Jacob Ari Labendz (Lion Swan)
@labendz.bsky.social
2.8K followers 1.6K following 1.3K posts
Won the 2011 Prague mustache contest Jewish, Czech & Cold-War history (much on belonging, diaspora, antisemitism & cemeteries) Books: https://tinyurl.com/yc77by39 & https://tinyurl.com/2xutcwkt OyKay Torah: https://www.oykay.tv (check it out!!!)
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labendz.bsky.social
Beyond the obvious criticisms due, we must also note the continued perception on the right that Dems/libs revere Clinton, who never had a cult of personality and whose political legacy ended with Biden’s obstinate failure in the last election. It’s part show, sure, but they also don’t get it.
maxtani.bsky.social
New: Bari Weiss booked Hillary Clinton, Mike Pompeo, and Antony Blinken for a roundtable on Gaza, her first major move at CBS.

Notably on a CBS call today in which the panel was floated, one producer also repeatedly emphasized the need to hear from Palestinians in Gaza (Weiss did not respond).
labendz.bsky.social
Trump is going to set his own right flank on fire by sending US troops to Israel.
labendz.bsky.social
We tried to buy a house on Wooten street in Boonton, alas!
Reposted by Jacob Ari Labendz (Lion Swan)
sethcotlar.bsky.social
It's almost as if a movement that began with lusty chants of "lock her up" in regard to the opposition party's candidate for President in 2016...combined with a refusal to honor the results of the election...has morphed into a cult of unaccountable, authoritarian power.
atrupar.com
Q: Do you agree that the mayor of Chicago and governor of Illinois should be in prison?

MIKE JOHNSON: Should they be in prison? I'm not the attorney general. I'm not following the day to day on that
labendz.bsky.social
Finally watching and teaching “Act of Killing” today.

Any tips, insights, exercises to share?
labendz.bsky.social
Guess the game of who owns Lemkin has moved to the next level.
labendz.bsky.social
I take your point on the minority governance. My perception, however, is that this round of elections, at this moment has drawn new lines, political frames, and alliances. ANO’s biggest weakness to my mind is that it’s a cult of personality based around an idiot. It will feel even more like home now
labendz.bsky.social
And this is bad for the region, as Czech held out, not as a perfect state by any means, but as a successful alternative to current trends.
labendz.bsky.social
So terribly depressed by the Czech elections. We will be having different discussions next summer, when I re-run my study abroad program focused on the legacies of genocide for contemporary human rights. The Czech analog to AFD (the SPD) will likely be in or attached to the governing coalition.
labendz.bsky.social
It’s not nearly the worst offense, but talk about “erasing our history.”
newsguy.bsky.social
One of the delights of working for the Voice of America in the Cohen Federal Building was the New Deal era frescoes and murals. Along with VOA and its staff, it now appears these treasured American works of art are to be a DOGE casualty. newrepublic.com/article/20120... #SaveVOA
There Was a Plan to Save These New Deal Masterpieces. Then Trump Won.
A feasibility study was underway about restoring the ailing federal building that houses important Ben Shahn frescoes, Philip Guston murals, and other FDR-era artwork. But the Trump administration put a stop to it.
newrepublic.com
labendz.bsky.social
I make a similar case that the Christian-nationalist right, ie, the Judeo-Christians, see Jews as a national minority subject to reciprocal loyalty and thus belonging, rather than an essential one of blood and faith.
jamellebouie.net
also, in keeping with Vance’s view of american identity, only white people are fully American with the right to critique or dissent. nonwhites must show proper gratitude (supporting Trump or marrying JD Vance) before they can speak critically of the country (in approved ways, of course)
jessicacalarco.com
Weaponized gratitude is a key tool in the abuser's toolkit. The goal is to convince the victim that they owe the abuser so much, they should feel guilty for wanting to complain.
labendz.bsky.social
Problems persist. The original issue was elevated traffic (which no one could have expected?!!!). The company said that new issues may resolve shortly and they will make their announcement if people should bring their physical IDs.
labendz.bsky.social
Reports of E-doklady [electronic ID] services in Czechia failing to function for voters who have not recently opened the app, adding delays to voting. The company said that it will resolve the problem within tens of minutes [this makes idiomatic sense in Czech and means, well, within tens of...].
labendz.bsky.social
Reports of E-doklady [electronic ID] services in Czechia failing to function for voters who have not recently opened the app, adding delays to voting. The company said that it will resolve the problem within tens of minutes [this makes idiomatic sense in Czech and means, well, within tens of...].
labendz.bsky.social
The “beta” energy of I’m still registered to vote from my parents’ basement is just “A1, that’s how steak is done” delicious.
jsweetli.bsky.social
SCOOP: PA prosecutors were alerted to possible voting irregularities by one of MAGA's leading voices. A long paper trail shows Jack Posobiec has been living in Maryland but voting using his parent's address in Pennsylvania for years. Me with @marisakabas.bsky.social

slate.com/news-and-pol...
MAGA’s “Voter Fraud” Watchdog Votes in a Swing State. He Doesn’t Live There.
A long paper trail shows that Jack Posobiec casts a ballot in one state and lives in another.
slate.com
labendz.bsky.social
Voter fraud (allegedly) by a leading Republican conspiracist.

I couldn’t care less about the hypocrisy, which is an incoherent claim from within a White-Christian-Nationalist framework.

I just want him shamed and to suffer all possible legal consequences.
jsweetli.bsky.social
SCOOP: PA prosecutors were alerted to possible voting irregularities by one of MAGA's leading voices. A long paper trail shows Jack Posobiec has been living in Maryland but voting using his parent's address in Pennsylvania for years. Me with @marisakabas.bsky.social

slate.com/news-and-pol...
MAGA’s “Voter Fraud” Watchdog Votes in a Swing State. He Doesn’t Live There.
A long paper trail shows that Jack Posobiec casts a ballot in one state and lives in another.
slate.com
labendz.bsky.social
Regional State Security in the Czech city of Ustí nad Labem claimed in 1960 to have uncovered a 9-member cell of middle-schoolers who had formed a "revanchist group."

Allegedly snuck a paper into teacher's stuff: "Jews out, Long live Adenauer and Speidl, they are friends, commies are wreckers."
labendz.bsky.social
The answer, in Czech, is fascinating. Such stamps began appearing in late 1938 in the occupied Sudeten lands.
www.frantisekbenes.cz/a-ten-den-js...
labendz.bsky.social
QUESTION (that most people would likely ask me, but I don't know!):

When the Nazis occupied Bohemia and Moravia, did they continue using postage stamps from the first republic, transforming their meaning by stamping them with a swastika and the words "Wir sind frei"?