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Today’s quotable
Thursday, Oct 23, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller * Journalists and others report the locations of government police operations literally all the time. This is common and even mundane in a free and open society. From the Assistant Secretary of the US Department of Homeland Security…
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- hisgirlfriday - Thursday, Oct 23, 25 @ 10:11 am:
Saw that exchange on social media and then the comments included screenshots depicting what I presume might be the reporter’s house and a bunch of threats to send bogus pizza delivery orders there to intimidate the reporter.
Who knows what percentage of those comments were even real people and not bots but our civic culture is so broken it’s depressing.
- I-55 Fanatic - Thursday, Oct 23, 25 @ 10:12 am:
The freedom to report on the movement of law enforcement is one of those “fish in water” freedoms that I think a lot of Americans have forgotten about or have taken for granted. Very scary stuff here.
- H-W - Thursday, Oct 23, 25 @ 10:15 am:
Perhaps Ms. McLaughlin also needs to realize that SWAT teams and Secret Police are not routine, but instead extra-ordinary activities in a free and open society. If ICE wants to act in secrecy, they need to get warrants from judges who agree with the need for secrecy.
- Streator Curmudgeon - Thursday, Oct 23, 25 @ 10:16 am:
Why are federal law enforcement officers wearing masks?
- JS Mill - Thursday, Oct 23, 25 @ 10:16 am:
=This is common and even mundane in a free and open society.=
Freedom is only for this admin to attack, insult, cancel, or incarcerate their perceived “enemies”.
In my life I would never have thought we would have a president and his movement consider everyday Americans to be enemies. Ronald Reagan is spinning in his grave.
- Moe Berg - Thursday, Oct 23, 25 @ 10:17 am:
More steps down the path towards reporters being declared enemies of the state, coming on the heels of the press being banished from the Pentagon for not agreeing to become propagandists.
This is not what democracy looks like. This is fascism.
- Crispy - Thursday, Oct 23, 25 @ 10:21 am:
Ms. McLaughlin is like our own home-grown, modern-day Tokyo Rose, but in this case attacking her fellow citizens.
- Streator Curmudgeon - Thursday, Oct 23, 25 @ 10:32 am:
Moe,
Couldn’t agree more.
Hard to make the quotas with that evil free press in the way.
- Anyone Remember - Thursday, Oct 23, 25 @ 10:37 am:
===This is not what democracy looks like. This is fascism.===
Part of fascism is finding fellow travellers in the press. Check out the “new, loyal” press corps at DoD.
- low level - Thursday, Oct 23, 25 @ 10:37 am:
Why is a member of the administration attempting to prohibit the constitutional rights of the media? Very disturbing.
- 47th Ward - Thursday, Oct 23, 25 @ 10:38 am:
In any other time in American history, this public official would be escorted from her office and never again allowed to serve in government again. And it would be both Democrats and Republicans pushing her out.
Sadly, we are not in any other time. This is now. “Preserve, protect and defend the Constitution” is the oath. She should start by actually reading it.
- Kenny Steele - Thursday, Oct 23, 25 @ 10:40 am:
Federal law only requires ICE to get warrants from judges to enter private homes and businesses, not to patrol the streets and public places.
Democracy is actually enforcing Federal law that was passed by duly elected representatives and has been enforced by Republican and Democratic administrations for decades.
- Bud's Bar Stool - Thursday, Oct 23, 25 @ 10:44 am:
=== More steps down the path towards reporters being declared enemies of the state ===
Undeniable that is where they are headed. They have only contempt for the rule of law and independent thought/commentary.
=== Federal law only requires ICE to get warrants from judges to enter private homes and businesses ===
Ask me how I know you’ve not observed ICE’s practices in Illinois.
- JS Mill - Thursday, Oct 23, 25 @ 10:46 am:
=Federal law only requires ICE to get warrants from judges to enter private homes and businesses, not to patrol the streets and public places.=
Can you explain where federal law allows ICE to detain American citizens simply because they are brown? I have been looking and cannot seem to find that part.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Oct 23, 25 @ 10:54 am:
===Federal law only requires===
And that has what to do with this post?
Stop trying to hijack conversations. Last warning.
Everyone else, move along.
- Charles Edward Cheese - Thursday, Oct 23, 25 @ 11:16 am:
This is almost on par with Elon Musk complaining that showing his flight on a flight tracker was giving folks “assassination coordinates”.
The continued erosion of norms, laws, and general civility by this admin and its supporters will be studied.
- Demoralized - Thursday, Oct 23, 25 @ 11:18 am:
Last I checked this is a public street. Reporters can report on ICE stalking around on a public street. This Administration, however, doesn’t want anything reported that they don’t approve of.
Plus, it’s a good thing individuals are being warned of the presence of ICE. When they start acting appropriately and stop snatching people off of the street and out of their homes all masked up then maybe they’ll get a little more respect.
- King Louis XVI - Thursday, Oct 23, 25 @ 11:20 am:
–This is common and even mundane in a free and open society. –
… but in an authoritarian state, which the US now is, journalism, as we used to know it, can be a treasonous activity.
- Suburban Mom - Thursday, Oct 23, 25 @ 11:23 am:
Normal emergency responders know that emergency response always draws looky-loos. People are curious about why their street suddenly has four ambulances on it. That’s normal human behavior.
Asking and guessing even when you know the cops/other first responders aren’t going to tell you anything is ALSO normal human behavior and they’re not usually bothered by it. In fact they may use it and ask if anybody knew the person who lived in that house or knew how to contact their spouse at work.
I feel like 90% of hyperlocal social media consists of “lost dog spotted” “omg coyote wandering” and “why are there cops at X strip mall?”
- West Side the Best Side - Thursday, Oct 23, 25 @ 11:37 am:
Maybe McLaughlin is upset because she sent ICE to El Milagro to get her some of their great tortillas and she doesn’t want people to know she likes Mexican food.
- Big Dipper - Thursday, Oct 23, 25 @ 12:01 pm:
This administration hires only the dimmest bulbs.
- Roadrager - Thursday, Oct 23, 25 @ 12:28 pm:
Tricia McLaughlin is a troll and a liar. I don’t care what her job title is, that is her actual job and she takes great joy in doing it. Remember how that protester rammed her vehicle into the feds? Or how that WGN producer hurled rocks at ICE? All lies, all Tricia, and one would do well to remember that the next time she spouts off.
The problem, of course, is that most media outlets will report every word of hers at face value based on her job title.
There’s a meme gaining traction that asserts basically everyone in this administration is a twelve-year-old. Given stuff like this and that the new popular answer to reporters’ questions that they don’t want to answer is “Your mom,” I find the theory hard to argue against. I just wish somebody would take away their iPads and send them to their rooms already.
- P. - Thursday, Oct 23, 25 @ 1:08 pm:
She seems nice.