Cory Johnston
@skepticalleftist.bsky.social
Trying to combine good evidence-based critical thinking and left anarchist politics. I host The Skeptical Leftist podcast, check it out on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/1ye9lJfPq7SZkXdOVrEtB9?si=wNQsMjAhRgK0sUCUnT7Y7Q
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People talk about fixing schools and food systems like it all comes down to personal choices. Owen and I walked through two stories that show why that never works. Systems shape everything long before you make a decision.
Reposted by Cory Johnston
All countries are basically big civic cults, whether we realize it or not. Those who plead, "oh, but patriotism is just loving your country", never seem to pick up on this.
Because what makes a country? Totalizing power of a ruling elite over the populace, that's what. It's a menace to liberty.
Because what makes a country? Totalizing power of a ruling elite over the populace, that's what. It's a menace to liberty.
January 7, 2026 at 6:24 PM
All countries are basically big civic cults, whether we realize it or not. Those who plead, "oh, but patriotism is just loving your country", never seem to pick up on this.
Because what makes a country? Totalizing power of a ruling elite over the populace, that's what. It's a menace to liberty.
Because what makes a country? Totalizing power of a ruling elite over the populace, that's what. It's a menace to liberty.
I don't know if it was something I've always explicitly believed but over the past few years I've basically come to realize that patriotism and its extreme relative nationalism are both part of the authoritarianism family
January 7, 2026 at 5:01 PM
I don't know if it was something I've always explicitly believed but over the past few years I've basically come to realize that patriotism and its extreme relative nationalism are both part of the authoritarianism family
[The Real News Podcast] Understanding the US Invasion of Venezuela #theRealNewsPodcast
podcastaddict.com/th... via @PodcastAddict
podcastaddict.com/th... via @PodcastAddict
The Real News Podcast - Understanding the US Invasion of Venezuela
Listen to The Real News Podcast - Understanding the US Invasion of Venezuela by The Real News Network on Podcast Addict. In the early hours of Saturday morning, January 3rd, Venezuelans were awoken by the sounds of bombs falling. US helicopters whirled overhead. Explosions struck across the capital Caracas and in surrounding states. Hours of chaos, fear, and uncertainty.President Donald Trump would post over social media that the US had “captured” Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife
podcastaddict.com
January 7, 2026 at 11:57 AM
[The Real News Podcast] Understanding the US Invasion of Venezuela #theRealNewsPodcast
podcastaddict.com/th... via @PodcastAddict
podcastaddict.com/th... via @PodcastAddict
ACAB includes the US state
January 7, 2026 at 11:24 AM
ACAB includes the US state
Reposted by Cory Johnston
No matter what you think of Maduro, it was completely wrong for the US to kidnap him and take over Venezuala. Also, if your opinions of Maduro come from US media then you're almost certainly wrong
January 6, 2026 at 12:41 PM
No matter what you think of Maduro, it was completely wrong for the US to kidnap him and take over Venezuala. Also, if your opinions of Maduro come from US media then you're almost certainly wrong
Reposted by Cory Johnston
Kemi Badenoch says "I am a failing Conservative leader and shameless endorsements of fascist imperialism are the only way I can stay relevant"
Kemi Badenoch says Trump’s Venezuela raid was ‘morally’ right – UK politics live
Kemi Badenoch says Trump’s Venezuela raid was ‘morally’ right – UK politics live
Conservative leader questions robustness of rules-based international order and says ‘the world has changed’
www.theguardian.com
January 6, 2026 at 12:14 PM
Kemi Badenoch says "I am a failing Conservative leader and shameless endorsements of fascist imperialism are the only way I can stay relevant"
Reposted by Cory Johnston
Amerikkka won't stop until it's made to stop.
TAPPER: Can you rule out the US is going to take Greenland by force?
MILLER: Greenland should be part of the US. By what right does Denmark assert control over Greenland? The US is the power of NATO
T: So force is on the table?
M: Nobody is gonna fight the US militarily over future of Greenland
MILLER: Greenland should be part of the US. By what right does Denmark assert control over Greenland? The US is the power of NATO
T: So force is on the table?
M: Nobody is gonna fight the US militarily over future of Greenland
January 6, 2026 at 1:00 AM
Amerikkka won't stop until it's made to stop.
Reposted by Cory Johnston
I disagree that Venezuela is a "distraction" from anything (eg the Epstein files). War and imperial expansion are integral to this administration's policies, not incidental.
January 4, 2026 at 4:52 PM
I disagree that Venezuela is a "distraction" from anything (eg the Epstein files). War and imperial expansion are integral to this administration's policies, not incidental.
Reposted by Cory Johnston
Imperialism: "It's pretty much always like this."
YouTube video by AntifascistDad
youtube.com
January 4, 2026 at 12:12 PM
Reposted by Cory Johnston
Yes, kidnapping a president for basically no reason is an illegal act of war under international law. It's useful to keep pointing out that what Trump is doing is illegal, but only if you point out that he's doing it anyway, and that the law empowers, not restricts, the state.
January 4, 2026 at 1:35 AM
Yes, kidnapping a president for basically no reason is an illegal act of war under international law. It's useful to keep pointing out that what Trump is doing is illegal, but only if you point out that he's doing it anyway, and that the law empowers, not restricts, the state.
Reposted by Cory Johnston
There are lots of kinds of stealing. The most harmful kinds are rewarded. The kinds that are punished are often a public good.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-Uq...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-Uq...
Stealing should be illegal
YouTube video by ItHadToBeSaid
www.youtube.com
January 3, 2026 at 3:58 PM
There are lots of kinds of stealing. The most harmful kinds are rewarded. The kinds that are punished are often a public good.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-Uq...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-Uq...
