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Mike Wessler

@mikewessler.bsky.social
139 followers 252 following 156 posts

I run. I bake. I have two 🐕🐕. I do comms for @prisonpolicy.org but the views here are my own. FL ➡️ MT ➡️ MA ➡️ NYC ➡️ LVille

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Reposted by Mike Wessler
Prison Policy Initiative @prisonpolicy.org · 01/10/2026
What's happening in Tennessee is yet another reminder that the death penalty is state-sanctioned torture. It's an inhumane practice that has no place in a just society. The criminal legal system should never get to decide who lives and who dies.
Infographic with text:
Since the 1970s...
At least 1,683 people have been executed in the U.S.

At least 203 people have been wrongly convicted & sentenced to death, later being exonerated.

More than half of all people sentenced to death have been Black or Latino/a.
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Reposted by Mike Wessler
Freedom of the Press Foundation @freedom.press · 01/10/2026
Check out @prisonpolicy.org's roundup of reporting guides around incarceration, featuring two from @freedom.press alongside many others. Read more:
prisonpolicy.org
A reporter’s guide to reporting guides around incarceration
Resources for honing reporting skills, working with incarcerated writers, and framing your coverage well.
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Reposted by Mike Wessler
brian nam-sonenstein @bson.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
hard to think of a single piece of legislation named after a victim that did not entail making the carceral system more punitive, or that entailed investing in non-carceral preventative and supportive resources.
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Reposted by Mike Wessler
Prison Policy Initiative @prisonpolicy.org · 04/09/2026
A call center is paying incarcerated people in Oklahoma just $2/hour to do a political party’s bidding. Here's the kicker — that ridiculous wage is still 3,900% higher than the wages of other incarcerated workers in the same state prisons.
oklahomavoice.com
Oklahoma prison inmates operated political, insurance calls centers behind bars • Oklahoma Voice
Contracts obtained via an open records request confirm that a company called HBW Leads and the Oklahoma Department of Corrections have established several call centers since January.
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Reposted by Mike Wessler
Carl Quintanilla @carlquintanilla.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
(CNN) - The US Navy is working to rename an aircraft carrier under construction that was set to honor a Black sailor hailed for his heroic actions during .. Pearl Harbor .. .. there have been internal conversation about renaming it to honor Trump.” @halbritz.bsky.social www.cnn.com/2026/08/20/p...
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Reposted by Mike Wessler
Prison Policy Initiative @prisonpolicy.org · 11/08/2026
This is the latest evidence that spending more and more money on policing doesn’t make communities safer. The real way to address crime is to prevent it in the first place by investing in housing, healthcare, education, and economic opportunities.
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Reposted by Mike Wessler
Prison Policy Initiative @prisonpolicy.org · 11/08/2026
During Pres. Trump's second term, he has deployed, threatened, or tried to deploy the National Guard in 11 cities — including DC, exactly 1 year ago today. The result? An expensive failure that has drained taxpayer dollars and not made communities any safer 🧵
Screenshot of chart showing that since June 2025, Trump has deployed, threatened, or tried to deploy the National Guard to 11 cities. Deployed to: Los Angeles, DC, Memphis, New Orleans. Blocked from Chicago and Portland. Threatened: NY, Oakland, St. Louis, San Francision, and Baltimore.
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Reposted by Mike Wessler
Evan Sutton @evansutton.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
I encourage all of us to have the grace and focus shown in this going up within minutes of the race being called.
Haley Stevens tweet reading

I love Michigan and am so proud to have put up my hand to serve. I spoke with Abdul a few moments ago to offer him my full support as we work to defeat Mike Rogers this November. 

