Brian Walter
@bdwlecteur.bsky.social
Reedie '88. I don't take naps; they take me. https://www.filminquiry.com/author/brian-walter/
Pinned
My second post on Substack is a brief essay called "Terror, Stupidity, and Barbed Wire" about Nabokov's resistance to authoritarian propaganda and violence. open.substack.com/pub/bdwlecte...
Reposted by Brian Walter
The author of a controversial memo from centrist think tank Searchlight telling Democrats to abandon the slogan “Abolish ICE” is a senior advisor for WestExec, a D.C. shadow lobbyist for corporations in the defense, surveillance, and immigration enforcement industries.
prospect.org/2026/01/19/a...
prospect.org/2026/01/19/a...
Author of ‘Don’t Say Abolish ICE’ Memo Is a Corporate Consultant - The American Prospect
Blas Nuñez-Neto is a senior adviser to WestExec, a shadow lobbyist for defense and tech firms.
prospect.org
January 19, 2026 at 2:13 PM
The author of a controversial memo from centrist think tank Searchlight telling Democrats to abandon the slogan “Abolish ICE” is a senior advisor for WestExec, a D.C. shadow lobbyist for corporations in the defense, surveillance, and immigration enforcement industries.
prospect.org/2026/01/19/a...
prospect.org/2026/01/19/a...
My second post on Substack is a brief essay called "Terror, Stupidity, and Barbed Wire" about Nabokov's resistance to authoritarian propaganda and violence. open.substack.com/pub/bdwlecte...
January 19, 2026 at 7:45 PM
My second post on Substack is a brief essay called "Terror, Stupidity, and Barbed Wire" about Nabokov's resistance to authoritarian propaganda and violence. open.substack.com/pub/bdwlecte...
Another gift of an essay from @sarahkendzior.bsky.social in this time of burgeoning horror. Highest and most grateful recommendation!
"Americans have been misled by pundits who proclaim the US a 'nation of laws.' It makes no difference if the US is a nation of laws when courts are selective in their application. Autocracies are nations of laws, too." sarahkendzior.substack.com/p/a-shining-...
A Shining Mausoleum on a Hill
Life, death, and the rampage of ICE.
sarahkendzior.substack.com
January 16, 2026 at 2:30 PM
Another gift of an essay from @sarahkendzior.bsky.social in this time of burgeoning horror. Highest and most grateful recommendation!
Reposted by Brian Walter
"I didn’t feel like writing this week, but God decided to lay it on thick, so here we are."
The first two weeks of this year have seemed like a decade. It's no small comfort to have @sarahkendzior.bsky.social to help guide us through the madness.
The first two weeks of this year have seemed like a decade. It's no small comfort to have @sarahkendzior.bsky.social to help guide us through the madness.
New article! On life, death, and the rampage of ICE.
sarahkendzior.substack.com/p/a-shining-...
sarahkendzior.substack.com/p/a-shining-...
A Shining Mausoleum on a Hill
Life, death, and the rampage of ICE.
sarahkendzior.substack.com
January 16, 2026 at 1:45 AM
"I didn’t feel like writing this week, but God decided to lay it on thick, so here we are."
The first two weeks of this year have seemed like a decade. It's no small comfort to have @sarahkendzior.bsky.social to help guide us through the madness.
The first two weeks of this year have seemed like a decade. It's no small comfort to have @sarahkendzior.bsky.social to help guide us through the madness.
Reposted by Brian Walter
Definition of Ponzi Austerity, from here: theamericanvandal.substack.com/p/transcript...
January 2, 2026 at 1:13 PM
Definition of Ponzi Austerity, from here: theamericanvandal.substack.com/p/transcript...
Reposted by Brian Walter
True underwater photography in the 1916 version of 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA
January 11, 2026 at 2:35 PM
True underwater photography in the 1916 version of 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA
Reposted by Brian Walter
She dragged her dog to a gravel pit and shot her. Later she dragged her pet goat to the gravel pit and shot him, because he smelled like a goat.
Conclusion: So what's the problem dragging a few protesters to a gravel pit and shooting them?
Conclusion: So what's the problem dragging a few protesters to a gravel pit and shooting them?
TAPPER: How can assert that there's no ambiguity in this before an investigation has taken place?
NOEM: I had just been in Minneapolis and had been with those officers, had seen what they were facing on the streets, and had talked to their supervisors as soon as the incident happened
NOEM: I had just been in Minneapolis and had been with those officers, had seen what they were facing on the streets, and had talked to their supervisors as soon as the incident happened
January 11, 2026 at 2:36 PM
She dragged her dog to a gravel pit and shot her. Later she dragged her pet goat to the gravel pit and shot him, because he smelled like a goat.
Conclusion: So what's the problem dragging a few protesters to a gravel pit and shooting them?
Conclusion: So what's the problem dragging a few protesters to a gravel pit and shooting them?
Reposted by Brian Walter
Elon Musk is using Grok to fill the internet with child pornography. Some liberals object.
