ProfessorJen
Victorian literature specialist, live music fan, lover of old homes and vintage housewares, seeker of productive social exchanges
- Reposted by ProfessorJenI hope every Democratic member of the House and Senate reads this and factors it into whatever funding bill gets agreed to. We have seen what ICE can do to U.S. Citizens in the streets, imagine what they will do at the polls. www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/...
- Reposted by ProfessorJenAgain, I know everyone wants to yell at The Democrats & Chuck Schumer & Hakeem Jefferies, but there are 10-25 people in Washington who could literally end all of this tomorrow, & none of them are Democrats, & they continue to get 24/7 free passes for being absolute oath-violating cowards. Focus.
- Reposted by ProfessorJenThis is a harrowing look at Epstein's connections to academia. It shows how Epstein was able to woo high-profile scholars with witty banter, promises of research funding, and help from a well-connected literary agent, despite not having a degree himself. www.insidehighered.com/news/faculty...
- Reposted by ProfessorJenBest novelist in PMG's 1885 '10 Greatest Living Englishmen' poll throws up more surprises, for a paper of the London clubland. Wilkie Collins on top (346), only just ahead of William Black, & Walter Besant. Hardy a distant 9th (a mere 20 votes), Meredith (9). 5 in desperation for the dead Trollope.
- Reposted by ProfessorJenA federal judge blocked the Trump administration from ending temporary protections that have allowed 350,000 Haitians to live and work in the U.S.
- Reposted by ProfessorJenNothing in the videos from that church show anything worse than disorderly conduct, at the absolute most maybe misdemeanor trespassing. State offenses, and here well within reasonable prosecutorial discretion. There is no federal crime here even for the actual protestors, much less reporters present
- Reposted by ProfessorJen"The Homeland Security Department also spent nearly $10 million [to] allow it to delve into people’s cellphones....One of the tools ... lets people take control of phones or remotely hack into them to read messages or track locations." www.nytimes.com/2026/01/30/t...
- Reposted by ProfessorJenIf Donald Trump and Pam Bondi read what Thomas Jefferson had to say about the importance of a free press...they would try to have him arrested. My latest. www.thedailybeast.com/there-can-be...
- Reposted by ProfessorJenTo round out your January, please enjoy Part 2 of "Getting Started in Periodicals Research," a conversation between @c19thnewshound.bsky.social and @patrickleary.bsky.social! In this installment, Patrick talks attributions research and digitization in periodical studies. rs4vp.org/getting-star...
- Reposted by ProfessorJenPew has Trump's approval at 37%. And: "Only about a quarter of Americans today (27%) say they support all or most of Trump’s policies and plans, down from 35% when he returned to office last year. That change has come entirely among Republicans." www.pewresearch.org/politics/202...
- Reposted by ProfessorJenHaitians in Springfield, Ohio lose temporary protected status on February 3rd. There will very likely be a major ICE incursion the next day. Haitians in Springfield were the targets of Vance’s lying during the campaign. ohiocapitaljournal.com/2026/01/28/t...
- Ethan Hawke has just been crushing it lately!
- “It’s not the painting, it’s the energy BEHIND the painting.” Ethan Hawke — on the limitations of AI art — is very good. 🔥 @vulture.com
- Reposted by ProfessorJenAn extraordinary document. Read it. “Attached to this order is an appendix that identifies 96 court orders that ICE has violated in 74 cases. … ICE has likely violated more court orders in January 2026 than some federal agencies have violated in their entire existence.”
- BREAKING: Judge Patrick Schiltz cancels contempt hearing Friday where ICE chief Todd Lyons was to be forced to testify, but excoriates ICE for defying almost 100 court orders in last month. "ICE is not a law unto itself," Schiltz writes. Doc: www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
- Reposted by ProfessorJenA federal judge said Pam Bondi’s letter to Minnesota reinforced how the DOJ is wielding its authority in its nationwide push for state voter rolls, suggesting the department’s campaign may be driven by motives that "undermine the basis and purpose provisions” of the Civil Rights Act.
- This is sickening.
- Reposted by ProfessorJenThe moral disgrace comes from refusing to recognize that those bearing little or no similarity to us deserve respect, care, and defense simply because they are human — regardless of whether we might suffer the same fate. open.substack.com/pub/contrari...
