iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by dlaur

McSweeney's @mcsweeneys.net · 26/01/2026

"If you witnessed something disturbing, please understand that witnessing is not evidence. Evidence is what exists after it has been reviewed by the people who require it not to exist."

buff.ly

A Message from Your Federal Overlords

“Even as videos emerged that contradicted the government’s account, the Trump administration was in a race to control the narrative around the kill...

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Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · 25/01/2026

NEW: Another declaration you have to read! Alex Pretti was shot near the apartment of a doctor, who saw the shooting occur and rushed to provide emergency aid as he lay dying on the street. They describe what they saw: "The victim had at least three bullet holes in his back."

declare as follows:
1. 1 am a 29-year-old resident of the in Minneapolis, Minnesota. I have lived in Minneapolis since 2024, when I moved to the city to begin my medical residency. I am a licensed pediatrician, and I have been practicing pediatric medicine in the city since I moved here.
2. On January 24, 2026, at approximately 9:00 am CST, I was awoken by the sound of cars honking and whistles blowing. Shortly after I awoke, I heard screaming from outside my window. I ICE agents and civilians yelling at each other. saw several
3. One civilian was standing in front of a parked car on the side of the road.
I saw him yelling at the ICE agents, but I did not see him attack the agents or brandish a weapon of any kind.
4. Suddenly, an ICE agent shoved him to the ground. My view of the altercation was partially obstructed, but after a few seconds, I saw at least four ICE agents point guns at the man. I then saw the agents shoot the man at least six or seven times.
5. Initially, I was stunned. From what I could see from my apartment, there was absolutely no need for any violence, let alone lethal force by multiple officers. I immediately put on my boots and coat, ran outside, and approached ICE agents who were near the victim.

6. The scene was chaotic. Many civilians were screaming and honking. Over the noise, I informed the ICE agents that I am a physician, and I asked to assess the victim.
7. At first, the ICE agents wouldn't let me through. They repeatedly asked me for my physician's license, which I obviously didn't have. But none of the ICE agents who were near the victim were performing CPR, and I could tell that the victim was in critical condition. I insisted that the agents let me assess him. Normally, I would not have been so persistent, but as a physician, I felt a professional and moral obligation to help this man, especially since none of the agents were helping him.
8. Finally, one agent agreed to let me assess the victim. He patted me down to "make sure I didn't have a weapon" and then let me approach the victim.
9. As I approached, I saw that the victim was lying on his side and was surrounded by several ICE agents. I was confused as to why the victim was on his side, because that is not standard practice when a victim has been shot. Checking for a pulse and administering CPR is standard practice. Instead of doing either of those things, the ICE agents appeared to be counting his bullet wounds.
10.I asked the ICE agents if the victim had a pulse, and they said they did not know. I then asked the agents to make space so I could assess the victim.

CASE 0:25-cv-04669-KMM-DTS
Doc. 109
Filed 01/24/26
Page 4 of 6
11. The victim had at least three bullet wounds in his back. I asked the ICE agents to turn the victim from his side to his back. From that position, I saw an additional gunshot wound on the victim's upper left chest and another possible gunshot wound on his neck.
12. I checked for a pulse, but I did not feel one. I immediately began CPR. Shortly after I started compressions, EMS personnel arrived and took over.
13.I remained at the scene for about five more minutes, but protesters began to gather and the situation seemed to be escalating, so I left and returned to my apartment.
14. When I returned to my apartment, I was extremely distraught. I was sobbing and shaking uncontrollably. Eventually, I called my sister, who lives in a nearby suburb. I called her for comfort and because I did not feel safe in my apartment; I wanted to see if I could stay with her for the day and maybe even a few days.
15.I also sought advice from a friend who works for the City of Minneapolis.
He recommended that I shelter in place because the situation outside my apartment was so dangerous. I was going to follow his advice, but then ICE agents deployed tear gas on the crowd that had gathered below, and the tear gas began seeping into my apartment.

16. At that point, I did not feel like I could stay in my apartment any longer. I packed an overnight bag, took the elevator down to the parking garage, and drove about six blocks to a friend's house. I was still crying and shaking at this point, and I was barely able to speak. I drove to my friend's house because it was close, and I wanted time to collect myself before driving 30 minutes to my sister's house.
17.I am devastated by the killing of a Minnesotan by multiple federal immigration agents. From what I could tell, the victim was not actively threatening ICE agents or the public he was just yelling at the agents because he objected to ICE's presence in our city. A person should not be shot and killed for lawfully expressing their opinions.
18.I am not sure when I will return to my apartment. I do not feel safe in my city. In less than one month, ICE agents have shot and killed two people for protesting and observing their actions. I worry that I or someone I love will be shot and killed for voicing their displeasure and being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
I declare under penalty of perjury that everything I have stated in this document is true and correct.

