Ross Wallen
@rosswallen.bsky.social
Progressive politics, DC, Biking, Clean Energy, MarTech, Digital. Former CleanChoice, USAction, Wellstone Action, Americorps VISTA via Macalester / Mpls & KY.
Appreciate hearing from @dahlialithwick.bsky.social and @marcelias.bsky.social on the Trump regime's attacks on voting rights and our elections.
It is ok for folks to be scared. Many of us are. But dooming about things with no action is the equivalent of the folding politician who refuses to fight.
It is ok for folks to be scared. Many of us are. But dooming about things with no action is the equivalent of the folding politician who refuses to fight.
This Week Was a Five Alarm Fire in Election Law
But it is by no means impossible.
slate.com
February 7, 2026 at 2:18 PM
Appreciate hearing from @dahlialithwick.bsky.social and @marcelias.bsky.social on the Trump regime's attacks on voting rights and our elections.
It is ok for folks to be scared. Many of us are. But dooming about things with no action is the equivalent of the folding politician who refuses to fight.
It is ok for folks to be scared. Many of us are. But dooming about things with no action is the equivalent of the folding politician who refuses to fight.
Lena not thrilled with snowflakes hitting her in the face
February 6, 2026 at 11:07 PM
Lena not thrilled with snowflakes hitting her in the face
Reposted by Ross Wallen
VA Gov. Spanberger (moderate, was in CIA) and NYC Mayor Mamdani (left, is in DSA) both taking steps to block local law enforcement from helping ICE as it violently violates people's rights is a good example of how the relevant divide in the Dem coalition isn't center-left, it's fight-don't fight.
February 6, 2026 at 6:40 PM
VA Gov. Spanberger (moderate, was in CIA) and NYC Mayor Mamdani (left, is in DSA) both taking steps to block local law enforcement from helping ICE as it violently violates people's rights is a good example of how the relevant divide in the Dem coalition isn't center-left, it's fight-don't fight.
Reposted by Ross Wallen
"The “anti-woke” movement was not a genteel intellectual inquiry, made by disinterested parties who cared deeply about free speech. It is a social circle of powerful people who feel threatened by #MeToo."
Great read.
Great read.
I wrote about the Epstein files (gift link) www.theverge.com/tech/874721/...
How the men in the Epstein files defeated #MeToo
The emails show the “anti-woke” crusaders are afraid of accountability.
www.theverge.com
February 6, 2026 at 3:38 PM
"The “anti-woke” movement was not a genteel intellectual inquiry, made by disinterested parties who cared deeply about free speech. It is a social circle of powerful people who feel threatened by #MeToo."
Great read.
Great read.
Reposted by Ross Wallen
I am not going to repost the vile and racist image that Trump posted last night of President & First Lady Obama because it is beyond disgusting. Trump is a vile racist as is every Republican that continues to support him. I don’t want to hear mumbling from Mike Johnson or stoic silence from Thune.
February 6, 2026 at 2:54 PM
I am not going to repost the vile and racist image that Trump posted last night of President & First Lady Obama because it is beyond disgusting. Trump is a vile racist as is every Republican that continues to support him. I don’t want to hear mumbling from Mike Johnson or stoic silence from Thune.
Reposted by Ross Wallen
How it started: How it's going:
February 6, 2026 at 4:44 AM
How it started: How it's going:
Reposted by Ross Wallen
"I did not think that the case could get worse than what I learned in 2009," Mitchell Epner, a former federal prosecutor who handed sex trafficking cases, told USA TODAY. "For the last 16 years, it has only gotten worse. ... They have exposed the victims and protected the perpetrators."
Officials say they want more Epstein accountability. What they can do
USA TODAY spoke to officials and victim lawyers about how Congress and the DOJ can bring transparency and accountability to the Jeffrey Epstein case.
www.usatoday.com
February 5, 2026 at 5:16 PM
"I did not think that the case could get worse than what I learned in 2009," Mitchell Epner, a former federal prosecutor who handed sex trafficking cases, told USA TODAY. "For the last 16 years, it has only gotten worse. ... They have exposed the victims and protected the perpetrators."
Reposted by Ross Wallen
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 Ross Wallen
supreme court said yes yesterday to 5 california democratic seats and now today we’re getting 4 from virginia (most likely the va supreme court will say yes to) NINE EXTRA SEATS THIS NOVEMBER 🔵
Big news from Virginia:
@jaaavis.bsky.social reports that Democrats have settled on passing a 10-1 congressional map that would target 4 of the state’s 5 Republicans in response to mid-decade GOP gerrymandering elsewhere.