Thank you, Michigan.
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Reposted by Mike Wessler
Taniel @taniel.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
Really captures Massachusetts politics
“Inside ICE’s only contract with a blue state”“In fact, Massachusetts is the only state that voted against Donald Trump in 2024, and where the governor is a Democrat, where a state agency is contracting with the 287(g) program. It’s also the only state where Democrats fully control the state government that has such an agreement.”
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Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani @mayor.nyc.gov · 16/07/2026
We experienced one of the tournament’s biggest moments side by side. Joy and connection should not be scarce resources. Every New Yorker deserves to have their dignity affirmed.
New Yorkers detained on Rikers Island clap at a World Cup watch party. Mayor Mamdani reaches across a table to grasp the hand of a New Yorker who is detained on Rikers Island.
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Reposted by Mike Wessler
Peter @notalawyer.bsky.social · 12/07/2026
victory lapping on this one
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Yashar Ali 🐘 @yasharali.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
BREAKING The Associated Press projects that Brad Lander will beat Congressman Dan Goldman in the primary for New York’s 10th Congressional District.
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Reposted by Mike Wessler
The Verge @theverge.com · 12/06/2026
While his mountain of horrible personal conduct could fill multiple books, one fact in particular stands out: A year ago, Musk’s actions directly led to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people. He did it knowingly. And, worse — gleefully. Read more: www.theverge.com/tech/949259/...
Verge headline: The world's first trillionaire is a killer
by TC Sottek

