Micah Barber
@filmmakermicah.bsky.social
I write and make Kids & Family movies & other fun stuff. But right now I mainly fight for democracy in what used to be America.
Pinned
Reposted by Micah Barber
Purdue to the rescue of IU student newspaper, whose institution was attempting censorship. Details in alt!
October 18, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Purdue to the rescue of IU student newspaper, whose institution was attempting censorship. Details in alt!
Austin is out here y’all! #democracy #nokings
October 18, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Austin is out here y’all! #democracy #nokings
Reposted by Micah Barber
Stacey Abrams explaining again what is happening in the country. Day by day we are watching the takeover of this nation. Everyone needs to resist, every business, every college, every home that gets it. We must not bend America‼️
October 15, 2025 at 11:19 AM
Stacey Abrams explaining again what is happening in the country. Day by day we are watching the takeover of this nation. Everyone needs to resist, every business, every college, every home that gets it. We must not bend America‼️
@anneapplebaum.bsky.social with the context and stakes of America’s tragic, self-inflicted plummet…
"We always think about America’s postwar role in Europe as an act of great generosity, the defense of allies from Soviet aggression. But by putting democracy at the center of our international identity, we also helped strengthen our own political system"
www.theatlantic.com/magazine/arc...
www.theatlantic.com/magazine/arc...
The Beacon of Democracy Goes Dark
For nearly 250 years, America promoted freedom and equality abroad, even when it failed to live up to those ideals itself. Not anymore.
www.theatlantic.com
October 14, 2025 at 7:15 PM
@anneapplebaum.bsky.social with the context and stakes of America’s tragic, self-inflicted plummet…
Imagine reading this insane headline in our prosperous America ten years ago: “[President] Trump calls for jailing Democratic leaders as troops prepare for Chicago deployment”
(Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday called for jailing Chicago's mayor and the governor of Illinois, both Democrats, as his administration prepared to deploy military troops to the streets of the third-largest U.S. city. www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...
www.reuters.com
October 8, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Imagine reading this insane headline in our prosperous America ten years ago: “[President] Trump calls for jailing Democratic leaders as troops prepare for Chicago deployment”
Reposted by Micah Barber
We need a bigger national spotlight on this building raid, fam. Agents dropped from helicopters onto the roof. Citizens and non-citizens alike were dragged from their homes in the night. People who weren't kidnapped during the raid had their belongings seized after the fact. This is madness.
"Jones, 27, is among the residents left at 7500 S. South Shore Drive who are trying to piece together what remains after an early morning, high-powered federal immigration raid led to the arrests of dozens of their neighbors at their South Shore apartment building."
Massive immigration raid on Chicago apartment building leaves residents reeling: 'I feel defeated'
The Department of Homeland Security said federal agents with Border Patrol, the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives arrested 37 people in the raid.
chicago.suntimes.com
October 2, 2025 at 4:23 PM
We need a bigger national spotlight on this building raid, fam. Agents dropped from helicopters onto the roof. Citizens and non-citizens alike were dragged from their homes in the night. People who weren't kidnapped during the raid had their belongings seized after the fact. This is madness.
Reposted by Micah Barber
In a sane country with competent leadership, the 50 highest-ranking Democrats would call a press conference to denounce what just happened as a threat to the republic and demand Trump's immediate impeachment and removal from office.
I don't know he could make his intentions more clear.
I don't know he could make his intentions more clear.
September 30, 2025 at 4:15 PM
In a sane country with competent leadership, the 50 highest-ranking Democrats would call a press conference to denounce what just happened as a threat to the republic and demand Trump's immediate impeachment and removal from office.
I don't know he could make his intentions more clear.
I don't know he could make his intentions more clear.
As @jamellebouie.net says, this is the whole, previously unfathomable story.
JUST IN: President Trump has told top U.S. commanders that the military would be used against "enemy within."
Trump defends use of U.S. military against 'enemy within'
Earlier, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the purpose of the department would exclusively be "war fighting."
n.pr
September 30, 2025 at 4:45 PM
As @jamellebouie.net says, this is the whole, previously unfathomable story.
Reposted by Micah Barber
the president of the united states wants to use the american military to kill american citizens on american soil. that's the whole story!
September 30, 2025 at 2:43 PM
the president of the united states wants to use the american military to kill american citizens on american soil. that's the whole story!
Reposted by Micah Barber
A majority of US children rely on Medicaid or CHIP, new study finds | via Nada Hassanein #ksleg
A majority of US children rely on Medicaid or CHIP, new study finds • Kansas Reflector
A majority of children in the United States rely on Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program at some point by their 18th birthday, and many experience periods of coverage loss, according to...
kansasreflector.com
September 28, 2025 at 12:28 AM
A majority of US children rely on Medicaid or CHIP, new study finds | via Nada Hassanein #ksleg
He said it more eloquently than I: this is literally what the 1st Amendment is for.
