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merrill

@merrillcole.bsky.social
156 followers 107 following 76 posts

Professor of English, queer poet, and Western Illinois University Chapter President of the union, University Professionals of Illinois.

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Reposted by merrill
Dan Froomkin/Press Watch/Heads Up News @froomkin.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
Trump has picked a side in the Russia Ukraine war. News organizations should make that clear. And every single Republican running for office should be forced to answer whether they, too, support Russia, and how much of Ukraine Russia should be allowed to rule.
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Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
First eyewitness accounts from this afternoon’s ICE shooting in Austin is here, from freelance reporter Emiliano Tahui Gómez.
Emiliano Tahui Gómez
@emilianotahui
X.com

Combined tweets, cutting tags and other such

Here in North Austin, where ICE agents appear to have shot an individual in his car. I spoke to two of the only witnesses.

Nedevia Bolaños and her husband, Carlos, own a business just off the intersection where the shooting happened. Shortly before 1 pm they says they heard what sounded like two gunshots. Carlos ran out first. A blue Toyota sedan and a black Escalade were stopped under the highway.Combined tweets, cutting tags and other such
 
He said he saw an olive-skinned man, seemingly in his 30s, leaning backwards against his seat. A masked agent was standing outside the car. The agent refused to answer questions. Within a few minutes as many as 10 other ICE agents arrived.

Carlos asked the victim if he was ok. "Yes," the man said in Spanish, but he looked exhausted. Carlos asked why they had shot him. "Because I didn't stop."Combined tweets, cutting tags and other such. 

