Matthew Hahn
@matthewhahn.com
Former prisoner. Dharma student. Union tradesman. Dharma leader at Spirit Rock, Insight Meditation Center, & San Jose Insight. Sober since 2005. Hobbyist photographer. San Jose, CA.
Kicked a divot out of Stalin’s grave.
https://linktr.ee/MatthewHahn
Kicked a divot out of Stalin’s grave.
https://linktr.ee/MatthewHahn
Pinned
Matthew Hahn
@matthewhahn.com
· Jan 15
I am a former incarcerated firefighter. I served in a California fire camp from 2009 to 2012.
Misinformation is afire on the internet, so here are facts about the prison firefighter program, all in one place.
A thread.
Misinformation is afire on the internet, so here are facts about the prison firefighter program, all in one place.
A thread.
Jacob Frey, Minneapolis Mayor: “To ICE - get the fuck out of Minneapolis”.
The rest of us: “To ICE - get the fuck out of our country”.
The rest of us: “To ICE - get the fuck out of our country”.
January 8, 2026 at 2:02 AM
Jacob Frey, Minneapolis Mayor: “To ICE - get the fuck out of Minneapolis”.
The rest of us: “To ICE - get the fuck out of our country”.
The rest of us: “To ICE - get the fuck out of our country”.
Reposted by Matthew Hahn
The cynics think today's attack on Venezuela is staged and transactional. Maduro is allied with Putin, but in 2019 Putin offered Trump a swap: Russia cedes Venezuela and gets Ukraine. (See Fiona Hill's testimony in Trump's first impeachment trial, h/t @davetroy.com). Even Maduro may be in on it. 2/
January 3, 2026 at 4:22 PM
The cynics think today's attack on Venezuela is staged and transactional. Maduro is allied with Putin, but in 2019 Putin offered Trump a swap: Russia cedes Venezuela and gets Ukraine. (See Fiona Hill's testimony in Trump's first impeachment trial, h/t @davetroy.com). Even Maduro may be in on it. 2/
Reposted by Matthew Hahn
I was mentored by men who had murdered. Let me tell you about one of them.
A thread in honor of Herb Blake.
A thread in honor of Herb Blake.
January 2, 2026 at 1:25 AM
I was mentored by men who had murdered. Let me tell you about one of them.
A thread in honor of Herb Blake.
A thread in honor of Herb Blake.
I was mentored by men who had murdered. Let me tell you about one of them.
A thread in honor of Herb Blake.
A thread in honor of Herb Blake.
January 2, 2026 at 1:25 AM
I was mentored by men who had murdered. Let me tell you about one of them.
A thread in honor of Herb Blake.
A thread in honor of Herb Blake.
Per tradition, here is my annual book list - 2025 edition. Book titles followed with an asterisk were repeat reads. Forty-five books!
1. Unhindered: A Mindful Path Through the Five Hindrances - Gil Fronsdal *
2. Night Sky with Exit Wounds - Ocean Vuong @oceanvu
A thread, of course...
1. Unhindered: A Mindful Path Through the Five Hindrances - Gil Fronsdal *
2. Night Sky with Exit Wounds - Ocean Vuong @oceanvu
A thread, of course...
December 31, 2025 at 12:31 AM
Per tradition, here is my annual book list - 2025 edition. Book titles followed with an asterisk were repeat reads. Forty-five books!
1. Unhindered: A Mindful Path Through the Five Hindrances - Gil Fronsdal *
2. Night Sky with Exit Wounds - Ocean Vuong @oceanvu
A thread, of course...
1. Unhindered: A Mindful Path Through the Five Hindrances - Gil Fronsdal *
2. Night Sky with Exit Wounds - Ocean Vuong @oceanvu
A thread, of course...
While I was in prison, a correctional officer fired live rounds into a crowd of skinheads. I was nearly struck by a bullet.
A thread.
A thread.
December 30, 2025 at 1:49 AM
While I was in prison, a correctional officer fired live rounds into a crowd of skinheads. I was nearly struck by a bullet.
