michael swistara (he/him)
@michaelswistara.bsky.social
Chicago-based animal rights lawyer, lefty, vegan home cook, trivia host, proud union member, runner, cyclist, and rollerblader. Views are my own. 🍉
Reposted by michael swistara (he/him)
"All settlements are illegal under international law. They are all war crimes."
Israel Approves 19 New West Bank Settlements as State-Sponsored Violence Escalates
There’s been a sharp rise of illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank under Israel’s current far-right government. Israel’s Cabinet approved a proposal for the construction of 19 new Israeli sett...
www.democracynow.org
December 22, 2025 at 5:04 PM
"All settlements are illegal under international law. They are all war crimes."
Reposted by michael swistara (he/him)
CBS News(max) is officially cooked. Bari Weiss killed a whole-ass network.
December 22, 2025 at 1:15 AM
CBS News(max) is officially cooked. Bari Weiss killed a whole-ass network.
Reposted by michael swistara (he/him)
PEOPLE MAG ON MUSK VS. MEMPHIS: “Resident says she can’t open windows anymore because of rotten smell from living near Elon’s data center in BOXTOWN…”
No community input. Just vague promises of jobs and investment. @MemphisChamber @mayorpaulyoung
people.com/resident-liv...
No community input. Just vague promises of jobs and investment. @MemphisChamber @mayorpaulyoung
people.com/resident-liv...
December 17, 2025 at 1:28 PM
PEOPLE MAG ON MUSK VS. MEMPHIS: “Resident says she can’t open windows anymore because of rotten smell from living near Elon’s data center in BOXTOWN…”
No community input. Just vague promises of jobs and investment. @MemphisChamber @mayorpaulyoung
people.com/resident-liv...
No community input. Just vague promises of jobs and investment. @MemphisChamber @mayorpaulyoung
people.com/resident-liv...
Reposted by michael swistara (he/him)
@samanthamichaels.bsky.social spent a night huddled in the dark with an undocumented family hiding from ICE
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
I'm a veteran criminal justice reporter. I've never seen anything like ICE-occupied Memphis.
“It’s about as sad as you can possibly imagine."
www.motherjones.com
December 16, 2025 at 3:53 PM
@samanthamichaels.bsky.social spent a night huddled in the dark with an undocumented family hiding from ICE
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Reposted by michael swistara (he/him)
Reposted by michael swistara (he/him)
In a shocking trove of emails released by House Democrats, Jeffrey Epstein alleged that President Trump “spent hours” at his home with a victim and “knew about the girls.”
Epstein: Trump knew
In a shocking trove of emails released by House Democrats, Jeffrey Epstein alleged that President Trump "spent hours" at his home with a victim and "knew about the girls."
www.motherjones.com
November 12, 2025 at 3:03 PM
In a shocking trove of emails released by House Democrats, Jeffrey Epstein alleged that President Trump “spent hours” at his home with a victim and “knew about the girls.”
Reposted by michael swistara (he/him)
the newly released Epstein emails are getting coverage on Fox News 👀
November 12, 2025 at 9:13 PM
the newly released Epstein emails are getting coverage on Fox News 👀
Reposted by michael swistara (he/him)
64% of Americans think that billionaires don't pay enough taxes, according to YouGov.
November 12, 2025 at 4:56 PM
64% of Americans think that billionaires don't pay enough taxes, according to YouGov.
Reposted by michael swistara (he/him)
SCOOP: ICE is allocating as much as $180 million to pay bounty hunters and private investigators who verify the address and location of undocumented people ICE wishes to detain, including with physical surveillance, according to procurement records reviewed by 404 Media.
ICE Plans to Spend $180 Million on Bounty Hunters to Stalk Immigrants
Newly released documents provide more details about ICE's plan to use bounty hunters and private investigators to find the location of undocumented immigrants.
www.404media.co
November 12, 2025 at 4:13 PM
SCOOP: ICE is allocating as much as $180 million to pay bounty hunters and private investigators who verify the address and location of undocumented people ICE wishes to detain, including with physical surveillance, according to procurement records reviewed by 404 Media.
Reposted by michael swistara (he/him)
I don’t know how many times I’ve watched this video.
I don’t know how we’ve gotten to the point where men in full balaclavas can abduct daycare teachers while they’re watching children.
But I do know that this isn’t sustainable. Abolish ICE. There is no way to reform this.
I don’t know how we’ve gotten to the point where men in full balaclavas can abduct daycare teachers while they’re watching children.
But I do know that this isn’t sustainable. Abolish ICE. There is no way to reform this.
Federal agents pulling a woman out of Rayito Del Sol, a daycare by Lane Tech high school
November 5, 2025 at 9:42 PM
I don’t know how many times I’ve watched this video.
I don’t know how we’ve gotten to the point where men in full balaclavas can abduct daycare teachers while they’re watching children.
But I do know that this isn’t sustainable. Abolish ICE. There is no way to reform this.
I don’t know how we’ve gotten to the point where men in full balaclavas can abduct daycare teachers while they’re watching children.
But I do know that this isn’t sustainable. Abolish ICE. There is no way to reform this.
Reposted by michael swistara (he/him)
This was horrific to watch. Agents entering a daycare, wrestling with and abducting a teacher in front of small screaming children. I just… what the fuck are we doing here.
this morning, ICE went into a Spanish language immersion daycare and took a teacher from the building in front of screaming and crying kids and parents at dropoff and the daycare had to shut down for the day (near Lane Tech, where they were yesterday). Really hoping today's "theme" is not "daycare."
