Robert Rubsam
@robrubsam.bsky.social
Writing on books, movies, the arts: NYT Magazine, Baffler, Washington Post, Atlantic, Liberties, Commonweal, Mubi, Paris Review, Nation, etc. robjrub@gmail.com
Pinned
The Besieged
1. In the late autumn of 1914, the German army waged all-out war against the small Flemish town of Diksmuide. Having failed to capture Paris before the arrival of British troops on the continent, the ...
libertiesjournal.com
Last year I set out to review Joseph Leo Koerner's Art in a State of Siege for @readliberties.bsky.social. That morphed into a study of how the First World War changed artistic expression, fascist art anxiety, and one year of bootlicking backlash in the USA: libertiesjournal.com/online-artic...
Trying to remember Bugonia's Oscar nominated score
January 27, 2026 at 2:46 PM
Trying to remember Bugonia's Oscar nominated score
Reposted by Robert Rubsam
We profiled refugees who:
Arrived in the country legally.
Applied for green cards.
Were arrested by ICE and detained.
One refugee who was arrested found out they got their green card after being released.
This is an unprecedented operation.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/26/u...
Arrived in the country legally.
Applied for green cards.
Were arrested by ICE and detained.
One refugee who was arrested found out they got their green card after being released.
This is an unprecedented operation.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/26/u...
They ‘Had Done Everything Right.’ ICE Detained Them Anyway.
www.nytimes.com
January 27, 2026 at 2:25 PM
We profiled refugees who:
Arrived in the country legally.
Applied for green cards.
Were arrested by ICE and detained.
One refugee who was arrested found out they got their green card after being released.
This is an unprecedented operation.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/26/u...
Arrived in the country legally.
Applied for green cards.
Were arrested by ICE and detained.
One refugee who was arrested found out they got their green card after being released.
This is an unprecedented operation.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/26/u...
Reposted by Robert Rubsam
"Up to 380 people may have drowned attempting to cross the Mediterranean last week". The West's normalisation of the mass death of black Africans (because that is predominantly who these people are) will never be less than devastating.
January 27, 2026 at 11:19 AM
"Up to 380 people may have drowned attempting to cross the Mediterranean last week". The West's normalisation of the mass death of black Africans (because that is predominantly who these people are) will never be less than devastating.
Reposted by Robert Rubsam
"One way that we say 'no' is that we mourn, we do not celebrate death, and, what is probably worse, we do not pretend it doesn't happen. We say names. We pray for the dead," Tobin said. "We mourn for a world, a country, that allows 5-yr-olds to be legally kidnapped and protesters to be slaughtered."
Cardinal Tobin “employed some of the strongest language yet by a U.S. cardinal to condemn the Trump administration's immigration crackdown, describing Immigration and Customs Enforcement ‘lawless’ and urging Catholics to tell their lawmakers to vote against additional funding.”
Cardinal Tobin: Pray, mourn and say 'no' to ICE funding
In a reflection delivered during an online interfaith prayer service hosted by Faith in Action, Tobin employed some of the strongest language yet by a U.S. cardinal to condemn the Trump administration...
www.ncronline.org
January 27, 2026 at 1:40 AM
"One way that we say 'no' is that we mourn, we do not celebrate death, and, what is probably worse, we do not pretend it doesn't happen. We say names. We pray for the dead," Tobin said. "We mourn for a world, a country, that allows 5-yr-olds to be legally kidnapped and protesters to be slaughtered."
Reposted by Robert Rubsam
The terror that ICE and CBP have inflicted on the children of the Twin Cities is, by itself, a crime of scandalous proportions that will forever stain this country's moral fabric, and all those responsible should never know another day of peace. www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
January 26, 2026 at 9:43 PM
The terror that ICE and CBP have inflicted on the children of the Twin Cities is, by itself, a crime of scandalous proportions that will forever stain this country's moral fabric, and all those responsible should never know another day of peace. www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
tfw you don't hate Geese and don't think they're the second coming of the Clash
January 26, 2026 at 8:14 PM
tfw you don't hate Geese and don't think they're the second coming of the Clash
Reposted by Robert Rubsam
With the opening of the Rafah border crossing, we are likely to finally see international reporters in Gaza. Israel prevented foreign journalists from entering the Strip for two years and four months, and the IDF killed more than 200 local reporters during that period.
January 26, 2026 at 3:34 PM
With the opening of the Rafah border crossing, we are likely to finally see international reporters in Gaza. Israel prevented foreign journalists from entering the Strip for two years and four months, and the IDF killed more than 200 local reporters during that period.