Image of Elon Musk doing a "fascist salute" in the form of an oil painting on a wall
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Reposted by Mike Wessler
Elizabeth Warren @warren.senate.gov · 12/06/2026
Elon Musk just became the world's first trillionaire. The typical American household would have to work more than 11 MILLION years to make Elon Musk's level of wealth. We need a wealth tax.
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Mike Wessler @mikewessler.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
The person in charge of the Jumbotron can do the funniest thing ever all night long. #nbafinals
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Reposted by Mike Wessler
Phil Lewis @phillewis.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
Trump is booed louder than the Spurs at Madison Square Garden:
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Reposted by Mike Wessler
Prison Policy Initiative @prisonpolicy.org · 18/05/2026
There are real problems at the DOJ & in the criminal legal system, but Trump’s allies aren’t the victims. It’s the incarcerated people and their families who continue to be mistreated and suffer at the hands of the system. Where’s their compensation?
apnews.com
Justice Department announces a $1.7B fund to compensate Trump allies in a deal to drop IRS suit
The Trump administration has announced the creation a $1.7 billion fund to compensate allies of the Republican president who believe they were mistreated by the Biden-era Justice Department.
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Reposted by Mike Wessler
Max Berger @maxberger.bsky.social · 07/04/2026
Heads up to members of Congress: you can impeach Trump. You can't use the 25th Amendment to remove Trump. Don't ask Trump appointees to remove him. Call for Congress to remove him. It's your constitutional duty!
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Reposted by Mike Wessler
brennan @brennan.foo · 07/04/2026
we are living in hell
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Reposted by Mike Wessler
emptywheel @emptywheel.bsky.social · 07/04/2026
On January 13, Trump told Iranian protestors, "HELP IS ON THE WAY. And then, he didn't send help. Iran killed 30,000 protestors bc Trump didn't deliver on that promise. Today, Trump says, "A whole civilization will die today, never to be brought back again."
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Progressive Mass @progressivemass.bsky.social · 26/03/2026
“Massachusetts is paying significantly more than other states for communications services and … some of its own sheriffs have negotiated far lower rates than others." #mapoli www.wwlp.com/news/massach...
wwlp.com
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Reposted by Mike Wessler
Pop Base @popbase.tv · 16/03/2026
Jessie Buckley wins Best Actress at the #Oscars.
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Bolts @boltsmag.org · 13/03/2026
Even when local police have no formal contracts with ICE, some departments still provide critical help to ICE agents. But in many jurisdictions, 911 call records are subject to public records law—providing watchdogs a tool for tracking ICE activity.
boltsmag.org
How State and Local Leaders Are Responding to ICE: Your Questions Answered
How are states restricting ICE activity? Can local prosecutors charge federal officers? How can local leaders prepare for ICE deployments? We provide answers about local responses to the immigration crackdown.
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Reposted by Mike Wessler
The Associated Press @apnews.com · 12/03/2026
A man who was shot by Connecticut police last year and later died had to wait 10 extra minutes for another ambulance to arrive at the scene, after another officer having an anxiety attack took the first one.
bit.ly
Officer having anxiety attack took ambulance sent for man dying from police shooting, report says
A man who was shot by Connecticut police last year and later died had to wait 10 extra minutes for another ambulance to arrive at the scene, after another officer having an anxiety attack took the first one.
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Molly Jong-Fast @mollyjongfast.bsky.social · 05/03/2026
Call it cricket’s revenge
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Mike Wessler @mikewessler.bsky.social · 05/03/2026
It says a lot about what the MT GOP thinks about the quality of their potential candidates that they orchestrate two elaborate schemes to let two sitting officials hand-pick their preferred replacement, while essentially blocking out any others. #mtpol
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Reposted by Mike Wessler
Kevin M. Kruse @kevinmkruse.bsky.social · 04/03/2026
Remember when Rep. Greg Gianforte, now the GOP governor of the state, body slammed a reporter into a table? We probably need to shut down the Montana Republican Party entirely until we can figure out where all this violent rage is coming from.
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Reposted by Mike Wessler
Prison Policy Initiative @prisonpolicy.org · 03/03/2026
Tens of thousands of people in the U.S. are losing access to HIV treatment. And at the same time, most states still have laws that criminalize HIV. The consequences of this policy failure will be dire and ripple through vulnerable communities.
nytimes.com
States Move to Limit Access to H.I.V. Treatment
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Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 02/03/2026
Warner: "There was no imminent threat to the United States by the Iranians. There was a threat to Israel. If we equate a threat to Israel as the equivalent of an imminent threat to the US, then we are in uncharted territory."
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Reposted by Mike Wessler
Prison Policy Initiative @prisonpolicy.org · 25/02/2026
During his State of the Union address, Pres. Trump will undoubtedly try to claim he is a tough-on-crime leader whose top priority is public safety. But the truth is, his administration has gutted key public safety programs – and we're all less safe because of it 🧵
Picture of Trump with text: The reality of public safety under the Trump administration
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Reposted by Mike Wessler
Prison Policy Initiative @prisonpolicy.org · 23/02/2026
If your local government is collaborating with ICE, it doesn’t have to stay that way forever. We put together guidance on how to push back, from holding sheriffs accountable to calling on state lawmakers. Learn more here 👇
