M. E. Berzins
@meberzins.bsky.social
editor, librarian (IA IL NY),
MacArthur Fellows Prog (ret.)
MacArthur Fellows Prog (ret.)
Reposted by M. E. Berzins
Old fishing nets from France become vital protection against Russian drones in Ukraine
Old fishing nets from France become vital protection against Russian drones in Ukraine
Fishers from the Brittany coast are sending horse-hair nets to catch weapons and shield civilians and soldiers
www.theguardian.com
November 8, 2025 at 10:53 AM
Old fishing nets from France become vital protection against Russian drones in Ukraine
Reposted by M. E. Berzins
“Terrible things are happening outside. Poor helpless people are being dragged out of their homes. Families are torn apart. Men, women, and children are separated. Children come home from school to find that their parents have disappeared.”
Diary of Anne Frank
January 13, 1943
Diary of Anne Frank
January 13, 1943
October 4, 2025 at 8:17 PM
“Terrible things are happening outside. Poor helpless people are being dragged out of their homes. Families are torn apart. Men, women, and children are separated. Children come home from school to find that their parents have disappeared.”
Diary of Anne Frank
January 13, 1943
Diary of Anne Frank
January 13, 1943
Reposted by M. E. Berzins
George Packer at The Atlantic Festival: “Is the country on the verge of a civil war? I don’t think so. Do most Americans want a state of perpetual violence? I don’t think so. But you begin to imagine it might be true if your life is lived online.”
September 19, 2025 at 3:09 PM
George Packer at The Atlantic Festival: “Is the country on the verge of a civil war? I don’t think so. Do most Americans want a state of perpetual violence? I don’t think so. But you begin to imagine it might be true if your life is lived online.”
Reposted by M. E. Berzins
Very good thread, but "AMERICAN TRAGEDY Kennedy, Johnson and the Origins of the Vietnam War" by David Kaiser paints a subtler picture. I don't fully agree with his analysis, but it's much keener than McMasters. From my Denver Post review: extras.denverpost.com/books/traged...
June 29, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Very good thread, but "AMERICAN TRAGEDY Kennedy, Johnson and the Origins of the Vietnam War" by David Kaiser paints a subtler picture. I don't fully agree with his analysis, but it's much keener than McMasters. From my Denver Post review: extras.denverpost.com/books/traged...
Reposted by M. E. Berzins
The meeting was a disaster for everyone except two people. Trump got his photo op and his ego boost.
Putin got his photo op, whitewashing of war crimes and no sanctions.
No one in Ukraine, Europe or the United States benefited in any way.
Putin got his photo op, whitewashing of war crimes and no sanctions.
No one in Ukraine, Europe or the United States benefited in any way.
August 16, 2025 at 4:12 AM
The meeting was a disaster for everyone except two people. Trump got his photo op and his ego boost.
Putin got his photo op, whitewashing of war crimes and no sanctions.
No one in Ukraine, Europe or the United States benefited in any way.
Putin got his photo op, whitewashing of war crimes and no sanctions.
No one in Ukraine, Europe or the United States benefited in any way.
Reposted by M. E. Berzins
Good for her. She’s an outstanding reporter and the Washington Post is no longer worthy of her work.
Scoop @puck.news: Carol Leonnig, a 25-year veteran of The Washington Post, is leaving the paper and joining MSNBC.
The latest in the long and extensive exodus of Washington Post journalists under CEO Will Lewis.
The latest in the long and extensive exodus of Washington Post journalists under CEO Will Lewis.
August 5, 2025 at 1:34 AM
Good for her. She’s an outstanding reporter and the Washington Post is no longer worthy of her work.
Reposted by M. E. Berzins
This week in our Intel Briefing, we go deep on three things that impact you:
1️⃣ The threat of a politicized FED
2️⃣ How President Trump is pushing disaster relief onto the states
3️⃣ The threat of partisan gerrymandering
youtu.be/BuM2fzrmgzY
1️⃣ The threat of a politicized FED
2️⃣ How President Trump is pushing disaster relief onto the states
3️⃣ The threat of partisan gerrymandering
youtu.be/BuM2fzrmgzY
July 27, 2025 at 11:00 PM
This week in our Intel Briefing, we go deep on three things that impact you:
1️⃣ The threat of a politicized FED
2️⃣ How President Trump is pushing disaster relief onto the states
3️⃣ The threat of partisan gerrymandering
youtu.be/BuM2fzrmgzY
1️⃣ The threat of a politicized FED
2️⃣ How President Trump is pushing disaster relief onto the states
3️⃣ The threat of partisan gerrymandering
youtu.be/BuM2fzrmgzY
Reposted by M. E. Berzins
"Powerful....Riveting....How Weiner persuaded so many people to talk on the record is a journalistic feat that should make this book impossible to dismiss." -- Associated Press.
www.harpercollins.com/products/the...
www.harpercollins.com/products/the...
