Sign in

Dan Vock

@danvock.bsky.social
2.1K followers 1.3K following 14K posts

Freelance reporter. Illinoisan in D.C. Helping you understand how government works—or doesn’t. I RT Illinois news and politicians a lot. Reach me at dcvock@gmail.com Subscribe to my newsletter danvock.substack.com

PostsRepliesMedia
Reposted by Dan Vock
Yonette Joseph @sugarcane99.bsky.social · 53m
No criminal laws were broken, Federal Reserve watchdog finds in probe of renovation costs that Trump had criticized Powell over www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
washingtonpost.com
Watchdog finds Fed mishandled renovations that Trump tried to oust Powell over
The Fed’s watchdog found cost overruns but no evidence of criminal violations after the Justice Department dropped an investigation into the renovations earlier this year.
054
Reposted by Dan Vock
Karen Benjamin Guzzo @karenguzzo.bsky.social · 6h
It’s, um…interesting that the documentation req’d by disadvantaged folks to access social safety net programs - in the interest of “accountability” to ensure no improper use - is not req’d by the very politicians who rail about the need to be responsible with taxpayer dollars.
413143
Reposted by Dan Vock
Mark Copelovitch @mcopelov.bsky.social · 50m
"Could the university have generated more value by reallocating the state budget/tuition/non-donor component of $8-10 million to literally any research or instructional program on campus?" is a question that has only one answer, my man. You're really not gonna like what that answer is.
0145
Reposted by Dan Vock
The Washington Sun Metro @washsunmetro.bsky.social · 1h
President Trump directed federal agencies to develop a plan to reduce D.C.’s mosquito population by 90% and tick population by 50% before 2028. www.washingtonsun.com/trump-mosquit…
washingtonsun.com
Trump Signs Order to Significantly Reduce Mosquitoes and Ticks in D.C.
Officials have two months to develop a plan to reduce the District’s mosquito population by 90% and tick population by 50% before 2028.
022
Reposted by Dan Vock
Gabriel Malor @gabrielmalor.bsky.social · 2h
DOJ's complaint about at least seven fed. judges in Minnesota for talking to the NYTimes about the Trump administration's mismanagement of immigration enforcement complains of these ten truthful statements on the ground that some immigration cases are pending appeal. www.justice.gov/sites/defaul...
A list of ten statements the judges made in this NYTimes article: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/17/us/politics/minnesota-judge-trump-immigration.html
614453
Reposted by Dan Vock
Jesse Felder @jessefelder.com · 1h
‘Almost half of those polled expect diesel prices will take more than four quarters to return to 2025 levels, according to the anonymous survey of 100 oil and gas companies.’ www.ft.com/content/0d74...
ft.com
US oil industry warns diesel prices will not return to normal for a year
Dallas Fed survey finds energy executives believe high cost of fuel will persist
064
Reposted by Dan Vock
Emily L. Hauser (she/her) ❌👑 @emilylhauser.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
EARLY VOTING IS NOW OPEN IN: -ILLINOIS -MINNESOTA -VERMONT -VIRGINIA Spreadsheet with dates & a link to more information ⬇️
docs.google.com
Early / In-person Absentee Voting Dates
45138
Reposted by Dan Vock
Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · 5h
Yesterday @politico.com was out with a story giving some context into the weird situation with TPS for El Salvador, which everyone expected to be terminated but is now in an unprecedented and indefinite limbo. Surprisingly, it was the White House that intervened. www.politico.com/news/2026/09...
politico.com
White House pumped brakes on TPS termination for 200,000 Salvadorans
DHS was set to end temporary protected status for El Salvador before the White House stepped in.
715255
Reposted by Dan Vock
Sanho Tree @sanho.bsky.social · 13h
Google and Apple immediately update their maps.
352285512
Reposted by Dan Vock
Danny Dougherty @dannydougherty.bsky.social · 5h
This is a great rundown on how "Choosin' Texas" chose us (spoilers: It's a story about the monoculture, event-driven media and consumer identity) www.billboard.com/music/chart-... (h/t @danvock.bsky.social)
billboard.com
How Has Ella Langley’s ‘Choosin’ Texas’ Spent 24 Weeks Atop the Hot 100 — And Why Are People So Shocked By It?
