John Helling
@readmorethings.bsky.social
I'm a librarian. I think you should read more things. All of these opinions are mine and not (necessarily) anyone else's.
Reposted by John Helling
“Mark my words: It may take some time, but Americans will be prosecuted for this, either as a war crime or outright murder.”
Hegseth order on first Caribbean boat strike, officials say: Kill them all
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a verbal order to kill all crew members in the Sept. 2 strike on a suspected drug boat. Navy SEALs fired a second missile.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 28, 2025 at 8:37 PM
“Mark my words: It may take some time, but Americans will be prosecuted for this, either as a war crime or outright murder.”
Reposted by John Helling
This is murder. www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
November 28, 2025 at 6:16 PM
This is murder. www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Reposted by John Helling
BREAKING: Comey case dismissed without prejudice. Halligan invalidly appointed, judge rules. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
November 24, 2025 at 5:36 PM
BREAKING: Comey case dismissed without prejudice. Halligan invalidly appointed, judge rules. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Reposted by John Helling
Rand Paul on Trump admin: "They're pretending as if we're at war ... they want to have it both ways. They want to say, 'We can just say these people are terrorists so we can blow them up,' but it's extraordinary that when some of them survive, they pluck them out of the water & don't prosecute them"
November 24, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Rand Paul on Trump admin: "They're pretending as if we're at war ... they want to have it both ways. They want to say, 'We can just say these people are terrorists so we can blow them up,' but it's extraordinary that when some of them survive, they pluck them out of the water & don't prosecute them"
Reposted by John Helling
A Trump supporter started murdering his way through an assassination list of Democratic law makers FIVE MONTHS AGO. He murdered my colleague Melissa Hortman, and her husband Mark — and attempted to assassinate my dear friend John Hoffman and his wife Yvette. I was also on the hit list. WTF
November 20, 2025 at 5:56 PM
A Trump supporter started murdering his way through an assassination list of Democratic law makers FIVE MONTHS AGO. He murdered my colleague Melissa Hortman, and her husband Mark — and attempted to assassinate my dear friend John Hoffman and his wife Yvette. I was also on the hit list. WTF
Reposted by John Helling
As @profhicks.bsky.social has repeatedly demonstrated with his work, services are a major factor in keeping and bringing people to towns/cities, not low taxes. Always exceptions, including bad use of funds, but it certainly holds true in this state. Latest: www.thestarpress.com/story/opinio...
Hicks: An anecdote on taxation
There’s an easy rule of thumb. If you are losing people, or your home values are declining, it is pretty likely that you have too few amenities for your current taxes.
www.thestarpress.com
November 18, 2025 at 12:24 AM
As @profhicks.bsky.social has repeatedly demonstrated with his work, services are a major factor in keeping and bringing people to towns/cities, not low taxes. Always exceptions, including bad use of funds, but it certainly holds true in this state. Latest: www.thestarpress.com/story/opinio...
Reposted by John Helling
Two weeks into a new program that gives New Mexico children free childcare, officials are opening up about the surge that happened day one & how it’s been moving forward. In just a short time, the state said thousands of children are now enrolled in free childcare, & daycares are lining up to join.
www.krqe.com
November 16, 2025 at 11:54 PM
Two weeks into a new program that gives New Mexico children free childcare, officials are opening up about the surge that happened day one & how it’s been moving forward. In just a short time, the state said thousands of children are now enrolled in free childcare, & daycares are lining up to join.
Reposted by John Helling
Indianapolis Public Schools saw a 10.2% increase in proficiency in its 2024-2025 scores on the state's standardized IREAD test, with third-grade alone seeing proficiency rates soar nearly 70%. Educators say it's due to a collaboration with the Indianapolis Public Library.
IPS says students' reading scores on standardized test rise with library link
Indianapolis Public Schools celebrates a boost in reading proficiency, thanks to collaboration with Indianapolis Public Library.
www.wishtv.com
November 13, 2025 at 11:25 PM
Indianapolis Public Schools saw a 10.2% increase in proficiency in its 2024-2025 scores on the state's standardized IREAD test, with third-grade alone seeing proficiency rates soar nearly 70%. Educators say it's due to a collaboration with the Indianapolis Public Library.
Reposted by John Helling
Somewhere out there someone who’s the best at what they do is terrified that they have imposter syndrome while a bunch of barely literate pedophiles are very calmly running the world
November 13, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Somewhere out there someone who’s the best at what they do is terrified that they have imposter syndrome while a bunch of barely literate pedophiles are very calmly running the world
Reposted by John Helling
New Epstein emails just dropped, and they involve Trump. 🎁🔗 www.nytimes.com/2025/11/12/u...
November 12, 2025 at 1:39 PM
New Epstein emails just dropped, and they involve Trump. 🎁🔗 www.nytimes.com/2025/11/12/u...