Lawmakers will reveal the map later today or early tomorrow
@jaaavis.bsky.social reports that Democrats have settled on passing a 10-1 congressional map that would target 4 of the state’s 5 Republicans in response to mid-decade GOP gerrymandering elsewhere.
Lawmakers will reveal the map later today or early tomorrow
Report by Brandon Jarvis: VA “General Assembly Democrats have reached agreement on a 10-1 map”; “Sen. Lucas says the maps are competitive”
Per reporter Brandon Jarvis/Virginia Scope, it sounds like we'll be getting new 10D-1R U.S. House maps for Virginia (up from 6D-5R now) later today or early tomorrow. For now, here's where we're at: "...
bluevirginia.us
February 5, 2026 at 4:31 PM
supreme court said yes yesterday to 5 california democratic seats and now today we’re getting 4 from virginia (most likely the va supreme court will say yes to) NINE EXTRA SEATS THIS NOVEMBER 🔵
Reposted by Ross Wallen
@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 Ross Wallen
Civil rights activist Medgar Evers was shot in the back by a Klansman in 1963.
The National Park Service has removed visitor brochures from Evers' museum and reportedly plans to remove references that call his murderer a “racist"
The National Park Service has removed visitor brochures from Evers' museum and reportedly plans to remove references that call his murderer a “racist"
Medgar Evers’ killer was a Klansman, but Trump administration says stop calling him a racist - Mississippi Today
Among anticipated changes to a new visitor brochure for the Medgar & Myrlie Evers Home National Monument is no longer using "racist" to describe the killer of the civil rights leader.
mississippitoday.org
February 5, 2026 at 3:20 PM
Civil rights activist Medgar Evers was shot in the back by a Klansman in 1963.
The National Park Service has removed visitor brochures from Evers' museum and reportedly plans to remove references that call his murderer a “racist"
The National Park Service has removed visitor brochures from Evers' museum and reportedly plans to remove references that call his murderer a “racist"
Reposted by Ross Wallen
in a span of *one day* Virginia AND Maryland made moves to break and possibly ban 287(g) partnerships with ICE
marylandmatters.org/2026/02/04/s...
marylandmatters.org/2026/02/04/s...
February 4, 2026 at 11:15 PM
in a span of *one day* Virginia AND Maryland made moves to break and possibly ban 287(g) partnerships with ICE
marylandmatters.org/2026/02/04/s...
marylandmatters.org/2026/02/04/s...
Reposted by Ross Wallen
The DMV is losing one of the best transportation reporters in the US. I'm sad for Rachel, but even more so for DC.
Seems like this will be my last story for the Washington Post. A handful of my colleagues will still be covering local news in the DMV and I know they’ll do great work, but they and this region deserve so much better.
Trump administration limiting use of federal funds for speed cameras, calling them "unfair revenue schemes.” www.washingtonpost.com/transportati...
February 4, 2026 at 3:05 PM
The DMV is losing one of the best transportation reporters in the US. I'm sad for Rachel, but even more so for DC.
Reposted by Ross Wallen
6/ The Post has lost over 375,000 subscribers in just over a year. If 10% of those readers subscribed to The 51st instead, we could hire 10 reporters and five editors, dramatically scaling our coverage of the city at this critical time. 51st.news/signup
Join The 51st
The 51st is a worker-led nonprofit news source for D.C. Our reporting is rooted in our conviction that local journalism is meant to make people’s lives better — no paywalls, ever. But that's only…
51st.news
February 4, 2026 at 7:21 PM
6/ The Post has lost over 375,000 subscribers in just over a year. If 10% of those readers subscribed to The 51st instead, we could hire 10 reporters and five editors, dramatically scaling our coverage of the city at this critical time. 51st.news/signup
Reposted by Ross Wallen
Some people are asking what I want Schumer to do. He should be screaming over medical care and access to facilities. He should be going to detention facilities himself and putting his body on the line, as he did at the border in 2019. He should lean into stories about New Yorkers in detention. [1/4]
February 4, 2026 at 2:25 PM
Some people are asking what I want Schumer to do. He should be screaming over medical care and access to facilities. He should be going to detention facilities himself and putting his body on the line, as he did at the border in 2019. He should lean into stories about New Yorkers in detention. [1/4]
Reposted by Ross Wallen
Striking from new Quinnipiac poll:
*Voters prefer path to legalization over deportations for most undocs by 59-34. Among independents it's 61-33
*Majority says Trump on immigration is making America less safe
Again, there's broad rejection of the whole project, not just ICE tactics (see below)
*Voters prefer path to legalization over deportations for most undocs by 59-34. Among independents it's 61-33
*Majority says Trump on immigration is making America less safe
Again, there's broad rejection of the whole project, not just ICE tactics (see below)
February 4, 2026 at 7:12 PM
Striking from new Quinnipiac poll:
*Voters prefer path to legalization over deportations for most undocs by 59-34. Among independents it's 61-33
*Majority says Trump on immigration is making America less safe
Again, there's broad rejection of the whole project, not just ICE tactics (see below)
*Voters prefer path to legalization over deportations for most undocs by 59-34. Among independents it's 61-33
*Majority says Trump on immigration is making America less safe
Again, there's broad rejection of the whole project, not just ICE tactics (see below)
Love and solidarity to everyone impacted by the destruction of the Washington Post. And all of Lena's judgement for the shitty billionaires tearing this country apart.