Ella Langley's "Choosin' Texas" has topped the Billbaord Hot 100 for 24 weeks, making history and causing backlash. Here's why all of it is happening.
011
Reposted by Dan Vock
The Atlantic @theatlantic.com · 6h
Exclusive: John Fetterman has been working with GOP fundraising consultants—and paying a hefty commission, @michaelscherer.bsky.social and @mviser.bsky.social report. 📸: Andrew Harnik / Getty
329153
Dan Vock @danvock.bsky.social · 6h
That would seem like one of those “major questions” that the Supreme Court says only Congress can address
100
Reposted by Dan Vock
The New Yorker @newyorker.com · 9h
Leaders of cities around the world are standing up for democracy, even if the leaders of their countries are not. www.newyorker.com/news/global-...
newyorker.com
The Mayors Defending Democracy
Leaders of cities around the world are standing up for democracy, even if the leaders of their countries are not.
39218
Dan Vock @danvock.bsky.social · 8h
It is surprising to me how many stories about the supposed dangers of e-bikes (or really, e-motos) are based on people in cars hitting cyclists
0256
Reposted by Dan Vock
Timothy McBride @mcbridetd.bsky.social · 10h
Trump Administration Prepares to Ask Tax Filers if They Are U.S. Citizens www.nytimes.com/2026/09/29/b...
nytimes.com
Trump Administration Prepares to Ask Tax Filers if They Are U.S. Citizens
The new question, included on a draft version of the primary tax form, comes as part of an anti-immigrant turn at an agency that long prioritized tax administration.
063
Reposted by Dan Vock
Timothy McBride @mcbridetd.bsky.social · 10h
Pennsylvania Measles Outbreak Grows to Nearly 900 Cases www.nytimes.com/2026/09/27/u...
nytimes.com
Pennsylvania Measles Outbreak Grows to Nearly 900 Cases
State health officials said 55 new cases had been reported since Wednesday. In all, 890 measles cases have been reported across 39 counties so far this year.
918397
Dan Vock @danvock.bsky.social · 14h
The Cubs needed a papal blessing too
130
Reposted by Dan Vock
Eric Columbus @ericcolumbus.bsky.social · 18h
I know this will shock everyone but Eric Schmitt is still wrong — there were *six* NBA games that night, not one. Hawks/Hawkeyes confusion remains the likely explanation. www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/?m...
Acyn &
@Acyn
X.com
Schmitt: We had information Jack Smith was at a basketball game. There was only one NBA game that night which is why I asked him if he was in Atlanta.
That's what these hearings are for. You ask questions, you get answers. Smith has perjured himself before, but... maybe he's a Caitlin Clark fan. We'll accept that.x.com/Acyn/status/21...
BREAKING NEWS
GOR SENATOR'S PERJURY CLAIM AGAINST SMITH FAILS IN HAWKS-HAWKEYES MOUP
Acyn
ROPIC CEO DARIO AMODEL, WHO MET PRITELY WITH TRUMP.F
8:23 PM • 9/29/26 • 23K Views
LIVE
CNN
1351399255
Reposted by Dan Vock
Katelyn Burns @katelynburns.com · 16h
Schmitt: Who knew jack Smith was a Caitlin Clark fan? We had information he was at a basketball game. There was only one NBA game that night which is why I asked him if he was in Atlanta. He answered the question. That's what these hearings are for. You ask questions, you get answers. Smith has perjured himself before, but he says he's at the game. Maybe he's a Caitlin Clark fan. We'll accept that.
1328813
Reposted by Dan Vock
Katelyn Burns @katelynburns.com · 17h
No one on his staff even once thought to check if there were any women's games being played that night. These are the people calling themselves defenders of women's sports.
71197122
Reposted by Dan Vock
David M. Perry @lollardfish.bsky.social · 16h
I found this extremely informative. Especially the part about the ways in which shrinking radio playlists create stability for songs that top the charts.
