Brandi Collins-Dexter
@brandicd.bsky.social
Author of Black Skinhead: Reflections in Blackness & Our Political Future. Cat mom (Ella & Satchel). Researcher. Techno optimist in an antitrust goth phase. Chicago is my ❤️, Baltimore is my 🏡.
https://linktr.ee/BrandingBrandi
https://linktr.ee/BrandingBrandi
Pinned
I gather some of ya’ll have no idea why you’re following me. As a quick intro--
I’m Brandi. I rant about (& organize against) the dangers of the tech enterprise. I fight for indie/community owned news & liberatory tech. I ❤️ wrestling, pop culture, Black people & the Orioles. I write sometimes. Hi!
I’m Brandi. I rant about (& organize against) the dangers of the tech enterprise. I fight for indie/community owned news & liberatory tech. I ❤️ wrestling, pop culture, Black people & the Orioles. I write sometimes. Hi!
Reposted by Brandi Collins-Dexter
With Kanye claiming he's a Nazi and selling swastika T-shirts, I'm reminded of one of the more prescient books of the last few years from scholar Brandi Collins-Dexter (@brandicd.bsky.social). I interviewed her about the book three years ago. It predicted a lot more than just Kanye's latest turn.
Black Skinhead: A Conversation with Brandi Collins-Dexter | TechPolicy.Press
Part media criticism, part memoir, and part warning, the book takes us to the fringes of Black communities to make sense of our political moment.
www.techpolicy.press
February 11, 2025 at 3:49 AM
With Kanye claiming he's a Nazi and selling swastika T-shirts, I'm reminded of one of the more prescient books of the last few years from scholar Brandi Collins-Dexter (@brandicd.bsky.social). I interviewed her about the book three years ago. It predicted a lot more than just Kanye's latest turn.
Running this back…
This article about How South African (primarily white) men are changing the course of American democracy lives rent free in my mind... So much of politics are local but we can‘t ignore how history & global politics influence our reality. Some tidbits +
www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024...
www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024...
How SA men are changing the course of American democracy
What do figures like Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, David Sacks, Joel Pollak and Patrick Soon-Shiong have in common? They are public figures of considerable power and influence in the US – who all spent some...
www.dailymaverick.co.za
February 6, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Running this back…
Reposted by Brandi Collins-Dexter
"CIA releases docs on Latino civil rights-era surveillance"
www.axios.com/2025/01/06/c...
www.axios.com/2025/01/06/c...
CIA releases docs on Latino civil rights-era surveillance
The documents confirm Latino civil rights pioneers' long-held suspicions about surveillance.
www.axios.com
January 8, 2025 at 12:20 PM
"CIA releases docs on Latino civil rights-era surveillance"
www.axios.com/2025/01/06/c...
www.axios.com/2025/01/06/c...
Reposted by Brandi Collins-Dexter
Regulation matters
Meta has "no plans to end fact-checking in the EU", the company clarified and "will review its EU content moderation obligations before making changes" www.politico.eu/article/mark...
Zuck goes full Musk, dumps Facebook fact-checking program
Meta will replace it with so-called community notes like on the X platform. The content moderation changes won’t be rolled out in the EU for now.
www.politico.eu
January 8, 2025 at 10:52 AM
Regulation matters
Reposted by Brandi Collins-Dexter
Donna Ladd writes on an anonymous attempt to discredit the Mississippi Free Press using a mailer with false statements about the publication and its reporters.
Democracy | Jackson Mailer Attacks MFP, Donors (Again)
Donna Ladd writes on an anonymous attempt to discredit the Mississippi Free Press using a mailer with false statements about the publication and its reporters.
buff.ly
December 31, 2024 at 7:50 PM
Donna Ladd writes on an anonymous attempt to discredit the Mississippi Free Press using a mailer with false statements about the publication and its reporters.
Reposted by Brandi Collins-Dexter
The city of New Orleans uses the Mississippi River as drinking water. Our current governor begged the state to remove funding from the city of New Orleans to fix the pumps and the decaying sewage and water system UNTIL the DA agrees to prosecute women for abortions. www.essence.com/news/louisia...
December 31, 2024 at 4:30 PM
The city of New Orleans uses the Mississippi River as drinking water. Our current governor begged the state to remove funding from the city of New Orleans to fix the pumps and the decaying sewage and water system UNTIL the DA agrees to prosecute women for abortions. www.essence.com/news/louisia...
