Aaron Cynic
@aaroncynic.bsky.social
Photographer, Chicago guy, punk rock nostalgia keeper. Sometimes I still write things too.
www.aaroncynic.com
www.aaroncynic.com
Reposted by Aaron Cynic
You can’t just put (paraphrasing) “we’re going to add new language about prisons/detention centers to zoning code” on an agenda, in a village rocked by protests over a detention center, and not expect people to have questions or to assume the worst.
January 6, 2026 at 4:06 AM
You can’t just put (paraphrasing) “we’re going to add new language about prisons/detention centers to zoning code” on an agenda, in a village rocked by protests over a detention center, and not expect people to have questions or to assume the worst.
Reposted by Aaron Cynic
"GenAI is the futu--
January 6, 2026 at 3:31 AM
"GenAI is the futu--
Reposted by Aaron Cynic
Five years ago I rolled off a flight from Chicago to D.C. straight into an Alex Jones rally. Proud Boys, OathKeepers and assorted Trump fans marched through the streets declaring their intent to try a coup the next day. No one did anything about it.
January 6, 2026 at 2:06 AM
Five years ago I rolled off a flight from Chicago to D.C. straight into an Alex Jones rally. Proud Boys, OathKeepers and assorted Trump fans marched through the streets declaring their intent to try a coup the next day. No one did anything about it.
Reposted by Aaron Cynic
Americans will catastrophize and fantasize about nuclear war when the obvious answer, police *and* vigilante fascist violence, is literally right there.
You don't have to fear non-existent Iranian nukes, the actual Boogeyman is already in a roid rage and wearing a tac vest in your town
You don't have to fear non-existent Iranian nukes, the actual Boogeyman is already in a roid rage and wearing a tac vest in your town
June 22, 2025 at 9:09 AM
Americans will catastrophize and fantasize about nuclear war when the obvious answer, police *and* vigilante fascist violence, is literally right there.
You don't have to fear non-existent Iranian nukes, the actual Boogeyman is already in a roid rage and wearing a tac vest in your town
You don't have to fear non-existent Iranian nukes, the actual Boogeyman is already in a roid rage and wearing a tac vest in your town
Reposted by Aaron Cynic
In extraordinary moments such as this, too many journalists behave as if they have more in common with billionaires destroying journalism than the 80 or so people killed in Venezuela by Trump’s airstrikes. If we’ve learned anything this past year, it’s that proximity to power does not equal power.
Call Trump's power grab in Venezuela what it is
Corporate media must recognize they're being openly lied to—and report accordingly.
www.thehandbasket.co
January 6, 2026 at 2:02 AM
In extraordinary moments such as this, too many journalists behave as if they have more in common with billionaires destroying journalism than the 80 or so people killed in Venezuela by Trump’s airstrikes. If we’ve learned anything this past year, it’s that proximity to power does not equal power.
Reposted by Aaron Cynic
I’ve heard conspiracy theorists described as needing to believe in some kind of order to the world and I think it’s the same for a lot of these people. if they had to process how bad it is when it doesn’t have to be, they’d snap
it's so weird that there are still people who defend chuck schumer on here
so many "we don't have any power, what do you expect him to do" and "we've tried absolutely nothing strategically unique and are all out of ideas" type of folks who seem extremely happy to wallow in powerlessness
so many "we don't have any power, what do you expect him to do" and "we've tried absolutely nothing strategically unique and are all out of ideas" type of folks who seem extremely happy to wallow in powerlessness
January 6, 2026 at 1:40 AM
I’ve heard conspiracy theorists described as needing to believe in some kind of order to the world and I think it’s the same for a lot of these people. if they had to process how bad it is when it doesn’t have to be, they’d snap
Reposted by Aaron Cynic
the way tv news stations just invite these fascists on to their shows and ask them questions like they’re normal politicians
TAPPER: Can you rule out the US is going to take Greenland by force?
MILLER: Greenland should be part of the US. By what right does Denmark assert control over Greenland? The US is the power of NATO
T: So force is on the table?
M: Nobody is gonna fight the US militarily over future of Greenland
MILLER: Greenland should be part of the US. By what right does Denmark assert control over Greenland? The US is the power of NATO
T: So force is on the table?