February 4, 2026 at 7:35 PM
Love and solidarity to everyone impacted by the destruction of the Washington Post. And all of Lena's judgement for the shitty billionaires tearing this country apart.
Statehood for the people of DC. #FreeDC
Already reading histories of 2025 that talk specifically about the federal government sending National Guard into cities but conspicuously leaving out DC.
Please don’t forget DC. We still have National Guard patrolling all over the city
Please don’t forget DC. We still have National Guard patrolling all over the city
February 4, 2026 at 2:49 PM
Statehood for the people of DC. #FreeDC
Reposted by Ross Wallen
This is tremendous. Take the time to watch it.
Highlighting the speaker who stood in front of the Surprise mayor and told him to consider what the Mayor of Ohrdruf must’ve thought before he died by suicide: “He might have thought ‘how is this my fault I had no jurisdiction over this’ maybe he said ‘this site was not subject to local zoning.’”
February 4, 2026 at 1:48 PM
This is tremendous. Take the time to watch it.
Reposted by Ross Wallen
So fucking infuriating watching Bezos and his cronies kill the Post. Taking away sports, books, and international reporting so you can write opinions praising Trump is so damn bleak.
February 4, 2026 at 2:00 PM
So fucking infuriating watching Bezos and his cronies kill the Post. Taking away sports, books, and international reporting so you can write opinions praising Trump is so damn bleak.
Reposted by Ross Wallen
"power holds no value unless it is exercised"
I wrote about Minnesota and ICE and how average Americans are reclaiming the power that the administration is abusing.
www.pbump.net/o/this-is-wh...
www.pbump.net/o/this-is-wh...
February 4, 2026 at 4:06 AM
"power holds no value unless it is exercised"
Reposted by Ross Wallen
I will never forget this callousness and cruelty. as long as I fucking live.
“.. Not a single Republican member of Congress showed up to the public forum .. on the violence inflicted by federal immigration agents, featuring testimony from the brothers of Renee Good ..”
@newrepublic.com
newrepublic.com/post/206100/...
@newrepublic.com
newrepublic.com/post/206100/...
February 3, 2026 at 11:16 PM
I will never forget this callousness and cruelty. as long as I fucking live.
Reposted by Ross Wallen
“You need only know this: Whatever is happening with your data, it is important enough to the most egregiously lawless administration in American history that it be collected and consolidated.” Always read @tressiemcphd.bsky.social (gift link)
Opinion | Democracy Dies by Database
www.nytimes.com
February 3, 2026 at 12:19 PM
“You need only know this: Whatever is happening with your data, it is important enough to the most egregiously lawless administration in American history that it be collected and consolidated.” Always read @tressiemcphd.bsky.social (gift link)
Reposted by Ross Wallen
This heavily Black congressional district in Houston went without representation for nearly half of the term thanks to Gov. Greg Abbott (R) delaying the special election.
When Democrats regain power, Congress should pass a law requiring that House special elections take place in a timely manner
When Democrats regain power, Congress should pass a law requiring that House special elections take place in a timely manner
Texas Democrat Christian D. Menefee
@cdmenefee.bsky.social sworn in to US House by Speaker Johnson, two days after Menefee won a runoff election in the Houston-area 18th District vacant since Democrat Sylvester Turner's death last March. #tx18
@cdmenefee.bsky.social sworn in to US House by Speaker Johnson, two days after Menefee won a runoff election in the Houston-area 18th District vacant since Democrat Sylvester Turner's death last March. #tx18
February 3, 2026 at 12:28 AM
This heavily Black congressional district in Houston went without representation for nearly half of the term thanks to Gov. Greg Abbott (R) delaying the special election.
When Democrats regain power, Congress should pass a law requiring that House special elections take place in a timely manner
When Democrats regain power, Congress should pass a law requiring that House special elections take place in a timely manner