The Mission
\"Masterful. ... A singular triumph.\" — Kirkus, starred review
\"Triumphant. ... A crucial document of the present times.\" —Publishers...
www.harpercollins.com
July 14, 2025 at 7:29 PM
"Powerful....Riveting....How Weiner persuaded so many people to talk on the record is a journalistic feat that should make this book impossible to dismiss." -- Associated Press.
www.harpercollins.com/products/the...
www.harpercollins.com/products/the...
Reposted by M. E. Berzins
I don’t think anyone is prepared for what they just did w/ ICE.
This is not a simple budget increase. It is an explosion - making ICE bigger than the FBI, US Bureau of Prisons, DEA,& others combined.
It is setting up to make what’s happening now look like child’s play. And people are disappearing.
This is not a simple budget increase. It is an explosion - making ICE bigger than the FBI, US Bureau of Prisons, DEA,& others combined.
It is setting up to make what’s happening now look like child’s play. And people are disappearing.
July 3, 2025 at 6:58 PM
I don’t think anyone is prepared for what they just did w/ ICE.
This is not a simple budget increase. It is an explosion - making ICE bigger than the FBI, US Bureau of Prisons, DEA,& others combined.
It is setting up to make what’s happening now look like child’s play. And people are disappearing.
This is not a simple budget increase. It is an explosion - making ICE bigger than the FBI, US Bureau of Prisons, DEA,& others combined.
It is setting up to make what’s happening now look like child’s play. And people are disappearing.
Reposted by M. E. Berzins
"Putin sees what everyone else sees: Slowly, the U.S. is switching sides. True, Trump occasionally berates Putin, or makes sympathetic noises toward Ukrainians."
He also enjoyed being flattered at the NATO summit, where European leaders made a decision to further raise defense spending.
He also enjoyed being flattered at the NATO summit, where European leaders made a decision to further raise defense spending.
"Vladimir Putin is not looking for a cease-fire, and he does not want to negotiate. Why? Because he believes that he can win. Thanks to the actions of the U.S. government, he still thinks that he can conquer all of Ukraine"
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
The Great Realignment
Trump is giving the Russian dictator every incentive to keep killing Ukrainians.
www.theatlantic.com
July 4, 2025 at 10:43 AM
"Putin sees what everyone else sees: Slowly, the U.S. is switching sides. True, Trump occasionally berates Putin, or makes sympathetic noises toward Ukrainians."
He also enjoyed being flattered at the NATO summit, where European leaders made a decision to further raise defense spending.
He also enjoyed being flattered at the NATO summit, where European leaders made a decision to further raise defense spending.
Reposted by M. E. Berzins
For years, the right has warned of false and invented Dem plots to open concentration camps in the US for political opponents.
Let history record that it was the MAGA Republicans who actually opened the first concentration camps in the US since World War II.
Let history record that it was the MAGA Republicans who actually opened the first concentration camps in the US since World War II.
Just because Trump, Republicans, and right wing media are embracing a nickname for this Everglades facility, should mainstream media do it too? I’m not alone in saying hell no. Call this swamp thing what it is: an American concentration camp. My latest:
open.substack.com/pub/jennifer...
open.substack.com/pub/jennifer...
July 3, 2025 at 1:36 AM
For years, the right has warned of false and invented Dem plots to open concentration camps in the US for political opponents.
Let history record that it was the MAGA Republicans who actually opened the first concentration camps in the US since World War II.
Let history record that it was the MAGA Republicans who actually opened the first concentration camps in the US since World War II.
Reposted by M. E. Berzins
New interview with me about Trump, Mamdani, more -- with (partial) transcript! btlonline.org/as-the-trump...
