John Rogers
@johnrogers.bsky.social
TV, comics and film writer. LEVERAGE, JACKIE CHAN ADVENTURES, BLUE BEETLE, MARRY ME, a couple other things. Free newsletter of reviews, recommendations, and general oddities at https://buttondown.email/kungfumonkey
It was Downey who coined the phrase in the LEVERAGE writers room “future episodes do not win out over present episodes”. Trust me, you’ll have more ideas. You’ll die full of them.
WRITING TIP, something simple but it catches many of us out: if you have a great/fun idea for your story, *use it now*.
Don’t save your ideas for some nebulous other story you might write tomorrow. I promise you’ll have more.
Break your story’s status quo. Go a step further. Use the big idea.
Don’t save your ideas for some nebulous other story you might write tomorrow. I promise you’ll have more.
Break your story’s status quo. Go a step further. Use the big idea.
November 29, 2025 at 2:42 PM
It was Downey who coined the phrase in the LEVERAGE writers room “future episodes do not win out over present episodes”. Trust me, you’ll have more ideas. You’ll die full of them.
Reposted by John Rogers
A sickening read.
Five-byline alert: 🚨
“.. the full scope of [Witkoff’s talks] went much further, according to people familiar .. They were privately charting a path to bring Russia’s $2 trillion economy in from the cold—with American businesses first in line .. to the dividends. 🇺🇦
www.wsj.com/world/russia...
“.. the full scope of [Witkoff’s talks] went much further, according to people familiar .. They were privately charting a path to bring Russia’s $2 trillion economy in from the cold—with American businesses first in line .. to the dividends. 🇺🇦
www.wsj.com/world/russia...
November 29, 2025 at 12:56 PM
A sickening read.
An amazing thread of intriguing games.
Let's get an indie ttrpg HYPE TRAIN going and recommend some cool games for people to buy/gift.
If you're a small #ttrpg creator (or there's an indie game you really love) drop a quick pitch and a link below.
🚅🎲🎲🎲🌟🌟
If you're a small #ttrpg creator (or there's an indie game you really love) drop a quick pitch and a link below.
🚅🎲🎲🎲🌟🌟
November 29, 2025 at 4:53 AM
An amazing thread of intriguing games.
Reposted by John Rogers
If you've run Blades in the Dark, you know how hard it can be to come up with ritual sources and inventions on the fly. We made 73 of them to be dropped into any game! From shifting your soul into a rat's body, to Jekyll and Hyde elixirs, these are both great rewards and potential story hooks!
The Lost Archives: Inventions and Rituals for Blades in the Dark by Biscuit Wolf Games
73 strange and unusual sources and blueprints
biscuitwolfgames.itch.io
November 28, 2025 at 7:28 PM
If you've run Blades in the Dark, you know how hard it can be to come up with ritual sources and inventions on the fly. We made 73 of them to be dropped into any game! From shifting your soul into a rat's body, to Jekyll and Hyde elixirs, these are both great rewards and potential story hooks!
Reposted by John Rogers
“I was just following otters.”
November 28, 2025 at 9:09 PM
“I was just following otters.”
Reposted by John Rogers
This is why I pay for the World Wide Web.
Because it delivers ART!
Because it delivers ART!
November 29, 2025 at 4:33 AM
This is why I pay for the World Wide Web.
Because it delivers ART!
Because it delivers ART!
Reposted by John Rogers
"...the researchers tell WIRED that the verse is too dangerous to share with the public."
📃✍️💥👀
📃✍️💥👀
It turns out all the guardrails in the world won’t protect a chatbot from meter and rhyme. www.wired.com/story/poems-...
Poems Can Trick AI Into Helping You Make a Nuclear Weapon
It turns out all the guardrails in the world won’t protect a chatbot from meter and rhyme.
www.wired.com
November 28, 2025 at 10:26 AM
"...the researchers tell WIRED that the verse is too dangerous to share with the public."
📃✍️💥👀
📃✍️💥👀
Reposted by John Rogers
Read @rosscmrn.bsky.social's fabulous blog post! And please repost 😊
🌎 What happens when a travel writer navigates the world through touch?
This month’s blog explores the journeys of James Holman, the self-described ‘Blind Traveller’, and how his haptic encounters challenged the visual conventions of travel writing.
www.thevictorianhand.uk/gallery/the-...
This month’s blog explores the journeys of James Holman, the self-described ‘Blind Traveller’, and how his haptic encounters challenged the visual conventions of travel writing.
www.thevictorianhand.uk/gallery/the-...
November 28, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Read @rosscmrn.bsky.social's fabulous blog post! And please repost 😊
Reposted by John Rogers
This is in the running for my favorite lecture slide ever
November 28, 2025 at 7:47 PM
This is in the running for my favorite lecture slide ever
Reposted by John Rogers
Judges need to start throwing some of these DOJ clowns in jail for contempt.
Beyond depraved: "Hours after her detainment, court documents obtained by ABC News show that a federal judge ordered the government not to remove the 19-year-old from the U.S. and not to transfer her outside of Massachusetts. But Lopez Belloza was deported to Honduras the next day."
November 28, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Judges need to start throwing some of these DOJ clowns in jail for contempt.
Reposted by John Rogers
Bolts has pretty consistently been doing of the best coverage of state-level politics I’ve seen, in an era where it is needed more than ever. Well worth supporting IMO.
a Black Friday deal: it’s a great day to support our independent journalism at Bolts
We want to prepare for 2026 on as strong a foot as possible, and we’d love to grow our supporter count (at any level!) by 50 people today.
If you can—jump onboard and help us cover local politics and civil rights!
We want to prepare for 2026 on as strong a foot as possible, and we’d love to grow our supporter count (at any level!) by 50 people today.
If you can—jump onboard and help us cover local politics and civil rights!
Support Bolts
We are a nonprofit publication that covers the nuts and bolts of political change, from the local up, and we need reader support to build our journalism.
Boltsmag.org
November 28, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Bolts has pretty consistently been doing of the best coverage of state-level politics I’ve seen, in an era where it is needed more than ever. Well worth supporting IMO.
Reposted by John Rogers
This was murder purporting to be a war crime from the first jump internationalpolicy.org/publications...
Trump’s Wag The Dog Moment - CIP
If you want to break up a drug cartel, blowing up a boat does little to accomplish that, unless you believe cartels only own one boat.
internationalpolicy.org
November 28, 2025 at 7:12 PM
This was murder purporting to be a war crime from the first jump internationalpolicy.org/publications...
Reposted by John Rogers
just a reminder that the current best explanation for why this was necessarily or desirable is that the President wanted to see some video of it
It is unfathomable that the USG lawyers would sign off on a no-survivors boat strike (no get of jail free card).
There's clear precedent dating back to World War II trial of Germans for that very act, which lawyers know well.
The Peleus World War II War Crimes Trial
www.usni.org/magazines/na...
There's clear precedent dating back to World War II trial of Germans for that very act, which lawyers know well.
The Peleus World War II War Crimes Trial
www.usni.org/magazines/na...
November 28, 2025 at 7:25 PM
just a reminder that the current best explanation for why this was necessarily or desirable is that the President wanted to see some video of it
Reposted by John Rogers
the fact that dealing with rampant lying and its much worse downstream consequences involves cultivating values rather than just imposing formal frameworks or rules (legal or otherwise) is a tough pill to swallow for some. but it is indeed medicine
Pointing out that something is incorrect definitely isn't sufficient - the *culture* of "it is bad to make incorrect statements, good to promptly and clearly retract and apologize for them, and disqualifying to keep making them deliberately" is the framework needed for fact-checking to plug into.
November 28, 2025 at 3:40 PM
the fact that dealing with rampant lying and its much worse downstream consequences involves cultivating values rather than just imposing formal frameworks or rules (legal or otherwise) is a tough pill to swallow for some. but it is indeed medicine
Reposted by John Rogers
From Frederick Douglass's 1867 "Composite Nation" speech, a defense of Chinese migration to the United States at a time when anti-Chinese sentiment was intensifying.
teachingamericanhistory.org/document/our...
teachingamericanhistory.org/document/our...
November 28, 2025 at 7:01 PM
From Frederick Douglass's 1867 "Composite Nation" speech, a defense of Chinese migration to the United States at a time when anti-Chinese sentiment was intensifying.
teachingamericanhistory.org/document/our...
teachingamericanhistory.org/document/our...
Reposted by John Rogers
Abraham Lincoln, 1855.
www.abrahamlincolnonline.org/lincoln/spee...
www.abrahamlincolnonline.org/lincoln/spee...
![I am not a Know-Nothing. That is certain. How could I be? How can any one who abhors the oppression of negroes, be in favor or degrading classes of white people? Our progress in degeneracy appears to me to be pretty rapid. As a nation, we began by declaring that "all men are created equal." We now practically read it "all men are created equal, except negroes" When the Know-Nothings get control, it will read "all men are created equal, except negroes, and foreigners, and Catholics." When it comes to this I should prefer emigrating to some country where they make no pretence of loving liberty -- to Russia, for instance, where despotism can be taken pure, and without the base alloy of hypocracy [sic].](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:egd33s7iuqsmwlwab6mbtrqi/bafkreiaaicjid4jg3oongeah73ukqvwsqv4vwbp75q4f755nldtcfermhi@jpeg)
November 28, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Abraham Lincoln, 1855.
www.abrahamlincolnonline.org/lincoln/spee...
www.abrahamlincolnonline.org/lincoln/spee...
Reposted by John Rogers
Ithaca in the Cards: Second Expedition is a blackjack driven storygame of doomed travelers on a perilous journey home, pitting your hand and hearts against Fate, inspired by The Odyssey. ehronlime.itch.io/ithaca-in-th...
Ithaca in the Cards: Second Expedition by ehronlime
A blackjack-driven storygame about doomed travelers on a perilous journey home.
ehronlime.itch.io
November 28, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Ithaca in the Cards: Second Expedition is a blackjack driven storygame of doomed travelers on a perilous journey home, pitting your hand and hearts against Fate, inspired by The Odyssey. ehronlime.itch.io/ithaca-in-th...
Reposted by John Rogers
to keep functioning society must discourage baldfaced lying, especially by authorities
I wrote about a novel approach to tackling misinformation currently being discussed in Wales--and which some say Canada should try, too. What if we made a rule so politicians couldn't lie? www.thestar.com/politics/fed...
Is it time to make it illegal for politicians to lie to us?
That’s the question currently on the table in Wales, which has just released a draft of the “globally pioneering” sanctions for politicians.
www.thestar.com
November 28, 2025 at 2:47 PM
to keep functioning society must discourage baldfaced lying, especially by authorities
Reposted by John Rogers
The reality, of course, is that Miller and a significant portion of Trump’s base are the ones who failed to assimilate to America’s post-WWII culture of multi-racial democracy & religious pluralism…and they are now using their power to destroy that once dominant (and still popular) American culture.
Stephen Miller is now arguing that assimilation is fundamentally impossible and that certain cultures are not compatible with Western civilization
November 28, 2025 at 1:23 PM
The reality, of course, is that Miller and a significant portion of Trump’s base are the ones who failed to assimilate to America’s post-WWII culture of multi-racial democracy & religious pluralism…and they are now using their power to destroy that once dominant (and still popular) American culture.
Reposted by John Rogers
I have volumes of ugly tracts about how Jews, Germans, Finns, Hungarians, Poles, and "Papists" can't possibly acclimate to American life because they are hereditary degenerates.
