5/5 But the main goal is not to win cases. Its to silence dissent. That's why DOJ wants prosecutors to "Go big" and "go loud. To send the message that those who protest will pay a very high price. What a comedown for a country that prides itself on free speech.
4/5 It was always clear that most of these cases would fail bc they were targeted at 1st Amm activity. And despite the conviction in the TX case, they will continue to do so.
3/5 NSPM 7 wasn't about violence, but squarely directed @ speech. Its major impact was always intended to be to get federal agencies to prioritize going after protestors. The pressure on prosecutors & FBI to do this is detailed in the NYT.
2/5 As I wrote when NSPM 7 came out, the memo directs federal agencies to prioritize investigations of a swath of anti-fascist identities and ideologies. E.g. anti-Americanism, anti-capitalism, anti-Christianity; extremism on migration, race, gender; & hostility to trad Am views on family & religion
1/5 Thread on an imp story out today, which may get missed with all the Iran war news. www.nytimes.com/2026/03/19/u...
Honestly, DHS intel was never very good.Not sure we're missing much.
As @amostoh.bsky.social and I explain in our new report, the military has been ramping up its adoption of AI, while oversight and safeguards have failed to keep up.
But the Pentagon’s dispute with Anthropic has brought a grave threat into focus: using AI to pry into Americans’ private lives 🧵 1/
Thomson Reuters is best known for its media outlet and legal research tools, but it is also a huge data broker that provides investigative tools to the government, including ICE. Its Minneapolis workers aren't happy about that:
www.nytimes.com/2026/03/11/t...
His face :)
This is usually bad, unverified intel, often based on social media posts of dubious provenance.
My @brennancenter.org colleagues issued a report today on military AI. It bears the discourse on Anthropic v. DoD. It covers the long march toward military AI in weapons & for surveillance and targeting. Provides data on the companies winning contracts. Explains the risks of adoption w/o safeguards.
As the Islamophobic voices rise up again, thought I would point out that its thankfully not easy to denaturalize Americans. www.brennancenter.org/our-work/ana...
Such an imp point
Trump's latest attempt to thwart state AI rules will probably also fail, as federal agencies like the DOJ and FTC cannot encroach on lawful state regulations without a clear delegation from Congress, Olivier Sylvain argues on @techpolicypress.bsky.social:
Imp thread on new AI regs
Tomorrow at 3:00 House and Senate Democrats will be holding a "shadow hearing" on the detention of U.S. citizens. I'll be there testifying about the broader policy changes which led us to this moment.
/my name isn't in this press release but I'll be there! www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/pre...
Highly recommend!
Looking forward to discussing Immigration in NYC: Policy, Belonging, and the Future of Sanctuary. This evening @ Columbia. Register here: events.columbia.edu/cal/event/ev...
From me and @brennancenter.org colleagues
There is far more to the NYPD surveillance system than DAS & the disbanded demographics unit. POST act disclosures of surveillance tech have been minimal & NYPD IG which could help shed light weakened. These need fixing for starters.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/30/n...
1/2 The Liberty & NatSec team @brennancenter.org is hiring for two positions: senior counsel and tech strategist. Pls spread the word.
brennancenter.applytojob.com/apply/86gRwx...
Social media monitoring systems, cellphone location tracking, facial recognition, remote hacking tools — now being turned on Americans by ICE to target protesters. bit.ly/3Kq348R
Unfortunate branding
How do you find these?
Former ambassadors and senior State Department officials — including Steady State members — warn that the U.S. is targeting foreign students and scholars for their lawful speech, undermining free-expression principles and harming America’s global standing.
drive.google.com/file/d/1GIq2...
The numbers are in: new foreign student enrollment dropped by 17 percent this year. 60+ former sr State Dept officials and ambassadors (both D& R) explain why this is bad for America & Americans: drive.google.com/file/d/1GIq2...
After 9/11, the U.S. built a huge surveillance infrastructure for counterterrorism. It was abused to target Muslim Americans, but the broad authorities were also used to go after protestors. Immigration enforcement is the new counterterrorism: www.brennancenter.org/our-work/res...
Thanks for continuing to bring attention to this. Godawful.
