Nikki Columbus
@nikkicolumbus.bsky.social
Writer, editor, curator, queer mom, good-trouble maker. Rootless cosmopolitan but New York–born, –bred, and –based. (With a short stint in Cairo.)
Pinned
How Germany Silenced Its Artists to Support Israel
As Israel intensified its genocide in Gaza, Germany ramped up its long-simmering war on dissent, silencing Palestine solidarity while bolstering its own far right.
www.thenation.com
My primer on German cultural politics in the October issue of @thenation.com brings together stories first reported separately, but need to be understood in concert. It’s the companion piece to my text on the US art world. “Fascism repeats itself: first as antisemitism, then as anti-antisemitism.”
Reposted by Nikki Columbus
GROK IS GENERATING ABOUT ‘ONE NONCONSENSUAL SEXUALIZED IMAGE PER MINUTE www.rollingstone.com/culture/cult...
Grok Is Generating About 'One Nonconsensual Sexualized Image Per Minute'
Elon Musk’s chatbot Grok keeps churning out nonconsenual images of women and minors in bikinis and lingerie, outraging users and regulators
www.rollingstone.com
January 7, 2026 at 8:22 AM
GROK IS GENERATING ABOUT ‘ONE NONCONSENSUAL SEXUALIZED IMAGE PER MINUTE www.rollingstone.com/culture/cult...
Reposted by Nikki Columbus
Parsing Trump, Rubio, and Hegseth statements, it sounds a lot like "we're going to drop all demands for democracy/elections, recognize Rodriguez in perpetuity, drop all sanctions, send lots of investment and technical assistance, and buy any oil Venezuela wants to sell."
January 3, 2026 at 11:32 PM
Parsing Trump, Rubio, and Hegseth statements, it sounds a lot like "we're going to drop all demands for democracy/elections, recognize Rodriguez in perpetuity, drop all sanctions, send lots of investment and technical assistance, and buy any oil Venezuela wants to sell."
Reposted by Nikki Columbus
*If* this was just a coup intended to put Delcy in power, it may functionally be pretext for the U.S. to "switch sides" from the Venezuelan people (represented by exiled opposition leaders) to the Venezuelan dictatorship (now represented by Rodriguez).
January 3, 2026 at 11:29 PM
*If* this was just a coup intended to put Delcy in power, it may functionally be pretext for the U.S. to "switch sides" from the Venezuelan people (represented by exiled opposition leaders) to the Venezuelan dictatorship (now represented by Rodriguez).
Reposted by Nikki Columbus
All of which is to say, there's a good chance that the events of the last 16 hours basically change *nothing* about autocracy in Venezuela. There's a good chance Delcy simply inherits the consolidated dictatorship, just like Maduro did before her.
January 3, 2026 at 11:26 PM
All of which is to say, there's a good chance that the events of the last 16 hours basically change *nothing* about autocracy in Venezuela. There's a good chance Delcy simply inherits the consolidated dictatorship, just like Maduro did before her.
Very clear and very smart—read the whole thread:
16 hours in, my guess this was all intended basically as a coup to put VP Delcy Rodriguez in power (likely without her knowledge but 🤷).
At least for democracy & human rights, that might be even worse than the "opening shots in a war" scenario.
All speculation, but let me explain:
At least for democracy & human rights, that might be even worse than the "opening shots in a war" scenario.
All speculation, but let me explain:
January 4, 2026 at 1:05 PM
Very clear and very smart—read the whole thread:
This is fantastic news for anyone who is more concerned about antisemites than about critics of Israel.
One of Mayor Mamdani's core political beliefs is that there's no contradiction between opposing antisemitism and supporting anti-Zionism.
That's why he repealed Adams' executive orders mandating the IHRA definition and banning BDS but he's keeping the Mayor's Office to Combat Antisemitism.
That's why he repealed Adams' executive orders mandating the IHRA definition and banning BDS but he's keeping the Mayor's Office to Combat Antisemitism.
January 2, 2026 at 8:19 AM
This is fantastic news for anyone who is more concerned about antisemites than about critics of Israel.
Reposted by Nikki Columbus
Wanna see real-life miracles? Fund scientific research.
A team of US scientists just cured Alzheimer’s in mice — and there is now hope that the disease can be reversed in humans.
futurism.com/health-medic...
A team of US scientists just cured Alzheimer’s in mice — and there is now hope that the disease can be reversed in humans.
futurism.com/health-medic...