5524
Dan Vock @danvock.bsky.social · 15h
Good job @markmaxwelltv.bsky.social
131
Reposted by Dan Vock
Christopher Webb @cwebbonline.com · 17h
This is priceless. Check out how local news is reporting on Sen Eric Schmidt’s clown-show grilling of Jack Smith. They found Jack Smith at the game… “Top corner, section 109, row 1. In fact, that seat doesn’t even exist in Atlanta.”
787182395765
Reposted by Dan Vock
Michael Hawthorne @scribeguy.bsky.social · 16h
"Since Trump returned to office, an array of automotive, environmental, trade and immigration policies has undermined factory projects and employment in Lordstown and across America’s heartland," @reuters.com investigation finds.
reuters.com
How Trump’s war on EVs derailed America’s auto-factory revival
Since Trump returned to office, an array of automotive, environmental, trade and immigration policies has undermined auto-factory projects and employment across America’s heartland.
021
Dan Vock @danvock.bsky.social · 16h
I didn’t know her well, but I always appreciated Jodie’s work and wisdom when I worked at the Pew Research Center (which also included Stateline at the time) wapo.st/4rE8mi4
wapo.st
Jodie Allen, Washington Post editor who made the arcane accessible, dies at 88
Before going into journalism, she spent decades analyzing public policy. She edited Outlook, The Post’s commentary section, and later joined Slate.
000
Dan Vock @danvock.bsky.social · 17h
Welp
110
Reposted by Dan Vock
Bloomberg News @bloomberg.com · 18h
A Trump-backed nuclear plant in Metropolis, Illinois settles lawsuits alleging the facility spewed radioactive material, caused illness and contaminated properties across the city.
bloom.bg
Trump-Backed Nuclear Plant Settles Cancer, Contamination Lawsuits
Residents and government officials in Metropolis, Illinois blamed illnesses and property damage on radioactive material coming from the Atomic Age facility.
63737
Reposted by Dan Vock
Tina Vasquez @tinavasquez.bsky.social · 19h
NEW: H-2A worker Carlos Vargas Moreno experienced a catastrophic heat stroke when his employer, Florida Orange Gold, subjected him to unsafe working conditions. The same company was cited two years prior for the heat-related death of H-2A worker Carmen Sebastian Hernandez Mosqueda.
prismreports.org
Despite farmworker death and another disabled by heat stroke, employer keeps sending people to fields
Florida Orange Gold has exposed workers on H-2A visas to extreme heat, but continues to bring hundreds of migrants to North Carolina
2231142
Reposted by Dan Vock
Andy Sternberg @andysternberg.bsky.social · 20h
Why play on grass when there’s Super Turf™️
011
Dan Vock @danvock.bsky.social · 21h
Words have meanings
Artificial : made, produced, or done by humans especially to seem like something natural :
220
Reposted by Dan Vock
Ariana Figueroa @arianalfigueroa.bsky.social · 21h
Trump TV ads paid for with $20M in Homeland Security funds, Dems find Story by @jonshorman.bsky.social www.newsfromthestates.com/article/trum...
newsfromthestates.com
Trump TV ads paid for with $20M in Homeland Security funds, Dems find
President Donald Trump is tapping $20 million in Homeland Security funding to pay for TV ads that heavily feature him ahead of the midterm elections, Democrats said Tuesday as the promos critics call ...
02617
Reposted by Dan Vock
Nathan @never-say-die.bsky.social · 21h
Bro, the Pope sent the White Sox letter, they’re going to the World Series.
Letter: 

To Jerry Reinsdorf
Chairman of the Chicago White Sox
was pleased to receive the kind letter that you sent following the game that took place at Rate Field on August 11, 2026. I am most grateful for this thoughtful gesture.
As I have noted,
"sport can truly become a school of life,
where all can learn that abundance does not come from victory at any cost, but from sharing, from respecting others and from the joy of walking together" (Letter Life in Abundance, 6 February
2026).
