Derek Johnson
@derekjesq.bsky.social
Chaos Muppet, Order Rising. Managing Director, ResearchCollaborative.org. Young(ish) Leader, Munich Security Conference + Friends of Europe. Former CEO of Global Zero. Radicalized by basic decency. Made in #Iowa with parts from #Iran. he/him 🇦🇲
Pinned
Derek Johnson
@derekjesq.bsky.social
· Sep 20
“Fascism” isn’t a slur for politics we don’t like. It’s a precise word with precise meaning. And in the face of what’s happening right now in America, it’s the most honest one we have.
I’ll lay it out as plainly as I can. 🧵
I’ll lay it out as plainly as I can. 🧵
Reposted by Derek Johnson
This is really good to see: Miki Sherrill just put out a statement sharply criticizing the Senate Dems' pending cave in the government shutdown, ripping it as "malpractice" and a betrayal of the people who are "counting on us to fight for them." Sherrill knows what drove her victory. Wake up, Dems.
November 10, 2025 at 1:38 AM
This is really good to see: Miki Sherrill just put out a statement sharply criticizing the Senate Dems' pending cave in the government shutdown, ripping it as "malpractice" and a betrayal of the people who are "counting on us to fight for them." Sherrill knows what drove her victory. Wake up, Dems.
Reposted by Derek Johnson
NEW in @prospect.org from @hannahstoryb.bsky.social: as Exxon once again seeks the help of the Supreme Court to avoid being held accountable for decades of climate deception, Alito isn't the only justice whose oily ties and inconsistent recusals raise serious ethics questions.
Exxon’s Latest Supreme Court Hail Mary - The American Prospect
Oil companies insist that if cases are allowed to proceed, it could have major ramifications for the future of their industry. Will a Supreme Court willing to grant Trump immunity for his crimes do th...
prospect.org
November 7, 2025 at 2:06 PM
NEW in @prospect.org from @hannahstoryb.bsky.social: as Exxon once again seeks the help of the Supreme Court to avoid being held accountable for decades of climate deception, Alito isn't the only justice whose oily ties and inconsistent recusals raise serious ethics questions.
“I’ve never wished a man dead, but I have read some obituaries with great pleasure.”
—Clarence Darrow
—Clarence Darrow
November 4, 2025 at 12:50 PM
“I’ve never wished a man dead, but I have read some obituaries with great pleasure.”
—Clarence Darrow
—Clarence Darrow
I don’t know who needs to hear this, but a mustache is not a substitute for a personality.
October 30, 2025 at 8:53 PM
I don’t know who needs to hear this, but a mustache is not a substitute for a personality.
Reposted by Derek Johnson
1️⃣ Calling This Court “Supreme” Is Obeying in Advance
When will legal and media elites stop passing off tyranny in robes as the rule of law?
Why “Supreme Court Poised to Weaken Voting Rights Act,” when it should be “Republican Justices Appear Poised to Entrench Republican House Control"?
When will legal and media elites stop passing off tyranny in robes as the rule of law?
Why “Supreme Court Poised to Weaken Voting Rights Act,” when it should be “Republican Justices Appear Poised to Entrench Republican House Control"?
Calling This Court "Supreme" Is Obeying in Advance
When will legal elites stop passing off tyranny in robes as the rule of law?
www.weekendreading.net
October 28, 2025 at 3:17 PM
1️⃣ Calling This Court “Supreme” Is Obeying in Advance
When will legal and media elites stop passing off tyranny in robes as the rule of law?
Why “Supreme Court Poised to Weaken Voting Rights Act,” when it should be “Republican Justices Appear Poised to Entrench Republican House Control"?
When will legal and media elites stop passing off tyranny in robes as the rule of law?
Why “Supreme Court Poised to Weaken Voting Rights Act,” when it should be “Republican Justices Appear Poised to Entrench Republican House Control"?
In my expert opinion, this is... not great.
Foreign hackers breached a US nuclear weapons plant via SharePoint flaws
A foreign actor infiltrated the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Kansas City National Security Campus through vulnerabilities in Microsoft’s SharePoint browser-based app, raising questions a...
www.csoonline.com
October 22, 2025 at 12:21 AM
In my expert opinion, this is... not great.
Reposted by Derek Johnson
As a former Portlander myself, love that its motto is Keep Portland Weird. An essential part of fascism's project is to tell all of us how to look, whom to love, what to say, how to dress. Fuck that. Portland is too fabulous for fascism.
September 27, 2025 at 4:53 PM
As a former Portlander myself, love that its motto is Keep Portland Weird. An essential part of fascism's project is to tell all of us how to look, whom to love, what to say, how to dress. Fuck that. Portland is too fabulous for fascism.
Hello, is this The Hague? I’d like to report a crime against humanity.
September 26, 2025 at 11:02 PM
Hello, is this The Hague? I’d like to report a crime against humanity.
Reposted by Derek Johnson
Fantastic, sober, realistic thread.
The James Baldwin quote deep in the thread is on point.
The James Baldwin quote deep in the thread is on point.
“Fascism” isn’t a slur for politics we don’t like. It’s a precise word with precise meaning. And in the face of what’s happening right now in America, it’s the most honest one we have.
I’ll lay it out as plainly as I can. 🧵
I’ll lay it out as plainly as I can. 🧵
September 21, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Fantastic, sober, realistic thread.
The James Baldwin quote deep in the thread is on point.
The James Baldwin quote deep in the thread is on point.
Reposted by Derek Johnson
Important thread. Words do matter. We can’t whitewash what’s happening here #fascism
“Fascism” isn’t a slur for politics we don’t like. It’s a precise word with precise meaning. And in the face of what’s happening right now in America, it’s the most honest one we have.
I’ll lay it out as plainly as I can. 🧵
I’ll lay it out as plainly as I can. 🧵
September 20, 2025 at 11:16 PM
Important thread. Words do matter. We can’t whitewash what’s happening here #fascism
“I think it’s worth it to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the second amendment to protect our other God-given rights. That is a prudent deal. It is rational.”
—Charlie Kirk, April 2023
—Charlie Kirk, April 2023
September 23, 2025 at 12:46 PM
“I think it’s worth it to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the second amendment to protect our other God-given rights. That is a prudent deal. It is rational.”
—Charlie Kirk, April 2023
—Charlie Kirk, April 2023
The Democrats? Useless.
But everyday people? Angry and organized and taking collective action?
That’s where the real power lies. That’s how we win. 👊🏽✊🏽🙌🏽
But everyday people? Angry and organized and taking collective action?
That’s where the real power lies. That’s how we win. 👊🏽✊🏽🙌🏽
Jimmy Kimmel Will Return to the Air Following Backlash, Boycott
“We have spent the last days having thoughtful conversations with Jimmy,” said the Walt Disney Company.
ca.news.yahoo.com
September 22, 2025 at 9:42 PM
The Democrats? Useless.
But everyday people? Angry and organized and taking collective action?
That’s where the real power lies. That’s how we win. 👊🏽✊🏽🙌🏽
But everyday people? Angry and organized and taking collective action?
That’s where the real power lies. That’s how we win. 👊🏽✊🏽🙌🏽
Reposted by Derek Johnson
There is no world in which it is normal for the president to publicly call upon his attorney general to hurry up and prosecute his political foes. It’s like the Watergate tapes but posted on social media. Let’s get a grip on what’s happening here.
September 21, 2025 at 12:56 AM
There is no world in which it is normal for the president to publicly call upon his attorney general to hurry up and prosecute his political foes. It’s like the Watergate tapes but posted on social media. Let’s get a grip on what’s happening here.
Reposted by Derek Johnson
Exciting campaign that is already working, with Disney's stock plummeting. Let's keep up the momentum!
The empire has stricken back now we must rise! Support the actions happening across the country, September 21st by going to boycottdisneyabc.com - see toolkit with details on how to continue the pressure on Disney and its affiliates, like Hulu, ESPN, Sinclair, and Nexstar Media. #boycottdisneyabc
September 20, 2025 at 10:52 PM
Exciting campaign that is already working, with Disney's stock plummeting. Let's keep up the momentum!
Reposted by Derek Johnson
Everyday the regime crosses yet another line. Time to say
No financing for fascism.
No dollars for dictators.
No payouts for pedophile protectors.
No financing for fascism.
No dollars for dictators.
No payouts for pedophile protectors.
Thrilled to see growing consensus that Dems must step up in the Continuing Resolution fight. Key to doing so? Refuse to frame this as "shutting down government." Instead, call it what it is - refusing to be an accomplice to turning the government into a weapon against the American people.
September 20, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Everyday the regime crosses yet another line. Time to say
No financing for fascism.
No dollars for dictators.
No payouts for pedophile protectors.
No financing for fascism.
No dollars for dictators.
No payouts for pedophile protectors.