This is precisely the kind of government coercion that the First Amendment was designed to prevent — and media companies need to start standing up rather than capitulating to it.
Washington Post Columnist Says She Was Fired for Posts After Charlie Kirk Shooting
www.nytimes.com
September 18, 2025 at 9:54 PM
He said it more eloquently than I: this is literally what the 1st Amendment is for.
Reposted by Micah Barber
Trump's History of Violence (2016-2020)
April 18, 2025 at 3:50 AM
Trump's History of Violence (2016-2020)
Y’all, we are unleashing gangs of masked thugs that now have the Supreme Court’s blessing to grab any brown or Spanish-speaking person off the street and disappear them. No warrants, no IDs, no paper trail.
Next year’s budget for this triples.
Next year’s budget for this triples.
This isn’t at all surprising, given that it’s essentially been publicly reported that Stephen Miller ordered ICE to arrest first and ask questions later, but it’s still worth noting. www.nbcnews.com/politics/nat...
They are not even pretending that they know anything about someone before arrest.
They are not even pretending that they know anything about someone before arrest.
Under Trump administration, ICE scraps paperwork officers once had to do before immigration arrests
For years, officers were required to fill out "homework” before operations. But, one source noted, “it’s hard to fill out a worksheet that just says, ‘Meet in the Home Depot parking lot.’”
www.nbcnews.com
September 9, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Y’all, we are unleashing gangs of masked thugs that now have the Supreme Court’s blessing to grab any brown or Spanish-speaking person off the street and disappear them. No warrants, no IDs, no paper trail.
Next year’s budget for this triples.
Next year’s budget for this triples.
Reposted by Micah Barber
The New Yorker asked me “how bad” today’s Supreme Court ruling was. I boiled it down to one paragraph:
link.newyorker.com/view/5bda429...
link.newyorker.com/view/5bda429...
September 8, 2025 at 9:52 PM
The New Yorker asked me “how bad” today’s Supreme Court ruling was. I boiled it down to one paragraph:
link.newyorker.com/view/5bda429...
link.newyorker.com/view/5bda429...
Where are the libertarians, who will surely be up in arms that masked men can hassle private citizens perpetually, based on their job or appearance or what they say?
How is this America??
How is this America??
Via @arianalfigueroa.bsky.social: The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday lifted a lower court’s ban on immigration agents’ racial profiling of Latinos in Southern California, backing President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown.
US Supreme Court OKs racial profiling in Los Angeles immigration enforcement | Alabama Reflector
The high court ruled that the officers could use “apparent ethnicity” as one factor in determining reasonable suspicion, as long as it is not the only factor.
alabamareflector.com
September 8, 2025 at 10:30 PM
Where are the libertarians, who will surely be up in arms that masked men can hassle private citizens perpetually, based on their job or appearance or what they say?
How is this America??
How is this America??
As we sink deeper, the examples only grow more stark. Tell your friends.
🧵🧵🧵
Two decades ago, writer Laurence Britt listed 14 defining characteristics of fascism. In this thread, I match them up with actions of Trump and his regime. Spoiler alert: MAGA is 14-for-14.
1. Powerful and continuing nationalism
Two decades ago, writer Laurence Britt listed 14 defining characteristics of fascism. In this thread, I match them up with actions of Trump and his regime. Spoiler alert: MAGA is 14-for-14.
1. Powerful and continuing nationalism
Donald Trump thinks not clapping for him is ‘treasonous’ | CNN Politics
President Donald Trump wasn’t – and, apparently, still isn’t – happy that Democrats in Congress didn’t stand to applaud him in his State of the Union address last week.
www.cnn.com
September 7, 2025 at 1:59 PM
As we sink deeper, the examples only grow more stark. Tell your friends.
Trying this next semester
I’ve done this for 2 weeks now and it *absolutely rules*. Best class discussions I’ve ever had. Best engagement with readings. They write in this worksheet for 15 minutes, then talk about their responses in groups of 3-4, then groups share with the whole class, and *then* we talk about the readings
Updating my comparative public admin seminar class—which was decimated by AI last year—to maybe be a little more LLM-proof by adding a 20–30 minute start-of-class writing & discussion activity. Will it work? Who knows! Full details and PDF here: governancef25.classes.andrewheiss.com/assignment/c...
September 5, 2025 at 4:05 AM
Trying this next semester
Reposted by Micah Barber
BREAKING: Big moment as CDC staff stage a mass walkout.
They have lined the street outside its HQ to greet and salute the four top officials who have resigned in protest at RFK Jr’s attack on the agency’s science base.
(🎥 AP)
They have lined the street outside its HQ to greet and salute the four top officials who have resigned in protest at RFK Jr’s attack on the agency’s science base.
(🎥 AP)
August 28, 2025 at 7:42 PM
BREAKING: Big moment as CDC staff stage a mass walkout.