What I always find fascinating about comments like this is that they have been made about literally every immigrant group throughout American history: Germans, Irish, Miller's Jewish ancestors, etc.
Stephen Miller is now arguing that assimilation is fundamentally impossible and that certain cultures are not compatible with Western civilization
November 28, 2025 at 2:19 PM
I have volumes of ugly tracts about how Jews, Germans, Finns, Hungarians, Poles, and "Papists" can't possibly acclimate to American life because they are hereditary degenerates.
Reposted by John Rogers
Democrats need to issue a joint statement promising to deport Melania Trump, Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, David Sacks and Ted Cruz once they retake power
Trump: “I will permanently pause migration from all Third World Countries … denaturalize migrants who undermine domestic tranquility, and deport any Foreign National who is a public charge, security risk, or non-compatible with Western Civilization.“
November 28, 2025 at 5:48 AM
Democrats need to issue a joint statement promising to deport Melania Trump, Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, David Sacks and Ted Cruz once they retake power
Reposted by John Rogers
This is such incredible news
Clean power growth is now covering all new global demand. Solar and wind generated 635 TWh in the first nine months of this year, exceeding the 603 TWh rise in global electricity demand, and holding fossil generation flat for the year. buff.ly/zRmwAmg
#ShareGoodNewsToo
#ShareGoodNewsToo
Q3 Global Power Report: No fossil fuel growth expected in 2025 | Ember
Solar and wind power grew fast enough to keep up with rising electricity demand in the first three quarters of 2025, as fossil fuel growth should be stagnated. Ember forecasts no growth for fossil…
buff.ly
November 28, 2025 at 3:39 AM
This is such incredible news
Reposted by John Rogers
Trump has never once in his life extemporaneously used the phrase "western civilization." He was once asked about western liberalism and thought they were talking about California Democrats. One of the more blatant tells for a Miller-written screed.
Trump: “I will permanently pause migration from all Third World Countries … denaturalize migrants who undermine domestic tranquility, and deport any Foreign National who is a public charge, security risk, or non-compatible with Western Civilization.“
November 28, 2025 at 5:13 AM
Trump has never once in his life extemporaneously used the phrase "western civilization." He was once asked about western liberalism and thought they were talking about California Democrats. One of the more blatant tells for a Miller-written screed.
Reposted by John Rogers
“Not only has the work of homemaking been the most enjoyable labor I’ve ever done, but also the important labor I’ve ever done, and ever will do.”
defector.com/confessions-...
defector.com/confessions-...
Confessions Of A Domestic Demigod | Defector
Drew Magary’s Thursday Afternoon NFL Dick Joke Jamboroo runs every Thursday at Defector during the NFL season. Got something you wanna contribute? Email the Roo. You can also read Drew over at SFGATE,...
defector.com
November 27, 2025 at 5:10 PM
“Not only has the work of homemaking been the most enjoyable labor I’ve ever done, but also the important labor I’ve ever done, and ever will do.”
defector.com/confessions-...
defector.com/confessions-...
“Twenty-first century society is no longer a disciplinary society. but rather an achievement society … its inhabitants are no longer “obedience-subjects” but “achievement-subjects” -
Byung-Chul Han, The Burnout Society.
Byung-Chul Han, The Burnout Society.
While work-life balance may give you a sense of happiness and fulfillment, it isn’t always realistic, says Walmart executive vice president and chief people officer Donna Morris.
Walmart exec: ‘I’ve never believed in the term work-life balance’—this is the mantra that made her highly successful instead
Many professionals see work-life balance as a non-negotiable. Walmart CPO Donna Morris says people should practice work-life integration instead. Here's why.
cnb.cx
November 28, 2025 at 1:52 AM
“Twenty-first century society is no longer a disciplinary society. but rather an achievement society … its inhabitants are no longer “obedience-subjects” but “achievement-subjects” -
Byung-Chul Han, The Burnout Society.
Byung-Chul Han, The Burnout Society.