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Akela Lacy

@akelalacy.bsky.social
9.1K followers 391 following 550 posts

human @theintercept.com | co-host 🎙️ The Intercept Briefing podcast Brooklyn, NY | theintercept.com/staff/akelalacy akelalacy.substack.com www.instagram.com/akela_lacy

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Akela Lacy @akelalacy.bsky.social · 4h
I still remember when people on “the left” pretended this guy was a good faith operator whose tactics deserved legitimate consideration
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Christopher Mathias @letsgomathias.bsky.social · 4h
New: Chris Rufo & his co-host devoted a podcast to "The Indian Question," framing Desi people as a problem to be solved. Their "solution?" Mass expulsion. For those allowed to remain: an “assimilation hazing process” w/ instances of “vulgar, defamatory racism" talkingpointsmemo.com/news/chris-r...
talkingpointsmemo.com
Chris Rufo — Known For ‘DEI’ and ‘CRT’ Panics — Tries to Make ‘the Indian Question’ a Thing
To the degree that a “respectable” or “moderate” right exists today in...
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Akela Lacy @akelalacy.bsky.social · 4h
NEW POD 🎧: Mahmoud Khalil tells me what he’s learned about how he became Trump’s top target, why he says Columbia University facilitated that campaign, and how the fight over speech on Palestine is tied to the fight against ICE’s war on immigrants podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
podcasts.apple.com
Mahmoud Khalil: “We Can’t Afford to Stay Silent”
Podcast Episode · The Intercept Briefing · October 2 · 47m
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Akela Lacy @akelalacy.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
NEW POD 🎧: remember the obituaries for @justicedemocrats.com, the group behind the squad? This week we tell the story of JD’s resurrection: how it made 2026 its best cycle yet, toppled 3 incumbents & put Dem Socialism back on the map. W/ @usamahandrabi.bsky.social podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
podcasts.apple.com
The Blueprint for Democrats to Win Back Voters
Podcast Episode · The Intercept Briefing · September 25 · 40m
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Akela Lacy @akelalacy.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Republican Sen. Mike Lee is now fundraising off of Democratic Sen. John Fetterman’s fundraising emails after we reported Fetterman’s use of GOP email lists: “He’s basically a Republican now. I need your help to draft him”
Screen shot of an email 

Email subject: “I just got this email from John Fetterman”

Email text: “Friend,

I just got an email from John. He’s basically a Republican now. I need you help to draft him. Sign here” (link)

“Thanks,
Sen. Mike Lee.”

