Justin Ling
@justinling.ca
Uh-oh!!!!!!! Columnist/journalist @thestar.com, sometimes @wired.com, @foreignpolicy.com
Newsletter: www.bugeyedandshameless.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JustinLing
Signal: JustinLing.42
Newsletter: www.bugeyedandshameless.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JustinLing
Signal: JustinLing.42
Pinned
Justin Ling
@justinling.ca
· 13d
A Year in Chaos
After chaos, is there a super-chaos?
www.bugeyedandshameless.com
A look back at 2025, and a defense of 536. www.bugeyedandshameless.com/p/a-year-in-...
Reposted by Justin Ling
Government accounts just post like this now and that’s how policy is made
January 12, 2026 at 9:10 PM
Government accounts just post like this now and that’s how policy is made
"These are no longer policy options. They are acts of basic self-preservation against an agency that openly pits itself against the populations of the cities it invades." From @attackerman.bsky.social
www.forever-wars.com/either-ice-i...
www.forever-wars.com/either-ice-i...
Either ICE Is Abolished or It Will Kill Many More Renee Goods
Minnesota is just the beginning of ICE's transformation into a right-wing death squad. But it can be the end
www.forever-wars.com
January 12, 2026 at 8:20 PM
"These are no longer policy options. They are acts of basic self-preservation against an agency that openly pits itself against the populations of the cities it invades." From @attackerman.bsky.social
www.forever-wars.com/either-ice-i...
www.forever-wars.com/either-ice-i...
Reposted by Justin Ling
If reporters for major news organizations got off X, they'd soon realize how completely deranged *federal government officials* are. Marinating in this shit day in and day out makes it seem like the new normal.
"Triggered much?" is what a troll says when one of their targets gets bothered by their posts. Here, senior US official Greg Bovino redeploys it to defend/celebrate a literal murder in the physical world.
A government of, by, and for the Online Right.
A government of, by, and for the Online Right.
In response to a quote tweet of DHS that says “you guys killed an American citizen,” Greg Bovino replies: “Triggered much?”
January 12, 2026 at 4:51 PM
If reporters for major news organizations got off X, they'd soon realize how completely deranged *federal government officials* are. Marinating in this shit day in and day out makes it seem like the new normal.
Meta just hired a Trump lackey, Dina Powell McCormick, as its new president. So I'm just gonna re-up this: www.thestar.com/opinion/star...
Justin Ling: Canadians won’t let the U.S. government boss them around. But U.S. mega-corporations? Sure, why not
For years, Meta has blocked Canadians from accessing news content on its platforms. And for years, Canada has done nothing about this.
www.thestar.com
January 12, 2026 at 3:38 PM
Meta just hired a Trump lackey, Dina Powell McCormick, as its new president. So I'm just gonna re-up this: www.thestar.com/opinion/star...
Massive protests are continuing across Iran as evidence emerges that regime forces have killed hundreds of protesters. www.iranintl.com/en/liveblog/...
Live - Trump reviewing attack options as Iran crackdown leaves many hundreds dead
Protesters returned to the streets across the country on Sunday evening despite an ongoing crackdown and internet blackout.
www.iranintl.com
January 11, 2026 at 7:30 PM
Massive protests are continuing across Iran as evidence emerges that regime forces have killed hundreds of protesters. www.iranintl.com/en/liveblog/...
"The protests in Iran may have expanded to such an extent that they are challenging Iranian security forces’ ability to suppress them." understandingwar.org/research/mid...
Iran Update, January 9, 2026
The Iranian regime has sustained its nationwide internet shutdown to disrupt protest coordination and obscure the scale of its crackdown.
understandingwar.org
January 10, 2026 at 8:49 PM
"The protests in Iran may have expanded to such an extent that they are challenging Iranian security forces’ ability to suppress them." understandingwar.org/research/mid...
I think he acknowledges the benefits of quitting! But I thought it was a really interesting look into the social dynamics and importance of finding ways of vulnerability-based social bonds.
Not right for everyone, but still thought it was interesting.
Not right for everyone, but still thought it was interesting.
January 10, 2026 at 3:30 AM
I think he acknowledges the benefits of quitting! But I thought it was a really interesting look into the social dynamics and importance of finding ways of vulnerability-based social bonds.
Not right for everyone, but still thought it was interesting.
Not right for everyone, but still thought it was interesting.
Reposted by Justin Ling
Trump: "We are going to do something on Greenland whether they like it or not because if we don't it, Russia or China will take over Greenland. If we don't do it the easy way we're gonna do it the hard way."
January 9, 2026 at 9:10 PM
Trump: "We are going to do something on Greenland whether they like it or not because if we don't it, Russia or China will take over Greenland. If we don't do it the easy way we're gonna do it the hard way."
