Steve Raft
@steveraft.bsky.social
Science, jazz, justice, defiance
Reposted by Steve Raft
National Park Service workers across the U.S. are removing materials about slavery, climate change and labor history to comply with an order from President Trump. In some of the first legal pushback, the city of Philadelphia sued the Trump administration on Thursday. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/23/c...
January 26, 2026 at 1:26 AM
National Park Service workers across the U.S. are removing materials about slavery, climate change and labor history to comply with an order from President Trump. In some of the first legal pushback, the city of Philadelphia sued the Trump administration on Thursday. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/23/c...
Reposted by Steve Raft
I'm at a loss for words. I'm glad someone else has them.
January 25, 2026 at 8:51 AM
I'm at a loss for words. I'm glad someone else has them.
If what they do in public is obscene, imagine what’s up behind closed doors
Food contaminated with worms and mold. Limited access to clean drinking water. Inadequate medical care. These are a few of the allegations made by migrant families in recent court documents about their children’s conditions while in ICE custody. https://to.pbs.org/4sY4hFY
Migrant families allege children held by ICE face unsafe and unsanitary conditions
Food contaminated with worms and mold. Limited access to clean drinking water. Inadequate medical care. These are a few of the allegations made by migrant families in recent court documents about thei...
www.pbs.org
January 25, 2026 at 9:40 PM
If what they do in public is obscene, imagine what’s up behind closed doors
well, well, well. mmm, mmm, mmm. Second degree murder? Or, did they go out that morning with the intention to take down a citizen. You know, to blunt the effects of the previous days’ massive protests. You can’t underestimate the immorality of this administration
The Washington Post published a clear video of federal agents removing Alex Pretti's handgun moments before he was fatally shot. There's nothing in the video to suggest Pretti even reached for his weapon.
wapo.st/49Zqv1L
wapo.st/49Zqv1L
January 25, 2026 at 8:00 PM
well, well, well. mmm, mmm, mmm. Second degree murder? Or, did they go out that morning with the intention to take down a citizen. You know, to blunt the effects of the previous days’ massive protests. You can’t underestimate the immorality of this administration
Reposted by Steve Raft
The Washington Post published a clear video of federal agents removing Alex Pretti's handgun moments before he was fatally shot. There's nothing in the video to suggest Pretti even reached for his weapon.
wapo.st/49Zqv1L
wapo.st/49Zqv1L
January 25, 2026 at 6:11 PM
The Washington Post published a clear video of federal agents removing Alex Pretti's handgun moments before he was fatally shot. There's nothing in the video to suggest Pretti even reached for his weapon.
wapo.st/49Zqv1L
wapo.st/49Zqv1L
Reposted by Steve Raft
![• Cruz says he told Trump: "Mr. President, if we get to November of [2026] and people's 401(k)s are down 30% and prices are up 10-20% at the supermarket, we're going to go into Election Day, face a bloodbath."
• 'You're going to lose the House, you're going to lose the Senate, you're going to spend the next two years being impeached every single week."
Trump's response, according to Cruz:
"F**k you, Ted."](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ux34natbhxube3xgdu3rhf45/bafkreigcu6eh2bqb2dyzxuwmwzaeqafrdtnaraj4fvwxd4dfmobe7nitra@jpeg)
Reposted by Steve Raft
The killing of Alex Pretti is a heartbreaking tragedy. It should also be a wake-up call to every American, regardless of party, that many of our core values as a nation are increasingly under assault.
January 25, 2026 at 5:39 PM
The killing of Alex Pretti is a heartbreaking tragedy. It should also be a wake-up call to every American, regardless of party, that many of our core values as a nation are increasingly under assault.
Reposted by Steve Raft
Really feels like a tipping point now, with lots of the familiar centrist Dems and even MAGA Silicon Valley types calling out Trump (and Stephen Miller) for harsh immigration policy. Dem leadership has moved to no funding for DHS, and R senators are calling for investigations (weak but notable).
January 25, 2026 at 6:07 PM
Really feels like a tipping point now, with lots of the familiar centrist Dems and even MAGA Silicon Valley types calling out Trump (and Stephen Miller) for harsh immigration policy. Dem leadership has moved to no funding for DHS, and R senators are calling for investigations (weak but notable).
