Wayne Koestenbaum
@waynekoestenbaum.bsky.social
writer / artist
Pinned
My new novel, “My Lover, the Rabbi,” will be published by FSG in 2026. (And I’m signed up there for an essay collection, too.) Thank you to editor Jackson Howard and agent PJ Mark. @fsgbooks.bsky.social
“I would wish that only women could vote.” —Hannah Weiner
October 25, 2025 at 2:31 AM
“I would wish that only women could vote.” —Hannah Weiner
Tonight, Friday, Oct. 10, in Brooklyn, from 6-9pm, I debut 22 new cyanotype assemblages in a solo show at “B” Dry Goods, 679 Franklin Ave. Shown here: Marlene Dietrich’s Seconals.
October 10, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Tonight, Friday, Oct. 10, in Brooklyn, from 6-9pm, I debut 22 new cyanotype assemblages in a solo show at “B” Dry Goods, 679 Franklin Ave. Shown here: Marlene Dietrich’s Seconals.
“Someday, / someone will stand before you, and you’ll / realize / time is just a trick by which the sun renews / its vow to the flowers.”
—Selma Asotić @archipelagobooks.bsky.social
—Selma Asotić @archipelagobooks.bsky.social
September 25, 2025 at 2:26 AM
“Someday, / someone will stand before you, and you’ll / realize / time is just a trick by which the sun renews / its vow to the flowers.”
—Selma Asotić @archipelagobooks.bsky.social
—Selma Asotić @archipelagobooks.bsky.social
Now I’m getting ads for Snapple on Instagram. I’ll never buy Snapple. I’ve never bought Snapple. Doesn’t the algorithm know that I’m not susceptible to Snapple? Why bother trying to recruit me to become a Snapple devotee? Observe how degraded and coarse the strategies of capital have become.
September 20, 2025 at 12:57 AM
Now I’m getting ads for Snapple on Instagram. I’ll never buy Snapple. I’ve never bought Snapple. Doesn’t the algorithm know that I’m not susceptible to Snapple? Why bother trying to recruit me to become a Snapple devotee? Observe how degraded and coarse the strategies of capital have become.
“Thought does not progress in a single direction; instead, the moments are interwoven as in a carpet. The fruitfulness of the thoughts depends on the density of the texture.”
—Theodor W. Adorno
—Theodor W. Adorno
September 8, 2025 at 3:17 AM
“Thought does not progress in a single direction; instead, the moments are interwoven as in a carpet. The fruitfulness of the thoughts depends on the density of the texture.”
—Theodor W. Adorno
—Theodor W. Adorno
“It is sometimes possible to put the fallen petal back / on the flower.”
—Alice Notley
—Alice Notley
July 22, 2025 at 3:04 AM
“It is sometimes possible to put the fallen petal back / on the flower.”
—Alice Notley
—Alice Notley
Reposted by Wayne Koestenbaum
New order — Farbiarz orders Khalil’s release for 6:30 pm CT. He must surrender his passport, and the gov has to give him a copy of it and his green card.
June 20, 2025 at 9:00 PM
New order — Farbiarz orders Khalil’s release for 6:30 pm CT. He must surrender his passport, and the gov has to give him a copy of it and his green card.
Reposted by Wayne Koestenbaum
Sometimes I just stop, shake my head, and think how ridiculous it is watching my country be destroyed by a demented old man just because some white people are afraid of the future.
May 4, 2025 at 1:53 AM
Sometimes I just stop, shake my head, and think how ridiculous it is watching my country be destroyed by a demented old man just because some white people are afraid of the future.
Reposted by Wayne Koestenbaum
Why won't the media report, as glaringly obvious fact, that our president is an unhinged imbecile? bluevirginia.us/2025/05/sund...
May 5, 2025 at 12:51 AM
Why won't the media report, as glaringly obvious fact, that our president is an unhinged imbecile? bluevirginia.us/2025/05/sund...
