Hilary Appelman
@hilaryapp.bsky.social
Recovering journalist. Tired.
Reposted by Hilary Appelman
jawdropping
Former UVA president Jim Ryan, who resigned over the summer due to pressure from the Trump Administration, just shared this 12-page letter with the Faculty Senate, detailing his experience with the Board of Visitors and DOJ.
It's a surreal--and troubling--read.
drive.google.com/file/d/1Is6x...
It's a surreal--and troubling--read.
drive.google.com/file/d/1Is6x...
November 14, 2025 at 4:52 PM
jawdropping
Reposted by Hilary Appelman
Officials in the Trump regime will never miss an opportunity to cash in on their own cruelty.
NEW: DHS invoked the “national emergency” at the border to skirt competitive bidding rules for a $220 million taxpayer-funded ad campaign.
We found that a firm with deep ties to Kristi Noem secretly benefited from the deal.
We found that a firm with deep ties to Kristi Noem secretly benefited from the deal.
Kristi Noem-Tied Firm Secretly Got Piece of $220 Million DHS Campaign
The company is run by the husband of Noem’s chief DHS spokesperson and has personal and business ties to Noem and her aides. DHS invoked the “emergency” at the border to skirt competitive bidding rules for the taxpayer-funded campaign.
www.propublica.org
November 14, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Officials in the Trump regime will never miss an opportunity to cash in on their own cruelty.
Reposted by Hilary Appelman
photos of Trump sleeping through yesterday's Oval Office event via Andrew Harnik of Getty
November 7, 2025 at 4:38 PM
photos of Trump sleeping through yesterday's Oval Office event via Andrew Harnik of Getty
Reposted by Hilary Appelman
The Energy Department adds “climate change,” “green” and “decarbonization” to its restricted list.
Energy Dept. adds ‘climate change’ and ‘emissions’ to banned words list
It is the latest in a series of Trump administration efforts to dispute, silence or downplay climate change.
www.politico.com
September 28, 2025 at 9:18 PM
The Energy Department adds “climate change,” “green” and “decarbonization” to its restricted list.
Reposted by Hilary Appelman
He’s laying the groundwork to fuck with & overthrow the 2026 election. He’s laying the groundwork to stay in the White House after the 2028 election. Donald Trump is America’s enemy. It must be said. He is an enemy to this country. And he must be stopped.
August 28, 2025 at 5:25 PM
He’s laying the groundwork to fuck with & overthrow the 2026 election. He’s laying the groundwork to stay in the White House after the 2028 election. Donald Trump is America’s enemy. It must be said. He is an enemy to this country. And he must be stopped.
Reposted by Hilary Appelman
The subway risk chart you've been waiting for (Sawyer County, Wisconsin, is where Sean Duffy is from). Gift link: www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...
July 21, 2025 at 1:23 PM
The subway risk chart you've been waiting for (Sawyer County, Wisconsin, is where Sean Duffy is from). Gift link: www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...
Reposted by Hilary Appelman
Yes. The mere fact that the charges against Schiff probably won't go anywhere doesn't make this less of a story. The story is Trump and his loyalists are manipulating the bureaucracy to create pretexts for prosecutions, as model for more to come (w/ICE getting supercharged). Focus on *that* story.
Manufactured evidence for made up accusations almost certainly won’t hold up in court. But that’s mostly besides the point.
Targeted by a federal investigation means time, money, and stress, even when totally innocent. And if ICE keeps moving in this direction, regime critics will simply disappear.
Targeted by a federal investigation means time, money, and stress, even when totally innocent. And if ICE keeps moving in this direction, regime critics will simply disappear.
Trump just said Schiff merits "prison" for the "fraud" an IG supposedly found.
Again, I talked to experts/former IG who described the process used here as deeply troubling.
This is becoming his model for manipulating bureaucracy to hatch pretexts to target foes:
newrepublic.com/article/1980...
Again, I talked to experts/former IG who described the process used here as deeply troubling.
This is becoming his model for manipulating bureaucracy to hatch pretexts to target foes:
newrepublic.com/article/1980...
July 21, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Yes. The mere fact that the charges against Schiff probably won't go anywhere doesn't make this less of a story. The story is Trump and his loyalists are manipulating the bureaucracy to create pretexts for prosecutions, as model for more to come (w/ICE getting supercharged). Focus on *that* story.
Reposted by Hilary Appelman
We obtained lists of alleged gang members used by Venezuelan law enforcement and Interpol. Those lists include some 1,400 names.
None of the names of the 230+ Venezuelan deportees the Trump administration sent to CECOT matched those on the lists.
(Published May)
None of the names of the 230+ Venezuelan deportees the Trump administration sent to CECOT matched those on the lists.