Reposted by John Helling
like this is basically it, the melts melted under pressure
November 10, 2025 at 4:27 PM
like this is basically it, the melts melted under pressure
Reposted by John Helling
Now we’re cookin
November 6, 2025 at 1:35 AM
Now we’re cookin
Reposted by John Helling
For one of my final stories with @wired.com, I teamed up with @peggylowe.bsky.social at KCUR to dig through a Kansas City, KS police hack
Inside were some of the most disturbing misconduct files I’ve ever read—and a secret list of cops the department said couldnt be trusted
Here are a few of them:
Inside were some of the most disturbing misconduct files I’ve ever read—and a secret list of cops the department said couldnt be trusted
Here are a few of them:
Hack Exposes Kansas City’s Secret Police Misconduct List
A major breach of the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department reveals, for the first time, a list of alleged officer misconduct including dishonesty, sexual harassment, excessive force, and false arres...
www.wired.com
November 3, 2025 at 12:34 PM
For one of my final stories with @wired.com, I teamed up with @peggylowe.bsky.social at KCUR to dig through a Kansas City, KS police hack
Inside were some of the most disturbing misconduct files I’ve ever read—and a secret list of cops the department said couldnt be trusted
Here are a few of them:
Inside were some of the most disturbing misconduct files I’ve ever read—and a secret list of cops the department said couldnt be trusted
Here are a few of them:
Reposted by John Helling
This quote continues to rattle me to my core:
"So what you’re telling us is you need less evidence to kill somebody than you do to hold them."
That's Rep Adam Smith to Pentagon officials in a briefing on Trump's illegal boat bombings. As he told me in this piece, they didn't answer his objection:
"So what you’re telling us is you need less evidence to kill somebody than you do to hold them."
That's Rep Adam Smith to Pentagon officials in a briefing on Trump's illegal boat bombings. As he told me in this piece, they didn't answer his objection:
Awful: Pentagon officials told lawmakers Trump now claims authority to bomb people merely “affiliated” with “narco-terrorist" groups, Rep Adam Smith tells me. But under questioning, they wouldn't say what “affiliated” even means!
Lots of fresh info in my new piece:
newrepublic.com/article/2025...
Lots of fresh info in my new piece:
newrepublic.com/article/2025...
November 3, 2025 at 12:11 PM
This quote continues to rattle me to my core:
"So what you’re telling us is you need less evidence to kill somebody than you do to hold them."
That's Rep Adam Smith to Pentagon officials in a briefing on Trump's illegal boat bombings. As he told me in this piece, they didn't answer his objection:
"So what you’re telling us is you need less evidence to kill somebody than you do to hold them."
That's Rep Adam Smith to Pentagon officials in a briefing on Trump's illegal boat bombings. As he told me in this piece, they didn't answer his objection:
Reposted by John Helling
after months of focus on Biden’s autopen pardons:
O'DONNELL: Why did you pardon Changpeng Zhao?
TRUMP: Are you ready? I don't know who he is
O'DONNELL: His crypto exchange Binance helped facilitate a $2b purchase of World Liberty Financial's stablecoin. And they you pardoned him.
TRUMP: Here's the thing -- I know nothing about it
TRUMP: Are you ready? I don't know who he is
O'DONNELL: His crypto exchange Binance helped facilitate a $2b purchase of World Liberty Financial's stablecoin. And they you pardoned him.
TRUMP: Here's the thing -- I know nothing about it
November 3, 2025 at 2:36 AM
after months of focus on Biden’s autopen pardons:
Reposted by John Helling
A truly extraordinary document. Judge Rodriguez throws out the indictment because "the Government’s conduct is so shocking to the universal sense of justice that it should be deprived of the opportunity to prosecute the Defendant." Hard to count all the different ways ICE lied throughout this case.
As Marcy notes, @seamushughes.bsky.social is doing such critically important work. Here, folks should read Judge Rodriguez's opinion (to which Marcy links) for themselves.
It's a chilling account of what's become standard practice in ICE arrests these days—from a district judge who is no firebrand.
It's a chilling account of what's become standard practice in ICE arrests these days—from a district judge who is no firebrand.
This dismissal opinion on a failed ICE arrest that @seamushughes.bsky.social found is worth reading in its entirety. Come for the debunking of DHS "fiction," stay for the snark about wiener dog, but definitely take time to read the 18 USC 111 analysis.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
October 31, 2025 at 3:47 PM
A truly extraordinary document. Judge Rodriguez throws out the indictment because "the Government’s conduct is so shocking to the universal sense of justice that it should be deprived of the opportunity to prosecute the Defendant." Hard to count all the different ways ICE lied throughout this case.
Reposted by John Helling
“I can guarantee that he’s not part of the Sinaloa Cartel,” Scott Alati said of his son, Tyler ... “He isn’t a high-ranking member of anything. He’s high-ranking dumb.”
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/10/29/m...
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/10/29/m...
The DEA said it arrested 171 ‘high ranking’ Sinaloa Cartel members. A Spotlight investigation found that’s not true. - The Boston Globe
A Globe investigation found that the federal agency misrepresented the stature of its targets, claiming cartel ties at a time when the Trump administration is taking lethal military action against suc...
www.bostonglobe.com
October 29, 2025 at 3:15 PM
“I can guarantee that he’s not part of the Sinaloa Cartel,” Scott Alati said of his son, Tyler ... “He isn’t a high-ranking member of anything. He’s high-ranking dumb.”
