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Mike Ward

@mikeward.bsky.social

(he/him) @sthmtnmike from the bad place. Artist, illustrator, book reader, mandolin & guitar picker, Lego sorter & curator.

224 Followers  |  471 Following  |  291 Posts  |  Joined: 06.08.2023  |  1.9024

Latest posts by mikeward.bsky.social on Bluesky

Someone has sure already made this observation but the fact they can convert all those empty warehouses into prison camps means they could have converted them into housing, community centers, job training centers or, hell, libraries or schools all along. It’s always a matter of will not resources.

15.02.2026 17:30 β€” πŸ‘ 39377    πŸ” 13319    πŸ’¬ 637    πŸ“Œ 564
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ICE is still active all across Minnesota, even parking at observers homes this morning. But we’ve been showing up all weekend with massive food drives, placing hearts where were abducted, at singing marches, and there’s another big protest at Jackson Square Park today at noon. Let’s keep showing up!

15.02.2026 17:08 β€” πŸ‘ 714    πŸ” 306    πŸ’¬ 5    πŸ“Œ 15
Preview
The billionaires' eugenics project: how Epstein infiltrated Harvard, muzzled the humanities and preached master-race science Edge - Jeffrey Epstein's favourite intellectual salon - was sold to me as a gathering of the world's finest minds, writes Virginia Heffernan. The files reveal it was something far darker: a decades-lo...

NEW: Read this terrific piece @virginiaheffernan.bsky.social for @thenerve.news in which she unpicks Edge.org, the hugely influential 'salon' funded by Epstein & threaded through with race science & eugenics.
1/

www.thenerve.news/p/epstein-bi...

15.02.2026 11:18 β€” πŸ‘ 1750    πŸ” 998    πŸ’¬ 50    πŸ“Œ 122

Sort of gives away the lie that they're arresting hardened criminals who are drags on society when they're setting up traps to lure in Good Samaritans

15.02.2026 01:10 β€” πŸ‘ 13403    πŸ” 4454    πŸ’¬ 267    πŸ“Œ 111

It really is amazing how much of political punditry, *especially* elite outfits in NYC and Washington, still embrace this bizarre idea that rural spaces represent the "Real America" while metropolitan areas, where most (presumably real) Americans actually live, should be held in contempt.

14.02.2026 22:41 β€” πŸ‘ 3260    πŸ” 675    πŸ’¬ 97    πŸ“Œ 41

ICE is still in my Minneapolis neighborhood today.

14.02.2026 19:44 β€” πŸ‘ 399    πŸ” 216    πŸ’¬ 10    πŸ“Œ 4
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Police don’t wear masks. State troopers don’t wear masks. The National Guard doesn’t wear masks. But you know who does?

White supremacists, militia groups, insurrectionists, and ICE.

13.02.2026 23:45 β€” πŸ‘ 3766    πŸ” 1537    πŸ’¬ 183    πŸ“Œ 67

It's not a new observation at this point but that wild Noem/Lewandowski story in WSJ really brings home the extent to which all the Trump 2 cabinet-level goblins see their jobs as flying private, doing short-form video, and screaming at underlings. They all hate each other and none of them can read.

13.02.2026 04:48 β€” πŸ‘ 19242    πŸ” 3687    πŸ’¬ 288    πŸ“Œ 125

As we dig into this scandal, can we revisit the question about why the president's son-in-law, who has no formal role in this administration, keeps showing up at high-level negotiations with actual world leaders?

12.02.2026 22:23 β€” πŸ‘ 5681    πŸ” 1602    πŸ’¬ 217    πŸ“Œ 47

It feels like a good time for a Skeleton Crew rewatch.

12.02.2026 17:36 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Every photo from Minneapolis looks like this. Cops decked out with guns and full tac gear facing off against people in bathrobes, parkas, and sweatpants armed only with whistles and cell phones.

Yet every verified MAGA chode on X dutifully calls it a riot or violent insurrection.

11.02.2026 23:50 β€” πŸ‘ 13549    πŸ” 4821    πŸ’¬ 242    πŸ“Œ 276

Hey @phish.com. I'm literally begging you to do the bare minimum here. There is no possible benefit that his agency provides you that another couldn't that would make it worth staying. You don't even have to take the lead. Just follow people like Abby.