They have lined the street outside its HQ to greet and salute the four top officials who have resigned in protest at RFK Jr’s attack on the agency’s science base.
(🎥 AP)
They have lined the street outside its HQ to greet and salute the four top officials who have resigned in protest at RFK Jr’s attack on the agency’s science base.
(🎥 AP)
These letters make it crystal clear how much trouble we are in. #CDC
Enough is enough. The health of the country is in danger. Read our resignation letters: insidemedicine.substack.com/p/breaking-n...
Breaking News: Read three top CDC officials' resignation emails.
The end of an era.
insidemedicine.substack.com
August 28, 2025 at 2:25 PM
These letters make it crystal clear how much trouble we are in. #CDC
We will look back and see we crossed the line long ago. One day people will disbelieve we let a twice-impeached scoundrel who directed a violent coup return to power.
Fascism is officially here as of 8/25/25, per @vermontgmg.bsky.social
Fascism is officially here as of 8/25/25, per @vermontgmg.bsky.social
I loved @vermontgmg.bsky.social's latest piece so much that I asked if I could republish it on The Handbasket and he so generously said yes.
If you haven't read it yet, please do. It's essential:
If you haven't read it yet, please do. It's essential:
America tips into fascism (GUEST POST)
"Something is materially different in our country this week than last," writes historian Garrett Graff.
www.thehandbasket.co
August 26, 2025 at 1:38 PM
We will look back and see we crossed the line long ago. One day people will disbelieve we let a twice-impeached scoundrel who directed a violent coup return to power.
Fascism is officially here as of 8/25/25, per @vermontgmg.bsky.social
Fascism is officially here as of 8/25/25, per @vermontgmg.bsky.social
The “very best” people
The Department of Justice hired a former Jan. 6 defendant who was caught on tape urging rioters to "kill" police. The department calls him a "valued member" of the administration.
Video shows Department of Justice official urging Jan. 6 rioters to 'kill' cops
The Department of Justice hired a former Jan. 6 defendant who was caught on tape urging rioters to "kill" police. The department calls him a "valued member" of the administration.
n.pr
August 7, 2025 at 2:30 PM
The “very best” people
Reposted by Micah Barber
this work saved millions of lives in 2021, won the Nobel Prize in 2023, and is cancelled in 2025
"The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today announced the beginning of a coordinated wind-down of its mRNA vaccine development activities...."
cc: Sen. Bill Cassidy
cc: Sen. Bill Cassidy
August 5, 2025 at 9:58 PM
this work saved millions of lives in 2021, won the Nobel Prize in 2023, and is cancelled in 2025
This is spot on, and well-written. I’d almost forgotten all of the toothless responses we’ve had to disasters here in Texas recently. They sure do love to show up for a solemn press conference performance though.
Kerrville used to feel like home and I miss that place a lot. I hope it's still there when i return someday. I also hope it does better by its people. I talked about that with @bryancurtis.bsky.social on the @thepressbox.bsky.social podcast and then wrote about it. www.theringer.com/podcasts/the...
The Floods in Texas - The Ringer
Bryan and Joel discuss the Texas flash floods, how the story hits them as parents and Texans, the slow trickle of information, defensive posturing from Texas leadership, misinformation gaining tractio...
www.theringer.com
July 12, 2025 at 1:54 PM
This is spot on, and well-written. I’d almost forgotten all of the toothless responses we’ve had to disasters here in Texas recently. They sure do love to show up for a solemn press conference performance though.
Buckle up, and tell your friends.
Writing is on the wall, to the tune of $170,000,000,000 of our dollars. They will spend it.
Writing is on the wall, to the tune of $170,000,000,000 of our dollars. They will spend it.
I don’t think anyone is prepared for what they just did w/ ICE.
This is not a simple budget increase. It is an explosion - making ICE bigger than the FBI, US Bureau of Prisons, DEA,& others combined.
It is setting up to make what’s happening now look like child’s play. And people are disappearing.
This is not a simple budget increase. It is an explosion - making ICE bigger than the FBI, US Bureau of Prisons, DEA,& others combined.
It is setting up to make what’s happening now look like child’s play. And people are disappearing.
July 4, 2025 at 12:32 AM
Buckle up, and tell your friends.
Writing is on the wall, to the tune of $170,000,000,000 of our dollars. They will spend it.
Writing is on the wall, to the tune of $170,000,000,000 of our dollars. They will spend it.
Reposted by Micah Barber
Man, y'all gotta read this whole piece about a rally in San Antonio yesterday. Texas Democrats — led by big names — are organizing and moving away from DC and the DNC. And they're getting wild, cheering crowds.
June 29, 2025 at 1:58 AM
Man, y'all gotta read this whole piece about a rally in San Antonio yesterday. Texas Democrats — led by big names — are organizing and moving away from DC and the DNC. And they're getting wild, cheering crowds.