Robin Martinez
@robinsmartinez.bsky.social
Midwest USA-based lawyer for a hotel company. Interests: public policy, art, ecological/conservation work.
Board member and chair of public policy work group at Heartland Conservation Alliance: https://www.heartlandconservationalliance.org/
Board member and chair of public policy work group at Heartland Conservation Alliance: https://www.heartlandconservationalliance.org/
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
-- Article I, Universal Declaration of Human Rights
#HumanRights #UDHR
-- Article I, Universal Declaration of Human Rights
#HumanRights #UDHR
January 19, 2026 at 3:17 PM
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
-- Article I, Universal Declaration of Human Rights
#HumanRights #UDHR
-- Article I, Universal Declaration of Human Rights
#HumanRights #UDHR
How do brands, particularly in the luxury sector, deal with problematic histories and adoption by extremists? No easy answers. #luxury #BrandStrategy #extremism
robinsmartinez.com/2026/01/the-...
robinsmartinez.com/2026/01/the-...
The Moral Half-Life of Brands
Image: Wikimedia Commons, “IWC Big Pilot” | License CC BY-SA 3.0 Recently I was listening to an episode of The Grey NATO, a podcast focused on “adventure, travel, diving, driving, gear … and most c…
robinsmartinez.com
January 18, 2026 at 8:28 PM
How do brands, particularly in the luxury sector, deal with problematic histories and adoption by extremists? No easy answers. #luxury #BrandStrategy #extremism
robinsmartinez.com/2026/01/the-...
robinsmartinez.com/2026/01/the-...
"... recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world ..."
-- Universal Declation of Human Rights
#humanrights
-- Universal Declation of Human Rights
#humanrights
January 17, 2026 at 6:42 PM
"... recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world ..."
-- Universal Declation of Human Rights
#humanrights
-- Universal Declation of Human Rights
#humanrights
Hilton recently terminated its franchise agreement with a hotel in Minnesota that refused bookings for ICE agents. This presents a real conundrum for hotel owners. Given my work in the hotel industry, I wanted to share some thoughts on this subject. #hotels #ICE
robinsmartinez.com/2026/01/hote...
robinsmartinez.com/2026/01/hote...
Hotels, ICE, and the New Reputational Trap
Image: “No Vacancy”, Brian J. Matis | License CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 The “welcoming for all” mantra of the hospitality industry was put to an ultimate, high-stakes test on January …
robinsmartinez.com
January 15, 2026 at 7:08 PM
Hilton recently terminated its franchise agreement with a hotel in Minnesota that refused bookings for ICE agents. This presents a real conundrum for hotel owners. Given my work in the hotel industry, I wanted to share some thoughts on this subject. #hotels #ICE
robinsmartinez.com/2026/01/hote...
robinsmartinez.com/2026/01/hote...
A friend recently posted a meme, which got me thinking about the aesthetics of the Mar-a-Lago Look and my reaction to it. Here's a short piece I wrote exploring the idea.
robinsmartinez.com/2026/01/the-...
robinsmartinez.com/2026/01/the-...
The Mar-a-Lago Look and the Aesthetics of the Uncanny Valley
A friend posted this image on Facebook. It’s an interesting bit of political messaging, but I’m not going to unpack the civil rights argument in the meme. Human rights deserve their own, more susta…
robinsmartinez.com
January 3, 2026 at 2:08 PM
A friend recently posted a meme, which got me thinking about the aesthetics of the Mar-a-Lago Look and my reaction to it. Here's a short piece I wrote exploring the idea.
robinsmartinez.com/2026/01/the-...
robinsmartinez.com/2026/01/the-...
Setting up concentration camps is not the way to deal with homelessness.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/29/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/29/u...
In Utah, Trump’s Vision for Homelessness Begins to Take Shape
www.nytimes.com
October 29, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Setting up concentration camps is not the way to deal with homelessness.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/29/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/29/u...
“A standing military force, with an overgrown Executive will not long be safe companions to liberty. The means of defence [against] foreign danger, have been always the instruments of tyranny at home.”
James Madison, Address to the Constitutional Convention (1787)
James Madison, Address to the Constitutional Convention (1787)
October 12, 2025 at 12:49 PM
“A standing military force, with an overgrown Executive will not long be safe companions to liberty. The means of defence [against] foreign danger, have been always the instruments of tyranny at home.”
