Richie Assaly
@rdassaly.bsky.social
Writes about music, books and politics.
https://linktr.ee/richieassaly
https://linktr.ee/richieassaly
Pinned
Richie Assaly
@rdassaly.bsky.social
· May 3
Madeleine Thien is the quiet conscience of Canadian literature. Nine years after winning the country’s top book prize, she returns with a stirring new novel
In “The Book of Records,” the outspoken author moves between centuries and perspectives – past and imagined futures – in a prismatic attempt to unearth the very root of thinking.
www.thestar.com
Here's my profile on Madeleine Thien, whose first novel in nearly a decade arrives next week.
We spoke about Hannah Arendt, visiting Palestine, the limits of autofiction and much more.
www.thestar.com/entertainmen...
We spoke about Hannah Arendt, visiting Palestine, the limits of autofiction and much more.
www.thestar.com/entertainmen...
Reposted by Richie Assaly
Thinking about this and the Polymarket stuff at the same time and frowning
🟡 NEW: The New York Times and Washington Post learned of a secret US raid on Venezuela soon before it was scheduled to begin Friday night — but held off publishing what they knew to avoid endangering US troops.
www.semafor.com/article/01/0...
www.semafor.com/article/01/0...
News organizations held off on reporting Venezuela raid
The American news organizations held their stories over concerns about endangering US troops.
www.semafor.com
January 4, 2026 at 3:01 AM
Thinking about this and the Polymarket stuff at the same time and frowning
How are people processing the news over here ?
January 4, 2026 at 1:44 AM
How are people processing the news over here ?
Better late than never! My top albums and books of 2025
And of course a playlist of my top songs:
tidal.com/playlist/ac8...
And of course a playlist of my top songs:
tidal.com/playlist/ac8...
December 31, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Better late than never! My top albums and books of 2025
And of course a playlist of my top songs:
tidal.com/playlist/ac8...
And of course a playlist of my top songs:
tidal.com/playlist/ac8...
Better late than never! My top albums and books of 2025
And of course a playlist of my top songs:
tidal.com/playlist/ac8...
And of course a playlist of my top songs:
tidal.com/playlist/ac8...
December 31, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Better late than never! My top albums and books of 2025
And of course a playlist of my top songs:
tidal.com/playlist/ac8...
And of course a playlist of my top songs:
tidal.com/playlist/ac8...
So many greats from The Wire are gone:
• Isiah Whitlock Jr. (Clay Davis)
• James Ransone (Ziggy Sobotka)
• Michael K. Williams (Omar)
• Lance Reddick (Cedric Daniels)
• Robert F. Chew (Prop Joe)
• Reggie E. Cash (Norman Wilson)
• Isiah Whitlock Jr. (Clay Davis)
• James Ransone (Ziggy Sobotka)
• Michael K. Williams (Omar)
• Lance Reddick (Cedric Daniels)
• Robert F. Chew (Prop Joe)
• Reggie E. Cash (Norman Wilson)
December 31, 2025 at 3:40 PM
So many greats from The Wire are gone:
• Isiah Whitlock Jr. (Clay Davis)
• James Ransone (Ziggy Sobotka)
• Michael K. Williams (Omar)
• Lance Reddick (Cedric Daniels)
• Robert F. Chew (Prop Joe)
• Reggie E. Cash (Norman Wilson)
• Isiah Whitlock Jr. (Clay Davis)
• James Ransone (Ziggy Sobotka)
• Michael K. Williams (Omar)
• Lance Reddick (Cedric Daniels)
• Robert F. Chew (Prop Joe)
• Reggie E. Cash (Norman Wilson)
We lost a lot of legends in 2025: Ozzy, Brian Wilson, Sly Stone, D'Angelo, Roberta Flack, David Lynch, Rob Reiner, Diane Keaton, Frank Gehry...
Here are 13 mini-obits for @thestar.com
Here are 13 mini-obits for @thestar.com
Remembering 13 celebrities we lost this year, from Ozzy Osbourne to Diane Keaton
From Ozzy Osbourne to Diane Keaton, we pay tribute to some of the luminaries who left us in 2025.
www.thestar.com
December 30, 2025 at 5:31 PM
We lost a lot of legends in 2025: Ozzy, Brian Wilson, Sly Stone, D'Angelo, Roberta Flack, David Lynch, Rob Reiner, Diane Keaton, Frank Gehry...
