Ben Schwartz
@benschwartz.bsky.social
Writer: 84th Oscars, Letterman, The Nation, Vanity Fair, The New Yorker, The Baffler, Air Mail, Emmy nominee, NEH Public Scholar, and author of way too many posts. rep: Dara Kaye WME #WGAW letterboxd: https://boxd.it/1lq09
Pinned
Ben Schwartz
@benschwartz.bsky.social
· Aug 18
Billy Wilder’s Battle With the Past
How the fabled Hollywood director confronted survivor’s guilt, the legacies of the Holocaust, and the paradoxes of Zionism.
www.thenation.com
I have a new piece up @thenation.com on Billy Wilder, the Holocaust, survivor's guilt, and confronting the limits of Zionism. www.thenation.com/article/cult...
Reposted by Ben Schwartz
So much of American history is just impulsive and extremely stupid elites, who don't believe in consequences because they have never personally experienced them, doing highly consequential stuff because they're bored or believe it might make them richer. I guess a lot of our culture, too.
January 3, 2026 at 7:22 PM
So much of American history is just impulsive and extremely stupid elites, who don't believe in consequences because they have never personally experienced them, doing highly consequential stuff because they're bored or believe it might make them richer. I guess a lot of our culture, too.
Reposted by Ben Schwartz
In a statement, an emotional Grok told me it was "shaken" by the revenge porn it had generated. "It's not epic, and not based," Grok said. "It's neither. Frankly, it's cringe. And gay." An emailed request for comment to X received an auto-reply of a rofl emoji and a custom swastika emoji.
January 3, 2026 at 5:29 AM
In a statement, an emotional Grok told me it was "shaken" by the revenge porn it had generated. "It's not epic, and not based," Grok said. "It's neither. Frankly, it's cringe. And gay." An emailed request for comment to X received an auto-reply of a rofl emoji and a custom swastika emoji.
Reposted by Ben Schwartz
The demonization of Somalis is no different than the demonization of Haitians before the election. It's a political attack and has to be actively fought—not through half-measures or expressions of tepid concern but by demanding decency from society and respect for all of humanity.
January 2, 2026 at 8:24 PM
The demonization of Somalis is no different than the demonization of Haitians before the election. It's a political attack and has to be actively fought—not through half-measures or expressions of tepid concern but by demanding decency from society and respect for all of humanity.
Reposted by Ben Schwartz
Yeah, it makes absolutely no sense. Trump gets the best medical advice in the world.
January 2, 2026 at 3:37 AM
Yeah, it makes absolutely no sense. Trump gets the best medical advice in the world.
Yeah, it makes absolutely no sense. Trump gets the best medical advice in the world.
January 2, 2026 at 3:37 AM
Yeah, it makes absolutely no sense. Trump gets the best medical advice in the world.
Reposted by Ben Schwartz
good
1/ WSJ reports that Trump is always dozing off, struggles to hear, refuses to wear compression socks, get adequate sleep, or follow medical advice, relying intead on his “good genetics” to keep him alive. www.wsj.com/us-news/as-s...
Exclusive | As Signs of Aging Emerge, Trump Responds With Defiance
In an interview, President Trump—the oldest man to assume the office—said he has eschewed some advice from his doctors and regrets getting advanced imaging.
www.wsj.com
January 1, 2026 at 10:27 PM
good
good
1/ WSJ reports that Trump is always dozing off, struggles to hear, refuses to wear compression socks, get adequate sleep, or follow medical advice, relying intead on his “good genetics” to keep him alive. www.wsj.com/us-news/as-s...
Exclusive | As Signs of Aging Emerge, Trump Responds With Defiance
In an interview, President Trump—the oldest man to assume the office—said he has eschewed some advice from his doctors and regrets getting advanced imaging.
www.wsj.com
January 1, 2026 at 10:27 PM
good
Reposted by Ben Schwartz
And immediately after being sworn in, he will launch nuclear missiles at the San Andreas Fault and Hackensack, New Jersey.
December 31, 2025 at 1:13 AM
And immediately after being sworn in, he will launch nuclear missiles at the San Andreas Fault and Hackensack, New Jersey.
trust me, megan — that’s not why ppl aren’t going to the kennedy center.