prisonpolicy.org
Is your local government collaborating with ICE? Here’s how to find out – and push back
From the deputization of local police to holding people on behalf of ICE, here are some ways your county might be working with federal agents ...
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Reposted by Mike Wessler
Prison Policy Initiative @prisonpolicy.org · 23/02/2026
🚨NEW: Your local government might be working with ICE in quiet ways that help drive the deportation agenda. Here’s how you can tell – and what you can do to push back 🧵
prisonpolicy.org
Is your local government collaborating with ICE? Here’s how to find out – and push back
From the deputization of local police to holding people on behalf of ICE, here are some ways your county might be working with federal agents ...
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Reposted by Mike Wessler
Alyssa Long @measuredandslow.bsky.social · 22/02/2026
$1.2 billion on one of the richest companies on earth is genuinely, sincerely, criminal. That is quite literally money stolen from us on multiple fronts.
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Mike Wessler @mikewessler.bsky.social · 19/02/2026
Ghouls.
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Reposted by Mike Wessler
Jonathan Cohn @jonathancohn.bsky.social · 18/02/2026
Trump is very underwater on immigration. There is no reason for Dems to cave on ICE funding. www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...
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Acyn @acyn.bsky.social · 12/02/2026
AOC: We all saw the performance Bondi had. She was screaming and crashing, and I think it’s because she knows she is implicated in a massive cover-up to protect a ring of pedophiles through:
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Reposted by Mike Wessler
Prison Policy Initiative @prisonpolicy.org · 11/02/2026
🚨NEW: Mass incarceration costs the U.S. an alarming $445 billion every year. Where exactly does it all go? Follow the money with our new report 🧵 www.prisonpolicy.org/reports/mone...
Flow chart showing that the U.S. spends $445 billion on mass incarceration every year.
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Reposted by Mike Wessler
Abdallah Fayyad @abdallahfayyad.bsky.social · 09/02/2026
Trump says that he wants to bring crime down. But his administration is undermining crime prevention policies that actually work. One example? The dramatic cuts to reentry programs that help former prisoners find housing, jobs, and health care. My latest: www.bostonglobe.com/2026/02/09/o...
bostonglobe.com
Trump isn’t actually trying to reduce crime - The Boston Globe
The president says he wants to make America safe again, but his administration is undermining programs that aim to do just that.
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Reposted by Mike Wessler
brian nam-sonenstein @bson.bsky.social · 05/02/2026
Here’s an under-discussed risk of lucrative fed contracts with local jails: what happens when the feds decide to pull out, or (as DHS seems to be doing more and more) stop paying invoices on time? Well, Cumberland county taxpayers are getting hit with a huge bill www.pressherald.com/2026/02/04/i...
pressherald.com
ICE pulled detainees from Cumberland County Jail. That could hurt taxpayers.
The agency already owes the jail more than $1 million for having housed detainees over the past several months. The county manager says both issues are causing budgeting headaches.
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Mike Wessler @mikewessler.bsky.social · 05/02/2026
Pro wrestling fans: “fuck ICE!” Chuck Schumer: “let ICE wear masks as a treat!”
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Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 05/02/2026
Wow! What sounded like the entire AEW Dynamite audience in Las Vegas tonight chanted "Fuck ICE! Fuck ICE!" in unison before the main event
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Reposted by Mike Wessler
Bolts @boltsmag.org · 30/01/2026
When formerly incarcerated people are able to obtain work, it tends to be a low-paying position, keeping them well below the poverty line. “The No. 1 contributor to recidivism is poverty,” says a spokesperson for the Prison Policy Initiative.
boltsmag.org
Budget Cuts Threaten Oregon Program for Helping People Get Jobs After Prison
The state had recently expanded the novel program for providing one-on-one career coaching, job fairs behind bars, and support for people after release.
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Reposted by Mike Wessler
Prison Policy Initiative @prisonpolicy.org · 29/01/2026
Just as ICE has no place in communities, it should NOT have access to jails. Local jails already serve as the single largest source of ICE arrests, criminalizing entire communities and shuffling people into the deportation machine for minor violations.
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Reposted by Mike Wessler
Prison Policy Initiative @prisonpolicy.org · 27/01/2026
After the horror that has unfolded in Minnesota, AG Bondi wrote Gov. Walz a letter, demanding that the state end its sanctuary policies. Remember: Sheriff cooperation with ICE was responsible for over half of all ICE arrests last year.
Screenshot of text from Bondi's letter to Walz: 
"Second, repeal the sanctuary policies that have led to so much crime and violence in your state. Removing criminal illegal aliens from Minnesota neighborhoods will save lives, and state and local officials should support this goal."
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Mike Wessler @mikewessler.bsky.social · 27/01/2026
Such a cynical op-ed from Mike Lawler in the NYT. Does the classic "both-sides" trope, then says we need legislation to reform the immigration system. Reminder: We had that 2 years ago. It died, not because of liberals, but because Trump told the GOP to walk away. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/27/o...
nytimes.com
Opinion | G.O.P. Congressman: We Need to Wake Up After Minneapolis
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Mike Wessler @mikewessler.bsky.social · 27/01/2026
This should also be a lesson for every Trump toady that wants to fill Bovino’s shoes. Trump will let you do his dirty work, and then throw you in the wood chipper to save his own skin.
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