Jake Blount
@jakeblount.com
Making and studying the musics of Black otherworlds.
🎻 New Dangerfield
📚 Brown University
🎻 New Dangerfield
📚 Brown University
Pinned
Jake Blount
@jakeblount.com
· Nov 14
Please welcome: 𝕤𝕪𝕞𝕓𝕚𝕠𝕟𝕥, out now on Smithsonian Folkways Recordings.
"Haunting, prowling futurist folk music." -
Bandcamp
"Powerful, pulsing examples of the old tangling brilliantly with the new." - The Guardian
Listen on the platform of your choosing: orcd.co/jake-blount-...
"Haunting, prowling futurist folk music." -
Bandcamp
"Powerful, pulsing examples of the old tangling brilliantly with the new." - The Guardian
Listen on the platform of your choosing: orcd.co/jake-blount-...
Reposted by Jake Blount
They built this technology with this use case in mind.
From yesterday and today: it certainly appears ICE in Chicago are wearing the Meta AI Ray-Ban glasses.
September 23, 2025 at 10:05 PM
They built this technology with this use case in mind.
For the second semester in a row, I am feeling this. Why ask me to critique an article when it's the first one I've ever read on the subject? 😭
So far the most excruciating part of grad school is not actually the workload, it's how often I'm forced to publicly state opinions on topics that are entirely new to me—and which I am therefore entirely unqualified to have strong opinions about. Just let me learn quietly until I understand it.
September 16, 2025 at 4:43 AM
For the second semester in a row, I am feeling this. Why ask me to critique an article when it's the first one I've ever read on the subject? 😭
Reposted by Jake Blount
Pretty clear from Secretary of Lying @karolineleavitt’s tweet they’re just gonna try to lie their way through it.
www.wsj.com/us-news/law/...
www.wsj.com/us-news/law/...
September 9, 2025 at 4:09 AM
Pretty clear from Secretary of Lying @karolineleavitt’s tweet they’re just gonna try to lie their way through it.
www.wsj.com/us-news/law/...
www.wsj.com/us-news/law/...
Reposted by Jake Blount
"but we can't support trans rights, it's unpopular!"
just a reminder that US approval for marriage between black and white people at the start of the civil rights movement was 4%, reaching a whopping 20% by the end of the movement
it's 95% now
you don't wait for popularity for a rights movement
just a reminder that US approval for marriage between black and white people at the start of the civil rights movement was 4%, reaching a whopping 20% by the end of the movement
it's 95% now
you don't wait for popularity for a rights movement
September 7, 2025 at 3:52 PM
"but we can't support trans rights, it's unpopular!"
just a reminder that US approval for marriage between black and white people at the start of the civil rights movement was 4%, reaching a whopping 20% by the end of the movement
it's 95% now
you don't wait for popularity for a rights movement
just a reminder that US approval for marriage between black and white people at the start of the civil rights movement was 4%, reaching a whopping 20% by the end of the movement
it's 95% now
you don't wait for popularity for a rights movement
Reposted by Jake Blount
People make fun of the Arkansans begging for help that they won't get after voting for someone who never had any interest in helping them anyway but I need folk to also make the connection that they are employing the strategy advocated for when you say 'Get them into office & then move them left.'
September 7, 2025 at 7:03 PM
People make fun of the Arkansans begging for help that they won't get after voting for someone who never had any interest in helping them anyway but I need folk to also make the connection that they are employing the strategy advocated for when you say 'Get them into office & then move them left.'
Fell asleep with YouTube going and woke up horrified to realize it had autoplayed me onto a 24/7 feed of AI-generated "jazz music"
September 7, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Fell asleep with YouTube going and woke up horrified to realize it had autoplayed me onto a 24/7 feed of AI-generated "jazz music"
Reposted by Jake Blount
What this means in practice is that 14K trans people will have to quit their federal employee jobs and find jobs that cover gender affirming care.
In other words, this is a purge of trans people from the civil service.
Lavender scare.
Everyone who participates is responsible
In other words, this is a purge of trans people from the civil service.
Lavender scare.
Everyone who participates is responsible
20 Aug 25 -- Trump admin quietly enacts new ban of reimbursement for gender related care through fed govt's largest health insurer regardless of age. 8m fed & 2m postal employees of which ~14k are trans -- will be affected. @rikiwilchins.bsky.social
Trump quietly bans federal health insurance from covering gender-affirming care
The largest federal health insurance provider now bans coverage for gender-affirming care, but allows "faith-based counseling."
www.advocate.com
August 20, 2025 at 2:09 PM
What this means in practice is that 14K trans people will have to quit their federal employee jobs and find jobs that cover gender affirming care.
In other words, this is a purge of trans people from the civil service.
Lavender scare.
Everyone who participates is responsible
In other words, this is a purge of trans people from the civil service.
Lavender scare.
Everyone who participates is responsible
I never realized that the people making arguments and decisions about this stuff think these cities are vibrant and beloved because of their economies. When I think of the coolest cities in this country, I don't think of the wealthiest ones. I'm not sure most other people do, either.
