Jonathan Dresner
@jondresner.bsky.social
Japan/World/Food/Migration historian. Nerd, geek, comics. Blogger. Rootless Cosmopolitan. Still masking. Views expressed are mine alone (RTs are someone else's). Cis he/him/his.
Same handle on Spore.Social.
There are no good-faith anti-trans arguments.
Same handle on Spore.Social.
There are no good-faith anti-trans arguments.
Pinned
Jonathan Dresner
@jondresner.bsky.social
· Jul 24
Our intolerance for disorder, diversity, and difference will kill us all. But we will kill the diverse, different, and creative ones first.
Reposted by Jonathan Dresner
I think this is a real blow to Federal punishment capacity: I don’t think there is enough of a pipeline of sufficiently-competent MAGA-friendly lawyers to replace them.
And there’s likely a growing pool of motivated defense attorneys w Fed experience and relationships w local Fed judges.
And there’s likely a growing pool of motivated defense attorneys w Fed experience and relationships w local Fed judges.
"In Minnesota, DOJ has apparently run into a small challenge: Because so many attorneys there resigned over the handling of the Good case, the Justice Department has had to ask prosecutors from elsewhere in the Midwest to travel to the state to help out."
ICE and CBP are at the head of Trump's campaign to terrorize Minnesotans. But the Justice Department is not far behind.
January 28, 2026 at 10:07 PM
I think this is a real blow to Federal punishment capacity: I don’t think there is enough of a pipeline of sufficiently-competent MAGA-friendly lawyers to replace them.
And there’s likely a growing pool of motivated defense attorneys w Fed experience and relationships w local Fed judges.
And there’s likely a growing pool of motivated defense attorneys w Fed experience and relationships w local Fed judges.
Lived in Kansas for 17 years, earned tenure and built a life in a small town, and when a chance came along to leave, it was a surprisingly easy decision.
Why would I tether my family to a place trying to hurt us?
Why would I tether my family to a place trying to hurt us?
Kansas just passed a monstrous bill enabling criminal penalties and vigilante lawsuits for trans people using the bathroom according to their gender identity and requires them to surrender their current drivers licenses and birth certificates if it does not match their sex assigned at birth.
January 29, 2026 at 2:37 AM
Lived in Kansas for 17 years, earned tenure and built a life in a small town, and when a chance came along to leave, it was a surprisingly easy decision.
Why would I tether my family to a place trying to hurt us?
Why would I tether my family to a place trying to hurt us?
Reposted by Jonathan Dresner
“The discomfort comes from the fact that historians are often disrupting or destroying connections people have already made between the past and the present, connections that may be based on no evidence at all, but that are an integral part of how they understand what the world is like…”
"The danger is not in practicing revisionist history—it’s in constructing individual and collective lives around historical frameworks too shaky to be looked at again."
What Is Revisionist History?
What is revisionist history--and is it dangerous?
contingentmagazine.org
January 29, 2026 at 12:13 AM
“The discomfort comes from the fact that historians are often disrupting or destroying connections people have already made between the past and the present, connections that may be based on no evidence at all, but that are an integral part of how they understand what the world is like…”
Immigration Historians Says: it always was.
"Immigration" is a fake problem
January 29, 2026 at 2:20 AM
Immigration Historians Says: it always was.
Reposted by Jonathan Dresner
So if you own a person or a company money, and can't pay it, there's bankruptcy. But if you owe the state of Delaware money as part of a criminal violation, well – jail for you.
The rich don't experience punishment & the poor do.
Thus: the Campaign to End Debtors' Prison.
finesandfeesde.org
The rich don't experience punishment & the poor do.
Thus: the Campaign to End Debtors' Prison.
finesandfeesde.org
Delaware Campaign to End Debtors' Prison
The Delaware Campaign to End Debtors' Prison seeks a world where one's poverty does not affect how they are punished in the criminal justice system. Learn more about these issues and how you can take ...
finesandfeesde.org
January 29, 2026 at 1:49 AM
So if you own a person or a company money, and can't pay it, there's bankruptcy. But if you owe the state of Delaware money as part of a criminal violation, well – jail for you.
