@ricktaugher.bsky.social
Reposted
“The American people don’t want to live in this kind of police state.
Senators should listen. And then do something about it.”
www.ms.now/opinion/ice-...
Senators should listen. And then do something about it.”
www.ms.now/opinion/ice-...
Opinion | ICE is clearly out of control. This week the Senate can actually do something about it.
Alex Pretti's shooting in Minneapolis turned Senate Democrats against ICE and DHS funding at a pivotal moment, with another shutdown looming.
www.ms.now
January 25, 2026 at 3:10 PM
“The American people don’t want to live in this kind of police state.
Senators should listen. And then do something about it.”
www.ms.now/opinion/ice-...
Senators should listen. And then do something about it.”
www.ms.now/opinion/ice-...
Reposted
ICE killing #AlexPretti should remind you of police killing #PhilandoCastille. Both men had concealed weapon permits, did not draw their guns, & were killed in Minn. These homicides are the price of unaccountable policing. These deaths are variations on the same fatal theme.
January 25, 2026 at 4:36 AM
ICE killing #AlexPretti should remind you of police killing #PhilandoCastille. Both men had concealed weapon permits, did not draw their guns, & were killed in Minn. These homicides are the price of unaccountable policing. These deaths are variations on the same fatal theme.
Reposted
i think they are bad consolidating authoritarianism choices because effective consolidation involves carrots as well as (secret) sticks. this administration is doing the opposite. no carrots whatsoever and ostentatious public violence against members of the dominant racial/ethnic/religious group
Definitely. What my paranoia forces me to ask, "Are these bad political choices but good consolidating authoritarian choices?"
Because the media, as it has been lubricated for fascists' pleasure, is in the business of rewarding authoritarianism.
Because the media, as it has been lubricated for fascists' pleasure, is in the business of rewarding authoritarianism.
i think this attitude — that all opposition is illegitimate and nothing we do can be questioned— is probably pervasive in the white house and helps explain why they keep making terrible political choices
January 25, 2026 at 3:11 PM
i think they are bad consolidating authoritarianism choices because effective consolidation involves carrots as well as (secret) sticks. this administration is doing the opposite. no carrots whatsoever and ostentatious public violence against members of the dominant racial/ethnic/religious group
Reposted
A federal judge effectively ordered the U.S. government not to cover up evidence that it illegally executed a civilian, at the request of local prosecutors seeking to investigate federal agents for murder.
Don’t want to overstate things but it feels reminiscent of the run-up to the Civil War.
Don’t want to overstate things but it feels reminiscent of the run-up to the Civil War.
Understand that 370 days ago even bringing a motion like this would probably have been treated as sanctionably frivolous
Today it was granted ex parte
Today it was granted ex parte
A federal judge issues a restraining order against the feds, barring them from "destroying or altering evidence"
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
January 25, 2026 at 3:17 PM
A federal judge effectively ordered the U.S. government not to cover up evidence that it illegally executed a civilian, at the request of local prosecutors seeking to investigate federal agents for murder.
Don’t want to overstate things but it feels reminiscent of the run-up to the Civil War.
Don’t want to overstate things but it feels reminiscent of the run-up to the Civil War.
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Minnesota's state FBI-like bureau is suing Noem. It says before pre-emptively declaring the killing righteous and abandoning the crime scene, feds took exclusive custody of evidence, including "apparently seized cellphones."
MN asserts a sovereign right to investigate crimes within its borders.
MN asserts a sovereign right to investigate crimes within its borders.
#1 in Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension v. Noem (D. Minnesota, 0:26-cv-00628) – CourtListener.com
COMPLAINT against All Defendants (filing fee $ 405, receipt number AMNDC-12575332) filed by Hennepin County Attorney's Office, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. Filer requests summons issued....
storage.courtlistener.com
January 25, 2026 at 4:11 AM
Minnesota's state FBI-like bureau is suing Noem. It says before pre-emptively declaring the killing righteous and abandoning the crime scene, feds took exclusive custody of evidence, including "apparently seized cellphones."
MN asserts a sovereign right to investigate crimes within its borders.
MN asserts a sovereign right to investigate crimes within its borders.
Reposted
Reposted
A @nytimes.com video analysis shows that after agents restrained Alex Jeffrey Pretti & removed his gun from the skirmish, an agent appears to fire 4 shots at Petri.
That agent & another then fire 6 more shots at Pretti while he lies motionless on the ground.
That agent & another then fire 6 more shots at Pretti while he lies motionless on the ground.
