Matt Zencey
@mzencey.bsky.social
Retired journalist. Write hard, die free.
If only this kind of accountability could be enforced against ICE, CPB, or a president of the US.
Kansas county agrees to pay $3 million over law enforcement raid on a small-town newspaper
apnews.com/article/kans...
apnews.com/article/kans...
Kansas county agrees to pay $3 million over law enforcement raid on a small-town newspaper
A rural Kansas county has agreed to pay more than $3 million and apologize over a law enforcement raid on a small-town weekly newspaper in August 2023.
apnews.com
November 15, 2025 at 2:38 PM
If only this kind of accountability could be enforced against ICE, CPB, or a president of the US.
Reposted by Matt Zencey
This is the real reason Jimmy Kimmel is being taken off the air.
Brian Stelter: "Nexstar already owns lots of TV stations. It wants to merge with Tegna, which owns lots of other stations. In order to do that, it needs Brandon Carr, the FCC Chair's, permission."
Brian Stelter: "Nexstar already owns lots of TV stations. It wants to merge with Tegna, which owns lots of other stations. In order to do that, it needs Brandon Carr, the FCC Chair's, permission."
September 18, 2025 at 1:17 AM
This is the real reason Jimmy Kimmel is being taken off the air.
Brian Stelter: "Nexstar already owns lots of TV stations. It wants to merge with Tegna, which owns lots of other stations. In order to do that, it needs Brandon Carr, the FCC Chair's, permission."
Brian Stelter: "Nexstar already owns lots of TV stations. It wants to merge with Tegna, which owns lots of other stations. In order to do that, it needs Brandon Carr, the FCC Chair's, permission."
Reposted by Matt Zencey
Free speech for me, not for thee.
Good encapsulation of where we are, by @sarahellison.bsky.social et al:
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Good encapsulation of where we are, by @sarahellison.bsky.social et al:
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Trump, allies seek to punish speech they dislike following Kirk killing
The White House-directed campaign, which is likely to face legal challenges, defies past GOP rhetoric condemning the label “hate speech” as a pretext for political persecution.
www.washingtonpost.com
September 18, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Free speech for me, not for thee.
Good encapsulation of where we are, by @sarahellison.bsky.social et al:
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Good encapsulation of where we are, by @sarahellison.bsky.social et al:
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
ABC made a cowardly, self-interested decision to curry favor with Trump, sacking Kimmel for simply failing to mourn the killing of Charlie Kirk in the government-approved manner. Tell ABC to stop to grow a spine and put Kimmel back on the air: support.abc.com/hc/en-us/req...
Submit a request – ABC
support.abc.com
September 18, 2025 at 1:23 PM
ABC made a cowardly, self-interested decision to curry favor with Trump, sacking Kimmel for simply failing to mourn the killing of Charlie Kirk in the government-approved manner. Tell ABC to stop to grow a spine and put Kimmel back on the air: support.abc.com/hc/en-us/req...
Reposted by Matt Zencey
It seems more likely that these ICE lawyers are more concerned about the ignominy and career damage that will someday waft around their lives than any immediate personal danger.
bsky.app/profile/bgru...
bsky.app/profile/bgru...
The prosecutors who won the case against El Chapo, one of the most ruthless drug kingpins in history, were on the record.
But the ICE lawyers who are pushing to deport immigrants -- many of them asylum seekers-- must go unnamed.
But the ICE lawyers who are pushing to deport immigrants -- many of them asylum seekers-- must go unnamed.
July 15, 2025 at 7:38 PM
It seems more likely that these ICE lawyers are more concerned about the ignominy and career damage that will someday waft around their lives than any immediate personal danger.
bsky.app/profile/bgru...
bsky.app/profile/bgru...
Reposted by Matt Zencey
"Christians who sought asylum from persecution by the Taliban are being told they must leave immediately or be deported.
"The news came in an email to a group living legally in north Raleigh... Apostles Church in Raleigh had welcomed them after the Taliban took over...
www.wral.com/story/they-f...
"The news came in an email to a group living legally in north Raleigh... Apostles Church in Raleigh had welcomed them after the Taliban took over...
www.wral.com/story/they-f...
Afghani asylum seekers, members of Raleigh church, given a week to leave the U.S.
Apostles Church in Raleigh has welcomed about 25 people who came to the U.S. after the Taliban took over.
www.wral.com
April 16, 2025 at 6:42 PM
"Christians who sought asylum from persecution by the Taliban are being told they must leave immediately or be deported.
"The news came in an email to a group living legally in north Raleigh... Apostles Church in Raleigh had welcomed them after the Taliban took over...
www.wral.com/story/they-f...
"The news came in an email to a group living legally in north Raleigh... Apostles Church in Raleigh had welcomed them after the Taliban took over...
www.wral.com/story/they-f...
Reposted by Matt Zencey
Today @vanhollen.senate.gov was denied entry to the same prison.
We've reached the point where Republicans are flying to El Salvador to visit one of the most vicious prisons in the world to have photo ops so they can prove their loyalty to the President of the United States.
