Michael Leo Owens
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milophd.bsky.social
Michael Leo Owens
@milophd.bsky.social
1.4K followers 1.7K following 2.2K posts
A pluviophile, melomaniac, gardener, karaoke fiend, & academic, punching above his weight in any ring and on any street. Atlantan by labor; New Yorker by birth. Coauthor of Deadly Force: Police Shootings in Urban America (Princeton University Press, 2025).
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milophd.bsky.social
Michael Leo Owens @milophd.bsky.social · Jan 20
“A further step in mastering fear is to remember that it always involves the misuse of the imagination…” - MLK Jr. kinginstitute.stanford.edu/king-papers/...
The Mastery of Fear
kinginstitute.stanford.edu
milophd.bsky.social
"Across the aisle, larger majorities than in the past say both major parties and their supporters have gone too far in using inflammatory language to criticize their political opponents." Both . . . Come on!!!! news.gallup.com/poll/699077/...
December 9, 2025 at 1:41 PM
milophd.bsky.social
"Apparently, the Lord was playing a trick on his humble servant: He may have given [Mike] Johnson the job, but He didn’t say he’d be any good at it." - @paulwaldman.bsky.social

😂
December 9, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Reposted by Michael Leo Owens
adambonica.bsky.social
Interesting new data from the Yale Youth Poll that asked 18-34 year-olds: "Who do you think each party is fighting for?"

GOP → rich, wealthy, billionaires, corporate, donors, Trump

Democrats → working class, rights, immigrants, middle class—but donors, corporate, rich also show up.
Two word-cloud charts from the Yale Youth Poll showing how voters ages 18–34 answer “Who do you think each party is fighting for?” Republican Party cloud (red): Dominated by the words “rich,” “billionaires,” “corporate,” “wealthy,” and “Trump,” with other prominent terms including “donors,” “white,” “Christian,” “money,” “power,” and “control.” Class-based groups like workers or the middle class are largely absent. Democratic Party cloud (blue): Centered on “rights,” “immigrants,” “working class,” “middle class,” “healthcare,” “equality,” “women,” “LGBTQ,” and “minorities,” but also includes smaller references to elite influence such as “donors,” “corporate,” and “rich.” Survey of 3,426 registered voters conducted Oct 29–Nov 11, 2025, with an oversample among ages 18–34.
December 9, 2025 at 6:13 AM
Reposted by Michael Leo Owens
kjephd.bsky.social
The worst, most dystopian stuff has already started happening in America's immigration gulag
Imagine being made to spend 11 days inside a coffin. Imagine being made to spend more than a day inside a box barely two feet large in any direction. Imagine having to curl up, unable to extend any of your extremities, in the claustrophobic conditions of such a box, for more than a cumulative day. You can see pictures Abu Zubaydah drew of himself in the small box. Now imagine this being done to someone you love. I say all this because the following description appears in an Amnesty International report released Friday into the conditions of confinement for migrants at Alligator Alcatraz: The four men interviewed by Amnesty International, as well as Florida-based organizations, told the organization about the ‘box’, described as a 2x2 foot cage-like structure located outside in the yard of “Alligator Alcatraz” where individuals are sent for punishment. Individuals are put in the ‘box’, their hands are shackled and their feet are attached to restraints on the ground. They are unable to sit down or move positions, and are forced to remain there for hours in the heat with hardly any water or protection from the sun, heat and insects. According to a man seeking safety, “People ended up in the ‘box’ just for asking the guards for anything. I saw a guy who was put in it for an entire day.”
December 8, 2025 at 9:46 PM
Reposted by Michael Leo Owens
anamariecox.bsky.social
I would prefer protection from predatory pricing and mandated easy refunds, thanks!
atrupar.com Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 21h
Duffy on what he's doing to improve the airport experience for travelers: "Maybe I want a workout area where people might get some blood flowing doing some pull ups or step ups in the airport."
December 8, 2025 at 9:27 PM
milophd.bsky.social
Last class o semester over! I did a few new things in my urban politics course. Aside from return to Blue Books (generally turned out well re: quality/integrity of content), I’m having 15-minute Exit Chats w ea student. They randomly draw a prompt from a box to discuss w me for 15 minutes w/o notes.
December 8, 2025 at 9:46 PM
milophd.bsky.social
If a portion of your electoral base needs a government bailout because of YOUR policies, you’re policies are wack. And you’ve failed them and the nation.
December 8, 2025 at 9:37 PM
milophd.bsky.social
🫶
actfortransit.bsky.social Action Committee for Transit @actfortransit.bsky.social · 23h
As reported by Sydney Page in the Washington Post.