Here are 13 mini-obits for @thestar.com
Here are 13 mini-obits for @thestar.com
Joined CBC’s Just Talking podcast yesterday to chat about fun pop culture trends!
www.cbc.ca/player/play/...
www.cbc.ca/player/play/...
December 28, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Joined CBC’s Just Talking podcast yesterday to chat about fun pop culture trends!
www.cbc.ca/player/play/...
www.cbc.ca/player/play/...
The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate reports that Israel has killed *706* relatives of journalists since 2023.
The report described the killings as “a deliberate effort to turn journalism into an existential threat.”
www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/li...
The report described the killings as “a deliberate effort to turn journalism into an existential threat.”
www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/li...
Israel systematically targets families of Palestinian journalists: Report
www.middleeasteye.net
December 28, 2025 at 3:40 PM
The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate reports that Israel has killed *706* relatives of journalists since 2023.
The report described the killings as “a deliberate effort to turn journalism into an existential threat.”
www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/li...
The report described the killings as “a deliberate effort to turn journalism into an existential threat.”
www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/li...
December 26, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Reposted by Richie Assaly
shoutout to @rdassaly.bsky.social at @thegrindto.bsky.social for first reporting this out last week www.thegrindmag.ca/york-univers...
York University Censored Exhibition at Goldfarb Gallery then Fired the Curator
Artist Amy Ching-Yan Lam says York demanded changes to her exhibition critiquing university repression of pro-Palestine protest. Then the admin fired the curator, a decision dozens of faculty members…
www.thegrindmag.ca
December 24, 2025 at 2:54 PM
shoutout to @rdassaly.bsky.social at @thegrindto.bsky.social for first reporting this out last week www.thegrindmag.ca/york-univers...
Wrote about @backxwash.bsky.social, Cold Specks, Friendship and Navy Blue for @thestar.com’s roundup of best 2025 albums.
On the list of 2025’s 10 best albums, rock and hip-hop rule
Our contributors choose their favourites of the year, including Dijon, Geese and Haim.
www.thestar.com
December 22, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Wrote about @backxwash.bsky.social, Cold Specks, Friendship and Navy Blue for @thestar.com’s roundup of best 2025 albums.
More excited for the Pluribus finale than Christmas
December 21, 2025 at 4:42 PM
More excited for the Pluribus finale than Christmas
Reposted by Richie Assaly
I wrote a personal essay on what it has meant for me witnessing events in Gaza since October 2023. I would be grateful if you help spread it. These were painful, disturbing conclusions to reach. But inescapable…
December 20, 2025 at 12:47 PM
I wrote a personal essay on what it has meant for me witnessing events in Gaza since October 2023. I would be grateful if you help spread it. These were painful, disturbing conclusions to reach. But inescapable…
Israeli attack kills at least six Palestinians attending wedding party at school-turned-shelter in Gaza City.
Israel bombs Gaza wedding as mediators hold ceasefire talks in US
Israeli attack kills at least six Palestinians attending wedding party at school-turned-shelter in Gaza City.
www.aljazeera.com
December 20, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Israeli attack kills at least six Palestinians attending wedding party at school-turned-shelter in Gaza City.
Reposted by Richie Assaly
The bravery of the student press is fuelled by more than just the optimism and passion of youth. Award-winning student journalist Domonique Tolliver believes she and her peers possess a unique superpower: having a perspective firmly rooted in the future. thewalrus.ca/when-it-matters-...
December 19, 2025 at 5:00 PM
The bravery of the student press is fuelled by more than just the optimism and passion of youth. Award-winning student journalist Domonique Tolliver believes she and her peers possess a unique superpower: having a perspective firmly rooted in the future. thewalrus.ca/when-it-matters-...
Google's AI program thinks David Suzuki is dead
December 19, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Google's AI program thinks David Suzuki is dead
Reposted by Richie Assaly
You can only pick one:
December 18, 2025 at 11:54 PM
You can only pick one:
You can only pick one:
December 18, 2025 at 11:54 PM
You can only pick one:
Reposted by Richie Assaly
In 2025, Toronto saw the rise of a mega-stadium, new smaller venues opened, landlords did landlord things, monopoly money moved around, beloved haunts closed and spaces rebranded. My round up for @thegrindto.bsky.social:
www.thegrindmag.ca/how-torontos...
www.thegrindmag.ca/how-torontos...