James Madison, Address to the Constitutional Convention (1787)
James Madison, Address to the Constitutional Convention (1787)
Good to know our Secretary of Defense supports honoring soldiers who massacred largely unarmed women and children who were starving while trudging through the snow in the middle of winter. Secretary of War Crimes should be his title perhaps? #WoundedKnee #WarCrimes
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/27/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/27/u...
Hegseth Says Honors for Soldiers in Wounded Knee Massacre Will Remain
www.nytimes.com
September 27, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Good to know our Secretary of Defense supports honoring soldiers who massacred largely unarmed women and children who were starving while trudging through the snow in the middle of winter. Secretary of War Crimes should be his title perhaps? #WoundedKnee #WarCrimes
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/27/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/27/u...
Fascinating story about rats and the increased numbers we're seeing in urban areas around the world. #rats
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Ratmageddon: Why rats are overrunning our cities
Rats are multiplying at speed in urban areas. So, what's really behind the boom - and is it now unstoppable?
www.bbc.com
September 26, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Fascinating story about rats and the increased numbers we're seeing in urban areas around the world. #rats
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
When you hear that the Trump Tariffs are screwing America, there's more to it than you realize. #tariffs
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/22/b...
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/22/b...
Trump’s Tariffs Are Damaging America’s Biggest Foreign Source of Screws
www.nytimes.com
September 22, 2025 at 2:44 PM
When you hear that the Trump Tariffs are screwing America, there's more to it than you realize. #tariffs
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/22/b...
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/22/b...
While families struggle, and farmers face bankruptcy, the Trump family lounges on super yachts enjoying the privileges of power.
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/18/w...
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/18/w...
Tiffany Trump Cruised on an Oil Mogul’s Yacht as Her Father-in-Law Talked Oil Deals
www.nytimes.com
September 18, 2025 at 10:51 AM
While families struggle, and farmers face bankruptcy, the Trump family lounges on super yachts enjoying the privileges of power.
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/18/w...
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/18/w...
Yet another wonderful double standard from the administration ... renewable energy's terrible ... unless you're using it for crypto mining! #wind #renewables #energy #climate
President Trump hates wind power. But as his administration halts wind projects around the country, Trump's sons appear to be an exception to their father's war on wind.
And they're getting awfully rich.
And they're getting awfully rich.
Trump's war on wind power has one very big exception
The president's sons are using scarce clean energy to mine for bitcoins.
www.motherjones.com
September 17, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Yet another wonderful double standard from the administration ... renewable energy's terrible ... unless you're using it for crypto mining! #wind #renewables #energy #climate
Imagine that. Data shows domestic terrorism/political violence is primarily perpetrated by right-wing extremists. What does the DOJ do? It doesn't fit their narrative, so delete the study, of course!
newrepublic.com/post/200537/...
newrepublic.com/post/200537/...
DOJ Quietly Deletes Study on Politics of Domestic Terrorists
The Justice Department has taken down a study that proves Republicans’ entire narrative wrong about left-wing violence.
newrepublic.com
September 17, 2025 at 11:23 AM
Imagine that. Data shows domestic terrorism/political violence is primarily perpetrated by right-wing extremists. What does the DOJ do? It doesn't fit their narrative, so delete the study, of course!
newrepublic.com/post/200537/...
newrepublic.com/post/200537/...
Free speech for me, but not for you, is a hallmark of the right-wing.
I am having a hard time reconciling "Charlie Kirk was a fierce advocate of open dialogue and free expression" with "we must identify and persecute everyone who is insufficiently mournful"
After Charlie Kirk's death, teachers and professors nationwide fired or disciplined over social media posts
At least a dozen faculty and staff have faced fallout over insensitive comments online.
www.nbcnews.com
September 13, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Free speech for me, but not for you, is a hallmark of the right-wing.
I was going to make some time to day to write an essay about empathy and compassion, but @johnpavlovitz.bsky.social pretty much said what's been rattling around in my brain. His piece is worth a read.
Conservatives' calls for compassion in the face of Charlie Kirk’s assassination were strangely striking, precisely because they (and he) have spent countless hours letting us know that they believe compassion is a character flaw and a cultural danger.
johnpavlovitz.substack.com/p/the-right-...
johnpavlovitz.substack.com/p/the-right-...
September 11, 2025 at 2:38 PM
I was going to make some time to day to write an essay about empathy and compassion, but @johnpavlovitz.bsky.social pretty much said what's been rattling around in my brain. His piece is worth a read.
