Jonathan Blanks
@blanksslate.bsky.social
D.C.-based criminal justice writer and socio-cultural critic who spends a lot of time at the library.
Hoosier by birth and college education.
Some would call me a libertarian. I would not.
https://theblanksslate.substack.com/
Signal: @jpblanks.36
Hoosier by birth and college education.
Some would call me a libertarian. I would not.
https://theblanksslate.substack.com/
Signal: @jpblanks.36
Pinned
Jonathan Blanks
@blanksslate.bsky.social
· Jan 27
Now comes the hard part
Making the country a better place starts with being a better American
theblanksslate.substack.com
Anyway, really think about how you are on here/online.
Try to focus your attention where it can do the most good, because being fucked up about everything all the time is not a healthy way to live. theblanksslate.substack.com/p/now-comes-...
Try to focus your attention where it can do the most good, because being fucked up about everything all the time is not a healthy way to live. theblanksslate.substack.com/p/now-comes-...
Things that can all be true simultaneously:
-absolutely no excuse for violent attack on NG
-their deployment is wasteful security theatre that makes them less safe
-the administration is chickenshit all the way down
-absolutely no excuse for violent attack on NG
-their deployment is wasteful security theatre that makes them less safe
-the administration is chickenshit all the way down
Trump wants another 500 National Guard in D.C. after shooting near White House
Trump wants another 500 National Guard in D.C. after shooting near White House
The White House has not said how long it plans to keep the National Guard members in D.C.
www.axios.com
November 26, 2025 at 10:33 PM
Things that can all be true simultaneously:
-absolutely no excuse for violent attack on NG
-their deployment is wasteful security theatre that makes them less safe
-the administration is chickenshit all the way down
-absolutely no excuse for violent attack on NG
-their deployment is wasteful security theatre that makes them less safe
-the administration is chickenshit all the way down
Reposted by Jonathan Blanks
Please take a watch:
And now today… zeteo.com/p/trump-ice-...
Trump Tried to Disappear This Children’s Hospital Muslim Chaplain. His Community Never Stopped Fighting to Free Him
Ayman Soliman speaks to Asawin about his ICE abduction, his time in detention, and how his community rose up to take on a lumbering, fascist behemoth – and won.
zeteo.com
November 26, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Please take a watch:
Reposted by Jonathan Blanks
Cincinnati crew, assemble
Ayman Soliman was a beloved children’s hospital chaplain in the Cincinnati area.
The Trump administration however tried to smear him as a possible terrorist, jailing him for 73 days.
Ayman speaks to @swin24.bsky.social in a Zeteo town hall today at 2pm ET.
Sign up:
zeteo.com/p/2pm-et-tue...
The Trump administration however tried to smear him as a possible terrorist, jailing him for 73 days.
Ayman speaks to @swin24.bsky.social in a Zeteo town hall today at 2pm ET.
Sign up:
zeteo.com/p/2pm-et-tue...
November 25, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Cincinnati crew, assemble
Reposted by Jonathan Blanks
If you've enjoyed my podcast any time in the last year, you should know that a pretty big chunk of those episodes were based on articles from @liberalcurrents.com. It's an extraordinary publication, and they're raising money to take it to the next level. I encourage you to support it.
Donate to The Liberal Currents Startup Fund, organized by Adam Gurri
To fight fascism we need opposition media with a backbone. Liberal Currents is that. Help… Adam Gurri needs your support for The Liberal Currents Startup Fund
gofund.me
November 25, 2025 at 6:48 PM
If you've enjoyed my podcast any time in the last year, you should know that a pretty big chunk of those episodes were based on articles from @liberalcurrents.com. It's an extraordinary publication, and they're raising money to take it to the next level. I encourage you to support it.
Reposted by Jonathan Blanks
I’m a big fan of Liberal Currents, whose work I’ve found particularly invigorating over this last year.
To fight fascism we need opposition media with a backbone. 𝘓𝘪𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘊𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 is that. Help us grow our voice. www.gofundme.com/f/the-libera...
Donate to The Liberal Currents Startup Fund, organized by Adam Gurri
To fight fascism we need opposition media with a backbone. Liberal Currents is that. Help… Adam Gurri needs your support for The Liberal Currents Startup Fund
www.gofundme.com
November 24, 2025 at 11:36 AM
I’m a big fan of Liberal Currents, whose work I’ve found particularly invigorating over this last year.
Reposted by Jonathan Blanks
Just heard that after 27 years on Louisiana’s death row, Chris “Jimmie” Duncan is finally getting out. Not exactly sure when, but I’m told he’ll be home for Thanksgiving.
This is wonderful news.
Here’s my 2009 piece on the forensic fraud that got him convicted:
This is wonderful news.
Here’s my 2009 piece on the forensic fraud that got him convicted:
Forensics Fraud?