Please. We're watching. #phish

11.02.2026 18:30 β€” πŸ‘ 68    πŸ” 17    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0
photo of Pam Bondi testifying in the foreground as a group of 7 women and 1 men raise their hands

photo of Pam Bondi testifying in the foreground as a group of 7 women and 1 men raise their hands

Likely-historic photo by NBC News of all the Epstein victims asked to raise their hands if they've not yet been asked to meet with the DOJ as Bondi testifies in foreground

11.02.2026 17:15 β€” πŸ‘ 40447    πŸ” 13806    πŸ’¬ 1375    πŸ“Œ 900
Post image 10.02.2026 22:59 β€” πŸ‘ 1064    πŸ” 417    πŸ’¬ 17    πŸ“Œ 26

Don't just read Rupar's quote in the post. Listed to her. bsky.app/profile/atru...

10.02.2026 17:22 β€” πŸ‘ 350    πŸ” 89    πŸ’¬ 8    πŸ“Œ 1
The dissents’ positions in the end boil down to ignoring
the Constitution’s separation of powers and the Court’s
precedent and instead fear mongering on the basis of ex-
treme hypotheticals about a future where the President
β€œfeels empowered to violate federal criminal law.” Post, at
18 (opinion of SOTOMAYOR, J.); see post, at 26, 29–30; post,
at 8–9, 10, 12, 16, 20–21 (opinion of JACKSON, J.).

The dissents’ positions in the end boil down to ignoring the Constitution’s separation of powers and the Court’s precedent and instead fear mongering on the basis of ex- treme hypotheticals about a future where the President β€œfeels empowered to violate federal criminal law.” Post, at 18 (opinion of SOTOMAYOR, J.); see post, at 26, 29–30; post, at 8–9, 10, 12, 16, 20–21 (opinion of JACKSON, J.).

Every time I re-read Trump v. United States, it feels like getting hit in the head with a mallet.

06.02.2026 17:55 β€” πŸ‘ 4699    πŸ” 1080    πŸ’¬ 79    πŸ“Œ 64
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This is 18-mo-old Amalia waving to me when she was detained.

She was hospitalized with a respiratory infection while at ICE’s Dilley facility for immigrant families.

She’s one of dozens of detainees who I spoke to via video and phone calls, letters and an in-person visit. 🧡1/

09.02.2026 11:21 β€” πŸ‘ 1496    πŸ” 683    πŸ’¬ 20    πŸ“Œ 79

What annoys MAGA about Bad Bunny is their inability to control/disrupt/destroy joy. We are all supposed to be conquered peoples. We are supposed to despair and eventually die at their command. It is unfathomable to them that people can find joy despite their suffering.

…and that is how we win.

09.02.2026 13:09 β€” πŸ‘ 29    πŸ” 8    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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9-year-old Maria Antonia Guerra from Colombia was detained on her way to Disney World. She told me when I met her that what was supposed to be a 10-day dream vacation to the park’s Halloween celebration turned into a 100+ day nightmare at Dilley. 6/

09.02.2026 11:21 β€” πŸ‘ 747    πŸ” 341    πŸ’¬ 9    πŸ“Œ 15
Page 1 of a child’s handwritten letter, written in Spanish in a cursive script. Translation: β€œHello I am Ender and I am 12 years old, I have been at this centerΒ  for 2 months. I arrived here for an immigration appointment and I don’t think they should grab immigrants who are innocent, like instead of grabbing criminals because I mean they prefer to lock up children than look for people who really shouldn’t be in the U.S. They told me I could only be here 21 days but I have already spent more than 60 days waking up eating the same repetitive meals, going outside and that the majority of guards never pay attention to people, eating dinnerΒ  always the same as the day before, seeing people cry every day for the same reasons, trying to sleep in that horrible uncomfortable bed, going to the doctor and that the only thing they tell you is to drink more water and the worst thing is that it seems like the water is what makes people sick here…”

Page 1 of a child’s handwritten letter, written in Spanish in a cursive script. Translation: β€œHello I am Ender and I am 12 years old, I have been at this centerΒ  for 2 months. I arrived here for an immigration appointment and I don’t think they should grab immigrants who are innocent, like instead of grabbing criminals because I mean they prefer to lock up children than look for people who really shouldn’t be in the U.S. They told me I could only be here 21 days but I have already spent more than 60 days waking up eating the same repetitive meals, going outside and that the majority of guards never pay attention to people, eating dinnerΒ  always the same as the day before, seeing people cry every day for the same reasons, trying to sleep in that horrible uncomfortable bed, going to the doctor and that the only thing they tell you is to drink more water and the worst thing is that it seems like the water is what makes people sick here…”