Bolaños ran up next. She said she continously asked the ICE agents about why they'd shot him and if they were going to render aid. They didn't answer her. It was an APD officer who later arrived and cut open the young mans shirt, revealing a deep hole between his shoulder blades. The ambulance arrived about 10 minutes after and carried him off. "I've never seen all this. Thank God I'm a citizen," Bolaños said in Spanish. "Or I'd be living like this. In a dream of terror."
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Charles Keener @charleskeener.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
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Sue Stone @knittingknots.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Trump White House Clip Honors Labor Day With Zero US Workers www.mediaite.com/online/white...
mediaite.com
Trump White House Clip Honors Labor Day With Zero US Workers
Trump's White House put out a social media post honoring American workers on Labor Day, but it was conspicuously missing one key ingredient: American workers.
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Robert Reich @rbreich.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
Why do you appreciate unions? I’ll start: Weekends off Paid vacations Work breaks Sick leave Paid holidays No child labor Safer working conditions Health care and retirement benefits
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Sue Stone @knittingknots.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
Kyiv Trolls Putin With Mocking Gift to Trump Envoys www2.thedailybeast.com/kyiv-trolls-...
www2.thedailybeast.com
Kyiv Trolls Putin With Mocking Gift to Trump Envoys
Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were given a very tongue-in-cheek souvenir to mark their first trip to Kyiv.
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Abdul El-Sayed @abdulelsayed.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
There’s no place for political violence in America. Our prayers go out to Dr. Acton and her team, and we hope that this moment is yet another wake up call regarding how important it is to make sure that democracy is a process by which we address our political differences peacefully.
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Brian Tyler Cohen @briantylercohen.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Breaking: Someone appears to have hacked the Republican National Convention website and it now redirects to the Epstein Files website.
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Scott Horton @robertscotthorton.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
We should be clear that JD Vance bears moral, if not legal, responsibility for this death. He should atone for it. www.springfieldnewssun.com/local/spring...
springfieldnewssun.com
Springfield Haitian student takes his own life after being fitted with ICE ankle monitor, advocates say
A 20-year-old Wright State student took his own life on Interstate 70 out of anguish over a required ICE ankle monitor, according to local community advocates.
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emptywheel @emptywheel.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
Tulsi Gabbard Warned Pete Hegseth; Iran Destroyed the US Base in Bahrain Anyway emptywheel.net/2026/09/01/t...
emptywheel.net
Tulsi Gabbard Warned Pete Hegseth; Iran Destroyed the US Base in Bahrain Anyway - emptywheel
Tulsi Gabbard specifically warned Trump that Iran would strike at American troops and its allies if he started a war. And yet, Whiskey Pete Hegseth failed to secure Bahrain to prevent its destruction.
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Investigate DOGE @investigatedoge.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
We're getting closer to the justice we deserve! In recent days, even more members of Congress have committed to investigating Elon Musk and DOGE after their rampage of federal funding cuts, theft and misuse of our personal data, and self-dealing. Let's look at some highlights...
Graphic reading "more members of Congress commit to hold Musk and DOGE accountable. See who's committed" with silhouettes that have question marks over them and images of Musk and his doge bros.
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Get Out The Mid Term Vote @gotmtv.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
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Robert Reich @rbreich.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
Walmart spent $43.4B on stock buybacks from 2019 to 2025, enough to give each of its 2.1M workers annual bonuses of $2,953. Last year, retiring CEO Doug McMillon pocketed $29.2M — his largest payday ever and 958x Walmart's median worker pay of $30,520. Textbook corporate greed.
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BIG D GRANDROYAL @bigdgrandroyal.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
When you dumb as fuck
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Michael J. Murphy @emmjaymurphee.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Dolly Parton has died at age 80. Here she is with artist Keith Haring. She was always a friend to us when few others dared. We didn’t deserve her and she will be sorely missed!💔
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merrill @merrillcole.bsky.social · 08/08/2026
Fascist billionaires like Elon Musk are racing to replace humans with AI. Join me to stop the race to replace: action.eko.org/a/support-pr...
action.eko.org
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🌺Red Hibiscus🌺 @redhibiscus23.bsky.social · 25/07/2026
Fact Check Status: True
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Lauren Ashley Davis @laurenmeidasa.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
The six House Democrats who voted for the NDAA are Reps. Henry Cuellar (Texas), Don Davis (N.C.), Jared Golden (Maine), Tony Gonzales (Texas), Adam Gray (Calif.) and Marie Glusenkamp Perez (Wash.). thehill.com/homenews/hou...
thehill.com
6 Democrats cross aisle, join GOP to back annual defense policy bill
Six Democratic House lawmakers crossed the aisle on Wednesday to join a majority of Republicans in passing a nearly $1.15 trillion annual defense policy bill.  The Democrats who backed the 202…
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Wes Smith Ω 🧢 @wessmith123.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
This is what happens when you OD on testosterone, steroids, and liquor.
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merrill @merrillcole.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
I’m a U.S. citizen from Illinois visiting Poland. It pisses me off that Bluesky keeps asking me for age verification because it flags me as being from Texas. @Bluesky should not be an enforcer of Texas oppression. Please share this post.
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Luca Migo @victinibcn.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
Juan Coronilla Duran had a tourist visa and ticket home, yet ICE chased him to death. He is the 3rd victim killed by ICE this month, with Johan Guerrero and Lorenzo Araujo. This state brutality must stop! We demand justice! newrepublic.com/post/213277/...
newrepublic.com
Man Who Died Running From ICE Was Tourist With a Ticket Home
The man has been identified as Juan Jairo Coronilla Duran, who was in the U.S. on a tourist visa and already had a plane ticket to go back to Mexico.
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Professa Murray @kalimurray.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
I have said repeatedly that Russell Vought should be impeached. Congress appropriates and this is a high crime against its powers under Article I. The most important thing DOGE did was take over the appropriations pipes at Treasury. If you wanted to close USAID and CFPB pass a bill.
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Kevin M. Kruse @kevinmkruse.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
Washington Post Stops Short of Being a Real Newspaper
