Upstate Defender
@upstatedefender.bsky.social
Public Defender, Rochester Native, Home Cook, Disco Enthusiast, Urban Planning Nerd. he/him
I feel like it's important to highlight when discussing this: deporting people convicted of serious felonies was and has been the administration policy going back years, under Democrats as much if not more than under Republicans. It's only under Trump that now violent criminals are low priority.
When everyone is a priority, no one is a priority. That means that Mullin and ICE are going to treat a murderer who just got here with the same level of priority as a guy who’s been here for 25 years raising a family and living like a saint.
That’s bad for so many reasons.
That’s bad for so many reasons.
CAIN: What about the existing illegal immigration population that is not a parole violator, or does not have a criminal record. Are they a priority?
MARKWAYNE MULLIN: 100% a priority
MARKWAYNE MULLIN: 100% a priority
September 10, 2026 at 9:06 PM
I feel like it's important to highlight when discussing this: deporting people convicted of serious felonies was and has been the administration policy going back years, under Democrats as much if not more than under Republicans. It's only under Trump that now violent criminals are low priority.
Reposted by Upstate Defender
My take is that having a Muslim immigrant preside over ceremonies commemorating 9/11 in New York City is one of the beautiful things about America.
September 10, 2026 at 3:57 PM
My take is that having a Muslim immigrant preside over ceremonies commemorating 9/11 in New York City is one of the beautiful things about America.
Reposted by Upstate Defender
She also makes a point we don't hear enough, but it is obvious:
Trying to moderate on immigration will extend the power of fascism indefinitely. We need a new moral approach that actually confronts the scapegoating and atrocities that fuel authoritarianism.
Trying to moderate on immigration will extend the power of fascism indefinitely. We need a new moral approach that actually confronts the scapegoating and atrocities that fuel authoritarianism.
The global fascist reboot trap
The US and Europe, over and over, leave room for fascism to rise again.
degenerateart.beehiiv.com
September 10, 2026 at 6:15 PM
She also makes a point we don't hear enough, but it is obvious:
Trying to moderate on immigration will extend the power of fascism indefinitely. We need a new moral approach that actually confronts the scapegoating and atrocities that fuel authoritarianism.
Trying to moderate on immigration will extend the power of fascism indefinitely. We need a new moral approach that actually confronts the scapegoating and atrocities that fuel authoritarianism.
Reposted by Upstate Defender
If Democrats get to 50 or 51, he's going to flip. Which is why if they get to 52, they should strip him of his committee assignments and exile him from the party. No tolerance for this shit. Democracy is on the line.
EXCLUSIVE: Sen. John Fetterman is preparing to make a bombshell appearance tonight at the GOP convention in a video praising President Trump and Pennsylvania GOP Sen. Dave McCormick
Exclusive: Fetterman to praise Trump in bombshell GOP convention video
His stunning turn is a dramatic escalation in the senator's growing estrangement from Democrats.
www.axios.com
September 9, 2026 at 10:36 PM
If Democrats get to 50 or 51, he's going to flip. Which is why if they get to 52, they should strip him of his committee assignments and exile him from the party. No tolerance for this shit. Democracy is on the line.
Reposted by Upstate Defender
I do not want Democrats to figure out how they can work together to help Donald Trump enact his agenda. I want Democrats to win power and then act as a wrench in the gears of government for the rest of Trump's term. www.nbcnews.com/politics/tru...
August 24, 2026 at 12:06 PM
I do not want Democrats to figure out how they can work together to help Donald Trump enact his agenda. I want Democrats to win power and then act as a wrench in the gears of government for the rest of Trump's term. www.nbcnews.com/politics/tru...
Reposted by Upstate Defender
the guy who said he wanted to chair the harvard department of eugenics and race science??? people are signing a letter in support of his right to bully black men to death in pursuit of his dream of eliminating black people entirely?? just making sure i’m reading this right!!
There’s a petition signed by more than one hundred academics (& counting!) in support of Nathan Cofnas—the racist who instigated the pile on that led to J. Arday’s death—because he lost his postdoc. Apparently there’s nothing a white man can do that deserves consequences.
forbetterscience.com
August 22, 2026 at 11:43 PM
the guy who said he wanted to chair the harvard department of eugenics and race science??? people are signing a letter in support of his right to bully black men to death in pursuit of his dream of eliminating black people entirely?? just making sure i’m reading this right!!
People boast about their high IQs because the traditional ways of showing people you're smart (ie, by saying and doing smart things; not being a total dumbass in public) don't happen for those people.
Only dumb people boast about their high IQs, in my experience
The world’s highest IQ score carries the same authority as the highest score in Donkey Kong at a local Dave & Busters.
