Jessica
@jewishreader.bsky.social
Educator, Ph.D. in Religious Studies. Politics, pop culture, sports. Hoosier by birth, living in the SF Bay Area. Formerly RosenJ415/FirstLineHockey on The Bad Place.
Netanyahu and all his cronies belong in the Hague.
Netanyahu and all his cronies belong in the Hague.
The worst excesses of the revolving door. We need (but will not get) legal protections against government officials moving in and out of industry. (Also: biometric etc etc sure sounds like eugenics, yes?)
'Ex-CIA Chief Petraeus Briefs Officials in Israel Overseeing "New Gaza". A proponent of biometric gated communities in counterinsurgency, Petraeus now works for KKR whose portfolio includes companies that have technology and defense interests in Gaza.'
open.substack.com/pub/dropsite...
open.substack.com/pub/dropsite...
Ex-CIA Chief David Petraeus Briefs Officials in Israel Overseeing "New Gaza"
Petraeus, who was a major proponent of biometric gated communities in counterinsurgency, now works for KKR whose portfolio includes companies that have technology and defense interests in Gaza.
open.substack.com
January 30, 2026 at 5:02 PM
The worst excesses of the revolving door. We need (but will not get) legal protections against government officials moving in and out of industry. (Also: biometric etc etc sure sounds like eugenics, yes?)
Reposted by Jessica
Seen from space: an outbreak of aurorae over Eart's north polar region, apparently during February 2014. (6/n)
January 30, 2026 at 2:32 PM
Seen from space: an outbreak of aurorae over Eart's north polar region, apparently during February 2014. (6/n)
I am either Directing My Course To Port or I Have Something To Communicate
January 30, 2026 at 4:47 PM
I am either Directing My Course To Port or I Have Something To Communicate
Reposted by Jessica
very fun to think that there are at least four votes for "the president can unilaterally rewrite a constitutional amendment"
A different kind of April fools
*SUPREME COURT SETS BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP ARGUMENTS FOR APRIL 1
*SUPREME COURT SETS BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP ARGUMENTS FOR APRIL 1
January 30, 2026 at 4:35 PM
very fun to think that there are at least four votes for "the president can unilaterally rewrite a constitutional amendment"
Reposted by Jessica
At the end of the day doesn’t matter if we like/admire folks they decide to test out full blown authoritarian violations of the constitution on. It matters that we fight for everyone to be protected by the constitution. Solidarity is not the same as fandom or friendship, solidarity is what wins.
I thought this was fake, but apparently, they've arrested Don Lemon for reporting from Minneapolis.
I'm not a huge Don Lemon fan, but this is totalitarian nonsense meant to threaten anyone who reports on the regime's horrors.
I'm not a huge Don Lemon fan, but this is totalitarian nonsense meant to threaten anyone who reports on the regime's horrors.
Federal Agents Arrest Don Lemon Over Minnesota Church Protest
www.nytimes.com
January 30, 2026 at 4:03 PM
At the end of the day doesn’t matter if we like/admire folks they decide to test out full blown authoritarian violations of the constitution on. It matters that we fight for everyone to be protected by the constitution. Solidarity is not the same as fandom or friendship, solidarity is what wins.
Reposted by Jessica
Wow. The county is charging the Ilhan Omar attacker even though the feds are also doing that, because they don't trust Trump to not pardon the guy.
This was a disturbing assault on @repilhan.bsky.social, who is frequently the target of vilifying language by fellow elected officials and members of the public.
Mr. Kazmierczak has been charged with one felony count of terroristic threats and one count of fifth-degree assault.
Mr. Kazmierczak has been charged with one felony count of terroristic threats and one count of fifth-degree assault.
January 29, 2026 at 9:47 PM
Wow. The county is charging the Ilhan Omar attacker even though the feds are also doing that, because they don't trust Trump to not pardon the guy.
Our country is being run by the villains in every sci-fi movie.
Seems like one of those issues that should greatly concern everyone regardless of their politics.
January 30, 2026 at 4:34 PM
Our country is being run by the villains in every sci-fi movie.
Reposted by Jessica
Emergency kitten
January 30, 2026 at 12:49 AM
Emergency kitten
AND it's Fred Korematsu day. Damn, America, it's really time to revisit our best and worst moments.
January 30, 2026 at 4:29 PM
AND it's Fred Korematsu day. Damn, America, it's really time to revisit our best and worst moments.
Reposted by Jessica
I wish I believed in hell because there is no eternal fire hot enough.
The administration story is that Liam Ramos mother refused to take her son.
In actuality she was inside with another child. If she opened the door they would all be detained. She literally had to make Sofie’s choice.