A thread.
A thread.
Admiring the Clark-Hahn-Jerez Family Christmas Tree while wishing a Merry Christmas from our home to yours.
In this turbulent world, there is still much to be grateful for and many of you are part of that.
In this turbulent world, there is still much to be grateful for and many of you are part of that.
December 25, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Admiring the Clark-Hahn-Jerez Family Christmas Tree while wishing a Merry Christmas from our home to yours.
In this turbulent world, there is still much to be grateful for and many of you are part of that.
In this turbulent world, there is still much to be grateful for and many of you are part of that.
While I was in prison, I was the food procurement clerk. It was my job to work with the first cook to design the daily food menu and then make sure the men were fed on a budget of $2.60 per person per day.
How I helped make the best Christmas prison meal, a thread.
How I helped make the best Christmas prison meal, a thread.
December 24, 2025 at 11:27 PM
While I was in prison, I was the food procurement clerk. It was my job to work with the first cook to design the daily food menu and then make sure the men were fed on a budget of $2.60 per person per day.
How I helped make the best Christmas prison meal, a thread.
How I helped make the best Christmas prison meal, a thread.
Holiday sweater ✅
Festive pajamas ✅
11 days off work ✅
Festive pajamas ✅
11 days off work ✅
December 21, 2025 at 2:27 AM
Holiday sweater ✅
Festive pajamas ✅
11 days off work ✅
Festive pajamas ✅
11 days off work ✅
While I was in San Quentin last weekend, we honored a man who was paroling. Some reflections.
.
The hindrances, leaving prison, and the Zen ox herding pictures.
.
The hindrances, leaving prison, and the Zen ox herding pictures.
Returning To The Market From Prison
YouTube video by Matthew Hahn
youtu.be
December 16, 2025 at 2:49 AM
While I was in San Quentin last weekend, we honored a man who was paroling. Some reflections.
.
The hindrances, leaving prison, and the Zen ox herding pictures.
.
The hindrances, leaving prison, and the Zen ox herding pictures.
Nothing quite like having vertigo but still going to the holiday party because I’m Santa.
December 14, 2025 at 12:51 AM
Nothing quite like having vertigo but still going to the holiday party because I’m Santa.
Reposted by Matthew Hahn
I was fortunate enough to represent IBEW Local 617 at Defy Ventures’ Deep Dive Business Coaching Day in CTF Soledad this month.
Along with Senator Josh Becker and other volunteers, we joined incarcerated folks for a day of mock interviews, business planning, and community building.
Along with Senator Josh Becker and other volunteers, we joined incarcerated folks for a day of mock interviews, business planning, and community building.
December 12, 2025 at 11:59 PM
I was fortunate enough to represent IBEW Local 617 at Defy Ventures’ Deep Dive Business Coaching Day in CTF Soledad this month.
Along with Senator Josh Becker and other volunteers, we joined incarcerated folks for a day of mock interviews, business planning, and community building.
Along with Senator Josh Becker and other volunteers, we joined incarcerated folks for a day of mock interviews, business planning, and community building.
I was fortunate enough to represent IBEW Local 617 at Defy Ventures’ Deep Dive Business Coaching Day in CTF Soledad this month.
Along with Senator Josh Becker and other volunteers, we joined incarcerated folks for a day of mock interviews, business planning, and community building.
Along with Senator Josh Becker and other volunteers, we joined incarcerated folks for a day of mock interviews, business planning, and community building.
December 12, 2025 at 11:59 PM
I was fortunate enough to represent IBEW Local 617 at Defy Ventures’ Deep Dive Business Coaching Day in CTF Soledad this month.
Along with Senator Josh Becker and other volunteers, we joined incarcerated folks for a day of mock interviews, business planning, and community building.
Along with Senator Josh Becker and other volunteers, we joined incarcerated folks for a day of mock interviews, business planning, and community building.
A misty evening at San Quentin, where the Buddhadharma Sangha held its celebration of the Buddha’s enlightenment. We honored transformed lives, community, and liberation.
