Susan Barnes
@susrbarnes.bsky.social
Educational historian, liberal democracy super fan, righteously angry Texan, baseball junkie, Astros apologist, Nittany Lion, Aggie
Reposted by Susan Barnes
To reject the US as a fundamentally American country with a deep shared history and commonality with the rest of the Americas, including that Spanish has long been our de facto national second language, is on a deep level anti-American. It's hating actual American culture and history and tradition.
February 9, 2026 at 3:19 AM
To reject the US as a fundamentally American country with a deep shared history and commonality with the rest of the Americas, including that Spanish has long been our de facto national second language, is on a deep level anti-American. It's hating actual American culture and history and tradition.
Reposted by Susan Barnes
We'll pick it up from here.
Spring Training and the World Baseball Classic are right around the corner!
Spring Training and the World Baseball Classic are right around the corner!
February 9, 2026 at 3:23 AM
We'll pick it up from here.
Spring Training and the World Baseball Classic are right around the corner!
Spring Training and the World Baseball Classic are right around the corner!
Reposted by Susan Barnes
What can you do with a history degree?
February 9, 2026 at 1:52 AM
What can you do with a history degree?
Reposted by Susan Barnes
That entire Halftime special was a celebration of community, love, music, diversity and Puerto Rico and very deliberate middle finger to colonization and white supremacy.
February 9, 2026 at 1:33 AM
That entire Halftime special was a celebration of community, love, music, diversity and Puerto Rico and very deliberate middle finger to colonization and white supremacy.
Reposted by Susan Barnes
A desperate plea sent to me by a Minneapolis resident who's been on the front lines since the beginning of the ICE occupation:
February 8, 2026 at 5:06 AM
A desperate plea sent to me by a Minneapolis resident who's been on the front lines since the beginning of the ICE occupation:
Reposted by Susan Barnes
"For years, a cottage industry of political observers has contorted itself to obscure and occlude the obvious. That regardless of what others see in him, Trump’s entire political career...cannot be understood outside the context of his bitter, deep-seated racism." (gift link)
Opinion | This Is Just Who Trump Is
www.nytimes.com
February 7, 2026 at 4:49 PM
"For years, a cottage industry of political observers has contorted itself to obscure and occlude the obvious. That regardless of what others see in him, Trump’s entire political career...cannot be understood outside the context of his bitter, deep-seated racism." (gift link)
Reposted by Susan Barnes
This is great.
Alabama’s past is America’s future. Ever met anyone who brags they voted for George Wallace?
February 7, 2026 at 2:44 PM
This is great.
Reposted by Susan Barnes
This is bad enough, yes, that I could even see this going differently en banc. Not definitely, it's the Fifth Circuit, but I could see the votes for it.
From more at Law Dork, here are the reasons why 160 different judges have reached a different conclusion than Jones and Duncan:
From more at Law Dork, here are the reasons why 160 different judges have reached a different conclusion than Jones and Duncan:
![One key ruling addressing this claim — from U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan in the Southern District of New York — summed things up quite well, on two fronts:
This is not the first time the administration’s change of heart has been challenged in court. By a recent count, the central issue in this case – the administration’s new position that all noncitizens who came into the United States illegally, but since have been living in the United States, must be detained until their removal proceedings are completed – has been challenged in at least 362 cases in federal district courts. The challengers have prevailed, either on a preliminary or final basis, in 350 of those cases decided by over 160 different judges sitting in about fifty different courts spread across the United States. Thus, the overwhelming, lopsided majority have held that the law still means what it always has meant.
Kaplan noted that “none of these decisions by other district judges is binding here,“ and he went on in his decision — issued on the day before Thanksgiving 2025 — to make his “own independent assessment” of the law in the case before him.
He found that the government’s argument failed as to “the ordinary meaning of the statutory text,“ that “[t]he structure of the statute thus undercuts or contradicts their position,” that the “statutory history reflects an unbroken chain of granting discretion to immigration authorities to release noncitizens pending final removal decisions,” and that court precedent was in agreement with the above. He also found the action violated due process.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:36eqtmzysqf7wsslczw4uxcd/bafkreifmlprukvfiwdoxqbuzjfmrnwebxbrfsihjcv3bnfolbjblx5kg6m@jpeg)
February 7, 2026 at 2:59 AM
This is bad enough, yes, that I could even see this going differently en banc. Not definitely, it's the Fifth Circuit, but I could see the votes for it.
