stand together we can win!!
Just flipped TX state house from R → D Won by 12 pts
It's been 35 yrs! LFG!!!!
Friends! When we fight & stand together we can win!!
Just flipped TX state house from R → D Won by 12 pts
It's been 35 yrs! LFG!!!!
BREAKING: Democrat Christian Menefee wins special election for Texas U.S. House seat, narrowing GOP's slim majority.
Democrat Christian Menefee wins election for US House, narrowing GOP's slim majority
Democrat Christian Menefee has won a Texas U.S. House seat in a special election that will narrow Republicans’ already-slim majority.
bit.ly
February 1, 2026 at 7:01 AM
📣📣Good news alert 📣📣
Friends! When we fight & stand together we can win!!
Just flipped TX state house from R → D Won by 12 pts
It's been 35 yrs! LFG!!!!
Friends! When we fight & stand together we can win!!
Just flipped TX state house from R → D Won by 12 pts
It's been 35 yrs! LFG!!!!
Reposted by Great LakesQ
Ohio is bracing for an ICE enforcement surge as TPS for Haitian refugees is set to end next week. Gov. DeWine says Springfield could face 30 days of enforcement unless courts intervene. The ACLU warns communities are at risk. Losing TPS means detention and deportation. #sheshed
January 31, 2026 at 10:36 PM
Ohio is bracing for an ICE enforcement surge as TPS for Haitian refugees is set to end next week. Gov. DeWine says Springfield could face 30 days of enforcement unless courts intervene. The ACLU warns communities are at risk. Losing TPS means detention and deportation. #sheshed
WOW
This is incredible???
An unidentified man dressed in a Batman costume angrily confronted Santa Clara city officials during a joint meeting of the City Council, city authorities, and the Santa Clara Stadium Authority on Monday, using his public comment to condemn the city’s stance on cooperation with ICE.
January 31, 2026 at 10:45 PM
WOW
Reposted by Great LakesQ
FLAG: Federal agents were told this week that they have broader power to arrest people without a warrant, according to an internal ICE memo reviewed by NYT.
The change expands the ability of lower-level ICE agents to carry out sweeps rounding up people they suspect are undocumented immigrants.
The change expands the ability of lower-level ICE agents to carry out sweeps rounding up people they suspect are undocumented immigrants.
ICE Expands Power of Agents to Arrest People Without Warrants
www.nytimes.com
January 31, 2026 at 8:26 PM
FLAG: Federal agents were told this week that they have broader power to arrest people without a warrant, according to an internal ICE memo reviewed by NYT.
The change expands the ability of lower-level ICE agents to carry out sweeps rounding up people they suspect are undocumented immigrants.
The change expands the ability of lower-level ICE agents to carry out sweeps rounding up people they suspect are undocumented immigrants.
Reposted by Great LakesQ
There's a lot happening in the courts that's coming out of Operation Metro Surge. I have your report at Law Dork on a nonstop 36 hours: www.lawdork.com/p/minnesota-...
BREAKING: Federal judge orders Adrian Conejo Arias and his minor son, L.C.R., released.
"The Great Writ and release from detention are GRANTED."
"Civics lesson to the government: Administrative warrants issued by the executive branch to itself do not pass probable cause muster."
"The Great Writ and release from detention are GRANTED."
"Civics lesson to the government: Administrative warrants issued by the executive branch to itself do not pass probable cause muster."
![Ultimately, Petitioners may, because of the arcane United States immigration system, return to
their home country, involuntarily or by self-deportation. But that result should occur through a more
orderly and humane policy than currently in place.
Philadelphia, September 17, 1787: "Well, Dr. Franklin, what do we have?" "A republic, if you
can keep it."
With a judicial finger in the constitutional dike,
It is so ORDERED.
SIGNED this 31st day of February [sic], 2026.
Fred Biery
FRED BIERY
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
Credit: Bystander
Matthew 19:14
John 11:35](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:36eqtmzysqf7wsslczw4uxcd/bafkreiak3ebffxgjk622vrkrsj2zbsqdvs63ap6mz7sm3xinrcofrpxky4@jpeg)
January 31, 2026 at 9:49 PM
There's a lot happening in the courts that's coming out of Operation Metro Surge. I have your report at Law Dork on a nonstop 36 hours: www.lawdork.com/p/minnesota-...
Reposted by Great LakesQ
"The deportations are the most severe and life-threatening harm being experienced by the greatest number of LGBTQ community members.” - @shannonminter5.bsky.social told @cwnewser.bsky.social
www.advocate.com/politics/imm...
www.advocate.com/politics/imm...
Trump admin is trying to deport LGBTQ+ asylum-seekers to countries where they'd be killed, lawyers say
Attorneys say new transfer agreements and court tactics allow the U.S. to sidestep asylum rulings, risking removals to countries where LGBTQ+ people face imprisonment, torture, or execution.
www.advocate.com
January 30, 2026 at 1:29 AM
"The deportations are the most severe and life-threatening harm being experienced by the greatest number of LGBTQ community members.” - @shannonminter5.bsky.social told @cwnewser.bsky.social
www.advocate.com/politics/imm...
www.advocate.com/politics/imm...
