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Abe

@grinhoyz.bsky.social

Nonprofit tech / digital leader. History nerd, film and comic geek, writer of stuff. Survivor of early 2010s Twitter.

197 Posts292 Follower 321 Folgt

Abe @grinhoyz.bsky.social · 7mo ago

OpenAI proudly announces new contract with US military… with obvious loopholes that seem intended to quietly permit the same abuses at which Anthropic balked

Our agreement with the Department of War

Details on OpenAI’s contract with the Department of War, outlining safety red lines, legal protections, and how AI systems will be deployed in classified environments.

openai.com

Abe @grinhoyz.bsky.social · 7mo ago

Received secondhand report of active ICE raid in Harrison, NJ. Agents reportedly blocking one or more streets with checkpoints on both ends. Treat as unverified.

Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · 8mo ago

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.

Josh Gerstein@joshgerstein.bsky.social · 8mo ago

JUST IN: Lawyers file declaration in federal court from first-hand witness to immigration agents' shooting of a US citizen onlookers today. Minneapolis Mayor Frey said details would be used to bolster case for ousting ICE from city. Doc: www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...

Dag.@3fecta.bsky.social · 8mo ago

They must have had an expose of something really bad planned by the staff.

60 Minutes@60minutes.bsky.social · 8mo ago

This Sunday, Jan. 25, 60 Minutes presents “A Night at the Movies,” a special edition featuring profiles from our archives on: • Timothée Chalamet • Jamie Lee Curtis • Kate Winslet

Brandy Zadrozny @brandyzadrozny.bsky.social · 8mo ago

Alex Pretti "used to tell people off when they made sexist comments to female physicians. He bought me coffee when I had a really bad day as an intern...I laughed alongside him daily. He made a point to teach medical residents without judgement, but with a smile on his face and a joke."

Abe @grinhoyz.bsky.social · 8mo ago

NJ Governor: We won’t let ICE into a few specific spaces without a judicial warrant, so we’ll collude with them to help facilitate kidnappings elsewhere

Murphy signs law to create ‘safe zones’ to block ICE agents — but rejects 2 other bills

On his way out the door, Murphy signed a law making hospitals and schools safe zones from ICE but rejected broader protections that advocates wanted to shield immigrants.

nj.com

Abe @grinhoyz.bsky.social · 8mo ago

Carving up the spoils

Trump wants nations to pay $1 billion for permanent Board of Peace seats

The Trump administration wants nations to pay $1 billion to remain on his Gaza peace board, reports show.

cnbc.com

Abe @grinhoyz.bsky.social · 8mo ago

Still from a video showing an ICE agent firing three shots at Renee Nicole Good’s head as her vehicle is clearly moving away from the agents

Photo of ICE agent in Minneapolis firing at Renee Nicole Good as her vehicle is clearly moving away from the agents

Electronic Frontier Foundation @eff.org · 8mo ago

With an annual budget that is 10 times the size of the agency’s total surveillance spending for the last 13 years, ICE is going on a shopping spree, creating one of the largest, most comprehensive domestic surveillance machines in history. Here’s what they are buying. www.eff.org/deeplinks/2...

ICE Is Going on a Surveillance Shopping Spree

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has a new budget under the current administration, and they are going on a surveillance tech shopping spree. Standing at $28.7 billion dollars for the

eff.org

Alejandra Caraballo @esqueer.net · last yr.

Harvard just scrapped it's office of Diversity Inclusion and Belonging and has renamed it the office of campus and community life. They will move focus from underrepresented minorities to first generation and low income students instead. Resegregation comes to Harvard.

A letter from Harvard University addressed to the Harvard community. It discusses the institution's historical commitment to expanding human knowledge and building a diverse community. It cites President Garber’s message, emphasizing the need to comply with the Supreme Court ruling in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, which makes it unlawful to use race in admissions decisions. The letter stresses the importance of embracing diversity legally and fostering empathy, understanding, and a culture where differences become sources of learning.

Continuation of the letter from Harvard University. It references findings from the 2024 Pulse Survey, noting that while many feel a sense of belonging, fewer form relationships across different viewpoints. It stresses the need to foster connections and create a culture of belonging. The Office of Community and Campus Life will refocus on providing forums for schools, expanding programs for engagement, and enhancing support for first-generation and low-income students. Signed by Sherri Ann Charleston, Chief Community and Campus Life Officer.

Matt Novak @paleofuture.bsky.social · last yr.

Dana Bash: “Well, you’ll let us know if you get a response to that letter.”

Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com · last yr.

Schumer on the Democratic response to Trump's shakedown of Harvard: "We sent him a very strong letter just the other day asking eight very strong questions."

Michael Jay McClure @mjmimages.bsky.social · last yr.

Andry José Hernández Romero, I remember you, even if I do not know how to articulate my horror, rage, & sorrow at your treatment by my government. No one has heard from you in 43 days. As vigil, I’m posting a photo of you every day until you are returned from El Salvador.