M: Nobody is gonna fight the US militarily over future of Greenland
January 6, 2026 at 1:35 AM
the way tv news stations just invite these fascists on to their shows and ask them questions like they’re normal politicians
Reposted by Aaron Cynic
Another Trump victory that went without a real protest, or a serious fight.
J6ers are doing a celebratory march on the Capitol tomorrow.
The ‘24 VP pick just quit after a streamer criticized him.
Trump kidnapped a foreign leader and Dems agreed with it (just that they didn’t get told first)
J6ers are doing a celebratory march on the Capitol tomorrow.
The ‘24 VP pick just quit after a streamer criticized him.
Trump kidnapped a foreign leader and Dems agreed with it (just that they didn’t get told first)
January 6, 2026 at 1:28 AM
Another Trump victory that went without a real protest, or a serious fight.
J6ers are doing a celebratory march on the Capitol tomorrow.
The ‘24 VP pick just quit after a streamer criticized him.
Trump kidnapped a foreign leader and Dems agreed with it (just that they didn’t get told first)
J6ers are doing a celebratory march on the Capitol tomorrow.
The ‘24 VP pick just quit after a streamer criticized him.
Trump kidnapped a foreign leader and Dems agreed with it (just that they didn’t get told first)
Reposted by Aaron Cynic
Broadview’s board of trustees passed this amendment regulating future detention centers/prisons within the village.
The village attorney explained that current law is silent on this issue, so the amendment will let the village better control where any future detention center could be built.
The village attorney explained that current law is silent on this issue, so the amendment will let the village better control where any future detention center could be built.
January 6, 2026 at 1:09 AM
Broadview’s board of trustees passed this amendment regulating future detention centers/prisons within the village.
The village attorney explained that current law is silent on this issue, so the amendment will let the village better control where any future detention center could be built.
The village attorney explained that current law is silent on this issue, so the amendment will let the village better control where any future detention center could be built.
Reposted by Aaron Cynic
An older man struck up a conversation with my friend and I while skating at Midway Plaisance yesterday (we were discussing the Archer Avenue street improvements and he jumped in). He asked about congestion pricing and if it could work in Chicago and I replied, "If NYC can make it work, we can."
The rest of the country will look at this and say: "whelp, it could never work here!"
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Congestion pricing after one year: How life has changed. (Gift Article)
How life has changed in the New York area, according to data on traffic, transit and the responses of 600 readers.
www.nytimes.com
January 5, 2026 at 7:40 PM
An older man struck up a conversation with my friend and I while skating at Midway Plaisance yesterday (we were discussing the Archer Avenue street improvements and he jumped in). He asked about congestion pricing and if it could work in Chicago and I replied, "If NYC can make it work, we can."
Reposted by Aaron Cynic
one of my college roommates got meningitis (during finals week of all times) and friends you do NOT want meningitis
HHS to weaken childhood vaccine schedule for flu, meningitis
HHS to weaken childhood vaccine schedule for flu, meningitis
Federal officials say the U.S. should have a schedule more in line with slimmer recommendations in other countries. Public health experts say the goal belies fundamental differences between health systems and disease prevalence.
dlvr.it
January 5, 2026 at 10:21 PM
one of my college roommates got meningitis (during finals week of all times) and friends you do NOT want meningitis
Got a small cut on my foot from walking on my patio barefoot which got infected and abscessed resulting in me nearly losing my toe and being laid up for 3 weeks.
What's the most ridiculous way you ever hurt yourself? I got out of the tub, skidded in water and tripped over the toilet. Ankle sprain.
😅
😅
January 5, 2026 at 11:50 PM
Got a small cut on my foot from walking on my patio barefoot which got infected and abscessed resulting in me nearly losing my toe and being laid up for 3 weeks.
Reposted by Aaron Cynic
Nothing more satisfying than forming a coalition of weird aunts and wine moms to tell the Feds not to try it in your town
we've got some ICE shit going down in our little town today and it took like three minutes for a convoy of wine moms to start chasing them around town. normies hate this shit and are putting in the work
January 5, 2026 at 10:55 PM
Nothing more satisfying than forming a coalition of weird aunts and wine moms to tell the Feds not to try it in your town
Reposted by Aaron Cynic
On the other side of this, afaik every hotel ICE/CBP was confirmed to have stayed at in the Chicago area was a Marriott property.
