Ken Schwencke
@schwanksta.com
Senior editor of @propublica.org's data journalism teams. Super gay. Sometimes printmaker.
Pinned
Ken Schwencke
@schwanksta.com
· May 18
Last year I picked up printmaking and linocutting as a hobby, and yesterday I ran this giant 18x24 print of the sky over Fire Island. I was trying to translate that big and calming sense you get when it’s warm and breezy out and you’re just watching the clouds go by.
#linocut #printmaking #artsky
#linocut #printmaking #artsky
Reposted by Ken Schwencke
BREAKING: ICE officials under a judge’s order to clean up overcrowded & squalid conditions on 10th floor at 26 Federal Plaza detained migrants on a separate, secret floor where they decided that ruling didn’t apply, the Trump admin admitted in court Monday.
www.thecity.nyc/2026/02/09/2...
www.thecity.nyc/2026/02/09/2...
ICE Moved Detainees to Previously Undisclosed Floor of 26 Federal Plaza
A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to reduce overcrowding and squalid conditions at a Manhattan holding room. Months later, he finds ICE merely shifted floors.
www.thecity.nyc
February 10, 2026 at 1:21 AM
BREAKING: ICE officials under a judge’s order to clean up overcrowded & squalid conditions on 10th floor at 26 Federal Plaza detained migrants on a separate, secret floor where they decided that ruling didn’t apply, the Trump admin admitted in court Monday.
www.thecity.nyc/2026/02/09/2...
www.thecity.nyc/2026/02/09/2...
Reposted by Ken Schwencke
Is there some sort of award for perfectly missing the point?
February 9, 2026 at 3:57 PM
Is there some sort of award for perfectly missing the point?
Reposted by Ken Schwencke
"Although the judge noted numerous irregularities on Ice’s court documents, she ultimately sided with the agency."
Irish man has a work permit, US business, American wife, almost finished Green card application, and has paid a bond to be released. ICE, implausibly, claims he agreed to be deported.
Irish man has a work permit, US business, American wife, almost finished Green card application, and has paid a bond to be released. ICE, implausibly, claims he agreed to be deported.
This is absolutely insane. The sort of Kafka-esque nightmare you would find in a Philip K Dick book set far in the dystopian future. A window on America tumbling into autocracy.
www.irishtimes.com/world/us/202...
www.irishtimes.com/world/us/202...
‘Absolute hell’: Irishman with valid US work permit held by Ice since September
Seamus Culleton has been in a detention facility in Texas for nearly five months despite having no criminal record
www.irishtimes.com
February 9, 2026 at 10:44 AM
"Although the judge noted numerous irregularities on Ice’s court documents, she ultimately sided with the agency."
Irish man has a work permit, US business, American wife, almost finished Green card application, and has paid a bond to be released. ICE, implausibly, claims he agreed to be deported.
Irish man has a work permit, US business, American wife, almost finished Green card application, and has paid a bond to be released. ICE, implausibly, claims he agreed to be deported.
Reposted by Ken Schwencke
NEW: ProPublica went inside the detention center for immigrant families in Dilley, Texas.
Children held there told us about the anguish of being ripped from their lives in the United States and the fear of what comes next.
Children held there told us about the anguish of being ripped from their lives in the United States and the fear of what comes next.
The Kids Trump Sent to ICE’s Dilley Detention Center
ProPublica went inside the immigrant detention center for families in Dilley, Texas. Children held there told us about the anguish of being ripped from their lives in the United States and the fear of...
www.propublica.org
February 9, 2026 at 12:00 PM
NEW: ProPublica went inside the detention center for immigrant families in Dilley, Texas.
Children held there told us about the anguish of being ripped from their lives in the United States and the fear of what comes next.
Children held there told us about the anguish of being ripped from their lives in the United States and the fear of what comes next.
Reposted by Ken Schwencke
1/ ProPublica collected handwritten letters in mid-January from children held at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center, the same facility where 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos was taken.
Hundreds of kids are still detained.
We’ll let the children’s words speak for themselves. 🧵
Hundreds of kids are still detained.
We’ll let the children’s words speak for themselves. 🧵
February 9, 2026 at 12:25 PM
1/ ProPublica collected handwritten letters in mid-January from children held at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center, the same facility where 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos was taken.
