Jonah Blank
@jonahblank.bsky.social
Anthropologist, author, dad. Order purely alphabetical
Pinned
Jonah Blank
@jonahblank.bsky.social
· Nov 14
Arrow of the Blue-Skinned God: Retracing the Ramayana T…
The three-thousand-year-old epic Ramayana chronicles Lo…
goodreads.com
Who am I? What am I doing here?
Intro thread with links to some of my work.
My first book was "Arrow of the Blue-Skinned God: Retracing the Ramayana Through India"
goodreads.com/book/show/17...
[🧵 of publications]
He has not called the family of #ReneeGood or #AlexPretti.
Trump plans to call TV host Savannah Guthrie following her mother's disappearance reut.rs/4atMbnP
Trump plans to call TV host Savannah Guthrie following her mother's disappearance
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he planned to call American journalist and television host Savannah Guthrie following the disappearance of her 84-year-old mother.
reut.rs
February 4, 2026 at 3:17 AM
He has not called the family of #ReneeGood or #AlexPretti.
T Kumar was @amnesty.org's voice on the Hill through most of the time I served in government. Year after year, he'd tell everyone who'd listen about things we desperately wanted to ignore.
He kept on pushing, never got discouraged. Which shamed and strengthened the rest of us.
#RestInPower
He kept on pushing, never got discouraged. Which shamed and strengthened the rest of us.
#RestInPower
After being jailed as a resistance organizer for the Tamil minority in his native Sri Lanka, T. Kumar studied law, moved to Washington DC, and spoke out against governmental repression worldwide www.nytimes.com/2026/01/31/w...
T. Kumar, Rights Activist Who Was Shaped by Time in Prison, Dies at 76
www.nytimes.com
February 4, 2026 at 2:39 AM
T Kumar was @amnesty.org's voice on the Hill through most of the time I served in government. Year after year, he'd tell everyone who'd listen about things we desperately wanted to ignore.
He kept on pushing, never got discouraged. Which shamed and strengthened the rest of us.
#RestInPower
He kept on pushing, never got discouraged. Which shamed and strengthened the rest of us.
#RestInPower
Only two men have suffered any sort of penalty whatsoever for their association with #JeffreyEpstein:
♦️One British prince, and one British peer.
No American billionaire, celebrity or university president has experienced anything more than embarrassment.
♦️One British prince, and one British peer.
No American billionaire, celebrity or university president has experienced anything more than embarrassment.
Peter Mandelson resigns from Lords after Epstein email leak scandal
Peter Mandelson resigns from Lords after Epstein email leak scandal
Former minister apparently shared confidential government emails with child sex offender and financier
Peter Mandelson has resigned from the House of Lords after a series of scandalous emails came to light that linked him to the child sex offender and financier Jeffrey Epstein, including ones that apparently leaked confidential UK government communications.
The move was announced by the speaker of the House of Lords. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
February 4, 2026 at 2:27 AM
Only two men have suffered any sort of penalty whatsoever for their association with #JeffreyEpstein:
♦️One British prince, and one British peer.
No American billionaire, celebrity or university president has experienced anything more than embarrassment.
♦️One British prince, and one British peer.
No American billionaire, celebrity or university president has experienced anything more than embarrassment.
Reposted by Jonah Blank
Remember the incident where DHS claimed officers shot a guy because he attacked them with a snow shovel?
Yeah. It didn't happen. They shot him through the door of his own home. And then arrested him. And then lied about it. Again.
And they almost shot some kids in the process.
Yeah. It didn't happen. They shot him through the door of his own home. And then arrested him. And then lied about it. Again.
And they almost shot some kids in the process.
They just blindly shot through the fucking door.
"Additional photographs show damage consistent with a bullet fragment lodged in a bedroom wall down the hallway — suggesting it traveled between a mattress and a portable crib in a room where several small children sleep."
"Additional photographs show damage consistent with a bullet fragment lodged in a bedroom wall down the hallway — suggesting it traveled between a mattress and a portable crib in a room where several small children sleep."
