Samit Sarkar
@samitsarkar.bsky.social
✊🏾 formerly & forever Vox Union | 📝 past life: @polygon.com, next thing: TBD | ⁉️ proud @jeopardyofficial.bsky.social loser | reading, writing, playing, watching, sleeping | he/him
Everything from my ~13-year tenure at Polygon is still up, thankfully. But the site's design changed after the Valnet sale, which resulted, bafflingly, in the loss of almost all italics formatting. That is *infuriating* for me, a person who cares deeply about copy editing and visual presentation!
Already planning to go buy a month of Vox.com so I can archive my work in case it disappears. It’s so disappointing to all of us.
February 18, 2026 at 3:57 AM
Everything from my ~13-year tenure at Polygon is still up, thankfully. But the site's design changed after the Valnet sale, which resulted, bafflingly, in the loss of almost all italics formatting. That is *infuriating* for me, a person who cares deeply about copy editing and visual presentation!
Reposted by Samit Sarkar
A dresser inside a museum in New York City has been discovered as a secret stop on the Underground Railroad — the first of its kind discovered in Manhattan in over 100 years
February 11, 2026 at 3:43 AM
A dresser inside a museum in New York City has been discovered as a secret stop on the Underground Railroad — the first of its kind discovered in Manhattan in over 100 years
In case anyone wants a window into feeding a toddler, our 2-year-old is completely ignoring the spinach/cheese tortelloni on his plate — and the grated Parmesan sprinkled on top — and instead eating... just the Parmesan, along with an entire 6 oz. container of raspberries (and counting).
February 17, 2026 at 11:35 PM
In case anyone wants a window into feeding a toddler, our 2-year-old is completely ignoring the spinach/cheese tortelloni on his plate — and the grated Parmesan sprinkled on top — and instead eating... just the Parmesan, along with an entire 6 oz. container of raspberries (and counting).
Reposted by Samit Sarkar
As an attorney with occasional experience with the Equal Time rule, I can explain what's going on here and how the FCC's Brandon Carr is leveraging his position to force late night and daytime talk show hosts to exclude Democratic candidates.
First I need to explain the Equal Time rule itself. 1/
First I need to explain the Equal Time rule itself. 1/
Stephen Colbert said that the FCC and CBS - which is in no way a compromised or complicit organization - wouldn’t allow him to broadcast an interview with Democratic State Rep James Talarico. www.nytimes.com/2026/02/17/a...
Colbert Doesn’t Give an FCC About Calling Out CBS
www.nytimes.com
February 17, 2026 at 1:37 PM
As an attorney with occasional experience with the Equal Time rule, I can explain what's going on here and how the FCC's Brandon Carr is leveraging his position to force late night and daytime talk show hosts to exclude Democratic candidates.
First I need to explain the Equal Time rule itself. 1/
First I need to explain the Equal Time rule itself. 1/
“The message of Jackson’s litany is the beginning of education, and the beginning of democracy. It says that you have worth as a person, simply because you are a person. It says that you have a voice. And it says that your voice is most powerful when it joins with other voices.” [gift link]
When Jesse Jackson Came to ‘Sesame Street’: ‘I Am! Somebody!’
www.nytimes.com
February 17, 2026 at 5:33 PM
“The message of Jackson’s litany is the beginning of education, and the beginning of democracy. It says that you have worth as a person, simply because you are a person. It says that you have a voice. And it says that your voice is most powerful when it joins with other voices.” [gift link]
Reposted by Samit Sarkar
i don't think ted needed to say all this but it's very cool he did!
I don't believe I've ever seen Ted Levine speak so candidly about his regrets of portraying Buffalo Bill in THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS. He and some of the crew on the film were asked about the film's cultural transphobia by The Hollywood Reporter.
www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie...
www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie...
February 17, 2026 at 5:00 PM
i don't think ted needed to say all this but it's very cool he did!
apologies for parentposting but I gotta say: the segment of this newsletter that begins with "Meyers Taylor’s win was monumental" and ends with a screencap of her celebrating with her kids might take the gold medal for "fastest TTBIT" (that's time-to-bursting-into-tears) for me during these Olympics
OLYMPICS NEWSLETTER, DAY 11
🇺🇸🥇🇺🇸 ELANA MEYERS TAYLOR, AMERICAN SUPERHERO🇺🇸🥇🇺🇸
💤 sometimes you just need to lie down and wait for everyone to go away💤
😭finally, a happy figure skating ending😭
🔬Team USA used science to revolutionize speed skating butt-touching 🔬
🇺🇸🥇🇺🇸 ELANA MEYERS TAYLOR, AMERICAN SUPERHERO🇺🇸🥇🇺🇸
💤 sometimes you just need to lie down and wait for everyone to go away💤
😭finally, a happy figure skating ending😭
🔬Team USA used science to revolutionize speed skating butt-touching 🔬
February 17, 2026 at 5:06 PM
apologies for parentposting but I gotta say: the segment of this newsletter that begins with "Meyers Taylor’s win was monumental" and ends with a screencap of her celebrating with her kids might take the gold medal for "fastest TTBIT" (that's time-to-bursting-into-tears) for me during these Olympics
Reposted by Samit Sarkar
Kudos to Stephen Colbert for speaking out on CBS barring him from interviewing Senate candidate James Talarico due to threats from the FCC. Shows how FCC Chair doesn't need to actually do anything to get his way - the threats are enough to limit speech. WATCH: loom.ly/xhTty-k
February 17, 2026 at 1:56 PM
Kudos to Stephen Colbert for speaking out on CBS barring him from interviewing Senate candidate James Talarico due to threats from the FCC. Shows how FCC Chair doesn't need to actually do anything to get his way - the threats are enough to limit speech. WATCH: loom.ly/xhTty-k
Lincoln 4K Blu-ray when???