- Reposted by ProfessorJenThe people of Minnesota have executed one of the most impressive civil resistance campaigns I can remember: - Organized a city wide general strike - Maintained nonviolent discipline amidst violence - Mobilized 10,000s in subzero temps to protest and watch ICE - Flipped public opinion against ICE
- Reposted by ProfessorJenThe British Library’s PhD placement scheme for 26/27 is now open. My team are offering an exciting placement aiming to raise the profile of our illustrated newspaper collection: www.bl.uk/services/res...
- Reposted by ProfessorJenIn Minneapolis, ICE was seen abducting or disappearing a man who was holding a baby in his arms.
- Reposted by ProfessorJenThe biggest risk in this moment is something sociologists call “symbolic compliance.” That’s when an institution that is violating civil rights gives the public just enough symbolic victories that accountability efforts lose steam before there has been any meaningful change.
- Reposted by ProfessorJenA vivid account of the incredible organization in Minneapolis.
- Reposted by ProfessorJenReminder that, as of the latest reports, Liam Ramos is still in prison in Texas - now for 5 days. His parents are legal asylum seekers with no criminal record.
- Reposted by ProfessorJenAmid these dark moments, something important is beginning to shift. It's clearly the result of healthy political pressure - which we must sustain, and build.
- Reposted by ProfessorJen“Fraenkel describes a system where on one side is the Normative State—that handles the routine business of a nation. But coexisting within that shell is the Prerogative State, a domain of absolute executive power that operates with unlimited arbitrariness…” www.theunpopulist.net/p/in-trumps-...
- Reposted by ProfessorJenAnother factor: citizen allies of undocumented immigrants turn out to be even more numerous than the undocumented. As the MN summary executions make clear, maga is at war with the entire pro-immigrant population. Disempowering tens of millions is a large task even for the most determined fascists.
- Reposted by ProfessorJenWhen I started Democracy Docket in 2020, my goal was to make as much of it free as possible. Its website has always been 100% free and it still is. Check it out and get the most in-depth news, information, analysis and opinion about voting rights and elections in the courts. www.democracydocket.com
- Reposted by ProfessorJenWow.
- Reposted by ProfessorJen“Comply or die” is what they’re going with.
- Reposted by ProfessorJenM. Gessen, gift link: The soviet secret police too "were ruled by quotas... Fundamentally, the terror was random. That is, in fact, how state terror works. The randomness is the difference between a regime based on terror and a regime that is plainly repressive"
- Reposted by ProfessorJenMinneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara: "People have had enough. This is the third shooting in less than 3 weeks. The MPD went the entire year last year recovering about 900 guns from the street, arresting hundreds of violent offenders, and we didn't shoot anyone ... this is not sustainable."
- Reposted by ProfessorJenDana Bash grills Bovino to provide any evidence that Alex Pretti "assaulted law enforcement" and Bovino has absolutely nothing
- Reposted by ProfessorJenChris Murphy: "This is really scary because what Bovino essentially told you is that if you just happen to be present when they are undertaking an operation, if you pull out your phone to record it, the use of force against you is justified. That is not true, it's not what the law says."
- Reposted by ProfessorJenMurphy: "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 ProfessorJenThey think they can provoke us into abandoning our values. They are wrong. We will keep the peace. We will secure justice for our neighbors. And we will see this occupation end.
- Reposted by ProfessorJen"They say they're coming to save us from some evil? They're talking about our neighbors who take care of us ... Alex was murdered while he was helping. Mr Rogers said look for the helpers, & right now the helpers have a target on our forehead ... Mr Rogers would be here right now too, so I'm here."
- Reposted by ProfessorJenReminder: If the Supreme Court upholds Trump’s attack on birthright citizenship, some of the ICE officers currently brutalizing Minnesotans may be reassigned to apprehend newborns from the hospital for immediate deportation. Just read the Trump administration’s own memo. slate.com/news-and-pol...
- Reposted by ProfessorJenAs I explained earlier this month, we're too literal abt what amounts to military occupation. The ICE/CPB operations in Blue cities are the kinds of garrisoning of civilian towns that the founding documents opposed. talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/dont-...