MAHA - Moderating Americans’ Health-status, Always
There have already been more U.S. measles cases in the first three weeks of 2026 than there were in all of 2023 and 2024 COMBINED: www.jezebel.com/measles-case... #measles #disease #publichealth #quarantine
There Have Already Been More 2026 Measles Cases in the U.S. Than 2023 and 2024 Combined
In the first three weeks of 2026, there have already been more than 400 new measles cases, as the U.S. looks to blow past 2025's highs.
www.jezebel.com
January 25, 2026 at 7:27 PM
MAHA - Moderating Americans’ Health-status, Always
Reposted by Steve Raft
I always say send an armed militia to investigate white collar crimes while simultaneously firing the actual white collar crimes prosecutors
This is nonsensical even by the standard of Trump’s addled conspiracy theories
January 25, 2026 at 6:19 PM
I always say send an armed militia to investigate white collar crimes while simultaneously firing the actual white collar crimes prosecutors
Reposted by Steve Raft
This lawless administration is now operating under the “what are you gonna do about it” doctrine. A John Roberts creation.
January 25, 2026 at 5:00 PM
This lawless administration is now operating under the “what are you gonna do about it” doctrine. A John Roberts creation.
Reposted by Steve Raft
“Ice has become Trump’s private militia. It must be abolished”
Re-upping this piece of mine from last year, when things weren’t even half as bad as they are now.
Re-upping this piece of mine from last year, when things weren’t even half as bad as they are now.
Ice has become Trump’s private militia. It must be abolished | Mehdi Hasan
Violent apprehensions, warrantless arrests, deported children: how many more abuses of power will it take for Democrats to speak up?
www.theguardian.com
January 24, 2026 at 9:20 PM
“Ice has become Trump’s private militia. It must be abolished”
Re-upping this piece of mine from last year, when things weren’t even half as bad as they are now.
Re-upping this piece of mine from last year, when things weren’t even half as bad as they are now.
Reposted by Steve Raft
Reposted by Steve Raft
The nurses are pissed
January 25, 2026 at 4:48 AM
The nurses are pissed
Reposted by Steve Raft
The director of the FBI just reiterated the Trump uber-message: We can kill you.
Alex Pretti was not attacking the agents. If he was resisting as he was being assaulted by them, under no law enforcement protocol is that alone cause for a summary execution.
This is police-state tactics.
Alex Pretti was not attacking the agents. If he was resisting as he was being assaulted by them, under no law enforcement protocol is that alone cause for a summary execution.
This is police-state tactics.
BARTIROMO: There is outrage across the country that there is another killing. Someone is dead at the hands of Border Patrol. What can you tell us?
KASH PATEL: You do not get to attack law enforcement officials in this country without any repercussions. We not messing around.
KASH PATEL: You do not get to attack law enforcement officials in this country without any repercussions. We not messing around.
January 25, 2026 at 3:40 PM
The director of the FBI just reiterated the Trump uber-message: We can kill you.
Alex Pretti was not attacking the agents. If he was resisting as he was being assaulted by them, under no law enforcement protocol is that alone cause for a summary execution.
This is police-state tactics.
Alex Pretti was not attacking the agents. If he was resisting as he was being assaulted by them, under no law enforcement protocol is that alone cause for a summary execution.
This is police-state tactics.
Reposted by Steve Raft
Journalists need to ask, “What made Pettri a ‘suspect’?” He was ‘seized’ under the meaning of the Fourth Amendment, which requires *probable cause that he was committing a crime*
MAKE THEM ARTICULATE THE BASIS FOR THE SEIZURE
MAKE THEM ARTICULATE THE BASIS FOR THE SEIZURE
BASH: Where did he assault an officer? It looked to us that he was approached by them when he was helping another individual who was pushed down
BOVINO: We don't need a suspect's help in a law enforcement scene
BASH: So when somebody is pushed down, you stand back?
BOVINO: Follow directions
BOVINO: We don't need a suspect's help in a law enforcement scene
BASH: So when somebody is pushed down, you stand back?
BOVINO: Follow directions
January 25, 2026 at 2:37 PM
Journalists need to ask, “What made Pettri a ‘suspect’?” He was ‘seized’ under the meaning of the Fourth Amendment, which requires *probable cause that he was committing a crime*
MAKE THEM ARTICULATE THE BASIS FOR THE SEIZURE
MAKE THEM ARTICULATE THE BASIS FOR THE SEIZURE
Reposted by Steve Raft
Putin pioneered this. No opposition is legitimate. Regular, decent, “ordinary” people cannot possibly be against us because only we represent “the real people.”
Tell-tale sign of authoritarianism.
Tell-tale sign of authoritarianism.