Reposted by Wayne Koestenbaum
Announcing issue 1 of fallow, a new literary journal, featuring new work by @evagriff.bsky.social @waynekoestenbaum.bsky.social @greggerkesocrates.bsky.social Oisin Fagan, Ellen Dillon, Gabriel Josipivici, Helen Charman, Chris Beausang, Pascale Sardin @rhiansasseen.bsky.social & Patrick Nathan
March 18, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Announcing issue 1 of fallow, a new literary journal, featuring new work by @evagriff.bsky.social @waynekoestenbaum.bsky.social @greggerkesocrates.bsky.social Oisin Fagan, Ellen Dillon, Gabriel Josipivici, Helen Charman, Chris Beausang, Pascale Sardin @rhiansasseen.bsky.social & Patrick Nathan
trying to get a good night’s sleep during a dictatorship: “sleep no more, _____ hath murdered sleep”
March 15, 2025 at 3:06 AM
trying to get a good night’s sleep during a dictatorship: “sleep no more, _____ hath murdered sleep”
Reposted by Wayne Koestenbaum
“It’s an escalation of a kind that is unheard of,” said Joan Scott, a historian & member of the academic freedom committee of the AAUP. “Even during the McCarthy period in the United States, this was not done.”
apnews.com/article/colu...
apnews.com/article/colu...
Trump demands unprecedented control at Columbia, alarming scholars and speech groups
The Trump administration has delivered an extraordinary ultimatum to Columbia University, threatening to permanently end federal funding to the school unless it cedes control of an international studi...
apnews.com
March 15, 2025 at 1:22 AM
“It’s an escalation of a kind that is unheard of,” said Joan Scott, a historian & member of the academic freedom committee of the AAUP. “Even during the McCarthy period in the United States, this was not done.”
apnews.com/article/colu...
apnews.com/article/colu...
when the mainstream media attacked and mocked deconstruction and cultural studies and all the other progressive intellectual advances of those times, that denigration was a rehearsal for what is now happening at Columbia
March 14, 2025 at 10:51 PM
when the mainstream media attacked and mocked deconstruction and cultural studies and all the other progressive intellectual advances of those times, that denigration was a rehearsal for what is now happening at Columbia
Reposted by Wayne Koestenbaum
Marianne Hirsch for context and insight.
I grew up under a terrifying authoritarian regime. Mahmoud Khalil's arrest is right out of their playbook
Mahmoud Khalil's arrest by ICE reminds one professor at Columbia University, Khalil's alma mater, or her childhood in authoritarian Romania.
forward.com
March 13, 2025 at 12:13 AM
Marianne Hirsch for context and insight.
Reposted by Wayne Koestenbaum
Among the projects Musk and Trump have killed via Johns Hopkins:
Mosquito nets to prevent malaria in Mozambique, and chlorine tablets to prevent diarrhea deaths in Bangladesh.
www.wsj.com/health/healt...
Mosquito nets to prevent malaria in Mozambique, and chlorine tablets to prevent diarrhea deaths in Bangladesh.
www.wsj.com/health/healt...
Johns Hopkins Plans Staff Layoffs After $800 Million Grant Cuts
Local and international health research efforts are already winding down as the university braces for even more potential cuts.
www.wsj.com
March 12, 2025 at 1:10 AM
Among the projects Musk and Trump have killed via Johns Hopkins:
Mosquito nets to prevent malaria in Mozambique, and chlorine tablets to prevent diarrhea deaths in Bangladesh.
www.wsj.com/health/healt...
Mosquito nets to prevent malaria in Mozambique, and chlorine tablets to prevent diarrhea deaths in Bangladesh.
www.wsj.com/health/healt...
Imagine a world in which the words “Gulf of Mexico” are forbidden.
March 12, 2025 at 1:26 AM
Imagine a world in which the words “Gulf of Mexico” are forbidden.
Free Mahmoud Khalil.
The detention of Mahmoud Khalil puts all Americans fundamental rights at risk. And if you can’t see that because you oppose his politics, well that’s exactly the reaction Trump and his cronies are counting on. www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
Mahmoud Khalil’s Detention Is a Trial Run
The pro-Palestine student was arrested without due process for exercising his right to free speech. He will not be the last.
www.theatlantic.com
March 11, 2025 at 7:22 PM
Free Mahmoud Khalil.
Reposted by Wayne Koestenbaum
They have nothing. Nothing. They kidnapped a legal resident, shipped him across the country, denied access to his attorney, and are now trying to deport him. And their only justification for it is either protected speech or vague descriptions of alleged crimes committed by other people.
Reporter: What crime did Mahmoud Khalil commit to warrant his arrest and threatened deportation?
Mike Johnson: We are going to arrest your tail and send you home where you belong. This is just getting started. I appreciate free speech, I used to defend it in courts. This is far beyond the pale.