“For humans, from an evolutionary perspective, building trust is a fundamental problem. How do you technically know who's on your side? Engaging in a shared risk activity, like drinking, you’re essentially saying to the group, ‘I trust you enough to lower my guard.'” www.gq.com/story/why-my...
Why My 2026 Resolution Is to Start Drinking Again
I went sober to prioritize my health. But then slowly but surely I realized the best parts of life were passing me by.
www.gq.com
January 10, 2026 at 3:09 AM
“For humans, from an evolutionary perspective, building trust is a fundamental problem. How do you technically know who's on your side? Engaging in a shared risk activity, like drinking, you’re essentially saying to the group, ‘I trust you enough to lower my guard.'” www.gq.com/story/why-my...
Reposted by Justin Ling
Highly recommend “The Flamethrowers” podcast by @justinling.ca
M.S. in German & German History here, published on the language of extremism. I recognized the language of deep propaganda used on rw political talk radio in the U.S. in the early 90s and of course this has gotten far worse. 1/2
January 10, 2026 at 1:00 AM
Highly recommend “The Flamethrowers” podcast by @justinling.ca
I do too! www.cbc.ca/listen/cbc-p...
The Flamethrowers | CBC Podcasts | CBC Listen
“The Flamethrowers” captures the punch-you-in-the-mouth energy and sound of right-wing talk radio. Host Justin Ling takes us from the fringe preachers and conspiracy peddlers of the 1920s to the polit...
www.cbc.ca
January 10, 2026 at 1:45 AM
I do too! www.cbc.ca/listen/cbc-p...
I completely forgot about that and love it so much
January 9, 2026 at 9:12 PM
I completely forgot about that and love it so much
(for what it's worth, WIRED's reporting basically acknowledge this as well.) www.wired.com/story/x-didn...
X Didn’t Fix Grok's ‘Undressing’ Problem. It Just Makes People Pay for It
X is allowing only “verified” users to create images with Grok. Experts say it represents the “monetization of abuse”—and anyone can still generate images on Grok’s app and website.
www.wired.com
January 9, 2026 at 6:44 PM
(for what it's worth, WIRED's reporting basically acknowledge this as well.) www.wired.com/story/x-didn...
Reposted by Justin Ling
Iranian authorities have unleashed a deadly crackdown on protesters across the country since December 28, 2025, marked by security forces’ unlawful use of force and firearms and mass arbitrary arrests.
New from HRW and @amnesty.org:
New from HRW and @amnesty.org:
Iran: Authorities’ Renewed Cycle of Protest Bloodshed
Iranian authorities have unleashed a deadly crackdown on protesters across the country since December 28, 2025, marked by security forces’ unlawful use of force and firearms and mass arbitrary arrests...
www.hrw.org
January 9, 2026 at 5:28 PM
Iranian authorities have unleashed a deadly crackdown on protesters across the country since December 28, 2025, marked by security forces’ unlawful use of force and firearms and mass arbitrary arrests.
New from HRW and @amnesty.org:
New from HRW and @amnesty.org:
Canadians for Digital Sovereignty comes to mind: c4ds.ca
And Gander Social, who I write about here: www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
And Gander Social, who I write about here: www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
C4DS – Canadians for Digital Sovereignty
c4ds.ca
January 9, 2026 at 5:28 PM
Canadians for Digital Sovereignty comes to mind: c4ds.ca
And Gander Social, who I write about here: www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
And Gander Social, who I write about here: www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
Not really. The internet shut off has definitely impacted the flow of information out.
There have been reports of mass killings by regime forces, but there's also some skepticism of those claims.
ISW does have a very thorough update for today though: understandingwar.org/research/mid...
There have been reports of mass killings by regime forces, but there's also some skepticism of those claims.
ISW does have a very thorough update for today though: understandingwar.org/research/mid...
Iran Update, January 8, 2026
Protest activity in Iran has expanded dramatically in both rate and magnitude since January 7, including in major cities like Tehran.
understandingwar.org
January 9, 2026 at 5:15 PM
Not really. The internet shut off has definitely impacted the flow of information out.
There have been reports of mass killings by regime forces, but there's also some skepticism of those claims.
ISW does have a very thorough update for today though: understandingwar.org/research/mid...
There have been reports of mass killings by regime forces, but there's also some skepticism of those claims.
ISW does have a very thorough update for today though: understandingwar.org/research/mid...
psst here's a gift link just for you www.thestar.com/opinion/star...
www.thestar.com
January 9, 2026 at 4:41 PM
psst here's a gift link just for you www.thestar.com/opinion/star...
Meta has maintained a years-long news blockade of Canada to bully Ottawa into dropping a meager attempt to make the company compensate the journalism organizations it systematically defunded.
