Pinned
Grave Dohl
@letsdestroy.bsky.social
· Jul 2
I started ADHD meds and am reining in my social media usage, including Bsky. I'll be posting a lot less and will probably start unfollowing a lot of people. It's nothing personal, and I'm doing well, I just need to unplug from The Discourse to a large degree.
Apparently he was already circumcized at birth but decided to do it again
January 18, 2026 at 10:58 PM
Apparently he was already circumcized at birth but decided to do it again
This isn't rocket science. And it isn't entirely campism either. Under the circumstances there are legitimate reasons to be cautious about supporting the overthrow of the Islamic Republic.
But also, why "protest" against a regime that your own government already considers am enemy?
But also, why "protest" against a regime that your own government already considers am enemy?
January 17, 2026 at 3:21 PM
This isn't rocket science. And it isn't entirely campism either. Under the circumstances there are legitimate reasons to be cautious about supporting the overthrow of the Islamic Republic.
But also, why "protest" against a regime that your own government already considers am enemy?
But also, why "protest" against a regime that your own government already considers am enemy?
Part of the suspicion is because the loudest Iranian exiles are right-wing monarchists who support Reza Pahlavi and Israel. It's also because Trump and Netanyahu loudly claim to support the protestors and are seemingly looking to use the opportunity for another bombing campaign.
@galbeckerman.bsky.social: ”In my conversations with these Iranian exiles, I heard deep frustration ... The Iranian protesters stepping fearlessly into the sights of government snipers are being seen by the American left with more suspicion than sympathy.”
The Silence of the Left on Iran
As the Islamic Republic massacres protesters, exiles are dismayed by the lack of sympathy from the American left.
www.theatlantic.com
January 17, 2026 at 3:16 PM
Part of the suspicion is because the loudest Iranian exiles are right-wing monarchists who support Reza Pahlavi and Israel. It's also because Trump and Netanyahu loudly claim to support the protestors and are seemingly looking to use the opportunity for another bombing campaign.
Obama's Nobel was just as fake and meaningless as Machado's
January 17, 2026 at 3:33 AM
Obama's Nobel was just as fake and meaningless as Machado's
Abolish DHS. Prosecute Trump and every one of his orbiter in the administration. Use anti-trust and other legal/regulatory means to break the power of the tech oligarchs.
January 15, 2026 at 8:58 PM
Abolish DHS. Prosecute Trump and every one of his orbiter in the administration. Use anti-trust and other legal/regulatory means to break the power of the tech oligarchs.
The next Democratic admin will have a mandate to destroy Trumpism root and branch.
The energy the base wants is less proclamation of amnesty and more Sherman’s March to the Sea.
January 15, 2026 at 8:54 PM
The next Democratic admin will have a mandate to destroy Trumpism root and branch.
The civil war between divorced guys and their ex-wives is about to begin
January 15, 2026 at 8:34 PM
The civil war between divorced guys and their ex-wives is about to begin
I'm old enough to remember when George W. Bush created the Department of Homeland Security. It was never necessary. In the intervening 23 years, it has become a fascist security state colossus.
I never thought I'd say this, but Bill Kristol is right. Don't just abolish ICE. Abolish DHS altogether.
I never thought I'd say this, but Bill Kristol is right. Don't just abolish ICE. Abolish DHS altogether.
January 15, 2026 at 8:32 PM
I'm old enough to remember when George W. Bush created the Department of Homeland Security. It was never necessary. In the intervening 23 years, it has become a fascist security state colossus.
I never thought I'd say this, but Bill Kristol is right. Don't just abolish ICE. Abolish DHS altogether.
I never thought I'd say this, but Bill Kristol is right. Don't just abolish ICE. Abolish DHS altogether.
On the one hand, pushing back against "jews let the browns in" is better than agreeing with it.
On the other hand, what the fuck?
On the other hand, what the fuck?
January 15, 2026 at 8:25 PM
On the one hand, pushing back against "jews let the browns in" is better than agreeing with it.
On the other hand, what the fuck?
On the other hand, what the fuck?
Don't do it. I'm Canadian and I hate the US (as a political entity, not necessarily as a society). It's lame when people try to apologize. Just work at overthrowing your stupid regime and we will support you.
January 15, 2026 at 8:17 PM
Don't do it. I'm Canadian and I hate the US (as a political entity, not necessarily as a society). It's lame when people try to apologize. Just work at overthrowing your stupid regime and we will support you.
Getting heart disease to own the libs
I thought this was a joke but it’s an actual post from the White House: “we are ending the war on protein”
How about ending the war on the health of this country?
How about ending the war on the health of this country?
January 12, 2026 at 3:22 PM
Getting heart disease to own the libs
On the other hand, they can increase the pay and lower the standards with infinite license to recruit even dumber and more ideologically-motivated goons. If ICE is having trouble recruiting, the outcome could just be even worse and more aggressive ICE agents.
January 11, 2026 at 9:47 PM
On the other hand, they can increase the pay and lower the standards with infinite license to recruit even dumber and more ideologically-motivated goons. If ICE is having trouble recruiting, the outcome could just be even worse and more aggressive ICE agents.
Agreed. The protests weren't an attack intended to damage the Democrats. They were a very loud message that tried to communicate where many (most?) Democratic voters and potential voters stood on the issue. The Dem leadership screwed up very badly by plugging their ears and closing their minds.
January 11, 2026 at 9:21 PM
Agreed. The protests weren't an attack intended to damage the Democrats. They were a very loud message that tried to communicate where many (most?) Democratic voters and potential voters stood on the issue. The Dem leadership screwed up very badly by plugging their ears and closing their minds.
