Mel Buer
@melbuer.bsky.social
LA-based independent multimedia journalist. Union member.
Covering labor, media, and movements at wordsaboutwork.news | Work featured all over || Send tips, inquiries to melbuer@proton.me
Support me:
buymeacoffee.com/mel_buer
https://linktr.ee/mel_buer
Covering labor, media, and movements at wordsaboutwork.news | Work featured all over || Send tips, inquiries to melbuer@proton.me
Support me:
buymeacoffee.com/mel_buer
https://linktr.ee/mel_buer
Pinned
Last Week in Labor: November 14-21 2025.
Welcome back to the weekly labor digest.
www.wordsaboutwork.news
Welcome back to the weekly digest, my friends. We've got a pretty solid one for you to round out your week: Starbucks workers on strike, grad workers militant as ever, unions across the country fighting back against the feds. PLUS some pretty rad WAW news that I'm stoked to announce :D Check er out:
Reposted by Mel Buer
Reposted by Mel Buer
Art is Ritual.
Got to get a bit of class rage out by having my weirdo art friends destroy a few ‘billionaires’ at a fundraiser tonight lmao
November 23, 2025 at 5:18 AM
Art is Ritual.
Got to get a bit of class rage out by having my weirdo art friends destroy a few ‘billionaires’ at a fundraiser tonight lmao
November 23, 2025 at 5:14 AM
Got to get a bit of class rage out by having my weirdo art friends destroy a few ‘billionaires’ at a fundraiser tonight lmao
It’s officially official, I’m going to library school in the Spring 🤓🤓🤓🤓🤓
November 23, 2025 at 2:02 AM
It’s officially official, I’m going to library school in the Spring 🤓🤓🤓🤓🤓
Reposted by Mel Buer
Court permanently blocks Trump's executive order to dismantle federal agency for America's libraries IMLS
librarytechnology.org/pr/31973
librarytechnology.org/pr/31973
Court permanently blocks Trump's executive order to dismantle federal agency for America's libraries
Press Release: Court permanently blocks Trump's executive order to dismantle federal agency for America's libraries. The U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island struck down the Trump Adm...
librarytechnology.org
November 22, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Court permanently blocks Trump's executive order to dismantle federal agency for America's libraries IMLS
librarytechnology.org/pr/31973
librarytechnology.org/pr/31973
Love this city after it rains, everything is so clear and green
November 22, 2025 at 10:37 PM
Love this city after it rains, everything is so clear and green
A dear and colleague, Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist David Swanson was diagnosed with a pretty complex cancer this week. Sharing his Gofundme here if fellow industry folks and friends would like to donate/share
gofund.me/6f0850a30
gofund.me/6f0850a30
Donate to Support David Swanson's Cancer Battle, organized by David Strathearn
On November 14th, my 61st birthday, I, David Swanson, was diagnosed with squamo… David Strathearn needs your support for Support David Swanson's Cancer Battle
gofund.me
November 22, 2025 at 10:11 PM
A dear and colleague, Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist David Swanson was diagnosed with a pretty complex cancer this week. Sharing his Gofundme here if fellow industry folks and friends would like to donate/share
gofund.me/6f0850a30
gofund.me/6f0850a30
Reposted by Mel Buer
Volunteering with fellow union siblings at the LA Fed Thanksgiving Community Food Distro today…
Cars lined up around the block, and still plenty to hand out—if you’re local and need a lift with Thanksgiving Dinner plans, come thru :)
Cars lined up around the block, and still plenty to hand out—if you’re local and need a lift with Thanksgiving Dinner plans, come thru :)
November 22, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Volunteering with fellow union siblings at the LA Fed Thanksgiving Community Food Distro today…
Cars lined up around the block, and still plenty to hand out—if you’re local and need a lift with Thanksgiving Dinner plans, come thru :)
Cars lined up around the block, and still plenty to hand out—if you’re local and need a lift with Thanksgiving Dinner plans, come thru :)
Volunteering with fellow union siblings at the LA Fed Thanksgiving Community Food Distro today…
Cars lined up around the block, and still plenty to hand out—if you’re local and need a lift with Thanksgiving Dinner plans, come thru :)
Cars lined up around the block, and still plenty to hand out—if you’re local and need a lift with Thanksgiving Dinner plans, come thru :)
November 22, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Volunteering with fellow union siblings at the LA Fed Thanksgiving Community Food Distro today…
Cars lined up around the block, and still plenty to hand out—if you’re local and need a lift with Thanksgiving Dinner plans, come thru :)
Cars lined up around the block, and still plenty to hand out—if you’re local and need a lift with Thanksgiving Dinner plans, come thru :)
Reposted by Mel Buer
Welcome back to the weekly digest, my friends. We've got a pretty solid one for you to round out your week: Starbucks workers on strike, grad workers militant as ever, unions across the country fighting back against the feds. PLUS some pretty rad WAW news that I'm stoked to announce :D Check er out:
Last Week in Labor: November 14-21 2025.