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Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · 25/01/2026

You have to read this. Firsthand affidavit from one of the women who was there and recording the video. She talks about how Alex Pretti was directing traffic when she arrived. She watched him be killed in front of her. She's afraid to go home, worried she'll be arrested.

1. I am a resident of the Whittier neighborhood of Minneapolis, Minnesota. I am over 18 years of age. I am a children's entertainer who specializes in face painting.
2. On Saturday, January 24, 2026, at about 8:50 am, I was getting ready to go to work when I heard whistles outside. I knew the whistles meant that ICE agents were in the area, so I decided to check it out on my way to work. I've been involved in observing in my community because it is so important to document what ICE is doing to my neighbors. Connecting to your local community and knowing who your neighbors are is something I profoundly value.
3. I drove to Nicollet Ave. and 26th where I could hear the whistles coming from. I turned south onto Nicollet. There were already several ICE agents there and they'd set up a sort of vehicle convoy on Nicollet and 28th. There were also about 15 observers there, recording and observing ICE.
4. I saw ICE agents surrounding cars and punching car windows. I also saw them stopping vehicles further down Nicollet, so I backed up because I didn't feel safe continuing on.
5. I noticed a man sort of acting to help traffic move more smoothly. He helped me find a place to park. I got out with my whistle and my camera. I went over to him and said something like, "I'm going to film and use my whistle."
6. It seemed like most ICE activity was happening a little farther down the street from us, near 27th. Someone was being thrown to the ground.

7. I started recording. There was an agent by a car across the street. Two observers were a few feet away from the agent, blowing their whistles. One was wearing a backpack.
8. I and the man who was observing and helping direct traffic were standing in the street. There was a phone in the man's hand recording a video.
9. An agent approached and asked us to back up, so I moved slowly back onto the sidewalk.
10. The man stayed in the street, filming as the other observers I mentioned earlier were being forced backward by another ICE agent threatening them with pepper spray. The man went closer to support them as they got threatened, just with his camera out. I didn't see him reach for or hold a gun.
11. Then the ICE agent shoved one of the other observers to the ground. Then he started pepper spraying all three of them directly in the face and all over. The man with the phone put his hands above his head and the agent sprayed him again and pushed him.
12. Then the man tried to help up the woman the ICE agent had shoved to the ground. The ICE agents just kept spraying. More agents came over and grabbed the man who was still trying to help the woman get up. All three of the observers looked to have been badly affected by the pepper spray. I could feel the pepper spray in my eyes.

13. The agents pulled the man on the ground. I didn't see him touch any of them-he wasn't even turned toward them. It didn't look like he was trying to resist, just trying to help the woman up. I didn't see him with a gun. They threw him to the ground. Four or five agents had him on the ground and they just started shooting him. They shot him so many times.
14.1 don't know why they shot him. He was only helping. I was five feet from him and they just shot him.
15. The video I recorded of what happened accurately depicts the events leading up to the agents shooting him and several minutes afterwards. The video is attached as Exhibit 1.
16. I have read the statement from DHS about what happened and it is wrong. The man did not approach the agents with a gun. He approached them with a camera. He was just trying to help a woman get up and they took him to the ground.
17. I feel afraid. Only hours have passed since they shot a man right in front me and I don't feel like I can go home because I heard agents were looking for me. I don't know what the agents will do when they find me. I do know that they're not telling the truth about what happened. I've heard that other witnesses might have been arrested and taken to the Whipple Building.
18. I am disgusted and gutted at how they are treating my neighbors and my state. I keep alternating between crying and feeling determined it is important to remember the value of documenting injustice. We show up for the people who need us to bear

witness, because it can't just be one group of people bearing the brunt of their tyranny. This is a struggle to protect our freedom and democracy, those things are on the line. He lost his life for those values.
I declare under penalty of perjury that everything I have stated in this document is true and correct.

Dated and signed on Jan 24, 2026 in Hennepin County, State of Minnesota.

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Chris Geidner @chrisgeidner.bsky.social · 24/01/2026

Watching this in particular. The effort to take witnesses to Whipple, as well as the police refusing to leave the scene, are key.

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dlaur @dlaur.bsky.social · 24/01/2026

ICE just shot someone in Minneapolis. Video posted at Reddit's r/Minneapolis forum. I can't figure out how to link. Looks like point blank while they were restraining him.

