Jessica
@jewishreader.bsky.social
Educator, Ph.D. in Religious Studies. Politics, pop culture, sports. Hoosier by birth, living in the SF Bay Area. Formerly RosenJ415/FirstLineHockey on The Bad Place.
Netanyahu and all his cronies belong in the Hague.
Netanyahu and all his cronies belong in the Hague.
Reposted by Jessica
For some reason, very few people these days will stand up and say it, but: the US federal bureaucracy is one of the great wonders of the world, staffed with incredibly diligent people who do their jobs well and care deeply.
Trump's destruction of the federal apparaus was a historic crime.
Trump's destruction of the federal apparaus was a historic crime.
The Purged
Donald Trump’s destruction of the civil service is a tragedy not just for the roughly 300,000 workers who have been discarded, but for an entire nation.
www.theatlantic.com
January 18, 2026 at 7:17 PM
For some reason, very few people these days will stand up and say it, but: the US federal bureaucracy is one of the great wonders of the world, staffed with incredibly diligent people who do their jobs well and care deeply.
Trump's destruction of the federal apparaus was a historic crime.
Trump's destruction of the federal apparaus was a historic crime.
👇
This is a good thread to read. I will only add that I do not get ANY social-media notifications or news alerts on my phone and it is a foundational building block of my sanity that no nonhuman entity, not even Bluesky, gets to initiate conversations with me.
That's how I'm going to approach social media going forward. I'll get on it when I want to sit down at a computer and physically go to a website, or when I have to use it for work during work hours, but it's not going to be in my pocket notifying me of every single DM, like or reply instantly. 6/
January 18, 2026 at 7:29 PM
👇
Reposted by Jessica
The failure of the American system to hold a single white man accountable has already cost the human species so much
The Trump administration is asking countries that want a permanent spot on his new Board of Peace to contribute at least $1 billion.
Trump’s reported duties would include: approving the board's agenda, deciding which countries to invite, and controlling the money
Trump’s reported duties would include: approving the board's agenda, deciding which countries to invite, and controlling the money
Trump Sets $1 Billion Price Tag To Serve On His Peace Board: Report
www.huffpost.com
January 18, 2026 at 1:51 AM
The failure of the American system to hold a single white man accountable has already cost the human species so much
Reposted by Jessica
One of the most popular and crowd-pleasing arias in classical opera, "Perché non c'è cibo nella mia ciotola, donna?" tells an emotional tale of a desperately malnourished waif and translates into English as "Why Is There No Food In My Bowl, Woman?"
January 17, 2026 at 3:28 PM
One of the most popular and crowd-pleasing arias in classical opera, "Perché non c'è cibo nella mia ciotola, donna?" tells an emotional tale of a desperately malnourished waif and translates into English as "Why Is There No Food In My Bowl, Woman?"
Reposted by Jessica
It was the Dunning of tymes. It was the Kruger of tymes.
January 18, 2026 at 4:31 AM
It was the Dunning of tymes. It was the Kruger of tymes.
Reposted by Jessica
A big part of the current right wing belief system is that everyone is actually just as bigoted as they are, and are only pretending not to be as a public performance ("virtue signalling").
They genuinely thought once they started doing open racism, everyone would join in
They genuinely thought once they started doing open racism, everyone would join in
January 18, 2026 at 2:42 AM
A big part of the current right wing belief system is that everyone is actually just as bigoted as they are, and are only pretending not to be as a public performance ("virtue signalling").
They genuinely thought once they started doing open racism, everyone would join in
They genuinely thought once they started doing open racism, everyone would join in
Reposted by Jessica
We have unlimited money for paramilitary forces that kidnap people off the streets but also have something called "school lunch debt" what are we doing here
January 18, 2026 at 4:03 AM
We have unlimited money for paramilitary forces that kidnap people off the streets but also have something called "school lunch debt" what are we doing here
Reposted by Jessica
Folks saying this is just as bad, I need you to reread about reconstruction. Not holding people accountable is how we get into this position. Removing people who colluded with the administration in an authoritarian takeover of higher ed from their position is the most reasonable thing to do.