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Abdul El-Sayed @abdulelsayed.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
ICE is not about immigration. ICE is not about the southern border. ICE is about normalizing paramilitary force on our streets. It cannot be reformed. It cannot be retrained. ICE must be abolished.
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Senator Mark Warner @markwarner.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
Do not fall for it. Trump has been laying the groundwork to justify massive interference in our midterms. It’s coming on Thursday. Don’t let him fool you.
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Daniel Mellon Sr @refigman.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
#Trumpiarrhea🍊💩🫩
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Daniel Mellon Sr @refigman.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
Causing explosive Trumpiarrhea💩🍊💩
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Mrs. Betty Bowers @mrsbettybowers.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
The man who appointed his daughter and son-in-law to important government positions, even though they had no relevant experience, wants to appoint someone with no experience to vote in the Senate just because she's someone's sister. Nepotism is the *opposite* of meritocracy.
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United For Democracy @weareufd.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
The Roberts Court wants more taxpayer money. Taxpayers deserve answers. After gutting voting rights, expanding presidential power, and giving billionaires more influence in our elections, Congress cannot treat Justice Barrett’s appearance like business as usual.
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conifergirl.bsky.social @conifergirl.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
Release all the Epstein files now!
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Mark Hamill @markhamillofficial.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
Same here. 👍 🇺🇸
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Qasim Rashid, Esq. @qasimrashid.com · 03/07/2026
Israel drops the world’s biggest non nuclear bomb on Lebanon. Corporate media is silent. The United States must hold these war criminals accountable.
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Steven Beschloss @stevenbeschloss.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
We cannot be intimidated by this corrupt, hateful buffoon who despises our Constitution. Jack Smith’s public voice arrives late, but it is needed now.
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🌹WeegieFromWA 🍀 @onefussyone.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
The Albanian government has been put on notice that EU accession is at risk if they do not change course over plans for the Kushner's planned luxury resort there. The EU Parliament endorsed the demonstrators, calling for an immediate halt to construction. Fully, 92% of Albanians back accession.
Albanians protesting the Kushner's planned resort in their country.Image of the Vjosa-Narta protected wetland landscape in Zvërnec by a company linked to Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner. Photograph: Florion Goga/Reuters
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50501: The People’s Movement ❌👑 @50501movement.bsky.social · 27/06/2026
Breaking: March to the White House breaks out at the All of U.S. 250 Rally in Washington, D.C.! Find a demonstration near you at allofus250.org
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Jon Seidel @jonseidel.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
#BREAKING U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth call on Chicago U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros to resign, calling his tenure "riddled with chaos, deep internal dysfunction, and alleged misconduct." Reporting w/ @tinasfon.bsky.social via @chicago.suntimes.com: chicago.suntimes.com/politics/202...
chicago.suntimes.com
Durbin, Duckworth want Chicago's top federal prosecutor to resign over botched 'Broadview Six' case
The call from Illinois’ Democratic senators comes nearly two weeks after the case against a group of Operation Midway Blitz protesters collapsed amid claims of misconduct by U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutr...
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John Fugelsang @johnfugelsang.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
Megyn Kelly is so racist, her crosses burned themselves.
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Crazy Ol' Hippie 🇺🇲❤️🇺🇦 @hippiequaker.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
Today's a great day for all the congressional members who PROMISED to READ the Epstein files on the floor of Congress. America is waiting.
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talia jane @taliajane.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
BREAKING: On the 39th anniversary of the founding of ACT UP, protestors have shut down traffic outside Grand Central demanding “Money for AIDS and healthcare, not for ICE and warfare.”
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🌹WeegieFromWA 🍀 @onefussyone.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
There will be nothing to celebrate on our nation's birthday until justice is restored to the public square.
Social media post:
Joyce Carol Oates @JoyceCarolOates
arrests for touching water in the Reflecting Pool,
no arrests for murders committed by ICE or of
criminal pedophiles in the Epstein files.
FireFighterDev @fire_starter457
A large majority of Americans are still waiting for
the killers of Renee Good and Alex Pretti to be
charged and brought to justice.
3:45 PM . Jun 23, 2026 . 216.6K Views
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Qasim Rashid, Esq. @qasimrashid.com · 24/06/2026
CENTRISTS: What happened in NYC doesn't mean anything. Those policies won't work everywhere. REALITY: Platner, El-Sayed, Villegas, and Hong are running on virtually identical platforms in ME, MI, CA & WI and winning. What WORKS is a focus on working families & rejection of culture wars.
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talia jane @taliajane.bsky.social · 21/06/2026
ICE/Geo drove into a demonstrator today.
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Gerry Joyce-Magladene @deaconbluesky.bsky.social · 21/06/2026
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Dare Obasanjo @carnage4life.bsky.social · 20/06/2026
Mamdani is a transformational because he asked the question, what if a public servant actually served the public instead of lobbyists? Both Trump and Mamdani have shown the government can move fast if it wants. The question is whether we want it to move quickly to help us or to hurt others?
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Mrs. Betty Bowers @mrsbettybowers.bsky.social · 20/06/2026
Stefon: “It’s the hottest place in DC right now. It has everything. Water like curdled pea soup. Bigger paint chips than a 1960s tenement. An angry orange man yelling, ‘Find the vandals!’ Fish and birds floating upside-down from hydrogen peroxide poisoning. And the smell of a mossy urinal.”
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Mrs. Betty Bowers @mrsbettybowers.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
When you're the least popular person at a party . . .
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Mar-rick @marrickg.bsky.social · 13/06/2026
The President raped children and everyone knows it.
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ElleM @ellem111.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
Everyone who covered this up, is doing so while he destroys the US, kills, attacks Iran, deserves life in prison. "Recall ive told you ,, — i have met some very bad people ,, none as bad as trump. not one decent cell in his body.. so yes- dangerous." - Jeffery Epstein #discover #Epstein #torture
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