Shows top of screenshot of quoted email from John Fetterman on Tuesday September 22, 2026
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Akela Lacy @akelalacy.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Interesting exchange in this Flock hearing btwn ACLU counsel Chad Marlow & Sen. Padilla on ICE being able to access Flock data thru police depts that aren’t officially cooperating with ICE ...
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Immigrant Defense Project (IDP) @immdefenseproject.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
It also goes beyond the payouts: for immigrant NYers, City Hall’s failure to deliver meaningful policing reform comes at a particularly dangerous moment, as the Trump administration’s increased federal immigration enforcement heightens the consequences of police contact for immigrant New Yorkers.
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Akela Lacy @akelalacy.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Democratic Sen. John Fetterman is fundraising on GOP donor email lists theintercept.com/2026/09/21/j...
theintercept.com
John Fetterman Is Fundraising on GOP Donor Email Lists
The hardline pro-Israel senator has been flirting with switching parties. Now he’s using Republican campaign infrastructure.
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Bright D Limm 임대중 @bdlimm.myatproto.social · 22/09/2026
@akelalacy.bsky.social's report on the Mamdani admin's current approach to NYPD is excellent, in no small part because it features the takes of orgs seeking to hold Z to his campaign promises: • @nyclu.org • @vocal-ny.bsky.social • @justicecommittee.bsky.social • @immdefenseproject.bsky.social
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Akela Lacy @akelalacy.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
NEW: Sen. John Fetterman's campaign is using a GOP email list to raise money off of his video speech at the Republican midterm convention earlier this month theintercept.com/2026/09/21/j...
theintercept.com
John Fetterman Is Fundraising on GOP Donor Email Lists
The hardline pro-Israel senator has been flirting with switching parties. Now he’s using Republican campaign infrastructure.
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lauraflynn.bsky.social @lauraflynn.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
The Intercept Briefing dropped its first full video podcast episode today. Host @akelalacy.bsky.social interviews award-winning authors and documentarians @naomiaklein.bsky.social and @astra.bsky.social about their new book, “End Times Fascism." theintercept.com/2026/09/18/n...
theintercept.com
Apocalypse Now: Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor Investigate the End-Timers Alliance
What’s driving religious fundamentalists, tech accelerationists, and anti-immigrant ethnonationalists to bring about the end of the world?
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Akela Lacy @akelalacy.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
NEW POD 🎧: What unites House Speaker Mike Johnson’s quest for red heifers, the AI doom spree & the war on immigrants? It has a name. I interview @naomiaklein.bsky.social & @astra.bsky.social on their new book, End Times Fascism And the Fight for the Living World podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
podcasts.apple.com
Apocalypse Now: Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor Investigate the End-Timers Alliance
Podcast Episode · The Intercept Briefing · September 18 · 47m
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Akela Lacy @akelalacy.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Experts say Mamdani made a political calculation to back off major swings to police reform. They worry that approach will keep the city tab for police misconduct lawsuits high as the total approaches $1 billion since 2018 with little sign of slowing down theintercept.com/2026/09/16/n...
theintercept.com
NYPD Misconduct Payouts Still Soar Under Mamdani — And May Keep Growing
So far, NYPD settlement payouts under Mamdani are holdovers. Without policy changes, they might keep skyrocketing.
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Akela Lacy @akelalacy.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Sen. John Fetterman attended Rupert Murdoch's retreat in Montana July www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/senate/...
washingtonexaminer.com
Fetterman attended Fox News retreat at Rupert Murdoch's Montana ranch
The event, hosted at the Murdoch family ranch, featured a panel on social media that Fetterman headlined with Sen. Katie Britt (R-AL).
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Akela Lacy @akelalacy.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
NEW: New York City is on track to pay upwards of $100 million to settle police misconduct lawsuits for the 4th year in a row. And as Mamdani’s NYPD continues to push “quality of life” policing, experts worry that number will keep rising theintercept.com/2026/09/16/n...
theintercept.com
NYPD Misconduct Payouts Still Soar Under Mamdani — And May Keep Growing
So far, NYPD settlement payouts under Mamdani are holdovers. Without policy changes, they might keep skyrocketing.
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Akela Lacy @akelalacy.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
NEW POD: spoke with @jasonkoebler.bsky.social @404media.co & @sambiddle.com live in LA on the AI doom cycle, how the feds are using your financial data to track you down, and what privatizing the surveillance state really means. Listen podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
podcasts.apple.com
The AI Doomsday Future Is Not Inevitable
Podcast Episode · The Intercept Briefing · September 14 · 50m
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Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
NEW: DHS's Inspector General releases a scathing report about the Everglades detention camp known as "Alligator Alcatraz." The OIG finds that the now-closed camp, violated multiple ICE standards. The OIG also confirms detainees were punished with placement in a metal cage in the Florida heat.🧵
OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Staff also reported that time spent in the small metal enclosures is closely monitored, and
detainees are not locked in, even though we observed locking mechanisms on the enclosures.
Figures 11 and 12. Small Metal Enclosures; Observed January 21, 2026