How Toronto’s Concert Venue Landscape Changed in 2025
From the closing of the Dakota Tavern and the Velvet Underground to the launch of Rogers Stadium, the city’s live music scene underwent major changes last year.
www.thegrindmag.ca
December 18, 2025 at 5:37 PM
In 2025, Toronto saw the rise of a mega-stadium, new smaller venues opened, landlords did landlord things, monopoly money moved around, beloved haunts closed and spaces rebranded. My round up for @thegrindto.bsky.social:
www.thegrindmag.ca/how-torontos...
www.thegrindmag.ca/how-torontos...
Some drama at York University's Goldfarb Gallery.
An artist says the administration censored her recent exhibit, which featured pro-Palestine content. Later, the gallery's curator was abruptly fired.
Now, dozens of faculty are pushing back. For @thegrindto.bsky.social
An artist says the administration censored her recent exhibit, which featured pro-Palestine content. Later, the gallery's curator was abruptly fired.
Now, dozens of faculty are pushing back. For @thegrindto.bsky.social
York University Censored Exhibition at Goldfarb Gallery then Fired the Curator
Artist Amy Ching-Yan Lam says York demanded changes to her exhibition critiquing university repression of pro-Palestine protest. Then the admin fired the curator, a decision dozens of faculty members…
www.thegrindmag.ca
December 17, 2025 at 10:55 PM
Some drama at York University's Goldfarb Gallery.
An artist says the administration censored her recent exhibit, which featured pro-Palestine content. Later, the gallery's curator was abruptly fired.
Now, dozens of faculty are pushing back. For @thegrindto.bsky.social
An artist says the administration censored her recent exhibit, which featured pro-Palestine content. Later, the gallery's curator was abruptly fired.
Now, dozens of faculty are pushing back. For @thegrindto.bsky.social
Reposted by Richie Assaly
Premier Danielle Smith musing about new immigration reforms, such as preventing newcomers from accessing social programs like public health care or bringing their children over until they've been taxpayers for as many as 10 years.
calgaryherald.com/opinion/colu...
calgaryherald.com/opinion/colu...
Bell: Danielle Smith speaks out on immigration — the Alberta premier is not holding back
Premier Smith wants a made-in-Alberta immigration focusing on people who can get a job and benefits based for those who work and pay taxes
calgaryherald.com
December 17, 2025 at 2:41 AM
Premier Danielle Smith musing about new immigration reforms, such as preventing newcomers from accessing social programs like public health care or bringing their children over until they've been taxpayers for as many as 10 years.
calgaryherald.com/opinion/colu...
calgaryherald.com/opinion/colu...
Reposted by Richie Assaly
BREAKING: Skate Canada is boycotting Alberta over the province's ban on Trans women competing in women's sports.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Skate Canada to stop holding national, international events in Alberta | CBC News
Skate Canada says it will no longer host major events in Alberta following a review of the province's legislation on the participation of transgender athletes in women's sport.
www.cbc.ca
December 16, 2025 at 6:54 PM
BREAKING: Skate Canada is boycotting Alberta over the province's ban on Trans women competing in women's sports.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Reposted by Richie Assaly
Oh no, the once-elite airport lounge is now just another crowded space.
December 16, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Oh no, the once-elite airport lounge is now just another crowded space.
Ten years and barely a dozen of the 94 TRC calls to action have been fulfilled.
I spoke a bit about this with Billy-Ray Belcourt in the summer.
www.thegrindmag.ca/billy-ray-be...
I spoke a bit about this with Billy-Ray Belcourt in the summer.
www.thegrindmag.ca/billy-ray-be...
December 15, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Ten years and barely a dozen of the 94 TRC calls to action have been fulfilled.
I spoke a bit about this with Billy-Ray Belcourt in the summer.
www.thegrindmag.ca/billy-ray-be...
I spoke a bit about this with Billy-Ray Belcourt in the summer.
www.thegrindmag.ca/billy-ray-be...
Reposted by Richie Assaly
insane move to imply that a murderer is your own supporter
December 15, 2025 at 5:19 PM
insane move to imply that a murderer is your own supporter