“Fascism” isn’t a slur for politics we don’t like. It’s a precise word with precise meaning. And in the face of what’s happening right now in America, it’s the most honest one we have.
I’ll lay it out as plainly as I can. 🧵
I’ll lay it out as plainly as I can. 🧵
September 20, 2025 at 3:31 PM
“Fascism” isn’t a slur for politics we don’t like. It’s a precise word with precise meaning. And in the face of what’s happening right now in America, it’s the most honest one we have.
I’ll lay it out as plainly as I can. 🧵
I’ll lay it out as plainly as I can. 🧵
Reposted by Derek Johnson
The problem with allowing guns everywhere is that no one is safe anywhere.
September 10, 2025 at 8:24 PM
The problem with allowing guns everywhere is that no one is safe anywhere.
Reposted by Derek Johnson
One teen is dead after a student fired on schoolmates at Evergreen High School in Colorado, injuring two before shooting himself
1 dead after student shoots 2 schoolmates, himself at Evergreen High School
One teenager is dead after a student fired on schoolmates at Evergreen High School in the Jefferson County foothills Wednesday, injuring two before shooting himself, authorities said.
www.denverpost.com
September 11, 2025 at 1:47 AM
One teen is dead after a student fired on schoolmates at Evergreen High School in Colorado, injuring two before shooting himself
The call is coming from inside the (White) House.
"My administration will find each and every one of those who contributed to this atrocity and to other political violence, including the organizations that fund it and support it, as well as those who go after our judges, law enforcement officials, and everyone else who brings order to our country."
September 11, 2025 at 1:33 AM
The call is coming from inside the (White) House.
Reposted by Derek Johnson
I love how the second part of Banksy's newest mural, which is a comment on censorship and oppression, was done by the very people he is critiquing.
Their response was predictable, and relied upon, and imho has created a masterpiece.
Their response was predictable, and relied upon, and imho has created a masterpiece.
September 10, 2025 at 9:08 PM
I love how the second part of Banksy's newest mural, which is a comment on censorship and oppression, was done by the very people he is critiquing.
Their response was predictable, and relied upon, and imho has created a masterpiece.
Their response was predictable, and relied upon, and imho has created a masterpiece.
Reposted by Derek Johnson
there was never going to be a world in which the right didn’t claim the left was celebrating the death of charlie kirk, no matter how respectable anyone tried to be.
September 10, 2025 at 9:42 PM
there was never going to be a world in which the right didn’t claim the left was celebrating the death of charlie kirk, no matter how respectable anyone tried to be.
Reposted by Derek Johnson
Before knowing all the facts, voices on the right are now exploiting the tragic death of Charlie Kirk & calling for all-out war on the left. This is sad, but not surprising, at a time when we should all be denouncing political violence. They were not so upset when Minn. Democrats were assassinated.
September 10, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Before knowing all the facts, voices on the right are now exploiting the tragic death of Charlie Kirk & calling for all-out war on the left. This is sad, but not surprising, at a time when we should all be denouncing political violence. They were not so upset when Minn. Democrats were assassinated.
Reposted by Derek Johnson
The evidence keeps piling up: chasing the right into their terrain is a losing strategy. It alienates our base and makes their issues stronger.
Democrats in the US had better take note. Escaping this authoritarian nightmare requires leaning unapologetically into our own story, not recycling theirs.
Democrats in the US had better take note. Escaping this authoritarian nightmare requires leaning unapologetically into our own story, not recycling theirs.
Radical right accommodation really does not work.
New paper out with this exceptionally talented team
@katharinalawall.bsky.social @robjohns75.bsky.social @drjennings.bsky.social @sarahobolt.bsky.social @zachdickson.bsky.social @danjdevine.bsky.social & @jack-bailey.co.uk
doi.org/10.31235/osf...
New paper out with this exceptionally talented team
@katharinalawall.bsky.social @robjohns75.bsky.social @drjennings.bsky.social @sarahobolt.bsky.social @zachdickson.bsky.social @danjdevine.bsky.social & @jack-bailey.co.uk
doi.org/10.31235/osf...
September 6, 2025 at 6:25 PM
The evidence keeps piling up: chasing the right into their terrain is a losing strategy. It alienates our base and makes their issues stronger.
Democrats in the US had better take note. Escaping this authoritarian nightmare requires leaning unapologetically into our own story, not recycling theirs.
Democrats in the US had better take note. Escaping this authoritarian nightmare requires leaning unapologetically into our own story, not recycling theirs.