Radley Balko
@radleybalko.bsky.social
Journalist. Quattrone Center journalism fellow.
Author: Rise of the Warrior Cop.
Co-author: The Cadaver King and the Country Dentist.
New podcast: Collateral Damage
Substack: radleybalko.substack.com
Signal: radleybalko.52
Author: Rise of the Warrior Cop.
Co-author: The Cadaver King and the Country Dentist.
New podcast: Collateral Damage
Substack: radleybalko.substack.com
Signal: radleybalko.52
Reposted by Radley Balko
SCOOP: ICE has done more than 60 secret flights on Air Wisconsin since mid-January, according to @iceflightmonitor.bsky.social. I watched one load this afternoon.
gillianbrockell.ghost.io/air-wisconsi...
gillianbrockell.ghost.io/air-wisconsi...
Air Wisconsin has done 60+ ICE flights since mid-January
Dozens of secret flights carrying shackled migrants follow Air Wisconsin’s sale to ICE’s flight broker.
gillianbrockell.ghost.io
February 5, 2026 at 11:03 PM
SCOOP: ICE has done more than 60 secret flights on Air Wisconsin since mid-January, according to @iceflightmonitor.bsky.social. I watched one load this afternoon.
gillianbrockell.ghost.io/air-wisconsi...
gillianbrockell.ghost.io/air-wisconsi...
Reposted by Radley Balko
‘One officer told me that I "had no chance of returning to Minnesota" and that "the best thing for (me] is self-deportation." …
She offered me $2600 to self-deport.
I refused.
I wanted to talk to my attorney.
They didn't tell me the judge had already ordered my release and return to Minnesota.’
She offered me $2600 to self-deport.
I refused.
I wanted to talk to my attorney.
They didn't tell me the judge had already ordered my release and return to Minnesota.’
![…
25. This Cibola jail was horrible. It was cramped. I was chained up again.
The officers mocked
me and called me their enemy. They laughed at me. I was kept at the jail for what felt like around three hours. I wasn't given an explanation for why I was there.
26. Security
guards then put me on a bus. I think it was around January 27.
No one said
anything about where I was going. I was handcuffed. It felt like the middle of the night. It was freezing cold in the bus because the driver had the AC on. We had no jackets. The bus eventually took me back to El Paso in the carly morning of Tuesday, January 27th.
27. I was put in a cold cell where I had to sleep on the bare cement floor. Around 10 in the morning my cellmate asked to speak to an ICE officer. Three officers came into the cell so I had a chance to speak to them too. One officer told me that I "had no chance of returning to Minnesota" and that "the best thing for (me] is self-deportation." She told me that if I fought my case, I would spend two to three more months here in El Paso. She offered me $2600 to self-deport. I refused. I wanted to talk to my attorney. They didn't tell me the judge had already ordered my release and return to Minnesota. If I hadn't managed to talk to my attorney who told me a while back that I was ordered released. I might have given up at this point and signed the self-deportation forms because the conditions were so unbearable.
…
30. When I was taken back to the detention center from the airport, after missing the flight, I overheard an ICE officer saying in English, "the judge in Minnesota wants this one back." I was put in a cold jail cell again until early next morning (January 28). But again no one had told me directly that a judge had ordered my release
…
32. When I arrived in Minneapolis, I was handed off to ICE
… I had to sign lots of papers saying that I wasn't going to be a part of any "groups." I didn't know what they meant by "groups." They never told me why I was detained](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:5cn3kbi4g5blrtahon34xbu4/bafkreiccqxmfncofjqinoveiqscwale2ox5xpiqt46veqjdh3jmimkrxhq@jpeg)
February 5, 2026 at 6:04 AM
‘One officer told me that I "had no chance of returning to Minnesota" and that "the best thing for (me] is self-deportation." …
She offered me $2600 to self-deport.
I refused.
I wanted to talk to my attorney.
They didn't tell me the judge had already ordered my release and return to Minnesota.’
She offered me $2600 to self-deport.
I refused.
I wanted to talk to my attorney.
They didn't tell me the judge had already ordered my release and return to Minnesota.’
With a few exceptions, the items in this list are already the law. Republicans are saying it’s unrealistic for Trump’s goons to follow the law.
