Ryan C. Smith
@rcsmitheco.bsky.social
Author of, "The Real Oil Shock: How Oil Transformed Money, Debt, and Finance". Economic historian, currently #amquerying "The Emerging Energy Revolution" on how renewables are transforming the world. Published in the New Republic and Liberal Currents.
Reposted by Ryan C. Smith
"As surely as anyone vilified in an occupied location can attest, and as we in Minneapolis continue to learn, the disconnect between an occupiers’ narrative, particularly in news media, and the occupied’s reality is surreal." www.liberalcurrents.com/we-are-doing...
We Are Doing Things About It: Getting Accurate Information in Occupied Minneapolis
Minnesota’s playbook against DHS’s occupation shows how residents connect together to get their information needs met without the news media spectacle.
www.liberalcurrents.com
January 26, 2026 at 1:51 AM
"As surely as anyone vilified in an occupied location can attest, and as we in Minneapolis continue to learn, the disconnect between an occupiers’ narrative, particularly in news media, and the occupied’s reality is surreal." www.liberalcurrents.com/we-are-doing...
Reposted by Ryan C. Smith
hey everybody lifelong tech expert here
> "system crash” deleted nearly two weeks of surveillance footage from inside the facility
that's not how anything works they're lying and destroying evidence hope that helps
> "system crash” deleted nearly two weeks of surveillance footage from inside the facility
that's not how anything works they're lying and destroying evidence hope that helps
And what is happening inside ICE detention centers? 404 Media also learned that the federal government claimed that the day after it was sued for allegedly abusing detainees at an ICE detention center, a “system crash” deleted nearly two weeks of surveillance footage from inside the facility.
ICE Says Critical Evidence In Abuse Case Was Lost In 'System Crash' a Day After It Was Sued
The government also said "we don't have resources" to retain all footage and that plaintiffs could supply "endless hard drives that we could save things to."
www.404media.co
January 25, 2026 at 5:26 PM
hey everybody lifelong tech expert here
> "system crash” deleted nearly two weeks of surveillance footage from inside the facility
that's not how anything works they're lying and destroying evidence hope that helps
> "system crash” deleted nearly two weeks of surveillance footage from inside the facility
that's not how anything works they're lying and destroying evidence hope that helps
Reposted by Ryan C. Smith
‘We’re not going away’: Rob Caughlan, fierce defender of coastline and Surfrider leader, dies at 82 www.latimes.com/environment/... via @susrust.bsky.social
‘We’re not going away’: Rob Caughlan, fierce defender of coastline and Surfrider leader, dies at 82
Rob Caughlan, an early leader of the coastal advocacy group Surfrider and a longtime California political activist, dies at the age of 82.
www.latimes.com
January 25, 2026 at 10:38 PM
‘We’re not going away’: Rob Caughlan, fierce defender of coastline and Surfrider leader, dies at 82 www.latimes.com/environment/... via @susrust.bsky.social
Reposted by Ryan C. Smith
the maga theory of how you establish an authoritarian state
a man sitting at a desk with a peacock logo on the bottom
ALT: a man sitting at a desk with a peacock logo on the bottom
media.tenor.com
January 25, 2026 at 10:25 PM
the maga theory of how you establish an authoritarian state
Reposted by Ryan C. Smith
Historian of abolition here yes worse than the Civil Rights movement when the federal government could be goaded into doing the right thing. right now we are confronting the new Slave Power that controls the government of the United States.
The civil rights movement called its protests "demonstrations" because they were meant to demonstrate to the general public just how evil the status quo was and how depraved its defenders were.
ICE is actually worse than Connor -- he had to be goaded into overreaching, they're doing it on their own
ICE is actually worse than Connor -- he had to be goaded into overreaching, they're doing it on their own
it really is government by a bunch of bull connors. basically walking into traps set for them by their opposition. connor also did not understand that beating the hell out of demonstrators was *what they wanted*
January 25, 2026 at 6:34 PM
Historian of abolition here yes worse than the Civil Rights movement when the federal government could be goaded into doing the right thing. right now we are confronting the new Slave Power that controls the government of the United States.
Reposted by Ryan C. Smith
I’m glad @liberalcurrents.com is what The Atlantic pretends to be.