As the Trump-GOP ‘Mafia State’ Relentlessly Attacks Foundations of Democracy, is There Reason for Hope?
Best-selling author Sarah Kendzior talks about how Donald Trump’s erratic and cruel conduct is fraying American’s nerves, as she takes hope in Zohran Mamdani’s victory in NYC’s Democratic mayoral prim...
btlonline.org
July 3, 2025 at 1:44 AM
New interview with me about Trump, Mamdani, more -- with (partial) transcript! btlonline.org/as-the-trump...
Reposted by M. E. Berzins
The Minnesota shooter apparently used data broker websites to find the home addresses of the people he shot and murdered.
Congress has had years to do something about data brokers and they've sided with the tech lobby over and over again.
Their inaction is deadly.
Congress has had years to do something about data brokers and they've sided with the tech lobby over and over again.
Their inaction is deadly.
June 16, 2025 at 10:56 PM
The Minnesota shooter apparently used data broker websites to find the home addresses of the people he shot and murdered.
Congress has had years to do something about data brokers and they've sided with the tech lobby over and over again.
Their inaction is deadly.
Congress has had years to do something about data brokers and they've sided with the tech lobby over and over again.
Their inaction is deadly.
Reposted by M. E. Berzins
🧵 I’ve been thinking about how to control the madness. Humans can’t cope with infinite chaos. We see threats, we react to them. If the threat is too big, to even understand, we often lockdown, have panic attacks, become medically levelled anxious or resort to that river in Egypt [1]
June 13, 2025 at 12:40 PM
🧵 I’ve been thinking about how to control the madness. Humans can’t cope with infinite chaos. We see threats, we react to them. If the threat is too big, to even understand, we often lockdown, have panic attacks, become medically levelled anxious or resort to that river in Egypt [1]
Reposted by M. E. Berzins
It’s worth pointing out that bombing a people into changing their minds doesn’t work. It didn’t for London in the Blitz etc. All it does is give dissenters a common enemy, & ensures more & more children die. Brave ppl talk, cowards bomb. Children suffer.
Tonight I’m thinking of scared kids. Peace❤️
Tonight I’m thinking of scared kids. Peace❤️
June 14, 2025 at 2:39 AM
It’s worth pointing out that bombing a people into changing their minds doesn’t work. It didn’t for London in the Blitz etc. All it does is give dissenters a common enemy, & ensures more & more children die. Brave ppl talk, cowards bomb. Children suffer.
Tonight I’m thinking of scared kids. Peace❤️
Tonight I’m thinking of scared kids. Peace❤️
Reposted by M. E. Berzins
How JB Pritzker’s faith and Holocaust work are powering his dire warnings about Trump
How JB Pritzker’s faith and Holocaust work are powering his dire warnings about Trump
www.csmonitor.com
June 13, 2025 at 9:43 AM
How JB Pritzker’s faith and Holocaust work are powering his dire warnings about Trump
Reposted by M. E. Berzins
You know when things were pretty quiet and peaceful in L.A.? Before ICE started arresting residents who were bothering no one and going to their jobs. And before DHS and National Guard troops showed up and made the situation worse.
Of course Trump and Stephen Miller want the situation to get worse.
Of course Trump and Stephen Miller want the situation to get worse.
June 8, 2025 at 10:32 PM
You know when things were pretty quiet and peaceful in L.A.? Before ICE started arresting residents who were bothering no one and going to their jobs. And before DHS and National Guard troops showed up and made the situation worse.
Of course Trump and Stephen Miller want the situation to get worse.
Of course Trump and Stephen Miller want the situation to get worse.
Reposted by M. E. Berzins
A few words abiut Harvard www.nytimes.com/2025/04/14/o...
Opinion | Harvard’s Strength and How Far We’ve Fallen So Quickly
The thrill over its response to the Trump administration is a measure of how low, and how fast, our expectations have fallen.
www.nytimes.com
April 15, 2025 at 2:21 PM
A few words abiut Harvard www.nytimes.com/2025/04/14/o...
Reposted by M. E. Berzins
BBB both grows the deficit and cuts food for poor kids
Jong-Fast: This would be the largest cut to food assistance in US history—and it will result in hungry kids.
It’s also important to mention that this bill grows the deficit. I don’t know how it manages to do the two things you absolutely don’t want—starve children and grow the deficit—but it does.
