jon ben-menachem
@jbenmenachem.com
criminalization, abolition, labor, politics, journalism—social science theory & methods too. sociology phd candidate @ columbia. @swcolumbia.bsky.social
Pinned
jon ben-menachem
@jbenmenachem.com
· Apr 17
What is a ‘criminal’ immigrant? The word is an American rhetorical trap | Jonathan Ben-Menachem
Labels like ‘gang members’ and ‘terrorist supporters’ are an easy way to make humans disposable
www.theguardian.com
It shouldn't matter if Trump’s victims have criminal records. If we only defend the “innocent,” the fascists will argue that their victim “was no angel.” An anti-fascist rhetoric that carves out exceptions for imperfect victims is a gift to our opponents.
New from me for @us.theguardian.com:
New from me for @us.theguardian.com:
Reposted by jon ben-menachem
Meanwhile, people unconstitutionally seized or brutalized by ICE agents can’t sue them because there’s no private right of action for them to do that.
Buried inside the deal to reopen government is a provision that would give Senators private right of action to sue for millions in damages over their phone records being analyzed by Jack Smith's team.
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
Shutdown Deal Would Let Senators Sue Over Jack Smith Searches
Senators whose phone records were sought by Special Counsel Jack Smith would gain authority to sue for millions in damages under a provision buried in the Senate-advanced deal to reopen the government...
news.bloomberglaw.com
November 10, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Meanwhile, people unconstitutionally seized or brutalized by ICE agents can’t sue them because there’s no private right of action for them to do that.
Reposted by jon ben-menachem
NEW: Dems easily flipped the sheriff's office in Pennsylvania's Bucks County, a big swing county in the Philly suburbs.
So? The incumbent GOP sheriff had contracted with ICE. His Dem challenger promised to end the contract.
Now he wants other swing-state Dems to look at his victory as a lesson:
So? The incumbent GOP sheriff had contracted with ICE. His Dem challenger promised to end the contract.
Now he wants other swing-state Dems to look at his victory as a lesson:
Voters Ousted This Pennsylvania Sheriff After He Signed Up to Collaborate With ICE - Bolts
A populous, swing county replaced its GOP sheriff on Tuesday after months of controversy over his joining ICE’s 287(g) program. The Democratic winner promises he’ll end the contract.
boltsmag.org
November 10, 2025 at 7:12 PM
NEW: Dems easily flipped the sheriff's office in Pennsylvania's Bucks County, a big swing county in the Philly suburbs.
So? The incumbent GOP sheriff had contracted with ICE. His Dem challenger promised to end the contract.
Now he wants other swing-state Dems to look at his victory as a lesson:
So? The incumbent GOP sheriff had contracted with ICE. His Dem challenger promised to end the contract.
Now he wants other swing-state Dems to look at his victory as a lesson:
Reposted by jon ben-menachem
New data shows that the CCRB retroactively doctored public data for more than 10,000 misconduct allegations against NYPD officers.
hellgatenyc.com/ccrb-whitewa...
hellgatenyc.com/ccrb-whitewa...
The NYPD’s Watchdog Whitewashed More Than 10,000 Misconduct Allegations in Public Data, New Evidence Shows
Allegations of lying, sexual misconduct, bigoted statements, and racist policing were among those quietly reclassified by the Civilian Complaint Review Board.
hellgatenyc.com
November 10, 2025 at 9:46 PM
New data shows that the CCRB retroactively doctored public data for more than 10,000 misconduct allegations against NYPD officers.
hellgatenyc.com/ccrb-whitewa...
hellgatenyc.com/ccrb-whitewa...