Mark Copelovitch @mcopelov.bsky.social · last yr.

American. Citizens. Cannot. Be. Deported. I know we all want to be concise, but we simply cannot use the shorthand terms of the fascists when they describe wildly illegal & unconstitutional things. Extrajudicial renditions. Kidnappings. Wildly unconstitutional fascism. All right there as options.

Timothy McBride@mcbridetd.bsky.social · last yr.

Three U.S. citizens, ages 2, 4 and 7, swiftly deported from Louisiana www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/...

Jen Bendery @jbendery.bsky.social · last yr.

NEW: PublicSquare, a website that lets you search for businesses in your community that explicitly want you to know they endorse Trump/MAGA values, is backfiring as people use it to boycott those businesses. www.huffpost.com/entry/public...

Website For MAGA-Friendly Businesses Backfires As People Use It For Boycotts

Social media posts about PublicSquare have gone viral as Trump critics use it to find companies not to support – the opposite of what the site was set up for.

huffpost.com

Chris Geidner @chrisgeidner.bsky.social · last yr.

Well, this is horrifying.

Kyle Cheney@kyledcheney.bsky.social · last yr.

NEW: A federal judge raised alarm Friday that the Trump administration appeared to have deported a 2-year-old U.S. citizen to Honduras with "no meaningful process" — even as her father was fighting to keep her in the country. Details w/ @joshgerstein.bsky.social www.politico.com/news/2025/04...

Alejandra Caraballo @esqueer.net · last yr.

New interim guidance from the UK "Equality and Human Rights Commission." Trans people are effectively banned from all bathrooms. www.equalityhumanrights.com/media-centre...

A list outlining policies for the use of public workplace facilities by trans individuals. Key points include that trans women (biological men) and trans men (biological women) should not use facilities designated for the opposite biological sex, as this would make them no longer single-sex. In some cases, trans individuals may also be restricted from using facilities of their own biological sex. It suggests the provision of mixed-sex facilities where possible and allows for gender-neutral use of lockable single-person rooms.

Abe @grinhoyz.bsky.social · last yr.

Release the Kraken.

Post nicht verfügbar.

Plz be patient with me @bmeson.lucyparsonslabs.com · last yr.

This is crazy. ICE didn’t have event have a warrant to arrest the guy! The judge asked for it and they said “we have an administrative warrant” (not a real warrant). She told them to kick rock and now the FBI is charging her with obstruction the arrest ‼️

southpaw@nycsouthpaw.bsky.social · last yr.

Affidavit part 3/3

Abe @grinhoyz.bsky.social · last yr.

The ADL's latest antisemitism audit sounds the alarm over non-Zionist Rosh Hashanah observances... while the organization continues to defend Elon Musk's literal Nazi salutes New from @benlorber8.bsky.social in @religiondispatches.org

Once Again the ADL Antisemitism Audit Overreaches — Including an Embarrassing Failure to Recognize a Jewish Ritual

This week, the ADL released its annual audit of antisemitic incidents. Predictably, the organization repeated its familiar mantra that the Palestine solidarity movement was the chief culprit behind a ...

religiondispatches.org

Chanda Prescod-Weinstein 🌌@chanda.blacksky.app · last yr.

This should be a huge story

April D Ryan@aprildryan.bsky.social · last yr.

blackpressusa.com/the-smithson...

klaudia @kaludiasays.bsky.social · last yr.

The first issue of Nemik's Weekly Manifesto, the newsletter I'm working on with @getfree-mvmt.bsky.social to mobilize Star Wars fans into real life action around #Andor season 2, is here! Let's get what inspired these episodes, and what you can do right now: bit.ly/NemiksManife...

“The Empire cannot win. You’ll never feel right unless you are doing what you can to stop them. You are coming home to yourself. You’ve become more than your fear. Let that protect you.” - Cassian Andor, Andor Season 2 Episode 1, “One Year Later”

bit.ly

Briana Mills, LMFT ♿️🏳️‍🌈@brianamillslmft.bsky.social · last yr.

Your regular reminder that the COVID pandemic is NOT over. Please use the proper language when talking about it. Please don’t say “During COVID” or “When COVID.” We are still deeply in it. People are still dying and becoming disabled from Long COVID.

Abe @grinhoyz.bsky.social · last yr.

Houthi airstrike defense estimated to have destroyed over half a billion dollars worth of American military hardware

What Air Defenses Do The Houthis In Yemen Actually Have?

The loss of nearly 20 MQ-9 Reapers, increasing use of standoff munitions, and the deployment of B-2 bombers point to the Houthis' air defenses being a real problem.

twz.com

Alyssa Long @measuredandslow.bsky.social · last yr.

Hi I used to work at Starbucks customer service: if you call or email about this, they are absolutely tracking those numbers, and a sufficient amount of public pushback does make them rethink shit sometimes, so now would be an EXCELLENT time to let them know they’re being ableist shitheads

starbucks.com

Mark Ungrin@mark-ungrin.bsky.social · last yr.

