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renlarson.bsky.social

@renlarson.bsky.social
1.1K followers 400 following 64 posts

data- and records-obsessed journalist. Feeding your brain North Carolina stories at @theassemblync.bsky.social lifelong language learner, rock climber

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Reposted by @renlarson.bsky.social
Charles Ornstein @charlesornstein.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
Why don't we ever learn from disasters? Hurricane Helene Killed His Wife and Destroyed His Mobile Home. New Tenants Are Now Renting the Same Flood-Prone Land. @renlarson.bsky.social @theassemblync.bsky.social
propublica.org
Hurricane Helene Killed His Wife and Destroyed His Mobile Home. New Tenants Are Now Renting the Same Flood-Prone Land.
Residents of a riverfront trailer park in the Appalachian Mountains have lost homes and loved ones in multiple storms. A policy gap puts mobile home residents in harm’s way again and again.
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Charles Ornstein @charlesornstein.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
A heartbreaking story that raises major policy questions: Hurricane Helene Killed His Wife and Destroyed His Mobile Home. New Tenants Are Now Renting the Same Flood-Prone Land. by @renlarson.bsky.social @theassemblync.bsky.social
propublica.org
Hurricane Helene Killed His Wife and Destroyed His Mobile Home. New Tenants Are Now Renting the Same Flood-Prone Land.
Residents of a riverfront trailer park in the Appalachian Mountains have lost homes and loved ones in multiple storms. A policy gap puts mobile home residents in harm’s way again and again.
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Charles Ornstein @charlesornstein.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
Multiple storms have swept homes out of a North Carolina trailer park, but new residents continue to move to those same flood-prone plots. @renlarson.bsky.social explains why this is allowed. @theassemblync.bsky.social
propublica.org
Hurricane Helene Killed His Wife and Destroyed His Mobile Home. New Tenants Are Now Renting the Same Flood-Prone Land.
Residents of a riverfront trailer park in the Appalachian Mountains have lost homes and loved ones in multiple storms. A policy gap puts mobile home residents in harm’s way again and again.
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renlarson.bsky.social @renlarson.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
2004's Hurricane Frances swept a mobile home near Clyde, NC, into the river, its owner evacuated minutes before In 2024, Hurricane Helene swept the neighboring home away, a resident was unable to escape A policy gap puts mobile home residents in harm’s way www.theassemblync.com/news/busines...
theassemblync.com
Hurricane Helene Washed His Wife Away From Their Mobile Home. Now New Residents Live on the Same Land.
Residents of this riverfront trailer park have lost homes and loved ones in multiple storms. A policy gap means many face repeated flodding.
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Johanna Still @j-still.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
Documents reveal WakeMed snubbed its rival’s offer to merge, despite UNC Health offering $3 billion more than Charlotte-based Atrium Health. @theassemblync.bsky.social www.theassemblync.com/news/health/...
theassemblync.com
UNC Offered WakeMed $5 Billion, More Than Double Atrium’s Bid
Documents reveal WakeMed snubbed its rival’s offer to merge, despite UNC Health offering $3 billion more than Charlotte-based Atrium Health.
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Dash Lewis // Gardener @gardenerjams.bsky.social · 06/03/2026
i went to fayetteville, nc a last month to learn about the city and scene that made j. cole who he is. read about it here at @theassemblync.bsky.social
theassemblync.com
A Tale of Two Six
How Fayettevillle's superstar native son J. Cole and his new album, The Fall-Off, put the local hip-hop scene on the map for one night.
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The Upshot @upshot.nytimes.com · 09/03/2026
Via Claire Brown and @rjnskl.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
nytimes.com
How Rising Home Insurance Costs Are Linked to Credit Scores (Gift Article)
In many states, homeowners with excellent credit scores are charged less for home insurance than those with worse scores, even if they live in a disaster-prone area.
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Soraya Nadia McDonald @soraya.press · 02/03/2026
"H.I.V. medications suppress the virus to undetectable levels, eliminating the chance of spreading the virus to others, so interrupting treatment may lead to an increase in new infections."
nytimes.com
States Move to Limit Access to H.I.V. Treatment
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Tyler Dukes @mtdukes.bsky.social · 18/02/2026
Ring’s controversial, AI-powered “Search Party” feature isn’t intended to always be limited only to dogs, the company’s founder, Jamie Siminoff, told Ring employees in an internal email obtained by 404 Media. www.404media.co/leaked-email...
404media.co
Leaked Email Suggests Ring Plans to Expand ‘Search Party’ Surveillance Beyond Dogs
Ring's CEO told staff the feature is “first for finding dogs,” indicating a plan to expand.