Say what you want about Spielberg, I
mostly won’t be listening to you, when the man started this film with a boot on the face of a confederate, drowning him in the mud, I leaned forward in my theater seat and stayed in that position for 150 minutes
mostly won’t be listening to you, when the man started this film with a boot on the face of a confederate, drowning him in the mud, I leaned forward in my theater seat and stayed in that position for 150 minutes
February 17, 2026 at 5:25 AM
Lincoln 4K Blu-ray when???
Reposted by Samit Sarkar
This is how you live a life
February 17, 2026 at 2:32 AM
This is how you live a life
Reposted by Samit Sarkar
Wow. Just read the opening grafs of this opinion on Trump's ordered removal of an exhibition on the treatment of slaves in Philadelphia. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
February 16, 2026 at 6:37 PM
Wow. Just read the opening grafs of this opinion on Trump's ordered removal of an exhibition on the treatment of slaves in Philadelphia. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Reposted by Samit Sarkar
RIP Robert Duvall. I hope you and Jimmy Caan are mooning Marlon Brando, wherever you are now. www.nytimes.com/2014/10/05/m...
February 16, 2026 at 6:30 PM
RIP Robert Duvall. I hope you and Jimmy Caan are mooning Marlon Brando, wherever you are now. www.nytimes.com/2014/10/05/m...
INDUSTRYYYYYYYYYYY
February 16, 2026 at 3:49 AM
INDUSTRYYYYYYYYYYY
Our toddler has been home sick for the past week, so we declared screen time bankruptcy.
Anyway: I'mma let you finish, Up, but Toy Story 2's Jessie/Emily flashback — set to Sarah McLachlan's "When Somebody Loved Me" — did it first, and maybe just as well? (where "it" = a devastating Pixar montage)
Anyway: I'mma let you finish, Up, but Toy Story 2's Jessie/Emily flashback — set to Sarah McLachlan's "When Somebody Loved Me" — did it first, and maybe just as well? (where "it" = a devastating Pixar montage)
Toy Story 2 - When She Loved Me (HD)
YouTube video by TooMuchForIt
www.youtube.com
February 15, 2026 at 9:15 PM
Our toddler has been home sick for the past week, so we declared screen time bankruptcy.
Anyway: I'mma let you finish, Up, but Toy Story 2's Jessie/Emily flashback — set to Sarah McLachlan's "When Somebody Loved Me" — did it first, and maybe just as well? (where "it" = a devastating Pixar montage)
Anyway: I'mma let you finish, Up, but Toy Story 2's Jessie/Emily flashback — set to Sarah McLachlan's "When Somebody Loved Me" — did it first, and maybe just as well? (where "it" = a devastating Pixar montage)
ah yes, Darwin's secret 19th finch species
February 15, 2026 at 3:31 PM
ah yes, Darwin's secret 19th finch species
Reposted by Samit Sarkar
What a great photo of Brazilian alpine skier Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, the first South American to ever win a medal at the Winter Olympic Games.
February 14, 2026 at 9:06 PM
What a great photo of Brazilian alpine skier Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, the first South American to ever win a medal at the Winter Olympic Games.
Reposted by Samit Sarkar
YOU GUYS THERE'S A LONGER VERSION bsky.app/profile/gigi...
February 14, 2026 at 4:14 AM
YOU GUYS THERE'S A LONGER VERSION bsky.app/profile/gigi...
Reposted by Samit Sarkar
YES I WROTE ABOUT THE FINAL JEOPARDY WIZARDRY www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv...
How Contestant Alison Betts Gamed 'Jeopardy!' -- And Went Viral
'Jeopardy!' winner Alison Betts explains the wagering strategy that led her to a come-from-behind victory and the Jeopardy! Invitational Tournament.
www.rollingstone.com
February 13, 2026 at 9:03 PM
YES I WROTE ABOUT THE FINAL JEOPARDY WIZARDRY www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv...
