They’re Not Even Hiding It Anymore: Today’s Resistance Kitty Political Breakdown
Today’s news cycle reads like a warning label everyone ignored. From voter data grabs getting shut down cold, to federal agencies stonewalling accountability, to billionaires and politicians scrambling as the Epstein files keep spilling inconvenient truths, the pattern is clear: power is panicking. This isn’t chaos by accident — it’s pressure. And when pressure builds, cracks form. Today’s roundup tracks those cracks, highlights who’s pushing back, and makes one thing clear: resistance is working, even when it’s messy.
Broligarchy
Trump’s TikTok Ban Rollout: Big Drama, Zero Planning
According to Zeteo, the rollout of Donald Trump’s attempt to ban TikTok in the U.S. has been chaotic and poorly executed—with shifting deadlines, legal challenges, and last-minute pivots that leave users and businesses confused—and critics say it shows yet another example of big authoritarian gestures with zero operational follow-through, turning what was pitched as a bold national security move into a bureaucratic mess.
Elon Musk’s “No, Really” Epstein Emails: Stop Asking, I Totally Wasn’t Trying to Party
Newly released Jeffrey Epstein files show that Elon Musk and Epstein exchanged emails in 2012–2013 in which Musk asked about visiting Epstein’s infamous private island and even inquired about the “wildest party” there — contradicting Musk’s repeated public claims that he refused all invitations and had no meaningful contact with Epstein; Musk has since blasted critics as smearers while insisting he never attended the island or any “creepy” gatherings, even as his name keeps surfacing in the trove of documents.
Department of War Crimes
Pentagon Playbook: How to Build Concentration Camps Without Actually Announcing Them
According to Migrant Insider, the Pentagon has quietly repurposed a massive Worldwide Expeditionary Multiple Award Contract (WEXMAC) — originally meant for naval logistics — into a $55 billion vehicle that effectively creates a “ghost network” of detention infrastructure for Donald Trump’s mass deportation agenda, enabling rapid deployment of military-style tent cities and large camps anywhere in the U.S. under the radar of public bidding and oversight, expanding the government’s detention capacity in ways critics call a massive escalation of repression rather than simple immigration enforcement.
American Gestapo
Feds Arrest Witnesses at Scene After Minneapolis Shooting — Because Free Press Is Optional
After 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Pretti was fatally shot by federal agents in Minneapolis during an immigration enforcement operation, multiple witnesses and observers — including one who filmed part of what happened — were detained by federal authorities at the scene, raising alarm among civil liberties groups about evidence tampering and suppression of independent accounts just as calls for transparency grow louder and national outrage escalates. Videos broadly contradict initial DHS narratives, showing Pretti on the ground with a phone in hand when officers opened fire; despite this, federal agents have arrested people present during the incident and local officials remain frustrated by lack of cooperation from DHS and CBP.
ProPublica Names the Fed Agents Who Finally Put a Bullet in Minneapolis — Welcome to Democracy
ProPublica identified the two federal agents — Border Patrol’s Jesus Ochoa and Customs and Border Protection officer Raymundo Gutierrez — who fatally shot Minneapolis resident Alex Pretti during an immigration enforcement operation, a killing that sparked outrage and renewed scrutiny of federal force in domestic operations; the Centered America post also noted related actions, like federal agents tear-gassing children in Portland and a judge ordering the release of a detained five-year-old and his father amid controversy over how immigration sweeps are conducted.
ICE Isn’t Just “Enforcing” Immigration — It’s Enforcing Fear and Chaos
In Jack Hopkins Now, the argument is that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has moved far beyond basic immigration enforcement and now acts as a roaming power force whose raids, deployments, and use of force — including in Minnesota, where multiple people have been killed during Operation Metro Surge — reflect a broader, more frightening pattern of domestic coercion and civil rights erosion rather than sober law enforcement. Critics say ICE’s current operations have blurred the line between immigration law and political intimidation, fueling public resistance, grassroots observer groups, and legal pushback across the country as communities push back against what they view as unchecked federal aggression.
Government Watchdogs
Congress Faceplants Into a Shutdown While Epstein Files Keep Dripping Out
Shutdown, Shutdown, Also More Epstein Files — Congress’s failure to pass full appropriations before Jan. 31 triggered a partial 2026 federal government shutdown, shuttering roughly half of agencies as funding lapsed at midnight after a fractured budget deal collapsed, even as lawmakers also faced pressure over the staggered release of Jeffrey Epstein files. In late January, the Department of Justice published millions of additional Epstein-related documents (including over 3 million pages, thousands of images and videos) under the Epstein Files Transparency Act — drawing fierce criticism from survivors and Democrats who say heavy redactions and withheld material show the department has yet to fully comply with the transparency law.
