Flying Penguin Studios

05/27/2026

From Nekima Levy Armstrong

Today, we learned that a federal judge unsealed search warrant applications tied to the investigation into the January 18th protest at Cities Church — and found that the federal government failed to meet basic constitutional and legal standards in seeking those warrants.

That is a serious rebuke.

From the beginning, we have said that the targeting of protesters and organizers in this case raised profound concerns about government overreach, abuse of power, and efforts to criminalize dissent by the authoritarian Trump regime. The Constitution does not disappear when people speak out against injustice.

A federal judge has now confirmed that the federal government’s warrant applications did not meet the legal standards required to justify these extraordinary actions.

This matters far beyond our case. It matters for every activist, organizer, journalist, faith leader, and community member who believes in the rights to free speech, protest, and collective action.

We will continue demanding accountability, transparency, and the protection of our civil rights. We will not be silenced. And we will continue to vigorously fight these bogus, trumped-up charges against the .

DawokeFarmer2
Chauntyll Allen

05/23/2026

May 19th - Earlier this week I was able to catch a St.Paul Saints game at the CHS Stadium. They faced the Omaha Storm Chasers in an afternoon game.

Mike Paredes took the mound in the beginning of the game. He has had an impressive stance pitching for the Saints, and held that position on Tuesday. Unfortunately the defense wasn't there and the final score was Omaha Storm Chasers: 5 - St.Paul Saints - 3.

Tuesday was also Education Day at the stadium, so many schools had field trips there. When Muudonna wasn't cheering on the Saints, she was signing autographs for the kids. Sustainable Safari was also there with animals to pet, including a baby kangaroo.

Lee Adams and Rita Boersma were the PA announcers and did a wonderful job. It was really fun to watch the players interact with the kids; it was a fun reminder of those days in my own past.

Seigo Masubuchi was there singing on the mic to the crowd, but had also run his 100th marathon in the stadium a few days earlier! 84 laps made 26.2 miles, and his third marathon that he has run in the CHS Stadium. The money raised went towards the Special Olympics Minnesota. Thanks Seigo!

It was a fantastic time and I can't wait to see another game.

St. Paul Saints Baseball
Mudonna
Special Olympics Minnesota
Sustainable Safari

05/22/2026

Minneapolis, MN - Top officials from the Trump administration appeared in Minneapolis yesterday, May 21st, to announce the arrest of 15 individuals accused of fraud schemes involving $90 million in medicaid funds.

"Let me be clear up front about something: This is not the end of our work in Minnesota. This is the beginning of our work" Colin McDonald, Assistant Attorney General for the National Fraud Enforcement Division exclaimed. "The fraud here in Minnesota is shocking"

He was joined by Robert F. Kennedy Jr (Health and Human services Secretary), Dr. Mehmet Oz (Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services), Andrew Ferguson (Vice Chair of the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud), Daniel Rosen (US Attorney) and Christoper Raia (FBI Co-Deputy Director).

After the officials spoke, they took questions from reporters; At which a couple inquiries they declined to respond to. One of those questions was about allies of the president being granted a pardon in fraudulent activity. ( Lawrence Duran, a healthcare executive convicted in a $205 million Medicare scheme.)

A local independent journalist was called upon and asked if there was any course of action to compensate for damages of these cases. Mcdonald replied that "We are actively engaged in a whistleblower program that would allow people to come forward to report fraud and to ensure people have their voices heard when they have been damaged by fraudulent conduct. And also have a chance to see some of the money stolen from them recovered."

Todd Blanche, current Attorney General, was also scheduled to be at the press conference, but instead remained on Capitol Hill to defend the newly compensation fund that President Trump announced. This would provide nearly $1.8 billion to victims of government "weaponization and lawfare" under former President Joe Biden.

