J. Benjamin
@johnbenjamin.bsky.social
Writer on business, economics, Israel-Palestine.
Bylines in Time, The New Republic, Barron’s, Fortune, Forbes, MIT Review, Boston Globe, The Hill, etc.
Also has a day job.
jbenjamin.co
Bylines in Time, The New Republic, Barron’s, Fortune, Forbes, MIT Review, Boston Globe, The Hill, etc.
Also has a day job.
jbenjamin.co
We‘re tormenting real children to protect abstract children, you see?
Gonzales on Liam Ramos and his family: "They're not gonna qualify for asylum. So what do you do with all the people that go through the process and do not qualify for asylum? You deport them. I understand that 5-year-old and it breaks my heart. I also think, what about that 5-year-old US citizen?"
February 8, 2026 at 7:21 PM
We‘re tormenting real children to protect abstract children, you see?
Reposted by J. Benjamin
Try that as an American under Trump... let's see how this goes, shall we. And of course, it wasn't always true. Think of the Mexico City Olympics in 1968, where the US smackdown of protesting athletes caused an international uproar.
February 8, 2026 at 3:32 AM
Try that as an American under Trump... let's see how this goes, shall we. And of course, it wasn't always true. Think of the Mexico City Olympics in 1968, where the US smackdown of protesting athletes caused an international uproar.
Reposted by J. Benjamin
It’s almost like Putin is running our foreign policy.
February 7, 2026 at 2:09 PM
It’s almost like Putin is running our foreign policy.
Has anyone written a piece on the public figures who, on the record, turned down Epstein invites?
Maron, Finkelstein, Tina Brown… who else?
Maron, Finkelstein, Tina Brown… who else?
February 7, 2026 at 5:00 AM
Has anyone written a piece on the public figures who, on the record, turned down Epstein invites?
Maron, Finkelstein, Tina Brown… who else?
Maron, Finkelstein, Tina Brown… who else?
Probably a coincidence, but I haven’t seen it elsewhere:
Woody Allen and Epstein were extremely close.
Allen’s film Manhattan (1979) features a man, played by Allen, dating a 17-year-old student at the Dalton School.
Epstein was a teacher at Dalton in the late 70s.
Woody Allen and Epstein were extremely close.
Allen’s film Manhattan (1979) features a man, played by Allen, dating a 17-year-old student at the Dalton School.
Epstein was a teacher at Dalton in the late 70s.
February 7, 2026 at 4:57 AM
Probably a coincidence, but I haven’t seen it elsewhere:
Woody Allen and Epstein were extremely close.
Allen’s film Manhattan (1979) features a man, played by Allen, dating a 17-year-old student at the Dalton School.
Epstein was a teacher at Dalton in the late 70s.
Woody Allen and Epstein were extremely close.
Allen’s film Manhattan (1979) features a man, played by Allen, dating a 17-year-old student at the Dalton School.
Epstein was a teacher at Dalton in the late 70s.
Reposted by J. Benjamin
Useful graphs for when I teach the power of partisanship in a few weeks.
Here is a force which can get 20% of the US public to see Canada (!) as an enemy overnight, based on nothing at all beyond the brain farts of a deranged party leader
Here is a force which can get 20% of the US public to see Canada (!) as an enemy overnight, based on nothing at all beyond the brain farts of a deranged party leader
And the trend goes both ways, by the way.
The US government is telling Americans to hate Europeans and Canadians. And many have dutifully changed their opinions.
The US government is telling Americans to hate Europeans and Canadians. And many have dutifully changed their opinions.
February 6, 2026 at 11:23 PM
Useful graphs for when I teach the power of partisanship in a few weeks.
Here is a force which can get 20% of the US public to see Canada (!) as an enemy overnight, based on nothing at all beyond the brain farts of a deranged party leader
Here is a force which can get 20% of the US public to see Canada (!) as an enemy overnight, based on nothing at all beyond the brain farts of a deranged party leader
A good way to know these people don't give a lick about 'Western Civilization' and are instead interested in race purity is to ask how they'd respond if the Suitors, Paris, or other less-idealized characters were black.
Charles Murray, famous racist, is very mad that Lupita Nyong’o is going to play Helen of Troy.
www.liberalcurrents.com/none-more-wo...
www.liberalcurrents.com/none-more-wo...
February 6, 2026 at 8:16 PM
A good way to know these people don't give a lick about 'Western Civilization' and are instead interested in race purity is to ask how they'd respond if the Suitors, Paris, or other less-idealized characters were black.
Reposted by J. Benjamin
New strategy: Make people forget you’re a pedophile by reminding them you’re an unrepentant racist.