Hundreds of kids are still detained.
We’ll let the children’s words speak for themselves. 🧵
Hundreds of kids are still detained.
We’ll let the children’s words speak for themselves. 🧵
Reposted by Ken Schwencke
I was asked to check this, the journal uses a Rail Fence Cipher, so you read each line up and down, left to right. The deciphered text in the article below is accurate, and names names. The file itself can be found here:
www.justice.gov/epstein/file...
www.justice.gov/epstein/file...
February 8, 2026 at 9:30 AM
I was asked to check this, the journal uses a Rail Fence Cipher, so you read each line up and down, left to right. The deciphered text in the article below is accurate, and names names. The file itself can be found here:
www.justice.gov/epstein/file...
www.justice.gov/epstein/file...
Reposted by Ken Schwencke
Yes of course this couldn’t have happened to a nicer Wide Boy but we all know that there’s another guy, the one who okay’d all of Will’s decisions while gazing from the poop deck at his yacht’s yacht and clasping the hand of his plasticine second wife, who made all of the relevant decisions, right?
fired
The lack of a Lewis quote in statement is how we know:
The lack of a Lewis quote in statement is how we know:
February 7, 2026 at 11:57 PM
Yes of course this couldn’t have happened to a nicer Wide Boy but we all know that there’s another guy, the one who okay’d all of Will’s decisions while gazing from the poop deck at his yacht’s yacht and clasping the hand of his plasticine second wife, who made all of the relevant decisions, right?
Reposted by Ken Schwencke
In my 30 years in journalism, I don't believe I've seen anyone beclown himself as thoroughly and as profoundly as Will Lewis has. Good riddance.
www.ft.com/content/5fa6...
www.ft.com/content/5fa6...
Will Lewis steps down as Washington Post publisher and CEO after job cuts
British journalist’s tenure was controversial after being appointed by Jeff Bezos to turn around the newspaper
www.ft.com
February 7, 2026 at 11:24 PM
In my 30 years in journalism, I don't believe I've seen anyone beclown himself as thoroughly and as profoundly as Will Lewis has. Good riddance.
www.ft.com/content/5fa6...
www.ft.com/content/5fa6...
Reposted by Ken Schwencke
“Katie Mettler, a former chair of the Washington Post guild, said: “I’m glad Will Lewis has been fired. I wish it had happened before he fired all my friends.”” www.nytimes.com/2026/02/07/t...
www.nytimes.com
February 7, 2026 at 11:10 PM
“Katie Mettler, a former chair of the Washington Post guild, said: “I’m glad Will Lewis has been fired. I wish it had happened before he fired all my friends.”” www.nytimes.com/2026/02/07/t...
Reposted by Ken Schwencke
Metry and her husband of 4 years go to DHS to get their I-130 in motion. "Good news" a DHS employee told them, the form to start her naturalization was approved.
DHS employee asks the husband to follow him through a secure door. When it locks behind him, ICE detains his wife to deport her.
DHS employee asks the husband to follow him through a secure door. When it locks behind him, ICE detains his wife to deport her.
EXCLUSIVE: Terez Metry was 13 when her family fled to Tennessee from Egypt in 2011. Then, they left her behind. She only recently discovered she had an order of removal from 2011. But she was following the legal path to citizenship. On Monday, at a routine DHS meeting, Metry was detained.
Immigration process turns sour for an Antioch woman - Nashville Banner
Terez Metry, a dental assistant in Middle Tennessee with no criminal history, was detained by ICE during an interview as she followed legal steps toward citizenship.
nashvillebanner.com
February 6, 2026 at 10:00 PM
Metry and her husband of 4 years go to DHS to get their I-130 in motion. "Good news" a DHS employee told them, the form to start her naturalization was approved.
DHS employee asks the husband to follow him through a secure door. When it locks behind him, ICE detains his wife to deport her.
DHS employee asks the husband to follow him through a secure door. When it locks behind him, ICE detains his wife to deport her.
