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I asked ICE where the “413% increase in assaults” justification for its officers using masks came from. They didn’t answer. So I dug into it, and what I found … did not boost their argument.
Gift link: wapo.st/4l7a1ch

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in reply to Philip Bump

Thank you for the article, and in particular for bringing attention to the meaning of a percentage there. It's always dubious when we see that: it's a graceful obfuscation to make issues seem bigger -- or sometimes, smaller -- than they actually are.

Typically when we see a percentage, I look for factors which might correlate with them. Is there, for example, a significant increase in warrantless, badgeless masked thugs in plainclothes tearing families apart? Or even an increase in 'legitimate' ICE activity to that effect?

And I wonder if that's more or less than 413%...

in reply to Philip Bump

"Lander — literally & aesthetically the city’s accountant — assaulted the officers in the sense that a bully might accuse you of having gotten in the way of his fist."

- @pbump
#law #Trump #BradLander #ICE #Gestapo #MafiaState #RevengePolitics #fascism #AmericanAutocracy

Nonilex reshared this.

in reply to Philip Bump

We all know the reason they are wearing masks is that they are the bad guys, and they are afraid of reprisals against them and their families. Because bad people always think everyone would do the same thing they would do if roles were reversed.
in reply to Philip Bump

(wow, can't even use a gift article without creating an account... thanks wapo)
in reply to Philip Bump

As usual with this administration, and Republicans in general, the story turns out to be *checks notes* bullsh!t.
in reply to Philip Bump

Simple. Since 314 would have been too obviously fake, they just switched the digits