- Reposted by ProfessorJenImagine this in a trial. Devastating first-hand witness to Alex Pretti's killing Declaration filed in federal court: "I don't know why they shot him. He was only helping. I was five feet from him and they just shot him."
- Reposted by ProfessorJenU.S. citizen Matthew Allen brutally arrested in Minneapolis as his wife Sarah Allen watches in horror. She explains to a clergy member comforting her, they were both running away from the tear gas & he was arrested. Heartbreaking to hear & watch. This happened within hours of the killing of a man.💔
- Reposted by ProfessorJen“Democratic politicians and business & technocratic elites should be shamed and humiliated by how normal people have met this moment while most Democrats pretended it was business as usual and many elites openly curried favor with the regime instead of resisting.” www.thebulwark.com/p/how-the-me...
- Reposted by ProfessorJenWith Rosen, Cortez Masto, and Warner all now No’s on cloture on DHS Approps, the filibuster will get above 40 (I assume they’ll get pretty much every Dem senator). The question then will be what the Dems demand to let it go forward. Get ICE and CBP out of MN is the easiest message. It’s also right.
- Reposted by ProfessorJenAlso, may I say that I don’t agree with people saying ICE and CBP need “more training.” They’re doing exactly what this administration has trained them to—impose a reign of fear in blue cities. They don’t need more training. They need to be ripped up root and branch.
- Reposted by ProfessorJenSolidarity, particularly across race and class, is Kryptonite for authoritarian regimes. They can only thrive when their us v. them framing is adopted by society at large, and they join as active or passive collaborators with the regime. So the only response they have is to raise the cost of unity
- They are telling us in unequivocal terms that if you show solidarity with immigrants who are in the literal crosshairs of Trump/MAGA, you're risking a death sentence. newrepublic.com/article/2055...
- Reposted by ProfessorJenThe Star Tribune reports that federal agents "attempted to order local police from the scene" where a man was shot and killed by feds this morning, but Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara refused and "instructed his officers to preserve the scene."
- Reposted by ProfessorJenWorth noting that one reason you’re benefitting so fully from the Star-Tribune’s timely, extensive coverage of unfolding events is that it’s a metro newspaper that hasn’t been systematically starved to further enrich shareholders and executives.
- Reposted by ProfessorJenMinnesota Gov. Tim Walz: "Thank God. Thank God we have video. Because according to DHS, these 7 heroic guys took an onslaught of a battalion against him or something. It's nonsense, people. It is nonsense and it's lies."
- Reposted by ProfessorJenFrom Senator Chris Murphy, Connecticut Pam Bondi just sent a letter to Minnesota officials saying ICE will leave if the state turns over its voter database to Trump. Guess what? This has never been about safety or immigration. It’s a pretext for Trump to take over elections in swing states.
- Reposted by ProfessorJenTrump’s untrained Gestapo thugs murdered an ICU nurse in cold blood — a US citizen who worked at the VA & had no criminal record. He had a permit to carry & didn’t draw the gun. They simply murdered him. They must be prosecuted. They must be accountable. The impunity must end.
- Reposted by ProfessorJenPer his colleagues: The victim’s name was apparently Alex Pretti and he was an ICU nurse caring for severely injured veterans at the VA Hospital. He was acting as an observer, filming the raid. Any suggestion that he was there with violence on his mind is horrific gaslighting.
- Reposted by ProfessorJen"Vermie's account appears similar to complaints from multiple attorneys interviewed by ABC News who allege that some of the thousands of people arrested in ICE operations in Minneapolis in recent weeks have been denied their constitutional right to see an attorney." abcnews.go.com/US/army-vet-...
- Reposted by ProfessorJen"Experts on the formation of internal security services in authoritarian regimes point to a sense of impunity as a warning sign." - @donmoyn.bsky.social, quoted in this piece. As I try to show, Vance has contributed heavily to ICE's sense of impunity while spinning it all in "reasonable" tones:
- Reposted by ProfessorJenSo, so depraved. ICE continues to terrorize toddlers in Minneapolis, according to local news reports www.kare11.com/article/news...