Reposted by Ken Schwencke
Jake Lang, a pardoned Jan. 6 rioter, filmed himself destroying an anti-ICE ice sculpture made by military veterans in St. Paul.
https://bringmethenews.com/minnesota-news/pardoned-jan-6-rioter-jake-lang-destroys-prosecute-ice-veterans-sculpture
https://bringmethenews.com/minnesota-news/pardoned-jan-6-rioter-jake-lang-destroys-prosecute-ice-veterans-sculpture
February 5, 2026 at 10:33 PM
Jake Lang, a pardoned Jan. 6 rioter, filmed himself destroying an anti-ICE ice sculpture made by military veterans in St. Paul.
https://bringmethenews.com/minnesota-news/pardoned-jan-6-rioter-jake-lang-destroys-prosecute-ice-veterans-sculpture
https://bringmethenews.com/minnesota-news/pardoned-jan-6-rioter-jake-lang-destroys-prosecute-ice-veterans-sculpture
Reposted by Ken Schwencke
BREAKING: Streetsblog NYC just posted a great job for a law-enforcement reporter: docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Streetsblog Law Enforcement Reporter job description
Title: Law enforcement reporter, Streetsblog NYC Location: New York City Salary: $70,000-$75,000 annual salary plus benefits Date Posted: February 6, 2026 Application Due: March 6, 2026 Stree...
docs.google.com
February 6, 2026 at 2:14 PM
BREAKING: Streetsblog NYC just posted a great job for a law-enforcement reporter: docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Reposted by Ken Schwencke
www.ft.com/content/90aa... the amount of debt and financialization behind the scenes of the data center boom seems not great
Banks seek out new buyers for Oracle data centre loans
Rare investment-grade rating helps attract insurers and private credit funds to construction debt
www.ft.com
February 5, 2026 at 12:20 PM
www.ft.com/content/90aa... the amount of debt and financialization behind the scenes of the data center boom seems not great
Reposted by Ken Schwencke
our government used a Blackhawk helicopter in a major American city, detained children and zip-tied U.S. citizens all to target... squatters
and the alleged Tren de Aragua presence? "It was a brutal lie against the American public."
www.propublica.org/article/chic...
and the alleged Tren de Aragua presence? "It was a brutal lie against the American public."
www.propublica.org/article/chic...
The Real Story Behind the Midnight Immigration Raid on a Chicago Apartment Building
The Trump administration has claimed the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua had taken over the building. But new documents make no mention of the gang and reveal federal agents had information about “ille...
www.propublica.org
February 4, 2026 at 11:46 PM
our government used a Blackhawk helicopter in a major American city, detained children and zip-tied U.S. citizens all to target... squatters
and the alleged Tren de Aragua presence? "It was a brutal lie against the American public."
www.propublica.org/article/chic...
and the alleged Tren de Aragua presence? "It was a brutal lie against the American public."
www.propublica.org/article/chic...
cowards
Washington Post publisher Will Lewis, "who has already earned a reputation for showing up late to work when he showed up at all, did not join the Zoom" about the staggering cuts.
The Murder of The Washington Post
Today’s layoffs are the latest attempt to kill what makes the paper special.
www.theatlantic.com
February 4, 2026 at 3:56 PM
cowards
Reposted by Ken Schwencke
Democracy dies in broad daylight under billionaire ownership
The Washington Post embarked on severe cuts despite appeals by the newsroom to owner Jeff Bezos. The paper is to narrow its focus largely to politics and national security. n.pr/4qAlWBj
Bezos orders deep job cuts at 'Washington Post'
The Washington Post embarked on severe cuts despite appeals by the newsroom to owner Jeff Bezos. The paper is to narrow its focus largely to politics and national security.
n.pr
February 4, 2026 at 2:38 PM
Democracy dies in broad daylight under billionaire ownership
Reposted by Ken Schwencke
I think people often wonder this, and it's a great question, so let me explain the advantages of 3D printing whistles. There are many.
The 3D printing effort started from one of our organizers who started by sourcing mass-produced whistles.
The 3D printing effort started from one of our organizers who started by sourcing mass-produced whistles.
I mean, are they really cheaper or easier to produce than just sourcing the right thing from a mass distributor? it's sweet but doesn't seem Pareto efficient, and I feel like that's important to the revolution
February 4, 2026 at 3:00 AM
I think people often wonder this, and it's a great question, so let me explain the advantages of 3D printing whistles. There are many.