January 17, 2026 at 6:41 PM
Folks saying this is just as bad, I need you to reread about reconstruction. Not holding people accountable is how we get into this position. Removing people who colluded with the administration in an authoritarian takeover of higher ed from their position is the most reasonable thing to do.
Reposted by Jessica
Elections do matter.
This is how it’s done! @abigailspanberger.com’s first act as Governor of Virginia is to repeal Glenn Youngkin’s executive order that mandated state and local law enforcement cooperate with ICE.
More of this please! #LetFreedomRing
More of this please! #LetFreedomRing
January 18, 2026 at 4:06 AM
Elections do matter.
Reposted by Jessica
“[We] have paused issuance of new plates [to federal agencies]. We want to be assured that Maine plates will not be used for lawless purposes.” #mepolitics
www.wmtw.com/article/main...
www.wmtw.com/article/main...
Maine pauses new federal license plates amid ICE activity concerns
According to Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, the BMV recently received a request from U.S. Customs and Border Protection for undercover Maine plates
www.wmtw.com
January 18, 2026 at 2:54 AM
“[We] have paused issuance of new plates [to federal agencies]. We want to be assured that Maine plates will not be used for lawless purposes.” #mepolitics
www.wmtw.com/article/main...
www.wmtw.com/article/main...
Reposted by Jessica
In the 1990s the absolute worst thing that could happen to a fictional character is working a well paying stable office job
January 17, 2026 at 10:16 PM
In the 1990s the absolute worst thing that could happen to a fictional character is working a well paying stable office job
Predictable take: I agree with every word of that syllabus statement about generative AI.
January 18, 2026 at 1:21 AM
Predictable take: I agree with every word of that syllabus statement about generative AI.
Reposted by Jessica
Reproducing here one of the most important and damning works of media criticism I've ever come across, as I, in another window, demonstrate that it's true it's all true your honor
@robinsonmeyer.bsky.social
@robinsonmeyer.bsky.social
December 10, 2023 at 7:54 PM
Reproducing here one of the most important and damning works of media criticism I've ever come across, as I, in another window, demonstrate that it's true it's all true your honor
@robinsonmeyer.bsky.social
@robinsonmeyer.bsky.social
Reposted by Jessica
Bluesky RN:
Sports
Sports
Horrific ICE atrocity
Sports
Sports
Sports
Horrific ICE atrocity
Sports
January 18, 2026 at 12:58 AM
Bluesky RN:
Sports
Sports
Horrific ICE atrocity
Sports
Sports
Sports
Horrific ICE atrocity
Sports
Reposted by Jessica
Remembir everye daye ys a goode daye to reach out to a friende and tell them how much you love them. Maybe buy them a booke. Bringe up an olde inside joke. All the sillye thinges and the serious thinges about friendeshippe, thei are all infinitelye valuable. Tyme spent thus wil nevir be regrettid.
January 17, 2026 at 11:02 PM
Remembir everye daye ys a goode daye to reach out to a friende and tell them how much you love them. Maybe buy them a booke. Bringe up an olde inside joke. All the sillye thinges and the serious thinges about friendeshippe, thei are all infinitelye valuable. Tyme spent thus wil nevir be regrettid.
Reposted by Jessica
Talked to a Somali man today who said his mosque last night was surrounded by neighbors ready to protect them against ICE if needed. Made me feel proud to live in this city.
January 17, 2026 at 10:05 PM
Talked to a Somali man today who said his mosque last night was surrounded by neighbors ready to protect them against ICE if needed. Made me feel proud to live in this city.
Reposted by Jessica
If a Minnesotan says to you, "I don't plan to let you do that," run.
January 17, 2026 at 11:47 PM
If a Minnesotan says to you, "I don't plan to let you do that," run.
As a Californian I do not wish to be taken over by Denmark; they would have absolutely no way of understanding how to deal with our ethnic and religious diversity, and it would not end well. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
January 17, 2026 at 10:04 PM
As a Californian I do not wish to be taken over by Denmark; they would have absolutely no way of understanding how to deal with our ethnic and religious diversity, and it would not end well. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Reposted by Jessica
They really are dedicated to replicating or exceeding every policy failure ever made. You thought you could out-fuckup us, South Africa? Fuck you. We were fucking up before you were colonized.