Rarity of NYPD firearm use is a relatively under discussed criminological fact
November 10, 2025 at 5:46 PM
Rarity of NYPD firearm use is a relatively under discussed criminological fact
Sad to feel like I have to check the nazi site for local news updates because half the nyc press corps isn’t using lib twitter
November 10, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Sad to feel like I have to check the nazi site for local news updates because half the nyc press corps isn’t using lib twitter
the day i die, i will still be locked in an eternal struggle with an editor who wants to move that period outside my quotes
Let my gravestone read "PUNCTUATION GOES INSIDE THE QUOTATION MARKS."
November 10, 2025 at 5:02 PM
the day i die, i will still be locked in an eternal struggle with an editor who wants to move that period outside my quotes
One thing I'd like to read is an account of how Zohran's coalition differs from BDB's, and the potential implications for the early days for his administration.
November 10, 2025 at 4:33 PM
One thing I'd like to read is an account of how Zohran's coalition differs from BDB's, and the potential implications for the early days for his administration.
Confirms my long-held view that Zohran is going to have to haul ass just to get things back to the BDB era, and he knows it
New: Zohran Mamdani's expected to later this morning announce he plans to appoint Dean Fuleihan as his first deputy mayor, per sources.
Fuleihan served in the same role under Bill de Blasio.
Fuleihan served in the same role under Bill de Blasio.
November 10, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Confirms my long-held view that Zohran is going to have to haul ass just to get things back to the BDB era, and he knows it
it’s always so disgusting to go into a restaurant that allows smoking, and then i remember that it used to be normal lmao
November 10, 2025 at 6:41 AM
it’s always so disgusting to go into a restaurant that allows smoking, and then i remember that it used to be normal lmao
Second half is a hall of famer
November 10, 2025 at 3:20 AM
Second half is a hall of famer
He’s true. but did you know that he trades about $30 million in stock per year? Has one of the highest total # trades per year in Congress (though returns aren’t nearly as good as Pelosi)
Senator Schumer is no longer effective and should be replaced. If you can’t lead the fight to stop healthcare premiums from skyrocketing for Americans, what will you fight for?
November 10, 2025 at 2:43 AM
He’s true. but did you know that he trades about $30 million in stock per year? Has one of the highest total # trades per year in Congress (though returns aren’t nearly as good as Pelosi)
Maybe it's time to reconsider a monastic lifestyle
November 10, 2025 at 2:27 AM
Maybe it's time to reconsider a monastic lifestyle
I think they’ve managed to really thread the needle—not only have they failed to save Republicans from themselves, they’ve also managed to ensure that Dems will take the blame for everything
November 10, 2025 at 1:26 AM
I think they’ve managed to really thread the needle—not only have they failed to save Republicans from themselves, they’ve also managed to ensure that Dems will take the blame for everything
I stepped away from the feed today, just checked the news, think I should have stayed offline forever
November 10, 2025 at 1:06 AM
I stepped away from the feed today, just checked the news, think I should have stayed offline forever
I’ll have something out on this soon. I think it’s certainly a loss for the left, but Zohran got quite a lot out of this choice (political endorsements, business class surrogacy)
November 9, 2025 at 4:13 PM
I’ll have something out on this soon. I think it’s certainly a loss for the left, but Zohran got quite a lot out of this choice (political endorsements, business class surrogacy)
Reposted by jon ben-menachem
This false flag stuff is the perfect example of how poisoned the well has become. I shudder to imagine what the discourse will look like following an incident like the Tree of Life shooting.
November 8, 2025 at 9:30 PM
This false flag stuff is the perfect example of how poisoned the well has become. I shudder to imagine what the discourse will look like following an incident like the Tree of Life shooting.
Reposted by jon ben-menachem
The Heritage Foundation, which is staffing the US presidential administration, has spent the past two weeks mainstreaming actual neo-Nazis into American public life, and much of the American Jewish establishment is panicking about a Muslim mayor of New York City.
November 8, 2025 at 8:24 PM
The Heritage Foundation, which is staffing the US presidential administration, has spent the past two weeks mainstreaming actual neo-Nazis into American public life, and much of the American Jewish establishment is panicking about a Muslim mayor of New York City.
