Radley Balko
@radleybalko.bsky.social
Journalist. Quattrone Center journalism fellow.
Author: Rise of the Warrior Cop.
Co-author: The Cadaver King and the Country Dentist.
New podcast: Collateral Damage
Substack: radleybalko.substack.com
Signal: radleybalko.52
Author: Rise of the Warrior Cop.
Co-author: The Cadaver King and the Country Dentist.
New podcast: Collateral Damage
Substack: radleybalko.substack.com
Signal: radleybalko.52
Reposted by Radley Balko
November 16, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Reposted by Radley Balko
The use of terror is not a byproduct of Trumpian politics: it is central to how he governs.
(Politico) - An Indiana Senate Republican who President Donald Trump called out in a Truth Social post Sunday for not backing the White House’s plan to draw new congressional maps was later targeted by a swatting, according to local authorities.
@politico.com
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
@politico.com
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
November 17, 2025 at 2:15 AM
The use of terror is not a byproduct of Trumpian politics: it is central to how he governs.
Reposted by Radley Balko
Trump doesn’t have to call on House Republican to vote to release the file.
Trump can order Bondi and Patel to release the files. Tomorrow.
The question is, has he already ordered Bondi and Patel to destroy some of the files after they went through them months ago.
Trump can order Bondi and Patel to release the files. Tomorrow.
The question is, has he already ordered Bondi and Patel to destroy some of the files after they went through them months ago.
Trump: "House Republicans should vote to release the Epstein files, because we have nothing to hide."
November 17, 2025 at 3:04 AM
Trump doesn’t have to call on House Republican to vote to release the file.
Trump can order Bondi and Patel to release the files. Tomorrow.
The question is, has he already ordered Bondi and Patel to destroy some of the files after they went through them months ago.
Trump can order Bondi and Patel to release the files. Tomorrow.
The question is, has he already ordered Bondi and Patel to destroy some of the files after they went through them months ago.
Reposted by Radley Balko
Ecuador voters just rejected allowing foreign military bases by a 20-point margin.
See Reuters: www.reuters.com/world/americ...
See Reuters: www.reuters.com/world/americ...
November 17, 2025 at 2:58 AM
Ecuador voters just rejected allowing foreign military bases by a 20-point margin.
See Reuters: www.reuters.com/world/americ...
See Reuters: www.reuters.com/world/americ...
This is so goddamned beautiful. Get ‘em, Charlotte.
Incredible video from Reddit (too large to upload the screencap). CBP agents attempt to detain a flower vendor and end up getting chased into a vacant lot by a crowd of teenagers. What a bunch of impotent sad sacks.
www.reddit.com/r/EyesOnIce/...
www.reddit.com/r/EyesOnIce/...
November 17, 2025 at 2:52 AM
This is so goddamned beautiful. Get ‘em, Charlotte.
Duncan is such an inspiration. And a badass.
a big runoff last night, in New Orleans:
Calvin Duncan was exonerated after spending *28 years* in prison; he tried to get his own case records from the New Orleans city clerk—but the office dragged its feet.
So Duncan ran to become city clerk himself, and yesterday ousted the incumbent.
Calvin Duncan was exonerated after spending *28 years* in prison; he tried to get his own case records from the New Orleans city clerk—but the office dragged its feet.
So Duncan ran to become city clerk himself, and yesterday ousted the incumbent.
Calvin Duncan wins Orleans clerk of court race - Verite News New Orleans
Duncan, a political newcomer and former prisoner, defeated incumbent Darren Lombard by a wide margin in Saturday's runoff.
veritenews.org
November 17, 2025 at 2:49 AM
Duncan is such an inspiration. And a badass.
Reposted by Radley Balko
Weird how many racists like to self-identify themselves as racists.
November 17, 2025 at 1:57 AM
Weird how many racists like to self-identify themselves as racists.
Reposted by Radley Balko
OMG this kicker in the Harvard Crimson article!!
College journalism kicks ass, again
College journalism kicks ass, again
November 17, 2025 at 2:35 AM
OMG this kicker in the Harvard Crimson article!!
College journalism kicks ass, again
College journalism kicks ass, again
Reposted by Radley Balko
Charlotte, NC is a city in the grips of fascism as businesses scramble to keep their community safe. Some waiving delivery fees for groceries to let people shop safe from home, some closing their doors for the first time in decades.
Locals suffering the same as LA, DC and Chicago.
/
Locals suffering the same as LA, DC and Chicago.