It's time Canada stop being so chickenshit and do something about it. www.thestar.com/opinion/star...
It's time Canada stop being so chickenshit and do something about it. www.thestar.com/opinion/star...
Justin Ling: Canadians won’t let the U.S. government boss them around. But U.S. mega-corporations? Sure, why not
For years, Meta has blocked Canadians from accessing news content on its platforms. And for years, Canada has done nothing about this.
www.thestar.com
January 9, 2026 at 4:41 PM
Meta has maintained a years-long news blockade of Canada to bully Ottawa into dropping a meager attempt to make the company compensate the journalism organizations it systematically defunded.
It's time Canada stop being so chickenshit and do something about it. www.thestar.com/opinion/star...
It's time Canada stop being so chickenshit and do something about it. www.thestar.com/opinion/star...
Oh sure.
Since there's nearly zero foreign journos in Iran we're left dependent on whatever video trickles out and second-hand accounts. There's no doubt a pro-Shah contingency, but we have no idea how big/cohesive it is. (From what I hear from Iranians, it's really "anything but the Ayatollah.")
Since there's nearly zero foreign journos in Iran we're left dependent on whatever video trickles out and second-hand accounts. There's no doubt a pro-Shah contingency, but we have no idea how big/cohesive it is. (From what I hear from Iranians, it's really "anything but the Ayatollah.")
January 9, 2026 at 3:52 PM
Oh sure.
Since there's nearly zero foreign journos in Iran we're left dependent on whatever video trickles out and second-hand accounts. There's no doubt a pro-Shah contingency, but we have no idea how big/cohesive it is. (From what I hear from Iranians, it's really "anything but the Ayatollah.")
Since there's nearly zero foreign journos in Iran we're left dependent on whatever video trickles out and second-hand accounts. There's no doubt a pro-Shah contingency, but we have no idea how big/cohesive it is. (From what I hear from Iranians, it's really "anything but the Ayatollah.")
One thing that makes me absolutely insane about the Weiss faction is how they use the language of polarization to simp for the regime.
It is not the media's job is not to smother discontent over genuinely abhorrent things. It is, in fact, the fucking opposite.
It is not the media's job is not to smother discontent over genuinely abhorrent things. It is, in fact, the fucking opposite.
New CBS News anchor Tony Dokoupil closing the broadcast from MN last night.
January 9, 2026 at 2:13 PM
One thing that makes me absolutely insane about the Weiss faction is how they use the language of polarization to simp for the regime.
It is not the media's job is not to smother discontent over genuinely abhorrent things. It is, in fact, the fucking opposite.
It is not the media's job is not to smother discontent over genuinely abhorrent things. It is, in fact, the fucking opposite.
...but I'd say this is so broad and distributed that it'd be totally wrong to say it's any one thing or following any one person.
I'm no Iran expert, so consider that. But I'd say that this is broad anti-regime unrest.
I'm no Iran expert, so consider that. But I'd say that this is broad anti-regime unrest.
January 9, 2026 at 2:07 PM
...but I'd say this is so broad and distributed that it'd be totally wrong to say it's any one thing or following any one person.
I'm no Iran expert, so consider that. But I'd say that this is broad anti-regime unrest.
I'm no Iran expert, so consider that. But I'd say that this is broad anti-regime unrest.
Where did the BBC claim that? Because I think that's completely false.
There have been protests over cost-of-living, water shortages, regime brutality, etc off-and-on since 2023. This time, Pahlavi has explicitly endorsed the protests and there's been some pro-Shah chants, e.g....
There have been protests over cost-of-living, water shortages, regime brutality, etc off-and-on since 2023. This time, Pahlavi has explicitly endorsed the protests and there's been some pro-Shah chants, e.g....
January 9, 2026 at 2:07 PM
Where did the BBC claim that? Because I think that's completely false.
There have been protests over cost-of-living, water shortages, regime brutality, etc off-and-on since 2023. This time, Pahlavi has explicitly endorsed the protests and there's been some pro-Shah chants, e.g....
There have been protests over cost-of-living, water shortages, regime brutality, etc off-and-on since 2023. This time, Pahlavi has explicitly endorsed the protests and there's been some pro-Shah chants, e.g....
Reposted by Justin Ling
There has apparently been a shooting of Portland residents by federal agents. I'm on the scene here in east Portland
January 9, 2026 at 12:36 AM
There has apparently been a shooting of Portland residents by federal agents. I'm on the scene here in east Portland
I'm sure he does! But Donald Trump doesn't control Iran and has no real power to install a new regime. The Iranian people do have agency.
January 8, 2026 at 9:14 PM
I'm sure he does! But Donald Trump doesn't control Iran and has no real power to install a new regime. The Iranian people do have agency.