He carries shelter dogs around the city in a backpack to help get them adopted

Bryan Reisberg has taken out 11 dogs on city adventures. Ten of them were adopted after his videos published.

December 6, 2025
On a recent afternoon in a New York City subway car, a white dog with brown spots peered out of a man’s backpack. The dog, named Bertha, gave him constant licks. Bertha was found on the streets in October, and was taken in by Animal Care Centers of NYC. Although she had a rough start in life, on this day, she seemed overjoyed. She welcomed neck scratches from dozens of strangers, picked out a new toy, devoured a pup cup and enjoyed a long walk. The outing led to her adoption a few days later. The man carrying her was not her owner, but a volunteer of sorts. Bryan Reisberg spends one day a week taking shelter dogs like Bertha out of their kennels, lifting them into a backpack that says “adopt me” and bringing them onto the subway and around New York. His goal is for people to see shelter dogs as he does: curious, sweet and a potential pet. “The personality on this little girl, I truly did not want to leave her,” Reisberg said of Bertha. “She was just trying to kiss and love on people.” Reisberg has a professional background in film. He shoots videos of each of the dogs he takes out for the day and shares a polished compilation on social media. Across various social platforms, the videos have more than 75 million views. So far, Reisberg has taken out 11 dogs. Ten of them were adopted after his videos published. “The primary goal of every video is to get these dogs adopted,” he said, noting that the only dog that didn’t get adopted had a medical issue that had to be resolved. Reisberg writes a fun caption to accompany each video, including some important information about the dog. In Bertha’s case, he wrote that she likes “kisses, more kisses, specific toys, hot dogs, subway rides, making frens, being held,” and added: “did I say she loves giving and receiving kisses?” Bertha’s sole dislike, according to the post: “certain stuffed animals.” “It’s crazy to me, to be able to see a real-world direct impact that you’re improving the life of another person and the life of a dog because you took a few hours to go make some content,” Reisberg said. “It’s very fulfilling.” This is not Reisberg’s first foray into content creation. In 2015, Reisberg began building a large following on social media by sharing hilarious videos of his own dog, a fluffy corgi named Maxine, whom he would bring around New York City in a backpack. At the time, Reisberg was working at a production company, directing commercials. He and his wife didn’t want to leave Maxine home alone all day, so Reisberg would take her with him to work in a doggy backpack. They got a lot of attention from fellow subway travelers. “She always had such a big smile on her face,” Reisberg said. “People would be kind of miserable, head down, and then they would see a fluffy dog and light up.” He started posting videos of their daily commutes on social media. They quickly went viral. “She was known as ‘the dog in the backpack’ all over the world,” Reisberg said. “It was crazy and totally unexpected.” He was constantly fielding questions from people about the pet carrier he was using, which he said was “poorly designed.” “I wouldn’t recommend it, because it had broken on me so many times,” he said. So, in 2020, Reisberg left his job to create a dog backpack, and in 2021, he launched Little Chonk, which makes pet gear and accessories. Through Maxine’s social media, “I was talking to people every day about how they felt about their pets, what they were missing, what they needed and what they wanted,” Reisberg said. Earlier this year, a friend gave him the idea to use Maxine’s popular social media pages to promote shelter dogs. He started doing it over the summer. “He wandered in one day and asked