Melanie

Melanie

@passifloraresearch.com

Professional genealogist & attorney. Former civil AUSA. Clinton White House/Pentagon alum. She/her. beehiiv: https://integrity-through-time.beehiiv.com/

2K followers942 following1.8K posts

Melanie reposted

In a phone call from Mogadishu, one of the Somalis who was sent to Guantanamo Bay before deportation said the ICE agents guarding the prison told him they would bring all of the Somalis they arrest to Gitmo.

Mother Jones@motherjones.com

In August, the Trump administration flew 12 Somali immigrants to an ICE facility at Guantanamo Bay. “Nobody tell us that we’re going to Guantanamo Bay,” Sakariye Abdi Mohamed told journalist Amanda Moore in a phone call from the detention facility. “Just like kidnapping.”

Melanie reposted

Michael Atiyah 🇪🇬: Fields Medal 1966 (also Abel Prize 2004), for K-theory. Ahmed Zewail 🇪🇬: Nobel for Chemistry 1999, for his work on femtochemistry. Omar M. Yaghi 🇯🇴: Wolf Prize 2018, Nobel for Chemistry 2025, for his work on reticular chemistry Naguib Mahfouz 🇪🇬: Nobel for literature 1988

The Bulwark@thebulwark.com

RFK: "There's five hundred million Arabs in the world. And yet they don't produce science. They don't win the Nobel Prize. They don't win the Fields Prize. They don't win the Wolf Prize. They don't produce literature."

Melanie reposted

There's no pretense left. J. K. Rowling made her hate for trans women clear in a slur-filled screed slurring them a dozen times and describing them as deceitful and dangerous. So writes @evanurquhart.bsky.social this morning on Assigned Media. *WARNING: Article quotes Rowling's hateful language.*

assignedmedia.orgJ. K. Rowling’s Extremism Escalates in Hateful “Update” on Anti-Trans Views - Assigned MediaRowling's most recent essay puts her hateful views on display for all to see.

Melanie reposted

After refueling in Ireland (yes, Irish people called the gardaí), this ICE removal flight landed in India. Migrant passengers onboard were shackled at the ankles, wrists, and waist for at least 20 hours. Expecting two more private jet ICE flights to leave Mesa, AZ today. Follow this thread.

Gillian Brockell@gillianbrockell.com

HEADS-UP, IRELAND. Another ICE flight headed your way. Based on info from human source, I expect this ICE flight — and/or another one tomorrow — to be unlawfully refouling Ukrainians through Poland.

Melanie reposted

In letter to Washington’s SOS threatening legal action over alleged noncitizens on rolls, DOJ gets the date wrong for the election, writing Nov. 2, 2026. Election Day is Nov. 3. And they misspell voter rolls as “roles” MS NOW obtained a copy of DOJ letter demanding WA set aside ballots

Melanie reposted

i am inviting anyone from a legacy media organization to explain to me why the house judiciary dems report on trump’s epstein’s ties and multiple allegations of rape isn’t worthy of extensively reporting on. i’m serious. i want to understand.

Melanie reposted

“Tech giant Meta said on Tuesday it has complied with an order of Brazil's electoral court for it to give equal treatment in its platforms to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and….Flávio Bolsonaro ahead of the Oct. 25 runoff for the nation's top job.” (IT TOOK A COURT ORDER.) 10/20/26 … 1/

share.googleMeta tells Brazil's electoral court it gives equal treatment to Lula and Flávio BolsonaroMeta said it had "completed the implementation of measures to comply with the directive from the electoral court."

Melanie reposted

Russia is committing war crimes and crimes against humanity by intentionally attacking civilian infrastructure – including vital energy systems – in Ukraine, an independent UN investigations panel said on Monday.

Melanie reposted

Adding to Chanda’s point here: this level of action and optimism can likely be attributed to the fact that Lula and the Workers’ Party are leftist and they believe that better things are possible.

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Melanie reposted

DOJ broke the law when it fired Maurene Comey. Today, a federal judge ruled to hold the Department accountable. Justice Connection proudly filed an amicus brief supporting her case. We’re thrilled to see the protections afforded to career public servants upheld.

nytimes.comTrump Administration Unlawfully Fired Maurene Comey, Judge RulesMs. Comey, the daughter of James B. Comey, was a trial lawyer for the U.S. attorney’s office in Manhattan, handling the prosecutions of Jeffrey Epstein and Sean Combs.

