Soraya Nadia McDonald
@sorayanadiamcdonald.com
some lady.
she/her | sorayanadiamcdonald.com
she/her | sorayanadiamcdonald.com
Pinned
Got any tips and/or tea on the Kennedy Center or anything arts and culture related that you think the public needs to know?
Tell me!
Email soraya [at] lindabrent [dot] media
Or you can find me on Signal at SorayaMcDonald.41
Tell me!
Email soraya [at] lindabrent [dot] media
Or you can find me on Signal at SorayaMcDonald.41
"All these beautiful things that I love, and I used to define myself as—a father, a provider, a husband—all that got taken away, or at least paused ... I had to sit there and say, 'Well, what am I?' And it was, 'I'm still worthy of love.'"
This broke me.
This broke me.
James Van Der Beek, Dawson's Creek actor, dies aged 48
The father of six starred in multiple popular shows and films in the late 1990s and early 2000s, including Dawson's Creek and Varsity Blues.
www.bbc.com
February 12, 2026 at 12:02 AM
"All these beautiful things that I love, and I used to define myself as—a father, a provider, a husband—all that got taken away, or at least paused ... I had to sit there and say, 'Well, what am I?' And it was, 'I'm still worthy of love.'"
This broke me.
This broke me.
Reposted by Soraya Nadia McDonald
There is no amount of technological advancement that can process enough to become art. It is, by necessity, a human thing, with a relationship with its human creator. Computers can only classify, predict, emulate. They cannot understand aesthetics on any level, short of labeling.
February 11, 2026 at 11:46 PM
There is no amount of technological advancement that can process enough to become art. It is, by necessity, a human thing, with a relationship with its human creator. Computers can only classify, predict, emulate. They cannot understand aesthetics on any level, short of labeling.
Reposted by Soraya Nadia McDonald
The art that sticks with us acknowledges messiness, complexity. Human morals are rigid, while our realities muss the lines in ways that haunt or enliven or infuriate us.
A computer does know rigidity—but only the rigidity that we give it. You cannot program ennui or envy or disdain.
A computer does know rigidity—but only the rigidity that we give it. You cannot program ennui or envy or disdain.
February 11, 2026 at 11:42 PM
The art that sticks with us acknowledges messiness, complexity. Human morals are rigid, while our realities muss the lines in ways that haunt or enliven or infuriate us.
A computer does know rigidity—but only the rigidity that we give it. You cannot program ennui or envy or disdain.
A computer does know rigidity—but only the rigidity that we give it. You cannot program ennui or envy or disdain.
Ireland: a proper country.
Ireland announces scheme to provide basic income for artists
The Basic Income for Artists (BIA) project is believed to be the first permanent one of its kind in the world.
www.bbc.com
February 11, 2026 at 11:40 PM
Ireland: a proper country.
Reposted by Soraya Nadia McDonald
Court battle over surveillance footage at the Broadview ICE detention center reaches new levels of kafkaesque absurdity: The DOJ claimed it *couldn't afford* hard drives to put video footage on. Plaintiffs bought THE US GOVERNMENT hard drives. ICE "lost" them.
www.404media.co/government-l...
www.404media.co/government-l...
Government Loses Hard Drives It Was Supposed to Put ICE Detention Center Footage On
A Kafkaesque saga in which the government has failed to produce critical video footage has reached new levels of absurdity.
www.404media.co
February 11, 2026 at 6:09 PM
Court battle over surveillance footage at the Broadview ICE detention center reaches new levels of kafkaesque absurdity: The DOJ claimed it *couldn't afford* hard drives to put video footage on. Plaintiffs bought THE US GOVERNMENT hard drives. ICE "lost" them.
www.404media.co/government-l...
www.404media.co/government-l...
Reposted by Soraya Nadia McDonald
Her community rallied so fast and so diligently. This is a victory to uphold and celebrate. Reminds everyone that it's worth fighting back.