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/10/29/m...
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/10/29/m...
Reposted by John Helling
It’s too bad only farmers are people and not librarians or artists or healthcare workers or researchers.
October 27, 2025 at 2:32 PM
It’s too bad only farmers are people and not librarians or artists or healthcare workers or researchers.
Reposted by John Helling
um, er, that's not how public records laws work
A spokesperson for Texas Gov. Greg Abbott argued his office’s emails with Elon Musk are confidential under a “common-law privacy” exception to public records laws because they may include “intimate and embarrassing” information.
(Published July)
With @kutnews.bsky.social @texastribune.org
(Published July)
With @kutnews.bsky.social @texastribune.org
Texas Governor’s Office Says Its Emails With Elon Musk May Be, in Part, Too “Embarrassing” to Release to the Public
We asked Abbott for his and his staff’s emails with Elon Musk and Musk’s companies. The governor’s office won’t turn them over, saying some contain “intimate and embarrassing” information that is “not...
www.propublica.org
October 22, 2025 at 5:24 PM
um, er, that's not how public records laws work
Reposted by John Helling
Here's my updated breakout of the Economist/YouGov weekly data. Trump is experiencing dramatic, across the board erosion. More here - www.hopiumchronicles.com/p/stuart-ste...
October 21, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Here's my updated breakout of the Economist/YouGov weekly data. Trump is experiencing dramatic, across the board erosion. More here - www.hopiumchronicles.com/p/stuart-ste...
Reposted by John Helling
"Spending by ICE on guns and other weapons this year not only dwarfs spending during the Biden administration but also during Trump’s first term."
@juddlegum.bsky.social @popular.info: popular.info/p/ice-boosts...
@juddlegum.bsky.social @popular.info: popular.info/p/ice-boosts...
October 20, 2025 at 7:26 PM
"Spending by ICE on guns and other weapons this year not only dwarfs spending during the Biden administration but also during Trump’s first term."
@juddlegum.bsky.social @popular.info: popular.info/p/ice-boosts...
@juddlegum.bsky.social @popular.info: popular.info/p/ice-boosts...
Reposted by John Helling
This is a complete abdication of journalistic responsibility. A president posting something this insane and disgusting should be front and center in the news.
Not a single mention of this across the Sunday shows as far as I could tell
Trump posts AI video showing him literally dumping shit on America
October 19, 2025 at 5:06 PM
This is a complete abdication of journalistic responsibility. A president posting something this insane and disgusting should be front and center in the news.
Reposted by John Helling
Getting ready to speak at the No Kings rally in DC today, the rally for democracy and freedom, alongside Bill Nye, Bernie Sanders and many other great speakers. Could be the biggest protest in modern American history.
October 18, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Getting ready to speak at the No Kings rally in DC today, the rally for democracy and freedom, alongside Bill Nye, Bernie Sanders and many other great speakers. Could be the biggest protest in modern American history.
Reposted by John Helling
Hoosiers insured through the Health Insurance Marketplace will see their premiums skyrocket.
That’s because some government subsidies are set to expire this year, leaving people with less help to pay for their coverage.
✍️ @mcmolloy.bsky.social: https://bit.ly/47faIKK
That’s because some government subsidies are set to expire this year, leaving people with less help to pay for their coverage.
✍️ @mcmolloy.bsky.social: https://bit.ly/47faIKK
Hoosiers brace for soaring health care costs amid government shutdown
Congress has not extended subsidies for marketplace insurance plans.
bit.ly
October 17, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Hoosiers insured through the Health Insurance Marketplace will see their premiums skyrocket.
That’s because some government subsidies are set to expire this year, leaving people with less help to pay for their coverage.
✍️ @mcmolloy.bsky.social: https://bit.ly/47faIKK
That’s because some government subsidies are set to expire this year, leaving people with less help to pay for their coverage.
✍️ @mcmolloy.bsky.social: https://bit.ly/47faIKK
Reposted by John Helling
For those of you keeping score, 18-22 year-old students calling for an end to slaughter in Gaza are so racist they need to be expelled or deported, but 24-35 year-olds celebrating Hitler, rape, and, um, racism are just kids being kids so chill.
Also, racism is over so no need for Voting Right Act.
Also, racism is over so no need for Voting Right Act.
JD Vance brushes off racist texts by adults in Republican group chat as ‘what kids do’
Vice-president downplays messages such as ‘I love Hitler’ in chat by 24 to 35-year-olds to ‘stupid jokes’
www.theguardian.com
October 16, 2025 at 3:50 PM
For those of you keeping score, 18-22 year-old students calling for an end to slaughter in Gaza are so racist they need to be expelled or deported, but 24-35 year-olds celebrating Hitler, rape, and, um, racism are just kids being kids so chill.
Also, racism is over so no need for Voting Right Act.
Also, racism is over so no need for Voting Right Act.