if he could help,” said Julie Castle, CEO of Best Friends Animal Society, which works with Animal Care Centers of NYC and thousands of other shelters and rescues around the country. “It was just so fortuitous because he’s got a really big reach.” Shelter workers help Reisberg select dogs to go out on his excursions, which he tries to do about once a week. The dog must be able to handle the chaos of a crowded city adventure. “It’s such a morale boost for our team,” Castle said, adding that they try to select dogs that have been in a shelter for longer than average. “When Bryan comes in and uses his channels to influence adoption, he’s a hero to these dogs and to our staff.” Castle said the impact of Reisberg’s videos was immediate — not just for the pups featured and adopted, but for other dogs associated with Best Friends Animal Society. In the past six months, “we’ve seen about 100 more dogs get adopted compared to last year … it’s been a huge game changer for us,” Castle said. “We attribute most of that to him and the power of his social media presence and how he’s showcasing these dogs.” Castle said the exposure extends beyond Best Friends Animal Society. “It reinforces the notion that shelter animals aren’t broken,” Castle said. “They’re really cool and looking for a loving home.” Flattering photography has long played a role in getting shelter dogs adopted, but Reisberg said videos can take it to another level. “Immediately, you get a feel for the dog, their personality,” Reisberg said. “I think it has really connected with people.” Best Friends recently launched an Adventure Buddy program for volunteers to take a dog out for the day. Similar programs across the country help pets get adopted, or at least temporarily out for some air. Shelters have also used comical tactics — pit bulls wearing curly wigs to make them look like doodles — on social media to get people more engaged. “There’s a lot of different things that you can do to help find these animals homes,” Castle said. “Bryan is a great example of what a single person can do, but virtually anyone can get involved.” Reisberg said he has been having the time of his life taking the pups out on adventures, and he said that anyone else inclined to do it should give it a go. He still is in awe that he’s having such an impact. “I can be a force for some good and some change here, and that’s been really empowering,” Reisberg said.
December 8, 2025 at 6:52 PM
milophd.bsky.social
When will Trump announce that his read of SCOTUS is that SCOUTS has granted him the power to terminate . . . SCOTUS!?
December 8, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Reposted by Michael Leo Owens
mattortega.com
"Needy Amin" still ranks among the banger nicknames for Trump.
December 8, 2025 at 4:15 AM
Reposted by Michael Leo Owens
elisewang.bsky.social
There is no sight that more efficiently puts the lie to immigration “court” than the common sight of children “representing themselves.” Children too small to climb into the chair, children in pajamas who don’t know where they are, children not yet old enough to speak.
Three-year-old child forced to serve as her own attorney in Tucson immigration court
More than a dozen undocumented minors were forced to make their case in front of an immigration judge as the Trump administration ramps up removal proceedings.
coppercourier.com
December 6, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Reposted by Michael Leo Owens
carfreitag.bsky.social
😆
December 6, 2025 at 9:12 AM
Reposted by Michael Leo Owens
gtconway.bsky.social
Perhaps Donald Trump should sign an executive order declaring June 14 (his birthday) to be National Racial Animus Day.
briantylercohen.bsky.social Brian Tyler Cohen @briantylercohen.bsky.social · 3d
Donald Trump just removed Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth from the list of free entry days at national parks.