Mike Johnson: We are going to arrest your tail and send you home where you belong. This is just getting started. I appreciate free speech, I used to defend it in courts. This is far beyond the pale.
March 11, 2025 at 2:55 PM
They have nothing. Nothing. They kidnapped a legal resident, shipped him across the country, denied access to his attorney, and are now trying to deport him. And their only justification for it is either protected speech or vague descriptions of alleged crimes committed by other people.
Reposted by Wayne Koestenbaum
ADD YOUR NAME: American Jews demand that Mahmoud be released from custody and returned to his family immediately with his green card intact. For Mahmoud’s safety and all of our safety.
www.bendthearc.us/release_khalil
www.bendthearc.us/release_khalil
Jews Demand: Release Mahmoud Khalil
We refuse to be used by Trump to enact his authoritarian agenda.
www.bendthearc.us
March 10, 2025 at 8:10 PM
ADD YOUR NAME: American Jews demand that Mahmoud be released from custody and returned to his family immediately with his green card intact. For Mahmoud’s safety and all of our safety.
www.bendthearc.us/release_khalil
www.bendthearc.us/release_khalil
Reposted by Wayne Koestenbaum
A President who detains a protestor and revokes their legal status can only be called one thing:
A dictator.
Silencing dissent is unlawful, unjust, and authoritarian through and through.
A dictator.
Silencing dissent is unlawful, unjust, and authoritarian through and through.
March 10, 2025 at 1:37 PM
A President who detains a protestor and revokes their legal status can only be called one thing:
A dictator.
Silencing dissent is unlawful, unjust, and authoritarian through and through.
A dictator.
Silencing dissent is unlawful, unjust, and authoritarian through and through.
Reposted by Wayne Koestenbaum
The way it works is that you strip fundamental rights from targets with less political support that people will turn their consciences off to justify persecuting and then eventually the state can do it to anyone, that’s always been the plan bsky.app/profile/pbum...
Setting aside the incredibly dangerous and fascist aspect of this, is there actual evidence that Khalil was a “Hamas supporter”? Or is the standard for a green-card holder being sent to a secret location and possibly deported just “critical of Israel”?
March 10, 2025 at 2:10 AM
The way it works is that you strip fundamental rights from targets with less political support that people will turn their consciences off to justify persecuting and then eventually the state can do it to anyone, that’s always been the plan bsky.app/profile/pbum...
Reposted by Wayne Koestenbaum
Tomorrow in NYC will be sunny & pleasant. This will be important.
March 10, 2025 at 2:23 AM
Tomorrow in NYC will be sunny & pleasant. This will be important.
Reposted by Wayne Koestenbaum
Setting aside the incredibly dangerous and fascist aspect of this, is there actual evidence that Khalil was a “Hamas supporter”? Or is the standard for a green-card holder being sent to a secret location and possibly deported just “critical of Israel”?
March 9, 2025 at 11:09 PM
Setting aside the incredibly dangerous and fascist aspect of this, is there actual evidence that Khalil was a “Hamas supporter”? Or is the standard for a green-card holder being sent to a secret location and possibly deported just “critical of Israel”?
Reposted by Wayne Koestenbaum
re the previous repost: if they can disappear permanent residents they can disappear citizens
March 9, 2025 at 10:25 PM
re the previous repost: if they can disappear permanent residents they can disappear citizens
Reposted by Wayne Koestenbaum
25 hours after Mahmoud Khalil was detained in a Columbia-owned apartment building — Khalil’s whereabouts are still unknown & Columbia has still not commented
NEWS: Last night, the Department of Homeland Security detained a Palestinian who helped lead the Columbia encampment.
Agents told him his visa was revoked. He said he had a green card. They were confused—then said that was revoked too.
His attorney demanded a warrant. Agents hung up instead.
Agents told him his visa was revoked. He said he had a green card. They were confused—then said that was revoked too.
His attorney demanded a warrant. Agents hung up instead.
BREAKING: DHS Detains Palestinian Student from Columbia Encampment, Says Advocates
Agents told him his student visa was revoked. But he had a green card. Agents then said that was revoked too.
zeteo.com
March 10, 2025 at 1:24 AM
25 hours after Mahmoud Khalil was detained in a Columbia-owned apartment building — Khalil’s whereabouts are still unknown & Columbia has still not commented