Last night, Trump posted a video to his social media platform that contained a racist clip showing Barack and Michelle Obama as monkeys. It's still up:
February 6, 2026 at 12:49 PM
New strategy: Make people forget you’re a pedophile by reminding them you’re an unrepentant racist.
Forget morality, even by the standards he cares about (money), Trump’s actions as President would be indistinguishable from those of a Third Worldist bent on destroying the United States.
The #SellAmerica trade: 🇺🇸
“.. The year-to-date underperformance of US equities relative to the rest of the world is the worst since at least 1995.”
- Auger
“.. The year-to-date underperformance of US equities relative to the rest of the world is the worst since at least 1995.”
- Auger
February 6, 2026 at 12:45 PM
Forget morality, even by the standards he cares about (money), Trump’s actions as President would be indistinguishable from those of a Third Worldist bent on destroying the United States.
Reposted by J. Benjamin
AOC: We are going to have to reckon, as a country, with this time. And I hope that that reckoning includes prosecution of people who are involved with the lawbreaking and human rights violations they are knowingly engaging in right now.
February 6, 2026 at 1:04 AM
AOC: We are going to have to reckon, as a country, with this time. And I hope that that reckoning includes prosecution of people who are involved with the lawbreaking and human rights violations they are knowingly engaging in right now.
Reposted by J. Benjamin
Immigrants have paid more in taxes than they have received in benefits every single year for the past 30 years, according to new analysis from Cato.
Remember this the next time Trump and his racist lackeys call immigrants "freeloaders."
Remember this the next time Trump and his racist lackeys call immigrants "freeloaders."
February 5, 2026 at 7:20 PM
Immigrants have paid more in taxes than they have received in benefits every single year for the past 30 years, according to new analysis from Cato.
Remember this the next time Trump and his racist lackeys call immigrants "freeloaders."
Remember this the next time Trump and his racist lackeys call immigrants "freeloaders."
Reposted by J. Benjamin
my most right-wing take is loving my spouse, playing with my kids, and letting my favorite sportsball team make me suffer every weekend is a good life bsky.app/profile/nota...
excerpt from the keynote speech at the annual Rape Traffickers Convention
February 5, 2026 at 4:02 PM
my most right-wing take is loving my spouse, playing with my kids, and letting my favorite sportsball team make me suffer every weekend is a good life bsky.app/profile/nota...
Reposted by J. Benjamin
Jeffrey Epstein’s brother Mark sent a tip to the FBI accusing Trump of authorizing his murder:
“I have reason to believe he was killed because he was about to name names. I believe Present Trump authorized is murder.“
“I have reason to believe he was killed because he was about to name names. I believe Present Trump authorized is murder.“
February 5, 2026 at 3:36 PM
Jeffrey Epstein’s brother Mark sent a tip to the FBI accusing Trump of authorizing his murder:
“I have reason to believe he was killed because he was about to name names. I believe Present Trump authorized is murder.“
“I have reason to believe he was killed because he was about to name names. I believe Present Trump authorized is murder.“
Reposted by J. Benjamin
"For much of the 2010s and likely before and since, it appears the crime rate of CBP agents and offices was higher PER CAPITA than the crime rate of undocumented immigrants in the United States."
www.doomsdayscenario.co/p/accountabi...
www.doomsdayscenario.co/p/accountabi...
Accountability for ICE and CBP
However bad you think the corruption and misconduct at ICE and CBP is — the reality is far far worse.
www.doomsdayscenario.co
February 4, 2026 at 2:28 AM
"For much of the 2010s and likely before and since, it appears the crime rate of CBP agents and offices was higher PER CAPITA than the crime rate of undocumented immigrants in the United States."
www.doomsdayscenario.co/p/accountabi...
www.doomsdayscenario.co/p/accountabi...
Reposted by J. Benjamin
In no functioning country is this allowed.
Fucking surreal that people dressed like this and carrying assault rifles are permitted to kidnap people off our streets
February 4, 2026 at 4:16 AM
In no functioning country is this allowed.