05/22/2026

Last weekend I found my new favorite armored combat teams at Boom Island Brewery.The Twin Cities Wyverns and The Flowers of Battle were battling it out at the 2nd annual Knights and Pints at the Boom Island Brewing Company

Attendees were invited to dress up as their favorite medieval appeal; and there were some really good outfits! The Flowers of Battle were the main attraction that day with a guest appearance from the "Pan Man"! (Dual wielding pans)

Swords were thrown, pans were lost, and some good old fisticuffs played out. It was a warm day, so in between each bout teammates would try to cool down their fellow combatants as much as they could. At the end of the fight, the winner was decided on by who the crowd cheered for the most.

As always it was a blast to watch these ladies in action. Look for both teams next at Surly Brewing Company

05/17/2026

St.Paul, Minnesota - May 16th was the second night DFL lawmakers held a 36 hour sit-in at the state capitol to pressure House Speaker Lisa Demuth to hold a gun violence prevention package up for a vote. The legislative session ends today, Sunday May 17th.

SF 4067 would include measures such as a ban on assault weapons and high capacity magazines, restrictions on 3D printed ghost guns, and funding for school safety. This bill passed the senate 34-33 and was sent to the house, where now democrats say hasn't been recognized.

At 11:30 a.m, a rally was held outside the house chamber where community members and families that were affected by the annunciation tragedy gathered. This also ended the sit-in from DFL lawmakers that started at 9:00 pm Thursday evening. After the press conference more chants were sung, and the names of people taken from gun violence were read out, while participants dropped a marble into a jar for each person affected. Mike Moyski and Jackie Flavin, the parents of Harper Moyski, were also present with Mike briefly publicly speaking to those who showed up to support.

Lisa Demuth is also currently being protected by a similar gun safety bill that she voted against back in 2023. The "Red Flag" law allows for the temporary removal of fi****ms from people deemed to be a risk to themselves or others. A woman who allegedly threatened the house speaker was ordered to surrender her fi****ms in February, 2023. Just this year judges have granted 115 of these cases.

The session ends today with the bill unlikely to gain any traction, but DFL lawmakers promised to continue the push in January.

05/14/2026

Yesterday was the last day of Nurses Appreciation Week, so first and foremost, THANK YOU TO EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU! The time, effort, care and patience you have is simply outstanding and we appreciate it so much.

Last week I had time to stop at both Renee and Alex's Vigil. I got to meet and chat with Fabiola and James, main caretakers of Renee's Vigil. (amazing, wonderful people, thank you!)

After I paid my respects to Renee, I made my way to see Alex.

Alex Jeffrey Pretti was also a nurse. Specifically, he was an intensive care nurse for the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. His last moments he was defending a woman, making sure she was okay.

Like many others, every time I come back to this area I have thoughts of that day. Waking up after our first National Strike, getting ready to edit photos from that day, and then hearing that another one of us had been murdered.

I remember driving there, seeing a cloud of not furnace exhaust from a building, but a cloud of tear gas rising from the scene. I remember the hurt and anger in voices yelling at those who should be protecting us; I remember the trigger happy, inexperienced agents waiting to use their "non-lethal" weapons.

Approaching Alex's vigil, the scenery looked much different from that day. The snow and ice is gone, no agents in the street, no chaos. But I do see the parking lot where people took cover, I see the alley way that we ran to after more tear gas was launched. I see the area where a woman was screaming in pain after being hit. I see The Copper Hen where it turned into a medical station, I see Glam Doll Donuts and The Black Forest Inn that provided shelter and resources for community members...

But it's nothing compared to the sacrifice that both Alex and Renee made for us, and for that we thank you.

We are still fighting for justice and won't stop until we get it for both of you and everyone else that has been hurt by our government.

05/12/2026

This last weekend I was able to catch the tail end of RIOT MOM 2026 Bloc Party: Art and Self Care Festival! The event was hosted by Back Pocket Vintage & Thrift Store, Backstory Coffee Roasters and Wabasha Brewing Company in the West Side neighborhood of St.Paul.