The rich don't experience punishment & the poor do.
Thus: the Campaign to End Debtors' Prison.
finesandfeesde.org
The rich don't experience punishment & the poor do.
Thus: the Campaign to End Debtors' Prison.
finesandfeesde.org
Reposted by Jonathan Dresner
For example the video yesterday of "ICE IS GASSING A DAY CARE RIGHT NOW!!" is the daycare right up the street from my house. I about shit my pants and raced out the door until I saw it was actually from Saturday. I already dealt with that daycare gassing, thank you. Please don't lie to me for likes
Definite uptick in Bluesky content aggregators taking legit clips regarding Minnesota from a few days or weeks ago and posting them without any sort of timestamp context, which gives the impression of them happening today, which then gets clicks. Be vigilant with what and how you share.
January 28, 2026 at 8:41 PM
For example the video yesterday of "ICE IS GASSING A DAY CARE RIGHT NOW!!" is the daycare right up the street from my house. I about shit my pants and raced out the door until I saw it was actually from Saturday. I already dealt with that daycare gassing, thank you. Please don't lie to me for likes
Reposted by Jonathan Dresner
Queer and trans people have been at the forefront of this fight because we are extremely aware of the need for solidarity across oppressions and a lot of us have nothing left to lose so fuck it, we ball.
The NYT can suck my dick, tbh.
The NYT can suck my dick, tbh.
lol they really tried it again. must suck when your newspaper needs on the ground footage and testimony from a movement who aren’t capitulating scum who hate people having bodily autonomy and self determination rights
A NYT reporter wanted to speak to me about what's happening in Minneapolis and I told them unequivocally no due to the NYT's role in creating the environment that has done so much harm to trans youth.
January 28, 2026 at 9:27 PM
Queer and trans people have been at the forefront of this fight because we are extremely aware of the need for solidarity across oppressions and a lot of us have nothing left to lose so fuck it, we ball.
The NYT can suck my dick, tbh.
The NYT can suck my dick, tbh.
Reposted by Jonathan Dresner
Thanks for reminding me that in 2009, it was your government that put me in a for-profit-prison despite no criminal record, entering the country legally, and saying asking for asylum.
Here’s a podcast that does a good job of laying out what’s at stake, and why all of us need to get off the sidelines to demand change.
Opinion | Minneapolis Reveals Where Trump’s Deportation Agenda Is Going
www.nytimes.com
January 28, 2026 at 6:43 PM
Thanks for reminding me that in 2009, it was your government that put me in a for-profit-prison despite no criminal record, entering the country legally, and saying asking for asylum.
Reposted by Jonathan Dresner
Holy shit yes
Read these instead -- they are better in every way. Better construction, better craft, better prose, better moral clarity.
The Chronicles of Prydain is the greatest fantasy series ever written
Vox is a general interest news site for the 21st century. Its mission: to help everyone understand our complicated world, so that we can all help shape it. In text, video and audio, our reporters expl...
www.vox.com
January 28, 2026 at 6:56 PM
Holy shit yes
Reposted by Jonathan Dresner
Excellent explanation of how ICE moves immigrants from one prison facility to another to deny them access to justice.
January 28, 2026 at 4:52 PM
Excellent explanation of how ICE moves immigrants from one prison facility to another to deny them access to justice.
Until the interests of children get precedence over the preferences of parents, we still live in a patriarchal society.
None of us are free until we are all free, and we must protect each other to survive.
None of us are free until we are all free, and we must protect each other to survive.
CHILDREN ARE NOT PROPERTY NOR CAN YOU DO WHATEVER YOU WANT WITH THEM
AS A PARENT OR GUARDIAN YOUR PRIORITY IS THE CHILD'S WELL-BEING NOT USING THE CHILD AS AN EXPRESSION OF YOUR PERSONAL BELIEFS OR DESIRES
CHILDREN ARE FULL-FLEDGED PEOPLE WITH THE SAME RIGHTS AS YOU DO
AS A PARENT OR GUARDIAN YOUR PRIORITY IS THE CHILD'S WELL-BEING NOT USING THE CHILD AS AN EXPRESSION OF YOUR PERSONAL BELIEFS OR DESIRES
CHILDREN ARE FULL-FLEDGED PEOPLE WITH THE SAME RIGHTS AS YOU DO
January 28, 2026 at 9:03 PM
Until the interests of children get precedence over the preferences of parents, we still live in a patriarchal society.