Reposted by jon ben-menachem
dora.nyc
this is OUTSTANDING. super navigatable directory for food distros, resources. and easy to remember because it’s like the explorer but also—
directory
of
resources &
aid
this is OUTSTANDING. super navigatable directory for food distros, resources. and easy to remember because it’s like the explorer but also—
directory
of
resources &
aid
NYC Directory Of Resources and Aid
A directory of aid resources in NYC
dora.nyc
November 8, 2025 at 7:37 PM
dora.nyc
this is OUTSTANDING. super navigatable directory for food distros, resources. and easy to remember because it’s like the explorer but also—
directory
of
resources &
aid
this is OUTSTANDING. super navigatable directory for food distros, resources. and easy to remember because it’s like the explorer but also—
directory
of
resources &
aid
I guess if the self-described tankies are mad at me, I'm doing something right
November 8, 2025 at 7:55 PM
I guess if the self-described tankies are mad at me, I'm doing something right
I think we should settle issues like NIMBY/YIMBY with old fashioned duels. Twenty paces, then we're free of the discourse for good
November 8, 2025 at 7:45 PM
I think we should settle issues like NIMBY/YIMBY with old fashioned duels. Twenty paces, then we're free of the discourse for good
It is in fact possible to disagree with a statement without claiming that the speaker is being funded by shadowy interests or that, in reality, the speaker aims to undermine a cause that they have a deep personal connection to.
November 8, 2025 at 6:35 PM
It is in fact possible to disagree with a statement without claiming that the speaker is being funded by shadowy interests or that, in reality, the speaker aims to undermine a cause that they have a deep personal connection to.
Reposted by jon ben-menachem
In 1901, "11,502 Black men, women, boys, and girls were arrested, comprising 64.5 percent of total arrests. Atlanta’s Black population was approximately 36,000." @jboothhistory.bsky.social on Atlanta's long history of racist policing
Stop Cop City’s Deep Roots - Jonathon Booth - Inquest
For 150 years, Atlanta has endured racist policing that has served the interest of the city’s economic elite. The fight to resist this “Atlanta way” goes back just as far.
inquest.org
November 7, 2025 at 1:00 PM
In 1901, "11,502 Black men, women, boys, and girls were arrested, comprising 64.5 percent of total arrests. Atlanta’s Black population was approximately 36,000." @jboothhistory.bsky.social on Atlanta's long history of racist policing
Reposted by jon ben-menachem
Four years ago, far-right white male supremacist Nick Fuentes was deplatformed pretty much everywhere.
Now he's back with a vengeance—and the online right can't stop fighting over whether to condemn him or welcome him. My story: wapo.st/4nJbt4M
Now he's back with a vengeance—and the online right can't stop fighting over whether to condemn him or welcome him. My story: wapo.st/4nJbt4M
Far-right provocateur Nick Fuentes is triggering a MAGA civil war
Once barred from nearly every social media platform, Fuentes’s resurgence has driven a wedge through the conservative movement.
wapo.st
November 8, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Four years ago, far-right white male supremacist Nick Fuentes was deplatformed pretty much everywhere.
Now he's back with a vengeance—and the online right can't stop fighting over whether to condemn him or welcome him. My story: wapo.st/4nJbt4M
Now he's back with a vengeance—and the online right can't stop fighting over whether to condemn him or welcome him. My story: wapo.st/4nJbt4M
My AP Lit teacher (some 15 years ago, now) pretty much ignored AP until the weeks immediately preceding the test. We read Moby Dick, Heart of Darkness, he even assigned the entirety of Gravity’s Rainbow lmao.
November 8, 2025 at 4:49 PM
My AP Lit teacher (some 15 years ago, now) pretty much ignored AP until the weeks immediately preceding the test. We read Moby Dick, Heart of Darkness, he even assigned the entirety of Gravity’s Rainbow lmao.