Anne Ursu

the trouble is our mayor seems to think that only people who own property are people

Eugenio Suárez had his U.S. citizenship application canceled The Cincinnati Enquirer ran a story yesterday about Latin American ballplayers who are concerned about Trump's authoritarian crackdown on immigrants. A lot of the story is stuff you've read before, with players and team officials talking about "being careful," and making sure they carry their work permits and other documentation with them, as if there is some level of reasonable precaution someone can take to stave off an arbitrary and capricious secret police force. I mean, they're arresting and imprisoning citizens, so I don't know what makes anyone think that a ballplayer, even one carrying their visa, is immune from Trumpist brutality. But honestly, what else can they say? To speak up more loudly likely puts a target on their back. I mean, it's not crazy to think that someone like Stephen Miller or whichever sadists are calling the shots at ICE and Border Patrol these days might want to make a special point of going after a high-profile critic of the Regime, especially if they are a Mexican, Dominican, or Venezuelan ballplayer. Meanwhile this from Reds third baseman Eugenio Suárez is truly screwed up. After talking about how one of his family members had their TPS status revoked, he said this:

Suárez said he himself was scheduled to go through his U.S. citizenship processing in December until he was informed his application was canceled. His wife, who also is from Venezuela, had already completed hers, he said. “They shut down everything, so I couldn’t have it. Because of the Venezuela thing,” he said. “It is what it is. I respect the decision.” I'm not sure how anyone can "respect" that decision but, again, what the hell else can someone in Suárez's position say to the press? That's especially when the players are being hung out to dry by Major League Baseball, which seems more concerned about upsetting Donald Trump than it is about its players being subjected to brutal and lawless federal agents. Get a load of Rob Manfred here:

“Look, obviously I worry about anything that could be disruptive to the very best players in the world being out on the field," Manfred said in response to a question from The Enquirer. "But the prospect of that disruption, given that our players all had visas, it’s speculation at this point.” The Enquirer has reached out to the commissioner's office twice in recent weeks to see whether anything has changed but has not received a response. I'm not sure how anyone could read the news over the past two or three months and think that the brutalization of Latin Americans in this country is the stuff of "speculation" or that if someone has their paperwork in order they're all safe, but that's Rob Manfred for ya. In contrast, an anonymous MLB employee is quoted in the story saying that MLB is not doing enough and that he fears that it will take a high-profile incident involving a player – “something bad” he said – before the league gets more proactive in protecting its personnel. Unfortunately, history has shown us over and over again that this person is correct. MLB only reacts to problems. It's never proactive when it comes to anything negative or controversial. The league, led by Ostrich-in-Chief Rob Manfred, loves to bury its head in the sand. I too hope nothing bad happens. But I am nowhere near as optimistic – or is it deluded? – as Rob Manfred is on this score.

In today's newsletter: MLB seems content to tell Latin players "if you follow the rules you'll be OK." I'm not sure how you can say that when an arbitrary, and capricious authoritarian government is unleashing its secret police force.

Also: fuck Rob Manfred. www.cupofcoffeenews.com/cup-of-coffe...

Once again @ziibiing.com is doing the most

I still haven’t done it.

It’s day 98 of the ICE occupation of MN.

For almost 100 days, we’ve been doing everything we can to protect our immigrant neighbors. This is the next step to keeping our neighbors safe.

Call on Mayor Frey to sign the 60 day pre-eviction notice.

This fund is down to $3200 for emergency March rent for Black immigrant families. Can you help?

We passed pause evictions, save lives. Now it’s on Mayor Frey’s Desk— please reach out to his office to support this critical legislation and not to veto it. Call: 612-673-2100

Families will face evictions without adequate time to get funds together for rent.

did you know that biden was old

Hey, you wonderful people were able to knock some money off this! We need $3700. I'm donating an additional $100 right now--does anyone want to match me?

Our mayor is likely going to veto extending eviction notices from 30 days to 60 because only landlords are people.

We are so grateful to everyone who has helped us.

I know I've been asking a lot. The need here is so deep, and everyone is hustling as best they can, because it's all up to us to save our neighbors.

SMMA March Rent Support Fund No one should lose their housing because they are afraid to leave their home.

Emergency Fundraiser for March Rent. This fund needs $4000 immediately to keep 20 Black immigrant families in their homes. Can you help? givebutter.com/SMMAMarchRen...

I like New Departures!

This is all I want.

Imagine if you single handedly had the power to delay thousands of evictions & keep families in their homes. Jacob Frey can do that by signing what Council passed yesterday. Or he can help evict thousands of people with a veto.

Let him know what you would do: www.minneapolismn.gov/government/m...

wow, I was sure that proximity to the patriarchy would save Noem

On mom's side, cardiologist and WWII vet. On dad's, Romanian immigrant, bartender, and prohibition bootlegger.

why not both

Good! Paul Bunyan Land is fun and all, but...

do you know what that means for VF?

I LOVE IT

"Sure, he has a Nazi tattoo, but she's OLD" is an argument I've seen many times.

Team Mitten

How about the Wild fund HCMC an then fuck all the way off

which means people still can't leave their homes to work and go to school, we're facing a massive eviction crisis, but mayor frey doesn't seem to think that's his problem.

I do now

always.

sir this is an arby's

Close-up of tuxedo cat with majestic whiskers

Anyway, here's Bartleby: