John Washington
@jwashing
Journalist and Translator. Reporting for @lookoutnews.bsky.social Newsletter, short essays on books and politics: Latest book, The Case for Open Borders:
New book drops in one week. Find info and events at johnwashington.substack.com @haymarketbooks.org
Just got a troubling phishing attempt from someone impersonating Susanna Porter at @penguinrandomhouse.bsky.social They're such enticing, clickable outreaches, playing into the hopes of authors. Careful folks! And appreciate the warning on your website, Penguin.
Latest newsletter, on Eugene Delcroix's novel Small Boat, the dangers of bystanderism, and the recent DOJ indictments against community defenders in Minnesota: johnwashington.substack.com/p/there-is-n...
We've got a cover: www.haymarketbooks.org/books/2880-h... And a publication date: July 21.
Blueprints of a proposed DHS detention center in Social Circle, Georgia. The conservative town has pushed back against the proposed site of human warehousing. Many other communities across the country are facing similar sites. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Here's the follow up to last year's story of a Venezuelan snatched off the streets for driving too slowly and deported to Mexico. Violence of arrest/detention caused her to miscarry. Collaboration with Erik López of La Silla Rota & @azluminaria.org johnwashington.substack.com/p/blowtorch-...
Last newsletter of the year, a recap of my reading and how I worked through a writer’s block. johnwashington.substack.com/p/best-of-2026
ICE raid today in Tucson. Newly seated Rep Adelita Grijalva and protesters who turned out to protect their neighbors got flash-banged, pepper sprayed, pushed. At least two were arrested.
Want some background reading to better understand the slow (but really not that slow) explosion of immigration detention capacity? My latest newsletter, plus an update on my book in progress. johnwashington.substack.com/p/reading-re...
I never realized that when I stick my reporter’s notebook in my back pocket like this the pages flap down. (Shot by a friend in Rio Negro, Alta Verapaz, Guatemala)
azluminaria.org/2025/10/07/a... New jaguar sighting, bold new resolution from Tohono O'odham's San Xavier District: The jaguar is “a guardian of the people and the natural world,” the resolution reads, “a sacred being with deep connections to O’odham stories and traditional beliefs.”
I'm writing a new book for @haymarketbooks.org, and I'm writing it fast, so help is most welcome. More here: johnwashington.substack.com/p/how-to-clo...
I responded to @markskrikorian.bsky.social's review and misapprehension of my book, The Case for Open Borders. My latest newsletter. johnwashington.substack.com/p/case-count...
I wrote about the standoff in LA, what's pushed people into the streets, and how law enforcement is illegally shooting at protesters. My latest newsletter: johnwashington.substack.com/p/la-and-the...
Around 300 people showed for an anti-ICE rally in Tucson, outside a clandestine ICE office in Tucson.
In my latest newsletter, I write about why Bukele and Trump have both ramped up attacks against the press and why journalists at @elfaro.net & @elfaroenglish.bsky.social have had to flee the country. johnwashington.substack.com/p/fear-of-sp...
Exclusive: video of Pima County Sheriff deputy saying he called Border Patrol as backup for a routine traffic stop. The practice contradicts public stance of the department. Read the full story @azluminaria.org azluminaria.org/2025/05/15/p...
The department's own rules and regulations clearly state "Communications shall track department requests for Federal immigration authority assistance or response." But when I filed a records request for this info, I was told the department was no longer tracking. pimasheriff.org/application/...
In a previous 18-month period, when the Pima County Sheriff's Department was tracking calls to Border Patrol, they made 8 calls and turned over 16 people.
Wrote about some books to help us understand this moment in history. My latest newsletter: johnwashington.substack.com/p/making-sen...
Tucson! Tomorrow we will be screening the new documentary about the Pima County jail. Join us for the doc and a panel discussion. A collaboration btwn @azluminaria.bsky.social and @azpm.bsky.social www.eventbrite.com/e/death-behi...
Along with Hannah Cree of @azpm.bsky.social, I spent a year investigating this story about Pat, and how he got stuck in a cycle of mental health crisis and incarceration. Read the story via @azluminaria.bsky.social azluminaria.org/2025/02/28/m... or listen to it: originals.azpm.org/p/radio-buzz...
Watch my full documentary on the Pima County jail, plus wisdom from @jesspish.bsky.social, David Markson, and Rachel Aviv on Alice Munro. My latest newsletter: johnwashington.substack.com/p/new-jail-d...
Coming at you tonight, my first documentary, produced along with John DeSoto of @azpm.bsky.social A hard look at the ongoing crisis in the Pima County jail. Latest for @azluminaria.bsky.social Airing on PBS at 9pm and available online after. playpbs.azpm.org/show/death-b...
I talked to @jesspish.bsky.social about her crucial new book about sheriffs and their role in history, how poorly sheriffs run jails, and what to expect from them in the coming Trump admin. azluminaria.org/2025/01/02/q...
The best books of 2024: a short essay on my year in reading. My latest newsletter: johnwashington.substack.com/p/a-year-in-...
I take a hard look at the history of human smuggling, adding to my recent @nybooks.com review of @jasondeleon.bsky.social's Soldiers and Kings. My latest newsletter: johnwashington.substack.com/p/coyotaje