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viamarsala18.bsky.social
Elle Ess
@viamarsala18.bsky.social
2.8K followers 950 following 14K posts
Minneapolitan. Occasionally lawyerly. Union member and supporter. LGBTQIA+ supporter. She/her.

PFP alt text: a pale woman with red hair sips from a straw in a cup. Her hair is in a high side pony, and she’s wearing goldy gopher sunglasses.
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viamarsala18.bsky.social
Elle Ess @viamarsala18.bsky.social · Nov 9
If you are a new follower to me, here’s what you need to know:

I live in Minneapolis and love it here
I equally love demonizing people like Jacob Frey, Michael Rainville, and Brian O’Hara who make this a bad place to live
I was formerly a prosecuting attorney and now do agency work for the state
viamarsala18.bsky.social
Pantone really said MORE WHITE in trumps America
lauren.rotatingsandwiches.com lauren @lauren.rotatingsandwiches.com · 48m
pantone just named landlord white the color of the year 2026, WE NEED TO BUILD HOUSES
pantone's color of the year, "cloud dancer", a dull shade of white here illustrated by a person wearing ridiculous white pants
December 4, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Reposted by Elle Ess
zaynabmmohamed.bsky.social
Please do not spread misinformation it only creates more panic for our community.

Link tree: linktr.ee/immigrationr...
December 4, 2025 at 6:07 AM
Reposted by Elle Ess
wedge.live
Good long stretch where it was not controversial for MPD + federal law enforcement to work together on violent crime. Poisoning that dynamic so you can flood immigration agents into a community where the vast majority are citizens or permanent residents makes me suspect this is a racial thing.
December 4, 2025 at 6:01 AM
Reposted by Elle Ess
rgoodlaw.bsky.social
I spoke to the New York Times in this great explainer piece by Charlie Savage

www.nytimes.com/2025/12/04/u...
December 4, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Reposted by Elle Ess
dbrauer.net
Will be a good test of Frey’s new power to make vetoes stick, since progressives lose their super-majority in January. Frey loves tech companies (he was main pusher for Uber while on Council) but he will have to contend with Somali-Minnesotan supporters who’ll lose jobs.
December 4, 2025 at 2:26 PM
viamarsala18.bsky.social
That moment on a day where the air temp is negative and your car temperature gauge switches over from absolutely not being anywhere on the meter to one little sliver above the C line
December 4, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Reposted by Elle Ess
patrickfenelon.bsky.social
The refugee groups who have settled in the Twin Cities almost all did so decades ago. They fled war & persecution, followed all rules they were supposed to, & almost universally became US citizens.

The idea of subjecting these people to ICE harassment & kidnapping is just disgusting to me.
December 4, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Reposted by Elle Ess
winston.cc
it's wild how the positive use cases are like "save 5 minutes reading a long doc" and "write a generic email faster" and the negative use cases are "get encouraged to dive deeper in psychosis, misogyny, or suicidal thoughts" and we're still on the fence about overall value
josephcox.bsky.social Joseph Cox @josephcox.bsky.social · 21h
New from 404 Media: ChatGPT told a violent stalker to continue running his misogynistic and threat-filled podcast despite the “haters,” and to visit more gyms to find women. The man stalked women in multiple states, including touching and following from work