Unfortunately his Tumblr-ass posting style is 100% uncut millennial
Trump is such a transparent asshole but there’s something so evil about how JD Vance hides incredibly callous politics behind that nauseating “well now good sir” faux civility.
January 26, 2026 at 1:47 PM
Unfortunately his Tumblr-ass posting style is 100% uncut millennial
Reposted by Robert Rubsam
Anyone who has spent any amount of time readying about Nazi intellectuals will recognize what's going on here. They're bellicose, way too overconfident, and completely lost inside the labyrinth of their own metaphors.
Whistles are now WMDs, according to the "high IQ" crowd.
January 25, 2026 at 10:32 PM
Anyone who has spent any amount of time readying about Nazi intellectuals will recognize what's going on here. They're bellicose, way too overconfident, and completely lost inside the labyrinth of their own metaphors.
Reposted by Robert Rubsam
DHS has shot 12 people during immigration enforcement operations since September:
January 25, 2026 at 4:27 PM
DHS has shot 12 people during immigration enforcement operations since September:
Reposted by Robert Rubsam
Alex Pretti was already restrained when federal agents shot and killed him in Minneapolis, a New York Times analysis of video shows. The footage contradicts the Department of Homeland Security’s account of the shooting.
Timeline: How the Shooting of Alex Jeffrey Pretti Unfolded
A moment-by-moment analysis of video from the scene shows that Mr. Pretti was already restrained when fatal shots were fired, which appears to contradict the federal government’s account of the event.
trib.al
January 25, 2026 at 4:55 PM
Alex Pretti was already restrained when federal agents shot and killed him in Minneapolis, a New York Times analysis of video shows. The footage contradicts the Department of Homeland Security’s account of the shooting.
Reposted by Robert Rubsam
Absolutely reprehensible that AG Bondi is offering ICE stand down in exchange for access to voting rolls. Outrageous and disgusting. It shows ICE is in Minneapolis is not for law enforcement purposes. Instead it’s a way to stir up shit in blue states and extort them.
In the wake of another fatal shooting in Minneapolis.
AG Pam Bondi sends Gov. Walz a letter today making several asks including:
"Allow DOJ Civil Rights division access to state voter rolls"
AG Pam Bondi sends Gov. Walz a letter today making several asks including:
"Allow DOJ Civil Rights division access to state voter rolls"
January 25, 2026 at 2:21 AM
Absolutely reprehensible that AG Bondi is offering ICE stand down in exchange for access to voting rolls. Outrageous and disgusting. It shows ICE is in Minneapolis is not for law enforcement purposes. Instead it’s a way to stir up shit in blue states and extort them.
Reposted by Robert Rubsam
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 3:08 PM
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*
Reposted by Robert Rubsam
Worth noting that the @wsj.com has joined with the @nytimes.com and Bellingcat to say that ICE is lying in its description of the shooting of Alex Pretti. The video evidence more and more supports the view that this was a gratuitous execution. www.wsj.com/us-news/vide...
Videos Contradict U.S. Account of Minneapolis Shooting by Federal Agents
See how immigration officers escalated a fatal confrontation on Saturday.
www.wsj.com
January 25, 2026 at 1:51 PM
Worth noting that the @wsj.com has joined with the @nytimes.com and Bellingcat to say that ICE is lying in its description of the shooting of Alex Pretti. The video evidence more and more supports the view that this was a gratuitous execution. www.wsj.com/us-news/vide...
Reposted by Robert Rubsam
A person who said they witnessed federal agents shoot and kill Alex Jeffrey Pretti submitted a sworn statement in court disputing the federal government’s account of the shooting. “I have read the statement from DHS about what happened and it is wrong,” the person said in the statement.
In Court Filings, Witnesses Describe Fatal Minneapolis Shooting of Alex Pretti
The filings raise further questions about the federal government’s narrative of what happened before federal agents shot Alex Jeffrey Pretti on Saturday.
nyti.ms
January 25, 2026 at 4:47 AM
A person who said they witnessed federal agents shoot and kill Alex Jeffrey Pretti submitted a sworn statement in court disputing the federal government’s account of the shooting. “I have read the statement from DHS about what happened and it is wrong,” the person said in the statement.
Reposted by Robert Rubsam
The mendacity of Kristi Noem is of world historical level - just a thoroughly vile and worthless henchwoman of evil.
January 24, 2026 at 10:41 PM
The mendacity of Kristi Noem is of world historical level - just a thoroughly vile and worthless henchwoman of evil.