"Photographic evidence from the shooting scene of a Venezuelan man by federal agents last month in Minneapolis supports the account of witnesses there – and appears to undercut the narrative provided by federal officials." www.startribune.com/ice-raids-mi...
February 3, 2026 at 11:33 PM
Remember the incident where DHS claimed officers shot a guy because he attacked them with a snow shovel?
Yeah. It didn't happen. They shot him through the door of his own home. And then arrested him. And then lied about it. Again.
And they almost shot some kids in the process.
Yeah. It didn't happen. They shot him through the door of his own home. And then arrested him. And then lied about it. Again.
And they almost shot some kids in the process.
This is one of the revelations in the #EpsteinFiles that Trump was willing to release.
Just IMAGINE the 🔥🔥🔥 in the millions of pages he's still keeping secret.
Just IMAGINE the 🔥🔥🔥 in the millions of pages he's still keeping secret.
This isn’t some anonymous tip. This is sworn testimony, under penalty of perjury, from someone who said Trump threatened to kill her if she exposed Epstein’s sexual abuse.
February 4, 2026 at 2:10 AM
This is one of the revelations in the #EpsteinFiles that Trump was willing to release.
Just IMAGINE the 🔥🔥🔥 in the millions of pages he's still keeping secret.
Just IMAGINE the 🔥🔥🔥 in the millions of pages he's still keeping secret.
Counterpoint:
♦️That would suggest the Administration has even a minimal regard for the law. A proposition for which there is, as of now, no evidence.
♦️That would suggest the Administration has even a minimal regard for the law. A proposition for which there is, as of now, no evidence.
My view is that US armed forces have been introduced into hostilities with Iran for the purposes of the War Powers Resolution.
February 4, 2026 at 2:01 AM
Counterpoint:
♦️That would suggest the Administration has even a minimal regard for the law. A proposition for which there is, as of now, no evidence.
♦️That would suggest the Administration has even a minimal regard for the law. A proposition for which there is, as of now, no evidence.
I may be demonstrating my ignorance of narcotics economics here, but...
...Party favors seem to have gotten a LOT pricer since my kids were in elementary school.
...Party favors seem to have gotten a LOT pricer since my kids were in elementary school.
I don’t know what it says about my level of trust in reality that I was convinced - for at least two to three minutes - that this party favor my kid brought home from a birthday had a baggie of coke in it.
February 4, 2026 at 1:57 AM
I may be demonstrating my ignorance of narcotics economics here, but...
...Party favors seem to have gotten a LOT pricer since my kids were in elementary school.
...Party favors seem to have gotten a LOT pricer since my kids were in elementary school.
Just to be clear:
♦️Any guy can now stick a gun in your face, yank you out of your car, bust down your door-- anything he wants, any time, for any reason.
And if you call the police, they won't be able to do a thing about it.
Because there's absolutely no way to know that guy isn't #ICE.
♦️Any guy can now stick a gun in your face, yank you out of your car, bust down your door-- anything he wants, any time, for any reason.
And if you call the police, they won't be able to do a thing about it.
Because there's absolutely no way to know that guy isn't #ICE.
Fucking surreal that people dressed like this and carrying assault rifles are permitted to kidnap people off our streets
February 4, 2026 at 1:28 AM
Just to be clear:
♦️Any guy can now stick a gun in your face, yank you out of your car, bust down your door-- anything he wants, any time, for any reason.
And if you call the police, they won't be able to do a thing about it.
Because there's absolutely no way to know that guy isn't #ICE.
♦️Any guy can now stick a gun in your face, yank you out of your car, bust down your door-- anything he wants, any time, for any reason.
And if you call the police, they won't be able to do a thing about it.
Because there's absolutely no way to know that guy isn't #ICE.
21 Dems voted to continue funding DHS.
21 GOP voted NOT to do so.
For every GOP Member who said, "I just can't support what DHS is doing-- and my constituents won't accept it"...
...A Dem Member said, "This seems perfectly fine by me."