Underneath is a picture of a metal cage that is 4 feet 3 inches wide by 4 feet 3 inches long, and 7 feet 9 inches high. The cage itself is placed on a tiny spot of fake turf, and then surrounded by another chainlink fence with razor wire on top. The cage is covered by a roof, but it's entirely exposed to the outside otherwise, meaning mosquitos and no air conditioning.
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Nick Turse @nickturse.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
The AI Doomsday Future Is Not Inevitable Do not miss this this enlightening conversation between @theintercept.com's @akelalacy.bsky.social and @sambiddle.com and @404media.co's @jasonkoebler.bsky.social. They're the the best in the biz! theintercept.com/2026/09/14/s...
theintercept.com
The AI Doomsday Future Is Not Inevitable
The Intercept and 404 Media discuss the growing use of private contractors, from Flock to Claude and Grok, to surveil and kill abroad and at home.
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The Intercept @theintercept.com · 04/09/2026
25 years after 9/11, Muslims are still politicians' favorite scapegoat. @rozinaali.bsky.social joined @akelalacy.bsky.social on this week's Intercept Briefing to discuss her new book "Seasons of Fury: Four Families and the Rise of Islamophobia in America"
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Akela Lacy @akelalacy.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
NEW POD 🎧: @rozinaali.bsky.social on Islamophobia then and now — 25 years after 9/11, Ali says Islamophobia has only accelerated. Our conversation on how anti-Muslim rhetoric is shaping this year’s midterms, and why hate picks up every election cycle: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
podcasts.apple.com
25 Years After 9/11, Muslims Are Still Politicians’ Favorite Scapegoat
Podcast Episode · The Intercept Briefing · September 4 · 43m
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Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez @ramirez.house.gov · 01/09/2026
Today, we received notice of another death in ICE detention. We also learned that a 20-year-old Haitian immigrant, Pierre Damas Bel, took his own life in Springfield, Ohio, after the Trump Administration ended TPS for Haitians and fitted him with an ankle monitor.
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lauraflynn.bsky.social @lauraflynn.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
New @theintercept.com Briefing w/ @jesswash.bsky.social @katelynburns.com, arperry01.bsky.social “The right has made such hay out of trans women in women’s sports that they need to keep inventing controversies in order to keep this issue front of mind,” says Burns.
theintercept.com
Right-Wing Trans Hate Comes for the WNBA
Katelyn Burns and Angela Perry on how the right’s attacks on trans people have infiltrated the WNBA, a sports league with no trans women.
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Jessica Washington @jesswash.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
Justin Pearson just won his Tennessee House primary. He joined the Intercept Briefing in May, to discuss his fight for voting rights and Black political power after the Supreme Court hammered the final nail into the voting rights act. theintercept.com/2026/05/08/s...
theintercept.com
The Supreme Court Ends Multiracial Democracy as We Know It
Journalist Ari Berman and Tennessee state Rep. Justin J. Pearson on the right’s “power grab” in the South.
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Jessica Washington @jesswash.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
New Intercept Briefing episode 🎧 out early this week. We discuss Abdul El-Sayed's Senate win in Michigan in the most expensive Democratic primary in history, and what to expect as the pivot to November begins. w/ @akelalacy.bsky.social and @jonahmv.bsky.social theintercept.com/2026/08/05/m...
theintercept.com
The Most Expensive Democratic Senate Primary Has a Winner
Intercept reporters break down Abdul El-Sayed, Donavan McKinney, and William Lawrence’s primary wins in Michigan and Cori Bush’s loss in Missouri.
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Akela Lacy @akelalacy.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
NEW POD 🎧: We’re bringing you an early Intercept Briefing episode breaking down last night’s results. With @jessica_m_wash & @jonahmv podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
podcasts.apple.com
The Most Expensive Democratic Senate Primary Has a Winner
Podcast Episode · The Intercept Briefing · August 5 · 35m
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Akela Lacy @akelalacy.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
When we spoke last week, El-Sayed said his race wasn’t about the right vs the left: “Most people don't walk around asking, ‘Where do I sit on the left right spectrum?’ Most people are walking around asking, ‘What the hell's going to happen if I get sick?’” podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
podcasts.apple.com
Abdul El-Sayed on The Intercept Briefing
Podcast Episode · The Intercept Briefing · July 31 · 48m
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Akela Lacy @akelalacy.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
theintercept.com/2026/08/04/w...
theintercept.com
Wesley Bell Again Defeats Cori Bush — With Plenty of Help From AIPAC
The moderate Democrat Rep. Wesley Bell easily won the rematch in Missouri’s primary against Cori Bush, an outspoken critic of Israel.
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Jessica Washington @jesswash.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