Reposted by Robert Rubsam
This was murder. Pretti did not initiate the confrontation. He didn’t strike them. He didn’t brandish his gun. They tackled him, beat him, disarmed him, and shot him.
Holy crap.
This is the most damning video yet.
It shows Border Patrol agents clearly taking Alex's firearm, running it away, and THEN executed him in cold blood by emptying a clip into his face.
Murder.
This is the most damning video yet.
It shows Border Patrol agents clearly taking Alex's firearm, running it away, and THEN executed him in cold blood by emptying a clip into his face.
Murder.
January 24, 2026 at 9:46 PM
This was murder. Pretti did not initiate the confrontation. He didn’t strike them. He didn’t brandish his gun. They tackled him, beat him, disarmed him, and shot him.
Reposted by Robert Rubsam
Every lie told by this regime, no matter how brazen, shocking, or dehumanizing, makes perfect sense when I think about their claim that immigrants were eating pets in Ohio. It's not about evidence or credibility, it's about pushing narratives to facilitate ethnic cleansing.
January 24, 2026 at 11:09 PM
Every lie told by this regime, no matter how brazen, shocking, or dehumanizing, makes perfect sense when I think about their claim that immigrants were eating pets in Ohio. It's not about evidence or credibility, it's about pushing narratives to facilitate ethnic cleansing.
Reposted by Robert Rubsam
It’s time to make a choice.
ICE has a budget bigger than most militaries.
Their funding bill is on the Senate floor next week.
Americans are getting murdered in the streets by masked agents.
Stand with the people. Vote NO.
ICE has a budget bigger than most militaries.
Their funding bill is on the Senate floor next week.
Americans are getting murdered in the streets by masked agents.
Stand with the people. Vote NO.
January 24, 2026 at 11:18 PM
It’s time to make a choice.
ICE has a budget bigger than most militaries.
Their funding bill is on the Senate floor next week.
Americans are getting murdered in the streets by masked agents.
Stand with the people. Vote NO.
ICE has a budget bigger than most militaries.
Their funding bill is on the Senate floor next week.
Americans are getting murdered in the streets by masked agents.
Stand with the people. Vote NO.
Reposted by Robert Rubsam
THEY TRIED TO GET A WARRANT TO CRIMINALLY INVESTIGATE THE WOMAN THEY SHOT DEAD
January 24, 2026 at 12:07 AM
THEY TRIED TO GET A WARRANT TO CRIMINALLY INVESTIGATE THE WOMAN THEY SHOT DEAD
Reposted by Robert Rubsam
Trump's son in law reveals that the destruction of Gaza is all designed to create a platform for a massive real estate deal—in which the Gazans will have no role and no home. www.express.co.uk/news/world/2...
Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner unveils images of 'New Gaza' - 'No plan B'
Donald Trump hosted the signing ceremony of the newly-created Board of Peace.
www.express.co.uk
January 23, 2026 at 1:13 PM
Trump's son in law reveals that the destruction of Gaza is all designed to create a platform for a massive real estate deal—in which the Gazans will have no role and no home. www.express.co.uk/news/world/2...
Reposted by Robert Rubsam
Newly unsealed evidence makes it even clearer that Rubio and Noem knew they were targeting students based solely on their political speech and that they knew this policy was unconstitutional. They just didn’t care. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/22/u...
January 23, 2026 at 11:30 AM
Newly unsealed evidence makes it even clearer that Rubio and Noem knew they were targeting students based solely on their political speech and that they knew this policy was unconstitutional. They just didn’t care. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/22/u...
Reposted by Robert Rubsam
When an ICE agent confronts you is "when your due process ends," says the member of Congress from the largest border district.
www.politico.com/news/2026/01...
www.politico.com/news/2026/01...
January 23, 2026 at 1:11 PM
When an ICE agent confronts you is "when your due process ends," says the member of Congress from the largest border district.
www.politico.com/news/2026/01...
www.politico.com/news/2026/01...
Reposted by Robert Rubsam
In our conservative estimate, 41 percent of Grok’s images — or 1.8 million — were sexualized depictions of women. Separately, CCDH analyzed how many were sexualized images across genders and ages. Their findings: an estimated 3 million images, including more than 23,000 of children.
January 22, 2026 at 3:01 PM
In our conservative estimate, 41 percent of Grok’s images — or 1.8 million — were sexualized depictions of women. Separately, CCDH analyzed how many were sexualized images across genders and ages. Their findings: an estimated 3 million images, including more than 23,000 of children.