Reposted by Great LakesQ
This Wed. Feb. 4th at 12 p.m. PT, join us for a virtual briefing with NCLR's immigration legal experts to learn more about how ICE attacks are impacting the LGBTQ community, the legal landscape, how we should understand these attacks and what lawyers & others can do to help.
January 30, 2026 at 6:04 PM
This Wed. Feb. 4th at 12 p.m. PT, join us for a virtual briefing with NCLR's immigration legal experts to learn more about how ICE attacks are impacting the LGBTQ community, the legal landscape, how we should understand these attacks and what lawyers & others can do to help.
Reposted by Great LakesQ
We finally know what happened to DOJ's (frivolous) misconduct complaint against Chief Judge Boasberg:
It was transferred by Chief Justice Roberts from the D.C. Circuit to Sixth Circuit Chief Judge Jeff Sutton, and Sutton dismissed it in a ... direct ... memorandum and order just two weeks later:
It was transferred by Chief Justice Roberts from the D.C. Circuit to Sixth Circuit Chief Judge Jeff Sutton, and Sutton dismissed it in a ... direct ... memorandum and order just two weeks later:
www.opn.ca6.uscourts.gov
January 31, 2026 at 8:01 PM
We finally know what happened to DOJ's (frivolous) misconduct complaint against Chief Judge Boasberg:
It was transferred by Chief Justice Roberts from the D.C. Circuit to Sixth Circuit Chief Judge Jeff Sutton, and Sutton dismissed it in a ... direct ... memorandum and order just two weeks later:
It was transferred by Chief Justice Roberts from the D.C. Circuit to Sixth Circuit Chief Judge Jeff Sutton, and Sutton dismissed it in a ... direct ... memorandum and order just two weeks later:
Must read !! 👇
BREAKING: Federal judge orders Adrian Conejo Arias and his minor son, L.C.R., released.
"The Great Writ and release from detention are GRANTED."
"Civics lesson to the government: Administrative warrants issued by the executive branch to itself do not pass probable cause muster."
"The Great Writ and release from detention are GRANTED."
"Civics lesson to the government: Administrative warrants issued by the executive branch to itself do not pass probable cause muster."
January 31, 2026 at 9:29 PM
Must read !! 👇
Reposted by Great LakesQ
“U.S. District Judge Fred Biery excoriated the federal government, saying the case ‘has its genesis in the ill-conceived and incompetently-implemented government pursuit of daily deportation quotas, apparently even if it requires traumatizing children.’” www.ms.now/news/liam-ra...
Judge orders release of 5-year-old Liam Ramos and father from ICE detention center
A photo of Ramos wearing a bunny hat and a Spider-Man backpack as he was being detained went viral, sparking national criticism.
www.ms.now
January 31, 2026 at 8:22 PM
“U.S. District Judge Fred Biery excoriated the federal government, saying the case ‘has its genesis in the ill-conceived and incompetently-implemented government pursuit of daily deportation quotas, apparently even if it requires traumatizing children.’” www.ms.now/news/liam-ra...
Reposted by Great LakesQ
"MPR News has learned that the police chief in the small southern Minnesota city of St. Peter intervened Thursday afternoon to prevent federal immigration agents from arresting a local resident" who had been observing federal agents. www.mprnews.org/story/2026/0...
St. Peter police chief intervenes, prevents federal agents from arresting resident
The police chief of St. Peter intervened to prevent federal agents from taking a local resident who was observing ICE enforcement actions into custody. It is believed to the first time local police in...
www.mprnews.org
January 31, 2026 at 2:48 PM
"MPR News has learned that the police chief in the small southern Minnesota city of St. Peter intervened Thursday afternoon to prevent federal immigration agents from arresting a local resident" who had been observing federal agents. www.mprnews.org/story/2026/0...
Reposted by Great LakesQ
for over 3 weeks, I've spoken to ICE watchers and organizers across the country: first right after Renee Good's killing — then 2 weeks into my reporting, Alex Pretti was killed.
ICE watchers are being detained and harassed — but they're also stopping ICE abductions and inspiring others to join them
ICE watchers are being detained and harassed — but they're also stopping ICE abductions and inspiring others to join them
‘Backing down isn’t an option’: Minnesota ICE shootings mobilize Americans to join ICE observer groups
The killings of Minneapolis residents Renee Good and Alex Pretti have inspired people across the US to document federal agents’ activities in their communities
www.theguardian.com
January 31, 2026 at 5:18 PM
for over 3 weeks, I've spoken to ICE watchers and organizers across the country: first right after Renee Good's killing — then 2 weeks into my reporting, Alex Pretti was killed.
ICE watchers are being detained and harassed — but they're also stopping ICE abductions and inspiring others to join them
ICE watchers are being detained and harassed — but they're also stopping ICE abductions and inspiring others to join them