Chilling Dissent
FAA Investigates Drone Pilot Who Films Animal Abusers
The cattle ranch at the center of the case demands strict drone regulations, saying legal flyovers threatened “food security.”
Matt Sledge
Matt Sledge is a political reporter. He has written previously for the Houston Landing, Times-Picayune | New Orleans Advocate, and HuffPost.
Contacts:
- sledge@theintercept.com
- @sledge.41 on Signal
Posts:
Flock Donations to Local Politicians’ Groups Skyrocket as Protests Against AI Cameras Mount
Mayors and governors control many of Flock’s contracts for its AI-powered surveillance cameras. It’s donating to their associations.
Chilling Dissent
Trump Goes After Anonymous Email Provider in Italy. The Real Target Is Free Speech in the U.S.
Trump designated an Italian web-hosting provider as a foreign “terror” group. It could take antifascist sites in the U.S. offline.
Chilling Dissent
Conservative Groups Side With Minneapolis Protesters Against Trump Crackdown
Right-leaning and libertarian groups told the court that ICE engaged in illegal “ideological targeting” of the left in the Minneapolis 15 case.
Chilling Dissent
This Mysterious “Astroturf” Group Popped Up to Defend the Paramount Merger
In text messages, the newly formed group boosted reported threats by CEO David Ellison to move Paramount out of California.
Midterms 2026
A Democratic Socialist Aims to Oust a Top AIPAC Beneficiary in Florida
Oliver Larkin is trying to unseat Rep. Jared Moskowitz, who is backed by AIPAC donors and an artificial intelligence super PAC.
Chilling Dissent
Secret ICE Agent Tried to “Entice” Minneapolis Activists Into Confrontational Tactics
Documents from ICE’s investigation into the Sunrise Movement show an agent volunteered to build tools for “direct-action” protests.
Chilling Dissent
Rubio Is Trying to Keep Leftists Out of U.S. by Banning Supporters of “Economic Sabotage”
A new State Department policy about “far-left terrorism” could spark a crackdown on Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions activists.
Trump’s Crypto Corruption Puts Centrist Democrats in Bind
Moderate Democrats want to put a stop to Trump’s meme coin self-dealing. But that might cut off campaign donations from crypto interests.
Midterms 2026
William Lawrence Is Running in a Purple Michigan District — on His Pro-Palestine Credentials
Democratic leaders keep backing centrists, but a Michigan progressive is trying to harness left-leaning energy on Palestine.