Kevin Rothrock
@kevinrothrock.me
Russia watcher supreme. @meduza.io English-language managing editor. Ugly American based in Portland, Oregon. Signal: @KevinRothrock.01 / Find all my junk here: https://linktr.ee/kevinrothrock
"You guys designed and shipped a little box of garbage while I was gone."
November 11, 2025 at 3:46 PM
"You guys designed and shipped a little box of garbage while I was gone."
another gem from Estonia's fourth president
November 10, 2025 at 11:03 PM
another gem from Estonia's fourth president
my latest copy of @nybooks.com very appropriately got wet during delivery in the Portland rain
November 10, 2025 at 6:16 AM
my latest copy of @nybooks.com very appropriately got wet during delivery in the Portland rain
(The very brilliant) Linda Kinstler reviews two books on states' lifecycles. She credits Wheatley with the more "consequential" work, but Kinstler's notes about Lemke and non-Western states' POV on the post-WWII norm against conquest grab me the most. www.nybooks.com/articles/202...
November 10, 2025 at 6:11 AM
(The very brilliant) Linda Kinstler reviews two books on states' lifecycles. She credits Wheatley with the more "consequential" work, but Kinstler's notes about Lemke and non-Western states' POV on the post-WWII norm against conquest grab me the most. www.nybooks.com/articles/202...
An excellent report from @oregonian.com on the livestreamers outside Portland's ICE center and how America's "attention economy" has poisoned the news well for most younger people. The kicker is a perfect distillation of streamer bros & redpilled losers generally. www.oregonlive.com/politics/202...
November 9, 2025 at 4:49 PM
An excellent report from @oregonian.com on the livestreamers outside Portland's ICE center and how America's "attention economy" has poisoned the news well for most younger people. The kicker is a perfect distillation of streamer bros & redpilled losers generally. www.oregonlive.com/politics/202...
Typically sharp commentary from Sophie Pinkham, this time about Ms. Rachel and the YouTubization of American children's entertainment. The comparison is socialist realism is extremely amusing. thebaffler.com/salvos/speak...
November 9, 2025 at 6:52 AM
Typically sharp commentary from Sophie Pinkham, this time about Ms. Rachel and the YouTubization of American children's entertainment. The comparison is socialist realism is extremely amusing. thebaffler.com/salvos/speak...
Very amusing essay about American podcasting from Brace Belden. I'm hardly a heavyweight in the field, but I've bumbled along as Russia Guy / Naked Pravda plankton for many a year, and this article cuts deep. thebaffler.com/outbursts/th...
November 8, 2025 at 8:53 AM
Very amusing essay about American podcasting from Brace Belden. I'm hardly a heavyweight in the field, but I've bumbled along as Russia Guy / Naked Pravda plankton for many a year, and this article cuts deep. thebaffler.com/outbursts/th...
no one expects the Spanish Inquisition
November 8, 2025 at 8:12 AM
no one expects the Spanish Inquisition
all smiles today at the White House for Viktor Orban's visit
November 7, 2025 at 9:48 PM
all smiles today at the White House for Viktor Orban's visit
keep pushing the envelope, Washington Post. U.S. dominance dies in darkness!
November 7, 2025 at 8:26 PM
keep pushing the envelope, Washington Post. U.S. dominance dies in darkness!
Why Germany Is Still Divided When It Comes to Russia:
Many East Germans are more sympathetic toward Moscow than their western compatriots, reflecting decades of Soviet ties and disillusionment since reunification. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/w...
Many East Germans are more sympathetic toward Moscow than their western compatriots, reflecting decades of Soviet ties and disillusionment since reunification. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/w...
November 7, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Why Germany Is Still Divided When It Comes to Russia:
Many East Germans are more sympathetic toward Moscow than their western compatriots, reflecting decades of Soviet ties and disillusionment since reunification. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/w...
Many East Germans are more sympathetic toward Moscow than their western compatriots, reflecting decades of Soviet ties and disillusionment since reunification. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/w...
Running the numbers on a trillionaire's meager living standards.
November 7, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Running the numbers on a trillionaire's meager living standards.
The Bolshevik Revolution was exactly 108 years ago today.
November 7, 2025 at 3:10 PM
The Bolshevik Revolution was exactly 108 years ago today.
(╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻
November 7, 2025 at 5:40 AM
(╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻
has anyone broken the news to Torbjörn Törnqvist?
November 6, 2025 at 9:31 PM
has anyone broken the news to Torbjörn Törnqvist?
A cool logo that understandably triggers Russia/Ukraine-brained people. Decades from now, we'll look back and wonder why the hippest, zigzaggiest letter of the alphabet was surrendered to the Putinistas.
November 6, 2025 at 5:34 PM
A cool logo that understandably triggers Russia/Ukraine-brained people. Decades from now, we'll look back and wonder why the hippest, zigzaggiest letter of the alphabet was surrendered to the Putinistas.
you're full of surprises, Americans
November 5, 2025 at 2:39 AM
you're full of surprises, Americans
A spectacularly dumb op-ed. Even the silly premise of "we stopped playing dirty" ends with the anti-climax that Pearson just wants the UK to adopt European censorship and dick around with American-style cyber stunts. Boooo! www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
November 4, 2025 at 7:44 PM
A spectacularly dumb op-ed. Even the silly premise of "we stopped playing dirty" ends with the anti-climax that Pearson just wants the UK to adopt European censorship and dick around with American-style cyber stunts. Boooo! www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Thoughtful article by @jamesmeek.bsky.social on the moral conundrums (and more) lurking beyond today's artificial intelligence marvels. Particularly interesting observations about the role played by the libertarian ideology of Silicon Valley's leading AI boosters.
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
November 3, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Thoughtful article by @jamesmeek.bsky.social on the moral conundrums (and more) lurking beyond today's artificial intelligence marvels. Particularly interesting observations about the role played by the libertarian ideology of Silicon Valley's leading AI boosters.
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...