The 3D printing effort started from one of our organizers who started by sourcing mass-produced whistles.
The 3D printing effort started from one of our organizers who started by sourcing mass-produced whistles.
Reposted by Ken Schwencke
This is unreal. An AUSA talking like that in open court is about as close as you can come to a total breakdown. Never heard of anything like it.
February 3, 2026 at 8:46 PM
This is unreal. An AUSA talking like that in open court is about as close as you can come to a total breakdown. Never heard of anything like it.
Reposted by Ken Schwencke
Congratulations to @thebaltimorebanner.com for earning first place. Their investigation chronicled students’ experiences on public transit and the impact that transit had on their academic futures. Read: bit.ly/4rrGyw2
By: @lizbowie.bsky.social @invisibae.bsky.social @ryanlittle.bsky.social
By: @lizbowie.bsky.social @invisibae.bsky.social @ryanlittle.bsky.social
February 3, 2026 at 5:46 PM
Congratulations to @thebaltimorebanner.com for earning first place. Their investigation chronicled students’ experiences on public transit and the impact that transit had on their academic futures. Read: bit.ly/4rrGyw2
By: @lizbowie.bsky.social @invisibae.bsky.social @ryanlittle.bsky.social
By: @lizbowie.bsky.social @invisibae.bsky.social @ryanlittle.bsky.social
Reposted by Ken Schwencke
Congratulations to @propublica.org for earning second place.“Life of a Mother” examines the impact of a Texas state abortion ban on pregnancy loss in the first or second trimester. Read their investigation: bit.ly/3FroqAh
By: @sophiechou.bsky.social Lizzie Presser @andreasuozzo.com Kavitha Surana
By: @sophiechou.bsky.social Lizzie Presser @andreasuozzo.com Kavitha Surana
February 3, 2026 at 5:46 PM
Congratulations to @propublica.org for earning second place.“Life of a Mother” examines the impact of a Texas state abortion ban on pregnancy loss in the first or second trimester. Read their investigation: bit.ly/3FroqAh
By: @sophiechou.bsky.social Lizzie Presser @andreasuozzo.com Kavitha Surana
By: @sophiechou.bsky.social Lizzie Presser @andreasuozzo.com Kavitha Surana
Reposted by Ken Schwencke
happening this morning in Minneapolis -- ICE agents drawing guns on observers. I reiterate again that it is only a matter of time before DHS kills more innocent people in Minnesota. Congress needs to shut this shit down right now.
February 3, 2026 at 4:19 PM
happening this morning in Minneapolis -- ICE agents drawing guns on observers. I reiterate again that it is only a matter of time before DHS kills more innocent people in Minnesota. Congress needs to shut this shit down right now.
Reposted by Ken Schwencke
Judge Reyes’s conclusion: “There is an old adage among lawyers. If you have the facts on your side, pound the facts. If you have the law on your side, pound the law. If you have neither, pound the table. … Having neither and bringing the adage into the 21st century, [Noem] pounds X (f/k/a Twitter).”
February 3, 2026 at 12:49 AM
Judge Reyes’s conclusion: “There is an old adage among lawyers. If you have the facts on your side, pound the facts. If you have the law on your side, pound the law. If you have neither, pound the table. … Having neither and bringing the adage into the 21st century, [Noem] pounds X (f/k/a Twitter).”
Reposted by Ken Schwencke
A note from our editors:
February 1, 2026 at 9:10 PM
A note from our editors:
Reposted by Ken Schwencke
The Trump admin wont name the agents who killed Alexi Pretti.
So we are.
So we are.
BREAKING: The two federal immigration agents who fired on Minneapolis protester Alex Pretti are identified in government records as Border Patrol agent Jesus Ochoa and Customs and Border Protection officer Raymundo Gutierrez.
Two CBP Agents Identified in Alex Pretti Shooting
The two federal immigration agents who fired on Minneapolis protester Alex Pretti are identified in government records as Border Patrol agent Jesus Ochoa and Customs and Border Protection officer Raym...
www.propublica.org
February 1, 2026 at 9:42 PM
The Trump admin wont name the agents who killed Alexi Pretti.
So we are.
So we are.