Xander Lenc
@xlenc.bsky.social
Geographer. Writing about prison history, ecology, labor, and capitalism. Go read @oaklandreviewofbooks.org
Reposted by Xander Lenc
people mock the excesses of 2010s SJ activism without acknowledging they were basically right about everything
oh you didn’t like the implicit, subtextual racism of 21st century liberalism? got it: we’ll make the subtext into text
December 31, 2025 at 12:37 AM
people mock the excesses of 2010s SJ activism without acknowledging they were basically right about everything
"We are going to win" okay but does your definition of "winning" include literally throwing every single one of these ghouls into the ocean? Because if not...
December 31, 2025 at 12:30 AM
"We are going to win" okay but does your definition of "winning" include literally throwing every single one of these ghouls into the ocean? Because if not...
The political pendulum won't swing on it's own, it never has. You have to pull it yourself.
December 31, 2025 at 12:08 AM
The political pendulum won't swing on it's own, it never has. You have to pull it yourself.
The whole 60 Minutes affair has made it clear that, to the extent that we have some freedom of the press in written journalism, it's only because nobody cares. The U.S. public has been functionally illiterate for decades, & there isn't much need to censor journalism unless it is in a video format.
December 30, 2025 at 11:42 PM
The whole 60 Minutes affair has made it clear that, to the extent that we have some freedom of the press in written journalism, it's only because nobody cares. The U.S. public has been functionally illiterate for decades, & there isn't much need to censor journalism unless it is in a video format.
A common talking point on the left is that a lot of the present crisis was caused by letting George W. Bush get away with war crimes, torture, stealing an election, etc. And while it's true... Bush is still alive! It isn't too late to demand that he face justice today! Same with Obama and Biden!
December 30, 2025 at 11:39 PM
A common talking point on the left is that a lot of the present crisis was caused by letting George W. Bush get away with war crimes, torture, stealing an election, etc. And while it's true... Bush is still alive! It isn't too late to demand that he face justice today! Same with Obama and Biden!
[Paulie Walnuts voice]: Hold up, Chrissie. You're telling me that this guy works at the intersection of art... and technology???
December 30, 2025 at 10:52 PM
[Paulie Walnuts voice]: Hold up, Chrissie. You're telling me that this guy works at the intersection of art... and technology???
Torrenting darude_sandstorm_remix.mp4 only to discover that the file is a bootleg episode of 60 Minutes.
December 23, 2025 at 5:07 AM
Torrenting darude_sandstorm_remix.mp4 only to discover that the file is a bootleg episode of 60 Minutes.
Especially when 1 in 3 Americans have a criminal record.
I don’t mean to sound extreme, but I don’t think we should have torture camps for people with criminal records either.
December 23, 2025 at 5:04 AM
Especially when 1 in 3 Americans have a criminal record.
Reposted by Xander Lenc
One of the revelations in the 60 Minutes CECOT story, as sourced by the UC Berkley students, is that Kristi Noem's torture porn video was filmed in a different part of the prison - not with the deported Venezuelans, but with domestic criminals from El Salvador.
December 23, 2025 at 1:09 AM
One of the revelations in the 60 Minutes CECOT story, as sourced by the UC Berkley students, is that Kristi Noem's torture porn video was filmed in a different part of the prison - not with the deported Venezuelans, but with domestic criminals from El Salvador.
David Brooks wrote a NYT column attacking members of congress for preparing to release the Epstein files, without disclosing his personal relationship to Epstein. In a normal world he would be fired for this.
December 23, 2025 at 1:26 AM
David Brooks wrote a NYT column attacking members of congress for preparing to release the Epstein files, without disclosing his personal relationship to Epstein. In a normal world he would be fired for this.
"Diversity statements violate freedom of speech!" Okay, did you know that you have to sign to sign a loyalty oath to get a part time minimum wage job at the University of California?
December 22, 2025 at 11:03 PM
"Diversity statements violate freedom of speech!" Okay, did you know that you have to sign to sign a loyalty oath to get a part time minimum wage job at the University of California?
State-building continues to be a transformation of, rather than an end to, civil war.
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
Syrians emptied Assad’s prisons. They’re filling up again, and abuse is rife
A year ago, Syria’s new leader pledged to 'close the notorious prisons' run by Bashar al-Assad. But prisons and detention centers are again operating. And beatings, extortion and other abuses have rea...
www.reuters.com
December 22, 2025 at 8:51 PM
State-building continues to be a transformation of, rather than an end to, civil war.
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
This ceaseless rage is going to kill me. How the hell is everyone else managing.
December 22, 2025 at 8:08 PM
This ceaseless rage is going to kill me. How the hell is everyone else managing.
Reposted by Xander Lenc
A Judge Tossed a Prison Sex Abuse Lawsuit Over Typos. Hundreds More Dismissals Could Be Coming. nysfocus.com/2025/12/22/p...
A Judge Tossed a Prison Sex Abuse Lawsuit Over Typos
The state plans to ask a court to dismiss some 500 prison sexual assault lawsuits for not strictly abiding by filing requirements.
nysfocus.com
December 22, 2025 at 8:00 PM
A Judge Tossed a Prison Sex Abuse Lawsuit Over Typos. Hundreds More Dismissals Could Be Coming. nysfocus.com/2025/12/22/p...