🧵Confirmation via a friend: Starbucks will forbid employees from masking without a medical note. Giant US-based MAGAcorp known for union-busting, actively preventing workers from protecting themselves and the public from known workplace health hazards? Starbucks wants you infected. 👉 #Sickbucks 👈

Starbucks Information

To You

9:01AM

Dear Jennifer,

Thank you for contacting Starbucks, we very much appreciate all of your thoughts and I am sorry to read about your disagreement for the new barista's dress code and mask removal. I know how important this is for you and how frustrating this seems to be.

I want you to know that your concerns have been fully documented; we are always excited to receive feedback from our loyal customers about your Starbucks Experience. You know better than anyone else what you want from Starbucks. By updating our dress code, we can deliver a more consistent coffeehouse experience that will also bring simpler and clearer guidance to our partners, which means they can focus on what matters most, crafting great beverages and fostering connections with customers. We appreciate your understanding.

We value your continued support and are committed to improving your experience with Starbucks. If you have any further questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out. We're here for you.

Wish you a marvelous day ahead,

Warm Regards,

Hashmita A.

Starbucks Customer Care

Akela Lacy @akelalacy.bsky.social · last yr.

I love when the NYT rewrites my entire story and doesn’t cite it until the 16th paragraph

Catherine Rampell@crampell.bsky.social · last yr.

Ah yes, the government asking Jews to register as Jewish, in the name of protecting the Jews. No way that could go wrong www.nytimes.com/2025/04/23/n...

Chanda Prescod-Weinstein 🌌@chanda.blacksky.app · last yr.

This so directly out of the Nazi playbook. The very obvious plan is to get rid of the independent accreditors and put all universities under jurisdiction of the federal government. This is how Hitler took over German academia and made it a wing of his party.

Alejandra Caraballo@esqueer.net · last yr.

They're going after the accreditation of universities and threatening to revoke the ability of accreditors if they don't crack down on DEI and LGBTQ people in academia. www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...

Abe @grinhoyz.bsky.social · last yr.

Good to see @newrepublic.com showcasing quality independent journalism, especially with this important story

Marisa Kabas@marisakabas.bsky.social · last yr.

Thanks to @newrepublic.com for trusting and sharing my reporting

Robert Maguire @robertmaguire.bsky.social · last yr.

It's a high bar, but this from @radleybalko.bsky.social might be one of the most fucked up things I've read in the new Trump era. For context, this TX lawyer had just had an informal conversation with a family caught up in ICE raids. Seriously. Read this. radleybalko.substack.com/p/the-courag...

“A couple days later, on March 6, I was working from home at around 11:30 when I got a notice that my VPN had gone down,” he says. “I didn’t think much about it. It can cut out from time to time. About 10 minutes later, I got a knock at the door.”

Two men were outside Jackson’s door, dressed in slacks and polos. They were not wearing badges.

“I first thought they were going to try to sell me something. But as soon as I opened the door they said, ‘Are you Clayton Jackson?’ I think I shook my head or said ‘yeah,’ and then I heard, ‘We have information that you are obstructing an ongoing immigration investigation.’”

Jackson says alarms went off in his head. “My first instinct was to want to know what this was about. That it must be a misunderstanding. So I started to tell them about how I’ve been involved in some pro bono work. Then this voice in my head kicked in and just said, you need to shut the fuck up — don’t say anything.”

The officers never identified themselves. They did ask if they could come inside.

“I said absolutely not,” Jackson says. “I asked for their names and badge numbers. They said they didn’t have to provide that information at this time. So I told them I’d be calling my lawyer and I shut the door behind me.”

Jackson says his mind started racing. “I needed to know who they were, what agency they were with. Then I remembered that I have the Ring camera. Maybe I could watch the video of the incident and figure out who they were from that.”

There was no video. “That’s when I learned why my VPN had gone down. It wasn’t the VPN. Someone had shut off my Wifi.”

About 15 minutes after the interaction at his front door, Jackson’s Wifi was up and running again.

Data Against Fascism @dataagainstfascism.bsky.social · last yr.

Also on the tracker a man arrested yesterday in this poster's hometown of Columbus, Ohio. As a reddit commentor in the story in r/Columbus said.. "I'd believe there are hot local singles in my area before I believe an ICE Social Media post." ICE claims without proof that he is in Tren De Aragua.

Matt Novak @paleofuture.bsky.social · last yr.

Tim Pool is in the White House briefing room today and the top producer at 60 Minutes has resigned because he doesn't have journalistic independence anymore. Bleak times for journalism.

Nolan Hicks@ndhapple.bsky.social · last yr.

“CBS News entered a new period of turmoil on Tuesday after the executive producer of “60 Minutes,” Bill Owens, said that he would resign from the long-running Sunday news program because he had lost his journalistic independence.” — www.nytimes.com/2025/04/22/b...