Reposted by Brandi Collins-Dexter
As the year comes to a close, I remain grateful for all of the support I've received. I'm hoping to get to $16,000 by this time tomorrow. Please consider sharing this link to help me reach that goal.
www.gofundme.com/f/community-...
www.gofundme.com/f/community-...
Donate to Community Support for Aura Bogado, organized by Jonathan Jones
Hi, my name is Jonathan Jones, and I’m a work colleague of Aura Bogado. Aura is an aw… Jonathan Jones needs your support for Community Support for Aura Bogado
www.gofundme.com
December 31, 2024 at 5:19 PM
As the year comes to a close, I remain grateful for all of the support I've received. I'm hoping to get to $16,000 by this time tomorrow. Please consider sharing this link to help me reach that goal.
www.gofundme.com/f/community-...
www.gofundme.com/f/community-...
Reposted by Brandi Collins-Dexter
It is fascinating how just being wealthy affords Elon positive traits that are completely contrary to what we see with our own eyes
“The left was very successful the last four years in bringing a negative connotation to MAGA, and I think they lost that battle the day that Elon Musk came out in support [of Trump], because now all of a sudden it just became punk rock to be Republican."
'Punk rock to be Republican': Lawmaker claims Elon Musk has made GOP cool
Tech billionaire Elon Musk made the Republican Party a "punk rock" group that is cool to join, a state lawmaker from Nevada told a Politico reporter.Writer David Siders recalled the conversation as he...
www.rawstory.com
December 31, 2024 at 4:59 PM
It is fascinating how just being wealthy affords Elon positive traits that are completely contrary to what we see with our own eyes
A lot of the present discourse about H1-B visas mirror a debate I discussed in one of my essays (An Abomination of Obamanation) between Bannon & Candace Owens that was posted on YT (post 1/2)
Steve Bannon Joins War Against Elon as MAGA Implodes newrepublic.com/post/189694/... via @newrepublic.com 1
Steve Bannon Joins War Against Elon as MAGA Implodes newrepublic.com/post/189694/... via @newrepublic.com 1
Steve Bannon Joins War Against Elon Musk as MAGA Implodes
Donald Trump’s biggest fans are at each other’s throats over immigration, and H-1B visas in particular.
newrepublic.com
December 31, 2024 at 5:24 PM
A lot of the present discourse about H1-B visas mirror a debate I discussed in one of my essays (An Abomination of Obamanation) between Bannon & Candace Owens that was posted on YT (post 1/2)
Steve Bannon Joins War Against Elon as MAGA Implodes newrepublic.com/post/189694/... via @newrepublic.com 1
Steve Bannon Joins War Against Elon as MAGA Implodes newrepublic.com/post/189694/... via @newrepublic.com 1
Me, a Bears fan, watching the Vikings skywalk all over the Packers on their way to the playoffs:
December 29, 2024 at 11:49 PM
Me, a Bears fan, watching the Vikings skywalk all over the Packers on their way to the playoffs:
And I say this not as someone that is just giddy about nationstates but as someone who has been warning about, researching (& attempting to organize against) the rising tide of techno-authoritarianism for over a decade.The most effective tool we had was antitrust/regulation- watch them go to work.
Obviously Trump has always been a Ron Burgundy style empty vessel. Just like the first administration was made in Bannon’s image, this one will be made in Musk/Thiel’s image. It’s not clunky “MAGA,” it’s about making nationstates irrelevant. Project 2025 is window dressing, Zero to One is end game.
December 28, 2024 at 2:19 PM
And I say this not as someone that is just giddy about nationstates but as someone who has been warning about, researching (& attempting to organize against) the rising tide of techno-authoritarianism for over a decade.The most effective tool we had was antitrust/regulation- watch them go to work.
I am not a baseball expert, just a nosy fan. Even I knew Burnes was not coming back here just because he performed well & got along in the clubhouse. Man gave the most unenthusiastic press conference going to spring training & told his pregnant wife not to come here. How’d the O’s miss this?
December 28, 2024 at 2:04 PM
I am not a baseball expert, just a nosy fan. Even I knew Burnes was not coming back here just because he performed well & got along in the clubhouse. Man gave the most unenthusiastic press conference going to spring training & told his pregnant wife not to come here. How’d the O’s miss this?