www.404media.co/chatgpt-spot...
ChatGPT Told a Violent Stalker to Embrace the 'Haters,' Indictment Says
A newly filed indictment claims a wannabe influencer used ChatGPT as his "therapist" and "best friend" in his pursuit of the "wife type," while harassing women so aggressively they had to miss work a...
www.404media.co
December 3, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Reposted by Elle Ess
utopia-defer.red
I’m losing it. They know that Gen X is the only demo they have any footing with and so they are going all in on the nostalgia slop for them.
atrupar.com Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 1h
Sean Duffy on slashing fuel economy standards: "This rule will actually allow you to bring back the 1970s station wagon. Maybe a little wood paneling on the side. We can bring back choice to consumers."
December 4, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Reposted by Elle Ess
wedge.live
95% of MN Somalis are US citizens. 58% were born in the US. The only reason to target this community with immigration agents is for the sake of racial profiling and harassment - which the US supreme court says is legal now.
www.npr.org/2025/09/13/n...
December 4, 2025 at 2:22 PM
viamarsala18.bsky.social
I mean I knew I was gonna get nothing, just always surprising to me how little Ilhan’s haters will give
An email chain. The first email at the bottom is a Latonya Reeves for Congress image from her most recent email asking for money. The next email is me responding “Are you rebuking Trumps attacks on Somalis, and more specifically, his attacks on Ilhan Omar?” The final email is Latonya replying “yes. Thank you for your email.”
December 4, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Reposted by Elle Ess
ryanmarino.bsky.social
A year ago, Tracy Hoeg was selling people unproven therapies (like injecting your own blood into your knees) for cash. She is trained in physical medicine & rehabilitation, & does not have any relevant background for this position other than being a prolific & extreme antivaxxer and disease promoter
doritreiss.bsky.social Dorit Reiss @doritreiss.bsky.social · 14h
I suspect FDA no longer has qualified people willing to do this job.

"FDA Commissioner Marty Makary has appointed Tracy Beth Høeg, a longtime skeptic of Covid-19 vaccines, to be the acting director of the agency’s drug unit,...."
endpoints.news/fda-to-name-... @endpts.com
Breaking: FDA to name Tracy Beth Hoeg, who helped lead Covid shot investigation, as acting CDER chief
FDA Commissioner Marty Makary has appointed Tracy Beth Høeg, a longtime skeptic of Covid-19 vaccines, to be the acting director of the agency's drug unit
endpoints.news
December 4, 2025 at 12:58 AM
Reposted by Elle Ess
carlquintanilla.bsky.social
Real wages (after inflation) were growing at 2.0% last year. Now it’s 0.8% — “clearly playing into what the majority of American households would define as an affordability crisis.”

@joebrusuelas.bsky.social
December 4, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Reposted by Elle Ess
bubbaprog.xyz
The President of the United States is trying to throw Mark Kelly in prison and Mark Kelly's response is to confirm judges who have committed to putting him in prison
jonathancohn.bsky.social Jonathan Cohn @jonathancohn.bsky.social · 10h
11 Senate Democrats just voted to advance the nomination of a Federal Society judge who used to defend banks and payday lenders:

Durbin
Gallego
Hassan
Hirono
Kaine
Kelly
King
Klobuchar
Reed
Rosen
Whitehouse
SUSAN RODRIGUEZ Susan Courtwright Rodriguez, nominated to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina, is a longtime conservative lawyer whose career reflects deep partisan ties, loyalty to corporate interests, and a record of rulings that hurt workers, employees, and consumers and puts profits over people. She held multiple roles in the George W. Bush administration, including as a political appointee for the then-newly formed Department of Homeland Security, as well as with the White House counsel’s office. After a second stint at the DHS, Rodriguez spent 12 years at McGuireWoods, where she co-led the Financial Institutions Industry Team and defended banks, payday lenders, and fintech companies against lawsuits and government investigations. She now serves as a magistrate judge for the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina. CORPORATE DEFENSE & FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS At McGuire Woods, Rodriguez devoted her practice to defending large financial institutions and high-cost lenders. She co-authored industry-facing publications framing the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s regulatory oversight as part of a “name-and-shame playbook,” and dismissed CFPB efforts to hold corporations accountable for consumer abuses. She defended Sprint against allegations brought by CFPB and the Federal Communications Commission related to unauthorized third-party charges and represented banks accused of violating anti–money laundering laws (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau v. Sprint Corp.). In one case, Rodriguez defended Truist Bank against claims brought by a whistleblower executive who alleged the bank failed to report suspicious wire transfers and allowed accounts linked to criminal activity to remain open (Denise WHITING, Plaintiff, v. TRUIST BANK f/k/a Branch Banking and Trust Company, Defendant). Rather than addressing systemic fraud, the bank allegedly retaliated against the executive, demoting and ultimately firing her. Rodr… Rodriguez’s leadership role on the board of Mira Via underscores her alignment with organizations that oppose reproductive rights. Mira Via explicitly affirms life “from the moment of conception,” situating Rodriguez firmly within the anti- abortion movement. Her long membership in the Federalist Society and Republican National Lawyers Association further underscores her alignment with conservative legal networks committed to rolling back reproductive freedom, LGBTQ+ rights, and other substantive constitutional protections. STAUNCH CONSERVATIVE ADVOCACY Since joining the bench, Rodriguez has issued rulings that repeatedly favor corporations, law enforcement, and institutions over individuals seeking relief. In Rodriguez v. Wipro Ltd., she ruled against a whistleblower who raised concerns about corporate conflicts of interest and later suffered retaliation that exacerbated serious health conditions, dismissing the case for failure to exhaust administrative remedies. In Puranda v. City of Charlotte, she dismissed a civil rights case brought by an 18-year-old subjected to an aggressive traffic stop, where officers allegedly drew weapons, forcibly removed him from his car, and detained him without cause. In Robey v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education, she rejected claims brought by parents whose child had repeatedly disclosed self-harm to a school counselor who failed to notify them, ultimately leading to a hospitalization. In each of these cases, Rodriguez prioritized institutional protection over the workers, children, and their families who simply wanted justice when they were hurt.
December 4, 2025 at 4:14 AM
Reposted by Elle Ess
billcorbett.bsky.social
Minnesota: wherever there’s a vote to confirm Trump’s shitty nominees, rest assured you’ll find @amyklobuchar.com there with a big YES SIR MR. PRESIDENT
jonathancohn.bsky.social Jonathan Cohn @jonathancohn.bsky.social · 10h
11 Senate Democrats just voted to advance the nomination of a Federal Society judge who used to defend banks and payday lenders:

Durbin
Gallego
Hassan
Hirono
Kaine
Kelly
King
Klobuchar
Reed
Rosen
Whitehouse
SUSAN RODRIGUEZ Susan Courtwright Rodriguez, nominated to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina, is a longtime conservative lawyer whose career reflects deep partisan ties, loyalty to corporate interests, and a record of rulings that hurt workers, employees, and consumers and puts profits over people. She held multiple roles in the George W. Bush administration, including as a political appointee for the then-newly formed Department of Homeland Security, as well as with the White House counsel’s office. After a second stint at the DHS, Rodriguez spent 12 years at McGuireWoods, where she co-led the Financial Institutions Industry Team and defended banks, payday lenders, and fintech companies against lawsuits and government investigations. She now serves as a magistrate judge for the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina. CORPORATE DEFENSE & FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS At McGuire Woods, Rodriguez devoted her practice to defending large financial institutions and high-cost lenders. She co-authored industry-facing publications framing the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s regulatory oversight as part of a “name-and-shame playbook,” and dismissed CFPB efforts to hold corporations accountable for consumer abuses. She defended Sprint against allegations brought by CFPB and the Federal Communications Commission related to unauthorized third-party charges and represented banks accused of violating anti–money laundering laws (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau v. Sprint Corp.). In one case, Rodriguez defended Truist Bank against claims brought by a whistleblower executive who alleged the bank failed to report suspicious wire transfers and allowed accounts linked to criminal activity to remain open (Denise WHITING, Plaintiff, v. TRUIST BANK f/k/a Branch Banking and Trust Company, Defendant). Rather than addressing systemic fraud, the bank allegedly retaliated against the executive, demoting and ultimately firing her. Rodr… Rodriguez’s leadership role on the board of Mira Via underscores her alignment with organizations that oppose reproductive rights. Mira Via explicitly affirms life “from the moment of conception,” situating Rodriguez firmly within the anti- abortion movement. Her long membership in the Federalist Society and Republican National Lawyers Association further underscores her alignment with conservative legal networks committed to rolling back reproductive freedom, LGBTQ+ rights, and other substantive constitutional protections. STAUNCH CONSERVATIVE ADVOCACY Since joining the bench, Rodriguez has issued rulings that repeatedly favor corporations, law enforcement, and institutions over individuals seeking relief. In Rodriguez v. Wipro Ltd., she ruled against a whistleblower who raised concerns about corporate conflicts of interest and later suffered retaliation that exacerbated serious health conditions, dismissing the case for failure to exhaust administrative remedies. In Puranda v. City of Charlotte, she dismissed a civil rights case brought by an 18-year-old subjected to an aggressive traffic stop, where officers allegedly drew weapons, forcibly removed him from his car, and detained him without cause. In Robey v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education, she rejected claims brought by parents whose child had repeatedly disclosed self-harm to a school counselor who failed to notify them, ultimately leading to a hospitalization. In each of these cases, Rodriguez prioritized institutional protection over the workers, children, and their families who simply wanted justice when they were hurt.
December 4, 2025 at 5:51 AM
Reposted by Elle Ess
atlasboy97.bsky.social
With an exasperated and disgusted sigh: AMY WHYYYYYYYYY
jonathancohn.bsky.social Jonathan Cohn @jonathancohn.bsky.social · 10h
11 Senate Democrats just voted to advance the nomination of a Federal Society judge who used to defend banks and payday lenders:

Durbin
Gallego
Hassan
Hirono
Kaine
Kelly
King
Klobuchar
Reed
Rosen
Whitehouse
SUSAN RODRIGUEZ Susan Courtwright Rodriguez, nominated to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina, is a longtime conservative lawyer whose career reflects deep partisan ties, loyalty to corporate interests, and a record of rulings that hurt workers, employees, and consumers and puts profits over people. She held multiple roles in the George W. Bush administration, including as a political appointee for the then-newly formed Department of Homeland Security, as well as with the White House counsel’s office. After a second stint at the DHS, Rodriguez spent 12 years at McGuireWoods, where she co-led the Financial Institutions Industry Team and defended banks, payday lenders, and fintech companies against lawsuits and government investigations. She now serves as a magistrate judge for the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina. CORPORATE DEFENSE & FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS At McGuire Woods, Rodriguez devoted her practice to defending large financial institutions and high-cost lenders. She co-authored industry-facing publications framing the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s regulatory oversight as part of a “name-and-shame playbook,” and dismissed CFPB efforts to hold corporations accountable for consumer abuses. She defended Sprint against allegations brought by CFPB and the Federal Communications Commission related to unauthorized third-party charges and represented banks accused of violating anti–money laundering laws (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau v. Sprint Corp.). In one case, Rodriguez defended Truist Bank against claims brought by a whistleblower executive who alleged the bank failed to report suspicious wire transfers and allowed accounts linked to criminal activity to remain open (Denise WHITING, Plaintiff, v. TRUIST BANK f/k/a Branch Banking and Trust Company, Defendant). Rather than addressing systemic fraud, the bank allegedly retaliated against the executive, demoting and ultimately firing her. Rodr… Rodriguez’s leadership role on the board of Mira Via underscores her alignment with organizations that oppose reproductive rights. Mira Via explicitly affirms life “from the moment of conception,” situating Rodriguez firmly within the anti- abortion movement. Her long membership in the Federalist Society and Republican National Lawyers Association further underscores her alignment with conservative legal networks committed to rolling back reproductive freedom, LGBTQ+ rights, and other substantive constitutional protections. STAUNCH CONSERVATIVE ADVOCACY Since joining the bench, Rodriguez has issued rulings that repeatedly favor corporations, law enforcement, and institutions over individuals seeking relief. In Rodriguez v. Wipro Ltd., she ruled against a whistleblower who raised concerns about corporate conflicts of interest and later suffered retaliation that exacerbated serious health conditions, dismissing the case for failure to exhaust administrative remedies. In Puranda v. City of Charlotte, she dismissed a civil rights case brought by an 18-year-old subjected to an aggressive traffic stop, where officers allegedly drew weapons, forcibly removed him from his car, and detained him without cause. In Robey v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education, she rejected claims brought by parents whose child had repeatedly disclosed self-harm to a school counselor who failed to notify them, ultimately leading to a hospitalization. In each of these cases, Rodriguez prioritized institutional protection over the workers, children, and their families who simply wanted justice when they were hurt.
December 4, 2025 at 5:51 AM
viamarsala18.bsky.social
Shutterfly sent me 100 cards but only 68 envelopes. You’re all gonna have to double up!
December 4, 2025 at 4:34 AM
Reposted by Elle Ess
schwesbomb.bsky.social
Brutal day in Minneapolis, but there were some shining moments of neighbors stopping some abductions, kicking Nazis out of some spaces, chasing them out of others. And there were about 1,000 ppl on an excellent ICE WATCH training zoom led by States At The Center and Protect Rogers Park in Chicago.
December 4, 2025 at 3:22 AM
Reposted by Elle Ess
kedrickillian.bsky.social
Trump pardons Cuellar. Hakeem Jeffries says defended the move, calling the case “very thin” and the pardon “the right outcome.”