December 31, 2025 at 5:05 AM
trust me, megan — that’s not why ppl aren’t going to the kennedy center.
And immediately after being sworn in, he will launch nuclear missiles at the San Andreas Fault and Hackensack, New Jersey.
December 31, 2025 at 1:13 AM
And immediately after being sworn in, he will launch nuclear missiles at the San Andreas Fault and Hackensack, New Jersey.
Reposted by Ben Schwartz
A lot of what I wrote this year is related to a book, but I did get this story up @thenation.com on Billy Wilder and his lifelong struggle coming to terms with the loss of his family in the Holocaust and his changing views on Zionism.
bsky.app/profile/bens...
bsky.app/profile/bens...
I have a new piece up @thenation.com on Billy Wilder, the Holocaust, survivor's guilt, and confronting the limits of Zionism. www.thenation.com/article/cult...
Billy Wilder’s Battle With the Past
How the fabled Hollywood director confronted survivor’s guilt, the legacies of the Holocaust, and the paradoxes of Zionism.
www.thenation.com
December 29, 2025 at 11:37 PM
A lot of what I wrote this year is related to a book, but I did get this story up @thenation.com on Billy Wilder and his lifelong struggle coming to terms with the loss of his family in the Holocaust and his changing views on Zionism.
bsky.app/profile/bens...
bsky.app/profile/bens...
A lot of what I wrote this year is related to a book, but I did get this story up @thenation.com on Billy Wilder and his lifelong struggle coming to terms with the loss of his family in the Holocaust and his changing views on Zionism.
bsky.app/profile/bens...
bsky.app/profile/bens...
I have a new piece up @thenation.com on Billy Wilder, the Holocaust, survivor's guilt, and confronting the limits of Zionism. www.thenation.com/article/cult...
Billy Wilder’s Battle With the Past
How the fabled Hollywood director confronted survivor’s guilt, the legacies of the Holocaust, and the paradoxes of Zionism.
www.thenation.com
December 29, 2025 at 11:37 PM
A lot of what I wrote this year is related to a book, but I did get this story up @thenation.com on Billy Wilder and his lifelong struggle coming to terms with the loss of his family in the Holocaust and his changing views on Zionism.
bsky.app/profile/bens...
bsky.app/profile/bens...
Reposted by Ben Schwartz
sorry, but in my house the oliver hardy style guide is never out of fashion.
December 29, 2025 at 2:15 AM
sorry, but in my house the oliver hardy style guide is never out of fashion.
From a favorite critic, @evincentelli.bsky.social, on the late Brigitte Bardot:
Elisabeth Vincentelli takes Bardot's full, complicated measure.
From Sex Appeal to the Far Right, Brigitte Bardot Symbolized a Changing France
www.nytimes.com
December 29, 2025 at 1:54 AM
From a favorite critic, @evincentelli.bsky.social, on the late Brigitte Bardot:
"There's some good in this world, Mr. Fucko, and it's worth fighting for."
The Lord of The Rings movies were rated PG-13. By current rules that means that each film could contain one use of the word "Fuck". Which line are you altering to insert the most useful swear word?
"I can't carry it for you, but I can Fucking carry you"
"I can't carry it for you, but I can Fucking carry you"
December 26, 2025 at 10:44 PM
"There's some good in this world, Mr. Fucko, and it's worth fighting for."
Reposted by Ben Schwartz
This is why, despite what a lot of folks are saying on here, Bari's not getting fired anytime soon. They hired her to be a pain sponge for the rich and powerful, and she's doing her job. 👇
I wrote about Bari Weiss doing the hard work of defending the rich and powerful www.thenation.com/article/soci...
Bari Weiss's Counter-Journalistic Crusade Targets "60 Minutes"
The new editor-in-chief at CBS News has shown she's not merely stupendously unqualified--she's ideologically opposed to the practice of good journalism.
www.thenation.com
December 23, 2025 at 5:50 PM
This is why, despite what a lot of folks are saying on here, Bari's not getting fired anytime soon. They hired her to be a pain sponge for the rich and powerful, and she's doing her job. 👇
This is why, despite what a lot of folks are saying on here, Bari's not getting fired anytime soon. They hired her to be a pain sponge for the rich and powerful, and she's doing her job. 👇
I wrote about Bari Weiss doing the hard work of defending the rich and powerful www.thenation.com/article/soci...