Here's what Republicans think is "unrealistic"
1) Need a judicial warrant to enter private property
2) Require verification that someone is not a US citizen before sending them to immigration detention
3) No masks
4) No secret police: Officers must have ID
5) Keep enforcement away from
1) Need a judicial warrant to enter private property
2) Require verification that someone is not a US citizen before sending them to immigration detention
3) No masks
4) No secret police: Officers must have ID
5) Keep enforcement away from
Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Thursday that demands made by Democrats for new restrictions on federal immigration officers are “unrealistic” and warned that the Department of Homeland Security will shut down next week if they do not work with Republicans and the White House.
February 5, 2026 at 10:27 PM
With a few exceptions, the items in this list are already the law. Republicans are saying it’s unrealistic for Trump’s goons to follow the law.
Reposted by Radley Balko
Good grief, no masks is not that big of an ask. Stop giving credence to right wing fever dreams about left wing terrorism.
Chuck Schumer says ICE should be allowed to wear masks in "unusual circumstances—you know, some guy's picture was put up by a terrorist group or something."
February 5, 2026 at 10:24 PM
Good grief, no masks is not that big of an ask. Stop giving credence to right wing fever dreams about left wing terrorism.
This didn’t happen. But it’s bad enough that he wishes it did.
Trump at the Natl Prayer Breakfast on National Guard troops in DC: "They took Tren de Aragua, & honestly I don't want to say this, but they beat the crap out of them. They beat the crap out of them. They found they were doing bad things and Tren de Aragua didn't want anything to do with these guys."
February 5, 2026 at 7:21 PM
This didn’t happen. But it’s bad enough that he wishes it did.
Reposted by Radley Balko
More evidence that DHS is lying when it claims that its enforcement operations are “targeted,” rather than indiscriminate sweeps
www.thedailybeast.com/leaked-email...
www.thedailybeast.com/leaked-email...
February 4, 2026 at 12:05 AM
More evidence that DHS is lying when it claims that its enforcement operations are “targeted,” rather than indiscriminate sweeps
www.thedailybeast.com/leaked-email...
www.thedailybeast.com/leaked-email...
Reposted by Radley Balko
most concrete evidence yet provided that BJG is a right wing op
In to days discruse. BBQ dosent take time or labour.
February 5, 2026 at 6:37 PM
most concrete evidence yet provided that BJG is a right wing op
Reposted by Radley Balko
Jessie Diggins, Olympic cross-country skiing gold medalist, from the Twin Cities: “I want to make sure you know who I’m racing for…”
February 5, 2026 at 5:27 PM
Jessie Diggins, Olympic cross-country skiing gold medalist, from the Twin Cities: “I want to make sure you know who I’m racing for…”
Reposted by Radley Balko
Defense attorneys say law enforcement obtained "30 days" of camera images of Marimar Martinez's car all over Chicago.
"They presumably wanted to be able to show her driving from the dynamite factory … to the suicide vest store."
They say she was likely caught going to Target, instead.
"They presumably wanted to be able to show her driving from the dynamite factory … to the suicide vest store."
They say she was likely caught going to Target, instead.
February 5, 2026 at 6:51 PM
Defense attorneys say law enforcement obtained "30 days" of camera images of Marimar Martinez's car all over Chicago.
"They presumably wanted to be able to show her driving from the dynamite factory … to the suicide vest store."
They say she was likely caught going to Target, instead.
"They presumably wanted to be able to show her driving from the dynamite factory … to the suicide vest store."
They say she was likely caught going to Target, instead.
Reposted by Radley Balko
"except in extraordinary and unusual circumstances" is a big enough loophole for a family of elephants to walk through. www.huffpost.com/entry/democr...
Democrats Ease Up On 1 Of Their Biggest ICE Demands
Masks might still be OK in "extraordinary and unusual circumstances," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said.
www.huffpost.com
February 5, 2026 at 2:32 AM
"except in extraordinary and unusual circumstances" is a big enough loophole for a family of elephants to walk through. www.huffpost.com/entry/democr...
⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️
What impact are the US boat strikes having, besides killing >124 people?
- October-December 2024: 7,764 pounds of cocaine seized at the US-Mexico border.
- October-December 2025: 10,593 pounds of cocaine seized.
Cocaine is up 34% year-over-year *despite* the boat strikes.
Data: bit.ly/4bJOeFs
- October-December 2024: 7,764 pounds of cocaine seized at the US-Mexico border.
- October-December 2025: 10,593 pounds of cocaine seized.
Cocaine is up 34% year-over-year *despite* the boat strikes.
Data: bit.ly/4bJOeFs
February 5, 2026 at 7:11 PM
⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️
Reposted by Radley Balko
Evil.