None of us are free until we are all free, and we must protect each other to survive.
None of us are free until we are all free, and we must protect each other to survive.
Reposted by Jonathan Dresner
January 28, 2026 at 4:51 PM
Reposted by Jonathan Dresner
Unfortunately for the argument, Thucydides doesn’t say anything like this. An unnamed Corinthian characterises the Athenians and Spartans in these terms; even if you want to claim that these are intended as general character types, you have to account for the Corinthians and other normal Greeks.
by @johanknorberg.bsky.social "The ancient Greek historian Thucydides observed that there are two opposing human mentalities: the Athenian, always innovating, always venturing out to learn and acquire something new; and the Spartan, staying put in order to defend what he already has"
From Athens to Sparta: How Trumpism Is Driving America’s Decline
Civilizations commit suicide when they build walls against the outside world
www.theunpopulist.net
January 28, 2026 at 5:16 PM
Unfortunately for the argument, Thucydides doesn’t say anything like this. An unnamed Corinthian characterises the Athenians and Spartans in these terms; even if you want to claim that these are intended as general character types, you have to account for the Corinthians and other normal Greeks.
Reposted by Jonathan Dresner
What really bugs me about the "trans people got ahead of public opinion" line is that in my lifetime, for many years after I came out, public opinion was that it doesn't count as murder if you kill a tranny.
If I wasn't ahead of public opinion, I wouldn't have a fucking pulse.
Bigots can fuck off.
If I wasn't ahead of public opinion, I wouldn't have a fucking pulse.
Bigots can fuck off.
what really bugs me about the "trans people got ahead of public opinion" line is that it ignores *why* public opinion changed. it didn't just come out of nowhere, there was a deliberate push to make trans rights a wedge issue.
Just started doing new data analysis and I know I keep saying this, but: I really, really don't think people appreciate how much this moral panic was a deliberate and extremely expensive invention.
January 28, 2026 at 5:49 PM
What really bugs me about the "trans people got ahead of public opinion" line is that in my lifetime, for many years after I came out, public opinion was that it doesn't count as murder if you kill a tranny.
If I wasn't ahead of public opinion, I wouldn't have a fucking pulse.
Bigots can fuck off.
If I wasn't ahead of public opinion, I wouldn't have a fucking pulse.
Bigots can fuck off.
Reposted by Jonathan Dresner
Reposted by Jonathan Dresner
The URC has deleted the post in question and posted an apology; I have also had a response from the head of communications informing me of these actions. Having consulted with the church on dialogue issues in the past, I am not entirely happy with the attempt invoke dialogue as mitigation.
January 28, 2026 at 3:25 PM
The URC has deleted the post in question and posted an apology; I have also had a response from the head of communications informing me of these actions. Having consulted with the church on dialogue issues in the past, I am not entirely happy with the attempt invoke dialogue as mitigation.
Reposted by Jonathan Dresner
We have blasted past all of our stretch goals, unlocked a new pin, and are just over $400 from unlocking 2 new colorways for the "cisn't" pins! We've got 15 days left to go and Spider has cooked up exciting new stretch goals for us. :]
www.backerkit.com/c/projects/n...
www.backerkit.com/c/projects/n...
Survival By Snark & Sincerity: Shiny Things In Dark Times
Survival By Snark & Sincerity is a collection of pins for people who know we're Going Through Some Sh*t, and the only way we survive is by laughing about it all.
www.backerkit.com
January 28, 2026 at 2:54 PM
We have blasted past all of our stretch goals, unlocked a new pin, and are just over $400 from unlocking 2 new colorways for the "cisn't" pins! We've got 15 days left to go and Spider has cooked up exciting new stretch goals for us. :]
www.backerkit.com/c/projects/n...
www.backerkit.com/c/projects/n...