Page 2 of a child’s handwritten letter, written in Spanish in a cursive script. Translation: β€œβ€¦going to wait for the bad answers from the judges, hearing the bad news from people who no longer have hope, having to share a room with minimum 3 families, and all that so they send us back to our countries.” Below the text is a drawing in pen of three women, titled β€œMy family” and labeled with β€œMama,” β€œSister,” and β€œme” in Spanish.

Page 2 of a child’s handwritten letter, written in Spanish in a cursive script. Translation: β€œβ€¦going to wait for the bad answers from the judges, hearing the bad news from people who no longer have hope, having to share a room with minimum 3 families, and all that so they send us back to our countries.” Below the text is a drawing in pen of three women, titled β€œMy family” and labeled with β€œMama,” β€œSister,” and β€œme” in Spanish.

5/ β€œI have already spent more than 60 days waking up eating the same repetitive meals…going to the doctor and that the only thing they tell you is to drink more water and the worst thing is that it seems like the water is what makes people sick here…”

From 12-year-old Ender, detained 60+ days

09.02.2026 12:34 β€” πŸ‘ 3376    πŸ” 1275    πŸ’¬ 17    πŸ“Œ 76

What the hell is happening. No criminal record. Valid work permit. Married to an American. Locked in a cold, dank El Paso detention center for 5 mos. while the U.S. tries to deport him. Why? #Ireland #ICE #immigration

09.02.2026 10:39 β€” πŸ‘ 104    πŸ” 43    πŸ’¬ 4    πŸ“Œ 2
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We asked www.PAXIS.app

🚨 ICE BROKE THE LAW 🚨
Smashed legal observer’s window with a rifle and dragged them out. No warrant. No crime. Just retaliation

❌ 4A bans warrantless force
❌ 18 USC §242 = rights abuse
βœ… Legal recourse: Bivens, FTCA, DHS complaints

Fight ICE: gofund.me/2dafa642c

08.02.2026 18:46 β€” πŸ‘ 303    πŸ” 173    πŸ’¬ 30    πŸ“Œ 8

Finally watched K-pop Demon Hunters last night and loved it; awesome animation, really funny, great music.

07.02.2026 19:26 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

β€œThey’re basically torturing people into signing off on their own deportation,” said one attorney.

Superb, deeply reported story, via @charpentier.bsky.social

07.02.2026 15:03 β€” πŸ‘ 1313    πŸ” 717    πŸ’¬ 19    πŸ“Œ 21

The cruelty of these power drunk, unelected bureaucrats but be held to account.

06.02.2026 19:17 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

I don't know how any parent can read these stories without shaking with rage.

06.02.2026 19:08 β€” πŸ‘ 425    πŸ” 147    πŸ’¬ 23    πŸ“Œ 4
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Trump has revealed the identity of the lower-level White House staffer who posted the racist video.

06.02.2026 18:54 β€” πŸ‘ 381    πŸ” 67    πŸ’¬ 15    πŸ“Œ 3
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Another batch of Trump's judicial nominees refused in their confirmation hearings today to publicly acknowledge that Joe Biden won the 2020 election, which annoyed Sen. Richard Blumenthal enough for him to call them "monkeys" and "puppets"

04.02.2026 17:33 β€” πŸ‘ 2009    πŸ” 667    πŸ’¬ 145    πŸ“Œ 148

Unelected bureaucrats with the power to upend people’s lives.

06.02.2026 12:20 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Photo of 7 year old Diana Crespo sitting with her parents at a table in a restaurant. Her dad is giving a thumbs up.

Photo of 7 year old Diana Crespo sitting with her parents at a table in a restaurant. Her dad is giving a thumbs up.

The public made noise for Liam Ramos and it got him released from Dilley.

Now we must make noise for 7 year old Diana Crespo.

Her parents were taking her for emergency medical care when ICE grabbed them, and she’s rotting in the camp sick and exposed to measles.

Get them out!

06.02.2026 00:08 β€” πŸ‘ 11875    πŸ” 6270    πŸ’¬ 99    πŸ“Œ 119

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