August 16, 2026 at 10:01 PM
People boast about their high IQs because the traditional ways of showing people you're smart (ie, by saying and doing smart things; not being a total dumbass in public) don't happen for those people.
"President of what?"
"Luke, I am your father. This is how the Empire strikes back."
August 14, 2026 at 2:54 AM
"President of what?"
Reposted by Upstate Defender
Reposted by Upstate Defender
i also don’t know what it means to have “no policy legacy,” but whatever it is i imagine the families of the civilians killed in Iran and the millions of people deprived of aid here and abroad would disagree
August 8, 2026 at 6:01 PM
i also don’t know what it means to have “no policy legacy,” but whatever it is i imagine the families of the civilians killed in Iran and the millions of people deprived of aid here and abroad would disagree
Reposted by Upstate Defender
Abdul El-Sayed on capitalism: “I’m capitalist who just knows about capitalism. I have a bad habit of reading, I’m so sorry.”
August 7, 2026 at 12:16 PM
Abdul El-Sayed on capitalism: “I’m capitalist who just knows about capitalism. I have a bad habit of reading, I’m so sorry.”
Reposted by Upstate Defender
that said, that’s just the risk you absorb when you are willing to take a big swing, and it’s refreshing to see someone not shy away from it
July 29, 2026 at 5:45 PM
that said, that’s just the risk you absorb when you are willing to take a big swing, and it’s refreshing to see someone not shy away from it
Learning that Elon Musk's grandfather was a Canadian Nazi sympathizer who moved to South Africa in the 1950s right at the start of Apartheid really is foundational for understanding his political ideology. It all makes sense with that context. This was what he learned was right growing up.
The world’s richest man, at it again. Reminder: “remigration” is far right code for the forced expulsion of ethnic “undesirables” in order to “purify” the nation.
July 26, 2026 at 8:35 AM
Learning that Elon Musk's grandfather was a Canadian Nazi sympathizer who moved to South Africa in the 1950s right at the start of Apartheid really is foundational for understanding his political ideology. It all makes sense with that context. This was what he learned was right growing up.
Imagine giving a damn about a guy whose last significant political accomplishment was literally 20 years ago says about the Democratic Party in 2026.
Rahm Emanuel's style of political strategy has ruled the Democratic party for all that time and has allowed the party and this country to fall ruin.
Rahm Emanuel's style of political strategy has ruled the Democratic party for all that time and has allowed the party and this country to fall ruin.
The DSA Is a Parasite
The left-wing faction is hijacking the Democratic Party.
by James Kirchik
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
The left-wing faction is hijacking the Democratic Party.
by James Kirchik
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
July 22, 2026 at 12:58 AM
Imagine giving a damn about a guy whose last significant political accomplishment was literally 20 years ago says about the Democratic Party in 2026.
Rahm Emanuel's style of political strategy has ruled the Democratic party for all that time and has allowed the party and this country to fall ruin.
Rahm Emanuel's style of political strategy has ruled the Democratic party for all that time and has allowed the party and this country to fall ruin.
Reposted by Upstate Defender
people got mad at me yesterday when i said the dems were not ready to take court reform seriously. 5-4 for non-racial citizenship is not a win, it's a reprieve bsky.app/profile/schu...
Despite Trump’s best efforts to bully them, the Supreme Court just reaffirmed that if you are born in America, you belong in America.
Breaking News: In a blow to President Trump, the Supreme Court blocked his executive order limiting birthright citizenship. nyti.ms/4gOxDCU
June 30, 2026 at 4:28 PM
people got mad at me yesterday when i said the dems were not ready to take court reform seriously. 5-4 for non-racial citizenship is not a win, it's a reprieve bsky.app/profile/schu...
Reposted by Upstate Defender
Bro what are you doing?
SCOTUS was only 1 vote short of usurping the clear and unambiguous language of the document by judicial diktat
Taking a victory lap for that is grim
SCOTUS was only 1 vote short of usurping the clear and unambiguous language of the document by judicial diktat
Taking a victory lap for that is grim
Despite Trump’s best efforts to bully them, the Supreme Court just reaffirmed that if you are born in America, you belong in America.
Breaking News: In a blow to President Trump, the Supreme Court blocked his executive order limiting birthright citizenship. nyti.ms/4gOxDCU
June 30, 2026 at 4:45 PM
Bro what are you doing?
SCOTUS was only 1 vote short of usurping the clear and unambiguous language of the document by judicial diktat
Taking a victory lap for that is grim
SCOTUS was only 1 vote short of usurping the clear and unambiguous language of the document by judicial diktat
Taking a victory lap for that is grim
As a corollary to this: people who are sucked into the justice system are always astonished by how inefficient and bad it is. Every state and the feds should double the number of judges, courts, court staff, public defenders, and prosecutors. This would be very good for efficient justice
my standing thesis is that voters do not actually give a shit about any judicial process story and rarely give a shit about any particular judicial decision so pushing hard on this stuff is ~free electorally
need to start thinking now about a full package of judicial reforms: new justices, new circuits, new district courts, ethics reforms, docket reforms, and transparency reforms.