January 5, 2026 at 7:17 PM
Elon Musk is using Grok to fill the internet with child pornography. Some liberals object.
Reposted by Brian Walter
once again encouraging you all to support billionaire-free, worker-run, independent newsrooms how and where you are able
The Washington Post editorial board comes out in favor of the Venezuela attack/operation to capture Maduro
January 5, 2026 at 1:40 PM
once again encouraging you all to support billionaire-free, worker-run, independent newsrooms how and where you are able
Reposted by Brian Walter
If you are a resident of California, the state now has a portal where you can demand deletion of your personal data from 500+ registered data brokers with a single request form, for free.
consumer.drop.privacy.ca.gov
consumer.drop.privacy.ca.gov
consumer.drop.privacy.ca.gov
January 2, 2026 at 2:26 AM
If you are a resident of California, the state now has a portal where you can demand deletion of your personal data from 500+ registered data brokers with a single request form, for free.
consumer.drop.privacy.ca.gov
consumer.drop.privacy.ca.gov
Reposted by Brian Walter
“Venezuela has become the laboratory for the new US security strategy. It is an experiment based on the economic control that the United States exerts over the region.”
From the @wired en Espanol team, who’ll be covering this story from the region.
From the @wired en Espanol team, who’ll be covering this story from the region.
What Happens Next in Venezuela—and the Rest of Latin America?
Donald Trump says that Venezuela's governance will remain in the hands of senior US officials until a "proper and judicious transition" can take place. The rest of the region is on notice.
www.wired.com
January 3, 2026 at 10:34 PM
“Venezuela has become the laboratory for the new US security strategy. It is an experiment based on the economic control that the United States exerts over the region.”
From the @wired en Espanol team, who’ll be covering this story from the region.
From the @wired en Espanol team, who’ll be covering this story from the region.
Reposted by Brian Walter
I have been thinking that the major divide in Canadian politics now is really wrestling with Trump’s US or wholly embracing it, and now Pierre Poilievre and Melissa Lantsman are praising Trump’s illegal attack on Venezuela while Danielle Smith pushes separation. It’s a really dangerous time.
January 3, 2026 at 6:12 PM
I have been thinking that the major divide in Canadian politics now is really wrestling with Trump’s US or wholly embracing it, and now Pierre Poilievre and Melissa Lantsman are praising Trump’s illegal attack on Venezuela while Danielle Smith pushes separation. It’s a really dangerous time.
Reposted by Brian Walter
it is incredible that the entire high level legal apparatus of the United States is "anything that helps people is impossible, anything that kills people is permitted"
January 3, 2026 at 2:24 PM
it is incredible that the entire high level legal apparatus of the United States is "anything that helps people is impossible, anything that kills people is permitted"
Reposted by Brian Walter
It's not very popular but crucially most of that 11% are cable news producers and newspaper editors
74% of voters want Trump to get Congressional approval to invade Venezuela. Only 11% OK with him going alone. 11%!!!!!!!!
January 3, 2026 at 3:36 PM
It's not very popular but crucially most of that 11% are cable news producers and newspaper editors
Reposted by Brian Walter
This person went on a buying spree over the past 24 hours. Fresh wallet. Only existed since Dec 27th and has only bet on Venezuela-related markets.
polymarket.com/@0x31a56e9E6...
polymarket.com/@0x31a56e9E6...
January 3, 2026 at 7:49 AM
This person went on a buying spree over the past 24 hours. Fresh wallet. Only existed since Dec 27th and has only bet on Venezuela-related markets.
polymarket.com/@0x31a56e9E6...
polymarket.com/@0x31a56e9E6...
Reposted by Brian Walter
rubio pretty much believes in a reverse domino theory for latin america and since he is effectively running foreign policy in the region i would expect him to see cuba as his next target
And I don’t want to sound conspiratorial, but if they feel like they can do this in Venezuela without any serious consequences, they’re absolutely going to try it in Cuba too.
January 3, 2026 at 12:37 PM
rubio pretty much believes in a reverse domino theory for latin america and since he is effectively running foreign policy in the region i would expect him to see cuba as his next target
Reposted by Brian Walter
an “inherent power” to respond to an “imminent” attack is just a license for aggressive war on the president’s whim
How does launching air strikes and a commando raid fall under the remit of self defense for an arrest operation
January 3, 2026 at 12:39 PM
an “inherent power” to respond to an “imminent” attack is just a license for aggressive war on the president’s whim
Reposted by Brian Walter
If Maduro is in custody my expectation is the admin will try to hold Dumb Nuremberg. They'll make it a judicial referendum on fentanyl and try to blame Maduro for the deaths from the opiate crisis.
January 3, 2026 at 10:18 AM
If Maduro is in custody my expectation is the admin will try to hold Dumb Nuremberg. They'll make it a judicial referendum on fentanyl and try to blame Maduro for the deaths from the opiate crisis.
