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Lauren Wolfe

@laurenwolfe.bsky.social

Journalist. Former NYU J-school prof, current and forever dog parent. Editing at CPJ. Chills.substack.com

1,748 Followers  |  434 Following  |  247 Posts  |  Joined: 23.06.2023
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Posts by Lauren Wolfe (@laurenwolfe.bsky.social)

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What Happened to the Men Deported by the U.S. to South Sudan? Months after a secretive third-country deportation flight, here’s what we know.

What happened to the men the U.S. deported to South Sudan?

Six remain detained in Juba months later. A shadowy deportation program, opaque agreements and ongoing court battles leave their fate uncertain. New on Chills: chills.substack.com/p/what-happe...

26.02.2026 18:07 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 5    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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What Happened to the Men Deported by the U.S. to South Sudan? Months after a secretive third-country deportation flight, here’s what we know.

What happened to the men the U.S. deported to South Sudan?

Six remain detained in Juba months later. A shadowy deportation program, opaque agreements and ongoing court battles leave their fate uncertain. New on Chills: chills.substack.com/p/what-happe...

26.02.2026 18:07 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 5    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Look, the β€œfraud” isn’t fraud, just β€œcrime” isn’t crime. It’s a stand-in for race. To be nonwhite is to be fraudulent, just as it’s a crime to be nonwhite. The press does not have to accept this coded language. Reporters can say what the regime means.

26.02.2026 00:56 β€” πŸ‘ 42    πŸ” 26    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 3
Two screenshots, one from the Holocaust Encyclopedia, the other from Erin In the Morning.

The first: On October 5, 1938, the Reich Ministry of the Interior invalidates all German passports held by Jews. Jews must surrender their old passports, which will become valid only after the letter "J" has been stamped on them.

The second, published on February 26, 2026: β€œKansas Sends Letters To Trans People Demanding The Immediately Surrender Of Drivers Licenses”. Subtitle: β€œThe legislature did not include a grace period."

Two screenshots, one from the Holocaust Encyclopedia, the other from Erin In the Morning. The first: On October 5, 1938, the Reich Ministry of the Interior invalidates all German passports held by Jews. Jews must surrender their old passports, which will become valid only after the letter "J" has been stamped on them. The second, published on February 26, 2026: β€œKansas Sends Letters To Trans People Demanding The Immediately Surrender Of Drivers Licenses”. Subtitle: β€œThe legislature did not include a grace period."

History often rhymes with itself.

26.02.2026 01:24 β€” πŸ‘ 65    πŸ” 44    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 2
An official letter from the Kansas Division of Vehicles dated February 23, 2026, with a redacted recipient address. The letter notifies the recipient that due to the enactment of Senate Bill 244, all Kansas driver's licenses and IDs must reflect the holder's sex at birth. It states that the recipient's current credential will become invalid immediately upon the law's publication on February 26, 2026, with no grace period. The recipient is directed to surrender their current ID to receive a new one matching their sex assigned at birth. The document concludes with instructions on how to appeal the notice if received in error, along with contact information for the department.

An official letter from the Kansas Division of Vehicles dated February 23, 2026, with a redacted recipient address. The letter notifies the recipient that due to the enactment of Senate Bill 244, all Kansas driver's licenses and IDs must reflect the holder's sex at birth. It states that the recipient's current credential will become invalid immediately upon the law's publication on February 26, 2026, with no grace period. The recipient is directed to surrender their current ID to receive a new one matching their sex assigned at birth. The document concludes with instructions on how to appeal the notice if received in error, along with contact information for the department.

Kansas is sending letters to trans people telling them that their licenses will be revoked as of tomorrow and that they risk arrest for driving on a suspended license.

This is pure cruelty.

www.erininthemorning.com/p/kansas-sen...

26.02.2026 01:10 β€” πŸ‘ 8525    πŸ” 4248    πŸ’¬ 318    πŸ“Œ 747

There are old lady hippies singing hippie songs in the lounge outside my apt. It’s keeping me sane

25.02.2026 03:26 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Every Democrat needs to stand up and walk out of the chamber. This is no joke. This is fascism and it’s time to make a damn point.

25.02.2026 03:18 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

I have to watch the State of the Union because I sinned in a past life and am
being punished by a vengeful God.

25.02.2026 01:44 β€” πŸ‘ 1434    πŸ” 74    πŸ’¬ 37    πŸ“Œ 0

Watching Vance and Johnson helps. It’s like staring at the headrest from the back seat of the car to stave off a little nausea

25.02.2026 03:04 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

WHAT HEALTH CARE PLAN

25.02.2026 02:49 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Why does Mike Johnson look like your loser nephew who ended up at your house for Thanksgiving dinner and is afraid to tell his parents he dropped out of college

25.02.2026 02:43 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Everyone in America is very confused about β€œTrump accounts” right now

25.02.2026 02:42 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

So far I can’t figure out if we’re watching an SNL sketch?

25.02.2026 02:29 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Everyone have their eggs ready?

25.02.2026 02:12 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

πŸ’―

24.02.2026 22:35 β€” πŸ‘ 56    πŸ” 19    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Guests Include Epstein Survivors, Minnesotans Impacted by ICE More than a dozen House Democrats are bringing survivors of the late...

More than a dozen House Democrats are bringing survivors of the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein as their guests to the address tonight.