I can’t.
www.telemundo.com/noticias/not...
In actuality she was inside with another child. If she opened the door they would all be detained. She literally had to make Sofie’s choice.
I can’t.
www.telemundo.com/noticias/not...
Habla la madre de Liam Conejo Ramos: "Yo presencié la escena desde la ventana, tenía miedo de que también me detuvieran"
"Mi hijo Liam me decía: 'Mami, ábreme la puerta', estaba aterrorizada. Mi esposo me gritaba 'no abras la puerta' y no lo hice por miedo a que mí también me arrestaran y dejara solo a mi otro hijo. Al ...
www.telemundo.com
January 30, 2026 at 4:24 PM
I wish I believed in hell because there is no eternal fire hot enough.
Reposted by Jessica
Right, a few hours with the SOLAR Network website has convinced me that most religion & lit people work in so much isolation from each other that we have lost the ability to fill out a research profile with useful information, so: who's doing interesting current work on religion and American lit?
January 30, 2026 at 12:51 PM
Right, a few hours with the SOLAR Network website has convinced me that most religion & lit people work in so much isolation from each other that we have lost the ability to fill out a research profile with useful information, so: who's doing interesting current work on religion and American lit?
Reposted by Jessica
"Only 10 human cases of Guinea worm were reported worldwide in 2025, the lowest number ever recorded, bringing the ancient disease closer than ever to eradication."
We are so close to eradication.
What a legacy for President Carter who was so instrumental here.
www.cartercenter.org/news/guinea-...
We are so close to eradication.
What a legacy for President Carter who was so instrumental here.
www.cartercenter.org/news/guinea-...
Guinea Worm Disease Reaches All-Time Low: Only 10 Human Cases Reported in 2025
Only 10 human cases of Guinea worm were reported worldwide in 2025, the lowest number ever recorded, bringing the ancient disease closer than ever to eradication.
www.cartercenter.org
January 30, 2026 at 3:40 PM
"Only 10 human cases of Guinea worm were reported worldwide in 2025, the lowest number ever recorded, bringing the ancient disease closer than ever to eradication."
We are so close to eradication.
What a legacy for President Carter who was so instrumental here.
www.cartercenter.org/news/guinea-...
We are so close to eradication.
What a legacy for President Carter who was so instrumental here.
www.cartercenter.org/news/guinea-...
Reposted by Jessica
“Who faces arbitrary death for not behaving perfectly submissively at all times” has obviously never been an empty category in the US but the expansion to include “anyone, from any armed and unidentifiable agent of the state” is incredibly bad
The President of the United States is essentially saying state agents were justified performing an extrajudicial execution because he kicked a government vehicle.
Just a fundamentally evil, malevolent person. Rotten to the very core.
January 30, 2026 at 4:19 PM
“Who faces arbitrary death for not behaving perfectly submissively at all times” has obviously never been an empty category in the US but the expansion to include “anyone, from any armed and unidentifiable agent of the state” is incredibly bad
Happy birthday, Vanessa Redgrave!!!
January 30, 2026 at 4:19 PM
Happy birthday, Vanessa Redgrave!!!
Reposted by Jessica
Now that I think about it: this is a really big problem with treating "the cruelty is the point" as a mantra about intent rather than an insight into a _mechanism._
The cruelty is the point BECAUSE the cruelty is supposed to lead to OUTCOMES.
It often failed at that before.
It isn't failing now.
The cruelty is the point BECAUSE the cruelty is supposed to lead to OUTCOMES.
It often failed at that before.
It isn't failing now.
For sure there's a post-2014 (when I covered fam detention as a reporter) bipartisan deterrence genealogy. But shift from "the cruelty they're engaging in isn't leading to the outcomes they want" to "the cruelty they're engaging in IS leading to the outcomes they want" is IMHO being generally missed
January 30, 2026 at 4:08 PM
Now that I think about it: this is a really big problem with treating "the cruelty is the point" as a mantra about intent rather than an insight into a _mechanism._
The cruelty is the point BECAUSE the cruelty is supposed to lead to OUTCOMES.
It often failed at that before.
It isn't failing now.
The cruelty is the point BECAUSE the cruelty is supposed to lead to OUTCOMES.
It often failed at that before.
It isn't failing now.
Well this looks incredible!
True story! The @jcblibrary.bsky.social is hosting a (nearly) year long series of events about History & Journalism -- there's never been a better year to think about this. Beginning w 4 online events in February, interviews with 3 amazing journalists, and then a panel with 3 amazing historians.
January 30, 2026 at 4:16 PM
Well this looks incredible!