Lest anyone forget, far-right violence has consistently been more lethal and frequent than far-left violence in the USA. Data from 2024 shows a continued trend of right-wing extremists committing the majority of politically-motivated murders. #violence #politics
nij.ojp.gov/topics/artic...
nij.ojp.gov/topics/artic...
What NIJ Research Tells Us About Domestic Terrorism
Militant, nationalistic, white supremacist violent extremism has increased in the United States. In fact, the number of far-right attacks continues to outpace all other types of terrorism and domestic...
nij.ojp.gov
September 10, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Lest anyone forget, far-right violence has consistently been more lethal and frequent than far-left violence in the USA. Data from 2024 shows a continued trend of right-wing extremists committing the majority of politically-motivated murders. #violence #politics
nij.ojp.gov/topics/artic...
nij.ojp.gov/topics/artic...
A couple years ago I was pondering the prospect of political violence here in the USA and how we might devolve into what Italy experienced in its Years of Lead. With a right-wingnut killing legislators in MN and now today's events, seems we're on that path.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Years_o...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Years_o...
Years of Lead (Italy) - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
September 10, 2025 at 9:20 PM
A couple years ago I was pondering the prospect of political violence here in the USA and how we might devolve into what Italy experienced in its Years of Lead. With a right-wingnut killing legislators in MN and now today's events, seems we're on that path.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Years_o...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Years_o...
Whether JD Vance gives a shit or not, he's complicit in international criminal activity.
www.defenseone.com/ideas/2025/0...
www.defenseone.com/ideas/2025/0...
A killing at sea marks America’s descent into lawless power
The peremptory strike on a speedboat is a warning to all who serve. Remember your oath.
www.defenseone.com
September 10, 2025 at 2:52 AM
Whether JD Vance gives a shit or not, he's complicit in international criminal activity.
www.defenseone.com/ideas/2025/0...
www.defenseone.com/ideas/2025/0...
Given the number of countries the USA has invaded or bombed over the past century, re-branding the US Defense Dept as the "Department of War" pretty much constitutes truth in advertising. #WarDept #DefenseDept #war
September 5, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Given the number of countries the USA has invaded or bombed over the past century, re-branding the US Defense Dept as the "Department of War" pretty much constitutes truth in advertising. #WarDept #DefenseDept #war
If I'm a foreign investor/company considering siting a production facility in the USA, I'd be having second thoughts. Will be interesting to see if LG and Hyundai pull back on expanding US plants. #ICE #manufacturing #Hyundai
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Hundreds of workers detained in major Ice raid at US Hyundai factory
South Korea concerned after at least 450 were arrested at Georgia work site making batteries for Hyundai and Kia cars
www.theguardian.com
September 5, 2025 at 3:57 PM
If I'm a foreign investor/company considering siting a production facility in the USA, I'd be having second thoughts. Will be interesting to see if LG and Hyundai pull back on expanding US plants. #ICE #manufacturing #Hyundai
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Irony appears to be lost on Florida officials. That said, they're making it rather unappealing to travel there. #Florida #vaccines
Florida plans to eliminate all childhood vaccine mandates in the name of “medical freedom,” yet it remains one of the most restrictive states when it comes to reproductive health choices.
apnews.com/article/flor...
apnews.com/article/flor...
Florida plans to become first state to eliminate all childhood vaccine mandates
Florida plans to become the first state to eliminate vaccine mandates that have been a cornerstone of public health policy for decades in keeping schoolchildren and citizens safe from infectious disea...
apnews.com
September 3, 2025 at 9:55 PM
I find it interesting that grand juries are pushing back on DOJ overreach. We may have to dispense with the old adage that a grand jury would indict a ham sandwich. Apparently not. This is a good thing, and a sign that citizens may be getting fed up. #sandwich
www.nbcnews.com/politics/pol...
www.nbcnews.com/politics/pol...
Grand jury declines to indict man who threw a sandwich at federal officer in D.C.
The former Justice Department attorney who threw a sub at federal officers in Washington, and came to be known as "Sandwich Guy," was not indicted on a federal felony charge.
www.nbcnews.com
August 27, 2025 at 4:04 PM
I find it interesting that grand juries are pushing back on DOJ overreach. We may have to dispense with the old adage that a grand jury would indict a ham sandwich. Apparently not. This is a good thing, and a sign that citizens may be getting fed up. #sandwich
www.nbcnews.com/politics/pol...
www.nbcnews.com/politics/pol...