Bari Weiss furiously googling "who is Julius Streicher and what happened to him"
December 22, 2025 at 2:27 AM
Bari Weiss furiously googling "who is Julius Streicher and what happened to him"
Okay, wow, you "value lived experience?" So I guess you're perfectly fine with blatant zombie erasure??
December 22, 2025 at 1:30 AM
Okay, wow, you "value lived experience?" So I guess you're perfectly fine with blatant zombie erasure??
One of the worst parts of the "Jews own Hollywood" canard is that early Jewish producers in LA are the reason why we even have an independent American cinema at all. Thomas Edison had the film industry in a stranglehold until they defied his patent cartel and broke his monopoly in court.
December 17, 2025 at 2:41 AM
One of the worst parts of the "Jews own Hollywood" canard is that early Jewish producers in LA are the reason why we even have an independent American cinema at all. Thomas Edison had the film industry in a stranglehold until they defied his patent cartel and broke his monopoly in court.
Reposted by Xander Lenc
I think if you oppose war with Venezuela (correct) you should open with that. Illegal and unconstitutional can follow. But the cause is monstrous and legality could never justify it.
December 17, 2025 at 2:21 AM
I think if you oppose war with Venezuela (correct) you should open with that. Illegal and unconstitutional can follow. But the cause is monstrous and legality could never justify it.
Winter sucks because it's cold and dark and full of stressful obligations, but it's also the season when my cat will sit in my lap and purr for hours every single time I sit down, so I can't hate it completely
December 16, 2025 at 4:48 AM
Winter sucks because it's cold and dark and full of stressful obligations, but it's also the season when my cat will sit in my lap and purr for hours every single time I sit down, so I can't hate it completely
Reposted by Xander Lenc
The Amazon may be entering a climate state Earth hasn’t seen in millions of years. Research led by UC Berkeley scientists identifies a shift toward hypertropical conditions with major ecological consequences. news.berkeley.edu/2025/12/10/a...
A new ‘hypertropical’ climate is emerging in the Amazon - Berkeley News
Unprecedented hot drought conditions are becoming more common, exposing trees to deadly stress and reducing the region’s ability to absorb anthropogenic carbon dioxide.
news.berkeley.edu
December 15, 2025 at 11:28 PM
The Amazon may be entering a climate state Earth hasn’t seen in millions of years. Research led by UC Berkeley scientists identifies a shift toward hypertropical conditions with major ecological consequences. news.berkeley.edu/2025/12/10/a...
It's hard to overstate how important this is. You don't need to wait for a new president, you don't need to wait for Republicans to lose their majority in congress, we have the ability to stop most of these federal raids at the local level RIGHT NOW.
What's the difference between states like Florida, where ICE arrests are sky-high, and states like Illinois with much lower rates of arrests? It's all about police & jails.
Arrest rates out of homes, workplaces, etc are similar – but reining in sheriffs makes all the difference.
Arrest rates out of homes, workplaces, etc are similar – but reining in sheriffs makes all the difference.
December 15, 2025 at 11:18 PM
It's hard to overstate how important this is. You don't need to wait for a new president, you don't need to wait for Republicans to lose their majority in congress, we have the ability to stop most of these federal raids at the local level RIGHT NOW.
The United States is preparing a legally dubious invasion of an oil-rich country. Dan Brown novels are flying off shelves. Congressional Republicans are writing a massive healthcare bill. A musical adaptation of "Wicked" just came out. People online are arguing about Chomsky. The year is 2003/2025.
December 15, 2025 at 10:48 PM
The United States is preparing a legally dubious invasion of an oil-rich country. Dan Brown novels are flying off shelves. Congressional Republicans are writing a massive healthcare bill. A musical adaptation of "Wicked" just came out. People online are arguing about Chomsky. The year is 2003/2025.
Sorry to blaspheme on main but how could a loving G-d allow the release of a Barbarella remake starring Sydney Sweeney? The world is full of sin and wickedness but we do not deserve this.
December 15, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Sorry to blaspheme on main but how could a loving G-d allow the release of a Barbarella remake starring Sydney Sweeney? The world is full of sin and wickedness but we do not deserve this.
Reposted by Xander Lenc
New from me for @theintercept.com: As public support for the death penalty fell to the lowest level in 50 years, the US is poised to execute 48 people in 2025 -- the highest amount in 15 years. FL drove the surge in executions. I wrote about @deathpenaltyinfo.org's report, which was released today.
Despite Declining Support for the Death Penalty, Executions Nearly Doubled in 2025, Report Says
Fewer Americans support capital punishment. Fewer courts are handing out death sentences. And we’ve got way more executions in 2025.
theintercept.com
December 15, 2025 at 5:08 PM
New from me for @theintercept.com: As public support for the death penalty fell to the lowest level in 50 years, the US is poised to execute 48 people in 2025 -- the highest amount in 15 years. FL drove the surge in executions. I wrote about @deathpenaltyinfo.org's report, which was released today.
It's so funny when people are surprised to learn that Ben Grimm is canonically Jewish. Like bro have you ever heard of a golem. Have you ever read Genesis. Do you know who Jack Kirby is.
December 15, 2025 at 1:47 AM
It's so funny when people are surprised to learn that Ben Grimm is canonically Jewish. Like bro have you ever heard of a golem. Have you ever read Genesis. Do you know who Jack Kirby is.