Alzheimer's Fully Reversed in Mice, Scientists Say
A new compound has been shown to reverse late stage Alzheimer's disease in lab mice, which gives millions of sufferers new cause for hope.
futurism.com
December 31, 2025 at 2:30 AM
Wanna see real-life miracles? Fund scientific research.
A team of US scientists just cured Alzheimer’s in mice — and there is now hope that the disease can be reversed in humans.
futurism.com/health-medic...
A team of US scientists just cured Alzheimer’s in mice — and there is now hope that the disease can be reversed in humans.
futurism.com/health-medic...
Okay, if there were actually a temple called the Synagogue of Satan Jews, I would maybe go back to Kol Nidrei services.
The latest Republican running for Colorado Governor labels Gov. Jared Polis and others as the "synagogue of Satan Jews" and has called for their execution by hanging.
MAGA podcaster Joe Oltmann recently said "Violence is probably the only solution."
MAGA podcaster Joe Oltmann recently said "Violence is probably the only solution."
December 30, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Okay, if there were actually a temple called the Synagogue of Satan Jews, I would maybe go back to Kol Nidrei services.
Reposted by Nikki Columbus
2025 was even more disruptive in the public health sphere than I could have envisaged. As we look to 2026, I think we need to expect more chaos and more efforts to dismantle policies and systems meant to keep people safe. www.statnews.com/2025/12/26/p...
3 issues to watch in public health in 2026
What might 2026 hold for the fields of public health, both domestically and abroad? Quite a lot.
www.statnews.com
December 26, 2025 at 7:11 PM
2025 was even more disruptive in the public health sphere than I could have envisaged. As we look to 2026, I think we need to expect more chaos and more efforts to dismantle policies and systems meant to keep people safe. www.statnews.com/2025/12/26/p...
Reposted by Nikki Columbus
Here’s the U.S. government being officially religious in a country with no official religion.
December 25, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Here’s the U.S. government being officially religious in a country with no official religion.
Reposted by Nikki Columbus
It's incredible how much of this stuff is just out in the open, but because Trump said "Russiagate hoax!" 5000 times, the media was brainwashed into treating it like a nothing story instead of one of a ten alarm scandal
Tenet Media founder Lauren Chen, who secretly took money from two people with ties to Russian state media to involve conservative influencers in an unwitting propaganda scheme, is back in the US after being deported to Canada under President Biden. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
December 25, 2025 at 9:12 PM
It's incredible how much of this stuff is just out in the open, but because Trump said "Russiagate hoax!" 5000 times, the media was brainwashed into treating it like a nothing story instead of one of a ten alarm scandal
Reposted by Nikki Columbus
R.F.K. Jr. Likely to Swap U.S. Childhood Vaccine Schedule for Denmark’s: Officials in Denmark and Germany are baffled, given the differences between the countries.
Experts point out this will kill and harm children. via @apoorvanyt.bsky.social @nytimes.com www.nytimes.com/2025/12/19/h...
Experts point out this will kill and harm children. via @apoorvanyt.bsky.social @nytimes.com www.nytimes.com/2025/12/19/h...
R.F.K. Jr. Likely to Swap U.S. Childhood Vaccine Schedule for Denmark’s
www.nytimes.com
December 19, 2025 at 10:06 PM
R.F.K. Jr. Likely to Swap U.S. Childhood Vaccine Schedule for Denmark’s: Officials in Denmark and Germany are baffled, given the differences between the countries.
Experts point out this will kill and harm children. via @apoorvanyt.bsky.social @nytimes.com www.nytimes.com/2025/12/19/h...
Experts point out this will kill and harm children. via @apoorvanyt.bsky.social @nytimes.com www.nytimes.com/2025/12/19/h...
Reposted by Nikki Columbus
This is accelerating toward a Polish-Russian war. If it's a choice between the collapse of Ukraine now (inevitably followed by being invaded by Russia) and joining the war themselves alongside the Ukrainians, they are quite likely to join.
🇺🇸🇺🇦 US intelligence confirms Putin seeks new wars in Europe, in addition to Ukraine — Reuters citing 6 anonymous sources
Putin seeks to seize all of Ukraine and conquer other parts of Europe that were part of the USSR in the past.
Putin seeks to seize all of Ukraine and conquer other parts of Europe that were part of the USSR in the past.
December 20, 2025 at 12:54 AM
This is accelerating toward a Polish-Russian war. If it's a choice between the collapse of Ukraine now (inevitably followed by being invaded by Russia) and joining the war themselves alongside the Ukrainians, they are quite likely to join.