Reposted by Jonathan Dresner
And I'm sure someone has written about how gun permissiveness escalated the threat to police, and more importantly, made police feel like the general threat level justifies overwhelming force as a first immediate reflexive response to the perception of a threat.
Panic attack as praxis, or something.
Panic attack as praxis, or something.
There's a whole thesis to be written on how "the drug war" bipartisanship militarized border enforcement to be the cutting edge of genocidal xenophobia.
the thing that’s really crazy-making to me is that ‘illegal immigration’ is a civil offense in the US, not a criminal one, so there’s not really a reason for a roving band of death squads to get billions & billions of dollars except that American legislators love & crave death
January 25, 2026 at 4:36 PM
And I'm sure someone has written about how gun permissiveness escalated the threat to police, and more importantly, made police feel like the general threat level justifies overwhelming force as a first immediate reflexive response to the perception of a threat.
Panic attack as praxis, or something.
Panic attack as praxis, or something.
Reposted by Jonathan Dresner
New Platform Language
The 2029 Pretti Good Act will establish a commission to identify all agents, create a detailed accounting of all acts, and hold criminally liable as necessary. Agents who voluntarily and truthfully disclose will be granted some leniency, provided their crimes did not include murder or torture.
When I say this agency [ICE and CBP] CAN’T be reformed this is why.
January 26, 2026 at 9:40 PM
New Platform Language
Reposted by Jonathan Dresner
People don't like Harry Potter anymore because JK Rowling is a repugnant human being. Hope this helps!
January 26, 2026 at 11:44 PM
Reposted by Jonathan Dresner
Fascinating selection of comics, too, lots of stuff I knew from indie publishers
Silver Spring comic shop offers refuge by way of Dungeons & Dragons
Silver Spring comic shop offers refuge by way of Dungeons & Dragons
Pure Panic Comics & Games in Silver Spring hosts a diverse group of hobbyists who bond over games and comics. The Banner Montgomery started a game of Dungeons & Dragons to explore their community.
buff.ly
January 27, 2026 at 12:26 PM
Fascinating selection of comics, too, lots of stuff I knew from indie publishers
Reposted by Jonathan Dresner
We must protect each other to survive.
Or to put it really simply:
For true accountability, an oppressor must lose power. But their victims must also see every harm repaired.
For true accountability, an oppressor must lose power. But their victims must also see every harm repaired.
January 27, 2026 at 1:54 PM
We must protect each other to survive.
I've been a member for a while, 2 years maybe, and everyone who follows me knows how much I value the relentless and thoughtful work they do.
We must care about each other to thrive, and this matters.
We must care about each other to thrive, and this matters.
What do we want? TRANS NEWS!
When do we want it? 2026!!
We're down to the last few days of our 2026 fundraiser, and we've got less than $5000 left to raise, but we still need your help to raise it.
When do we want it? 2026!!
We're down to the last few days of our 2026 fundraiser, and we've got less than $5000 left to raise, but we still need your help to raise it.
January 28, 2026 at 3:16 PM
I've been a member for a while, 2 years maybe, and everyone who follows me knows how much I value the relentless and thoughtful work they do.
We must care about each other to thrive, and this matters.
We must care about each other to thrive, and this matters.
Reposted by Jonathan Dresner
In one of my favourite midrash, God scolds the angels for celebrating as Pharaoh and the Egyptian army are drowning in the Reed Sea, saying—you’re singing while My creations are drowning?!?
January 28, 2026 at 2:14 PM
In one of my favourite midrash, God scolds the angels for celebrating as Pharaoh and the Egyptian army are drowning in the Reed Sea, saying—you’re singing while My creations are drowning?!?
Oy vey.
So just to be clear... the people who have been calling progressive Jews "kapos" for the last decade are suddenly squeamish about Holocaust comparisons?
January 28, 2026 at 2:42 PM
Oy vey.