/
November 17, 2025 at 1:19 AM
Charlotte, NC is a city in the grips of fascism as businesses scramble to keep their community safe. Some waiving delivery fees for groceries to let people shop safe from home, some closing their doors for the first time in decades.
Locals suffering the same as LA, DC and Chicago.
/
Locals suffering the same as LA, DC and Chicago.
/
Reposted by Radley Balko
BREAKING Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa on Sunday vowed to respect voters who roundly rejected his plans to reestablish a US military base in the country and reform the constitution
November 17, 2025 at 2:39 AM
BREAKING Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa on Sunday vowed to respect voters who roundly rejected his plans to reestablish a US military base in the country and reform the constitution
Reposted by Radley Balko
Remember the recent middle-of-the-night apartment building raid where children were dragged outside naked & zip-tied in the street while black & Latino residents were _sorted by race_ and piled into separate vans while their apartments were ransacked & robbed? That raid? So it resulted in 0 arrests.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem should resign and be criminally charged, according to critics who seized on a report revealing that zero people who were arrested in a high-profile raid were charged with a crime.
'Noem should resign over this': Fury over alleged DHS 'child kidnapping and trafficking'
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem should resign and be criminally charged, according to critics who seized on a report revealing that zero people who were arrested in a high-profile raid were charged with a crime.ProPublica recently reported on the DHS raid on an apartment building that was al...
bit.ly
November 16, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Remember the recent middle-of-the-night apartment building raid where children were dragged outside naked & zip-tied in the street while black & Latino residents were _sorted by race_ and piled into separate vans while their apartments were ransacked & robbed? That raid? So it resulted in 0 arrests.
Reposted by Radley Balko
New from @francescadnunz.bsky.social: Texas Department of Public Safety and ICE signed a pair of agreements that will authorize state police within DPS’s Criminal Investigations and Highway Patrol divisions to effectively operate as ICE agents, on a statewide basis.
Texas Turns Its Sprawling State Police Force Into Immigration Agents for Trump
The notorious 287(g) task force program has finally reached DPS, raising fears of widespread racial profiling.
www.texasobserver.org
November 16, 2025 at 8:00 PM
New from @francescadnunz.bsky.social: Texas Department of Public Safety and ICE signed a pair of agreements that will authorize state police within DPS’s Criminal Investigations and Highway Patrol divisions to effectively operate as ICE agents, on a statewide basis.
“The originalist tradition of the Signature Policy Doctrine,” by Randy Barnett. Dropping tomorrow in the Hillsdale College-Oath Keepers Journal of Law and Nutritional Supplements.
Bessent on tariffs: "This is one of President Trump's signature policies, and traditionally the Supreme Court does not interfere with a president's signature policy."
November 16, 2025 at 7:45 PM
“The originalist tradition of the Signature Policy Doctrine,” by Randy Barnett. Dropping tomorrow in the Hillsdale College-Oath Keepers Journal of Law and Nutritional Supplements.
Reposted by Radley Balko
A few days ago the Department of Defense said that the USS Gerald R Ford and its strike group entered the U.S. Southern Command region. Today the ships, including destroyers and several fighter squadrons, officially entered the Caribbean. www.dvidshub.net/news/551190/...
Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group Enters Caribbean Sea
The Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group, led by the world’s largest aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), transited the Anegada Passage and entered the Caribbean Sea, Nov. 16.
www.dvidshub.net
November 16, 2025 at 5:28 PM
A few days ago the Department of Defense said that the USS Gerald R Ford and its strike group entered the U.S. Southern Command region. Today the ships, including destroyers and several fighter squadrons, officially entered the Caribbean. www.dvidshub.net/news/551190/...
DHS is diverting money appropriated to fighting terrorism and child trafficking to deportations.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/16/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/16/u...
Homeland Security Missions Falter Amid Focus on Deportations
www.nytimes.com
November 16, 2025 at 4:18 PM
DHS is diverting money appropriated to fighting terrorism and child trafficking to deportations.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/16/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/16/u...
Reposted by Radley Balko
Reposted by Radley Balko
If you're a professor at Texas A&M, you'll need to receive written authorization from the university president before discussing this incident on campus.
November 15, 2025 at 8:18 PM
If you're a professor at Texas A&M, you'll need to receive written authorization from the university president before discussing this incident on campus.