They are being replaced with Trump’s birthday.
December 6, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Reposted by Michael Leo Owens
brendannyhan.bsky.social
Just legal Calvinball. Obviously lawless.
December 6, 2025 at 3:51 AM
Reposted by Michael Leo Owens
markjacob.bsky.social
How many people who watch Fox News know Trump pardoned a man who helped bring 400 tons of cocaine into the U.S.?
Hardly any of them, I suspect.
Sometimes the right wing murders the truth, sometimes is just kidnaps it and throws it in the basement.
December 6, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Reposted by Michael Leo Owens
procrastinatrix617.bsky.social
Horrifying and ridiculous.

"Through a widely shared PowerPoint presentation, I learned that some priorities, such as “enhancing scientific rigor,” are not led by scientists but by two political appointees: an aviation attorney and a realtor with a self-published book on heaven."
milophd.bsky.social Michael Leo Owens @milophd.bsky.social · 3d
Thank you for your courage, insights, and dedication, @drdebhoury.bsky.social! So great too how your piece below reminded me of our time learning together in our cohort of Public Voices Thought Leadership Fellows, aided by The OpEd Project. 👊🏾 time.com/7338714/dr-d...
I Left the CDC 100 Days Ago. My Worst Fears About the Agency Are Coming True
"Things have not improved," writes Dr. Debra Houry. "They have worsened. And Congress has still failed to act."
time.com
December 6, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Reposted by Michael Leo Owens
mjsdc.bsky.social
Simply amazing that the Supreme Court declared an end to legal race discrimination in the affirmative action case two years ago and now allows overt racism in both immigration arrests and redistricting.

Using race to help minorities? Bad. Using it to discriminate against them? Very, very good.
kelseyreichmann.bsky.social Kelsey Reichmann @kelseyreichmann.bsky.social · 4d
BREAKING: Supreme Court GRANTS Texas request to restore redistricting maps

apparent 6-3 ruling with the liberals in dissent @courthousenews.bsky.social
December 4, 2025 at 11:52 PM
Reposted by Michael Leo Owens
karenho.bsky.social
If I was still an art reporter, I would write about the sculptor behind this and whether it intentionally looks like the hands of decaying people
anthonymkreis.bsky.social Anthony Michael Kreis @anthonymkreis.bsky.social · 3d
Like hands above the ocean tides holding onto to a shipwreck.
December 5, 2025 at 11:48 PM
Reposted by Michael Leo Owens
nanaslugdiva.blacksky.app
this is disgusting
December 5, 2025 at 11:49 PM
milophd.bsky.social
Thank you for your courage, insights, and dedication, @drdebhoury.bsky.social! So great too how your piece below reminded me of our time learning together in our cohort of Public Voices Thought Leadership Fellows, aided by The OpEd Project. 👊🏾 time.com/7338714/dr-d...
I Left the CDC 100 Days Ago. My Worst Fears About the Agency Are Coming True
"Things have not improved," writes Dr. Debra Houry. "They have worsened. And Congress has still failed to act."
time.com
December 5, 2025 at 9:52 PM
milophd.bsky.social
Finally I’ve found some one who knows and appreciates how incredible this album was and remains! It’s my favorite Xmas album. My favorite!!!!
December 5, 2025 at 8:46 PM
milophd.bsky.social
We are governed by ghouls.
roughdraftatlanta.com Rough Draft @roughdraftatlanta.com · 3d
CDC vaccine committee overturns decades-old hepatitis B recommendation for newborns

 Members of a key CDC advisory committee, known as the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, met in Atlanta on Dec. 4. Maya Homan/Georgia Recorder A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention committee…
CDC vaccine committee overturns decades-old hepatitis B recommendation for newborns
 Members of a key CDC advisory committee, known as the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, met in Atlanta on Dec. 4. Maya Homan/Georgia Recorder A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention committee voted to eliminate a recommendation that all newborn babies receive a vaccine against hepatitis B, ending a policy that has been in place since 1991 to protect Americans against an incurable liver disease that can lead to cirrhosis, cancer and liver failure. The current three-dose series for hepatitis B includes one vaccine administered to infants within 24 hours of birth, and subsequent booster shots given one month and six months after the initial dose.
roughdraftatlanta.com
December 5, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Reposted by Michael Leo Owens
melissagiragrant.com
to the extent that there is any public health policy left, it’s “if you can afford to survive without and/or despite the federal government, go for it, and we’ll see you on the other side of mass death”
December 5, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Reposted by Michael Leo Owens
kevinmkruse.bsky.social
Important @motherjones.com piece here:
Trump’s DOJ is building a voter purge machine—powered by your private data
The federal agency ordinarily would prevent attacks on voting rights. Now it’s carrying them out.
www.motherjones.com
December 5, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Reposted by Michael Leo Owens
mluckovich.bsky.social
December 4, 2025 at 11:23 PM