The banality of evil is shocking. An ex-Big Lots warehouse for cheap consumer junk is bought by ICE to ship as many as 7,500 handcuffed human beings, as the Trump regime builds a U.S. gulag archipelago
The unthinkable comes to Pa. coal country. My special report www.inquirer.com/opinion/ice-...
The unthinkable comes to Pa. coal country. My special report www.inquirer.com/opinion/ice-...
From Big Lots to warehousing humans: ICE plan sparks fear in Schuylkill County | Will Bunch
A massive warehouse in Tremont. Pa. that once moved cheap goods will now detain migrants in an $119 million ICE deal.
www.inquirer.com
February 5, 2026 at 6:52 PM
Evil.
Reposted by Radley Balko
While reporting this, I had something happen that's never happened. A comms rep for one of the co's disputed my reporting and said what I was telling them was untrue because it was not in Grok, xAI's chatbot.
I was looking directly at the files. And this person was using AI to challenge the truth.
I was looking directly at the files. And this person was using AI to challenge the truth.
Epstein had many known connections to Silicon Valley CEOs, but less known was how he made money from those relationships.
We did a deep dive into how he got dealflow in Silicon Valley, giving him shots to invest in Coinbase, Palantir, SpaceX and other companies.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/05/b...
We did a deep dive into how he got dealflow in Silicon Valley, giving him shots to invest in Coinbase, Palantir, SpaceX and other companies.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/05/b...
Jeffrey Epstein’s Money Mingled With Silicon Valley Start-Ups
www.nytimes.com
February 5, 2026 at 5:38 PM
While reporting this, I had something happen that's never happened. A comms rep for one of the co's disputed my reporting and said what I was telling them was untrue because it was not in Grok, xAI's chatbot.
I was looking directly at the files. And this person was using AI to challenge the truth.
I was looking directly at the files. And this person was using AI to challenge the truth.
Reposted by Radley Balko
Updating the @prospect.org tracker of people immigration agents have killed or caused to die and I'm heartbroken to say that we have sixteen more entries. SIXTEEN.
Our total is now 24 deaths since January 2025 -- not counting the dozens who died in custody.
Our total is now 24 deaths since January 2025 -- not counting the dozens who died in custody.
February 5, 2026 at 6:07 PM
Updating the @prospect.org tracker of people immigration agents have killed or caused to die and I'm heartbroken to say that we have sixteen more entries. SIXTEEN.
Our total is now 24 deaths since January 2025 -- not counting the dozens who died in custody.
Our total is now 24 deaths since January 2025 -- not counting the dozens who died in custody.
I believe you’ll find the answers to these questions in Hunter Biden’s laptop.
What exactly is Jared Kushner’s title with the U.S. government? Is he salaried? Does Kushner have a Top Secret Clearance?
President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and senior White House adviser Jared Kushner also participated in the talks, EUCOM said.
www.stripes.com/theaters/eur....
President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and senior White House adviser Jared Kushner also participated in the talks, EUCOM said.
www.stripes.com/theaters/eur....
US, Russia to resume high-level military talks after more than 4-year freeze
The United States and Russia are reopening a direct communication channel that was suspended ahead of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
www.stripes.com
February 5, 2026 at 7:06 PM
I believe you’ll find the answers to these questions in Hunter Biden’s laptop.
Reposted by Radley Balko
The problem of ICE/CBP reform is we have a monster rampaging through our democracy and are trying to restrict *which* cities it can pillage and *how many* civilians it can eat. The problem isn’t the restrictions on the monster; the problem is the monster. www.doomsdayscenario.co/p/six-ways-t...
Six Ways to Reform ICE and CBP
And why congressional "reform" isn't actually the real problem....
www.doomsdayscenario.co
February 5, 2026 at 12:59 PM
The problem of ICE/CBP reform is we have a monster rampaging through our democracy and are trying to restrict *which* cities it can pillage and *how many* civilians it can eat. The problem isn’t the restrictions on the monster; the problem is the monster. www.doomsdayscenario.co/p/six-ways-t...
Reposted by Radley Balko
Woke Hollywood's refusal to cast a furry as Helen of Troy is a direct attack on Western civilization and everything it stands for
February 5, 2026 at 6:20 PM
Woke Hollywood's refusal to cast a furry as Helen of Troy is a direct attack on Western civilization and everything it stands for
Reposted by Radley Balko
Lawmakers Call on Meta to Stop Running ICE Ad Featuring Neo-Nazi Anthem
theintercept.com/2026/02/05/d...
theintercept.com/2026/02/05/d...
