ZhiZhu
@zhizhu.bsky.social
"All mimsy were the borogoves..." Avid reader, occasional world traveler, raises chickens in Texas.
Interested in #Journalism #News #USPolitics #Books #SFF #Photography #Travel #Nature #Science #Ukraine, etc.
Also at @ZhiZhu@newsie.social in the Fediverse
Interested in #Journalism #News #USPolitics #Books #SFF #Photography #Travel #Nature #Science #Ukraine, etc.
Also at @ZhiZhu@newsie.social in the Fediverse
Pinned
ZhiZhu
@zhizhu.bsky.social
· Aug 6
"Trump can pardon as many criminals as he wants, and can continue to threaten judges and sue and pressure the press, but the history of authoritarianism shows that justice eventually comes for the criminal-in-chief.
He cannot hide the truth forever."
- Ruth Ben-Ghiat, historian of authoritarians
He cannot hide the truth forever."
- Ruth Ben-Ghiat, historian of authoritarians
Reposted by ZhiZhu
"'Never spread the lie in the headline' should be a hard rule of 21st century journalism.
Research shows that repeating lies helps to spread them, and people read headlines more than they read stories."
- @gilduran.com
#Journallism #Press #News #Media #Headline #Meme #Memes #Quote #Quotes #US
Research shows that repeating lies helps to spread them, and people read headlines more than they read stories."
- @gilduran.com
#Journallism #Press #News #Media #Headline #Meme #Memes #Quote #Quotes #US
November 30, 2025 at 9:18 AM
Reposted by ZhiZhu
The news has entirely failed to grasp the unprecedented scope of the ICE and DHS budgets. Nothing like it in modern history. A galaxy of public/private surveillance and caging institutions for $100,000,000,000s unleashed on a public that will be forever changed. www.brennancenter.org/our-work/res...
ICE Wants to Go After Dissenters as well as Immigrants
The Trump administration is being open about its plans to violate Americans’ First and Fourth Amendment rights.
www.brennancenter.org
December 1, 2025 at 12:33 PM
The news has entirely failed to grasp the unprecedented scope of the ICE and DHS budgets. Nothing like it in modern history. A galaxy of public/private surveillance and caging institutions for $100,000,000,000s unleashed on a public that will be forever changed. www.brennancenter.org/our-work/res...
Reposted by ZhiZhu
the playbook used to be that the billionaire tech elite quietly hired law firms to send letters & make legal threats to prying reporters. now they boast about it publicly. they know exactly what they’re doing: trying to chill future scrutiny & intimidate journalists from digging into their dealings
November 30, 2025 at 9:08 PM
the playbook used to be that the billionaire tech elite quietly hired law firms to send letters & make legal threats to prying reporters. now they boast about it publicly. they know exactly what they’re doing: trying to chill future scrutiny & intimidate journalists from digging into their dealings
Reposted by ZhiZhu
Demolishing the East Wing of the White House before finalizing plans for what will be built above its ruins is a near-perfect metaphor for Trump's approach to economic policy. The only difference is the wrecking crew doesn’t claim the rubble is evidence of unprecedented growth.
November 29, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Demolishing the East Wing of the White House before finalizing plans for what will be built above its ruins is a near-perfect metaphor for Trump's approach to economic policy. The only difference is the wrecking crew doesn’t claim the rubble is evidence of unprecedented growth.
Reposted by ZhiZhu
We just published a deep look into David Sacks, the White House's AI and Crypto czar. The story examines how he has been able keep hundreds of stakes in AI-related and crypto companies as he influences gov policy in those very industries.
Here's what we found:
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/30/t...
Here's what we found:
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/30/t...
Silicon Valley’s Man in the White House Is Benefiting Himself and His Friends
www.nytimes.com
November 30, 2025 at 7:24 PM
We just published a deep look into David Sacks, the White House's AI and Crypto czar. The story examines how he has been able keep hundreds of stakes in AI-related and crypto companies as he influences gov policy in those very industries.