While I'm not American, I also think the outrage at Dems was probably more visceral because liberals and even leftists hold them to a higher standard. Dems' Gaza policy probably felt more like a betrayal and like something deeply hypocritical. The call (protest) was coming from inside the house.
January 11, 2026 at 9:16 PM
While I'm not American, I also think the outrage at Dems was probably more visceral because liberals and even leftists hold them to a higher standard. Dems' Gaza policy probably felt more like a betrayal and like something deeply hypocritical. The call (protest) was coming from inside the house.
in the status quo. It's probably a bit of both, although I suspect that Bremmer knows very well that his comparison here is bullshit. But we need to use every opportunity like this to hammer home the message that Palestine protests are about ending our respective countries' support for Israel.
January 11, 2026 at 9:11 PM
in the status quo. It's probably a bit of both, although I suspect that Bremmer knows very well that his comparison here is bullshit. But we need to use every opportunity like this to hammer home the message that Palestine protests are about ending our respective countries' support for Israel.
Many people misunderstand and think it's about virtue signalling, or that we're calling for a military or humanitarian intervention. I don't know if this reflects a problem with our approach to communication, or if it reflects a deliberate misdirection by elements of our society that are invested...
January 11, 2026 at 9:08 PM
Many people misunderstand and think it's about virtue signalling, or that we're calling for a military or humanitarian intervention. I don't know if this reflects a problem with our approach to communication, or if it reflects a deliberate misdirection by elements of our society that are invested...
I'll admit, I'm much more comfortable criticizing rather than supporting my government's policies. That's probably not unusual for a leftist.
In any case, militant Palestine solidarity actions are about challenging the status quo within our own societies. About holding our own leaders to account.
In any case, militant Palestine solidarity actions are about challenging the status quo within our own societies. About holding our own leaders to account.
January 11, 2026 at 9:05 PM
I'll admit, I'm much more comfortable criticizing rather than supporting my government's policies. That's probably not unusual for a leftist.
In any case, militant Palestine solidarity actions are about challenging the status quo within our own societies. About holding our own leaders to account.
In any case, militant Palestine solidarity actions are about challenging the status quo within our own societies. About holding our own leaders to account.
In fact, Russia-Ukraine is a slightly uncomfortable subject for me because I don't like that "doing the right thing" happens to coincide with western imperial ambitions and with the interests of Canada's ruling class. I don't trust my government to do the right thing for the right reasons.
January 11, 2026 at 9:02 PM
In fact, Russia-Ukraine is a slightly uncomfortable subject for me because I don't like that "doing the right thing" happens to coincide with western imperial ambitions and with the interests of Canada's ruling class. I don't trust my government to do the right thing for the right reasons.
This is one reason I can't get that worked up about Russia-Ukraine. My government (Canada) already supports Ukraine to the hilt. We've sent over $5B in arms to Ukraine. We've sanctioned Russia. I support the Ukrainian side, and I (more or less) support my government's policy.
January 11, 2026 at 8:58 PM
This is one reason I can't get that worked up about Russia-Ukraine. My government (Canada) already supports Ukraine to the hilt. We've sent over $5B in arms to Ukraine. We've sanctioned Russia. I support the Ukrainian side, and I (more or less) support my government's policy.
Why would I waste valuable energy attending, much less organizing, a demonstration that already aligns with my government's policies? Especially if the society as a whole is already on side? What am I challenging? What am I protesting? What am I demanding?
January 11, 2026 at 8:55 PM
Why would I waste valuable energy attending, much less organizing, a demonstration that already aligns with my government's policies? Especially if the society as a whole is already on side? What am I challenging? What am I protesting? What am I demanding?
Mehdi Hasan is spot on here. Protests and encampments are about challenging and changing the policies of *domestic* actors, be they governments, corporations or universities.
They are not about demonstrating one's moral positions in a vacuum.
They are not about demonstrating one's moral positions in a vacuum.
January 11, 2026 at 8:52 PM
Mehdi Hasan is spot on here. Protests and encampments are about challenging and changing the policies of *domestic* actors, be they governments, corporations or universities.
They are not about demonstrating one's moral positions in a vacuum.
They are not about demonstrating one's moral positions in a vacuum.
Israel, the US and the Shah are using this opportunity to try and neutralize Iran as an anti-imperial player in the region. But that doesn't invalidate the real grievances of the protestors.
January 10, 2026 at 5:00 PM
Israel, the US and the Shah are using this opportunity to try and neutralize Iran as an anti-imperial player in the region. But that doesn't invalidate the real grievances of the protestors.
I've never bought into the idea that Iran is our enemy, and they are one of the few countries willing to stand up to Israel, however tepidly. But the Islamic Republic is an authoritarian regime, for lack of a better term.
January 10, 2026 at 4:58 PM
I've never bought into the idea that Iran is our enemy, and they are one of the few countries willing to stand up to Israel, however tepidly. But the Islamic Republic is an authoritarian regime, for lack of a better term.
He's right
It isn’t difficult to hold 2 thoughts, side by side, at the same time:
The people of Iran deserve freedom, dignity, & protection from state violence.
The US & Israeli governments have caused great harm to Iranians and don’t have the best interests of the Iranian people in mind.
The people of Iran deserve freedom, dignity, & protection from state violence.
The US & Israeli governments have caused great harm to Iranians and don’t have the best interests of the Iranian people in mind.
January 10, 2026 at 4:54 PM
He's right