Cheeto Von Taco Schitzenpantz
Trump Still Wants to Steal Greenland — Because Buying Countries is Fine, Right?
According to Zeteo, Donald Trump hasn’t given up his dream of acquiring Greenland and continues to push the idea of the U.S. taking control of the island — a notion that has alarmed international partners and looks a lot like American expansionism rather than serious diplomacy — even as Danish and Greenlandic leaders insist the territory isn’t for sale and reject U.S. interference in their sovereignty.
What Preznit Fuckwit’s Big Mad Is About
In his Feb. 2, 2026 essay on everyone is entitled to my own opinion, Jeff Tiedrich skewers former President Donald Trump’s reaction to a joke made by comedian Trevor Noah, framing Trump as extremely “big mad” and threatening to sue “for all the moneys.” Tiedrich paints Trump as a colicky rage-baby raging on social media late at night, obsessively monitoring awards shows and lashing out at perceived slights — in this case, a joke about his relationship to Epstein Island.
Epstein Trump Pedo”files”
Major DOJ File Release & Backlash
On February 2, 2026, the Department of Justice released a massive new tranche of Epstein-related records under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, only to partially pull back materials after it became clear that victim-identifying information had been exposed. The release reignited criticism from survivors, attorneys, and lawmakers, who argue that the DOJ continues to mishandle transparency while failing to adequately protect victims. At the same time, the documents have intensified scrutiny of powerful figures linked to Epstein, fueled renewed calls for independent oversight, and underscored ongoing concerns that institutional failures—not just individual crimes—enabled Epstein’s trafficking network to operate for years with impunity.
Department of Injustice
DOJ Tries to Humiliate a Judge — Gets Humiliated Instead
In his newsletter One First, legal scholar Steve Vladeck lays out how the U.S. Department of Justice ended up looking ridiculous after its highly publicized judicial misconduct complaint against Chief Judge James E. Boasberg was dismissed on procedural grounds, with the judge’s own court pointing out that DOJ never even produced the evidence it claimed was central to the case and that the whole exercise reeked of political grandstanding rather than legitimate legal grievance.
The Resistance
World Leaders Doing What? Leveraging the World? Groundbreaking.
In Brian Tyler Cohen’s newsletter, a roundup of global political maneuvers highlights how international leaders are responding to economic, security, and climate pressures in ways that contrast sharply with the disarray in U.S. domestic policy — from coordinated diplomacy and strategic alliances to efforts at multilateral solutions — underscoring that while some governments tackle big structural problems collaboratively, the U.S. remains bogged down in partisan gridlock and reactive politics that leave it lagging on the world stage.
No Kings Guide: How to Save Democracy Because Someone Forgot to Read the Constitution
The People Power United newsletter’s guide to the No Kings movement lays out the organizing principles and call to action for the forthcoming nationwide No Kings Day of Action, urging Americans to reject what organizers characterize as authoritarian rule, defend democracy through peaceful protest, community organizing, and civic engagement, and mobilize for events across the country that emphasize power belongs to the people — not self-styled strongmen, oligarchs, or would-be kings trying to seize control of government.
Reverse Palantir: When Exposing ICE Uses the Same Tech That Tracks Migrants
A Dutch-based Irish activist has turned the tables on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement by using the very surveillance technology ICE deploys — including facial recognition and data cross-referencing — to identify and publish the names of thousands of ICE and Border Patrol personnel online, creating a database called ICE List that civilians and volunteers help build from raid videos and public records, even as Congress eyes bills to criminalize publishing law enforcement identities and authorities try to shut the site down.
Texas Actually Found Its Teeth — Democrats Didn’t Need a Map or a GPS
In “Texas Found Its Teeth,” JoJoFromJerz celebrates a stunning 30-point swing in a Texas State Senate district that President Donald Trump carried by 17 points in 2024, with Democrat Taylor Rehmet winning in a seat that hadn’t gone blue in half a century, outspent 20-to-1 and beating the GOP even after Trump personally endorsed his opponent — a result JoJo calls a much-needed spark of hope amid a political landscape that’s spent years feeling exhausted and dark.