Reposted by J. Benjamin
Quick round up:
- the government is covering up evidence the president is a pedophile
- he’s openly taking bribes from foreign governments
- his masked agents are shooting citizens in the streets
- the FBI is helping him steal the election
- he’s threatening war against multiple allies
👍👍👍
- the government is covering up evidence the president is a pedophile
- he’s openly taking bribes from foreign governments
- his masked agents are shooting citizens in the streets
- the FBI is helping him steal the election
- he’s threatening war against multiple allies
👍👍👍
February 4, 2026 at 5:44 AM
Quick round up:
- the government is covering up evidence the president is a pedophile
- he’s openly taking bribes from foreign governments
- his masked agents are shooting citizens in the streets
- the FBI is helping him steal the election
- he’s threatening war against multiple allies
👍👍👍
- the government is covering up evidence the president is a pedophile
- he’s openly taking bribes from foreign governments
- his masked agents are shooting citizens in the streets
- the FBI is helping him steal the election
- he’s threatening war against multiple allies
👍👍👍
Reposted by J. Benjamin
Never forget: Pam Bondi and Kash said there was nothing in the Epstein files back in March
February 4, 2026 at 12:11 AM
Never forget: Pam Bondi and Kash said there was nothing in the Epstein files back in March
Reposted by J. Benjamin
February 3, 2026 at 1:21 PM
Reposted by J. Benjamin
Shows you that he was so friendly with Epstein that even now his first instinct was just to call him by his first name before catching himself. bsky.app/profile/acyn...
Trump: [Trevor Noah] said I spent time on Jeffrey’s— Jeffrey Epstein's island. I didn't. He's a lightweight, this guy, I think he's terrible.
February 2, 2026 at 10:18 PM
Shows you that he was so friendly with Epstein that even now his first instinct was just to call him by his first name before catching himself. bsky.app/profile/acyn...
Reposted by J. Benjamin
'measles outbreak at the child prison' seems entirely avoidable, it's really the kind of thing that only happens if you do several unthinkably evil things on purpose all at once
Horrifying. ICE confirms measles outbreak at Dilley family detention center. www.cbsnews.com/news/ice-dil...
ICE halts "all movement" at Texas detention facility due to measles infections
The measles cases at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center were detected Friday, Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement to CBS News.
www.cbsnews.com
February 2, 2026 at 4:31 AM
'measles outbreak at the child prison' seems entirely avoidable, it's really the kind of thing that only happens if you do several unthinkably evil things on purpose all at once
“Join the side that‘s against kidnapping and gassing kids.”
There are worse appeals to friends who are disengaged or on the fence.
There are worse appeals to friends who are disengaged or on the fence.
February 1, 2026 at 6:38 AM
“Join the side that‘s against kidnapping and gassing kids.”
There are worse appeals to friends who are disengaged or on the fence.
There are worse appeals to friends who are disengaged or on the fence.
Reposted by J. Benjamin
NOTE FROM MELANIA TO (PEDOPHILE) GHISLAINE
"Dear G! How are you? NICE STORY ABOUT JE IN NY MAG. YOU LOOK GREAT in the picture. I know you are very busy flying all over the world. How was Palm Beach? I cannot wait to go down. GIVE ME A CALL WHEN YOU ARE BACK IN NY. Have a great time LOVE, Melania"
"Dear G! How are you? NICE STORY ABOUT JE IN NY MAG. YOU LOOK GREAT in the picture. I know you are very busy flying all over the world. How was Palm Beach? I cannot wait to go down. GIVE ME A CALL WHEN YOU ARE BACK IN NY. Have a great time LOVE, Melania"
Epstein files show Melania Trump's 'love' for Ghislaine Maxwell
An email appearing to be from Melania Trump gushing over Ghislaine Maxwell telling her she 'looks great' was released
www.mirror.co.uk
January 31, 2026 at 9:42 PM
NOTE FROM MELANIA TO (PEDOPHILE) GHISLAINE
"Dear G! How are you? NICE STORY ABOUT JE IN NY MAG. YOU LOOK GREAT in the picture. I know you are very busy flying all over the world. How was Palm Beach? I cannot wait to go down. GIVE ME A CALL WHEN YOU ARE BACK IN NY. Have a great time LOVE, Melania"
"Dear G! How are you? NICE STORY ABOUT JE IN NY MAG. YOU LOOK GREAT in the picture. I know you are very busy flying all over the world. How was Palm Beach? I cannot wait to go down. GIVE ME A CALL WHEN YOU ARE BACK IN NY. Have a great time LOVE, Melania"
Reposted by J. Benjamin
I guess this didn't make it into the documentary.
January 31, 2026 at 10:25 PM
I guess this didn't make it into the documentary.
Reposted by J. Benjamin
1. The new batch of Epstein documents helps illuminate one contemporary controversy: What is Bari Weiss up to at CBS? I think the answer is she is trying to rehabilate the Epstein network as a bulwark of reactionary centrism. Let me explain.
January 31, 2026 at 8:33 PM
1. The new batch of Epstein documents helps illuminate one contemporary controversy: What is Bari Weiss up to at CBS? I think the answer is she is trying to rehabilate the Epstein network as a bulwark of reactionary centrism. Let me explain.