And Jeffries complimented Trump on the border.

The higher ups of the Democratic party are putting their fingers on the scale for Craig over Peggy Flanagan for US Senate.
December 4, 2025 at 1:53 AM
Reposted by Elle Ess
jchavezmpls.bsky.social
Do you support ICE kidnapping our residents here in Minneapolis? All I’ve seen you do is vote for the Laken Riley Act and strip away due process from immigrants.

You didn’t stick up for Minnesotans. In fact, your vote is impacting our Somali and immigrant communities heavily.
repangiecraig.bsky.social Rep. Angie Craig @repangiecraig.bsky.social · 17h
I’ve got news for you, Mr. President: in Minnesota, we stick up for our neighbors. And our Somali community isn’t going anywhere.

Your dangerous attacks on immigrants in my state and across the country are putting lives and families at risk.
December 4, 2025 at 3:38 AM
Reposted by Elle Ess
mostlybree.kitrocha.com
Trump's ongoing attacks on the Somali community in the Twin Cities are disgusting, and I'm worried about what comes next.

Folks from my whistle crew have already arranged to rush a few thousand whistles up to our friends in MN, but if you're looking for somewhere to channel frustration tonight...
December 4, 2025 at 2:16 AM
Reposted by Elle Ess
mrsbettybowers.bsky.social
So far, in less than one year, Donald Trump has issued over TEN TIMES as many pardons as he did in his entire four-year first term. That’s a lot of criminals released onto our streets.
December 4, 2025 at 12:32 AM
viamarsala18.bsky.social
Conservatives fear a fictitious world where government agents come and take their guns away. But we live in a real world where government agents are taking humans. I can’t believe we overthrown it when I think about it for too long.
premthakker.bsky.social Prem Thakker ツ @premthakker.bsky.social · 21h
Agents in Key Largo, Florida ripped this woman wearing medical scrubs out of her car as she screamed she is a US citizen. Agents cuffed her and put her in one of their cars.

She was eventually let go, per David Goodhue of the Miami Herald, who also took this footage:
December 4, 2025 at 2:16 AM
Reposted by Elle Ess
startribune.com
Trump’s comments threaten to unravel gains that Minnesota Republicans have made in the Somali community, which numbers about 80,000.
Trump’s ‘garbage’ comments threaten GOP inroads in Minnesota Somali community
Trump has ramped up attacks on Somali Minnesotans and pledged to revoke Temporary Protected Status.
bit.ly
December 4, 2025 at 1:45 AM
Reposted by Elle Ess
salena.bsky.social
Paid Leave in MN starts Jan 1!

If you welcomed a baby in 2025 you can apply to take bonding leave in 2026! Check out www.paidleave.mn.gov

This huge win is thanks to DFLers and only DFLers. No Republicans voted for it and they spent the last two years trying to destroy it before it even started. 🫶🏼
senatedfl.bsky.social Minnesota Senate DFL @senatedfl.bsky.social · 16h
📢 New parents: You can start applying for Paid Leave NOW!

Paid Leave passed by DFLers in 2023 goes into effect January 1, 2026!

If you welcomed a baby in 2025, you can apply for up to 12 weeks of bonding leave in the new year. Learn more at paidleave.mn.gov.
New baby in 2025? You can apply for Paid Leave now! Image of a small infant sleeping in a woman's arms.
December 4, 2025 at 1:10 AM