In this spirit, it is my hope that the White Sox will
continue to foster
bonds of friendship
and solidarity among
people, and thus bear hopeful witness to the possibility of living and working together in peace.
With
these sentiments, I willingly invoke the Almighty's
abundant blessings upon you and your loved ones.
From the Vatican, 9 September 2026
Pope Leo XIV
The Pope wearing a Chicago White Sox hat
391513181
Reposted by Dan Vock
Gillian Brockell @gillianbrockell.com · 23h
SCOTUS’s shadow docket strikes again. Third-country removals are back on, using a policy that two federal courts have now ruled is unlawful.
CORDER LIST: 609 U.S.)
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2026
26-426
(26A406)
CERTIORARI GRANTED
DEPT. OF HOMELAND SEC., ET AL. V. D.V.D., ET AL.
The application for stay presented to Justice Jackson and
by her referred to the Court is granted. The February 25, 2026 order and judgment of the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, case No. 1:25-cv-10676, are stayed.
The application is also treated as a petition for a writ of certiorari, and the petition is granted. The parties are directed to brief and argue the following questions: (1) Whether the district court had jurisdiction over Respondents' claims.
(2) Whether the
district court had
authority to enter classwide
declaratory
relief
and APA vacatur under 8 U. S. C. §1252 (f) (1).
(3) Whether the Government's Guidance on third-country removals
is unlawful under 8 U. S. C. §1231(b), the Due Process Clause, or
FARRA/CAT and its
implementing regulations. (4) Such other
questions that the Government determines are appropriate for the
proper disposition of the case. The Clerk is directed to
establish a briefing schedule that will allow the case to be
argued in the December 2026 argument session. The stay shall
terminate upon the sending down of the judgment of this Court.
Justice Sotomayor, Justice Kagan, and Justice Jackson would
deny the application for stay.
10389196
Reposted by Dan Vock
Kyle Cheney @kyledcheney.bsky.social · 23h
NEW: We launched this tracker in May, when ICE's detentions had been rejected about 10,000 times by federal courts. It's doubled in less than five months. See and sort the latest numbers, plus read the rulings. www.politico.com/news/2026/05...
4336152
Reposted by Dan Vock
unraveled @unraveledpress.com · 29/09/2026
Chicago's city council empowered COPA last March to investigate alleged collaboration between CPD and ICE. Since then, people have filed at least 7 reports with COPA over ICE using local police facilities, including the 25th District station that connects to a Cook County courthouse.
110123
Reposted by Dan Vock
unraveled @unraveledpress.com · 29/09/2026
After elected officials joined community members in protest over the 17th District incidents, ICE still returned. A witness sent us a photo they captured of masked agents yet again using police property for their operations on Sept 10 in Logan Square:
a black chevy tahoe with its door open behind a fence. a man in a baseball cap and a hoodie walks beside it to another black SUV
18323
Reposted by Dan Vock
unraveled @unraveledpress.com · 29/09/2026
Witnesses then again recorded ICE agents in 17th District parking lots on Sept 2 and 3. According to a report to Chicago's Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA) we obtained, the family of one detained man was able to track his phone to the 17th District lot on Sept 3:
chicago.suntimes.com
Northwest Side residents blast use of Chicago police lot for ICE operations
At an Albany Park Police District council meeting Saturday, residents called on the Chicago Police Department to “end the collaboration” with federal immigration agents.
210130
Reposted by Dan Vock
unraveled @unraveledpress.com · 29/09/2026
Videos provided by witnesses show ICE agents transferring immigrant detainees between cars in Chicago police parking lots at least twice this summer: on July 5 in the 11th District, and on Aug 28 in the 25th District. The Aug 28 transfer was also captured by CPD's own surveillance camera:
youtube.com
ICE agents transfer detainee between vehicles in CPD's 25th District parking lot on August 28, 2026
YouTube video by unraveled
29426
Reposted by Dan Vock
unraveled @unraveledpress.com · 29/09/2026
In one violent incident on August 1, immigration agents in CPD's 25th District station lot boxed in an ICE observer, ripped her from her car and moved her to one of their SUVs to detain her. We asked for security footage from that morning. It shows ICE agents in full view of local police:
youtube.com
ICE agents box in and detain observer in CPD's 25th District parking lot on August 1, 2026
YouTube video by unraveled
424795
Reposted by Dan Vock
unraveled @unraveledpress.com · 29/09/2026
New: We obtained witness videos and surveillance footage showing ICE parking their cars, arresting an observer, and transferring detainees in parking lots across 4 of Chicago's police districts. Local officials have tried banning ICE from city property. But incidents in the lots keep stacking up:
unraveledpress.com
In plain sight: a year of ICE using Chicago police parking lots for its operations
Videos and witness testimony show immigration agents continue using Chicago police station parking lots despite a ban on their access to city property. Records obtained from the Civilian Office of Pol...
