Benjamin Sharma 🇨🇦 🇺🇸
@benjamin.bsky.social
Torontonian by birth and residence. Canadian and American by nationality. Fan of history, liberal democracy, and our constitutional monarchy. Also a fan of the Leafs, Jays, Bills, and Raps. Plays video games from time to time.
Pinned
The USA men's Olympic roster is here.
It’s clear the United States feels confident that its style of play at the 4 Nations Face-Off and the camaraderie created within the team can lead to a third Olympic gold medal and the first since 1980 in Milan.
It’s clear the United States feels confident that its style of play at the 4 Nations Face-Off and the camaraderie created within the team can lead to a third Olympic gold medal and the first since 1980 in Milan.
Team USA is basically the Florida Panthers.
The captain is someone soft-spoken and widely-respected, and could win a Lady Byng (Sasha Barkov, Auston Matthews), but the team’s personality is set by alternate/assistant captain Matthew Tkachuk.
The captain is someone soft-spoken and widely-respected, and could win a Lady Byng (Sasha Barkov, Auston Matthews), but the team’s personality is set by alternate/assistant captain Matthew Tkachuk.
Oh I don’t know, Team Canada and Team USA look like they’re having fun, albeit in different ways. (Men’s hockey Team Canada and Team USA, I mean.)
For men's hockey's big three, Teams USA, Sweden and Canada, performing as best as they can simply isn’t sufficient.
The result has to be there.
Other Olympic teams are afforded the luxury of celebrating every win. But for them, anything less than gold is considered a national failure.
The result has to be there.
Other Olympic teams are afforded the luxury of celebrating every win. But for them, anything less than gold is considered a national failure.
February 12, 2026 at 5:09 PM
Oh I don’t know, Team Canada and Team USA look like they’re having fun, albeit in different ways. (Men’s hockey Team Canada and Team USA, I mean.)
So this tells us that Jayapal came in knowing exactly which documents she wanted to see unredacted versions of.
That is what someone who is well-briefed should do.
That is what someone who is well-briefed should do.
A Reuters photographer captured this image of a page from Pam Bondi's "burn book," which she used to counter any questions from Democratic lawmakers during an unhinged hearing today.
It looks like the DOJ monitored members of Congress’s searches of the unredacted Epstein files.
Just wow.
It looks like the DOJ monitored members of Congress’s searches of the unredacted Epstein files.
Just wow.
February 12, 2026 at 12:54 AM
So this tells us that Jayapal came in knowing exactly which documents she wanted to see unredacted versions of.
That is what someone who is well-briefed should do.
That is what someone who is well-briefed should do.
We’ll see how the Senate vote goes (just need a simple majority I believe), but my hopes are not high.
Reuters: U.S. HOUSE BACKS RESOLUTION THAT WOULD END TRUMP'S CANADA TARIFFS BY 219 TO 211
February 11, 2026 at 11:39 PM
We’ll see how the Senate vote goes (just need a simple majority I believe), but my hopes are not high.
“I did not choose to be put in this position, and it hurts to have to be in it. We have had contact, and he is aware of my opinions on this.”
🔥 🔥 🔥
(I think the public generally agrees with her.)
🔥 🔥 🔥
(I think the public generally agrees with her.)
Speaking on condition of anonymity to the Norwegian tabloid VG, the woman said it will be “hard to forgive” Laegreid for cheating on her — and for turning his confession into a public moment following his medal-winning performance.
Read more:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/703...
Read more:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/703...
Ex-girlfriend of Norwegian Olympian speaks out after public cheating confession
The former girlfriend of Olympic bronze medalist Sturla Holm Laegreid told a newspaper it will be "hard to forgive" his infidelity.
www.nytimes.com
February 11, 2026 at 4:30 PM
“I did not choose to be put in this position, and it hurts to have to be in it. We have had contact, and he is aware of my opinions on this.”
🔥 🔥 🔥
(I think the public generally agrees with her.)
🔥 🔥 🔥
(I think the public generally agrees with her.)
In a normal time this from the Post is a position I’d have some sympathy for.
But in the context of *waves hand at 47’s attempts to rule by decree* all this, a piece like that is inherently ridiculous.
But in the context of *waves hand at 47’s attempts to rule by decree* all this, a piece like that is inherently ridiculous.
February 11, 2026 at 2:33 PM
In a normal time this from the Post is a position I’d have some sympathy for.
But in the context of *waves hand at 47’s attempts to rule by decree* all this, a piece like that is inherently ridiculous.
But in the context of *waves hand at 47’s attempts to rule by decree* all this, a piece like that is inherently ridiculous.
Canada: “not even then!”
Nothing with these deals will ever be truly final until they're passed by Congress and hardwired into law: "US Changes India Trade Deal Statement, Sparking Confusion" share.google/IiKHQNm8wv7i...
February 11, 2026 at 2:30 PM
Canada: “not even then!”