We're going to be recording a special primary episode of the @theintercept.com briefing podcast tonight for Michigan and Missouri! Let us know if you have any burning questions for our politics team @jonahmv.bsky.social and @akelalacy.bsky.social
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Jessica Washington @jesswash.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
Great piece by @akelalacy.bsky.social about Cori Bush's race to reclaim her seat. theintercept.com/2026/08/01/m...
theintercept.com
Cori Bush Has No Regrets
The incumbent Rep. Wesley Bell has AIPAC on his side, but the grassroots energy seems to be behind Cori Bush in the rematch for a House seat.
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Akela Lacy @akelalacy.bsky.social · 01/08/2026
NEW: Cori Bush has no regrets. We spoke ahead of her race to take back her old seat on Tuesday. No, she hasnt spoken to AOC. No, she wouldn’t take back her infrastructure vote. And yes, she is still the same Cori. “They just radicalized me more.” theintercept.com/2026/08/01/m...
theintercept.com
Cori Bush Has No Regrets
The incumbent Rep. Wesley Bell has AIPAC on his side, but the grassroots energy seems to be behind Cori Bush in the rematch for a House seat.
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The Intercept @theintercept.com · 31/07/2026
The Michigan Senate primary is the next biggest test for the direction of the Democratic Party. @abdulelsayed.bsky.social joined @akelalacy.bsky.social to talk about the state of the race: youtube.com/shorts/FRzTC...
youtube.com
Dr. Abdul El-Sayed On AIPAC Money In Politics
YouTube video by The Intercept
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Akela Lacy @akelalacy.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
NEW POD: Abdul El-Sayed tells me about the Trump voters backing him. "I give them a kinda quizzical look," he said. "I ask why, and it's because, 'Hey, I really think you want me to have healthcare.' I'm like, 'I really want you to have healthcare.'" podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
podcasts.apple.com
Can the Left Win in the Midwest? Abdul El-Sayed Says Yes.
Podcast Episode · The Intercept Briefing · July 31 · 48m
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Joseph Cox @josephcox.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
New: I spoke to Samuel Tunick, the man the U.S. is charging with allegedly wiping his GrapheneOS phone before CBP could search it. “I hope people understand that the charges against me are meant to intimidate people against protecting their data and their privacy.” www.404media.co/the-governme...
404media.co
‘The Government Hopes To Set a Precedent’: An Interview With the Man Charged for Allegedly Wiping His GrapheneOS Phone
The U.S. government has charged Samuel Tunick with allegedly typing in a passcode to wipe his phone before officers could search it. “I hope people understand that the charges against me are meant to ...
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Nayna Gupta @naynagupta.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
I joined The Intercept to talk about the increasing violence of mass deportation and the political agenda that has led ICE to maximize arrests and minimize accountability at the expense of public safety, core democratic values & the livelihood of immigrants.
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Akela Lacy @akelalacy.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
NEW POD: Trump built a national police force to go after immigrants. Now, with a budget bigger than most militaries around the world, it’s bringing the war on the southern border home to roost. w/ @naureenshah.bsky.social & @naynagupta.bsky.social podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
podcasts.apple.com
Trump’s National Killer Police Force
Podcast Episode · The Intercept Briefing · July 24 · 44m
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Akela Lacy @akelalacy.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
There were a few articles in recent years about how Shri Thanedar reaped a "windfall" after investing campaign money in crypto. This week he reported more than $630k in investment income losses for the quarter and >$3.9 million in losses for the cycle theintercept.com/2026/07/17/s...
theintercept.com
Two-Thirds of Shri Thanedar's Campaign Cash Came Through AIPAC as He Lost Over $600K
Two-thirds of the Michigan congressman's campaign cash last quarter came from AIPAC bundlers after he invested millions in crypto.
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Akela Lacy @akelalacy.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
NEW: Rep. Shri Thanedar’s campaign reported losing $630k after investing $3.7 million in crypto. Amid those losses, AIPAC donors stepped in and gave Thanedar 2/3 of the money he raised last quarter ahead of a challenge from Dem Socialist Donavan McKinney theintercept.com/2026/07/17/s...
theintercept.com
Two-Thirds of Shri Thanedar's Campaign Cash Came Through AIPAC as He Lost Over $600K
Two-thirds of the Michigan congressman's campaign cash last quarter came from AIPAC bundlers after he invested millions in crypto.
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Akela Lacy @akelalacy.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
NEW: Billionaire Republican megadonor Harlan Crow maxed out a donation to Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., in June theintercept.com/2026/07/15/h...
theintercept.com
Harlan Crow Maxed Out Campaign Donations to John Fetterman
The Republican megadonor had come under scrutiny for his ties to Clarence Thomas, while the senator drew ire for supporting Israel.
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Akela Lacy @akelalacy.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