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Micheal Foley in Saint Paul @foleymo.bsky.social · 23/01/2026

We didn’t go to the big Ice Out of MN march in Minneapolis today, but we did bundle up and participate in a small neighborhood demonstration just a few blocks from our house in Saint Paul. #iceout #stpaulmn #mn #minnesota

Man at a protest all bundled up in extreme winter gear

Woman at a protest all bundled up in extreme winter gear

People lined up along a city street wearing extreme winter gear and holding protest signs

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Marisa Kabas @marisakabas.bsky.social · 19/01/2026

ICE ended up returning the man, Saly, after realizing he’s a fucking US citizen with no criminal record, per his sister-in-law. These fucking animals.

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Tina Smith @smith.senate.gov · 07/01/2026

Homeland Security’s description of what happened and the narrative they’re pushing clearly doesn’t match up with the videos we’re all seeing. They’re asking people not to believe what we can all see with our own eyes. I’ve been in contact with DHS demanding more information.

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Daniel Suitor @danielsuitor.com · 07/01/2026

This is the video.

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Daniel Suitor @danielsuitor.com · 07/01/2026

ICE reportedly shot someone at Portland and 33/34. Mspt saying bullets, could be less lethal 20+ agents on site, MPD and ambulances responding. Helicopters overhead

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Marisa Kabas @marisakabas.bsky.social · 03/01/2026

marco rubio says cuba is run by "incompetent, senile men" WHILE STANDING IN FRONT OF AN INCOMPETENT, SENILE MAN

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dlaur @dlaur.bsky.social · 11/09/2025

A whole lot of people out there have never even heard of Charlie Kirk.

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Ben Collins @bencollins.bsky.social · 17/06/2025

Mr. Antiwar President has us inches away from a Civil War at home and a nuclear war abroad in defense of an ally that is starting random hot regional wars to detract from its ongoing genocide. I’m sure all of this will just naturally cool off.

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dlaur @dlaur.bsky.social · 14/06/2025

Real thought of which I'm not proud: "Shit's so bad I forgot to Wordle."

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derek guy @dieworkwear.bsky.social · 11/06/2025

Not true. I see you're a luxury watch dealer. I'm also interested in watches. Let me show you how free and easy migration has allowed you to earn a living. 🧵

Corey Wiley on Twitter writes: "You don’t get it.
Foundational immigration law is morally just and has been established over millennia. Disrespecting these rules and ideals is very offensive to folks who highly value civilized society"

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Karly Kingsley @karlykingsley.bsky.social · 10/06/2025

This isn’t about protests. It’s about power. ICE is terrorizing communities. Prices are crushing families. The system’s cracking and Trump knows it. That’s why he’s sending in Marines. Not to stop violence, but to stop visibility. Stay strong, LA.

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dlaur @dlaur.bsky.social · 17/05/2025

Though it's not my usual cup of tea, ended up enjoying the Netflix "Four Seasons" series -- especially the looming presence and eventual deployment of Chekhov's guitar.

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dlaur @dlaur.bsky.social · 07/05/2025

The most recent episode of The Rehearsal is astonishing in so many ways, but the small moment I keep thinking about is when he casually but with a serious tone referred to the "cat actor" who was standing in for the original , pre-cloned little dog's actual cat companion. It cracked me up so bad.

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NY Times Pitchbot @nytpitchbot.bsky.social · 09/04/2025

Whether it’s Republicans causing chaos with random arrests and deportations, Republicans causing chaos with mass layoffs, or Republicans causing chaos with whiplash tariffs, voters are exhausted by chaos from both parties.

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Brian J. Karem @briankarem.bsky.social · 01/04/2025

Watch this live. It is history. www.google.com/gasearch?q=b...

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Brian Tyler Cohen @briantylercohen.bsky.social · 01/04/2025

Cory Booker is doing something incredible on the Senate floor. If you're not watching, you need to watch: www.youtube.com/live/Ej6locU...

youtube.com

LIVE: Cory Booker goes for floor speech RECORD

YouTube video by Brian Tyler Cohen

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John Elwood @johnpelwood.bsky.social · 22/03/2025

As an alum of the Justice Department unit that reviews EOs for form & legality--the Office of Legal Counsel--I've been watching the EOs & memoranda as they came out. What struck me most is the centralization of control and access. Things are happening so quickly that many haven't realized it yet.1/x

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Molly Knight @mollyknight.bsky.social · 13/03/2025

One small thing you can do to make the world a kinder place is take 10 seconds to use alt text to describe the photos and screenshots you post on here so our visually impaired friends can follow along. It also helps give context for jokes. Please and thank you. ❤️

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Brian J. Karem @briankarem.bsky.social · 28/02/2025

I have covered presidential politics for 40 years. This was the most juvenile display by a President and Vice President I have ever seen. Other presidents treated their enemies with more respect. This is a low point and a dark day for the US. Totally embarrassing.