“You must show your papers, this is Soviet Russia” is such a strange place for the party of Ronald Reagan to end up in.
Markwayne Mullin defends "show me your papers": "If you're here legally, there's nothing to hide. Most people already are walking around with a government-issued ID, meaning your Real ID or your driver's license. If you go board a train here, you gotta show your ID."
February 11, 2026 at 2:27 PM
“You must show your papers, this is Soviet Russia” is such a strange place for the party of Ronald Reagan to end up in.
Willy can do what he wants, he scores in Games 6s and 7s.
Of ALL the fucking players from whom we demand loyalty to pro team over country, it seems kind of stupid to suddenly play hardball with the only Leafs forward who has consistently delivered in the playoffs.
February 11, 2026 at 1:36 AM
Willy can do what he wants, he scores in Games 6s and 7s.
Literally how liberal democracy works, and the United States still has the organs and institutions of a liberal democracy.
okay but like the burden is literally on us
February 10, 2026 at 6:53 PM
Literally how liberal democracy works, and the United States still has the organs and institutions of a liberal democracy.
Generally agree with Jonah Goldberg here, as I generally agree with Jonah Goldberg — basically yeah 47’s a fascist but that doesn’t help anything in terms of persuading people.
"The word fascism has reached the point of diminishing returns." | Jonah Goldberg on The Dispatch Podcast
https://thedispatch.com/podcast/dispatch-podcast/is-it-time-to-panic/
https://thedispatch.com/podcast/dispatch-podcast/is-it-time-to-panic/
February 10, 2026 at 6:34 PM
Generally agree with Jonah Goldberg here, as I generally agree with Jonah Goldberg — basically yeah 47’s a fascist but that doesn’t help anything in terms of persuading people.
Fine, leave the Gordie Howe Bridge closed until 2029.
Trump: “The first thing China will do is terminate ALL Ice Hockey being played in Canada, and permanently eliminate The Stanley Cup.”
February 9, 2026 at 11:54 PM
Fine, leave the Gordie Howe Bridge closed until 2029.
2015-onwards got so depressing.
So many people I thought were sound/held sound views simply weren’t/didn’t.
So many people I thought were sound/held sound views simply weren’t/didn’t.
When I worked for Reason magazine during Trump's rise to power in 2016, I was explicitly forbidden by the editor in chief from writing about Trump's racism, or the violence and racism at his rallies.
It was a "sideshow," I was told.
It was a "sideshow," I was told.
Weird. I tried to warn libertarians about Trump
February 9, 2026 at 9:51 PM
2015-onwards got so depressing.
So many people I thought were sound/held sound views simply weren’t/didn’t.
So many people I thought were sound/held sound views simply weren’t/didn’t.
Interesting.
Makes sense. Fun to collect the different gear, I expect.
Makes sense. Fun to collect the different gear, I expect.
Scott Moir is at his first Olympics as a coach, and as expected, he's wearing the colours of each country in kiss and cry.
Canadian fits for Marie-Jade Lauriault and Romain Le Gac.
And the Stars and Stripes for Americans, Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko.
Canadian fits for Marie-Jade Lauriault and Romain Le Gac.
And the Stars and Stripes for Americans, Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko.
February 9, 2026 at 9:48 PM
Interesting.
Makes sense. Fun to collect the different gear, I expect.
Makes sense. Fun to collect the different gear, I expect.
Didn’t he get his masters there?
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is ending graduate-level programs for military personnel at Harvard University, claiming that the Ivy League institution has become a breeding ground for “radical ideologies.”
Pentagon cuts academic ties with ‘woke’ Harvard to focus on training ‘warriors’
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is ending graduate-level programs for military personnel at the school, which he claimed had become a breeding ground for “radical ideologies.”
www.washingtonpost.com
February 9, 2026 at 8:21 PM
Didn’t he get his masters there?
If Carney wants to go to the gold medal games for men’s and women’s hockey I wouldn’t hold it against him, but otherwise the Minister of Sport is probably the correct level of cabinet attendance?
Maybe the Minister of Foreign Affairs could stop in for a weekend but only for an important meeting.
Maybe the Minister of Foreign Affairs could stop in for a weekend but only for an important meeting.
I think he might have a country to run
www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/artic...
www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/artic...
Where’s Mark Carney? Sadly, not where he should be: the Olympics
The Prime Minister should be in Milan, projecting confidence and vigour in what is the most confident and vigorous environment on the planet
www.theglobeandmail.com
February 9, 2026 at 8:09 PM
If Carney wants to go to the gold medal games for men’s and women’s hockey I wouldn’t hold it against him, but otherwise the Minister of Sport is probably the correct level of cabinet attendance?
Maybe the Minister of Foreign Affairs could stop in for a weekend but only for an important meeting.
Maybe the Minister of Foreign Affairs could stop in for a weekend but only for an important meeting.
So about the Super Bowl halftime show — tuned in for that, not the game — it was quite a spectacle.