NEW: Billionaire Republican megadonor Harlan Crow maxed out a donation to Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., in June theintercept.com/2026/07/15/h...
theintercept.com
Harlan Crow Maxed Out Campaign Donations to John Fetterman
The Republican megadonor had come under scrutiny for his ties to Clarence Thomas, while the senator drew ire for supporting Israel.
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Prem Thakker ツ @premthakker.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
New: After voting to cut U.S. military aid to Israel, NY Rep. Pat Ryan — who serves in a competitive district — says he does not expect nor want AIPAC's support in future elections, and says he is "returning" their funds
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Akela Lacy @akelalacy.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
NEW: three super PACs with ties to the pro-Israel lobby are spending on a competitive race in Arizona where the Democratic machine has consolidated around a candidate who was a Republican until 2018 theintercept.com/2026/07/15/a...
theintercept.com
Democrats Are Desperate to Flip an Arizona House Seat. They’re Rallying Around a Former Republican.
Three of the super PACs spending in Arizona have their eyes on different candidates — but they all have ties to AIPAC.
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NYCLU @nyclu.org · 14/07/2026
Read our new report w/ @legaldefensefund.bsky.social on New York's long history of discriminatory policies – from slavery and segregation to voting laws and criminalization – that have exploited and excluded Black New Yorkers and created a vast racial wealth gap. We're calling for reparations now.
nyclu.org
The Other New York: The Legacy of Slavery and the Case for Reparations Now - NYCLU
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Rebecca Nagle @rebeccanagle.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
I joined @theintercept.com to talk more about my new podcast FIRST AMERICA. We got into the Declaration's final grievance, calling Native people "merciless Indian savages,” and why so many historians read the document as ordered least to most important: theintercept.com/2026/07/11/a...
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Akela Lacy @akelalacy.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
Nirav Shah has pushed back on criticism that he's pivoted left after entering the race to replace Graham Platner in Maine. “Critics who are suggesting that this is a newfound policy position, they are putting politics over the facts,” he told me. theintercept.com/2026/07/10/m...
theintercept.com
Maine Senate Candidates Claim They’re Just Like Platner — But Entirely Different
Candidates are desperately trying to appeal to Graham Platner’s base. But they’re keeping Platner himself at arm’s length.
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Akela Lacy @akelalacy.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
NEW: DSA members circulated a letter calling on candidates & elected officials to refuse to work w/ Morris Katz & Fight Agency after Platner’s campaign. Progressive strategists I talked to pushed back, pointing to the rehabbing of other Dem consultants theintercept.com/2026/07/10/d...
theintercept.com
DSA Members Urge Campaigns to Ditch Platner Consultant Who Advised Mamdani
DSA members penned a letter urging candidates to ditch Graham Platner campaign consultant Morris Katz, who advised Zohran Mamdani.
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Akela Lacy @akelalacy.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
i'm on 1A @npr.org talking about democratic socialism! will be joined by @melatkirosco.bsky.social later in the hour t.co/SADeWvJnNO
t.co
https://wamu.org/show/1a/
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Akela Lacy @akelalacy.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
Platner suspends his campaign x.com/grahamformai...
x.com
Graham Platner for Senate (@grahamformaine) on X
My name might be on the ballot right now, but that ballot line belongs to the people of Maine.
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Akela Lacy @akelalacy.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
In a statement, a DSCC spox slammed Platner's campaign for claiming its staff are pushing a closed-door process in Maine: "This is false." Maine Democrats have referenced an "open" or "public" process without saying publicly what that would entail. theintercept.com/2026/07/08/g...
theintercept.com
“Hobbled Out of the Gate”: Platner Allegations Set Off Scramble to Find a New Maine Senate Nominee
Amid Graham Platner’s swift downfall, most paths to selecting a replacement Democratic Senate nominee look poisoned.
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Akela Lacy @akelalacy.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
an anonymous google doc making the case for Troy Jackson circulated in progressive group chats this AM, I'm told, hitting Platner for having "attempted to sell himself as the populist solution." theintercept.com/2026/07/08/g...
theintercept.com
“Hobbled Out of the Gate”: Platner Allegations Set Off Scramble to Find a New Maine Senate Nominee
Amid Graham Platner’s swift downfall, most paths to selecting a replacement Democratic Senate nominee look poisoned.
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The Intercept @theintercept.com · 08/07/2026
Full episode available here: theintercept.com/2026/07/07/g...
theintercept.com
The People Who Stood By Graham Platner — Until He Was Accused of Rape
Democratic strategist Adam Carlson backed Platner through all his other scandals. He says he shares the blame – but people are learning the wrong lessons.
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