Experts say this video shows a doctor manufacturing evidence. So why is a man still on death row?
reason.com
November 22, 2025 at 12:29 AM
Just heard that after 27 years on Louisiana’s death row, Chris “Jimmie” Duncan is finally getting out. Not exactly sure when, but I’m told he’ll be home for Thanksgiving.
This is wonderful news.
Here’s my 2009 piece on the forensic fraud that got him convicted:
This is wonderful news.
Here’s my 2009 piece on the forensic fraud that got him convicted:
Imagine naming your round-up-hardworking-brown-people operation after a story written by the same man who wrote this.
Some pig, indeed.
Some pig, indeed.
November 18, 2025 at 2:55 AM
Imagine naming your round-up-hardworking-brown-people operation after a story written by the same man who wrote this.
Some pig, indeed.
Some pig, indeed.
In my agita, I am sure I would use some highfalutin words, but God help me if I sound like a man who turned to garbled interpretations of Marcus Aurelius after my estranged partner wrote 10th grade love notes to any number of politicos two decades my senior.
I’m just saying, if I were to write a book about an inappropriate relationship with a source I’d at least be able to trust that @blanksslate.bsky.social would let me read his newsletter response to make sure his allusions weren’t too discordantly highflown.
November 18, 2025 at 1:43 AM
In my agita, I am sure I would use some highfalutin words, but God help me if I sound like a man who turned to garbled interpretations of Marcus Aurelius after my estranged partner wrote 10th grade love notes to any number of politicos two decades my senior.
Reposted by Jonathan Blanks
I feel attacked.😂
Madonna’s “Borderline” was released closer to D-Day than to today. You’re welcome!
a man standing in front of a wall with the words over the borderline on the bottom
ALT: a man standing in front of a wall with the words over the borderline on the bottom
media.tenor.com
November 16, 2025 at 3:45 PM
I feel attacked.😂
Reposted by Jonathan Blanks
Oh wow @reuters.com got the photo here:
November 14, 2025 at 9:25 PM
Oh wow @reuters.com got the photo here:
speaking of supposedly objective gatekeepers...
Bari Weiss' first weeks at CBS News marked by all-out warfare against professional ethics standards in the newsroom, part of an effort to convert it from journalism into rank political propaganda.
Bari Weiss wants to take down ‘too much power’ CBS News Standards unit: sources
EXCLUSIVE: Internal rumblings within the newsroom come after the S&P head resigned and the network disbanded its vaunted Race and Culture unit.
www.independent.co.uk
November 11, 2025 at 3:12 PM
speaking of supposedly objective gatekeepers...
Reposted by Jonathan Blanks
The far right is obsessed with Lord of the Rings and Musk keeps posting about "hobbits" because modern scientific racism owes more to fantasy worlds and gaming systems than genetic science, and they see both as effective mediums for right-wing propaganda www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
Why Elon Musk Needs Dungeons and Dragons to Be Racist
The fantastical roots of “scientific racism”
www.theatlantic.com
November 11, 2025 at 2:42 PM
The far right is obsessed with Lord of the Rings and Musk keeps posting about "hobbits" because modern scientific racism owes more to fantasy worlds and gaming systems than genetic science, and they see both as effective mediums for right-wing propaganda www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
The great @adamserwer.bsky.social takes on racism in D&D and Tolkien www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
Why Elon Musk Needs Dungeons and Dragons to Be Racist
The fantastical roots of “scientific racism”
www.theatlantic.com
November 11, 2025 at 2:53 PM
The great @adamserwer.bsky.social takes on racism in D&D and Tolkien www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
Reposted by Jonathan Blanks
I keep yelling this at my phone when I see these photos and I’m going to start yelling it here:
NEVER. POINT. YOUR FIREARM. AT ANYTHING. YOU DO NOT INTEND. TO DESTROY.
NEVER. POINT. YOUR FIREARM. AT ANYTHING. YOU DO NOT INTEND. TO DESTROY.
November 11, 2025 at 1:40 AM
I keep yelling this at my phone when I see these photos and I’m going to start yelling it here:
NEVER. POINT. YOUR FIREARM. AT ANYTHING. YOU DO NOT INTEND. TO DESTROY.
NEVER. POINT. YOUR FIREARM. AT ANYTHING. YOU DO NOT INTEND. TO DESTROY.
This whole thread is interesting, but whatever the backroom political logic of it all, a shutdown requires public-facing political support and I cannot imagine Schumer could get buy-in for another one in January.
This isn't something he can use again.
This isn't something he can use again.
November 10, 2025 at 2:55 PM
This whole thread is interesting, but whatever the backroom political logic of it all, a shutdown requires public-facing political support and I cannot imagine Schumer could get buy-in for another one in January.
This isn't something he can use again.
This isn't something he can use again.
Reposted by Jonathan Blanks
Look. A two-writer marriage is difficult. But a two-editor marriage? That’s just fun.