(Published May)
Trump Administration Knew Vast Majority of Venezuelans Sent to Salvadoran Prison Had Not Been Convicted of U.S. Crimes
Homeland Security records reveal that officials knew that more than half of the 238 deportees were labeled as having no criminal record in the U.S. and had only violated immigration laws.
www.propublica.org
July 21, 2025 at 3:00 AM
We obtained lists of alleged gang members used by Venezuelan law enforcement and Interpol. Those lists include some 1,400 names.
None of the names of the 230+ Venezuelan deportees the Trump administration sent to CECOT matched those on the lists.
(Published May)
None of the names of the 230+ Venezuelan deportees the Trump administration sent to CECOT matched those on the lists.
(Published May)
Reposted by Hilary Appelman
Trump’s pushing Texas Republicans to redraw the congressional map, a rare mid-decade move aimed to help Republicans keep their slim majority in the House.
Dems call it “unconstitutional and egregious,” and are exploring ways to stop the Republican plan from moving forward.
Dems call it “unconstitutional and egregious,” and are exploring ways to stop the Republican plan from moving forward.
Dems to Fight Texas’ ‘Illegal, Unconstitutional and Egregious Effort to Rig the Elections’
Read more here.
www.democracydocket.com
July 18, 2025 at 1:00 AM
Trump’s pushing Texas Republicans to redraw the congressional map, a rare mid-decade move aimed to help Republicans keep their slim majority in the House.
Dems call it “unconstitutional and egregious,” and are exploring ways to stop the Republican plan from moving forward.
Dems call it “unconstitutional and egregious,” and are exploring ways to stop the Republican plan from moving forward.
Reposted by Hilary Appelman
I and many others who professionally researched and wrote about the first term of Donald Trump have said that his plan is to provoke a second Kent State as a pretext for martial law and the cancellation of the midterms.
Now we find Trump *dramatically* expanding bases for cops to shoot protesters.
Now we find Trump *dramatically* expanding bases for cops to shoot protesters.
Skateboards and Livestreams: DHS Tells Police That Common Protest Activities Are ‘Violent Tactics’
DHS is urging law enforcement to treat even skateboarding and livestreaming as signs of violent intent during a protest, turning everyday behavior into a pretext for police action.
www.wired.com
July 11, 2025 at 1:43 PM
I and many others who professionally researched and wrote about the first term of Donald Trump have said that his plan is to provoke a second Kent State as a pretext for martial law and the cancellation of the midterms.
Now we find Trump *dramatically* expanding bases for cops to shoot protesters.
Now we find Trump *dramatically* expanding bases for cops to shoot protesters.
Reposted by Hilary Appelman
Several Columbia Univ student journalists are suspended after covering protests (while wearing press ID) in the main library.
Their access to campus is blocked, and they can't take final exams.
Also: Columbia's acting president is a former ABC journalist
www.columbiaspectator.com/news/2025/05...
Their access to campus is blocked, and they can't take final exams.
Also: Columbia's acting president is a former ABC journalist
www.columbiaspectator.com/news/2025/05...
Barnard suspends WKCR and Spectator reporters who covered Butler Library protest
Barnard and Columbia issued interim suspensions Thursday afternoon to four student journalists who covered a Wednesday pro-Palestinian protest in Butler Library, citing “information received” from Pub...
www.columbiaspectator.com
May 9, 2025 at 11:59 AM
Several Columbia Univ student journalists are suspended after covering protests (while wearing press ID) in the main library.
Their access to campus is blocked, and they can't take final exams.
Also: Columbia's acting president is a former ABC journalist
www.columbiaspectator.com/news/2025/05...
Their access to campus is blocked, and they can't take final exams.
Also: Columbia's acting president is a former ABC journalist
www.columbiaspectator.com/news/2025/05...
Reposted by Hilary Appelman
I like him already
consider, they picked whichever Pope would piss off Vance the most
May 8, 2025 at 5:28 PM
I like him already
Reposted by Hilary Appelman
The point is not to win the case. It is to intimidate the judiciary.
So to sum up the Wisconsin arrest issue:
ICE didn't have a juridical warrant. They only had an administrative warrant.
The DOJ has not convened a grand jury to indict the judge. They only got a criminal complaint before a magistrate judge.
This is ridiculous.
ICE didn't have a juridical warrant. They only had an administrative warrant.
The DOJ has not convened a grand jury to indict the judge. They only got a criminal complaint before a magistrate judge.
This is ridiculous.
April 25, 2025 at 5:19 PM
The point is not to win the case. It is to intimidate the judiciary.
Reposted by Hilary Appelman
This is disgusting behavior from a government agency.
Abrego Garcia's Wife Forced To Move To Safe House After Homeland Security Shares Her Address On Social Media
Absolutely despicable.
www.comicsands.com
April 25, 2025 at 4:47 PM
This is disgusting behavior from a government agency.
Reposted by Hilary Appelman
it's important this go as viral as the original story for morale purposes if nothing else. despite the image they project these people are NOT unaccountable. consequences CAN be forced. focused anger and outrage MATTERS.