Here's what we found:
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/30/t...
Here's what we found:
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/30/t...
Reposted by ZhiZhu
Killing boatloads of poor people for *alleged* drug offenses while pardoning an elite trafficker...is the Drug War in a nutshell.
www.cnn.com/2025/11/28/p...
www.cnn.com/2025/11/28/p...
Trump says he will pardon former Honduran president serving sentence in drug-trafficking case | CNN Politics
President Donald Trump said Friday he intends to grant a “full and complete pardon” to former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, a move that would erase a major US drug-trafficking conviction ...
www.cnn.com
December 1, 2025 at 2:38 AM
Killing boatloads of poor people for *alleged* drug offenses while pardoning an elite trafficker...is the Drug War in a nutshell.
www.cnn.com/2025/11/28/p...
www.cnn.com/2025/11/28/p...
Reposted by ZhiZhu
Trump Frees Fraudster Just Days Into Seven-Year Prison Sentence
www.nytimes.com
December 1, 2025 at 7:10 AM
Reposted by ZhiZhu
If the Venezuelan sailors were enemy combatants, then the 2nd strike is a war crime.
If the Venezuelan sailors weren’t enemy combatants, then both strikes are criminal murder.
It’s that simple.
If the Venezuelan sailors weren’t enemy combatants, then both strikes are criminal murder.
It’s that simple.
November 30, 2025 at 8:42 PM
If the Venezuelan sailors were enemy combatants, then the 2nd strike is a war crime.
If the Venezuelan sailors weren’t enemy combatants, then both strikes are criminal murder.
It’s that simple.
If the Venezuelan sailors weren’t enemy combatants, then both strikes are criminal murder.
It’s that simple.
Reposted by ZhiZhu
Palantir has received billions to create a surveillance state.
www.brennancenter.org/our-work/res...
www.brennancenter.org/our-work/res...
ICE Wants to Go After Dissenters as well as Immigrants
The Trump administration is being open about its plans to violate Americans’ First and Fourth Amendment rights.
www.brennancenter.org
December 1, 2025 at 6:41 AM
Palantir has received billions to create a surveillance state.
www.brennancenter.org/our-work/res...
www.brennancenter.org/our-work/res...
Reposted by ZhiZhu
The Trump regime isn't a presidential administration--it's a heist operation.
The most corrupt president in American history and it's not even close.
The most corrupt president in American history and it's not even close.
Silicon Valley’s Man in the White House Is Benefiting Himself and His Friends
www.nytimes.com
December 1, 2025 at 12:05 AM
The Trump regime isn't a presidential administration--it's a heist operation.
The most corrupt president in American history and it's not even close.
The most corrupt president in American history and it's not even close.
Reposted by ZhiZhu
Indiana Senate Republican Greg Walker “said he would have reported the alleged violation to federal authorities “if I thought that there was anyone of integrity in Washington that would follow through on my accusation ..”
@adamwren.bsky.social #redistrict
dailyjournal.net/2025/11/26/s...
@adamwren.bsky.social #redistrict
dailyjournal.net/2025/11/26/s...
November 29, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Indiana Senate Republican Greg Walker “said he would have reported the alleged violation to federal authorities “if I thought that there was anyone of integrity in Washington that would follow through on my accusation ..”
@adamwren.bsky.social #redistrict
dailyjournal.net/2025/11/26/s...
@adamwren.bsky.social #redistrict
dailyjournal.net/2025/11/26/s...
Reposted by ZhiZhu
To put a finer point on this whole thing: "Two people with direct knowledge of the operation" — presumably uniformed military leaders — are accusing the U.S. Secretary of Defense of personally ordering specific war crimes. That's a historic accusation.
Textbook war crime/extrajudicial killing
"Two survivors were clinging to the smoldering wreck. The Special Operations commander overseeing the Sept. 2 attack ... ordered a second strike to comply with Hegseth’s instructions."