Timeline: How the Shooting of Alex Jeffrey Pretti Unfolded (Gift Article)
A moment-by-moment analysis of video from the scene shows that Mr. Pretti was already restrained when fatal shots were fired, which appears to contradict the federal government’s account of the event.
www.nytimes.com
January 25, 2026 at 2:33 PM
A @nytimes.com video analysis shows that after agents restrained Alex Jeffrey Pretti & removed his gun from the skirmish, an agent appears to fire 4 shots at Petri.
That agent & another then fire 6 more shots at Pretti while he lies motionless on the ground.
That agent & another then fire 6 more shots at Pretti while he lies motionless on the ground.
Reposted
A reminder to the news media: “conflicting accounts” is what you say BEFORE the incontrovertible video evidence appears. After that, your job is to ask why one side is lying, not to repeat the lie and pretend no one knows the truth.
January 25, 2026 at 12:28 PM
A reminder to the news media: “conflicting accounts” is what you say BEFORE the incontrovertible video evidence appears. After that, your job is to ask why one side is lying, not to repeat the lie and pretend no one knows the truth.
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Dems should introduce legislation now defunding ICE and CBP operations in Minnesota, so they have to leave the state. One sentence bill. Demand an immediate vote. Maybe refuse to vote for cloture on any funding bills (or other bills) until a vote. Make the GOP Congress break w/ Trump or own it all.
January 25, 2026 at 1:47 PM
Dems should introduce legislation now defunding ICE and CBP operations in Minnesota, so they have to leave the state. One sentence bill. Demand an immediate vote. Maybe refuse to vote for cloture on any funding bills (or other bills) until a vote. Make the GOP Congress break w/ Trump or own it all.
Reposted
I do not just throw out praise for Senate Dem leadership, but this is good. It’s what we need now - Dems using their leverage where they’ve got it and refusing to budge. Make GOP own this lawless goon squad. No Dem votes for it. Support Dems who are fighting back now regardless of past beefs.
Senate Democrats will not provide the votes to proceed to the appropriations bill if the DHS funding bill is included.
January 25, 2026 at 12:32 AM
I do not just throw out praise for Senate Dem leadership, but this is good. It’s what we need now - Dems using their leverage where they’ve got it and refusing to budge. Make GOP own this lawless goon squad. No Dem votes for it. Support Dems who are fighting back now regardless of past beefs.
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Reposted
Exactly. Report the facts. One of the most striking facts here are the lies. And they are lies. Intentional lies.
Journalists, please remember that repeating obviously false statements is not balance or fairness. It is actively participating in deception.
January 25, 2026 at 2:06 PM
Exactly. Report the facts. One of the most striking facts here are the lies. And they are lies. Intentional lies.
Reposted
2/2
- Agents reportedly pull a weapon from his person while he is pinned and immobile on the ground.
- Video indicates the agents then shoot Pretti at least ten times, killing him.
- Legal documents indicate ICE agents spent time counting bullet holes on Pretti’s body rather than providing CPR.
- Agents reportedly pull a weapon from his person while he is pinned and immobile on the ground.
- Video indicates the agents then shoot Pretti at least ten times, killing him.
- Legal documents indicate ICE agents spent time counting bullet holes on Pretti’s body rather than providing CPR.
January 25, 2026 at 2:58 PM
2/2
- Agents reportedly pull a weapon from his person while he is pinned and immobile on the ground.
- Video indicates the agents then shoot Pretti at least ten times, killing him.
- Legal documents indicate ICE agents spent time counting bullet holes on Pretti’s body rather than providing CPR.
- Agents reportedly pull a weapon from his person while he is pinned and immobile on the ground.
- Video indicates the agents then shoot Pretti at least ten times, killing him.
- Legal documents indicate ICE agents spent time counting bullet holes on Pretti’s body rather than providing CPR.
Reposted
You gotta think Stephen Miller wrote this one. It's inexpressibly evil—but it's in English.
January 25, 2026 at 2:58 PM
You gotta think Stephen Miller wrote this one. It's inexpressibly evil—but it's in English.
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Bondi's letter—essentially offering to stop attacking and murdering citizens in Minnesota in exchange for the state's voter rolls—shows what Trump, Miller et al. are really after:
They want to fuck with the nation's elections so that they never have to cede power or answer for their crimes.
They want to fuck with the nation's elections so that they never have to cede power or answer for their crimes.
In the wake of another fatal shooting in Minneapolis.
AG Pam Bondi sends Gov. Walz a letter today making several asks including:
"Allow DOJ Civil Rights division access to state voter rolls"
AG Pam Bondi sends Gov. Walz a letter today making several asks including:
"Allow DOJ Civil Rights division access to state voter rolls"
January 25, 2026 at 2:57 PM
Bondi's letter—essentially offering to stop attacking and murdering citizens in Minnesota in exchange for the state's voter rolls—shows what Trump, Miller et al. are really after:
They want to fuck with the nation's elections so that they never have to cede power or answer for their crimes.