24.02.2026 18:53 β€” πŸ‘ 125    πŸ” 31    πŸ’¬ 5    πŸ“Œ 3
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The Waiting Room Refugees were told they were safe. Now the U.S. government may reopen their cases β€” and test the meaning of refuge itself.

They waited years. They were screened, approved, admitted. They built lives in America β€” jobs, families, routines.

Now the government may reopen their cases and detain them anyway.

Refuge was supposed to end the waiting. It may not.

New on Chills: chills.substack.com/p/the-waitin...

23.02.2026 17:04 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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I had never seen this Fox News dropdown before. Many fairs, such balance.

24.02.2026 18:05 β€” πŸ‘ 523    πŸ” 72    πŸ’¬ 27    πŸ“Œ 22
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My Brooklyn street today. As seen from Seattle πŸ’ƒ

24.02.2026 04:38 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Rep. Randy Fine said: β€œIf they force us to choose, the choice between dogs and Muslims is not a difficult one.”

So as dumb as the story seems, there is serious hatred behind the move.

23.02.2026 18:47 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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MAGA lawmaker launches β€˜Protecting Puppies from Sharia Act’ Representative Randy Fine was slammed for claiming for suggesting β€˜the choice between dogs and Muslims is not a difficult one’

This just broke my brain www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...

23.02.2026 18:45 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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The Waiting Room Refugees were told they were safe. Now the U.S. government may reopen their cases β€” and test the meaning of refuge itself.

They waited years. They were screened, approved, admitted. They built lives in America β€” jobs, families, routines.

Now the government may reopen their cases and detain them anyway.

Refuge was supposed to end the waiting. It may not.

New on Chills: chills.substack.com/p/the-waitin...

23.02.2026 17:04 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

congrats to everyone, well done, no notes

22.02.2026 17:10 β€” πŸ‘ 830    πŸ” 192    πŸ’¬ 12    πŸ“Œ 0
The more than 3 million people applying each year for immigration status changes β€” such as seeking work or travel authorization, a green card, or citizenship β€” will now be required to give the government their social media handles. In some cases, they must also provide the handles of their young children, spouses, and parents, many of whom are U.S. citizens, green card holders, or are otherwise in the United States legally. The new rules will require them to submit any social media handles they have used over the past five years, whether used in a personal or professional capacity or even on behalf of an organization. This covers platforms including Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube as well as messaging services such as WhatsApp, Telegram, and GroupMe.

The more than 3 million people applying each year for immigration status changes β€” such as seeking work or travel authorization, a green card, or citizenship β€” will now be required to give the government their social media handles. In some cases, they must also provide the handles of their young children, spouses, and parents, many of whom are U.S. citizens, green card holders, or are otherwise in the United States legally. The new rules will require them to submit any social media handles they have used over the past five years, whether used in a personal or professional capacity or even on behalf of an organization. This covers platforms including Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube as well as messaging services such as WhatsApp, Telegram, and GroupMe.

Well, shit. This is batshit. This is bullshit. Even *posting* that I think this is bullshit is... I can't even.

(I have a green card)

www.brennancenter.org/our-work/ana...

22.02.2026 16:29 β€” πŸ‘ 845    πŸ” 337    πŸ’¬ 45    πŸ“Œ 36
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The US deported a gay asylum-seeker to a third country where homosexuality is illegal A woman who sought asylum in the United States after fleeing a country where homosexuality is illegal says the Trump administration's third-country deportation system sent her to another one.

apnews.com/article/trum...

22.02.2026 17:29 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Washington Post layoffs disproportionately affected union members of color, preliminary Guild data shows "We cannot ignore what this means for equity, representation, and the future of this organization."

Well, this is fucked up www.niemanlab.org/2026/02/wash...

19.02.2026 19:05 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

"We have peace in the middle east right now" says Trump, at his Board of Peace Meeting as he positions massive numbers of bombers to the region. Referring to Iran: "We may need to take it further, you'll find out in about 10 days, maybe"

19.02.2026 15:06 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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β€˜We returned from hell’: Palestinian journalists recount torture in Israeli prisons - Committee to Protect Journalists Content warning: This article contains graphic descriptions of physical, psychological, and sexual violence. Palestinian journalist Ahmed Abdel Aal remembers the moment the ear-splitting music started...

Across dozens of cases, CPJ documented a recurring set of abuse β€” from beating to starvation, sexual violence, and medical neglect β€” directed at journalists because of their work. cpj.org/special-repo...

19.02.2026 15:15 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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The Cost of Caring in the Age of Endless Lies Audiences aren’t indifferent β€” they’re overwhelmed, and journalism struggles to land amid constant contradiction and cognitive overload.

Journalism’s challenge now isn’t just telling the truth; it’s creating the conditions under which truth can still land in a world where caring is expensive. chills.substack.com/p/the-cost-o...

19.02.2026 04:03 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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AOC’s Munich Stumble Is a Warning to the Left It’s time for progressives to get more sophisticated about national security and foreign policy.

This is an example of how not to do journalism. Picking out a tiny moment in a congressperson's spoken life vs. the extreme statements from the right-wing, including from our actual president, is the kind of both-sides-ism that is killing our media, and our democracy. nymag.com/intelligence...

19.02.2026 04:00 β€” πŸ‘ 7    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0