From more at Law Dork, here are the reasons why 160 different judges have reached a different conclusion than Jones and Duncan:
From more at Law Dork, here are the reasons why 160 different judges have reached a different conclusion than Jones and Duncan:
Reposted by Susan Barnes
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 Susan Barnes
Reposted by Susan Barnes
A bus stop near Tesla's flagship store in London. Imagine a Super Bowl ad that showed only this.
February 5, 2026 at 3:44 PM
A bus stop near Tesla's flagship store in London. Imagine a Super Bowl ad that showed only this.
Reposted by Susan Barnes
Exciting announcement from Jeff Bezos's reimagined Washington Post!
February 4, 2026 at 11:58 PM
Exciting announcement from Jeff Bezos's reimagined Washington Post!
Reposted by Susan Barnes
It shouldn’t need to be said, but: Kristi Noem as DHS secretary is not a prosecutor. Criminal charging decisions should only be coming from the Justice Department. This is like saying the Commerce Secretary “ordered” the arrest of someone.
February 4, 2026 at 2:18 AM
It shouldn’t need to be said, but: Kristi Noem as DHS secretary is not a prosecutor. Criminal charging decisions should only be coming from the Justice Department. This is like saying the Commerce Secretary “ordered” the arrest of someone.
Reposted by Susan Barnes
Haiti’s TPS continues for now!!!!! And zowie: https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.283214/gov.uscourts.dcd.283214.124.0_1.pdf
February 3, 2026 at 12:36 AM
Haiti’s TPS continues for now!!!!! And zowie: https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.283214/gov.uscourts.dcd.283214.124.0_1.pdf
It was sunny when Taylor almost cracked 50% in November.
Rep. Pete Sessions on Republicans losing a special election in a red part of Texas: "The success of a rain dance has a lot to do with timing. What happened is there was a huge snow storm, ice storm really that hit north Texas and central Texas."
February 2, 2026 at 2:32 PM
It was sunny when Taylor almost cracked 50% in November.
Reposted by Susan Barnes
A reminder that the Kennedy Center is the literal and legal and congressional designated presidential memorial to JFK. This would be like Trump tearing down the Lincoln Memorial to build something “better.”
February 2, 2026 at 1:28 AM
A reminder that the Kennedy Center is the literal and legal and congressional designated presidential memorial to JFK. This would be like Trump tearing down the Lincoln Memorial to build something “better.”
Folks outside Texas are far more excited about the election results than those of us who call it home. Abbott and Dunn have endless millions and want nothing more than to further upend public health, local rule, academic freedom and school funding. We can stop it but the fight is long and hard.
February 1, 2026 at 11:03 PM
Folks outside Texas are far more excited about the election results than those of us who call it home. Abbott and Dunn have endless millions and want nothing more than to further upend public health, local rule, academic freedom and school funding. We can stop it but the fight is long and hard.
Reposted by Susan Barnes
Yesterday, five-year-old Liam and his dad Adrian were released from Dilley detention center. I picked them up last night and escorted them back to Minnesota this morning.
Liam is now home. With his hat and his backpack.
Liam is now home. With his hat and his backpack.
February 1, 2026 at 3:49 PM
Yesterday, five-year-old Liam and his dad Adrian were released from Dilley detention center. I picked them up last night and escorted them back to Minnesota this morning.
Liam is now home. With his hat and his backpack.
Liam is now home. With his hat and his backpack.
Reposted by Susan Barnes
Houston Democrat Christian Menefee wins special election to complete Sylvester Turner’s term in Congress.
Menefee defeats Edwards in special election for Congress
The former Harris County attorney defeated Amanda Edwards in Texas’ 18th Congressional District. The two will face off again in the March 3 primary for a redrawn version of the district.
www.texastribune.org
February 1, 2026 at 4:24 AM
Houston Democrat Christian Menefee wins special election to complete Sylvester Turner’s term in Congress.