Melanie reposted

At the end of lecture this morning I told my students it was none of my business who they voted for, but it was absolutely my business that they voted. "It is, quite literally, the least you can do." They seemed to appreciate it. One young woman even started clapping.

Melanie reposted

Everyone who is saying "Dems in red states have to throw trans people under the bus to win" -- no. They don't. When they do that, we just start with no winning options on the table. It gives in to the fascist premise that we get to decide some groups don't get rights. THIS is what I want to see.

BeshearStan@beshearstan.bsky.social

Kansas Dem Sen. nominee Adam Hamilton on trans rights: “I don’t think we should take a small group of people and bully them, pick on them, and hurt them. I understand one thing really clearly when it comes to transgender people, and that is Jesus told me I was to love my neighbor as I love myself”

Melanie reposted

Ninth Circuit's Bennet, to DOJ: How do we have jurisdiction here, given that the district court hasn't ruled yet on the timeline you asked for? Bennet: How did this filing happen, by accident? (Oof.)

Melanie reposted

If the restrictions on Starlink led to any deaths in Ukraine, hopefully the ICC will investigate whether Musk’s conduct here constitutes a war crime Regardless, no nation should rely on anything controlled by any billionaire-most of all Musk-to help conduct its military operations

Mark Chadbourn@chadbourn.bsky.social

Musk is panicking about his recent anti-Ukraine moves following bi-partisan demands to bring his business under scrutiny, and perhaps control.

Melanie reposted

repost if you will never vote for a democrat willing to harm trans kids puberty blockers are medicine hormones are medicine nobody is carving your kids up children know who they feel like

Melanie reposted

There are concentration camps in the USA. These monsters must be defeated and prosecuted.

Melanie reposted

The same US president who treats our friend Canada as an enemy is trying to give Alaska to Russia, a country whose absolutely overt foreign policy is to destroy us. This superpower suicide has to be stopped. www.ft.com/content/e9cf...

ft.comUS executives quit $25bn gas venture over claims of secret Russian controlFormer CEO of Polar Train LNG tells FT that energy giant Novatek financed and held reins of strategic Alaska project without Washington’s approval

Melanie reposted

Former NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg: “Our support for Ukraine is not charity. “It is an investment in our own security and in the future of a democratic and peaceful Europe. “We cannot allow Russia to succeed. The fight for freedom must continue.”

Melanie reposted

THIS Dems need to start talking about it, arguably even before Election Day but certainly immediately after. Even if some pardons are found legit in the future few can afford to litigate whether their own is. They need to know NOW that they don't have the certain impunity Trump wants to give them.

ghost malone ergo propter bones@proptermalone.bsky.social

the reason you issue preemptive mass pardons is to reassure junior staff who are shitting themselves that they’re safe and they don’t have to flip on you. going to be very important to push back on their validity, which is nil, preemptively also

Melanie reposted

Replying to @mikelevin.org

No matter your party, we can all agree that justice should never be for sale. That’s why I helped start the End Corruption Caucus in Congress, and why I’m fighting to bring the pardon process out into the open. Either we will end the corruption, or the corruption will be the end of us.

nytimes.comA Billionaire Wanted a Trump Pardon. His Family Gave Alina Habba a $50 Million Deal.Julio Herrera Velutini, a prominent Venezuelan, was seeking clemency. He got it not long after his daughter gave Ms. Habba, a lawyer close to President Trump, an extraordinarily lucrative job.

Melanie reposted

Elon Musk is spending hundreds of millions to elect Republicans, an unprecedentedly huge amount from one person, and it’s a lot less than the value of contracts his companies got from this government he paid to elect and worked in. Many reports say “his own money,” few note unprecedentedly corrupt.

Melanie reposted

Incredible if predictable betrayal of public trust: you have industry lobbyists become appointees, exploit unitary executive theory to undermine environmental laws and ride roughshod over staff.

Eric Lipton NYT@ericlipton.nytimes.com

JUST POSTED: Today at The NYT we are publishing a major investigation into how President Trump used his executive powers to expose millions of Americans to greater cancer risks. A six month-long investigation built on more than 10,000 pages of FOIA records. Read it www.nytimes.com/2026/10/24/c...

Normally, the judges in the district would appoint a US Attorney when the president hasn’t. That’s what happened in other districts (see Seattle). Why not here?

Chris Geidner@chrisgeidner.bsky.social

A reminder also that this office has no U.S. Attorney, and the guy running the office — as first assistant — was ruled to have improperly served too long as the appointed U.S. Attorney.