April 20, 2025 at 11:46 PM
it's important this go as viral as the original story for morale purposes if nothing else. despite the image they project these people are NOT unaccountable. consequences CAN be forced. focused anger and outrage MATTERS.
Reposted by Hilary Appelman
I will keep asking this. Will ANY reporter ask Karoline Leavitt at the briefing to respond to the fact that the "evidence" for this claim was produced by a cop who was subsequently suspended/indicted for serious misconduct? This is their CENTRAL PIECE OF EVIDENCE.
newrepublic.com/article/1940...
newrepublic.com/article/1940...
April 21, 2025 at 2:46 PM
I will keep asking this. Will ANY reporter ask Karoline Leavitt at the briefing to respond to the fact that the "evidence" for this claim was produced by a cop who was subsequently suspended/indicted for serious misconduct? This is their CENTRAL PIECE OF EVIDENCE.
newrepublic.com/article/1940...
newrepublic.com/article/1940...
Reposted by Hilary Appelman
FYI rabbis and cantors who are alums of Brown University are organizing, asking the university not to capitulate to Trump's weaponization of antisemitism on the path to destroying higher ed and the diversity and freedoms that should accompany it.
Glad to be one of them.
Glad to be one of them.
Rabbi and Cantor Alums of Brown Write To the University:
Do Not Cede Control to Those Who Weaponize Antisemitism
www.lifeisasacredtext.com
April 20, 2025 at 8:32 PM
FYI rabbis and cantors who are alums of Brown University are organizing, asking the university not to capitulate to Trump's weaponization of antisemitism on the path to destroying higher ed and the diversity and freedoms that should accompany it.
Glad to be one of them.
Glad to be one of them.
Reposted by Hilary Appelman
🧵 THREAD: A federal whistleblower just dropped one of the most disturbing cybersecurity disclosures I’ve ever read.
He's saying DOGE came in, data went out, and Russians started attempting logins with new valid DOGE passwords
Media's coverage wasn't detailed enough so I dug into his testimony:
He's saying DOGE came in, data went out, and Russians started attempting logins with new valid DOGE passwords
Media's coverage wasn't detailed enough so I dug into his testimony:
April 18, 2025 at 12:10 AM
🧵 THREAD: A federal whistleblower just dropped one of the most disturbing cybersecurity disclosures I’ve ever read.
He's saying DOGE came in, data went out, and Russians started attempting logins with new valid DOGE passwords
Media's coverage wasn't detailed enough so I dug into his testimony:
He's saying DOGE came in, data went out, and Russians started attempting logins with new valid DOGE passwords
Media's coverage wasn't detailed enough so I dug into his testimony:
Reposted by Hilary Appelman
NEW—Columbia Acting President Claire Shipman announces overhaul of University Senate (made up of students & faculty).
Comes after Senate published 300-page report exposing “web of highly
charged political agendas,”
“distortions,” and external influences that shaped campus events.
Excerpt here:
Comes after Senate published 300-page report exposing “web of highly
charged political agendas,”
“distortions,” and external influences that shaped campus events.
Excerpt here:
April 18, 2025 at 9:23 PM
NEW—Columbia Acting President Claire Shipman announces overhaul of University Senate (made up of students & faculty).
Comes after Senate published 300-page report exposing “web of highly
charged political agendas,”
“distortions,” and external influences that shaped campus events.
Excerpt here:
Comes after Senate published 300-page report exposing “web of highly
charged political agendas,”
“distortions,” and external influences that shaped campus events.
Excerpt here:
Boycott Avelo Airlines
Around 30,000 people have signed a petition to boycott the small airline after Avelo made a deal with ICE to carry out deportation flights.
Why are tens of thousands of people boycotting this little-known airline?
Around 30,000 people have signed a petition to boycott the small airline after Avelo made a deal with ICE to carry out deportation flights.
bit.ly
April 15, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Boycott Avelo Airlines
Reposted by Hilary Appelman
Solid weasel wording from the Times
April 14, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Solid weasel wording from the Times
Reposted by Hilary Appelman
absolutely insane, a betrayal of the most basic principles of freedom of speech for which the American republic is supposed to stand
April 11, 2025 at 8:08 PM
absolutely insane, a betrayal of the most basic principles of freedom of speech for which the American republic is supposed to stand
Why would anyone come here now?
Wonder how much longer the tourism drop go on before Trump makes some sweaty plea like "We only detain and abuse SOME of the tourists who are nasty to me on computer"
April 11, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Why would anyone come here now?
Reposted by Hilary Appelman
"The Four Ivies," a haggadah supplement from contributing writer @elivalley.bsky.social. Happy Passover. jewishcurrents.org/the-four-ivi...
April 11, 2025 at 8:01 PM
"The Four Ivies," a haggadah supplement from contributing writer @elivalley.bsky.social. Happy Passover. jewishcurrents.org/the-four-ivi...