Reposted by Susan Barnes
She's Wambsgoness
It's Leighover
‼️‼️‼️‼️ Per reporters on scene, Leigh Wambsganss has shut down her party. She hasn't conceded to Taylor Rehmet yet, but apparently told supporters that “we’ll be back in November.”
February 1, 2026 at 4:40 AM
She's Wambsgoness
Reposted by Susan Barnes
Leigh Wambsganss raised nearly $2.3 million for the SD9 district, much of it coming from three billionaire-funded PACs.
Taylor Rehmet raised $346,000, most of it coming from donations of $100 or less. His biggest donor gave him $12K, and a bunch of local unions also cut him larger checks.
Taylor Rehmet raised $346,000, most of it coming from donations of $100 or less. His biggest donor gave him $12K, and a bunch of local unions also cut him larger checks.
February 1, 2026 at 4:54 AM
Leigh Wambsganss raised nearly $2.3 million for the SD9 district, much of it coming from three billionaire-funded PACs.
Taylor Rehmet raised $346,000, most of it coming from donations of $100 or less. His biggest donor gave him $12K, and a bunch of local unions also cut him larger checks.
Taylor Rehmet raised $346,000, most of it coming from donations of $100 or less. His biggest donor gave him $12K, and a bunch of local unions also cut him larger checks.
Reposted by Susan Barnes
Why does Pam Bondi hate Georgia Fort? "Georgia Fort is a three-time Midwest Emmy award-winning journalist who was one of two journalists in the courtroom for the sentencing of Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who was convicted of murdering George Floyd." www.startribune.com/who-is-georg...
Who is Georgia Fort? Minnesota journalist arrested after covering anti-ICE church protest
Fort is a Midwest Emmy award-winning independent reporter.
www.startribune.com
January 30, 2026 at 10:02 PM
Why does Pam Bondi hate Georgia Fort? "Georgia Fort is a three-time Midwest Emmy award-winning journalist who was one of two journalists in the courtroom for the sentencing of Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who was convicted of murdering George Floyd." www.startribune.com/who-is-georg...
Reposted by Susan Barnes
Heads up--this is happening today.
Noem, Bondi, & Gabbard are delivering a message to Secretaries of State.
The people who run our elections.
Why? What is Noem, fresh off smearing ICE victims, Bondi, who tried to shake down voter data from MN, and Gabbard, who just raided Fulton, going to say?
Noem, Bondi, & Gabbard are delivering a message to Secretaries of State.
The people who run our elections.
Why? What is Noem, fresh off smearing ICE victims, Bondi, who tried to shake down voter data from MN, and Gabbard, who just raided Fulton, going to say?
January 30, 2026 at 1:17 PM
Heads up--this is happening today.
Noem, Bondi, & Gabbard are delivering a message to Secretaries of State.
The people who run our elections.
Why? What is Noem, fresh off smearing ICE victims, Bondi, who tried to shake down voter data from MN, and Gabbard, who just raided Fulton, going to say?
Noem, Bondi, & Gabbard are delivering a message to Secretaries of State.
The people who run our elections.
Why? What is Noem, fresh off smearing ICE victims, Bondi, who tried to shake down voter data from MN, and Gabbard, who just raided Fulton, going to say?
Reposted by Susan Barnes
Since I'm pretty sure this administration doesn't realize this document exists, it would be worth downloading the 2020 Intelligence Community Assessment on foreign threats to the U.S. elections before it disappears, which includes the following finding:
www.dni.gov/index.php/ne...
www.dni.gov/index.php/ne...
January 30, 2026 at 1:10 AM
Since I'm pretty sure this administration doesn't realize this document exists, it would be worth downloading the 2020 Intelligence Community Assessment on foreign threats to the U.S. elections before it disappears, which includes the following finding:
www.dni.gov/index.php/ne...
www.dni.gov/index.php/ne...
Reposted by Susan Barnes
Is it the unitary executive when POTUS sues the executive branch?
President Trump has filed a lawsuit against the IRS, in which he demands that the IRS, which he as president controls, pay him $10 billion.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
January 30, 2026 at 1:51 AM
Is it the unitary executive when POTUS sues the executive branch?