Reposted by Radley Balko
mr president, what does "viewed last night in an uncontrollable rage" mean
November 16, 2025 at 12:05 AM
mr president, what does "viewed last night in an uncontrollable rage" mean
Reposted by Radley Balko
Not that I believe really anything Nuzzi writes, given her record, but the far bigger scandal here is her claim that RFK Jr. was still actively using psychedelics last year, then became HHS secretary in an admin that is killing people for smuggling recreational drugs.
November 15, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Not that I believe really anything Nuzzi writes, given her record, but the far bigger scandal here is her claim that RFK Jr. was still actively using psychedelics last year, then became HHS secretary in an admin that is killing people for smuggling recreational drugs.
Reposted by Radley Balko
Senator Menendez is sitting in his cell at Allenwood right now because he took a 1kg gold bar from the Egyptians, among other forms of “lobbying.”
"It was tough to beat Apple, but the Swiss did it." said one administration official.
How the Swiss convinced Trump to drop tariffs with gifts of a Rolex desk clock and a 1 kg gold bar.
www.axios.com/2025/11/14/t...
How the Swiss convinced Trump to drop tariffs with gifts of a Rolex desk clock and a 1 kg gold bar.
www.axios.com/2025/11/14/t...
How to lobby Trump with Swiss precision: gifts, gold and gab
How the Swiss broke a diplomatic logjam on tariffs by arriving with tributes fit for a king.
www.axios.com
November 15, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Senator Menendez is sitting in his cell at Allenwood right now because he took a 1kg gold bar from the Egyptians, among other forms of “lobbying.”
Reposted by Radley Balko
'Worst of the Worst'? DOJ Figures Show 97.4% of 614 Detained Immigrants in Chicago Had No Criminal Record www.commondreams.org/news/worst-o...
'Worst of the Worst'? DOJ Figures Show 97.4% of 614 Detained Immigrants in Chicago Had No Criminal Record | Common Dreams
Of 614 people on list who may have been unlawfully arrested and detained by federal officials, only 16 had a criminal record of any kind.
www.commondreams.org
November 15, 2025 at 9:41 PM
'Worst of the Worst'? DOJ Figures Show 97.4% of 614 Detained Immigrants in Chicago Had No Criminal Record www.commondreams.org/news/worst-o...
Reposted by Radley Balko
Rudy Bridges is younger than the Sitting President of the United States and 29 sitting United States Senators
It’s useful for people of my generation to be reminded that this wasn’t that long ago. Ruby Bridges isn’t just still alive—she’s only 71, not ancient!
65 years ago on Nov. 14, little Ruby Bridges was escorted into an all-white elementary school in New Orleans. Norman Rockwell, renowned for blissful depictions of Americana, did this remarkable painting for Look magazine. Printed as a double page, over-size spread, it's his masterpiece.
November 15, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Rudy Bridges is younger than the Sitting President of the United States and 29 sitting United States Senators
Reposted by Radley Balko
Just in the past 3 days, I happened to speak to an academic, a US politician and a former Biden official who had all received death threats and severe harassment from the MAGA movement. It's now a common experience. I am sorry MTG has to live through the same thing, but she can't be surprised
MTG: “.. “I am now being contacted by private security firms with warnings for my safety as a hot bed of threats against me are being fueled and egged on by the most powerful man in the world. .. The man I supported and helped get elected.”
@mediaite.com #GA14
www.mediaite.com/media/news/m...
@mediaite.com #GA14
www.mediaite.com/media/news/m...
November 15, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Just in the past 3 days, I happened to speak to an academic, a US politician and a former Biden official who had all received death threats and severe harassment from the MAGA movement. It's now a common experience. I am sorry MTG has to live through the same thing, but she can't be surprised
A former career DOJ guy told me a few weeks ago that prior to Trump, the FBI was the varsity team, DHI and ICE were junior varsity, and Border Patrol were like a drunken office softball team. And under Trump, the drunk softball guys are now in charge.
Listen to this Border Patrol agent cry about how he's going to be DOXXED after being arrested for drunkenly barging into a woman's restroom with a loaded gun, demanding a date from the woman inside, and then punching the arresting officers.
November 15, 2025 at 9:04 PM
A former career DOJ guy told me a few weeks ago that prior to Trump, the FBI was the varsity team, DHI and ICE were junior varsity, and Border Patrol were like a drunken office softball team. And under Trump, the drunk softball guys are now in charge.
Reposted by Radley Balko
The man should be quacked out of every room he enters
OMG! I just got off the plane in Asheville and RFK Jr. Was boarding and someone passed by him and said “quack”
November 15, 2025 at 6:31 PM
The man should be quacked out of every room he enters