November 5, 2025 at 2:53 PM
This was horrific to watch. Agents entering a daycare, wrestling with and abducting a teacher in front of small screaming children. I just… what the fuck are we doing here.
Reposted by michael swistara (he/him)
This Is How to Fight Fascism: Naomi Klein, AOC & Brad Lander on Mamdani Victory
This Is How to Fight Fascism: Naomi Klein, AOC & Brad Lander on Mamdani Victory
At Zohran Mamdani’s victory party at the Brooklyn Paramount on Tuesday night, Democracy Now! spoke with Congressmember Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. “We’re not going to be intimidated,” Ocasio-Cortez said...
www.democracynow.org
November 5, 2025 at 4:32 PM
This Is How to Fight Fascism: Naomi Klein, AOC & Brad Lander on Mamdani Victory
Reposted by michael swistara (he/him)
The craziest thing about Ernie Clement is that his legal name is just “Ernie,” not Ernest, not short for anything. And the second-craziest thing is that he has the single postseason hit record.
November 2, 2025 at 2:59 AM
The craziest thing about Ernie Clement is that his legal name is just “Ernie,” not Ernest, not short for anything. And the second-craziest thing is that he has the single postseason hit record.
Reposted by michael swistara (he/him)
Today is a great day to leave your car at home. You could save a child's life.
October 31, 2025 at 10:56 AM
Today is a great day to leave your car at home. You could save a child's life.
Reposted by michael swistara (he/him)
Well, an acquaintance who relies on the ACA marketplace for insurance just received a notice explaining that their fee for coverage will be rising. Right now they pay $180 a month. The new price?
$2733.15 a month.
$2733.15 a month.
October 31, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Well, an acquaintance who relies on the ACA marketplace for insurance just received a notice explaining that their fee for coverage will be rising. Right now they pay $180 a month. The new price?
$2733.15 a month.
$2733.15 a month.
Reposted by michael swistara (he/him)
lmao david byrne showed the video of the ice agents tripping over themselves while trying to run after a biker on wacker drive during the “life during wartime” segment of his chicago show tonight
October 30, 2025 at 3:41 AM
lmao david byrne showed the video of the ice agents tripping over themselves while trying to run after a biker on wacker drive during the “life during wartime” segment of his chicago show tonight
People need food, you fucking freaks.
October 30, 2025 at 2:51 PM
People need food, you fucking freaks.
Reposted by michael swistara (he/him)
MAGA voters on SNAP deserve to eat.
October 30, 2025 at 2:46 PM
MAGA voters on SNAP deserve to eat.
Reposted by michael swistara (he/him)
Could ICE have ‘lost' 3,000 immigrant arrestees in Chicago?
NBC Chicago's investigative team reports at least 3,000 jailed immigrants have vanished from federal records, according to human rights attorneys and organizations.
www.nbcchicago.com/investigatio...
NBC Chicago's investigative team reports at least 3,000 jailed immigrants have vanished from federal records, according to human rights attorneys and organizations.
www.nbcchicago.com/investigatio...
Could ICE have 'lost' 3,000 immigrant arrestees in Chicago?
At least 3,000 jailed immigrants have vanished from federal records, according to human rights attorneys and organizations.
www.nbcchicago.com
October 29, 2025 at 12:06 PM
Could ICE have ‘lost' 3,000 immigrant arrestees in Chicago?
NBC Chicago's investigative team reports at least 3,000 jailed immigrants have vanished from federal records, according to human rights attorneys and organizations.
www.nbcchicago.com/investigatio...
NBC Chicago's investigative team reports at least 3,000 jailed immigrants have vanished from federal records, according to human rights attorneys and organizations.
www.nbcchicago.com/investigatio...
Reposted by michael swistara (he/him)
the cruelty is the point
October 29, 2025 at 5:49 AM
the cruelty is the point
Reposted by michael swistara (he/him)
conspiracy to make a cop go slow
October 29, 2025 at 5:45 PM
conspiracy to make a cop go slow
Reposted by michael swistara (he/him)
I don't think ICE should exist. Period. But also, I think we need to talk about what happens when ICE detain a disabled person. They will lose access to care and vital supports, and that is really scary, and all too real.
October 28, 2025 at 1:18 AM
I don't think ICE should exist. Period. But also, I think we need to talk about what happens when ICE detain a disabled person. They will lose access to care and vital supports, and that is really scary, and all too real.
Reposted by michael swistara (he/him)
Reposted by michael swistara (he/him)
Zeteo traveled to Chicago for a first-hand look at the president's militarized crackdown on one of America’s great cities.
Watch @swin24.bsky.social's report:
zeteo.com/p/watch-insi...
Watch @swin24.bsky.social's report:
zeteo.com/p/watch-insi...
October 24, 2025 at 2:39 AM
Zeteo traveled to Chicago for a first-hand look at the president's militarized crackdown on one of America’s great cities.
Watch @swin24.bsky.social's report:
zeteo.com/p/watch-insi...
Watch @swin24.bsky.social's report:
zeteo.com/p/watch-insi...
Reposted by michael swistara (he/him)
A friend recently told me that they didn’t think ICE would deploy tear gas in well to do neighborhoods with a high density of white people. I understood their thinking, but disagreed. Today, they gassed Lakeview. Nothing is off limits to these people.
October 24, 2025 at 10:45 PM
A friend recently told me that they didn’t think ICE would deploy tear gas in well to do neighborhoods with a high density of white people. I understood their thinking, but disagreed. Today, they gassed Lakeview. Nothing is off limits to these people.