Reposted by Nikki Columbus
RFK Jr. is out of control. Republicans own this.
U.S. plans to stop recommending most childhood vaccines, defer to doctors
The plan, which is not finalized, suggests children get fewer shots and shifts to a model telling parents to consult doctors to make their own vaccine choices.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 20, 2025 at 12:52 AM
RFK Jr. is out of control. Republicans own this.
Honestly, I preferred the mixed-up files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
December 19, 2025 at 10:30 PM
Honestly, I preferred the mixed-up files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
Does Trump know what “memorial” means?
December 19, 2025 at 10:16 PM
Does Trump know what “memorial” means?
When Israel/US/ADL say denouncing Israel is antisemitic, they’re saying there’s no daylight btw Israel & Jews, all *real* Jews support Israel. Then Jews are treated as targets of political violence. Would the murder of pro-Israel Jews be okay? No, of course not! But there’s a lot of nuts out there.
December 17, 2025 at 11:10 AM
When Israel/US/ADL say denouncing Israel is antisemitic, they’re saying there’s no daylight btw Israel & Jews, all *real* Jews support Israel. Then Jews are treated as targets of political violence. Would the murder of pro-Israel Jews be okay? No, of course not! But there’s a lot of nuts out there.
JD Vance is talking about “imported antisemitism”! Like a real German politician.
Folks, would you believe me if I told you JD Vance was over there railing against the immigrants as the reason for the antisemitism
December 16, 2025 at 11:41 AM
JD Vance is talking about “imported antisemitism”! Like a real German politician.
Reposted by Nikki Columbus
The murders in Sydney are horrible—as are those at Brown & everywhere. I don’t know the motives of the gunmen. But if you tell people who criticize Israel and talk about genocide in Gaza that they are antisemitic, they’ll start to believe you. They won’t stop hating Israel; they will hate Jews too.
December 14, 2025 at 7:58 PM
The murders in Sydney are horrible—as are those at Brown & everywhere. I don’t know the motives of the gunmen. But if you tell people who criticize Israel and talk about genocide in Gaza that they are antisemitic, they’ll start to believe you. They won’t stop hating Israel; they will hate Jews too.
The murders in Sydney are horrible—as are those at Brown & everywhere. I don’t know the motives of the gunmen. But if you tell people who criticize Israel and talk about genocide in Gaza that they are antisemitic, they’ll start to believe you. They won’t stop hating Israel; they will hate Jews too.
December 14, 2025 at 7:58 PM
The murders in Sydney are horrible—as are those at Brown & everywhere. I don’t know the motives of the gunmen. But if you tell people who criticize Israel and talk about genocide in Gaza that they are antisemitic, they’ll start to believe you. They won’t stop hating Israel; they will hate Jews too.
Reposted by Nikki Columbus
so far tonight msnbc has interviewed two students from brown university that are also survivors of separate high school shootings.
insanity.
insanity.
December 14, 2025 at 1:28 AM
so far tonight msnbc has interviewed two students from brown university that are also survivors of separate high school shootings.
insanity.
insanity.
I feel like I read somewhere that there’s a progressive challenger to Espaillat? Please?
welcome to the newest member of America’s hottest club, “Primary Every Democrat.”
I’m running for Congress because we need leaders who will fight, not fold. I recognize this moment, and I’m ready to meet it. #FightDontFold #LanderForNYC #LanderForCongress
December 10, 2025 at 3:07 PM
I feel like I read somewhere that there’s a progressive challenger to Espaillat? Please?
Reposted by Nikki Columbus
surprise surprise: bari picks an ardent zionist whose biggest claim to fame until now was comparing ta-nehisi coates to a terrorist for being against israeli apartheid www.discourseblog.com/p/ta-nehisi-...
December 10, 2025 at 3:01 PM
surprise surprise: bari picks an ardent zionist whose biggest claim to fame until now was comparing ta-nehisi coates to a terrorist for being against israeli apartheid www.discourseblog.com/p/ta-nehisi-...
Reposted by Nikki Columbus
Every part of this is bonkers. The intro is bonkers. The transition to his health is bonkers. The mention that other presidents didn't need cognitive exams is bonkers. The claim that this screening test is somehow hard is bonkers. The idea that criticism of him is treason is bonkers. All of it.
December 10, 2025 at 2:40 AM
Every part of this is bonkers. The intro is bonkers. The transition to his health is bonkers. The mention that other presidents didn't need cognitive exams is bonkers. The claim that this screening test is somehow hard is bonkers. The idea that criticism of him is treason is bonkers. All of it.