ELIZABETH WARREN: What Zohran is saying is 'I want people to be able to afford to live in NYC'
FABER: But raising taxes in order to do it?
WARREN: Oh my goodness! Oh dear! Are you worried that billionaires are going to go hungry?
FABER: But raising taxes in order to do it?
WARREN: Oh my goodness! Oh dear! Are you worried that billionaires are going to go hungry?
August 4, 2025 at 4:22 PM
I never realized that the people making arguments and decisions about this stuff think these cities are vibrant and beloved because of their economies. When I think of the coolest cities in this country, I don't think of the wealthiest ones. I'm not sure most other people do, either.
Reposted by Jake Blount
“I have ordered a complete siege on the Gaza Strip. There will be no electricity, no food, no fuel, everything is closed,” said then-Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Oct. 9, 2023… This was not a secret. It was the proclaimed policy. And it has been followed as such, on and off, ever since.”
For @forward.com, I wrote about how we know that Israel has been withholding food as a military tactic because Israeli officials have said versions of “we are withholding food as a military tactic” for the entirety of the war and pretending otherwise is willful ignorance forward.com/opinion/7586...
Is starvation in Gaza really Israel's fault? The facts are clear
Rising starvation in Gaza may have a number of factors. But Israel's wartime policies on humanitarian aid are inarguably among them.
forward.com
July 28, 2025 at 9:25 PM
“I have ordered a complete siege on the Gaza Strip. There will be no electricity, no food, no fuel, everything is closed,” said then-Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Oct. 9, 2023… This was not a secret. It was the proclaimed policy. And it has been followed as such, on and off, ever since.”
Reposted by Jake Blount
Donald Trump blocks Taiwan’s President Lai from New York stopover https://on.ft.com/4lTlOey
Trump blocks Taiwan’s President Lai from New York stopover
Move comes as US and China hold trade talks and seek to stabilise relations
on.ft.com
July 28, 2025 at 8:46 PM
Donald Trump blocks Taiwan’s President Lai from New York stopover https://on.ft.com/4lTlOey
Reposted by Jake Blount
me when my friend is talking to their better friend at the function
July 28, 2025 at 9:41 PM
me when my friend is talking to their better friend at the function
Reposted by Jake Blount
They fired the people answering calls for help. Hundreds of them. During the crisis.
July 12, 2025 at 12:48 AM
They fired the people answering calls for help. Hundreds of them. During the crisis.
Reposted by Jake Blount
Good thing the Democrats spent the last week melting down about Zohran Mamdani winning the NYC mayoral primary because otherwise more Americans might have known that the GOP was planning to fuck them to high hell and that wouldn't have been a good use of their time
oh wait
oh wait
July 1, 2025 at 9:25 PM
Good thing the Democrats spent the last week melting down about Zohran Mamdani winning the NYC mayoral primary because otherwise more Americans might have known that the GOP was planning to fuck them to high hell and that wouldn't have been a good use of their time
oh wait
oh wait
Reposted by Jake Blount
With this budget, ICE alone would have nearly as large a detention operation as all 50 states' prison systems combined. Bigger budget than the Marine Corps. Police-state levels of spending
If the GOP reconciliation bill passes, ICE gets through FY2029:
- $45 billion for detention, on top of the current annual budget of $3.4 billion
- $14.4 billion for transportation and removal, on top of the current annual budget of $750 million
- $8 billion for hiring/retention
- Billions more.
- $45 billion for detention, on top of the current annual budget of $3.4 billion
- $14.4 billion for transportation and removal, on top of the current annual budget of $750 million
- $8 billion for hiring/retention
- Billions more.
‼️‼️
June 29, 2025 at 11:33 AM
With this budget, ICE alone would have nearly as large a detention operation as all 50 states' prison systems combined. Bigger budget than the Marine Corps. Police-state levels of spending
Reposted by Jake Blount
ICE *already* can't meet their detainment numbers without rounding up children, veterans, people born in the U.S., people with no criminal records, people at immigration hearings, plus academics and visitors with valid visas.
So who do they plan to detain with >10x the budget?
The answer is: you.
So who do they plan to detain with >10x the budget?
The answer is: you.
If the GOP reconciliation bill passes, ICE gets through FY2029:
- $45 billion for detention, on top of the current annual budget of $3.4 billion
- $14.4 billion for transportation and removal, on top of the current annual budget of $750 million
- $8 billion for hiring/retention
- Billions more.
- $45 billion for detention, on top of the current annual budget of $3.4 billion
- $14.4 billion for transportation and removal, on top of the current annual budget of $750 million
- $8 billion for hiring/retention
- Billions more.
‼️‼️
June 29, 2025 at 6:05 PM
ICE *already* can't meet their detainment numbers without rounding up children, veterans, people born in the U.S., people with no criminal records, people at immigration hearings, plus academics and visitors with valid visas.
So who do they plan to detain with >10x the budget?
The answer is: you.
So who do they plan to detain with >10x the budget?
The answer is: you.
Reposted by Jake Blount
Truly horrified by this order in way that is deeper and darker than I have felt over many truly awful merits decisions.