Obviously Trump has always been a Ron Burgundy style empty vessel. Just like the first administration was made in Bannon’s image, this one will be made in Musk/Thiel’s image. It’s not clunky “MAGA,” it’s about making nationstates irrelevant. Project 2025 is window dressing, Zero to One is end game.
December 28, 2024 at 2:01 PM
Obviously Trump has always been a Ron Burgundy style empty vessel. Just like the first administration was made in Bannon’s image, this one will be made in Musk/Thiel’s image. It’s not clunky “MAGA,” it’s about making nationstates irrelevant. Project 2025 is window dressing, Zero to One is end game.
Happy #Caturday 😻
I’ve been pretty sick. When I’m home, these little guys haven’t left my side. Especially the alpha girl cat. One thing about cats, when they love you, they love fiercely. They also love to start singing as soon as I’m even slightly awake, which is sweet but also kinda creepy.
I’ve been pretty sick. When I’m home, these little guys haven’t left my side. Especially the alpha girl cat. One thing about cats, when they love you, they love fiercely. They also love to start singing as soon as I’m even slightly awake, which is sweet but also kinda creepy.
December 28, 2024 at 10:58 AM
Happy #Caturday 😻
I’ve been pretty sick. When I’m home, these little guys haven’t left my side. Especially the alpha girl cat. One thing about cats, when they love you, they love fiercely. They also love to start singing as soon as I’m even slightly awake, which is sweet but also kinda creepy.
I’ve been pretty sick. When I’m home, these little guys haven’t left my side. Especially the alpha girl cat. One thing about cats, when they love you, they love fiercely. They also love to start singing as soon as I’m even slightly awake, which is sweet but also kinda creepy.
Thank you for this, I’m so glad you’re reading it and digging it! And the Dusty Rhodes/populism essay is definitely one of my favorite pieces I’ve ever done.
December 21, 2024 at 5:38 PM
Thank you for this, I’m so glad you’re reading it and digging it! And the Dusty Rhodes/populism essay is definitely one of my favorite pieces I’ve ever done.
This is absolutely a trash move by @motherjones.com -- would like to know if there’s ethical news outlets (& nonprofits for that matter) not just talking the talk but actually doing the thing when it comes to internal cultural. Would love to put my end of year donations to THOSE places.
I was unexpectedly laid off from @motherjones.com on Friday the 13th. I’ve been deprived of direct access to my Google Drive, which contains seven years worth of work. I am also ineligible for unemployment. This is a terrible Christmas for me and my family.
If you have leads for work, pls lmk.
If you have leads for work, pls lmk.
December 20, 2024 at 10:06 PM
This is absolutely a trash move by @motherjones.com -- would like to know if there’s ethical news outlets (& nonprofits for that matter) not just talking the talk but actually doing the thing when it comes to internal cultural. Would love to put my end of year donations to THOSE places.
Reposted by Brandi Collins-Dexter
BREAKING: The Teamsters are dramatically escalating their strike and taking it to Amazon’s largest NYC warehouse.
Beginning at midnight tonight they will picket the massive facility with 5,500 workers.
JFK8 on Staten Island is the first unionized Amazon warehouse.
Beginning at midnight tonight they will picket the massive facility with 5,500 workers.
JFK8 on Staten Island is the first unionized Amazon warehouse.
December 20, 2024 at 9:47 PM
BREAKING: The Teamsters are dramatically escalating their strike and taking it to Amazon’s largest NYC warehouse.
Beginning at midnight tonight they will picket the massive facility with 5,500 workers.
JFK8 on Staten Island is the first unionized Amazon warehouse.
Beginning at midnight tonight they will picket the massive facility with 5,500 workers.
JFK8 on Staten Island is the first unionized Amazon warehouse.
Journalist friends & folks connected to media. The most badass reporter I know, @aurabogado.bsky.social is on the market. A seasoned immigration reporter, has done some incredible investigative pieces. Experienced on eitorial strategy & digital engagement. Always gets her story. Plz spread the word.
December 20, 2024 at 9:51 PM
Journalist friends & folks connected to media. The most badass reporter I know, @aurabogado.bsky.social is on the market. A seasoned immigration reporter, has done some incredible investigative pieces. Experienced on eitorial strategy & digital engagement. Always gets her story. Plz spread the word.