21 GOP voted NOT to do so.
For every GOP Member who said, "I just can't support what DHS is doing-- and my constituents won't accept it"...
...A Dem Member said, "This seems perfectly fine by me."
The House narrowly passed a spending package to reopen the government through the rest of the fiscal year, including a continuing resolution to fund DHS in the wake of fatal shootings involving ICE agents.
See how your representative voted:
See how your representative voted:
How every House member voted on the shutdown and ICE funding
See how your representative voted to end the partial shutdown and fund most of the government through September. Congress only has ten days to reach an agreement on ICE funding
www.washingtonpost.com
February 3, 2026 at 11:34 PM
21 Dems voted to continue funding DHS.
21 GOP voted NOT to do so.
For every GOP Member who said, "I just can't support what DHS is doing-- and my constituents won't accept it"...
...A Dem Member said, "This seems perfectly fine by me."
21 GOP voted NOT to do so.
For every GOP Member who said, "I just can't support what DHS is doing-- and my constituents won't accept it"...
...A Dem Member said, "This seems perfectly fine by me."
There are seven 10,000-bed #ICE "warehouses" listed here.
Only one of them is in a state with a Democratic governor.
♦️Josh Shapiro: That honor is yours.
Only one of them is in a state with a Democratic governor.
♦️Josh Shapiro: That honor is yours.
The Trump regime is plotting to convert commercial warehouses to massive ICE detention centers.
Private prison corporations, who just so happened to donate to Trump, are already raking in billions.
How many more private companies are going to cash in on this cruelty?
Private prison corporations, who just so happened to donate to Trump, are already raking in billions.
How many more private companies are going to cash in on this cruelty?
February 3, 2026 at 11:30 PM
There are seven 10,000-bed #ICE "warehouses" listed here.
Only one of them is in a state with a Democratic governor.
♦️Josh Shapiro: That honor is yours.
Only one of them is in a state with a Democratic governor.
♦️Josh Shapiro: That honor is yours.
Indeed. The number of people who partied with Epstein is well into the thousands. Apart from Ghislaine Maxwell, the number who have escaped justice:
♦️All of them.
♦️All of them.
CLAIM: It's not a crime to party with mr. epstein
FACT CHECK: True! Many people who partied with epstein have escaped justice
FACT CHECK: True! Many people who partied with epstein have escaped justice
February 3, 2026 at 11:27 PM
Indeed. The number of people who partied with Epstein is well into the thousands. Apart from Ghislaine Maxwell, the number who have escaped justice:
♦️All of them.
♦️All of them.
Lorde shows how you do it.
Pop singer Lorde will donate the $204,000 she made on merchandise sales from her sold-out Minneapolis shows last fall to two Minnesota immigrant rights groups.
Lorde donates merchandise proceeds from Minneapolis shows to immigrant rights groups
Pop singer Lorde will donate money she made on merchandise sales from her sold-out Minneapolis shows last fall to two Minnesota immigrant rights groups, she shared in a post on Instagram on Tuesday.
bit.ly
February 3, 2026 at 10:49 PM
Lorde shows how you do it.
He's never been in an Uber, of course. Probably never driven a car. And he's never been mugged.
So, exactly how does he think this would work? The driver jumps into the back seat, while still driving, and then--
--oh, never mind.
So, exactly how does he think this would work? The driver jumps into the back seat, while still driving, and then--
--oh, never mind.
Trump says he's made it possible for people to "walk to the White House instead of getting into an Uber and getting mugged even as the Uber progresses"
February 3, 2026 at 10:48 PM
He's never been in an Uber, of course. Probably never driven a car. And he's never been mugged.
So, exactly how does he think this would work? The driver jumps into the back seat, while still driving, and then--
--oh, never mind.
So, exactly how does he think this would work? The driver jumps into the back seat, while still driving, and then--
--oh, never mind.
Reposted by Jonah Blank
She assaulted them by violently hitting their bullets with her body.
Next witness to testify is Marimar Martinez, a U.S. citizen and Chicago resident who was shot five times by CBP agents in October and was later charged with assaulting the agents who shot her. The U.S. Attorney's Office dropped those charges six weeks later.