January 25, 2026 at 9:50 PM
I’m glad @liberalcurrents.com is what The Atlantic pretends to be.
Reposted by Ryan C. Smith
Good afternoon from downtown Chicago, where despite heavy snowfall, thousands have gathered for an anti-ICE/CBP demonstration in solidarity with the Twin Cities. More are still streaming in.
Lt. Illinois Gov. Juliana Stratton just addressed the crowd, and called for ICE to be abolished.
Lt. Illinois Gov. Juliana Stratton just addressed the crowd, and called for ICE to be abolished.
January 25, 2026 at 7:37 PM
Good afternoon from downtown Chicago, where despite heavy snowfall, thousands have gathered for an anti-ICE/CBP demonstration in solidarity with the Twin Cities. More are still streaming in.
Lt. Illinois Gov. Juliana Stratton just addressed the crowd, and called for ICE to be abolished.
Lt. Illinois Gov. Juliana Stratton just addressed the crowd, and called for ICE to be abolished.
I think this, along with the conservative movement being largely based on rich people throwing around dark money, explains why they keep escalating without being effective in their use of force. They are incapable of engaging with reality as it exists & their version is at odds with reality.
i think this attitude — that all opposition is illegitimate and nothing we do can be questioned— is probably pervasive in the white house and helps explain why they keep making terrible political choices
Putin pioneered this. No opposition is legitimate. Regular, decent, “ordinary” people cannot possibly be against us because only we represent “the real people.”
Tell-tale sign of authoritarianism.
Tell-tale sign of authoritarianism.
January 25, 2026 at 9:34 PM
I think this, along with the conservative movement being largely based on rich people throwing around dark money, explains why they keep escalating without being effective in their use of force. They are incapable of engaging with reality as it exists & their version is at odds with reality.
Reposted by Ryan C. Smith
Kevin and Liberal Currents were saying it when it wasn’t as popular, when big media sneered at the use of the f-word as immoderate and academic anti-anti-fascists mocked liberals from the left.
Consider giving your time, attention, and money to the people who have been getting this right.
Consider giving your time, attention, and money to the people who have been getting this right.
Interesting
January 25, 2026 at 7:08 PM
Kevin and Liberal Currents were saying it when it wasn’t as popular, when big media sneered at the use of the f-word as immoderate and academic anti-anti-fascists mocked liberals from the left.
Consider giving your time, attention, and money to the people who have been getting this right.
Consider giving your time, attention, and money to the people who have been getting this right.
Reposted by Ryan C. Smith
which is a huge contrast to the reactionary insurgents, who settled on what they believed in first, and figured out *how* to fight for it second
we must do the same
we must do the same
January 25, 2026 at 6:59 PM
which is a huge contrast to the reactionary insurgents, who settled on what they believed in first, and figured out *how* to fight for it second
we must do the same
we must do the same
Reposted by Ryan C. Smith
What's making me really livid right now is thinking back to the years of commentary lecturing us that the rise of MAGA was rooted in a sense of righteous victimization by overbearing liberal elites, and sneering at those who insisted that it was fundamentally about domination and sadism all along.
They are telling us in unequivocal terms that if you show solidarity with immigrants who are in the literal crosshairs of Trump/MAGA, you're risking a death sentence.
newrepublic.com/article/2055...
newrepublic.com/article/2055...
January 24, 2026 at 7:34 PM
What's making me really livid right now is thinking back to the years of commentary lecturing us that the rise of MAGA was rooted in a sense of righteous victimization by overbearing liberal elites, and sneering at those who insisted that it was fundamentally about domination and sadism all along.
Reposted by Ryan C. Smith
NEW: India is avoiding the fossil fuel detour 🪝
Where China built first on coal and gas, India is taking a shortcut >>> read in 5 graphics🧵
Where China built first on coal and gas, India is taking a shortcut >>> read in 5 graphics🧵
January 23, 2026 at 10:51 AM
NEW: India is avoiding the fossil fuel detour 🪝
Where China built first on coal and gas, India is taking a shortcut >>> read in 5 graphics🧵
Where China built first on coal and gas, India is taking a shortcut >>> read in 5 graphics🧵
Reposted by Ryan C. Smith
Walz: Minnesota's justice system will have the last word on this.