April 16, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Today @vanhollen.senate.gov was denied entry to the same prison.
Reposted by Matt Zencey
This is the kind of thing that, if true, leads to life sentences for treason
April 16, 2025 at 6:41 PM
This is the kind of thing that, if true, leads to life sentences for treason
Reposted by Matt Zencey
They had no issue getting Romania to allow Andrew Tate to come to the US. But can’t get El Salvador to send a wrongfully deported person.
April 16, 2025 at 8:19 PM
They had no issue getting Romania to allow Andrew Tate to come to the US. But can’t get El Salvador to send a wrongfully deported person.
Reposted by Matt Zencey
I've read many, many habeas petitions from people alleging wrongful convictions. It's striking to compare how courts toss those cases for the slightest mistakes to how this administration's transparently bad faith actors get to file late, lie, come unprepared, and other general fuckedupedry.
April 16, 2025 at 7:36 PM
I've read many, many habeas petitions from people alleging wrongful convictions. It's striking to compare how courts toss those cases for the slightest mistakes to how this administration's transparently bad faith actors get to file late, lie, come unprepared, and other general fuckedupedry.
Reposted by Matt Zencey
It tells you everything about this Administration that they think private universities need more oversight than cops.
Officials investigating the 8 agencies found unjustified killings, excessive force, debtors’ prisons, retaliation against police critics, racial discrimination, unlawful strip searches and undercover officers having sexual contact with sex workers.
By @tophersanders.bsky.social
By @tophersanders.bsky.social
Trump’s DOJ Has Frozen Police Reform Work. Advocates Fear More Abuse in Departments Across the Country.
Federal investigators had identified at least eight police departments with patterns of unlawful behavior. But Trump’s freeze on oversight activities leaves many reform efforts in the hands of local…
www.propublica.org
April 15, 2025 at 9:02 PM
It tells you everything about this Administration that they think private universities need more oversight than cops.
Reposted by Matt Zencey
International graduate students studying in the U.S. would like a word.
"We have instances now in western countries where people are being arrested [...] the cop comes knocking on their door, you're going to go to jail for 60 days for posting something online. You know, this is crazy stuff that's happening all over."
Marco Rubio on April 16, 2025, if you can believe it
Marco Rubio on April 16, 2025, if you can believe it
April 16, 2025 at 8:06 PM
International graduate students studying in the U.S. would like a word.
Reposted by Matt Zencey
Did you know how much of the power generation capacity added each year world-wide was in renewables?
2022 it was 80 %
2023 it was 86 %
2024 it was 92,5 %
Not because the whole world suddenly turned „woke“, but because it’s the cheapest!
2022 it was 80 %
2023 it was 86 %
2024 it was 92,5 %
Not because the whole world suddenly turned „woke“, but because it’s the cheapest!
April 15, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Did you know how much of the power generation capacity added each year world-wide was in renewables?
2022 it was 80 %
2023 it was 86 %
2024 it was 92,5 %
Not because the whole world suddenly turned „woke“, but because it’s the cheapest!
2022 it was 80 %
2023 it was 86 %
2024 it was 92,5 %
Not because the whole world suddenly turned „woke“, but because it’s the cheapest!
Reposted by Matt Zencey
The Nuremberg Trials would’ve been a lot easier if Nazis had taken selfies at their camps
We've reached the point where Republicans are flying to El Salvador to visit one of the most vicious prisons in the world to have photo ops so they can prove their loyalty to the President of the United States.
April 16, 2025 at 8:52 PM
The Nuremberg Trials would’ve been a lot easier if Nazis had taken selfies at their camps
Reposted by Matt Zencey
It’s abundantly clear that Donald Trump is using combating antisemitism as a pretext to enact his authoritarian agenda. If he was truly interested in protecting the Jewish community, he wouldn’t stock his administration with antisemites. The media needs to do a better job of reporting this.
April 16, 2025 at 8:54 PM
It’s abundantly clear that Donald Trump is using combating antisemitism as a pretext to enact his authoritarian agenda. If he was truly interested in protecting the Jewish community, he wouldn’t stock his administration with antisemites. The media needs to do a better job of reporting this.
Reposted by Matt Zencey
I've been busy in DC for my day job and missed this, but... the subhead pretty much says it all.
"NOAA Fisheries does not anticipate any death or serious injury to #whales from #offshorewind related actions."
heatmap.news/sparks/offsh...
"NOAA Fisheries does not anticipate any death or serious injury to #whales from #offshorewind related actions."
heatmap.news/sparks/offsh...
Republicans Asked For an Offshore Wind Exposé. They Got a Letdown Instead.
“NOAA Fisheries does not anticipate any death or serious injury to whales from offshore wind related actions.”
heatmap.news
April 16, 2025 at 9:07 PM
I've been busy in DC for my day job and missed this, but... the subhead pretty much says it all.
"NOAA Fisheries does not anticipate any death or serious injury to #whales from #offshorewind related actions."
heatmap.news/sparks/offsh...
"NOAA Fisheries does not anticipate any death or serious injury to #whales from #offshorewind related actions."
heatmap.news/sparks/offsh...