Lawmakers Call on Meta to Stop Running ICE Ad Featuring Neo-Nazi Anthem
Asked about an ICE ad featuring the song “We’ll Have Our Home Again,” DHS said: “Not everything you dislike is ‘Nazi propaganda.’”
theintercept.com
February 5, 2026 at 6:53 PM
Lawmakers Call on Meta to Stop Running ICE Ad Featuring Neo-Nazi Anthem
theintercept.com/2026/02/05/d...
theintercept.com/2026/02/05/d...
Reposted by Radley Balko
"If ICE murdering people in the streets doesn’t warrant immediate relief, what does? The most facile — but nonetheless true — answer is that the Supreme Court can do whatever it wants, but other courts can’t."
Lower courts can't fix what's broken in Minnesota
But a functioning Congress could.
www.publicnotice.co
February 5, 2026 at 5:45 PM
"If ICE murdering people in the streets doesn’t warrant immediate relief, what does? The most facile — but nonetheless true — answer is that the Supreme Court can do whatever it wants, but other courts can’t."
Reposted by Radley Balko
LOL, Bessent really thought he had something there. It's a class action, Senator! And yes, the president is the only member of the class. Stop asking me about it, you woke jackal!
GALLEGO: Let's say Trump wins that lawsuit. Where would that $10 billion come from?
BESSENT: It would come from Treasury
GALLEGO: So, taxpayers?
BESSENT: Yes. Part of the 44,000 whose returns were leaked
GALLEGO: They're not suing
BESSENT: It would come from Treasury
GALLEGO: So, taxpayers?
BESSENT: Yes. Part of the 44,000 whose returns were leaked
GALLEGO: They're not suing
February 5, 2026 at 5:06 PM
LOL, Bessent really thought he had something there. It's a class action, Senator! And yes, the president is the only member of the class. Stop asking me about it, you woke jackal!
Reposted by Radley Balko
@wyden.senate.gov's record of warning that there is deep and constitutionally-serious dirt being done by the intelligence agencies in secret is unblemished. The vaguer he is, the filthier the dirt is. This is the vaguest I've ever seen him
Ron Wyden Only Talks Like This When The Spies Do Something *Real* Bad
No, I don't know what they did. But I have a lot of experience with the senator
www.forever-wars.com
February 5, 2026 at 5:10 PM
@wyden.senate.gov's record of warning that there is deep and constitutionally-serious dirt being done by the intelligence agencies in secret is unblemished. The vaguer he is, the filthier the dirt is. This is the vaguest I've ever seen him
Reposted by Radley Balko
Where’s Kushner’s FARA filing on the billions he receives from foreign governments?
BESSENT: JARED KUSHNER A 'SPECIAL ENVOY' AND INTERLOCUTOR IN RUSSIA TALKS
February 5, 2026 at 5:03 PM
Where’s Kushner’s FARA filing on the billions he receives from foreign governments?
Gelernter endorsed Trump 3 times. He's an evolution and climate change skeptic who thinks women should stay home. He was a member of the "race science" Human Biodiversity Inst.
After an unflattering profile in the WP, The Atlantic published an indignant piece calling him a "pioneering polymath."
After an unflattering profile in the WP, The Atlantic published an indignant piece calling him a "pioneering polymath."
Yale prof David Gelernter defends his letter urging Epstein to hire "v small goodlooking blonde" student by saying that he was "keep[ing] the potential boss's habits in mind."
This creep shouldn't be allowed anywhere near students.
yaledailynews.com/articles/gel...
This creep shouldn't be allowed anywhere near students.
yaledailynews.com/articles/gel...
February 5, 2026 at 5:03 PM
Gelernter endorsed Trump 3 times. He's an evolution and climate change skeptic who thinks women should stay home. He was a member of the "race science" Human Biodiversity Inst.
After an unflattering profile in the WP, The Atlantic published an indignant piece calling him a "pioneering polymath."
After an unflattering profile in the WP, The Atlantic published an indignant piece calling him a "pioneering polymath."
Reposted by Radley Balko
JUST IN: The trial in Chicago's Broadview conspiracy case is set for May 26.
Background: chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...
Background: chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...
February 5, 2026 at 4:05 PM
JUST IN: The trial in Chicago's Broadview conspiracy case is set for May 26.
Background: chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...
Background: chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...