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Jordan Green @byjordangreen.bsky.social · 26/01/2026
NEW: 8 men linked to Vinlanders Social Club, a notorious violent racist skinhead group, have been detained for hate crimes. Police in Charlotte, NC seized 3 members' phones last October after they brought knives and brass knuckles to a pro-Palestine protest. 1/4 www.rawstory.com/raw-investig...
rawstory.com
‘The white man’s coming back’: Eight held over links to resurgent violent skinhead group
Eight men linked to a violent racist skinhead group are in jail in the U.S. South on felony conspiracy charges or awaiting extradition for hate crimes against Jewish and LGBTQ+ targets, Raw Story has ...
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Colin Campbell @raleighreporter.bsky.social · 04/11/2025
Happy Municipal Election Day, #ncpol! Polls in places holding elections are open from now until 7:30 p.m. Details on how to find a sample ballot, and on some Triangle races to watch: www.wunc.org/tags/triangl...
wunc.org
Triangle Elections 2025
Voters in more than 500 municipalities in North Carolina will go to the polls this fall to choose mayors and city council members. These are important elections, as city leaders make crucial decisions...
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renlarson.bsky.social @renlarson.bsky.social · 04/10/2025
1/ After a natural disaster, people often turn to FEMA for housing aid. Income is not supposed to play a role. A @propublica/@TheAssemblyNC analysis found in rural counties hardest-hit by Helene, the highest-income owners typically received more housing aid. www.propublica.org/article/fema...
propublica.org
Arduous and Unequal: The Fight to Get FEMA Housing Assistance After Helene
An analysis by ProPublica and The Assembly of the more rural counties in North Carolina hardest hit by Helene shows that the households that got the most aid tended to have the highest incomes.
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John Gramlich @johngramlich.bsky.social · 02/10/2025
% of US men under 30 who say legal sports betting is a *bad thing* for society 22% in 2022 47% in 2025 No other demographic group has seen a bigger increase.
pewresearch.org
Americans increasingly see legal sports betting as a bad thing for society and sports
Today, 43% of U.S. adults say the fact that sports betting is now legal in much of the country is a bad thing for society, up from 34% in 2022.
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Charles Ornstein @charlesornstein.bsky.social · 27/09/2025
Must read: The Arduous and Unequal Fight to Get FEMA Aid After Hurricane Helene, by @jenniferberryhawes.bsky.social @renlarson.bsky.social w/ @theassemblync.bsky.social
propublica.org
Arduous and Unequal: The Fight to Get FEMA Housing Assistance After Helene
An analysis by ProPublica and The Assembly of the more rural counties in North Carolina hardest hit by Helene shows that the households that got the most aid tended to have the highest incomes.
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Charles Ornstein @charlesornstein.bsky.social · 27/09/2025
One year ago, Hurricane Helene hit North Carolina. Since then, people who lost their homes have turned to FEMA for aid. Some are still slogging through red tape. @jenniferberryhawes.bsky.social @renlarson.bsky.social w/ @theassemblync.bsky.social
propublica.org
Arduous and Unequal: The Fight to Get FEMA Housing Assistance After Helene
An analysis by ProPublica and The Assembly of the more rural counties in North Carolina hardest hit by Helene shows that the households that got the most aid tended to have the highest incomes.
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Brad Heath @bradheath.bsky.social · 27/08/2025
NEW: Reuters examined more than 500 local-court cases filed since the start of Trump's takeover of policing in D.C. Nearly half of the cases involving federal agents have been for comparatively minor charges, including public drinking and marijuana. www.reuters.com/legal/govern...
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Tyler Dukes @mtdukes.bsky.social · 21/08/2025
Charlotte-area deputies hid their identities with face coverings when they arrested 10 people on drug charges earlier this month, mirroring a technique now used by federal ICE agents. www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/c... (gift link)
charlotteobserver.com
NC sheriff says deputies OK to cover faces, critics raise concerns
Iredell County's sheriff defends deputies wearing face coverings, while critics worry it erodes public trust and lacks clear policy guidelines.
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Robert Hernandez @webjournalist.bsky.social · 19/08/2025
This is a powerful piece of journalism. “… each of the men were not only losing time, they were losing loved ones. They were missing major life moments that can never be recovered. Not only did the men say they were tortured during these four months; their families said they were too.”
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The Assembly @theassemblync.bsky.social · 14/08/2025
In the Small Digital Organization Sports Reporting category, @renlarson.bsky.social won for her story on the US Performance Center. www.theassemblync.com/politics/oly...
theassemblync.com
North Carolina’s $55 Million Olympic Dream
Top legislators quietly allocated large state grants to attract Olympic organizations to the Charlotte area, with little to show for it.