An immigration court dropped its case against Turkish graduate student Rumeysa Ozturk, a little less than a year after federal agents arrested her on a street near Tufts University
Immigration Court Drops Case Against Tufts Student Rumeysa Ozturk
The Turkish national had been arrested by plainclothes federal officers outside her apartment.
on.wsj.com
February 10, 2026 at 1:30 AM
Her community rallied so fast and so diligently. This is a victory to uphold and celebrate. Reminds everyone that it's worth fighting back.
Reposted by Soraya Nadia McDonald
It turns out that the only thing standing between us and a version of the pentagon that closes airspace to shoot down party balloons were those diversity trainings at work
February 11, 2026 at 8:17 PM
It turns out that the only thing standing between us and a version of the pentagon that closes airspace to shoot down party balloons were those diversity trainings at work
Reposted by Soraya Nadia McDonald
You deserve access to abortion care if you are pregnant and do not want to be. Full stop.
Your reasons are your reasons and they are good enough.
Abortion is healthcare and everyone deserves healthcare access.
Your reasons are your reasons and they are good enough.
Abortion is healthcare and everyone deserves healthcare access.
You don’t need a traumatic or tragic story to deserve abortion care.
February 11, 2026 at 2:04 PM
You deserve access to abortion care if you are pregnant and do not want to be. Full stop.
Your reasons are your reasons and they are good enough.
Abortion is healthcare and everyone deserves healthcare access.
Your reasons are your reasons and they are good enough.
Abortion is healthcare and everyone deserves healthcare access.
Reposted by Soraya Nadia McDonald
EL PASO, Texas (AP) — FAA says it has lifted temporary closure of airspace over El Paso, Texas, and all flights to resume.
February 11, 2026 at 2:03 PM
EL PASO, Texas (AP) — FAA says it has lifted temporary closure of airspace over El Paso, Texas, and all flights to resume.
Reposted by Soraya Nadia McDonald
Children held with their families at the ICE Dilley detention center in Texas have written heartbreaking letters describing long confinement, sadness, fear and missing school and loved ones — revealing life inside this immigrant detention facility.
From @propublica.org
From @propublica.org
The children of Dilley • Michigan Advance
This story was originally published by ProPublica. Fourteen-year-old Ariana Velasquez had been held at the immigrant detention center in Dilley, Texas, with her mother for some 45 days when I managed ...
michiganadvance.com
February 11, 2026 at 12:46 PM
Children held with their families at the ICE Dilley detention center in Texas have written heartbreaking letters describing long confinement, sadness, fear and missing school and loved ones — revealing life inside this immigrant detention facility.
From @propublica.org
From @propublica.org
Reposted by Soraya Nadia McDonald
We have received numerous credible reports of torture, killing, and inhumane treatment of detained individuals at the Camp East Montana migrant detention facility, located within Fort Bliss. #txlege
February 10, 2026 at 6:47 PM
We have received numerous credible reports of torture, killing, and inhumane treatment of detained individuals at the Camp East Montana migrant detention facility, located within Fort Bliss. #txlege
Reposted by Soraya Nadia McDonald
"Ford Discloses Additional $900 Million Tariff Hit"
www.wsj.com/business/aut...
www.wsj.com/business/aut...
February 11, 2026 at 12:10 PM
"Ford Discloses Additional $900 Million Tariff Hit"
www.wsj.com/business/aut...
www.wsj.com/business/aut...
Reposted by Soraya Nadia McDonald
BREAKING: The FAA has closed airspace over El Paso and parts of southern New Mexico for 10 days under a “national defense airspace” designation, offering no explanation for the rare move. The order warns violators could face interception and possible deadly force.
elpasomatters.org/2026/02/11/u...
elpasomatters.org/2026/02/11/u...