Welcome back to the weekly labor digest.
www.wordsaboutwork.news
November 21, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Welcome back to the weekly digest, my friends. We've got a pretty solid one for you to round out your week: Starbucks workers on strike, grad workers militant as ever, unions across the country fighting back against the feds. PLUS some pretty rad WAW news that I'm stoked to announce :D Check er out:
The surveillance apparatus in this country is such that you can bet with with a reasonable degree of certainty that your group chats will be infiltrated (successfully or unsuccessfully) at some point or another, and that they will make a mountain out of a molehill re: what you say
WHOA. The FBI was/is spying on a Signal chat for a New York immigration court watch group, claiming they were “anarchist violent extremist actors.”
Your reminder that the government is watching and don’t say anything in a big group chat you wouldn’t say on TV.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Your reminder that the government is watching and don’t say anything in a big group chat you wouldn’t say on TV.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
The FBI spied on a Signal group chat of immigration activists, records reveal
Exclusive: Agency accessed private conversations of New York ‘courtwatch’ group that was observing public hearings
www.theguardian.com
November 21, 2025 at 4:48 PM
The surveillance apparatus in this country is such that you can bet with with a reasonable degree of certainty that your group chats will be infiltrated (successfully or unsuccessfully) at some point or another, and that they will make a mountain out of a molehill re: what you say
Reposted by Mel Buer
Mel is the best! She's right there on the front lines covering activists, immigrants, and labor in a deeply impactful way. She knows the ins and outs of journalism and has a lot of great insight into where the industry is going.
Plus, she's Nebraska Nice!
Plus, she's Nebraska Nice!
Just got done speaking to a journalism class about my work and experience, press freedom and the state of the news industry...that was really cool and thanks @chrisdunker.bsky.social for the invite :]
If anyone else wants a slightly curmudgeonly renegade journo to chat with their students, hmu!!😂
If anyone else wants a slightly curmudgeonly renegade journo to chat with their students, hmu!!😂
November 21, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Mel is the best! She's right there on the front lines covering activists, immigrants, and labor in a deeply impactful way. She knows the ins and outs of journalism and has a lot of great insight into where the industry is going.
Plus, she's Nebraska Nice!
Plus, she's Nebraska Nice!
god forbid a man have hobbies
Judge Matthew Thornhill's burning love for Elvis Presley prompted him to occasionally wear an Elvis wig on the bench — behavior that a judicial conduct commission cited in calling for him to be suspended and then resign. Court documents say he agreed to step down after nearly 20 years on the bench.
Missouri Judge Who Wore Elvis Wig in Court Agrees to Resign
Judge Matthew E.P. Thornhill also talked about politics and played Elvis songs in court, a judicial commission said.
nyti.ms
November 21, 2025 at 3:50 PM
god forbid a man have hobbies
Reposted by Mel Buer
Just got done speaking to a journalism class about my work and experience, press freedom and the state of the news industry...that was really cool and thanks @chrisdunker.bsky.social for the invite :]
If anyone else wants a slightly curmudgeonly renegade journo to chat with their students, hmu!!😂
If anyone else wants a slightly curmudgeonly renegade journo to chat with their students, hmu!!😂
November 21, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Just got done speaking to a journalism class about my work and experience, press freedom and the state of the news industry...that was really cool and thanks @chrisdunker.bsky.social for the invite :]
If anyone else wants a slightly curmudgeonly renegade journo to chat with their students, hmu!!😂
If anyone else wants a slightly curmudgeonly renegade journo to chat with their students, hmu!!😂
Reposted by Mel Buer
Two weeks ago today a coalition of NYC unions incl @psc-cuny.org, @aaup.org chapters, @debtcollective.bsky.social, @higheredlabor.bsky.social & student groups took the fight against Trump’s loyalty oath “compact” for higher ed to its billionaire author, Apollo Global Management CEO Marc Rowan (1/3)
Marc Rowan is trying to end academic freedom as we know it.
The billionaire Trump donor is demanding higher ed institutions to sign a loyalty oath to gain access to federal funds.
Here's how faculty, students, and @aaup.org @psc-cuny.org @debtcollective.bsky.social responded.
The billionaire Trump donor is demanding higher ed institutions to sign a loyalty oath to gain access to federal funds.
Here's how faculty, students, and @aaup.org @psc-cuny.org @debtcollective.bsky.social responded.
November 21, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Two weeks ago today a coalition of NYC unions incl @psc-cuny.org, @aaup.org chapters, @debtcollective.bsky.social, @higheredlabor.bsky.social & student groups took the fight against Trump’s loyalty oath “compact” for higher ed to its billionaire author, Apollo Global Management CEO Marc Rowan (1/3)
Welcome back to the weekly digest, my friends. We've got a pretty solid one for you to round out your week: Starbucks workers on strike, grad workers militant as ever, unions across the country fighting back against the feds. PLUS some pretty rad WAW news that I'm stoked to announce :D Check er out:
Last Week in Labor: November 14-21 2025.
