Charles T. Downey
@ionarts.bsky.social
Associate Editor and Lead Critic, Washington Classical Review; Founder of Ionarts; Ph.D. in Historical Musicology; Classical Music Fiend; Opera Addict; Baroqueux agréable and Public Musicologist (all views expressed are my own, not those of my employers)
Pinned
As a follow-up to the latest bad news, a reminder from Oreo to nap for 16 hours of every day
Reposted by Charles T. Downey
Likely-historic photo by NBC News of all the Epstein victims asked to raise their hands if they've not yet been asked to meet with the DOJ as Bondi testifies in foreground
February 11, 2026 at 5:15 PM
Likely-historic photo by NBC News of all the Epstein victims asked to raise their hands if they've not yet been asked to meet with the DOJ as Bondi testifies in foreground
Sounds kinda bad
“At least two dozen U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement employees and contractors have been charged with crimes since 2020, and their documented wrongdoing includes patterns of physical and sexual abuse, corruption and other abuses of authority, a review by The Associated Press found.”
Several ICE agents were arrested in recent months, showing risk of misconduct
Investigators say one immigration official abused his girlfriend for years. Another admitted he sexually abused a woman in his custody.
apnews.com
February 11, 2026 at 10:36 PM
Sounds kinda bad
Reposted by Charles T. Downey
DC residents the second it’s not 28°: summer wardrobe activated
February 11, 2026 at 8:13 PM
DC residents the second it’s not 28°: summer wardrobe activated
Reposted by Charles T. Downey
RIP Bud Cort
variety.com/2026/film/ne...
variety.com/2026/film/ne...
Bud Cort, ‘Harold and Maude’ Star, Dies at 77
Bud Cort, who starred in 'Harold and Maude" and "Brewster McCloud," died Wednesday. He was 77.
variety.com
February 11, 2026 at 7:26 PM
RIP Bud Cort
variety.com/2026/film/ne...
variety.com/2026/film/ne...
Reposted by Charles T. Downey
What are you complaining about when the wealthy are partying behind the walls of Versailles?
Bondi crashes out over Epstein: "The Dow is over 50,000 dollars! I don't know why you're laughing. You're a great stock trader as I hear, Raskin. The Dow is over 50,000 right now. The S&P at almost 7,000, and the Nasdaq smashing records. That's what we should be talking about."
February 11, 2026 at 8:27 PM
What are you complaining about when the wealthy are partying behind the walls of Versailles?
Reposted by Charles T. Downey
Front page of this month’s edition of The Onion.
February 11, 2026 at 6:13 PM
Front page of this month’s edition of The Onion.
Reposted by Charles T. Downey
i say this as eloquently as i can:
eat shit
eat shit
February 11, 2026 at 1:33 AM
i say this as eloquently as i can:
eat shit
eat shit
Reposted by Charles T. Downey
February 10, 2026 at 10:27 PM
Reposted by Charles T. Downey
The only reason you go to the mattresses to keep the masks on is because you know people are gonna find pardoned J6ers and guys on those sex offender lists who couldn't get jobs elsewhere amongst the ranks
Rep. Kennedy: Will you commit to immediately unmasking every ICE agent and requiring them to wear standard uniforms with identifiable badges?
ICE Chief Lyons: No.
Rep. Kennedy: Your answer is completely unacceptable.
ICE Chief Lyons: No.
Rep. Kennedy: Your answer is completely unacceptable.
February 10, 2026 at 8:44 PM
The only reason you go to the mattresses to keep the masks on is because you know people are gonna find pardoned J6ers and guys on those sex offender lists who couldn't get jobs elsewhere amongst the ranks
Reposted by Charles T. Downey
GUYS LOOK AT THIS GIANT ICICLE I SAW TODAY. This is by far the largest icicle I’ve ever seen and possibly also an eldritch being.
February 10, 2026 at 8:55 PM
GUYS LOOK AT THIS GIANT ICICLE I SAW TODAY. This is by far the largest icicle I’ve ever seen and possibly also an eldritch being.
Reposted by Charles T. Downey
Members of the Buddhist Walk for Peace, leaving the National United Methodist Church, beginning their walk to the National Cathedral this afternoon.
DC Metro police—with name tags, badges, masks only as needed for the cold—accompanied the procession on a fleet of bicycles.
DC Metro police—with name tags, badges, masks only as needed for the cold—accompanied the procession on a fleet of bicycles.
February 10, 2026 at 9:01 PM
Members of the Buddhist Walk for Peace, leaving the National United Methodist Church, beginning their walk to the National Cathedral this afternoon.
DC Metro police—with name tags, badges, masks only as needed for the cold—accompanied the procession on a fleet of bicycles.
DC Metro police—with name tags, badges, masks only as needed for the cold—accompanied the procession on a fleet of bicycles.
My column today on Washington Classical Review: Independence must be restored to the Kennedy Center in order to save it - washingtonclassicalreview.com/2026/02/10/i...
February 10, 2026 at 5:15 PM
My column today on Washington Classical Review: Independence must be restored to the Kennedy Center in order to save it - washingtonclassicalreview.com/2026/02/10/i...
Reposted by Charles T. Downey
FOR FUCK'S -- and I mean this -- SAKE.
The National Cancer Institute will begin studying ivermectin's ability to kill cancer cells, @rachanadpradhan.bsky.social reports
www.statnews.com/2026/02/10/i...
www.statnews.com/2026/02/10/i...