“I can tell you’re really mad when you use “sclerotic” and “rejuvenated” in the same Bluesky post.” - @daralind.bsky.social
November 10, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Look. A two-writer marriage is difficult. But a two-editor marriage? That’s just fun.
“I can tell you’re really mad when you use “sclerotic” and “rejuvenated” in the same Bluesky post.” - @daralind.bsky.social
November 10, 2025 at 1:50 PM
“I can tell you’re really mad when you use “sclerotic” and “rejuvenated” in the same Bluesky post.” - @daralind.bsky.social
The lessons Dems seem to have taken was that the country blames Congress for a shutdown and the median voter is right of center.
What they should have learned is elections matter, it's the economy stupid, and a sclerotic party that can't recognize these facts should be rejuvenated.
What they should have learned is elections matter, it's the economy stupid, and a sclerotic party that can't recognize these facts should be rejuvenated.
I was wondering last night if this generation of Dem leadership can't shake the trauma of 1994, when Schumer and Durbin were cutting their teeth in the House, taking all the wrong lessons from that era.
November 10, 2025 at 1:22 PM
The lessons Dems seem to have taken was that the country blames Congress for a shutdown and the median voter is right of center.
What they should have learned is elections matter, it's the economy stupid, and a sclerotic party that can't recognize these facts should be rejuvenated.
What they should have learned is elections matter, it's the economy stupid, and a sclerotic party that can't recognize these facts should be rejuvenated.
Reposted by Jonathan Blanks
Went back to the history of the Sicilian Mafia to illustrate something obvious but worth stating explicitly: The Trump administration behaves like an organized crime syndicate running a protection racket, not a representative government www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
November 8, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Went back to the history of the Sicilian Mafia to illustrate something obvious but worth stating explicitly: The Trump administration behaves like an organized crime syndicate running a protection racket, not a representative government www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
Reposted by Jonathan Blanks
For some reason, I just thought of this scene.
November 10, 2025 at 3:42 AM
For some reason, I just thought of this scene.
Going to a drug store and trying to buy anything off the shelf now locked in cabinets is like a much less efficient Service Merchandise.
#iamold
#iamold
November 9, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Going to a drug store and trying to buy anything off the shelf now locked in cabinets is like a much less efficient Service Merchandise.
#iamold
#iamold
Reposted by Jonathan Blanks
You'd hope most people would have an "are we the baddies?" moment if they had to acknowledge they're a member of a party with a substantial "Cool With Hitler" Wing.
Cool. What would you call the other wing then? www.nytimes.com/2025/11/03/u...
November 6, 2025 at 9:34 PM
You'd hope most people would have an "are we the baddies?" moment if they had to acknowledge they're a member of a party with a substantial "Cool With Hitler" Wing.
Reposted by Jonathan Blanks
That the executive can't spend money, and thus do stuff, without the regular and periodic approval of a representative legislature isn't some incidental hiccup. It is the core premise of the power of the purse, the most bedrock foundation of Anglo-American constitutionalism from time immemorial.
The American people expect Congress to get the hard work done.
It’s time we end shutdowns once and for all and get back to the real debate over the things that matter. | Sen. Lankford
https://www.nationalreview.com/2025/11/it-is-time-to-be-done-with-shutdowns/
It’s time we end shutdowns once and for all and get back to the real debate over the things that matter. | Sen. Lankford
https://www.nationalreview.com/2025/11/it-is-time-to-be-done-with-shutdowns/
It Is Time to Be Done with Shutdowns | National Review
We’re five weeks into a government shutdown. It should be the last one.
www.nationalreview.com
November 6, 2025 at 4:40 PM
That the executive can't spend money, and thus do stuff, without the regular and periodic approval of a representative legislature isn't some incidental hiccup. It is the core premise of the power of the purse, the most bedrock foundation of Anglo-American constitutionalism from time immemorial.
It's a case that never should have become a case because Congress should have exercised their clearly enumerated authorities and prerogatives.
Their refusal to do their damn jobs has been, since 2016, the most dangerous enabler of Trump's power.
Their refusal to do their damn jobs has been, since 2016, the most dangerous enabler of Trump's power.
Q: What's your response to Gorsuch's expressing concern about Trump usurping congressional authority?
MIKE JOHNSON: I don't find myself in disagreement with Justice Gorsuch too often, but I think he missed the mark on this one
MIKE JOHNSON: I don't find myself in disagreement with Justice Gorsuch too often, but I think he missed the mark on this one
November 6, 2025 at 4:38 PM
It's a case that never should have become a case because Congress should have exercised their clearly enumerated authorities and prerogatives.
Their refusal to do their damn jobs has been, since 2016, the most dangerous enabler of Trump's power.
Their refusal to do their damn jobs has been, since 2016, the most dangerous enabler of Trump's power.