iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Amy Jo (AJ) Cousins @ajcousins.bsky.social · 17m

Hmm, it's been a bit. I think we were on Beach, but it was after they created the "protest zone" so we weren't directly in front of the facility. The block north, I think. We parked on Lexington on the other side of 25th, iirc, and walked over.

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jamelle @jamellebouie.net · 14h

that’s right

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Amy Jo (AJ) Cousins @ajcousins.bsky.social · 11/10/2026

Yeah, I was happy I couldn't catch most of that one. Losing to them is the worst.

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Richard Kadrey @richardkadrey.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Nuremberg these motherfuckers

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Yael Schacher @yaelschacher.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

I am in Cap Haitien interviewing people deported from the United States. I have been doing this kind of work for almost a decade and it literally does not get more dire than this. People have lost everything they built in the U.S. and are terrified and have no place to go or way to live.

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Owen Barcala @obarcala.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

In 2025, ICE attorneys started refusing to identify themselves in immigration hearings, but doing this in actual federal court seems like a new step

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Will Bunch @willbunch.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

The Hague is far too good for Stephen Miller

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Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

ICE appears to be using the parking lot of the Roxbury warehouse for processing and brief detention, and at least once appears to have taken people inside. But also, read this inside look from a federal contractor about how everyone knew the warehouse plan was insane but Miller demanded inhumanity.

NPR spoke to an official at a government contractor whose company was approached to convert several of the warehouses into ICE facilities. He spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation from the government.

"No one that we spoke to at DHS was for this idea whatsoever. The deputy director told us point-blank that they had pushed back very hard on it. Everybody knew warehouses are horrible places to put people," he says.

At a meeting with a deputy director at DHS, he says, his company proposed an alternative: FEMA-style camps in Texas that would be more humane.

He says that idea was swiftly shot down. While White House adviser Stephen Miller was not at the meeting, they were told that this was not what Miller wanted.

The contractor says his understanding from that meeting was that "Miller did not want the facilities that were comfortable. He did not want facilities that were humane. We were told point-blank that that was not what the administration wanted."

"Steve Miller certainly seemed to make that point to everyone that he wanted it to be cruel. This was what Miller had stated to the DHS at that time, to the DHS director and deputy director. What surprised me was just how adamant the people were that it was going to happen. Damn the consequences. I would say in 25 years of working with the U.S. government, I've never been in that position before."

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Amy Jo (AJ) Cousins @ajcousins.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Know a bilingual rising 2L or 3L who wants to learn how to zealously advocate for immigrant children from some of the best in the nation? Please share with them the link to apply for the Elizabeth Frankel Fellowship at @theyoungcenter.bsky.social! Deadline 10/15.

theyoungcenterforimmigrantchildrensrights.applytojob.com

Elizabeth Frankel Fellowship - The Young Center for Immigrant Children's Rights - Career Page

Apply to Elizabeth Frankel Fellowship at The Young Center for Immigrant Children's Rights in Houston, TX.

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Amy Jo (AJ) Cousins @ajcousins.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

theyoungcenterforimmigrantchildrensrights.applytojob.com

Elizabeth Frankel Fellowship - The Young Center for Immigrant Children's Rights - Career Page

Apply to Elizabeth Frankel Fellowship at The Young Center for Immigrant Children's Rights in Houston, TX.

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whet moser @whetmoser.com · 07/10/2026

this is very good

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Taniel @taniel.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

*so important*: if you’re voting by mail, assume the USPS will delay because it’s its policy. You can: —put it in drop box —go to counter to watch them postmark in front of you —if you’re dropping it in a mailbox, do it VERY EARLY.

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Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

The OPT rule is out, and it's a mess. DHS is aware that this rule will be challenged in court, but didn't even bother to do a defensible analysis of the costs. For example, their estimate of costs that this rule will impose on the public over 10 years is a range between $241 million to $29 billion.

Due to high uncertainty in regulated parties’ behavioral responses, DHS uses ranges to estimate costs and transfers. These ranges reflect different scenarios for how many OPT fees the educational institutions would fund. If all OPT fees are paid by schools, the main impact would be the transfer of payments from the fees. If some OPT fees are not paid by schools due to reduced participation, there would be opportunity costs from the lost OPT participation. DHS estimates the annualized costs of the proposed rule would range from $32 million to $8.2 billion, with a primary estimate of $4.1 billion discounted at 3 percent. Discounted at 7 percent, the estimated annualized costs of the proposed rule would range from $34 million to $8.2 billion, with a primary estimate of $4.1 billion. DHS estimates the 10-year total costs of the proposed rule would be $275 million to $69.9 billion, with a primary estimate of $35.1 billion discounted at 3 percent (see Table 10). Discounted at 7 percent, the estimated total costs of the proposed rule would be $241 million to $57.7 billion, with a primary estimate of $29.0 billion.