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renlarson.bsky.social @renlarson.bsky.social · 14/08/2025
Proud reporter moment. @theassemblync.bsky.social was awarded its first National Murrow Award. And it won its second. “We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty. When the loyal opposition dies, I think the soul of America dies with it.”
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404 Media @404media.co · 14/08/2025
BREAKING: ICE Adds Random Person to Group Chat, Exposes Details of Manhunt in Real-Time 🔗 www.404media.co/ice-adds-ran...
404media.co
ICE Adds Random Person to Group Chat, Exposes Details of Manhunt in Real-Time
The texts were sent to a group called “Mass Text” and show ICE using DMV and license plate reader data in an attempt to find their target, copies of the messages obtained by 404 Media show.
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Hansi Lo Wang (he/him) @hansilowang.bsky.social · 07/08/2025
BREAKING: With #2030Census prep already underway, President Trump says he's instructed Commerce Dept to "immediately begin work" on a "new" census that excludes people living in the states without legal status from a count the 14th Amendment says must include “whole number of persons in each state”
I have instructed our Department of Commerce to immediately begin work on a new and highly accurate CENSUS based on modern day facts and figures and, importantly, using the results and information gained from the Presidential Election of 2024. People who are in our Country illegally WILL NOT BE COUNTED IN THE CENSUS. Thank you for your attention to this matter!
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Robert Kelchen @robertkelchen.com · 31/07/2025
I'm quoted in this great piece diving into the closure of St. Andrews University in North Carolina and what it means for the local community. The Assembly is one of the best local sources for higher ed coverage in the country. www.theassemblync.com/education/hi...
theassemblync.com
What Remains of St. Andrews
Following the sudden closure of St. Andrews University, Laurinburg grapples with the fallout and a now-empty campus.
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renlarson.bsky.social @renlarson.bsky.social · 30/07/2025
.@jeffreybillman.bsky.social knocked it out of the park reporting on #ncpol's most powerful man. “You know as well as I do that you don’t scrape a pimple off a gnat’s ass w/o Bill Rabon & Phil Berger’s permission in the NC Senate,” state Sen. Bobby Hanig said. www.theassemblync.com/politics/phi...
theassemblync.com
The Berger King
Phil Berger has been the state’s most powerful politician for more than a decade. He no longer looks invincible.
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Chris Cooper @chriscooperwcu.bsky.social · 23/07/2025
Registration Recovery Program July 23 Update for #ncpol: 🗳️ 99,989 people remain on the RRP list 🗳️ 3,285 people have cured their registration or dropped off the list for other reasons. 🗳️ 6 voters have been added to the list For background & details: www.oldnorthstatepolitics.com/2025/07/an-a...
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Michael Bitzer @bowtiepolitics.bsky.social · 22/07/2025
A question asked in June 2025 Catawba-YouGov Poll of 1K North Carolinians was "how important is the principle that regardless of which political party is in power, government agencies are not used to monitor, attack, or punish political opponents." NC Republicans: 88% very/somewhat important #ncpol
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renlarson.bsky.social @renlarson.bsky.social · 22/07/2025
ICYMI -- Today, members of NC's county elections boards will take the oath of office. Republicans now have 3 of 5 seats on local boards, but despite gaining 100 seats statewide, many GOP incumbents aren't returning, & some say they were pushed out. #ncpol www.theassemblync.com/politics/ele...
theassemblync.com
Former GOP County Election Officials Say They Were Forced Out
Some former local GOP board members say they lost their seats because they weren't devoted enough to the Republican Party.
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Reposted by @renlarson.bsky.social
Michael Hewlett @blackmuse.bsky.social · 18/07/2025
The latest from my colleague @renlarson.bsky.social: Former GOP County Election Officials Say They Were Forced Out www.theassemblync.com/politics/ele...
theassemblync.com
Former GOP County Election Officials Say They Were Forced Out
Some former local GOP board members say they lost their seats because they weren't devoted enough to the Republican Party.
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renlarson.bsky.social @renlarson.bsky.social · 16/07/2025
🚨 NEW: 1/ As Republicans take control of North Carolina's election administration, ~1 in 4 incumbent GOP members weren't reappointed. Some former local board members say they were pushed out for not taking direction from county party leadership. #ncpol www.theassemblync.com/politics/ele...
theassemblync.com
Former GOP County Election Officials Say They Were Forced Out
Some former local GOP board members say they lost their seats because they weren't devoted enough to the Republican Party.