Welcome back to the weekly labor digest.
www.wordsaboutwork.news
November 21, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Welcome back to the weekly digest, my friends. We've got a pretty solid one for you to round out your week: Starbucks workers on strike, grad workers militant as ever, unions across the country fighting back against the feds. PLUS some pretty rad WAW news that I'm stoked to announce :D Check er out:
Reposted by Mel Buer
DAILY MEMO: Border Patrol Raids Long Beach Taking Gardeners, Old Men, and A 12-Pack of Beers
@eltragon.bsky.social
@eltragon.bsky.social
November 21, 2025 at 5:50 AM
DAILY MEMO: Border Patrol Raids Long Beach Taking Gardeners, Old Men, and A 12-Pack of Beers
@eltragon.bsky.social
@eltragon.bsky.social
This is the biggest diner mug I’ve ever seen
November 21, 2025 at 3:46 AM
This is the biggest diner mug I’ve ever seen
The weekly labor digest is coming back into the rotation again starting tomorrow. It looks *quite nice* if I do say so myself :P
In light of this incredible news, here's my periodic reminder to the labor wonks and weirdos that the newsletter is yours to advertise your wins/losses/actions on; hmu!
In light of this incredible news, here's my periodic reminder to the labor wonks and weirdos that the newsletter is yours to advertise your wins/losses/actions on; hmu!
November 20, 2025 at 10:33 PM
The weekly labor digest is coming back into the rotation again starting tomorrow. It looks *quite nice* if I do say so myself :P
In light of this incredible news, here's my periodic reminder to the labor wonks and weirdos that the newsletter is yours to advertise your wins/losses/actions on; hmu!
In light of this incredible news, here's my periodic reminder to the labor wonks and weirdos that the newsletter is yours to advertise your wins/losses/actions on; hmu!
Reposted by Mel Buer
I spent lots of time chatting with the Nazi bot on Nazi dot com and giving ad revenue to the world’s richest Nazi in order to create these screenshots that you’ll hate. Enjoy
November 20, 2025 at 9:53 PM
I spent lots of time chatting with the Nazi bot on Nazi dot com and giving ad revenue to the world’s richest Nazi in order to create these screenshots that you’ll hate. Enjoy
Reposted by Mel Buer
for those not keeping track: masked feds, upset about being followed during kidnappings, reportedly swerved their car into martinez's, got out and said, "do something bitch," then unloaded five shots into her before driving off.
feds then charged martinez w/ assault and offered $50k for more info.
feds then charged martinez w/ assault and offered $50k for more info.
New: the govt has moved to dismiss its assault case against Marimar Martinez and Anthony Ian Santos Ruiz, two people accused of "box[ing] in" a Border Patrol vehicle in Chicago on Oct. 4.
One agent shot Martinez, with evidence presented to the court that he later bragged about in text messages.
One agent shot Martinez, with evidence presented to the court that he later bragged about in text messages.
November 20, 2025 at 5:00 PM
for those not keeping track: masked feds, upset about being followed during kidnappings, reportedly swerved their car into martinez's, got out and said, "do something bitch," then unloaded five shots into her before driving off.
feds then charged martinez w/ assault and offered $50k for more info.
feds then charged martinez w/ assault and offered $50k for more info.
Reposted by Mel Buer
“I want their morale as low as possible because a team with low morale is ineffective.”
Meet the veteran who chases ICE on a scooter
Meet the veteran who chases ICE on a scooter
Meet the veteran who chases ICE on a scooter
Clifford “Buzz” Grambo patrols the streets of Baltimore to keep his neighbors safe—and make federal agents uncomfortable.
www.motherjones.com
November 20, 2025 at 2:00 PM
“I want their morale as low as possible because a team with low morale is ineffective.”
Meet the veteran who chases ICE on a scooter
Meet the veteran who chases ICE on a scooter
Reposted by Mel Buer
A Chinese immigrant named
Chaofeng Ge died in ICE custody.
He was found hanging with his hands and feet tied behind him in the “hog tie” position.
Deaths within these camps continue to rise, with more people dying in the last nine months than in the entire previous four years.
Abolish ICE
Chaofeng Ge died in ICE custody.
He was found hanging with his hands and feet tied behind him in the “hog tie” position.
Deaths within these camps continue to rise, with more people dying in the last nine months than in the entire previous four years.
Abolish ICE
Man detained by ICE found dead, hanging with hands and feet tied—attorney
The Chinese national died in Pennsylvania in August, but his family's requests for answers from DHS have gone unmet.
www.newsweek.com
November 20, 2025 at 2:57 AM
A Chinese immigrant named
Chaofeng Ge died in ICE custody.
He was found hanging with his hands and feet tied behind him in the “hog tie” position.
Deaths within these camps continue to rise, with more people dying in the last nine months than in the entire previous four years.
Abolish ICE
Chaofeng Ge died in ICE custody.
He was found hanging with his hands and feet tied behind him in the “hog tie” position.
Deaths within these camps continue to rise, with more people dying in the last nine months than in the entire previous four years.
Abolish ICE