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Schooley @schooley.bsky.social · 27/02/2025

Democratic leadership working feverishly on how to wonk up, “They’re trying to kill you” into tepid messaging.

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The Onion @theonion.com · 26/02/2025

Pulitzer Feeling Increasingly Out Of Place In Washington Post Office

theonion.com

Pulitzer Feeling Increasingly Out Of Place In Washington Post Office

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David Rothkopf @djrothkopf.bsky.social · 26/02/2025

This is both such sweeping cruelty and such dangerous destructive policy that it could only be carried by a government that feels it will not be held to account by the people. It is contemptuous of both decency and of democracy.

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Marisa Kabas @marisakabas.bsky.social · 25/02/2025

an unelected billionaire with no official job in the government thinks he can fire half the workforce for not replying to an email

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Tina Smith @smith.senate.gov · 23/02/2025

Elon, I hate to break it to you but you aren’t my boss. I answer to the people of Minnesota. But since you bring it up, I spent last week fighting to stop tax breaks for billionaires like you, paid for by defunding health care for moms and babies

Senator Tina Smith said: This is the ultimate dick boss move from Musk - except he isn’t even the boss, he’s just a dick.

That was in response to Musk saying “Consistent with President @realDonaldTrump's instructions, all federal employees will shortly receive an email requesting to understand what they got done last week. Failure to respond will be taken as a resignation.”

Musk responded @SenTinaSmith “What did you get done last week?”

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Greg Young @boweryboys.bsky.social · 19/02/2025

This year marks the 250th anniversary of the start of the Revolutionary War, starting with the battles of Lexington and Concord, fought on April 19, 1775, waged to rid the colonies of Great Britain and King George III.

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Jill Lawrence @jilldlawrence.bsky.social · 17/02/2025

This is what 13 states are asking for tomorrow at 11 am. It would protect several departments and all agencies within them from Musk and Doge. Including the IRS, since it's part of Treasury. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

storage.courtlistener.com

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dlaur @dlaur.bsky.social · 17/02/2025

I watched the first SNL live. Carlin, Janis Ian. You had to watch it live because there was no way to record it and it may be months -- or never -- until the rerun aired. It was exciting and new and really great.

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Chris Geidner @chrisgeidner.bsky.social · 17/02/2025

UPDATE: We got Judge Lauren King's opinion backing her Friday TRO. She finds that the anti-trans order trying to limit gender-affirming medical care likely violates separation of powers, equal protection, and the Tenth Amendment. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

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dlaur @dlaur.bsky.social · 12/02/2025

I wonder if Trump will ever get around to forcing the Library of Congress to change its "Mexico, Gulf of" and "Denali, Mount (Alaska)" subject headings, if he even knows what subject headings are or what they do. authorities.loc.gov/webvoy.htm

authorities.loc.gov

Library of Congress Authorities (Search for Name, Subject, Title and Name/Title)

The Library of Congress Authority file includes subject, name, title and name/title authority records created by or for the Library of Congress.

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dlaur @dlaur.bsky.social · 07/02/2025

My fear is Trump/Musk are itching to declare martial law and will escalate to provoke a response they can use to "justify" it even if that response is both legal and necessary.

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dlaur @dlaur.bsky.social · 06/02/2025

If they fuck with census data, they can fuck with congressional districts.

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dlaur @dlaur.bsky.social · 06/02/2025

Real evil in real time. Hour after hour, day after day, for how many more months, how many years? It should not be possible for so few people to harm so many, but it is, and always has been. I wanted to believe in gradual improvement, but for every step forward there are now countless steps back.

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Erin Fogg says Free Link @criminalerin.bsky.social · 05/02/2025

Tired: NYT: Young Musk Fans Learn American Civics, Hands-On Wired: Wired: Those Little Rat Fucks Are Still In The Walls

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Karen Attiah @karenattiah.bsky.social · 05/02/2025

And everyone who said it’s not about race. The fact that the very *first moves* of Trump/Musk were to dismantle racial integration efforts (yes this is what I will call DEI), and destroy USAID, an agency that helped victims of South African apartheid. This is White Supremacy 4.0 in action.

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Karen Attiah @karenattiah.bsky.social · 05/02/2025

White people especially, in the media will scream about illegality, congressional approval, etc. This is not about law. This is about power. The full weight of America’s raw power has been used to destroy progress around the world. And now it’s boomeranging back here.

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Marisa Kabas @marisakabas.bsky.social · 04/02/2025

USAID source tells me, "This is so harmful, I can't even explain it." Says the human cost is "shocking", not to mention the "extraordinary" financial cost.

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Governor Tim Walz @governorwalz.mn.gov · 03/02/2025

Elon Musk is a terrible president.

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