Marian Shinn
@marianshinn.bsky.social
Cape Town is my home. My dogs are my best pals. Humanist. Retired politician. Scud and I help kids read. Creative writing, photography are hobbies. Read for pleasure all the books sidelined while working. Err on the side of generosity.
Reposted by Marian Shinn
Trump is running with his incorrect claims of Christian genocide in Nigeria, much like he ran with the absurd claims of white genocide in South Africa—and *both* Christian and Muslims in Nigeria will suffer the consequences. trib.al/mP4qZxm
December 28, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Trump is running with his incorrect claims of Christian genocide in Nigeria, much like he ran with the absurd claims of white genocide in South Africa—and *both* Christian and Muslims in Nigeria will suffer the consequences. trib.al/mP4qZxm
Reposted by Marian Shinn
A year-end special from me:
The 25 Worst Villains of the Trump Admin, in ranking order. open.substack.com/pub/meidasto...
The 25 Worst Villains of the Trump Admin, in ranking order. open.substack.com/pub/meidasto...
25 Worst Villains of the Trump Admin
The worst of the worst, ranked 1-25.
open.substack.com
December 26, 2025 at 10:09 PM
A year-end special from me:
The 25 Worst Villains of the Trump Admin, in ranking order. open.substack.com/pub/meidasto...
The 25 Worst Villains of the Trump Admin, in ranking order. open.substack.com/pub/meidasto...
Reposted by Marian Shinn
#ICYMI, from our magazine: “Bitcoin miners in general, if you map out across the United States, this is my opinion, are taking advantage of small rural communities that don’t have the wherewithal to fight back.”
Crypto's Cryptic Texas Takeover
State regulators don't want you to know about the 60-plus Bitcoin mines guzzling public water and electricity—even though consumers are already paying the price.
www.texasobserver.org
December 15, 2025 at 11:00 PM
#ICYMI, from our magazine: “Bitcoin miners in general, if you map out across the United States, this is my opinion, are taking advantage of small rural communities that don’t have the wherewithal to fight back.”
Reposted by Marian Shinn
The Japanese entertainment company Sony is taking a majority stake in Peanuts Holdings, owner of the rights to Charlie Brown, Snoopy and other cartoon characters created by Charles Schulz
Sony takes control of Charlie Brown and Snoopy in $460m deal
www.thetimes.com
December 19, 2025 at 4:34 PM
The Japanese entertainment company Sony is taking a majority stake in Peanuts Holdings, owner of the rights to Charlie Brown, Snoopy and other cartoon characters created by Charles Schulz
Reposted by Marian Shinn
In 2026, the call remains clear: less hate and authoritarianism, more brave truth tellers — more Mkhwanazis.
In 2026 we need less Nazis, more Mkhwanazis
amabhungane.org
December 19, 2025 at 10:02 AM
In 2026, the call remains clear: less hate and authoritarianism, more brave truth tellers — more Mkhwanazis.
Reposted by Marian Shinn
Lakanwal used to serve in a CIA-backed military unit and moved to the U.S. with help from Operation Allies Welcome, an initiative to help resettle Afghans in danger from the Taliban, yet was struggling to find work and felt abandoned by the CIA after working together for so long. trib.al/bqIln1f
Alleged National Guard Shooter Pleaded for Help From CIA
Rahmanullah Lakanwal was struggling to find work and felt abandoned by the CIA after working together for so long, his fellow unit member said.
trib.al
December 1, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Lakanwal used to serve in a CIA-backed military unit and moved to the U.S. with help from Operation Allies Welcome, an initiative to help resettle Afghans in danger from the Taliban, yet was struggling to find work and felt abandoned by the CIA after working together for so long. trib.al/bqIln1f
Reposted by Marian Shinn
ICC has taken 'confidential' measures to protect court from US sanctions, officials say - https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/icc-taken-confidential-measures-protect-court-us-sanctions-officials-say
ICC has taken 'confidential' measures to protect court from US sanctions, officials say
Judges and prosecutors say they 'will survive' measures by US and Russia as 24th annual meeting of member states kicks off
www.middleeasteye.net
December 1, 2025 at 7:43 PM
ICC has taken 'confidential' measures to protect court from US sanctions, officials say - https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/icc-taken-confidential-measures-protect-court-us-sanctions-officials-say
Reposted by Marian Shinn
Reminder that Starbucks’ CEO made 6,666x more than the company's median employee in 2024.
This was the widest CEO-to-Worker pay gap in the entire S&P 500.
And we're supposed to believe Starbucks can't afford to bargain a fair contract with its unionized workers?
This was the widest CEO-to-Worker pay gap in the entire S&P 500.
And we're supposed to believe Starbucks can't afford to bargain a fair contract with its unionized workers?
December 1, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Reminder that Starbucks’ CEO made 6,666x more than the company's median employee in 2024.
This was the widest CEO-to-Worker pay gap in the entire S&P 500.
And we're supposed to believe Starbucks can't afford to bargain a fair contract with its unionized workers?
This was the widest CEO-to-Worker pay gap in the entire S&P 500.
And we're supposed to believe Starbucks can't afford to bargain a fair contract with its unionized workers?
Reposted by Marian Shinn
Into the Top 5, now and Brian Bilston is back with a new collection - How to Lay an Egg with a Horse Inside
We'll be getting signed copies, obviously:
bertsbooks.co.uk/product/how-...
We'll be getting signed copies, obviously:
bertsbooks.co.uk/product/how-...
November 13, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Into the Top 5, now and Brian Bilston is back with a new collection - How to Lay an Egg with a Horse Inside
We'll be getting signed copies, obviously:
bertsbooks.co.uk/product/how-...
We'll be getting signed copies, obviously:
bertsbooks.co.uk/product/how-...
Reposted by Marian Shinn
Democrats have accomplished all they could hope to from the shutdown, David Frum argues. Watch more in the latest episode of “The David Frum Show”:
MAGA Has Repulsed Young Women
Sarah Longwell on the growing voting divide between the sexes, the 2025 elections, and how Donald Trump remade electoral politics. Plus: David Frum discusses the deal to end the government shutdown and “The Emergency,” by The Atlantic’s George Packer.
bit.ly
November 13, 2025 at 7:45 AM
Democrats have accomplished all they could hope to from the shutdown, David Frum argues. Watch more in the latest episode of “The David Frum Show”:
Reposted by Marian Shinn
For folks (and journalists) who want to search the Oversight Committee email texts, I made a database for searching the 20k text files:
splendorous-chaja-f79791.netlify.app
splendorous-chaja-f79791.netlify.app
Epstein Document Search
splendorous-chaja-f79791.netlify.app
November 13, 2025 at 1:12 AM
For folks (and journalists) who want to search the Oversight Committee email texts, I made a database for searching the 20k text files:
splendorous-chaja-f79791.netlify.app
splendorous-chaja-f79791.netlify.app
Reposted by Marian Shinn
"School cellphone bans, like the one in New York, won’t solve every danger on the internet, but they’re a reasonable first step toward addressing one of the most pressing dangers facing teenagers like me." www.thebulwark.com/p/teenager-h...
I’m a Teenager. Here’s How We Can Protect Kids From Online Harm.
Practical suggestions for schools and families.
www.thebulwark.com
October 27, 2025 at 3:30 PM
"School cellphone bans, like the one in New York, won’t solve every danger on the internet, but they’re a reasonable first step toward addressing one of the most pressing dangers facing teenagers like me." www.thebulwark.com/p/teenager-h...
Reposted by Marian Shinn
New from me on @lawfaremedia.org: how Trump violated the law to pay the military.
It's a long piece that goes into why it's illegal (with helpful analogies), what other abuses this unlocks if you believe presidents should have this power, what recourse there is, etc.
It's a long piece that goes into why it's illegal (with helpful analogies), what other abuses this unlocks if you believe presidents should have this power, what recourse there is, etc.
How Trump Violated the Law to Pay the Military
The president spent research and development money to pay the troops, violating appropriations law and a slew of other statutes.
www.lawfaremedia.org
October 24, 2025 at 3:35 PM
New from me on @lawfaremedia.org: how Trump violated the law to pay the military.
It's a long piece that goes into why it's illegal (with helpful analogies), what other abuses this unlocks if you believe presidents should have this power, what recourse there is, etc.
It's a long piece that goes into why it's illegal (with helpful analogies), what other abuses this unlocks if you believe presidents should have this power, what recourse there is, etc.
Reposted by Marian Shinn
“Launching missiles over two people in a small boat is a war crime."
“Gringos, go home”: Latin America reacts to Trump’s expanding military campaign
"It could inflame South America."
www.motherjones.com
October 27, 2025 at 4:01 PM
“Launching missiles over two people in a small boat is a war crime."
Reposted by Marian Shinn
King Charles III dedicated Britain’s first national memorial to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender troops, 25 years after the U.K. ended a ban on homosexuality in the armed forces.
King Charles III dedicates Britain’s first national memorial to LGBTQ+ troops
www.stripes.com
October 27, 2025 at 4:02 PM
King Charles III dedicated Britain’s first national memorial to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender troops, 25 years after the U.K. ended a ban on homosexuality in the armed forces.
Reposted by Marian Shinn
A 9-year-old boy and a 10-year-old girl are charged with attempted murder and multiple counts of rape, officials say.
Kids charged in 5-year-old girl’s brutal attack, sexual assault, Ohio officials say
A 9-year-old boy and a 10-year-old girl are charged with attempted murder and multiple counts of rape, officials say.
bit.ly
October 16, 2025 at 5:30 AM
A 9-year-old boy and a 10-year-old girl are charged with attempted murder and multiple counts of rape, officials say.
Reposted by Marian Shinn
Protesters dressed in trench coats, some with fake noses and “Snatchforce” buttons, handed out “missing person” flyers outside of Dreamforce, with photos of individuals detained by ICE.
Dreamforce protesters urge Salesforce to drop its Border Protection contract with feds
Protesters dressed in trench coats, some with fake noses and “Snatchforce” buttons, handed out “missing person” flyers outside of Dreamforce, with photos of individuals detained by ICE.
bit.ly
October 16, 2025 at 7:00 AM
Protesters dressed in trench coats, some with fake noses and “Snatchforce” buttons, handed out “missing person” flyers outside of Dreamforce, with photos of individuals detained by ICE.
Reposted by Marian Shinn
This magazine is old enough to have fought McCarthyism the first time. We know from experience that America’s witch-hunt fever has been broken before. www.thenation.com/article/soci...
We Defeated McCarthyism Before. We Can Do It Again.
It’s easy to feel despair about what looks like a new age of government censorship. But being around for 160 years gives you perspective.
www.thenation.com
October 13, 2025 at 3:14 PM
This magazine is old enough to have fought McCarthyism the first time. We know from experience that America’s witch-hunt fever has been broken before. www.thenation.com/article/soci...
Reposted by Marian Shinn
Justice Department lawyers reposted President Trump’s statements and may have inadvertently endangered their prosecution of Luigi Mangione, violating the judge’s explicit orders that DOJ employees refrain from public comment about the case. trib.al/b9U7CY1
DOJ in Trouble After Lawyers Reposted Trump Rants on Luigi Mangione
The Justice Department’s case against Luigi Mangione just hit a major obstacle.
trib.al
October 9, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Justice Department lawyers reposted President Trump’s statements and may have inadvertently endangered their prosecution of Luigi Mangione, violating the judge’s explicit orders that DOJ employees refrain from public comment about the case. trib.al/b9U7CY1
Reposted by Marian Shinn
A fun new consequence of MAGA cruelty: If you're a victim of human trafficking and cannot immediately prove your citizenship because someone else has your papers, don't bother complaining to the authorities. Make sex slavery great again!
October 2, 2025 at 10:31 AM
A fun new consequence of MAGA cruelty: If you're a victim of human trafficking and cannot immediately prove your citizenship because someone else has your papers, don't bother complaining to the authorities. Make sex slavery great again!
Reposted by Marian Shinn
The charming and interesting story of a guy who could have been an early techbro billionaire, but lacked one critical personality trait - he's not an absolute cunt.
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Why I gave the world wide web away for free | Tim Berners-Lee
My vision was based on sharing, not exploitation – and here’s why it’s still worth fighting for
www.theguardian.com
September 28, 2025 at 6:20 PM
The charming and interesting story of a guy who could have been an early techbro billionaire, but lacked one critical personality trait - he's not an absolute cunt.
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Reposted by Marian Shinn
“I told Director Kash Patel that the FBI has names of 20 men to whom Jeffrey Epstein trafficked women and girls,” Massie wrote on X. “This basic fact seemed to surprise him. Why?"
trib.al/13Y8vfK
trib.al/13Y8vfK
September 28, 2025 at 4:12 AM
“I told Director Kash Patel that the FBI has names of 20 men to whom Jeffrey Epstein trafficked women and girls,” Massie wrote on X. “This basic fact seemed to surprise him. Why?"
trib.al/13Y8vfK
trib.al/13Y8vfK
Reposted by Marian Shinn
As Trump's White House threatens more mass firings of the federal workforce, it's simultaneously focused on building 90,000 sq. ft. ballroom straight out of the Gilded Age.
He’s more concerned with projecting opulence and pomp than he is about governing. trib.al/5Oofsqb
He’s more concerned with projecting opulence and pomp than he is about governing. trib.al/5Oofsqb
September 28, 2025 at 4:53 AM
As Trump's White House threatens more mass firings of the federal workforce, it's simultaneously focused on building 90,000 sq. ft. ballroom straight out of the Gilded Age.
He’s more concerned with projecting opulence and pomp than he is about governing. trib.al/5Oofsqb
He’s more concerned with projecting opulence and pomp than he is about governing. trib.al/5Oofsqb
Reposted by Marian Shinn
President Donald Trump said he doesn't know whether former FBI Director James Comey will face criminal charges, after he urged prosecutors to pursue charges just five days earlier.
Trump says he's unaware if ex-FBI chief James Comey, his frequent critic, will be charged
President Trump says he doesn't know if former FBI Director James Comey will be prosecuted.
bit.ly
September 25, 2025 at 5:53 PM
President Donald Trump said he doesn't know whether former FBI Director James Comey will face criminal charges, after he urged prosecutors to pursue charges just five days earlier.
Reposted by Marian Shinn
Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook has the support of every living former chair of the central bank’s powerful Board in her legal battle with President Trump, who tried to fire her last month based on unproven allegations of mortgage fraud, according to an amicus brief filed to the Supreme Court.
Alan Greenspan and every other living former Fed chair tell Supreme Court that Lisa Cook should keep her job | CNN Business
Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook has the support of every living former chair of the central bank's powerful Board in her legal battle with President Donald Trump, who tried to fire her last month based on unproven allegations of mortgage fraud, accor...
www.cnn.com
September 25, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook has the support of every living former chair of the central bank’s powerful Board in her legal battle with President Trump, who tried to fire her last month based on unproven allegations of mortgage fraud, according to an amicus brief filed to the Supreme Court.