Reposted by Jessica
Journalists will be like "You have to understand, this politician is really good at manipulating the media." and all I hear is "You have to understand, all of us are really terrible at our jobs."
January 30, 2026 at 2:37 PM
Journalists will be like "You have to understand, this politician is really good at manipulating the media." and all I hear is "You have to understand, all of us are really terrible at our jobs."
Reposted by Jessica
Source familiar with Don Lemon's arrest tells me DOJ went to a grand jury to secure an indictment (DOJ's effort to get a criminal complaint had already been rejected in court twice).
This is ugly. More soon.
This is ugly. More soon.
January 30, 2026 at 3:24 PM
Source familiar with Don Lemon's arrest tells me DOJ went to a grand jury to secure an indictment (DOJ's effort to get a criminal complaint had already been rejected in court twice).
This is ugly. More soon.
This is ugly. More soon.
Reposted by Jessica
It appears several clergy were just arrested as they staged an anti-ICE protest in the Russell Rotunda in the U.S. Senate office building.
A number of faith leaders, who were in town urging Senators to vote against additional ICE funding, were led away by police: www.facebook.com/FIAnational/...
A number of faith leaders, who were in town urging Senators to vote against additional ICE funding, were led away by police: www.facebook.com/FIAnational/...
January 29, 2026 at 8:31 PM
It appears several clergy were just arrested as they staged an anti-ICE protest in the Russell Rotunda in the U.S. Senate office building.
A number of faith leaders, who were in town urging Senators to vote against additional ICE funding, were led away by police: www.facebook.com/FIAnational/...
A number of faith leaders, who were in town urging Senators to vote against additional ICE funding, were led away by police: www.facebook.com/FIAnational/...
Reposted by Jessica
California has joined the World Health Organization’s GOARN on its own after the US’s departure. We are not a sovereign member state with full voting rights but are part of its network for disease detection and response.
www.abc10.com/article/news...
www.abc10.com/article/news...
California joins WHO public health network following US exit, marking a first for any state
California joined WHO's Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network, countering federal withdrawal from the organization.
www.abc10.com
January 23, 2026 at 9:58 PM
California has joined the World Health Organization’s GOARN on its own after the US’s departure. We are not a sovereign member state with full voting rights but are part of its network for disease detection and response.
www.abc10.com/article/news...
www.abc10.com/article/news...
The fact that they even granted this a hearing is ridiculous. If it were a previous court, I'd say they're doing it only to make an incredibly strong statement of support for the Constitutional text, but that's improbable with these hacks.
A different kind of April fools
*SUPREME COURT SETS BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP ARGUMENTS FOR APRIL 1
*SUPREME COURT SETS BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP ARGUMENTS FOR APRIL 1
January 30, 2026 at 4:10 PM
The fact that they even granted this a hearing is ridiculous. If it were a previous court, I'd say they're doing it only to make an incredibly strong statement of support for the Constitutional text, but that's improbable with these hacks.
Reposted by Jessica
I looked up the other folks who were arrested and they were all Black. I watched the video and there were white protesters in the church as well. We know what they are doing, but I think it's important to call it out
Another Black, independent journalist has beed arrested.
Minnesota based Independent Journalist GEORGIA FORT has been arrested for filming a protest of the church pastor that works as an ICE manager. SPREAD THE WORD! Georgia has been doing outstanding reporting from ground zero!
January 30, 2026 at 4:06 PM
I looked up the other folks who were arrested and they were all Black. I watched the video and there were white protesters in the church as well. We know what they are doing, but I think it's important to call it out
Reposted by Jessica
Reposted by Jessica
interested to learn what “at my direction” means because it sounds like “without a warrant”
January 30, 2026 at 2:44 PM
interested to learn what “at my direction” means because it sounds like “without a warrant”
Reposted by Jessica
Some good news: as the ADL has utterly discredited itself, abandoning its stated mission, allying itself with MAGA, and ruining public understanding of antisemitism, behind-the-scenes researchers who actually care about their mission are jumping ship.
Media take note: the ADL monopoly is over
Media take note: the ADL monopoly is over
Senior ADL antisemitism researcher leaves to lead competing effort at watchdog Nexus - Jewish Telegraphic Agency
Aryeh Tuchman will direct a new Nexus research center focused on improving data, definitions and public understanding of antisemitism.
www.jta.org
January 30, 2026 at 2:51 PM
Some good news: as the ADL has utterly discredited itself, abandoning its stated mission, allying itself with MAGA, and ruining public understanding of antisemitism, behind-the-scenes researchers who actually care about their mission are jumping ship.
Media take note: the ADL monopoly is over
Media take note: the ADL monopoly is over