Reposted by Matt Zencey
If what the capitulating law firms told the NY Times is correct, then they are the most incompetent lawyers in America. It isn't possible that they thought that they made a deal with Donald Trump and he was getting nothing and it would not come back to bite them.
April 16, 2025 at 10:18 PM
If what the capitulating law firms told the NY Times is correct, then they are the most incompetent lawyers in America. It isn't possible that they thought that they made a deal with Donald Trump and he was getting nothing and it would not come back to bite them.
Reposted by Matt Zencey
Skipped the paperwork. Ignored the court order. Broke the law. Ignored the constitution.
This ain’t immigration policy. This is straight-up defiance of the rule of law.
This ain’t immigration policy. This is straight-up defiance of the rule of law.
thehill.com
April 16, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Skipped the paperwork. Ignored the court order. Broke the law. Ignored the constitution.
This ain’t immigration policy. This is straight-up defiance of the rule of law.
This ain’t immigration policy. This is straight-up defiance of the rule of law.
Reposted by Matt Zencey
Congrats to TurboTax, which has worked for two decades to stop Americans from being able to file taxes for free.
www.propublica.org/article/insi...
www.propublica.org/article/insi...
April 16, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Congrats to TurboTax, which has worked for two decades to stop Americans from being able to file taxes for free.
www.propublica.org/article/insi...
www.propublica.org/article/insi...
Reposted by Matt Zencey
Oh.
"This is about whether we have functional constitutional government in this country. If the IRS can go after you because of what you think or what you believe or what you do, we'd no longer live in a free country.“
"This is about whether we have functional constitutional government in this country. If the IRS can go after you because of what you think or what you believe or what you do, we'd no longer live in a free country.“
April 16, 2025 at 9:45 PM
Oh.
"This is about whether we have functional constitutional government in this country. If the IRS can go after you because of what you think or what you believe or what you do, we'd no longer live in a free country.“
"This is about whether we have functional constitutional government in this country. If the IRS can go after you because of what you think or what you believe or what you do, we'd no longer live in a free country.“
Reposted by Matt Zencey
The Secretary of State holding a public conversation with Mike Benz — legitimizing a former white power YouTuber as an expert in our government — is Loomer-level insanity. Reality is dead and there is no floor.
www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcn...
www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcn...
Michael Benz, a conservative crusader against online censorship, appears to have a secret history as an alt-right persona
Frame Game, the pseudonym of an alt-right internet personality, hid his face while pushing racist conspiracy theories. Inadvertent slips revealed details about his identity.
www.nbcnews.com
April 16, 2025 at 5:40 PM
The Secretary of State holding a public conversation with Mike Benz — legitimizing a former white power YouTuber as an expert in our government — is Loomer-level insanity. Reality is dead and there is no floor.
www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcn...
www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcn...
Reposted by Matt Zencey
NEW: The Department of Government Efficiency team is assigning two staffers to work at the independent agency where a whistleblower alleged Tuesday DOGE may have already removed sensitive labor data from its systems, according to an email obtained by @npr.org.
DOGE assigns staffers to work at agency where it allegedly removed sensitive data
The National Labor Relations Board told employees Wednesday that DOGE staffers would be assigned to the agency, one day after a whistleblower alleged DOGE may have removed sensitive NLRB data.
www.npr.org
April 16, 2025 at 11:00 PM
NEW: The Department of Government Efficiency team is assigning two staffers to work at the independent agency where a whistleblower alleged Tuesday DOGE may have already removed sensitive labor data from its systems, according to an email obtained by @npr.org.
Reposted by Matt Zencey
Chief Judge Boasberg's probable cause ruling is *not* an appealable order.
DOJ can ask the D.C. Circuit for an extraordinary writ of mandamus, but that requires showing that the district court ruling both (1) was clearly wrong; and (2) is not otherwise capable of being remedied on a future appeal.
DOJ can ask the D.C. Circuit for an extraordinary writ of mandamus, but that requires showing that the district court ruling both (1) was clearly wrong; and (2) is not otherwise capable of being remedied on a future appeal.
DOJ files notice that intends to appeal Judge Boasberg’s order finding probable cause for contempt
April 16, 2025 at 11:47 PM
Chief Judge Boasberg's probable cause ruling is *not* an appealable order.
DOJ can ask the D.C. Circuit for an extraordinary writ of mandamus, but that requires showing that the district court ruling both (1) was clearly wrong; and (2) is not otherwise capable of being remedied on a future appeal.
DOJ can ask the D.C. Circuit for an extraordinary writ of mandamus, but that requires showing that the district court ruling both (1) was clearly wrong; and (2) is not otherwise capable of being remedied on a future appeal.
Reposted by Matt Zencey
Unlike Elon Musk, Social Security is there for children who need it.
AOC: I saw on Fox, Jeanine Pirro says that they found so many babies and two year olds and four year olds receiving social security. I got a notice for you Jeanine Pirro: those babies receive social security because their parents died. That’s not a waste. That’s humanity. That’s America.
April 16, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Unlike Elon Musk, Social Security is there for children who need it.