“The recent enforcement actions have drawn scrutiny because the FDA operates under the Department of Health and Human Services, now led by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has repeatedly promoted the scientifically disproven claim that poppers — rather than HIV — caused AIDS.”
Arizona Republicans are trying to make having poppers a felony.
They are starting an entire new war on drugs just to target queer people for incarceration. Who is this helping, exactly?
www.lookoutnews.org/arizona-bill...
They are starting an entire new war on drugs just to target queer people for incarceration. Who is this helping, exactly?
www.lookoutnews.org/arizona-bill...
January 17, 2026 at 9:59 PM
They really are dedicated to replicating or exceeding every policy failure ever made. You thought you could out-fuckup us, South Africa? Fuck you. We were fucking up before you were colonized.
Also why are the Nazis throwing Chanukah gelt at us? Too cheap to mock us using real money (irony alert)?
Hilarious that the paid, professional protestors who fly all over the country to instigate shit are actually right wing lol. Oopsie daisy!
January 17, 2026 at 8:37 PM
Also why are the Nazis throwing Chanukah gelt at us? Too cheap to mock us using real money (irony alert)?
Reposted by Jessica
This can not be reiterated enough. They don't even have Enough Dudes to pacify the 45th largest metropolitan area in the country. They can't meaningfully expand this operation. If we don't comply in advance they cannot win.
They expect - they NEED - the people they threaten to fall in line, like the law firms and universities and media companies and billionaires and Congress did. If you say “No, make me,” they simply do not have a Plan B. TRUMP DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH GUYS TO MAKE YOU.
January 17, 2026 at 8:20 PM
This can not be reiterated enough. They don't even have Enough Dudes to pacify the 45th largest metropolitan area in the country. They can't meaningfully expand this operation. If we don't comply in advance they cannot win.
Reposted by Jessica
imo one way to understand how we got here - and an angle i think future historians and political scientists will focus on a lot - is that the GOP basically collapsed as a functioning party during W’s second term and O’s first term. @joshtpm.bsky.social has (rightly) been banging this drum for years
I would like to think the Mad King proclaiming “I will continue to illegally raise taxes on the American people until the NATO alliance collapses” would be the type of statement to cause Congress to act, but I’m not sure there’s any red line the GOP Congress has anymore.
Trump says he'll impose a 10% tariff (rising to 25% in June) on Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands and Finland, because they've sent people to Greenland, until the US can buy Greenland.
January 17, 2026 at 6:35 PM
imo one way to understand how we got here - and an angle i think future historians and political scientists will focus on a lot - is that the GOP basically collapsed as a functioning party during W’s second term and O’s first term. @joshtpm.bsky.social has (rightly) been banging this drum for years
Reposted by Jessica
"We won one election so we get to end all academic freedom in your state forever."
Piss off.
Piss off.
January 17, 2026 at 5:31 PM
"We won one election so we get to end all academic freedom in your state forever."
Piss off.
Piss off.
Reposted by Jessica
Yet NBC made Mike Tirico, with his abhorrent history of sexual harassment, the face of the Olympics.
NBC is removing an Olympics analyst after a scathing memoir aimed at her former partner.
awfulannouncing.com/olympics/nbc...
awfulannouncing.com/olympics/nbc...
NBC removes Olympics ice dancing analyst for conflict of interest
NBC Olympics ice dancing analyst Gabriella Papadakis is being removed from coverage after a scathing memoir aimed at her former partner.
awfulannouncing.com
January 17, 2026 at 5:27 PM
Yet NBC made Mike Tirico, with his abhorrent history of sexual harassment, the face of the Olympics.
Reposted by Jessica
Virginia, a state profoundly shaped by slavery and segregation — and by generations of resistance to both.
Now being reshaped *and bettered in every way* by immigrants from all over the world and their descendants.
Now being reshaped *and bettered in every way* by immigrants from all over the world and their descendants.
Lt. Gov. Ghazala Hashmi was just sworn in on a Quran, so expect a week-long freakout by Republicans.
January 17, 2026 at 5:40 PM
Virginia, a state profoundly shaped by slavery and segregation — and by generations of resistance to both.
Now being reshaped *and bettered in every way* by immigrants from all over the world and their descendants.
Now being reshaped *and bettered in every way* by immigrants from all over the world and their descendants.