How to Make a Family Disaster Safety Plan — Because Chaos Doesn’t Wait
Resistance Kitty lays out a practical, step-by-step guide for building a family disaster safety plan — focusing on how to prepare, what to pack, who does what, where you meet up, and how you communicate when everything goes sideways — with extra emphasis on prepping for scenarios where you might need to bug out or group up quickly. The article covers setting roles, identifying safe meeting points, crafting multiple communication plans, assembling grab-and-go kits, and tailoring your plan to your family’s specific needs so you’re ready for storms, blackouts, wildfires, or other emergencies that don’t wait for perfect timing.
Georgia Democrats Keep Taking Red Territory — Apparently People Read Polls Backwards
Georgia Democrats are riding a surprising wave of overperformance in special elections, most recently flipping a previously Republican legislative seat in the Athens area — territory that President Donald Trump carried by double digits and that GOP candidates once treated as safe — suggesting energized opposition and voter dissatisfaction with Republican leadership as the 2026 midterms loom.
Letitia James Shuts Down Trump’s Attempt To Seize NY Voter Data: No Deal, No Fear
New York Attorney General Letitia James shut down an effort by Donald Trump and his allies to access New York voter data, making clear the state will not hand over sensitive information for unlawful or politically motivated purposes. James cited state law and voter-privacy protections, rejecting the request outright and signaling that New York will not cooperate with federal overreach tied to election interference or intimidation. The message was blunt and final: voter rolls are not a tool for authoritarian fishing expeditions, and New York is not playing along.
How Journalists Can Protect Sources and Data if Law Enforcement Raids Their Devices
A new guide from Freedom of the Press Foundation walks journalists through concrete steps to safeguard sensitive information and confidential sources in the event of a government raid on their home or workplace. The piece was published following an FBI search of a Washington Post reporter’s home, an escalation in government tactics that goes beyond secret subpoenas to outright seizure of personal and work devices.
The first recommendation is to perform a data inventory, identifying all sensitive materials — from interview recordings and transcripts to draft stories and email chains — and consider the risks if that information were accessed by adversaries such as federal agents.
Reporters are advised to resist hoarding data, minimizing the amount of potentially compromising material they retain, and to rely on full-disk encryption for all devices and backups. Tools like VeraCrypt and OS-built encryption (FileVault, BitLocker, LUKS) help protect stored files, while cloud backups should be encrypted before upload to prevent third-party access.
Practical tips include powering devices off when not in use to make forensic access harder, using strong unique passphrases over biometrics, and considering physical measures like “kill cords” that shut down a device if unplugged. These precautions aim to reduce the risk that sensitive journalism work could be exploited if devices are seized.
Three Democratic Bills Aim to Dismantle ICE After Rising Outrage Over Enforcement Actions
Three Democratic lawmakers have introduced bold legislation that would, in different ways, significantly weaken or dismantle the enforcement functions of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The proposed bills come amid growing public anger over ICE’s actions, including recent fatal shootings by agents that have sparked national controversy and energized Democratic opposition to current immigration enforcement practices.
The legislative push appears designed to counter the effects of last year’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which vastly increased ICE’s funding and expanded its operational reach. Critics argue the agency’s budget now eclipses other federal law enforcement bodies and enables aggressive enforcement tactics that have harmed civilian communities.
While the full text and specific provisions of each bill were not detailed in the public preview, early reporting suggests the measures vary in approach — from straightforward defunding mechanisms to more complex legislative restructuring — reflecting differing strategies among Democratic sponsors.
What We Are Watching Today
- HHS Secy Kennedy Jr., Dr. Oz & Admin Officals Discuss Behavioral Health
- Senate Session
- House Session, Part 2
- Rules Comm. Considers Clinton Contempt of Congress, Govt. Funding & Other Bills
Featured Resisters
Today’s Call to Action
- Decide what your roll for the New National No Kings protest will be and start working it
- organizer
- Support staff
- Participant
- Digital Propaganda
- Download and share the new graphics for the March 28th No Kings International Protest and help recruit resisters.
- Send These Pre Written Letters
- Sign These Petitions
Here’s the thing authoritarians hate most: people who don’t look away. So don’t. Share the reporting. Show up for the protests. Support independent journalists, legal defense funds, and organizers on the ground. Talk to your people. Document everything. Power relies on silence and confusion — resistance runs on memory and receipts. Stay loud. Stay organized. Resistance Kitty is watching. 🐾