Graham F. West

comms and policy at @sikh_coalition, but views here are mine. @riceuniversity + @elliottschoolgw alum. fmr @TrumanProject. he/him. rage tweets + nerd stuff.

[Brian Stelter @brianstelter]

A statement from the family of Alex Pretti, obtained by CNN:

"We are heartbroken but also very angry.

Alex was a kindhearted soul who cared deeply for his family and friends and also the American veterans whom he cared for as an ICU nurse at the Minneapolis VA hospital. Alex wanted to make a difference in this world. Unfortunately he will not be with us to see his impact. I do not throw around the hero term lightly. However his last thought and act was to protect a woman.

The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting. Alex is clearly not holding a gun when attacked by Trump’s murdering and cowardly ICE thugs. He has his phone in his right hand and his empty left hand is raised above his head while trying to protect the woman ICE just pushed down all while being pepper sprayed.

Please get the truth out about our son. He was a good man. Thank you."

[Graham F. West @grahamfwest]

kudos to @StandUpAmerica and all other orgs who organized this weekend’s #IceOutForGood protests so quickly after the horrific shooting in Minneapolis this week. awesome to see 200-300 folks peacefully standing for common sense oversight and human dignity at my local event.

[Graham F. West @grahamfwest]

we all saw the video with our own eyes. that agent wasn't "defending his life" any more than you defend your wife and kids from the neo-Nazis in your own party.

[JD Vance @JDVance]

Every congressional democrat and every democrat who's running for president should be asked a simple question:

Do you think this officer was wrong in defending his life against a deranged leftist who tried to run him over?

These people are going to try to arrest our law enforcement for doing their jobs. The least the media could do is ask them about it.

https://t.co/yM4cIR20Zt

[Democrats @TheDemocrats]

ICE shot and killed a woman on camera today. We all saw the video.

The Trump administration is lying.

[Ro Khanna @RoKhanna]

This ICE agent should be arrested and put on trial. What is seen in this video is a reckless use of power.

And now a 37 year old woman is dead.

[Graham F. West @grahamfwest]

I've learned a ton at the @sikh_coalition, including the idea of working "sarbat da bhala"—for the betterment of all. now more than ever, it's an essential concept in the world of civil rights.

please consider tossing us some coin at https://t.co/VL0xaQ0v5A if you are able.

[Sikh Coalition @sikh_coalition]

To celebrate #GivingTuesday, we are pleased to share our full 2025 Year In Review, which can be seen at the here: https://t.co/d0lnyig6d6.
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[Graham F. West @grahamfwest]

there's near endless things one could say here, e.g. Trump's unique vigor in defending fellow monsters, the fitting backdrop of the Oval's trashy gilding, the juxtaposition of this and the Zelenskyy meeting. but at the end of the day it's just a fucking disgrace.

[Aaron Rupar @atrupar]

Trump suggests Khashoggi had it coming: "You're mentioning someone that was extremely controversial. A lot of people didn't like that gentleman that you're talking about. Whether you like him or didn't like him, things happen. But he knew nothing about it. You don't have to embarrass our guest."

[Graham F. West @grahamfwest]

start your engines—we're officially moving from "Of Course He Didn't Do It" to "Well, If He Did It, It Wasn't *That* Bad"

[Republican Accountability @AccountableGOP]

Megyn Kelly: "I know somebody very close to this case…Jeffrey Epstein, in this person's view, was not a pedophile…He was into the barely legal type, like he liked 15 year old girls…He wasn't into like 8 year olds…There's a difference between a 15 year old and a 5 year old."

[Leah Greenberg says NO KINGS ❌👑 @Leahgreenb]

caving now will teach Trump and Republicans that they can win any political fight if they're simply willing to cause enough harm to regular people. no possible way that could have future adverse consequences

[Ro Khanna @RoKhanna]

Senator Schumer is no longer effective and should be replaced. If you can’t lead the fight to stop healthcare premiums from skyrocketing for Americans, what will you fight for?

[Graham F. West @grahamfwest]

the good folks at @CLASP_DC have catalogued more than 800 endorsements of the PSLA from throughout civil society.

excising this specific kind of cruelty from our immigration enforcement should be a bipartisan choice. it should be a human choice. https://t.co/nSPUqjNHWF

[Graham F. West @grahamfwest]

this is so horrific that it is hard to put into words. it is exactly why DHS had established guidance for decades NOT to conduct immigration enforcement at "sensitive locations" like schools, houses of worship, medical facilities, and more.

[Mike Quigley @RepMikeQuigley]

ICE isn’t going after the worst of the worst. This morning, they took a preschool teacher without a warrant IN FRONT OF CHILDREN in my district.

#ice #chicago

[Graham F. West @grahamfwest]

Trump's DHS rescinded that guidance on the first day of his second term, but the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act can codify it back into law.

cheers to @RepMikeQuigley for being one of ~90 Ds to co-sponsor. every D should join him—as should any R with a shred of compassion.

[Graham F. West @grahamfwest]

"we've tried nothing and we're all out of ideas!"

[Aaron Rupar @atrupar]

Q: Food prices are still going up. Grocery prices are still going up. How do you respond?

MIKE JOHNSON: All of the economist have shown that food prices always go up. There's an inflationary level that's built in to grocery prices.

[Graham F. West @grahamfwest]

@BulwarkOnline

[Graham F. West @grahamfwest]

@LOLGOP I always thought that Cruz standing by Trump after Trump insulted his wife was the lowest form of this particular kind of cowardice. but JD will whitewash these insults to his wife for just about anyone!

[Graham F. West @grahamfwest]

exactly. candidates can do it in the same breath: "While Trump pushes tariffs over commercials that hurt his feelings and bulldozes the White House for his new ballroom, I'll fight for [economic policy that fits your constituents' needs and reflects your genuine beliefs]."

[Jill Filipovic @JillFilipovic]

Maybe the lesson is not "Democrats should run moderates" or "Democrats should run socialists" but "Democrats should run candidates who are likable and have politics that are appealing in the specific places they are running."

[Graham F. West @grahamfwest]

have to hand it to @brianbeutler , who anticipated this specific media failing in his excellent newsletter two days ago. knowing it was coming, however, doesn't make it any less frustrating to see.

[Graham F. West @grahamfwest]

this headline is as lazy as it was predictable. last night, Dems showcased an incredible diversity of talent and ideological thought to sweep executive, legislative, judicial, and ballot initiative races across the country.

[Graham F. West @grahamfwest]

meanwhile, the GOP is *actually* facing an identity crisis. last night informs their prospects for winning went Trump isn't on the ballot (not great!). and for the past week, they've been publicly debating whether or not actual Nazis deserve a respected place in their coalition.