January 25, 2026 at 2:43 PM
Putin pioneered this. No opposition is legitimate. Regular, decent, “ordinary” people cannot possibly be against us because only we represent “the real people.”
Tell-tale sign of authoritarianism.
Tell-tale sign of authoritarianism.
Reposted by Steve Raft
93yr old JOHN WILLIAMS on stage with the Boston Symphony Orchestra this week.
For millions of us he was the literally the soundtrack to our lives.
The day he finally becomes one with the Force, I for one will most certainly feel his cosmic energy morphing with huge sadness.
For millions of us he was the literally the soundtrack to our lives.
The day he finally becomes one with the Force, I for one will most certainly feel his cosmic energy morphing with huge sadness.
January 25, 2026 at 1:04 PM
93yr old JOHN WILLIAMS on stage with the Boston Symphony Orchestra this week.
For millions of us he was the literally the soundtrack to our lives.
The day he finally becomes one with the Force, I for one will most certainly feel his cosmic energy morphing with huge sadness.
For millions of us he was the literally the soundtrack to our lives.
The day he finally becomes one with the Force, I for one will most certainly feel his cosmic energy morphing with huge sadness.
Reposted by Steve Raft
Murphy: "It's always been the fear & now is closer to the reality that the Trump admin is creating this mayhem, particularly in cities in swing states, to take control of elections. They're trying to trade the presence of ICE & the murder & mayhem they are causing for control of MN's elections"
January 25, 2026 at 2:42 PM
Murphy: "It's always been the fear & now is closer to the reality that the Trump admin is creating this mayhem, particularly in cities in swing states, to take control of elections. They're trying to trade the presence of ICE & the murder & mayhem they are causing for control of MN's elections"
Reposted by Steve Raft
Don’t let this White House lie to you. Believe what you see.
Alex Pretti was trying to help a woman off the ground. Then immigration agents tackled, shot, and killed him.
It’s time for them to get the hell out of MN.
Alex Pretti was trying to help a woman off the ground. Then immigration agents tackled, shot, and killed him.
It’s time for them to get the hell out of MN.
January 25, 2026 at 3:55 AM
Don’t let this White House lie to you. Believe what you see.
Alex Pretti was trying to help a woman off the ground. Then immigration agents tackled, shot, and killed him.
It’s time for them to get the hell out of MN.
Alex Pretti was trying to help a woman off the ground. Then immigration agents tackled, shot, and killed him.
It’s time for them to get the hell out of MN.
Reposted by Steve Raft
"The gentleman I was standing next to was focused on helping people who were coming into Nicollet Avenue understand that they needed to take it slow and helping them get through. ...
"Next thing I knew, they shot him." www.mprnews.org/story/2026/0...
"Next thing I knew, they shot him." www.mprnews.org/story/2026/0...
January 24, 2026 at 5:56 PM
"The gentleman I was standing next to was focused on helping people who were coming into Nicollet Avenue understand that they needed to take it slow and helping them get through. ...
"Next thing I knew, they shot him." www.mprnews.org/story/2026/0...
"Next thing I knew, they shot him." www.mprnews.org/story/2026/0...
Reposted by Steve Raft
On the execution in Minnesota: Obviously, the individuals involved should be held accountable. But responsibility goes to the top of ICE and CBP, and DHS. Their appropriations come up next week in the senate. Not a cent for DHS without pulling ICE and CBP off the streets, in MN and everywhere else.
January 24, 2026 at 4:52 PM
On the execution in Minnesota: Obviously, the individuals involved should be held accountable. But responsibility goes to the top of ICE and CBP, and DHS. Their appropriations come up next week in the senate. Not a cent for DHS without pulling ICE and CBP off the streets, in MN and everywhere else.
Reposted by Steve Raft
They weren’t administering CPR. They’re searching his dead body for a gun that isn’t there because a goon had quietly snuck off with it before the first shot was even fired.
January 25, 2026 at 1:44 AM
They weren’t administering CPR. They’re searching his dead body for a gun that isn’t there because a goon had quietly snuck off with it before the first shot was even fired.
Reposted by Steve Raft
🌎 2026
🗓 23rd - 24th January
🕤 21:30Z
🛰 GOES18
🗓 23rd - 24th January
🕤 21:30Z
🛰 GOES18
January 24, 2026 at 11:36 PM
🌎 2026
🗓 23rd - 24th January
🕤 21:30Z
🛰 GOES18
🗓 23rd - 24th January
🕤 21:30Z
🛰 GOES18