As I told the white house in no uncertain terms this morning, the federal government cannot be trusted to lead this investigation. The state will handle it. Period.
As I told the white house in no uncertain terms this morning, the federal government cannot be trusted to lead this investigation. The state will handle it. Period.
January 24, 2026 at 7:38 PM
Walz: Minnesota's justice system will have the last word on this.
As I told the white house in no uncertain terms this morning, the federal government cannot be trusted to lead this investigation. The state will handle it. Period.
As I told the white house in no uncertain terms this morning, the federal government cannot be trusted to lead this investigation. The state will handle it. Period.
The first Democrat to say that with their whole chest will win the 2028 nomination at a walk.
Democrats can and must make it clear there will be trials and anyone even somewhat associated with ICE will face them. Maybe give a quit-your-job deadline on appeasement and give people 72 hours. I don't know. But currently the plan is to let them murder us in the street and get away with it.
January 24, 2026 at 7:42 PM
The first Democrat to say that with their whole chest will win the 2028 nomination at a walk.
Reposted by Ryan C. Smith
It’s an under appreciated aspect of US political history that a significant chunk of right-leaning “anti-communists” from the 1950s on have harbored suspicions (rarely articulated publicly and unapologetically until recently) that we may have fought on the wrong side of WWII.
These pathetic worms imbibed constant WWII documentaries and decided to sell their souls to the Nazis anyway.
January 24, 2026 at 7:35 PM
It’s an under appreciated aspect of US political history that a significant chunk of right-leaning “anti-communists” from the 1950s on have harbored suspicions (rarely articulated publicly and unapologetically until recently) that we may have fought on the wrong side of WWII.
Reposted by Ryan C. Smith
His name was Alex Pretti, he was 37. He was recording ICE, directing traffic, and helping up someone agents had shoved to the ground. They murdered him for it.
January 24, 2026 at 7:14 PM
His name was Alex Pretti, he was 37. He was recording ICE, directing traffic, and helping up someone agents had shoved to the ground. They murdered him for it.
Reposted by Ryan C. Smith
Nicollet Ave in South Mpls now resembles a warzone after federal agents killed a man there this morning. Trump is trying his damndest to make this community unlivable.
January 24, 2026 at 6:44 PM
Nicollet Ave in South Mpls now resembles a warzone after federal agents killed a man there this morning. Trump is trying his damndest to make this community unlivable.
🧵
Thinking a lot right now about this crisis of trust. It’s a new world for Americans to not be able to trust what their government tells them.
Not to say that the government has never lied or misled the public before. Obviously it has.
But this is a new, Soviet-style level of lies and fabrication
Not to say that the government has never lied or misled the public before. Obviously it has.
But this is a new, Soviet-style level of lies and fabrication
We don’t even have to speculate. The bare facts are that you cannot and should not trust anything coming from ICE, CBP, DHS, or this administration in general.
They are not reliable. And they don’t have our interests at heart.
They are not reliable. And they don’t have our interests at heart.
January 24, 2026 at 6:46 PM
🧵
Reposted by Ryan C. Smith
Abolish the Border Patrol too.
Any part of the State that enables State violence against innocents has betrayed its people and should be permanently destroyed, with its complicit membership locked away for all time.
“I was just following orders” is not a defense.
Any part of the State that enables State violence against innocents has betrayed its people and should be permanently destroyed, with its complicit membership locked away for all time.
“I was just following orders” is not a defense.
January 24, 2026 at 6:33 PM
Abolish the Border Patrol too.
Any part of the State that enables State violence against innocents has betrayed its people and should be permanently destroyed, with its complicit membership locked away for all time.
“I was just following orders” is not a defense.
Any part of the State that enables State violence against innocents has betrayed its people and should be permanently destroyed, with its complicit membership locked away for all time.
“I was just following orders” is not a defense.
A police chief is out there saying that federal agents committed summary execution.
Never have I ever seen a cop, much less a chief, defend the victim of an officer-involved shooting.
Anyone trying to say this wasn't exactly what it was is lying to you and themselves.
Abolish and lock ICE up.
Never have I ever seen a cop, much less a chief, defend the victim of an officer-involved shooting.