National Cancer Institute studying ivermectin’s ‘ability to kill cancer cells,’ alarming career scientists
The National Cancer Institute is studying ivermectin as a potential cancer treatment, according to its top official, alarming career scientists.
www.statnews.com
February 10, 2026 at 3:10 PM
FOR FUCK'S -- and I mean this -- SAKE.
As the weather warms up, finally, it is time to bid farewell to the Snowcrete Art around the city (photo taken in 900 block of G St NW)
February 10, 2026 at 3:42 PM
As the weather warms up, finally, it is time to bid farewell to the Snowcrete Art around the city (photo taken in 900 block of G St NW)
Ah, it makes me remember my doctoral defense as if it were yesterday
February 10, 2026 at 3:39 PM
Ah, it makes me remember my doctoral defense as if it were yesterday
Reposted by Charles T. Downey
February 10, 2026 at 1:14 AM
About Last Night - outstanding French tenor Benjamin Bernheim in auspicious Washington debut for Vocal Arts DC's first concert after leaving the Kennedy Center. Photo: Courtney Ruckman washingtonclassicalreview.com/2026/02/09/v...
February 9, 2026 at 8:37 PM
About Last Night - outstanding French tenor Benjamin Bernheim in auspicious Washington debut for Vocal Arts DC's first concert after leaving the Kennedy Center. Photo: Courtney Ruckman washingtonclassicalreview.com/2026/02/09/v...
Reposted by Charles T. Downey
The robots are literally killing us. Not because of hyper intelligence, but because they're shit
“Researchers from Johns Hopkins, Georgetown and Yale universities recently found that 60 FDA-authorized medical devices using AI were linked to 182 product recalls, according to a research letter published in the JAMA Health Forum in August.”
As AI enters the operating room, reports arise of botched surgeries and misidentified body parts
Medical device makers have been rushing to add AI to their products. While proponents say the new technology will revolutionize medicine, regulators are receiving a rising number of claims of patient ...
www.reuters.com
February 9, 2026 at 1:14 PM
The robots are literally killing us. Not because of hyper intelligence, but because they're shit
From Seth Arenstein on WCR today - Imani Winds showcase their populist versatility at Wolf Trap. Photo: Titolayo Ayongade washingtonclassicalreview.com/2026/02/09/i...
February 9, 2026 at 5:15 PM
From Seth Arenstein on WCR today - Imani Winds showcase their populist versatility at Wolf Trap. Photo: Titolayo Ayongade washingtonclassicalreview.com/2026/02/09/i...
Reposted by Charles T. Downey
The latest release of Epstein documents includes nearly 100 messages exchanged with pianist Simon Ghraichy, whom Epstein seemingly began to mentor in 2014 providing financial and career support. By 2017, Ghraichy was an artist with DG.
The Protégé
Simon Ghraichy, Jeffrey Epstein, and the fog of art
www.criticaldrift.org
February 9, 2026 at 9:23 AM
The latest release of Epstein documents includes nearly 100 messages exchanged with pianist Simon Ghraichy, whom Epstein seemingly began to mentor in 2014 providing financial and career support. By 2017, Ghraichy was an artist with DG.
I don't speak Spanish, but there's an orchestra so I like it?
February 9, 2026 at 1:26 AM
I don't speak Spanish, but there's an orchestra so I like it?
I was there last night but saw nothing
Meanwhile Projected onto the Kennedy Center Last Night – “Property of the American People” and more - See the others: www.popville.com/2026/02/mean...
Meanwhile Projected onto the Kennedy Center Last Night – “Property of the American People” and more - PoPville
Thanks to V. for sending: "Some people last night (2/7) were braving the cold to add some decorations to the Kennedy Center." More projections:
www.popville.com
February 8, 2026 at 10:09 PM
I was there last night but saw nothing
Reposted by Charles T. Downey
Really important piece in today's @nytimes.com about possible, disastrous next target of MAGA wrecking ball:
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/05/a...
H/t to my friend @timothynoah.bsky.social for pioneering on this story: newrepublic.com/article/2010...
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/05/a...
H/t to my friend @timothynoah.bsky.social for pioneering on this story: newrepublic.com/article/2010...
It’s Been Called the ‘Sistine Chapel of the New Deal.’ Don’t Destroy It.
www.nytimes.com
February 7, 2026 at 5:36 PM
Really important piece in today's @nytimes.com about possible, disastrous next target of MAGA wrecking ball:
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/05/a...
H/t to my friend @timothynoah.bsky.social for pioneering on this story: newrepublic.com/article/2010...
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/05/a...
H/t to my friend @timothynoah.bsky.social for pioneering on this story: newrepublic.com/article/2010...
Reposted by Charles T. Downey
ICE Agent Scores Easy Win By Deporting Own Family
ICE Agent Scores Easy Win By Deporting Own Family
CHICAGO—Saying he couldn’t remember the last time an immigration raid had been so convenient, fast, or fun, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent Mark Hammond reportedly scored an easy win Monday ...
theonion.com
February 7, 2026 at 5:00 PM
ICE Agent Scores Easy Win By Deporting Own Family
Time for Kara Swisher and this group of investors to restart the Washington Star as a non-profit newspaper?
Before The Washington Post layoffs came down, a group of wealthy D.C. locals approached CEO Will Lewis with a proposal.
@passantino.bsky.social has the details in his Saturday @status.news column: www.status.news/p/washington...
@passantino.bsky.social has the details in his Saturday @status.news column: www.status.news/p/washington...
February 7, 2026 at 6:12 PM
Time for Kara Swisher and this group of investors to restart the Washington Star as a non-profit newspaper?