June 30, 2026 at 5:26 AM
As a corollary to this: people who are sucked into the justice system are always astonished by how inefficient and bad it is. Every state and the feds should double the number of judges, courts, court staff, public defenders, and prosecutors. This would be very good for efficient justice
Reposted by Upstate Defender
my standing thesis is that voters do not actually give a shit about any judicial process story and rarely give a shit about any particular judicial decision so pushing hard on this stuff is ~free electorally
need to start thinking now about a full package of judicial reforms: new justices, new circuits, new district courts, ethics reforms, docket reforms, and transparency reforms.
June 29, 2026 at 10:36 PM
my standing thesis is that voters do not actually give a shit about any judicial process story and rarely give a shit about any particular judicial decision so pushing hard on this stuff is ~free electorally
Reposted by Upstate Defender
like, there are actually shows being canceled, you dont need a hypothetical thought experiment about the woke left, it is actually happening right now right in front of you
June 15, 2026 at 1:28 PM
like, there are actually shows being canceled, you dont need a hypothetical thought experiment about the woke left, it is actually happening right now right in front of you
Reposted by Upstate Defender
I say this as a working class public servant and elected member of a Democratic Party parish level DPEC:
What kind of person must you be to take in the enormity of this moment: the confluence of official cruelty, incompetence, and bigotry, the elite impotence, and decide the solution is "tax cuts?"
What kind of person must you be to take in the enormity of this moment: the confluence of official cruelty, incompetence, and bigotry, the elite impotence, and decide the solution is "tax cuts?"
New: Tax cuts are the HOTTEST new idea for Democrats
Booker & Van Hollen (2028 prospects) unveil big tax-cut plans.
Porter says exempt $100K in income from CA taxes.
K.L. Bottoms says exempt teachers from GA taxes.
Pitched as an answer to cost-of-living struggles. www.nbcnews.com/politics/ele...
Booker & Van Hollen (2028 prospects) unveil big tax-cut plans.
Porter says exempt $100K in income from CA taxes.
K.L. Bottoms says exempt teachers from GA taxes.
Pitched as an answer to cost-of-living struggles. www.nbcnews.com/politics/ele...
Tax cuts are the hot new idea for Democrats
New tax cut plans from 2028 presidential prospects and major Democratic candidates for governor have spurred a "wonk revolt" from liberal and moderate policy experts.
www.nbcnews.com
April 6, 2026 at 5:39 PM
I say this as a working class public servant and elected member of a Democratic Party parish level DPEC:
What kind of person must you be to take in the enormity of this moment: the confluence of official cruelty, incompetence, and bigotry, the elite impotence, and decide the solution is "tax cuts?"
What kind of person must you be to take in the enormity of this moment: the confluence of official cruelty, incompetence, and bigotry, the elite impotence, and decide the solution is "tax cuts?"
Reposted by Upstate Defender
To be clear with how I feel about it. Anyone in the military who directs or carries out strikes on desalination plants should be in prison when this is over.
March 30, 2026 at 12:09 PM
To be clear with how I feel about it. Anyone in the military who directs or carries out strikes on desalination plants should be in prison when this is over.
Reposted by Upstate Defender
Costco and Chick Fil A don't need to do this because they treat employees well. I am a Deloitte consultant and that will cost you $76,000 in billable hours
Burger King will use AI to check if employees say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’
Burger King will use AI to check if employees say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’
Have it your way?
buff.ly
February 27, 2026 at 3:29 AM
Costco and Chick Fil A don't need to do this because they treat employees well. I am a Deloitte consultant and that will cost you $76,000 in billable hours
Reposted by Upstate Defender
Wrote this in July and for whatever reason people rediscovered it and are sharing it.
Yup. I stand by it.
Yup. I stand by it.
Gavin Newsom decided to platform both Charlie Kirk and Steve Bannon as his first guests on his podcast. He conceded to their bad-faith talking points.
He isn't the answer for Democrats moving forward on a national level.
If Dems back him, they can only blame themselves.
He isn't the answer for Democrats moving forward on a national level.
If Dems back him, they can only blame themselves.
February 24, 2026 at 3:58 AM
Wrote this in July and for whatever reason people rediscovered it and are sharing it.
Yup. I stand by it.
Yup. I stand by it.
Reposted by Upstate Defender
kid-in-the-brown-hoodie is a whole-ass ideology
February 14, 2026 at 10:05 PM
kid-in-the-brown-hoodie is a whole-ass ideology