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Amy Jo (AJ) Cousins @ajcousins.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

*stares at preorder* Come faster, damn it. No, wait. I have so much work to do before then. 😂 Come at the regular time, December.

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Amy Jo (AJ) Cousins @ajcousins.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Apparently four times is the charm for catching a migrating American Golden Plover at Montrose. 😂💪🎉 Lifer! I'm hoping some of these sunset pics turn out...

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Amy Jo (AJ) Cousins @ajcousins.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

"FBI employees raised concerns that the investigations violated bureau policy and constitutional protections. The disclosure also alleges that personnel were diverted from investigations involving violent crime, drug trafficking and transnational criminal organizations."

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Jacob Soboroff @jacobsoboroff.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

"In the past, most unaccompanied minors in ORR custody were children who had recently crossed the US-Mexico border by themselves—not kids who arrived with a parent and had been living in the country for years." www.motherjones.com/politics/202...

motherjones.com

“You kidnapped my son”

ICE is now separating children from their parents and deeming them “unaccompanied.”

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Amy Jo (AJ) Cousins @ajcousins.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

I love the shadows on the pigeon. 😍 Gorgeous!

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Lauren @tinylongwing.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Green-cheeked Conure and Pink-necked Green-Pigeon for bookwyrmbran on tumblr! Thank you for your generous #Waymakers donation! 🎨🪶 #SciArt #BirdArt Waymakers benefits @theyoungcenter.bsky.social 's critical work to help unaccompanied immigrant kids in the US. Join us again next September!

Illustration of a cheery little Green-cheeked Conure, a type of small parrot, perched on a branch in warm sunny green forest. The bird has its green cheeks poofed out contentedly as it faces the viewer directly so that we can see its green and red belly and the start of its long tail.

A Pink-necked Green-Pigeon swoops into view with wings spread diagonally across the image. It is a chunky bird with a subtle blue-gray crown, pink neck, green back and wings with yellow wingbars, an orange rump and steel blue tail. Its iris is a crazy vivid magenta and neon blue. Cast shadows of leaves from trees above lie across its back.

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Gillian Brockell @gillianbrockell.com · 06/10/2026

I LOVE how @propublica.org dealt with official comment here, editorially and stylistically.

The Trump administration says none of this is happening.

"DHS is NOT arresting U.S. citizens by mistake." "There are no 'indiscriminate' stops." Allegations of "racial profiling are disgusting, reckless and categorically FALSE." "The pattern is NOT of law enforcement using force." "ICE does not zip tie or restrain children."

But that is precisely what is happening, and at a far larger scale than previously reported.

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ProPublica @propublica.org · 06/10/2026

8/ Amanda Trebach, a nurse and member of an immigrant advocacy group, was detained in California while filming and protesting immigration enforcement operations. Trebach says she was held for almost 36 hours without access to a phone call or a lawyer.

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ProPublica @propublica.org · 06/10/2026

4/ Fernando Vasquez, an 18-year-old citizen, was on break from work when agents chased and handcuffed him, then put him in their truck. After realizing their mistake, the agents left the teen alone in the woods, with no way to get home. Then they threw his ID out of the truck.

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ProPublica @propublica.org · 06/10/2026

2/ Federal agents have detained at least 70 children and teens who are American citizens. Some were handcuffed or zip-tied. In one instance, a 15-year-old with disabilities was handcuffed outside a school in Los Angeles when agents mistook him for an alleged gang member.

At least 70 U.S. citizen children detained, some of whom were handcuffed

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ProPublica @propublica.org · 06/10/2026

The government *still* isn’t tracking how often immigration agents detain U.S. citizens. We are. 500+ Americans have been handcuffed, held at gunpoint or held against their will in Trump’s second term. Our tally is almost certainly an undercount. THREAD (content warning: violence) ⬇️

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Bookshop.org @bookshop.org · 06/10/2026

Anti-Prime Day starts…NOW! 🥳 Today through midnight on 10/7, enjoy free shipping site-wide, all while supporting local, independent bookstores.

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Steven @stevevance.net · 05/10/2026

The Chicago Architecture Center opened a new location at the Marquette Building today and they’re having an open house tonight at their main location RSVP: www.architecture.org/events-progr...

JOIN THE CHICAGO ARCHITECTURE CENTER FOR NEIGHBOR
NIGHT
IN CELEBRATION OF WORLD ARCHITECTURE DAY
Monday, October 5 6-8 p.m.
111 E. Wacker Drive
Enjoy mini walking tours, live music, hands-on LEGO activities, Chicago Fire FC's Sparky, local food and drink, and more.
Free with registration!