February 3, 2026 at 10:13 PM
She assaulted them by violently hitting their bullets with her body.
Reposted by Jonah Blank
Martinez is recounting her harrowing experience: after being shot by CBP agents, she drove a mile to the safety of an auto shop where she called 911, got treatment at a hospital for 7 bullet wounds, then was immediately taken into custody by federal agents.
February 3, 2026 at 8:50 PM
Martinez is recounting her harrowing experience: after being shot by CBP agents, she drove a mile to the safety of an auto shop where she called 911, got treatment at a hospital for 7 bullet wounds, then was immediately taken into custody by federal agents.
First time I've seen National Guard in DC since the blizzard hit last Sunday. For the past 5 months, they've patrolled the CVS & McDonalds (why?) almost daily.
Most DC streets still aren't plowed, garbage is piling up, cars spin out on icy roads. Would be nice if the Guard helped out.
Most DC streets still aren't plowed, garbage is piling up, cars spin out on icy roads. Would be nice if the Guard helped out.
February 3, 2026 at 10:03 PM
First time I've seen National Guard in DC since the blizzard hit last Sunday. For the past 5 months, they've patrolled the CVS & McDonalds (why?) almost daily.
Most DC streets still aren't plowed, garbage is piling up, cars spin out on icy roads. Would be nice if the Guard helped out.
Most DC streets still aren't plowed, garbage is piling up, cars spin out on icy roads. Would be nice if the Guard helped out.
They're not.
They just don't like to admit that what they're finding is astrology, tarot and manifestation.
They just don't like to admit that what they're finding is astrology, tarot and manifestation.
Can someone please explain to me how young women are finding Christianity through astrology, tarot and manifestation?
www.thetablet.co.uk/news/revival...
www.thetablet.co.uk/news/revival...
February 3, 2026 at 7:38 PM
They're not.
They just don't like to admit that what they're finding is astrology, tarot and manifestation.
They just don't like to admit that what they're finding is astrology, tarot and manifestation.
How awful does one have to be for Jeffrey Epstein to say, "This guy is rich enough to add to my collection of creepy pals-- but just not worth the hassle."
Pro tip: If you have Peter Thiel over to dinner don't ask in advance for his dietary restrictions.
From the Epstein files via Wired (not clear this meeting ever took place; Thiel's dietary restrictions certainly provided ample justification for canceling):
www.justice.gov/epstein/file...
From the Epstein files via Wired (not clear this meeting ever took place; Thiel's dietary restrictions certainly provided ample justification for canceling):
www.justice.gov/epstein/file...
www.justice.gov
February 3, 2026 at 7:35 PM
How awful does one have to be for Jeffrey Epstein to say, "This guy is rich enough to add to my collection of creepy pals-- but just not worth the hassle."
To be clear: This is not Peter Thiel conveying dietary restrictions based on allergies or religious/moral convictions.
It's him, as a guest, telling his host that he'd prefer to order off-menu.
It's him, as a guest, telling his host that he'd prefer to order off-menu.
The rich are different from you and me.
They're utter jerks:
They're utter jerks:
Pro tip: If you have Peter Thiel over to dinner don't ask in advance for his dietary restrictions.
From the Epstein files via Wired (not clear this meeting ever took place; Thiel's dietary restrictions certainly provided ample justification for canceling):
www.justice.gov/epstein/file...
From the Epstein files via Wired (not clear this meeting ever took place; Thiel's dietary restrictions certainly provided ample justification for canceling):
www.justice.gov/epstein/file...
February 3, 2026 at 7:08 PM
To be clear: This is not Peter Thiel conveying dietary restrictions based on allergies or religious/moral convictions.
It's him, as a guest, telling his host that he'd prefer to order off-menu.
It's him, as a guest, telling his host that he'd prefer to order off-menu.
The rich are different from you and me.
They're utter jerks:
They're utter jerks:
Pro tip: If you have Peter Thiel over to dinner don't ask in advance for his dietary restrictions.