Melanie reposted

So witkoff/kushner toadie sell out negotiations involves cutting Russian companies in on US energy deals? Are we giving Alaska back to Russia?

Eric Lipton NYT@ericlipton.nytimes.com

JUST POSTED: A Russian energy giant has secretly moved to acquire a position in a massive Alaska gas project. Its part of talks between Witkoff/Kushner & Putin. But CEO of US company resigns after learning of Russian money in the project. A wowzer of a story. www.nytimes.com/2026/10/23/u...

Melanie reposted

MUST READ for whistleblowers or If you are thinking about it. You can help save democracy with @govacctproj.bsky.social

Government Accountability Project@govacctproj.bsky.social

Free and fair elections depend on people who are willing to speak up when they witness wrongdoing. That's why Government Accountability Project created a new guide: On the Front Lines of Election Protection: A Guide to Speaking Up. Here’s what to know... 🧵

Melanie reposted

Story is updated with attorneys’ emergency filing, video from activists who watched the plane board yesterday, and news that the plane has taken ooff. Still awaiting response from the judge. 🤷🏻‍♀️ prospect.org/2026/10/23/t...

prospect.orgThe Trump Administration May Have Just Lied to Judge About an ICE flight to Equatorial Guinea - The American ProspectAn ICE agent told a judge a charter flight to Equatorial Guinea had been canceled. The plane landed there the next day.
Gillian Brockell@gillianbrockell.com

HOLY SHIT. In a sworn statement yesterday, an ICE agent told a federal judge that an ICE flight to Equatorial Guinea had been cancelled and so couldn't be used to bring Ahmed Soliman back to the United States. The plane just landed in Equatorial Guinea. prospect.org/2026/10/23/t...

Melanie reposted

They're throwing spaghetti at the wall. It doesn't mean it's not really dangerous - and whatever they try, we'll be prepared to counter - but folks should be clear that this is not some well-orchestrated highly competent plan unfurling.

Nicholas Grossman@nicholasgrossman.bsky.social

The reason we keep hearing about desperate schemes to boost Republican chances in the midterms—Announce we're buying Russian diesel! Sue to preemptively reject a Democratic victory in Alaska!—is because they don't have a secret plan that will overturn a midterm loss, not because they do.

Melanie reposted

HOLY SHIT. In a sworn statement yesterday, an ICE agent told a federal judge that an ICE flight to Equatorial Guinea had been cancelled and so couldn't be used to bring Ahmed Soliman back to the United States. The plane just landed in Equatorial Guinea. prospect.org/2026/10/23/t...

prospect.orgThe Trump Administration May Have Just Lied to Judge About an ICE flight to Equatorial Guinea - The American ProspectAn ICE agent told a judge a charter flight to Equatorial Guinea had been canceled. It just landed there.

Melanie reposted

Elon Musk wants to torch our planet and move us all to Mars where he and his techbro minions can use AI to rule over the human race in a racist, misogynistic, anti thought, anti compassion hate-ogarchy. Let’s NOT let him decide our midterms. www.wired.com/story/elon-m...

wired.comElon Musk Just Dumped Another $76 Million Into the MidtermsThe trillionaire has given more than $445 million to Republican political groups this election cycle, as Democrats vow to investigate him.

Melanie reposted

Speaking in Maine alongside Senate candidate Troy Jackson, Alexandria Occasio-Cortez shamed politicians who "scare so easily," and shift positions after an election. "The moment you compromise the rights of a trans person in America, you compromise the rights of every citizen in America," she said.

More Perfect University@mpuniversity.bsky.social

Trans voter to @aoc.bsky.social: Trans people in America feel like they've been abandoned by the Democratic Party, that we are a losing issue, that it's not worth defending us. What do you say to that? AOC:

Melanie reposted

Russia was focused “in a bipartisan way” on trying to harm American politicians who had been supportive of Ukraine. The video targeting Talarico appeared as Steve Witkoff visited Moscow as pressing for an end to the war in Ukraine and, more broadly, tensions between the US and Russia.

Melanie reposted

Elon Musk just poured half a million dollars into this race to try to keep his puppet Mike Lawler in office, just like he did back in 2024. But the Hudson Valley can’t be bought. Mike Lawler has sold out to his trillionaire and corporate backers at our expense —

Melanie reposted

NEW AD: Have you seen these anti-Talarico attack ads? Elon Musk paid for nearly all of them. The world's first trillionaire knows if he drags the most corrupt politician in Texas across the finish line, Ken Paxton will owe him everything. Elon Musk: Texas is not for sale.