Anyone trying to say this wasn't exactly what it was is lying to you and themselves.
Abolish and lock ICE up.
Minneapolis Police Chief O'Hara: "The video speaks for itself. We have identified this person - 37-year-old, white male, resident of the city. The only interaction that we are aware of with law enforcement has been for traffic tickets and we believe he is a lawfully gun owner with a permit to carry"
January 24, 2026 at 6:24 PM
A police chief is out there saying that federal agents committed summary execution.
Never have I ever seen a cop, much less a chief, defend the victim of an officer-involved shooting.
Anyone trying to say this wasn't exactly what it was is lying to you and themselves.
Abolish and lock ICE up.
Never have I ever seen a cop, much less a chief, defend the victim of an officer-involved shooting.
Anyone trying to say this wasn't exactly what it was is lying to you and themselves.
Abolish and lock ICE up.
Reposted by Ryan C. Smith
Hey @nytimes.com stop lying, stop spreading easily debunking Trump Regime disinformation. Your editors & journalists are collaborators: there was no armed struggle, there are many videos that clearly show a gang of masked heavily-armed men executing an innocent observer as he was pinned to ground.
January 24, 2026 at 6:20 PM
Hey @nytimes.com stop lying, stop spreading easily debunking Trump Regime disinformation. Your editors & journalists are collaborators: there was no armed struggle, there are many videos that clearly show a gang of masked heavily-armed men executing an innocent observer as he was pinned to ground.
Reposted by Ryan C. Smith
Apparently there is another video of ICE murdering someone and so I will remind you, again, that you do not have to watch it in order to confirm the thing everyone already knows: ICE is a lawless group of thugs who are killing people who stand up for basic American rights.
January 24, 2026 at 3:46 PM
Apparently there is another video of ICE murdering someone and so I will remind you, again, that you do not have to watch it in order to confirm the thing everyone already knows: ICE is a lawless group of thugs who are killing people who stand up for basic American rights.
Reposted by Ryan C. Smith
You may’ve seen coverage of a new report on the threat to national security from environmental collapse.
A common response that’s got my goat is: “Look, it’s not just tree-hugging enviros saying this, it’s hard-nosed spooks!”
A short thread on why this framing is bad history & bad politics🧵😡😉
A common response that’s got my goat is: “Look, it’s not just tree-hugging enviros saying this, it’s hard-nosed spooks!”
A short thread on why this framing is bad history & bad politics🧵😡😉
Biodiversity collapse threatens UK security, intelligence chiefs warn
Ecosystem destruction will increase food shortages, disorder and mass migration, with effects already being felt
www.theguardian.com
January 24, 2026 at 4:42 AM
You may’ve seen coverage of a new report on the threat to national security from environmental collapse.
A common response that’s got my goat is: “Look, it’s not just tree-hugging enviros saying this, it’s hard-nosed spooks!”
A short thread on why this framing is bad history & bad politics🧵😡😉
A common response that’s got my goat is: “Look, it’s not just tree-hugging enviros saying this, it’s hard-nosed spooks!”
A short thread on why this framing is bad history & bad politics🧵😡😉
There are boondoggles, and then there's whatever this mess is turning into.
Seventy percent of Solano County residents oppose California Forever, a tech utopia proposed by a billionaire-funded company.
But the project is planning to steamroll the local community with help from Trump and construction unions.
www.sfgate.com/bayarea/arti...
But the project is planning to steamroll the local community with help from Trump and construction unions.
www.sfgate.com/bayarea/arti...
New Bay Area city of 400,000 could be built 'non-stop' for 40 years
California Forever's plan includes housing for more than 400,000 people.
www.sfgate.com
January 23, 2026 at 8:42 PM
There are boondoggles, and then there's whatever this mess is turning into.
This is a great example of how fascism is a politics that is obsessed with aesthetics & vibes at the expense of pretty much everything else. Caring this much about optics is the whole point of the project, even when it is counterproductive or self-defeating.
Bongino trying to change the physical test for new recruits to disadvantage women.
January 23, 2026 at 7:21 PM
This is a great example of how fascism is a politics that is obsessed with aesthetics & vibes at the expense of pretty much everything else. Caring this much about optics is the whole point of the project, even when it is counterproductive or self-defeating.