El Paso, New Mexico airspace closed by FAA without explanation; flights restricted under national defense noticeWithout explanation, FAA closes El Paso and New Mexico airspace for 10 days, cites national defense airspace - El Paso Matters
The Federal Aviation Administration has closed airspace over El Paso and parts of southern New Mexico for 10 days under a national defense designation, offering no explanation for the rare move.An…
elpasomatters.org
February 11, 2026 at 7:44 AM
BREAKING: The FAA has closed airspace over El Paso and parts of southern New Mexico for 10 days under a “national defense airspace” designation, offering no explanation for the rare move. The order warns violators could face interception and possible deadly force.
elpasomatters.org/2026/02/11/u...
elpasomatters.org/2026/02/11/u...
Reposted by Soraya Nadia McDonald
OpenAI fired a VP who opposed their erotica rollout (and had started a company-wide peer mentorship program for women), allegedly telling her it was because she discriminated against a man 🤔 www.wsj.com/tech/ai/open...
Exclusive | OpenAI Executive Who Opposed ‘Adult Mode’ Fired for Sexual Discrimination
Ryan Beiermeister, who served as the vice president leading OpenAI’s product policy team, had raised concerns about the upcoming launch of erotic content.
www.wsj.com
February 11, 2026 at 12:03 PM
OpenAI fired a VP who opposed their erotica rollout (and had started a company-wide peer mentorship program for women), allegedly telling her it was because she discriminated against a man 🤔 www.wsj.com/tech/ai/open...
Reposted by Soraya Nadia McDonald
The exact thing that antizionist/non-Zionist Jews have been warning would happen, is happening — thanks to the Israeli government's insistence that Israel, by definition, speaks for world Jewry and that any criticism of Israeli's policies is antisemitism.
This inevitably LEADS to antisemitism.
This inevitably LEADS to antisemitism.
February 11, 2026 at 5:21 AM
The exact thing that antizionist/non-Zionist Jews have been warning would happen, is happening — thanks to the Israeli government's insistence that Israel, by definition, speaks for world Jewry and that any criticism of Israeli's policies is antisemitism.
This inevitably LEADS to antisemitism.
This inevitably LEADS to antisemitism.
Katt Williams is a national treasure.
February 11, 2026 at 4:52 AM
Katt Williams is a national treasure.
Reposted by Soraya Nadia McDonald
“what we’re witnessing is…on the scale of the larger concentration camp systems in history—the Soviet Gulag, the Nazi concentration camps, & Chinese labor camps…The admin is actively aspiring to a system of that magnitude to reshape society to its racial, political & cultural prefs for generations”
When I got the contract to write a history of concentration camps in 2014, I hoped to keep the US from ending up here. That didn't work out! But now it's critical to understand how much is already in process and the enormity of what's coming. The sooner we act to stop it, the more people we'll save.
Building the camps
The warehouseification of detention and initial thoughts on stopping it.
degenerateart.beehiiv.com
February 11, 2026 at 3:40 AM
“what we’re witnessing is…on the scale of the larger concentration camp systems in history—the Soviet Gulag, the Nazi concentration camps, & Chinese labor camps…The admin is actively aspiring to a system of that magnitude to reshape society to its racial, political & cultural prefs for generations”
Reposted by Soraya Nadia McDonald
"Images obtained by CBS News appear to show the zip ties and bruised wrists of Anabel Romero's 14-year-old daughter SueHey, a U.S. citizen who was tending to her 6- and 8-year-old siblings when the agents descended on the crowd in military-style gear and herded them into a confined area."
Feds zip-tied a 14-year-old girl during Idaho raid, sparking fresh questions about ICE tactics
A 14-year-old girl said she was "crying" and "struggling to breathe" when law enforcement officers herded her onto a racetrack with other detainees and zip-tied her hands.
www.cbsnews.com
February 10, 2026 at 9:22 PM
"Images obtained by CBS News appear to show the zip ties and bruised wrists of Anabel Romero's 14-year-old daughter SueHey, a U.S. citizen who was tending to her 6- and 8-year-old siblings when the agents descended on the crowd in military-style gear and herded them into a confined area."
Reposted by Soraya Nadia McDonald
I think maybe the remarkable part is that the US Attorney tried to indict six Democratic elected officials (and veterans) who made a video saying that everyone should follow the law.