Reposted by Brian Walter
So Russia stole a few Billion in gold from Venezuela & trump kidnapped President Maduro . ..
January 3, 2026 at 10:27 AM
So Russia stole a few Billion in gold from Venezuela & trump kidnapped President Maduro . ..
Reposted by Brian Walter
Number of people who go bankrupt every year because of medical bills or illness-related work loss:
🇦🇺 0
🇨🇦 0
🇩🇰 0
🇫🇮 0
🇫🇷 0
🇩🇪 0
🇮🇸 0
🇮🇪 0
🇮🇹 0
🇯🇵 0
🇳🇱 0
🇳🇴 0
🇵🇹 0
🇪🇸 0
🇸🇪 0
🇬🇧 0
🇺🇸 530,000
There’s a lesson there.
🇦🇺 0
🇨🇦 0
🇩🇰 0
🇫🇮 0
🇫🇷 0
🇩🇪 0
🇮🇸 0
🇮🇪 0
🇮🇹 0
🇯🇵 0
🇳🇱 0
🇳🇴 0
🇵🇹 0
🇪🇸 0
🇸🇪 0
🇬🇧 0
🇺🇸 530,000
There’s a lesson there.
January 1, 2026 at 9:01 PM
Number of people who go bankrupt every year because of medical bills or illness-related work loss:
🇦🇺 0
🇨🇦 0
🇩🇰 0
🇫🇮 0
🇫🇷 0
🇩🇪 0
🇮🇸 0
🇮🇪 0
🇮🇹 0
🇯🇵 0
🇳🇱 0
🇳🇴 0
🇵🇹 0
🇪🇸 0
🇸🇪 0
🇬🇧 0
🇺🇸 530,000
There’s a lesson there.
🇦🇺 0
🇨🇦 0
🇩🇰 0
🇫🇮 0
🇫🇷 0
🇩🇪 0
🇮🇸 0
🇮🇪 0
🇮🇹 0
🇯🇵 0
🇳🇱 0
🇳🇴 0
🇵🇹 0
🇪🇸 0
🇸🇪 0
🇬🇧 0
🇺🇸 530,000
There’s a lesson there.
Reposted by Brian Walter
5 million-plus kindergartners now live in counties where schools don’t have “herd immunity” for measles, Washington Post reporters found.
WaPo also built a tool to look up your own county.
Exceptional, and alarming work by @laurenweberhp.bsky.social @caitlingilbert.bsky.social et al.
(Gift link.)
WaPo also built a tool to look up your own county.
Exceptional, and alarming work by @laurenweberhp.bsky.social @caitlingilbert.bsky.social et al.
(Gift link.)
U.S. vaccination rates are plunging. Look up where your school stands.
Take a look to see what the kindergarten measles vaccination rates are in your area.
wapo.st
January 1, 2026 at 2:46 AM
5 million-plus kindergartners now live in counties where schools don’t have “herd immunity” for measles, Washington Post reporters found.
WaPo also built a tool to look up your own county.
Exceptional, and alarming work by @laurenweberhp.bsky.social @caitlingilbert.bsky.social et al.
(Gift link.)
WaPo also built a tool to look up your own county.
Exceptional, and alarming work by @laurenweberhp.bsky.social @caitlingilbert.bsky.social et al.
(Gift link.)
Reposted by Brian Walter
Revelers recovering from New Year’s Eve celebrations on the steps of Grand Central Station, New York, circa 1940.
January 1, 2026 at 1:01 PM
Revelers recovering from New Year’s Eve celebrations on the steps of Grand Central Station, New York, circa 1940.
Reposted by Brian Walter
This is why they want us talking about day care scams.
December 30, 2025 at 9:53 PM
This is why they want us talking about day care scams.
Reposted by Brian Walter
The world’s 500 richest people have total wealth of $11.9tn.
Their wealth up by $2.2tn in 2025. 8 billionaires accounting for a 25% of the gains.
No one becomes this rich by working.
They fund right-wing parties, oppose worker/human rights, cause more pollution than normal people.
Their wealth up by $2.2tn in 2025. 8 billionaires accounting for a 25% of the gains.
No one becomes this rich by working.
They fund right-wing parties, oppose worker/human rights, cause more pollution than normal people.
Billionaires added record $2.2tn in wealth in 2025
Just eight billionaires accounted for a quarter of the gains, led by Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Larry Ellison and Larry Page
www.theguardian.com
January 1, 2026 at 8:21 AM
The world’s 500 richest people have total wealth of $11.9tn.
Their wealth up by $2.2tn in 2025. 8 billionaires accounting for a 25% of the gains.
No one becomes this rich by working.
They fund right-wing parties, oppose worker/human rights, cause more pollution than normal people.
Their wealth up by $2.2tn in 2025. 8 billionaires accounting for a 25% of the gains.
No one becomes this rich by working.
They fund right-wing parties, oppose worker/human rights, cause more pollution than normal people.
Reposted by Brian Walter