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Amy Jo (AJ) Cousins @ajcousins.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Well, my tax preparation prices is about to become a LOT more fun. 😂

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Amy Jo (AJ) Cousins @ajcousins.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Always happy to root against Dallas! 😁😊

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Gabe Ortíz @tusk81.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Lawyers “representing Good’s family said the second suit is based on the Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871. Romanucci said the act was ‘put in force to stop the exact thing that we are saying happened here: masked, unidentifiable men, women, denying equal protection and rights against ordinary citizens.’”

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Amy Jo (AJ) Cousins @ajcousins.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

I'm not sure I've ever wanted anything more than I want Indiana to lose this game. 😒

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Shelby Gonzales @shelbytgonzales.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Starting today many people granted humanitarian immigration protections, including refugees, people granted asylum, and survivors of trafficking, will no longer be able to access health care through federally funded Medicaid and CHIP programs. www.cbpp.org/research/imm...

cbpp.org

Harmful Republican Megabill Takes Away Health Coverage, Food Assistance, Tax Credits From Millions of Immigrants and Their Families

The harmful Republican megabill imposes massive cuts in food assistance, health coverage, and other supports for people with low incomes and singles out immigrants with lawful status and their familie...

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Chris Geidner @chrisgeidner.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

As expected, the Supreme Court, among the new cases it took today, will be considering the Trump administration’s mandatory immigration detention policy (Rhoney v. Barbosa). This instantly becomes one of the most important cases of the term.

(ORDER LIST: 609 U.S.)
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2026
25-5343
25-1131
25-1349
26-104
ORDER IN PENDING CASE
BEAIRD, KENDRICK J. V. UNITED STATES
The motion of the Solicitor General for divided
argument is granted.
CERTIORARI GRANTED
MISSIONARIES OF ST. JOHN, INC. V. FREDERIC, JOEL, ET UX.
The petition for a writ of certiorari is granted limited to
Question 1 presented by the petition.
MARSCHNER, ROXANE M. V. MARSCHNER, RICHARD A.
RHONEY, ACTING DIR. V. BARBOSA DA CUNHA, RICARDO A.
The petitions for writs of certiorari are granted.

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Amy Jo (AJ) Cousins @ajcousins.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

It's pretty rare for us! I'd just been in AZ the week before and hadn't had the chance to go see the ones that I knew were nearby, so I was thrilled when this potato showed up in the first week of April. :)

Photo of a small potato-shaped owl sitting on a sand dune with sticks and dried grasses poking up around it

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Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

This is the 59th death in ICE detention since Trump took office.

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Amy Jo (AJ) Cousins @ajcousins.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

I saw my first/only Burrowing Owl this spring in Chicago, so I'm extra in love with this one. ;)

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Amy Jo (AJ) Cousins @ajcousins.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Thank you so much for your amazing fundraiser! ❤️ It brings me so much joy to see your joyful art and know how much awareness you're bringing to immigrant kids facing deportation. Thank you!!!

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Amy Jo (AJ) Cousins @ajcousins.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

You are both extraordinary! Thank you so much for shining a spotlight on immigrant kiddos and for inspiring me to get my ass onto the lakefront trail to meet my own mileage goal. ❤️ Amazing job!

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Amy Jo (AJ) Cousins @ajcousins.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

I'm a huge rereader. It's been my favorite self-soothing technique for 50 years. 😊 This was probably my 6th or 7th time through the Magpie books.

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Amy Jo (AJ) Cousins @ajcousins.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

I'm saying. It's good for what ails ya.

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Amy Jo (AJ) Cousins @ajcousins.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

I've done everything in the Magpie world, the Green Men books, the England books, and some of the standalones. So many of my favorites yet to come!

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Amy Jo (AJ) Cousins @ajcousins.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

I am 14 books into one of my regular rereads of @kjcharleswriter.com's entire catalog and this is the best self-care decision I've made in AGES. 😊

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Amy Jo (AJ) Cousins @ajcousins.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

The same warbler in flight, with all the wrong photo settings, but I love it anyway. :) #birds

Photo of a warbler in flight with its wings outstretched, every part of it blurry except its head, against a background of deep and bright green leaves

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Amy Jo (AJ) Cousins @ajcousins.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

I see it's time for JCO to remind us that she is generally full of shitty opinions with the occasional flash of fun as she takes down someone we also don't like, as opposed to the reverse.

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Amy Jo (AJ) Cousins @ajcousins.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

“You can’t have a first meeting again. Once you’ve had that first meeting, and everyone in the room is white, and/or male... there’s no backing up from that. The table has been set, and everyone else is a guest. Not an author. Not a founder. A guest.” ~Lisa Beard of SONG (Southerners on New Ground)

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