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Carli Brosseau @carlibrosseau.bsky.social · 16/07/2025
@renlarson.bsky.social found that despite the number of GOP seats on county boards of election increasing from 200 to 300, 1 in 4 counties will lose an incumbent GOP member and many new board chairs lack experience with election administration. #ncpol www.theassemblync.com/politics/ele...
theassemblync.com
Former GOP County Election Officials Say They Were Forced Out
Some former local GOP board members say they lost their seats because they weren't devoted enough to the Republican Party.
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Mark Rodin @markrodin.bsky.social · 24/06/2025
open.substack.com/pub/anderson... Not much you can say about this proposal except it continues aid to western North Carolina. It also allows the new GOP executive director of the NC Board of Elections to hire 7 political appointees and outside attorneys because Jeff Jackson is a Democrat
open.substack.com
Senate unveils smallish budget and standalone $2.5B Helene bill
The Senate on Monday released a pair of bills that seek to address the state's most immediate needs. The proposals come as House and Senate Republicans will fail to pass a timely budget.
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Mike Hawkins @mhcommissioner.bsky.social · 09/06/2025
Than you @theassemblync.bsky.social for highlighting the continuing post-Helene struggles in Brevard - symptomatic of all of WNC -
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Mark Barrett @markbarrettwnc.bsky.social · 29/05/2025
Bypassing the #UNC and community college systems, the #ncga has appropriated $40 million to #Montreat College for cybersecurity education programs. The return so far has been minimal, this story says. www.theassemblync.com/education/hi... #avlnews #ncpol www.theassemblync.com/education/hi...
theassemblync.com
A Small, Private College Got $40 Million in State Funds for Cybersecurity Training
The legislature has invested big dollars at Montreat College, even though public schools have federally accredited cyber programs.
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The Atlantic @theatlantic.com · 29/05/2025
Trump has a very short attention span, gets frustrated when things don’t work quickly, and tends to demand fast changes in policy. That can be a threat to his own agenda as well as to the constitutional order, @dgraham.bsky.social writes in The Atlantic Daily.
bit.ly
The President’s Pattern of Impatience
Trump’s short attention span is a threat to his own agenda as well as to the constitutional order.
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Matt Hartman @themhartman.bsky.social · 28/05/2025
@renlarson.bsky.social coming in from the top rope with this absolutely killer story www.theassemblync.com/education/hi...
theassemblync.com
A Small, Private College Got $40 Million in State Funds for Cybersecurity Training
The legislature has invested big dollars at Montreat College, even though public schools have federally accredited cyber programs.
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renlarson.bsky.social @renlarson.bsky.social · 07/05/2025
BREAKING The North Carolina State Board of Elections appointed its new director, Sam Hayes, a former Republican candidate for state Attorney General and general counsel for Republican Speaker of the House since 2021. Hayes replaces director Karen Brinson Bell on a 3-2 partisan vote. #ncpol
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Ernesto Castañeda @drernestocast.bsky.social · 26/04/2025
@theassemblync.bsky.social reported on the disappearance of Julio Zambrano, one of 2 NC fathers sent to El Salvador's CECOT prison. @renlarson.bsky.social & @jeffreybillman.bsky.social spoke with @TimBoyumTV about Julio's case for @NCCapTonight . Video here: spectrumlocalnews.com/nc/triad/cap...
spectrumlocalnews.com
White House, Salvadoran president refuse to return wrongly deported man
Plus: budget season kicks off in the N.C. General Assembly.
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Ernesto Castañeda @drernestocast.bsky.social · 18/04/2025
This holiday, read this in-depth story about Julio Zambrano Perez deported without evidence or due process to the confinement center in El Salvador. He has been held incommunicado for over a month.
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renlarson.bsky.social @renlarson.bsky.social · 15/04/2025
2 weeks ago, a team of 55 public health workers were set to knock doors in Buncombe County, asking residents impacted by Helene about food insecurity, unsafe drinking water and toxic chemical exposure. Then DOGE called for layoffs at the CDC team. #ncpol www.wfae.org/politics/202...
wfae.org
DOGE cut a CDC team as it was about to start a project to help NC flood victims
The National Center for Environmental Health was hollowed out in the cuts of 10,000 federal health workers on April 1. That's the same day an assessment of people hurt in floods was set to begin.