From the Epstein files via Wired (not clear this meeting ever took place; Thiel's dietary restrictions certainly provided ample justification for canceling):
www.justice.gov/epstein/file...
From the Epstein files via Wired (not clear this meeting ever took place; Thiel's dietary restrictions certainly provided ample justification for canceling):
www.justice.gov/epstein/file...
www.justice.gov
February 3, 2026 at 6:59 PM
The rich are different from you and me.
They're utter jerks:
They're utter jerks:
Strongly suggests there's WAY more in the #EpsteinFiles than what has been publicly released: She didn't divorce him just for having a creepy friend.
If Trump is holding back the full revelation about Bill Gates (a guy his base sees as a villain), just imagine what he's hiding about himself.
If Trump is holding back the full revelation about Bill Gates (a guy his base sees as a villain), just imagine what he's hiding about himself.
In an interview with NPR, Melinda French Gates confirmed that she ended her marriage with Bill Gates because of allegations contained in the Epstein files.
February 3, 2026 at 6:54 PM
Strongly suggests there's WAY more in the #EpsteinFiles than what has been publicly released: She didn't divorce him just for having a creepy friend.
If Trump is holding back the full revelation about Bill Gates (a guy his base sees as a villain), just imagine what he's hiding about himself.
If Trump is holding back the full revelation about Bill Gates (a guy his base sees as a villain), just imagine what he's hiding about himself.
The press secretary for any prior president would have ended the sentence after the eighth word.
Leavitt: "The president believes in the United States Constitution, however ... "
February 3, 2026 at 6:51 PM
The press secretary for any prior president would have ended the sentence after the eighth word.
True, but usually moral and artistic degeneracy coincide. An example:
♦️Between 2004-2016, Kanye was one of the most creative voices in hiphop. Since he went MAGA, everything he's put out has been awful.
Same for most artists with vile politics I know: Their best work preceded their moral rot.
1/2
♦️Between 2004-2016, Kanye was one of the most creative voices in hiphop. Since he went MAGA, everything he's put out has been awful.
Same for most artists with vile politics I know: Their best work preceded their moral rot.
1/2
one thing that would be cool, when prominent creators turn out to be terrible people, would be if we didn't have to go through this performative dance of insisting that their work was never good in the first place.
February 3, 2026 at 6:48 PM
True, but usually moral and artistic degeneracy coincide. An example:
♦️Between 2004-2016, Kanye was one of the most creative voices in hiphop. Since he went MAGA, everything he's put out has been awful.
Same for most artists with vile politics I know: Their best work preceded their moral rot.
1/2
♦️Between 2004-2016, Kanye was one of the most creative voices in hiphop. Since he went MAGA, everything he's put out has been awful.
Same for most artists with vile politics I know: Their best work preceded their moral rot.
1/2
So, has Trump actually backed off his extortion attempt on #Harvard? Press reports--even within NYT's own story-- are unclear.
Bottom line:
♦️Trump can never be trusted.
♦️Never #SurrenderInAdvance.
♦️If you're his target, don't give in:
-Make.
-Him.
-Take.
-It.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/02/u...
Bottom line:
♦️Trump can never be trusted.
♦️Never #SurrenderInAdvance.
♦️If you're his target, don't give in:
-Make.
-Him.
-Take.
-It.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/02/u...
Trump Is Said to Have Dropped Demand for Cash From Harvard
www.nytimes.com
February 3, 2026 at 4:23 PM
So, has Trump actually backed off his extortion attempt on #Harvard? Press reports--even within NYT's own story-- are unclear.
Bottom line:
♦️Trump can never be trusted.
♦️Never #SurrenderInAdvance.
♦️If you're his target, don't give in:
-Make.
-Him.
-Take.
-It.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/02/u...
Bottom line:
♦️Trump can never be trusted.
♦️Never #SurrenderInAdvance.
♦️If you're his target, don't give in:
-Make.
-Him.
-Take.
-It.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/02/u...