It’s also important to mention that this bill grows the deficit. I don’t know how it manages to do the two things you absolutely don’t want—starve children and grow the deficit—but it does.
May 24, 2025 at 9:59 PM
BBB both grows the deficit and cuts food for poor kids
Reposted by M. E. Berzins
Federal judge dresses down Alina Habba:
"Your role is not to secure convictions at all costs, nor to satisfy public clamor, nor to advance political agendas. Your allegiance is to the impartial application of the law, to the pursuit of truth and to the upholding of due process for all."
"Your role is not to secure convictions at all costs, nor to satisfy public clamor, nor to advance political agendas. Your allegiance is to the impartial application of the law, to the pursuit of truth and to the upholding of due process for all."
May 21, 2025 at 9:55 PM
Federal judge dresses down Alina Habba:
"Your role is not to secure convictions at all costs, nor to satisfy public clamor, nor to advance political agendas. Your allegiance is to the impartial application of the law, to the pursuit of truth and to the upholding of due process for all."
"Your role is not to secure convictions at all costs, nor to satisfy public clamor, nor to advance political agendas. Your allegiance is to the impartial application of the law, to the pursuit of truth and to the upholding of due process for all."
Reposted by M. E. Berzins
Trump is gutting Voice of America — the same tool that helped us win the Cold War — and replacing it with propaganda from OAN. He’s not defending America. He’s building his brand. And he’s making us vulnerable to real enemies.
adamkinzinger.substack.com/p/killing-th...
adamkinzinger.substack.com/p/killing-th...
Killing the Signal
Trump Silences Voice of America and Hands the Mic to Propaganda, because of course.
adamkinzinger.substack.com
May 21, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Trump is gutting Voice of America — the same tool that helped us win the Cold War — and replacing it with propaganda from OAN. He’s not defending America. He’s building his brand. And he’s making us vulnerable to real enemies.
adamkinzinger.substack.com/p/killing-th...
adamkinzinger.substack.com/p/killing-th...
Reposted by M. E. Berzins
Sen Ron Wyden (D-OR) says he has recordings of business associates of President Trump’s pick to lead the IRS, Billy Long, saying they expect to get favors from him once he is in office thehill.com/business/530...
thehill.com
May 21, 2025 at 12:48 AM
Sen Ron Wyden (D-OR) says he has recordings of business associates of President Trump’s pick to lead the IRS, Billy Long, saying they expect to get favors from him once he is in office thehill.com/business/530...
Reposted by M. E. Berzins
TODAY the NYT publishes an investigation into the Trump memecoin $TRUMP and how it has turned into a extraordinary venue for foreign influence campaigns. What we are seeing is potentially corrupt attempts to change US policy by paying the Trump family money. This is no "Russian Hoax" nyti.ms/4kkv7D7
Auction to Dine With Trump Creates Foreign Influence Opportunity (Gift Article)
When the bidding stops Monday, the top buyers of a Trump family crypto coin will win a tour of the White House.
nyti.ms
May 12, 2025 at 12:53 PM
TODAY the NYT publishes an investigation into the Trump memecoin $TRUMP and how it has turned into a extraordinary venue for foreign influence campaigns. What we are seeing is potentially corrupt attempts to change US policy by paying the Trump family money. This is no "Russian Hoax" nyti.ms/4kkv7D7
Reposted by M. E. Berzins
If you want to keep track of some of investigative reporting we at The NYT are doing--abt Trump, Musk, AG Bondi, EPA, Interior, etc, you can follow this account. Our coverage is not perfect. Nothing is. But we are digging every day to bring transparency/accountability www.nytimes.com/2025/01/08/u...
A ‘Business-Friendly’ Lawyer’s Rise From Lobbyist to Attorney General Pick
Pam Bondi, whom President-elect Donald J. Trump intends to nominate as attorney general, received trips and donations funded by those seeking favors from her Florida office.
www.nytimes.com
February 12, 2025 at 3:37 AM
If you want to keep track of some of investigative reporting we at The NYT are doing--abt Trump, Musk, AG Bondi, EPA, Interior, etc, you can follow this account. Our coverage is not perfect. Nothing is. But we are digging every day to bring transparency/accountability www.nytimes.com/2025/01/08/u...