Watching Yankees fans pretending to take it in stride that Soto went to their “little brother” team is hilarious…until I remember this probably means Tony & Corbin are almost certainly headed up to the Bronx… 🤦🏾♀️
December 9, 2024 at 2:47 PM
Watching Yankees fans pretending to take it in stride that Soto went to their “little brother” team is hilarious…until I remember this probably means Tony & Corbin are almost certainly headed up to the Bronx… 🤦🏾♀️
Reposted by Brandi Collins-Dexter
We have to build and rely on our own tools. The company obviously doesn’t have the stomach to stand up to bigotry in all forms. And this is likely only the beginning of Bsky carving out exemptions for “VIPs”
- Jesse gets banned again
- Jesse is unbanned
- multiple trans people are making blocklists and talking about how he’s personally harassed them for years
- nothing happens
(2/2)
- Jesse is unbanned
- multiple trans people are making blocklists and talking about how he’s personally harassed them for years
- nothing happens
(2/2)
December 7, 2024 at 11:27 PM
We have to build and rely on our own tools. The company obviously doesn’t have the stomach to stand up to bigotry in all forms. And this is likely only the beginning of Bsky carving out exemptions for “VIPs”
I can make peace with Corbin Burnes signing with a West Coast team. There will be no peace if he signs with the Yankees.
December 5, 2024 at 3:54 PM
I can make peace with Corbin Burnes signing with a West Coast team. There will be no peace if he signs with the Yankees.
Reposted by Brandi Collins-Dexter
not to be redundant but I think it might be nice if the U.S. press informed the public that Trump's plan to take a hatchet to federal consumer, labor, environmental, and public safety protections is going to kill, injure, or defraud millions of people
December 5, 2024 at 3:00 PM
not to be redundant but I think it might be nice if the U.S. press informed the public that Trump's plan to take a hatchet to federal consumer, labor, environmental, and public safety protections is going to kill, injure, or defraud millions of people
Perhaps also a good time to revisit the American Experience episodes on the Gilded Age and the 1920 bombing of Wall Street before they officially gut PBS & wipe away all reminders of the longstanding struggle to try to make America great (& how elites hindered progress). www.pbs.org/wgbh/america...
The Bombing of Wall Street | American Experience | PBS
The story behind a mostly-forgotten 1920 bombing in the nation’s financial center that left 38 dead and remains unsolved today.
www.pbs.org
December 5, 2024 at 3:04 PM
Perhaps also a good time to revisit the American Experience episodes on the Gilded Age and the 1920 bombing of Wall Street before they officially gut PBS & wipe away all reminders of the longstanding struggle to try to make America great (& how elites hindered progress). www.pbs.org/wgbh/america...
For the record: racism is not economically sound. It has cost the U.S. Trillions & cost society in ways that can‘ be quantified. The privatization of governent will do irreparable damage to the so called American dream.
U.S. Economy Lost $16 Trillion Because Of Racism,
www.npr.org/sections/liv...
U.S. Economy Lost $16 Trillion Because Of Racism,
www.npr.org/sections/liv...
www.npr.org
December 5, 2024 at 2:54 PM
For the record: racism is not economically sound. It has cost the U.S. Trillions & cost society in ways that can‘ be quantified. The privatization of governent will do irreparable damage to the so called American dream.
U.S. Economy Lost $16 Trillion Because Of Racism,
www.npr.org/sections/liv...
U.S. Economy Lost $16 Trillion Because Of Racism,
www.npr.org/sections/liv...
This article about How South African (primarily white) men are changing the course of American democracy lives rent free in my mind... So much of politics are local but we can‘t ignore how history & global politics influence our reality. Some tidbits +
www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024...
www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024...
How SA men are changing the course of American democracy
What do figures like Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, David Sacks, Joel Pollak and Patrick Soon-Shiong have in common? They are public figures of considerable power and influence in the US – who all spent some...
www.dailymaverick.co.za
December 5, 2024 at 2:19 PM
This article about How South African (primarily white) men are changing the course of American democracy lives rent free in my mind... So much of politics are local but we can‘t ignore how history & global politics influence our reality. Some tidbits +
www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024...
www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024...