I’d say that level of Latin culture isn’t really new for the USA (see Desi Arnaz, Ricky Martin, etc.), but what’s new is that there was no attempt to translate.
Don’t mind it, but it’s interesting.
I’d say that level of Latin culture isn’t really new for the USA (see Desi Arnaz, Ricky Martin, etc.), but what’s new is that there was no attempt to translate.
Don’t mind it, but it’s interesting.
February 9, 2026 at 4:51 PM
So about the Super Bowl halftime show — tuned in for that, not the game — it was quite a spectacle.
I’d say that level of Latin culture isn’t really new for the USA (see Desi Arnaz, Ricky Martin, etc.), but what’s new is that there was no attempt to translate.
Don’t mind it, but it’s interesting.
I’d say that level of Latin culture isn’t really new for the USA (see Desi Arnaz, Ricky Martin, etc.), but what’s new is that there was no attempt to translate.
Don’t mind it, but it’s interesting.
Expected but still nice to see as a Leafs fan.
Same leadership group for Team USA as Four Nations, then. Matthews, Tkachuk, McAvoy.
Same leadership group for Team USA as Four Nations, then. Matthews, Tkachuk, McAvoy.
Auston Matthews has been named captain of team USA, as-well as Charlie Mcavoy and Matthew Tkachuk being named USA’s alternate captains. 🇺🇸
Per Chris Johnston.
Per Chris Johnston.
February 8, 2026 at 11:25 PM
Expected but still nice to see as a Leafs fan.
Same leadership group for Team USA as Four Nations, then. Matthews, Tkachuk, McAvoy.
Same leadership group for Team USA as Four Nations, then. Matthews, Tkachuk, McAvoy.
She was laughing about it for a reason.
Must’ve just reacted instinctively to tip it that high.
Must’ve just reacted instinctively to tip it that high.
Sarah Nurse has a goal overturned. May have been the highest high stick in hockey history
February 7, 2026 at 8:31 PM
She was laughing about it for a reason.
Must’ve just reacted instinctively to tip it that high.
Must’ve just reacted instinctively to tip it that high.
I thought it when I saw the photo too, but was avoiding posting it. :p
(But of course he would post about seeing his doppelgänger.)
(But of course he would post about seeing his doppelgänger.)
so, some personal news
Was this very mid-2000s emo person press-ganged into ICE servitude?
February 6, 2026 at 4:22 PM
I thought it when I saw the photo too, but was avoiding posting it. :p
(But of course he would post about seeing his doppelgänger.)
(But of course he would post about seeing his doppelgänger.)
Sorry to see this, though I knew the day would come. Hoped there’d be a season to say farewell to Buck.
Given the suddenness of it, hope the Jays put him on the Level of Excellence ASAP while we can still have him see it live.
Given the suddenness of it, hope the Jays put him on the Level of Excellence ASAP while we can still have him see it live.
Buck Martinez announces retirement from Blue Jays broadcast booth
Buck Martinez announces retirement from Blue Jays broadcast booth
The former catcher began calling games regularly in 1987.
www.thestar.com
February 6, 2026 at 4:16 PM
Sorry to see this, though I knew the day would come. Hoped there’d be a season to say farewell to Buck.
Given the suddenness of it, hope the Jays put him on the Level of Excellence ASAP while we can still have him see it live.
Given the suddenness of it, hope the Jays put him on the Level of Excellence ASAP while we can still have him see it live.
A DHS lawyer acting as an AUSA asking to be held in contempt was something…
www.nbcnews.com/politics/jus...
www.nbcnews.com/politics/jus...
Government attorney who told judge in ICE case, 'This job sucks,' removed from detail
Julie Le made the remark while she was representing the U.S. attorney’s office in Minnesota, where federal officers are conducting a massive immigration crackdown.
www.nbcnews.com
February 5, 2026 at 4:44 PM
A DHS lawyer acting as an AUSA asking to be held in contempt was something…
www.nbcnews.com/politics/jus...
www.nbcnews.com/politics/jus...
Welp, guess it’s time to finally finish Tokyo Xanadu.
February 5, 2026 at 2:47 PM
Welp, guess it’s time to finally finish Tokyo Xanadu.
If the Gavin McKenna story re his mom checks out, Team McKenna.
If we have to evacuate him to Canada and he can only play for a Canadian NHL team in Canadian games, like Phil Watson in 1943-44, so be it.
If we have to evacuate him to Canada and he can only play for a Canadian NHL team in Canadian games, like Phil Watson in 1943-44, so be it.
February 5, 2026 at 3:41 AM
If the Gavin McKenna story re his mom checks out, Team McKenna.
If we have to evacuate him to Canada and he can only play for a Canadian NHL team in Canadian games, like Phil Watson in 1943-44, so be it.
If we have to evacuate him to Canada and he can only play for a Canadian NHL team in Canadian games, like Phil Watson in 1943-44, so be it.