Report by @alexhorton.bsky.social @ellenwapo.bsky.social o.bsky.social
"Two survivors were clinging to the smoldering wreck. The Special Operations commander overseeing the Sept. 2 attack ... ordered a second strike to comply with Hegseth’s instructions."
Report by @alexhorton.bsky.social @ellenwapo.bsky.social o.bsky.social
Hegseth order on first Caribbean boat strike, officials say: Kill them all
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a verbal order to kill all crew members in the Sept. 2 strike on a suspected drug boat. Navy SEALs fired a second missile.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 28, 2025 at 11:48 PM
To put a finer point on this whole thing: "Two people with direct knowledge of the operation" — presumably uniformed military leaders — are accusing the U.S. Secretary of Defense of personally ordering specific war crimes. That's a historic accusation.
Reposted by ZhiZhu
Just to be clear: armed government agents are allowed to wear masks, balaclavas, and glasses that completely hide their identities as they disappear people off streets and out of public places, but students can't wear masks while protesting even in approved "time, manner, and place".
November 29, 2025 at 1:25 AM
Just to be clear: armed government agents are allowed to wear masks, balaclavas, and glasses that completely hide their identities as they disappear people off streets and out of public places, but students can't wear masks while protesting even in approved "time, manner, and place".
Reposted by ZhiZhu
The legal, media, and academic institutions capitulating to an authoritarian ordering payments for favorable treatment are damning themselves to irrelevance. They are destroying their institutions. They will be — and should be — shunned for failing in their most basic purposes for existing.
BREAKING: Northwestern University has agreed to pay the U.S. Treasury $75 million, over the course of three years as part of an agreement with the federal government to restore funding and end investigations into the university
Full statement from NU below:
Full statement from NU below:
November 29, 2025 at 1:37 AM
The legal, media, and academic institutions capitulating to an authoritarian ordering payments for favorable treatment are damning themselves to irrelevance. They are destroying their institutions. They will be — and should be — shunned for failing in their most basic purposes for existing.
Reposted by ZhiZhu
Every single congressional Democrat needs to be out there, right now, insisting that Pete Hegseth resign right now and announcing that he will be held accountable for committing war crimes.
If you do not demand accountability here and now, they will only become more emboldened.
If you do not demand accountability here and now, they will only become more emboldened.
Exclusive: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gave an order to “kill everybody” in the first strike on suspected drug boats in the Caribbean. After two men survived, the mission commander ordered a second strike to comply with Hegseth’s instructions, according to two sources.
Hegseth order on first Caribbean boat strike, officials say: Kill them all
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a verbal order to kill all crew members in the Sept. 2 strike on a suspected drug boat. Navy SEALs fired a second missile.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 28, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Every single congressional Democrat needs to be out there, right now, insisting that Pete Hegseth resign right now and announcing that he will be held accountable for committing war crimes.
If you do not demand accountability here and now, they will only become more emboldened.
If you do not demand accountability here and now, they will only become more emboldened.
Reposted by ZhiZhu
This is the second largest payout from a private university to the Trump admin yet, second only to Columbia’s $200m
November 29, 2025 at 12:52 AM
This is the second largest payout from a private university to the Trump admin yet, second only to Columbia’s $200m
Reposted by ZhiZhu
Every claim in this paragraph is false, which cannot bode well for the rest of the post.
November 29, 2025 at 2:06 AM
Every claim in this paragraph is false, which cannot bode well for the rest of the post.
Reposted by ZhiZhu
Hegseth wasn't chosen as merely a Fox News buffoon who then bumbles his way into war crimes out of machismo incompetence. He was chosen specifically because he is, and has been for a long time, a proud, open, and explicit advocate of war crimes as a good thing we should do.
A chapter in Hegseth’s book is literally titled “More Lethality, Less Lawyers.”
It’s almost as if there were signs!
It’s almost as if there were signs!