They want to fuck with the nation's elections so that they never have to cede power or answer for their crimes.
Reposted
This witness to Alex Pretti's murder not only refutes the governmen't story, but says she is afraid to go home because federal agents might arrest her. This is what it feels like to live under state terror.
www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
TincherSealedWitnessDec012426.PDF
www.documentcloud.org
January 25, 2026 at 2:43 PM
This witness to Alex Pretti's murder not only refutes the governmen't story, but says she is afraid to go home because federal agents might arrest her. This is what it feels like to live under state terror.
www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
Reposted
I don’t want to hear anything from an elected official unless it’s a plan to defund the DHS and impeach Noem, Bovino, etc. No texts. No emails. No talk about the economy. Step up or step off.
January 24, 2026 at 7:23 PM
I don’t want to hear anything from an elected official unless it’s a plan to defund the DHS and impeach Noem, Bovino, etc. No texts. No emails. No talk about the economy. Step up or step off.
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What's the plan, Chuck? I run a fake news website. You're the Senate Minority Leader. What's the plan?
ICE out of Minnesota NOW.
Breaking News: Federal law enforcement agents shot and killed a person in Minneapolis on Saturday morning, state and local officials said. Follow live updates.
January 24, 2026 at 7:11 PM
What's the plan, Chuck? I run a fake news website. You're the Senate Minority Leader. What's the plan?
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Reposted
On the execution in Minnesota: Obviously, the individuals involved should be held accountable. But responsibility goes to the top of ICE and CBP, and DHS. Their appropriations come up next week in the senate. Not a cent for DHS without pulling ICE and CBP off the streets, in MN and everywhere else.
January 24, 2026 at 4:52 PM
On the execution in Minnesota: Obviously, the individuals involved should be held accountable. But responsibility goes to the top of ICE and CBP, and DHS. Their appropriations come up next week in the senate. Not a cent for DHS without pulling ICE and CBP off the streets, in MN and everywhere else.
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Pam Bondi just sent a letter to Minnesota officials saying ICE will leave if the state turns over its voter database to Trump.
Guess what? This has never been about safety or immigration. It’s a pretext for Trump to take over elections in swing states.
Guess what? This has never been about safety or immigration. It’s a pretext for Trump to take over elections in swing states.
January 25, 2026 at 12:35 AM
Pam Bondi just sent a letter to Minnesota officials saying ICE will leave if the state turns over its voter database to Trump.
Guess what? This has never been about safety or immigration. It’s a pretext for Trump to take over elections in swing states.
Guess what? This has never been about safety or immigration. It’s a pretext for Trump to take over elections in swing states.
Reposted
Reposted
Public executions at the hands of the government should never happen in “the land of the free.”
Not one more taxpayer dollar for Trump’s DHS, CBP or ICE.
Not one more taxpayer dollar for Trump’s DHS, CBP or ICE.
January 24, 2026 at 11:24 PM
Public executions at the hands of the government should never happen in “the land of the free.”
Not one more taxpayer dollar for Trump’s DHS, CBP or ICE.
Not one more taxpayer dollar for Trump’s DHS, CBP or ICE.
Reposted
"Alex is clearly not holding a gun when attacked by Trump’s murdering and cowardly ICE thugs. He has his phone in his right hand and his empty left hand is raised above his head while trying to protect the woman ICE just pushed down all while being pepper sprayed."
January 25, 2026 at 12:48 AM
"Alex is clearly not holding a gun when attacked by Trump’s murdering and cowardly ICE thugs. He has his phone in his right hand and his empty left hand is raised above his head while trying to protect the woman ICE just pushed down all while being pepper sprayed."
Reposted
Worse than Kent State, really than any episode I can think of probably dating back to Reconstruc & earlier b/c
1. continuing, not 1 off.
2. organized, not individual ofcrs losing it
3. literally at hand of federal government, which is
4. immediately lying & circling the wagons to prevent inves.
1. continuing, not 1 off.
2. organized, not individual ofcrs losing it
3. literally at hand of federal government, which is
4. immediately lying & circling the wagons to prevent inves.
January 24, 2026 at 10:07 PM
Worse than Kent State, really than any episode I can think of probably dating back to Reconstruc & earlier b/c
1. continuing, not 1 off.
2. organized, not individual ofcrs losing it
3. literally at hand of federal government, which is
4. immediately lying & circling the wagons to prevent inves.
1. continuing, not 1 off.
2. organized, not individual ofcrs losing it
3. literally at hand of federal government, which is
4. immediately lying & circling the wagons to prevent inves.