Bari Weiss's Counter-Journalistic Crusade Targets "60 Minutes"
The new editor-in-chief at CBS News has shown she's not merely stupendously unqualified--she's ideologically opposed to the practice of good journalism.
www.thenation.com
December 23, 2025 at 5:50 PM
This is why, despite what a lot of folks are saying on here, Bari's not getting fired anytime soon. They hired her to be a pain sponge for the rich and powerful, and she's doing her job. 👇
Reposted by Ben Schwartz
Reposted by Ben Schwartz
Let them say the r-word. It's not a slur to call someone a republican if it's true.
“It turns out that banishing the slur from public discourse was, in fact, important. Because now it’s back and it turns out that it does matter when subtext becomes actual text, when terrible people enable open hatred and bigotry, encouraging others to emulate them, degrading us all.”
Perry: The return of the r-word
"These days, the r-word slur has become a staple of the American right wing, uttered with few professional or social consequences," David M. Perry writes.
www.startribune.com
December 22, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Let them say the r-word. It's not a slur to call someone a republican if it's true.
Let them say the r-word. It's not a slur to call someone a republican if it's true.
“It turns out that banishing the slur from public discourse was, in fact, important. Because now it’s back and it turns out that it does matter when subtext becomes actual text, when terrible people enable open hatred and bigotry, encouraging others to emulate them, degrading us all.”
Perry: The return of the r-word
"These days, the r-word slur has become a staple of the American right wing, uttered with few professional or social consequences," David M. Perry writes.
www.startribune.com
December 22, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Let them say the r-word. It's not a slur to call someone a republican if it's true.
Reposted by Ben Schwartz
My thoughts on Rob Reiner, up @thenation.com: "He was born into privilege, and all charges of nepo-babyism certainly apply [but] he paid back all those breaks ... in making the state of California a far better place to live for millions of its citizens." www.thenation.com/article/cult...
Rob Reiner’s Legacy Can't Be Sullied by Trump’s Shameful Attacks
The late actor and director leaves behind a roster of classic films—and a much safer and juster California.
www.thenation.com
December 16, 2025 at 3:14 PM
My thoughts on Rob Reiner, up @thenation.com: "He was born into privilege, and all charges of nepo-babyism certainly apply [but] he paid back all those breaks ... in making the state of California a far better place to live for millions of its citizens." www.thenation.com/article/cult...
Reposted by Ben Schwartz
Got half way thru Chappelle’s special; I’ll finish it later. He’s up there chain smoking, in a camo jacket, rationalizing Saudi (and how much they love trans jokes – big surprise!) and gloating about that Ohio town he bought. Is there no joy in his life? Least merry thing you will see all year.
December 21, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Got half way thru Chappelle’s special; I’ll finish it later. He’s up there chain smoking, in a camo jacket, rationalizing Saudi (and how much they love trans jokes – big surprise!) and gloating about that Ohio town he bought. Is there no joy in his life? Least merry thing you will see all year.
Got half way thru Chappelle’s special; I’ll finish it later. He’s up there chain smoking, in a camo jacket, rationalizing Saudi (and how much they love trans jokes – big surprise!) and gloating about that Ohio town he bought. Is there no joy in his life? Least merry thing you will see all year.
December 21, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Got half way thru Chappelle’s special; I’ll finish it later. He’s up there chain smoking, in a camo jacket, rationalizing Saudi (and how much they love trans jokes – big surprise!) and gloating about that Ohio town he bought. Is there no joy in his life? Least merry thing you will see all year.
Reposted by Ben Schwartz
No, Johnson did not lose control of the House. Trump lost control of the House.
REPORTER: “Have you lost control of the House?”
SPEAKER MIKE JOHNSON: “I have not lost control of the House.”
SPEAKER MIKE JOHNSON: “I have not lost control of the House.”
December 17, 2025 at 7:29 PM
No, Johnson did not lose control of the House. Trump lost control of the House.