8639350
Reposted by Dan Vock
Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 23h
Trump starts twitching in anger when a reporter tries to ask him about ICE
2381164260
Reposted by Dan Vock
Minnesota Star Tribune @startribune.com · 23h
The Supreme Court has let the Trump administration continue swiftly deporting people to countries other than their own for now, while the justices consider whether the policy is legal.
bit.ly
Supreme Court lets quick deportations to third countries resume for now while it weighs Trump policy
The Supreme Court on Tuesday let President Donald Trump's administration continue swiftly deporting people to countries other than their own for now, while the justices consider whether the policy is legal.
102210
Reposted by Dan Vock
Jack Jenkins @jackjenkins.me · 29/09/2026
Like I said: Lots of folks ripped on Obama recently for saying Democrats need to "tell a moral and ethical story about how we live together in this moment." Whether or not that approach will *work* is one question, but it's absolutely a thing that is *happening* out there on the trail.
0323
Reposted by Dan Vock
Clara Jeffery @clarajeffery.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
To understand why there could be a sea change in Iowa, you should read @timothypmurphy.bsky.social's great profile of Rob Sand and how a Mr. Rogers approach to civic engagement is taking off: www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
motherjones.com
Rob Sand says he isn’t trying to turn Iowa blue. It just might happen anyway.
In a midterms wave fueled by resistance and revenge, the Democratic candidate for governor is singing a different tune.
46018
Reposted by Dan Vock
E.J. Fagan @ejfagan.com · 29/09/2026
Dems need to win PA by around 9 points to flip its Senate (~D+11 nationally). In that situation, they likely also take the state legislatures of WI, MI, AZ and NV Gov. Dems would have the votes to push the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact over the line and eliminate the Electoral College.
1323638
Reposted by Dan Vock
Fr Chase 🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁 @kalanthropos.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
205132373303
Reposted by Dan Vock
Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 29/09/2026
Jack Smith: "History teaches that the rule of law is rarely destroyed all at once. It's often weakened by attacks on the institutions and the public servants sworn to uphold it. Since January 2025, we have witnessed precisely such an effort."
683274669365
Reposted by Dan Vock
David DeWitt @daviddewitt.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
The challenges and dire threats surrounding the unchecked growth of artificial intelligence appear unlikely to move Congress or President Donald Trump to act as the U.S. Senate enters its last week before the midterms. ohiocapitaljournal.com/2026/09/29/r...
ohiocapitaljournal.com
‘Dumbfounds us all.’ Congress struggles with policies rippling from AI development. • Ohio Capital Journal
The challenges and dire threats surrounding the unchecked growth of artificial intelligence appear unlikely to move Congress or President Donald Trump to act as the U.S. Senate enters its last week…
002
Reposted by Dan Vock
emptywheel @emptywheel.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Jack Smith: Donald Trump preyed on party loyalty and fear. One of the reasons he [failed] is bc Republicans stood up. I personally find it hard to understand how our investigation could be viewed as partisan when our strongest witnesses were Republicans. [Names Rusty Bowers and Mike Pence.]
161956603
Reposted by Dan Vock
Allison Gill @muellershewrote.com · 29/09/2026
The Trump regime's new AI assistant confirmed Donald is a convicted felon, Biden won the 2020 election, and Trump is in the Epstein files before it stopped answering political questions.
782266829