Reposted by Samit Sarkar
It should be obvious that criticizing ICE—or any government agency—on social media is protected by the First Amendment.
It is not a crime.
Tech companies must not comply with sweeping government demands that seek to unmask users simply for expressing their opinions online.
It is not a crime.
Tech companies must not comply with sweeping government demands that seek to unmask users simply for expressing their opinions online.
Homeland Security Wants Social Media Sites to Expose Anti-ICE Accounts
www.nytimes.com
February 14, 2026 at 1:36 AM
It should be obvious that criticizing ICE—or any government agency—on social media is protected by the First Amendment.
It is not a crime.
Tech companies must not comply with sweeping government demands that seek to unmask users simply for expressing their opinions online.
It is not a crime.
Tech companies must not comply with sweeping government demands that seek to unmask users simply for expressing their opinions online.
call an ambulance but not for me dot gif
no gold for Chloe Kim but
man
Choi Ga-On crashed, appeared to be badly injured, was literally announced as out of the competition by the broadcast, and then came back and threw down a gold medal run
that's incredible, can't even be mad about it
man
Choi Ga-On crashed, appeared to be badly injured, was literally announced as out of the competition by the broadcast, and then came back and threw down a gold medal run
that's incredible, can't even be mad about it
February 12, 2026 at 8:30 PM
call an ambulance but not for me dot gif
I was despairing about this until I realized that I needed to save that despair for when the Supreme Court overturns Massachusetts v. EPA in a couple of years
Breaking News: The Trump administration repealed the bedrock scientific finding that greenhouse gases threaten human life and well being, meaning that the EPA can no longer regulate them. nyti.ms/4rSszQu
February 12, 2026 at 7:24 PM
I was despairing about this until I realized that I needed to save that despair for when the Supreme Court overturns Massachusetts v. EPA in a couple of years
multiple exclamation points!
BREAKING: Judge blocks Hegseth effort to punish Sen. Kelly.
"This Court has all it needs to conclude that Defendants have trampled on Senator Kelly's First Amendment freedoms and threatened the constitutional liberties of millions of military retirees."
Background: www.lawdork.com/p/breaking-k...
"This Court has all it needs to conclude that Defendants have trampled on Senator Kelly's First Amendment freedoms and threatened the constitutional liberties of millions of military retirees."
Background: www.lawdork.com/p/breaking-k...
![UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
MARK KELLY,
Plaintiff,
Civil Case No. 26-81 (RJL)
V.
PETE HEGSETH, et al.,
Defendants.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
February 12, 2026 [Dkt. #2]
United States Senator Mark Kelly, a retired naval officer, has been censured by
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth for voicing certain opinions on military actions and
policy. In addition, he has been subjected to proceedings to possibly reduce his retirement
rank and pay and threatened with criminal prosecution if he continues to speak out on these
issues.
Secretary Hegseth relies on the well-established doctrine that military
servicemembers enjoy less vigorous First Amendment protections given the fundamental
obligation for obedience and discipline in the armed forces. Unfortunately for Secretary
Hegseth, no court has ever extended those principles to retired servicemembers, much less a retired servicemember serving in Congress and exercising oversight responsibility over
the military. This Court will not be the first to do so!](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:36eqtmzysqf7wsslczw4uxcd/bafkreiclbgaenrhgnor6zvmnfql4d3olwzqp7zikm3maum5ylc4m6epys4@jpeg)
February 12, 2026 at 6:19 PM
multiple exclamation points!
Reposted by Samit Sarkar
introducing my column about resistance in fiction for @aftermath.site. I’m calling it THE WORK
aftermath.site/oscars-revol...
aftermath.site/oscars-revol...
This Year's Oscar Nominees Have Real Fight In Them, Even If Hollywood Doesn't
An introduction to The Work, a column about resistance in fiction
aftermath.site
February 12, 2026 at 6:05 PM
introducing my column about resistance in fiction for @aftermath.site. I’m calling it THE WORK
aftermath.site/oscars-revol...
aftermath.site/oscars-revol...
Reposted by Samit Sarkar
February 12, 2026 at 2:44 AM
Reposted by Samit Sarkar
This is the second account - the first being in Chicago - of DHS agents mass detaining people and then *sorting them by race*.
More than 400 people, including hundreds of citizens, were “sorted” at gun point into racial and ethnic groups by 200 ICE agents who fired flash-bang grenades into cars with people inside, pointed guns at children & demanded their zip tied parents not comfort them. apple.news/Ausdx6kWtT0e...
Idaho families sue over immigration raid that swept up hundreds, including U.S. citizens — NBC News
About 400 people, including children and U.S. citizens, were detained for four hours while they were denied food and water in the raid, according to the lawsuit.
apple.news
February 12, 2026 at 2:26 AM
This is the second account - the first being in Chicago - of DHS agents mass detaining people and then *sorting them by race*.