January 5, 2026 at 10:21 PM
On the other side of this, afaik every hotel ICE/CBP was confirmed to have stayed at in the Chicago area was a Marriott property.
Reposted by Aaron Cynic
What changed is that when millennials and gen Z grew up, they started expecting their Rights to actually matter, because they actually believed in stuff. And therefore, to win their votes, Democrats had to pretend to believe in that stuff too.
January 5, 2026 at 10:35 PM
What changed is that when millennials and gen Z grew up, they started expecting their Rights to actually matter, because they actually believed in stuff. And therefore, to win their votes, Democrats had to pretend to believe in that stuff too.
Reposted by Aaron Cynic
Reposted by Aaron Cynic
I disagree that Venezuela is a "distraction" from anything (eg the Epstein files). War and imperial expansion are integral to this administration's policies, not incidental.
January 4, 2026 at 4:52 PM
I disagree that Venezuela is a "distraction" from anything (eg the Epstein files). War and imperial expansion are integral to this administration's policies, not incidental.
Reposted by Aaron Cynic
January 5, 2026 at 8:05 PM
Reposted by Aaron Cynic
I actually would like to see more pro-democracy messaging in politics but instead of throwing it around like a magic word you could tell people how it connects to their social and economic life experience. Here are a hundred ways your life is shitty because a handful of evil dorks make the decisions
August 4, 2025 at 6:41 PM
I actually would like to see more pro-democracy messaging in politics but instead of throwing it around like a magic word you could tell people how it connects to their social and economic life experience. Here are a hundred ways your life is shitty because a handful of evil dorks make the decisions
Reposted by Aaron Cynic
We are all in a state of constant panic and terror. It’s important to take a second when you see something online that triggers you to ask yourself “am it really triggered or am I just experiencing nonstop psychic damage from the world and my brain sees this as an outlet for my fear and rage.”
January 5, 2026 at 9:53 PM
We are all in a state of constant panic and terror. It’s important to take a second when you see something online that triggers you to ask yourself “am it really triggered or am I just experiencing nonstop psychic damage from the world and my brain sees this as an outlet for my fear and rage.”
Reposted by Aaron Cynic
Seems bad!
What in the Gestapo is going on in Grand Rapids?
Watch this activist get arrested *mid-interview* for speaking out against U.S. action in Venezuela.
Watch this activist get arrested *mid-interview* for speaking out against U.S. action in Venezuela.
January 5, 2026 at 8:39 PM
Seems bad!
Reposted by Aaron Cynic
Small Slingshot planners are back in stock!
January 5, 2026 at 7:50 PM
Small Slingshot planners are back in stock!
Reposted by Aaron Cynic
Minneapolis:
The surge is surging today. Many ppl taken. This is with roughly 500 agents on the ground.
This also means CBP is coming. Extremely bad news.
You saw Chicago in the fall? We’re up.
Defend612.com sign up to be in a Signal group if you’re not already.
This also means CBP is coming. Extremely bad news.
You saw Chicago in the fall? We’re up.
Defend612.com sign up to be in a Signal group if you’re not already.
Defend612.com
January 5, 2026 at 7:47 PM
Minneapolis:
Reposted by Aaron Cynic
I'm putting together a piece about how much investigative journalism actually costs. If you are an investigative journalist and you're willing to share (not for attribution) what you make and how many hours (years!) you put in, my DMs are open. Estimates fine, just want to get a sense of it.
January 5, 2026 at 7:18 PM
I'm putting together a piece about how much investigative journalism actually costs. If you are an investigative journalist and you're willing to share (not for attribution) what you make and how many hours (years!) you put in, my DMs are open. Estimates fine, just want to get a sense of it.
Reposted by Aaron Cynic
Praying for the good people of Minneapolis, y'all don't deserve this shit. Give them hell.
January 5, 2026 at 7:36 PM
Praying for the good people of Minneapolis, y'all don't deserve this shit. Give them hell.