Breaking News: Prosecutors failed to secure an indictment against six Democrats who posted a video reminding members of the military to refuse illegal orders.
Prosecutors Fail to Bring Charges Against Democrats Involved in Illegal Orders Video
The rejection was a remarkable rebuke, suggesting that ordinary citizens did not believe that the lawmakers had committed any crimes.
nyti.ms
February 11, 2026 at 2:00 AM
I think maybe the remarkable part is that the US Attorney tried to indict six Democratic elected officials (and veterans) who made a video saying that everyone should follow the law.
Reposted by Soraya Nadia McDonald
People will call you everything under the sun when you refuse to treat the humanity of Black folks as optional.
February 11, 2026 at 1:44 AM
People will call you everything under the sun when you refuse to treat the humanity of Black folks as optional.
Reposted by Soraya Nadia McDonald
Google Glass went away but the Glassholes are forever
February 11, 2026 at 1:04 AM
Google Glass went away but the Glassholes are forever
Reposted by Soraya Nadia McDonald
everyone with an IQ above paste could have predicted this would happen: anyway; these Meta glasses are ontologically evil and anyone who wears them is a creeping blood-worm who should be chased from society with stones and sharp sticks
Social media is awash with videos of men filming themselves approaching women in public spaces and attempting to flirt. In many cases, the videos are filmed and uploaded without the women’s consent. https://cnn.it/4qtIsvB
February 11, 2026 at 1:01 AM
everyone with an IQ above paste could have predicted this would happen: anyway; these Meta glasses are ontologically evil and anyone who wears them is a creeping blood-worm who should be chased from society with stones and sharp sticks
Reposted by Soraya Nadia McDonald
(Media) SCOOP: Weeks ago, the owner of the Washington City Paper had offered to purchase The Washington Post's sports and local sections, keeping their desks alive.
The Post reporters were laid off and the desks were shut down instead.
www.theverge.com/policy/87683...
The Post reporters were laid off and the desks were shut down instead.
www.theverge.com/policy/87683...
Bezos could have saved WaPo’s sports and local journalists. He laid them off instead.
“The equation isn’t adding up.”
www.theverge.com
February 10, 2026 at 11:39 PM
(Media) SCOOP: Weeks ago, the owner of the Washington City Paper had offered to purchase The Washington Post's sports and local sections, keeping their desks alive.
The Post reporters were laid off and the desks were shut down instead.
www.theverge.com/policy/87683...
The Post reporters were laid off and the desks were shut down instead.
www.theverge.com/policy/87683...
"Experts and witnesses attributed this phenomenon to Israel’s systematic use of internationally prohibited thermal and thermobaric weapons, often referred to as vacuum or aerosol bombs, capable of generating temperatures exceeding 3,500 degrees Celsius [6,332 degrees Fahrenheit]."
“Four of my children just evaporated,” Badran said, holding back tears. “I looked for them a million times. Not a piece was left. Where did they go?”
There are no words to adequately describe the evil here.
There are no words to adequately describe the evil here.
Israel used weapons in Gaza that made thousands of Palestinians evaporate
US-made thermal weapons burning at 3,500C caused 2,842 people to "evaporate" in Gaza, Al Jazeera investigation finds.
www.aljazeera.com
February 11, 2026 at 1:29 AM
"Experts and witnesses attributed this phenomenon to Israel’s systematic use of internationally prohibited thermal and thermobaric weapons, often referred to as vacuum or aerosol bombs, capable of generating temperatures exceeding 3,500 degrees Celsius [6,332 degrees Fahrenheit]."
This is a highly efficient way to get women to simply stop engaging with male strangers entirely!
Social media is awash with videos of men filming themselves approaching women in public spaces and attempting to flirt. In many cases, the videos are filmed and uploaded without the women’s consent. https://cnn.it/4qtIsvB
February 11, 2026 at 1:23 AM
This is a highly efficient way to get women to simply stop engaging with male strangers entirely!