November 29, 2025 at 5:15 AM
Hegseth wasn't chosen as merely a Fox News buffoon who then bumbles his way into war crimes out of machismo incompetence. He was chosen specifically because he is, and has been for a long time, a proud, open, and explicit advocate of war crimes as a good thing we should do.
Reposted by ZhiZhu
I know you already know, but for other folks who don't, Goldsmith was previously head of OLC, is a genuinely brilliant mind on executive authority and separation of powers, and is usually very cautious about making claims this unqualified and direct. That he is saying it so starkly is v significant
November 29, 2025 at 5:54 AM
I know you already know, but for other folks who don't, Goldsmith was previously head of OLC, is a genuinely brilliant mind on executive authority and separation of powers, and is usually very cautious about making claims this unqualified and direct. That he is saying it so starkly is v significant
Reposted by ZhiZhu
Harvard Law School’s Jack Goldsmith:
“In short, if the Post’s facts are correct, it appears that Special Operations Forces committed murder when the ‘two men were blown apart in the water, as the Post put it.’”
open.substack.com/pub/executiv...
“In short, if the Post’s facts are correct, it appears that Special Operations Forces committed murder when the ‘two men were blown apart in the water, as the Post put it.’”
open.substack.com/pub/executiv...
November 29, 2025 at 4:25 AM
Harvard Law School’s Jack Goldsmith:
“In short, if the Post’s facts are correct, it appears that Special Operations Forces committed murder when the ‘two men were blown apart in the water, as the Post put it.’”
open.substack.com/pub/executiv...
“In short, if the Post’s facts are correct, it appears that Special Operations Forces committed murder when the ‘two men were blown apart in the water, as the Post put it.’”
open.substack.com/pub/executiv...
Reposted by ZhiZhu
Reposted by ZhiZhu
It happened! The @nytimes.com profiled Paulina!
The Writer Who Dared Criticize Silicon Valley
Paulina Borsook’s “Cyberselfish,” which offered dire predictions about the tech world’s love for libertarianism, is finding fans. It only took 25 years.
Gift Link:
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/27/t...
The Writer Who Dared Criticize Silicon Valley
Paulina Borsook’s “Cyberselfish,” which offered dire predictions about the tech world’s love for libertarianism, is finding fans. It only took 25 years.
Gift Link:
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/27/t...
November 27, 2025 at 4:39 PM
It happened! The @nytimes.com profiled Paulina!
The Writer Who Dared Criticize Silicon Valley
Paulina Borsook’s “Cyberselfish,” which offered dire predictions about the tech world’s love for libertarianism, is finding fans. It only took 25 years.
Gift Link:
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/27/t...
The Writer Who Dared Criticize Silicon Valley
Paulina Borsook’s “Cyberselfish,” which offered dire predictions about the tech world’s love for libertarianism, is finding fans. It only took 25 years.
Gift Link:
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/27/t...
Reposted by ZhiZhu
This is like demanding that someone jump out of a plane before they’re given a parachute. www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
US demands peace deal before security guarantees for Ukraine
Secretary of State Marco Rubio told European allies that President Donald Trump will negotiate long-term assurances for Ukraine’s safety.
www.politico.com
November 27, 2025 at 2:05 AM
This is like demanding that someone jump out of a plane before they’re given a parachute. www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
Reposted by ZhiZhu
DAN RATHER: “most world leaders are laughing at the idea that 🇺🇸 is a reliable partner. The one-sided attempt to end the Russia-Ukraine war is an example of an administration that has lost its way and its reputation around the world.” open.substack.com/pub/steady/p...
November 27, 2025 at 2:07 AM
DAN RATHER: “most world leaders are laughing at the idea that 🇺🇸 is a reliable partner. The one-sided attempt to end the Russia-Ukraine war is an example of an administration that has lost its way and its reputation around the world.” open.substack.com/pub/steady/p...
Reposted by ZhiZhu