When they call people terrorists for opposing genocide it seems like it doesn’t leave anyone with many peaceful options for resistance
January 3, 2026 at 12:55 PM
When they call people terrorists for opposing genocide it seems like it doesn’t leave anyone with many peaceful options for resistance
Reposted by Cory Johnston
It's simultaneously true that the US's latest overseas injustices fit the general capitalist imperialism of the nation's history, and represent a fascist escalation from the Trump administration.
January 3, 2026 at 12:51 PM
It's simultaneously true that the US's latest overseas injustices fit the general capitalist imperialism of the nation's history, and represent a fascist escalation from the Trump administration.
Ok, I'm starting to feel the itch to get back at podcasting. I still don't know exactly what I'm going to do with the show but I can tell I definitely want to get back at it before too long
January 2, 2026 at 4:21 PM
Ok, I'm starting to feel the itch to get back at podcasting. I still don't know exactly what I'm going to do with the show but I can tell I definitely want to get back at it before too long
If you think liberals are on the political left, you don't really know what people in the left stand for
December 28, 2025 at 5:13 AM
If you think liberals are on the political left, you don't really know what people in the left stand for
I'm starting to wonder if my interests are too broad and that's why I can't get a handle on where to take the podcast next. I have studied and continue to study practically everything on the left or progressive spectrum and that leaves me without a specific focus which seems sort of necessary
December 27, 2025 at 4:57 PM
I'm starting to wonder if my interests are too broad and that's why I can't get a handle on where to take the podcast next. I have studied and continue to study practically everything on the left or progressive spectrum and that leaves me without a specific focus which seems sort of necessary
Reposted by Cory Johnston
Interesting read. I think audio and video pods are very different beasts with different priorities.
They both have a place, but there really shouldn't be pressure for every pod to be video. Something would def be lost. (I'm biased obvs)
They both have a place, but there really shouldn't be pressure for every pod to be video. Something would def be lost. (I'm biased obvs)
‘Painful to hear!’ How podcasts’ rush to video is turning them into dreadful listens
‘Painful to hear!’ How podcasts’ rush to video is turning them into dreadful listens
From Joe Marler’s visual-only stunts to the incomprehensible shuffling sounds Steven Bartlett recently subjected headphone users to, dodgy audio experiences are on the rise
www.theguardian.com
December 27, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Interesting read. I think audio and video pods are very different beasts with different priorities.
They both have a place, but there really shouldn't be pressure for every pod to be video. Something would def be lost. (I'm biased obvs)
They both have a place, but there really shouldn't be pressure for every pod to be video. Something would def be lost. (I'm biased obvs)
Reposted by Cory Johnston
Reposted by Cory Johnston
No such thing as justice if conservatives get to determine it...
Texas A&M University will not reinstate a lecturer who was fired after a video of her teaching about gender identity in a children’s literature class went viral, despite a faculty appeals panel unanimously concluding that her dismissal was not justified.
Texas A&M won’t reinstate fired lecturer despite findings
A vice chancellor upheld the firing of Melissa McCoul, seen in a viral video being confronted by a student on her gender identity teachings, saying the termination was done with “good cause.”
www.texastribune.org
December 26, 2025 at 7:17 PM
No such thing as justice if conservatives get to determine it...
Reposted by Cory Johnston
Earlier this month was International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers.
This year we spoke with our good friend @maggiemcneill.bsky.social about #sexwork, #scifi, and more.
Give it a listen and make sure to follow Maggie’s work.
🔗 youtu.be/xb0bMIRQzfw
This year we spoke with our good friend @maggiemcneill.bsky.social about #sexwork, #scifi, and more.
Give it a listen and make sure to follow Maggie’s work.
🔗 youtu.be/xb0bMIRQzfw
December 26, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Earlier this month was International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers.
This year we spoke with our good friend @maggiemcneill.bsky.social about #sexwork, #scifi, and more.
Give it a listen and make sure to follow Maggie’s work.
🔗 youtu.be/xb0bMIRQzfw
This year we spoke with our good friend @maggiemcneill.bsky.social about #sexwork, #scifi, and more.
Give it a listen and make sure to follow Maggie’s work.
🔗 youtu.be/xb0bMIRQzfw
People who complain about Regina increasing property taxes while never questioning the cost of policing and constantly whining about the wages of city workers are the absolute worst. Ignorant, selfish, bullshit
December 23, 2025 at 9:29 AM
People who complain about Regina increasing property taxes while never questioning the cost of policing and constantly whining about the wages of city workers are the absolute worst. Ignorant, selfish, bullshit
I have lots of ideas for videos and podcast episodes but my roadblock always seems to be executing them. I need to learn more about how to research and write a good script and how to edit videos for better flow. I feel like I used to know how to do some of this stuff
December 22, 2025 at 12:19 AM
I have lots of ideas for videos and podcast episodes but my roadblock always seems to be executing them. I need to learn more about how to research and write a good script and how to edit videos for better flow. I feel like I used to know how to do some of this stuff
Reposted by Cory Johnston
Medicare for ALL
December 19, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Medicare for ALL
4 images of a random right wingers threatening to get me fired. I'm not exactly worried because I don't represent the company I work for in a public way and I'm very good at my job. But weren't these the people whining about people getting fired for their opinions?
December 19, 2025 at 2:56 PM
4 images of a random right wingers threatening to get me fired. I'm not exactly worried because I don't represent the company I work for in a public way and I'm very good at my job. But weren't these the people whining about people getting fired for their opinions?