"SCOTUS allows Trump admin to deport people to random countries with no notice"
Honestly still can't believe that I wrote this headline today, let alone that the U.S. Supreme Court's majority did so.
Honestly still can't believe that I wrote this headline today, let alone that the U.S. Supreme Court's majority did so.
SCOTUS allows Trump admin to deport people to random countries with no notice
Justice Sotomayor called the order a "gross ... abuse" of the court's authority. Also: Law Dork in the media.
www.lawdork.com
June 24, 2025 at 3:02 AM
Truly horrified by this order in way that is deeper and darker than I have felt over many truly awful merits decisions.
Reposted by Jake Blount
leftists: that thing you teach us in school to be terrified of is happening
historians: that thing is definitely happening
star wars: here is a beat-for-beat breakdown of how the thing happens, but with pew pew lasers. we know you watched it
news outlets: these protesters are out of control
historians: that thing is definitely happening
star wars: here is a beat-for-beat breakdown of how the thing happens, but with pew pew lasers. we know you watched it
news outlets: these protesters are out of control
June 11, 2025 at 12:34 PM
leftists: that thing you teach us in school to be terrified of is happening
historians: that thing is definitely happening
star wars: here is a beat-for-beat breakdown of how the thing happens, but with pew pew lasers. we know you watched it
news outlets: these protesters are out of control
historians: that thing is definitely happening
star wars: here is a beat-for-beat breakdown of how the thing happens, but with pew pew lasers. we know you watched it
news outlets: these protesters are out of control
Reposted by Jake Blount
making art right now isn’t pointless making art right now isn’t pointless making art right now isn’t pointless making art right now isn’t pointless
June 10, 2025 at 4:30 PM
making art right now isn’t pointless making art right now isn’t pointless making art right now isn’t pointless making art right now isn’t pointless
GODDD I wish I had time to be in a rock band again. I miss being in a rock band so bad
June 11, 2025 at 12:21 AM
GODDD I wish I had time to be in a rock band again. I miss being in a rock band so bad
Reposted by Jake Blount
The state Kristi Noem is from gets 40x as much representation in the United States Senate as the state Los Angeles is in. They take billions of dollars of tax money from our state every year. And yet it's not enough. They won't stop until they occupy our territory and destroy our freedom.
Kristi Noem on LA: "They're not a city of immigrants. They're a city of criminals."
June 10, 2025 at 2:07 AM
The state Kristi Noem is from gets 40x as much representation in the United States Senate as the state Los Angeles is in. They take billions of dollars of tax money from our state every year. And yet it's not enough. They won't stop until they occupy our territory and destroy our freedom.
Reposted by Jake Blount
it really doesn’t matter if someone is in america illegally or not. who cares, grow up
June 8, 2025 at 3:27 PM
it really doesn’t matter if someone is in america illegally or not. who cares, grow up
Reposted by Jake Blount
One of the things mentioned here is that they arrived in unmarked cars and wore casual clothing, so if staff hadn’t had the courage to tell them to go away, how would you know they were federal agents and not random adult men abducting children? This should be the biggest conservative mom panic ever
BREAKING: Federal agents in plain clothes and unmarked cars tried to snatch 1st graders from LA elementary schools—told staff they had “parental consent.”
They lied. When pressed, they HID THEIR IDS. DHS admits they sent them. This wasn’t a welfare check. It was a test run for a police state.
They lied. When pressed, they HID THEIR IDS. DHS admits they sent them. This wasn’t a welfare check. It was a test run for a police state.
June 10, 2025 at 1:40 AM
One of the things mentioned here is that they arrived in unmarked cars and wore casual clothing, so if staff hadn’t had the courage to tell them to go away, how would you know they were federal agents and not random adult men abducting children? This should be the biggest conservative mom panic ever
I've been a casual fan, but I saw her live last night at World Pride and now this and... I don't look down on mainstream music, but you rarely see someone with this level of technical skill and personal integrity gain access to these stages. We're gonna be talking about Doechii for a long time.
Doechii speaks out against use of the military against protesters in LA during her acceptance speech at the #BETAwards
June 10, 2025 at 3:04 AM
I've been a casual fan, but I saw her live last night at World Pride and now this and... I don't look down on mainstream music, but you rarely see someone with this level of technical skill and personal integrity gain access to these stages. We're gonna be talking about Doechii for a long time.
Reposted by Jake Blount
a thing about plane travel these days is that the TSA policies are subtly different from airport to airport yet the TSA agents act uniformly incredulous that you do not know their specific, undisclosed-until-you-ask policies
June 10, 2025 at 1:41 AM
a thing about plane travel these days is that the TSA policies are subtly different from airport to airport yet the TSA agents act uniformly incredulous that you do not know their specific, undisclosed-until-you-ask policies
Stepping out the door tomorrow to kick off summer gigs at World Pride in DC! Y'all know where to go for more info. Hope to see you somewhere out there!
June 5, 2025 at 9:33 PM
Stepping out the door tomorrow to kick off summer gigs at World Pride in DC! Y'all know where to go for more info. Hope to see you somewhere out there!