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Greg Morton @invisibae.bsky.social · 14/04/2025
Prince George's County was 80% white when the federal workforce was integrated. Today, PG and Charles County are America's most affluent majority-Black counties with~20% of Black workers there being federal employees. Trump's cuts now threaten generations of progress. story👇🏾
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Josh Kovensky @joshkovensky.bsky.social · 15/04/2025
In a new filing, Abrego Garcia's lawyers accuse the Trump admin of twisting the Supreme Court's ruling last week and refusing to ask for Abrego Garcia's return "To give any meaning to the Supreme Court’s order, the Government should at least be required to request the release of Abrego Garcia"
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John Robinson @jrobin.bsky.social · 11/04/2025
This is why I subscribe to @theassemblync.bsky.social. Good work, @renlarson.bsky.social & @jeffreybillman.bsky.social
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Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · 10/04/2025
NEW: @nytimes.com reports that the Trump admin is moving to strip hundreds of thousands of immigrants of Social Security Numbers they got when they were granted work authorization, repurposing a "death master file" to try to erase their previous legal presence in the United States.
Pressuring Migrants to ‘Self-Deport,’ Trump Moves to Cancel Social Security Numbers
By placing migrants in Social Security’s “death master file,” the Trump administration is seeking to cut off their access to credit cards, bank accounts and other financial services.
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David A. Graham @dgraham.bsky.social · 10/04/2025
From pledging to close Rikers to housing ICE detainees there in eight years www.nytimes.com/2025/04/09/n...
nytimes.com
Adams Administration Will Give ICE Space to Operate on Rikers Island
An executive order says federal immigration agents would work with city officials on criminal investigations only. Critics say the move opens the door for wrongdoing.
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renlarson.bsky.social @renlarson.bsky.social · 10/04/2025
Shital Patel got an email last Sept. appointing her as the Dental Board's lone consumer-member. Instead board members worked to replace her w/ the widow of a dentist. “I was probably the most qualified person to be a patient advocate” @j-still.bsky.social theassemblync.com/politics/den... #ncpol
theassemblync.com
How a Widow’s Appointment to the State Dental Board Got Spiked
Shital Patel’s husband died while undergoing a routine dental procedure. After advocating for safety reforms, the governor’s office told her it had named her to the state dental board–then dentists in...
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Ernesto Castañeda @drernestocast.bsky.social · 09/04/2025
Here is a deeper look at the case of Julio & his family. They are still looking for pro bono legal representation. Please let me know if you are close to Charlotte, NC & can help. By @jeffreybillman.bsky.social + @renlarson.bsky.social @theassemblync.bsky.social www.theassemblync.com/politics/tru...
theassemblync.com
He Was Living In N.C. Legally. Why Was He Deported?
Julio Zambrano, a Venezuelan asylum seeker with no criminal record, was living in Davidson. Why did the Trump administration deport him to El Salvador?
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Michael Hewlett @blackmuse.bsky.social · 09/04/2025
A must-read from @renlarson.bsky.social and @jeffreybillman.bsky.social: The Disappearance of Julio Zambrano www.theassemblync.com/politics/tru...
theassemblync.com
The Disappearance of Julio Zambrano
Julio Zambrano, a Venezuelan asylum seeker, was living in North Carolina legally. So why did the Trump administration send him to El Salvador?
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Barry Yeoman @barryyeoman.com · 09/04/2025
A Venezuelan asylum seeker was living in North Carolina legally. He has no criminal record, and there’s no evidence he was a gang member. So why did the Trump administration send him to a brutal prison in El Salvador? @jeffreybillman.bsky.social @renlarson.bsky.social @theassemblync.bsky.social
theassemblync.com
The Disappearance of Julio Zambrano
Julio Zambrano, a Venezuelan asylum seeker, was living in North Carolina legally. So why did the Trump administration send him to El Salvador?
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renlarson.bsky.social @renlarson.bsky.social · 09/04/2025
BREAKING @theassemblync.bsky.social spoke w/ families of two N.C. fathers legally in the U.S., apprehended by ICE & deported to CECOT in El Salvador. The families think its b/c: 1 They're Venezuelan 2 They have tattoos 🖊️ @jeffreybillman.bsky.social & me #ncpol www.theassemblync.com/politics/tru...
theassemblync.com
The Disappearance of Julio Zambrano
Julio Zambrano, a Venezuelan asylum seeker, was living in North Carolina legally. So why did the Trump administration send him to El Salvador?
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renlarson.bsky.social @renlarson.bsky.social · 09/04/2025
BREAKING @theassemblync.bsky.social spoke w/ families of two N.C. fathers legally in the U.S., apprehended by ICE & deported to CECOT in El Salvador. The families think its b/c: 1 They're Venezuelan 2 They have tattoos 🖊️ @jeffreybillman.bsky.social & me #ncpol www.theassemblync.com/politics/tru...
theassemblync.com
The Disappearance of Julio Zambrano
Julio Zambrano, a Venezuelan asylum seeker, was living in North Carolina legally. So why did the Trump administration send him to El Salvador?
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