RIOT MOM 2026 celebrated the Moms of the Resistance! They wanted to honor the moms that showed up to protect our neighbors during Operation Metro Surge. The event was also a fundraiser for mutual aid efforts at Back Pocket Vintage and to help fund their free bodega services.

From Back Pocket Vintage:
"The Free Bodega is a mutual aid pantry that began at Back Pocket Vintage in St. Paul!

A mutual aid pantry is for everyone in the community to contribute to, participate in and take from.

We want the Free Bodega concept to be adopted by other local businesses. This helps create brand recognition for our neighbors in need, who may not feel comfortable stepping inside of local businesses for help."

The first mutual aid pantry is set up at Back Pocket Vintage, and the second location is at The Grief Room

The Grief Room had also set up a Justice for Mother's memorial for the mothers killed by the government. It was a beautiful safe space that they tended to throughout the day.

"You do not have to carry this all alone" - The Grief Room

There were so many activities! Tarot readings, yoga, beauty services, plant sales, kid friendly play zone, food trucks, and live music!

The music line up was as follows:
Little Fevers
The Silent Treatment
Poison Ivy And The People
DEEP FEMME
Black Widows

I wasn't able to get there til later in the day, but was happy I got to catch Deep Femme and Black Widows. (congrats to Deep Femme for being a new mother!)

Food Trucks were:
Sambusa Samosa
Smash & Dash
El Jefes Tacos

05/10/2026

Yesterday MIRAC - Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee and Women Against Military Madness (WAMM) held the Conejo Rally at the State Capital. This was calling for a Sanctuary State in Minnesota, NOW. It was also to call attention upon the 4,000 lives like Liam’s Ramos that were impacted by Operation Metro Surge.

MIRAC made blue bunny hats for participants to wear at the rally. These were to be a reminder for the victims of ICE's actions, and that no one is illegal.

Liam, his father Adrian Conejo Arias, and the rest of his family also made it to the rally at the capital with Arias also briefly speaking to the crowd.

05/09/2026

I was extremely fortunate to meet and talk with Fabiola and James yesterday. They have been part of the main caregivers to Renee Good's Memorial.

Fabiola has been helping to take care of both Renee and Alex's memorials. (Mainly Renee's) Before she started to take care of Good's memorial, Fabiola was a normal mother taking care of her son. Now things have changed and this has turned into a full time job for her.

Her and James have both been keeping a watchful eye over the site, for both vandalism and for any type of fraudulent media. With the warmer weather she has been planting flowers, and told me she just put some new ones in the other day. As we kept talking, the conversation led to what the future holds for Renee's memorial.

The goal is to have a permanent memorial built in honor of Renee Macklin Good, but there are many hoops to get through; legal issues, funding, and simply doing everything the correct way. The city will not help with financing, but will clear permits for the memorial.

A part of this is finding a non-profit organization to deal with the monetary side of things. Fabiola expressed that she's concerned about if and when they find a non-profit, they may not truly have their hearts dedicated to this mission.

The other preferable option would be starting their own non-profit organization from the ground up. Along with creating the non-profit, the funds would not only go into maintaining the memorial, but help create a safe space where people that have been affected and traumatized by I.C.E can go and talk with someone.

Not everyone can afford a therapist; Both adults and children will be affected by what happened for a long time. Even if someone is "okay" today, down the road they may need an open ear to listen to them.

Renee's family has also been a part of this, but are quite busy with other legal issues.

Currently there is not an official way to donate to this cause; they want to make sure it's done the correct and legal way so there is no confusion on where the funds are going. There are plans to have an official website up later on as well.

If anyone has or knows anyone with legal understanding of starting a non-profit, please reach out.

It's one step at a time, but it sounds like this is where the family and those helping would like things to go. We are still fighting for justice, Jonathan Ross has not been held accountable yet.

Thank you for your tremendous work and dedication, Fabiola, James.

Renee and Alex's Memorial social media pages:

Facebook: Renee & Alex Memorials

Instagram: .memorial

05/08/2026