December 8, 2025 at 3:24 PM
A misty evening at San Quentin, where the Buddhadharma Sangha held its celebration of the Buddha’s enlightenment. We honored transformed lives, community, and liberation.
At the union hall phone banking for Yes on Prop 50. First time for everything.
October 22, 2025 at 12:58 AM
At the union hall phone banking for Yes on Prop 50. First time for everything.
I was once a person who wanted to do good but harmed instead. I was once a person who wanted to do good but did not because I feared the personal consequences.
I think a lot of people struggle with pragmatism on one hand and leading an ethical life with integrity on the other.
I think a lot of people struggle with pragmatism on one hand and leading an ethical life with integrity on the other.
I'm sorry but the more I think about it the more bothered I am about this whole concept of choosing whether or not you can be a good person is it different for other people do you just get to choose whether you're flexible uncertain things how can you live that way?
October 5, 2025 at 2:22 PM
I was once a person who wanted to do good but harmed instead. I was once a person who wanted to do good but did not because I feared the personal consequences.
I think a lot of people struggle with pragmatism on one hand and leading an ethical life with integrity on the other.
I think a lot of people struggle with pragmatism on one hand and leading an ethical life with integrity on the other.
I was a burglar who discovered a horrific sex crime against a child and helped the police catch the man.
My sentence was more than three times longer than Diddy’s.
My sentence was more than three times longer than Diddy’s.
NEW YORK (AP) — Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs sentenced to 4 years and 2 months in prison in case involving sex workers, violence and ‘freak-offs’.
October 3, 2025 at 10:46 PM
I was a burglar who discovered a horrific sex crime against a child and helped the police catch the man.
My sentence was more than three times longer than Diddy’s.
My sentence was more than three times longer than Diddy’s.
As I’m working through the process of getting a new citizenship, I was just informed that in the European Union “moving and living with your spouse is a human right” and, thus, my wife’s entry and residency there is guaranteed.
I mean, that’s as it should be.
I mean, that’s as it should be.
October 2, 2025 at 6:42 PM
As I’m working through the process of getting a new citizenship, I was just informed that in the European Union “moving and living with your spouse is a human right” and, thus, my wife’s entry and residency there is guaranteed.
I mean, that’s as it should be.
I mean, that’s as it should be.
I really appreciated when Ta l-Nehisi Coates asked Klein, “But was silence not an option?”
This.
If there is one skill I’ve had to learn as a white dude, it’s knowing when it’s time to shut up or sit something out. I’m imperfect, of course, but getting better.
This.
If there is one skill I’ve had to learn as a white dude, it’s knowing when it’s time to shut up or sit something out. I’m imperfect, of course, but getting better.
October 2, 2025 at 2:00 AM
I really appreciated when Ta l-Nehisi Coates asked Klein, “But was silence not an option?”
This.
If there is one skill I’ve had to learn as a white dude, it’s knowing when it’s time to shut up or sit something out. I’m imperfect, of course, but getting better.
This.
If there is one skill I’ve had to learn as a white dude, it’s knowing when it’s time to shut up or sit something out. I’m imperfect, of course, but getting better.
Eavesdropping on a conversation at work.
A: “My family in Mexico is hella rich”.
B: “There aren’t any rich people in Mexico, everyone’s poor.”
A: “There are lots of rich people in Mexico.”
B: “Nope. You’re trippin.”
…
A: “My family in Mexico is hella rich”.
B: “There aren’t any rich people in Mexico, everyone’s poor.”
A: “There are lots of rich people in Mexico.”
B: “Nope. You’re trippin.”
…
October 1, 2025 at 8:46 PM
Eavesdropping on a conversation at work.
A: “My family in Mexico is hella rich”.
B: “There aren’t any rich people in Mexico, everyone’s poor.”
A: “There are lots of rich people in Mexico.”
B: “Nope. You’re trippin.”
…
A: “My family in Mexico is hella rich”.
B: “There aren’t any rich people in Mexico, everyone’s poor.”
A: “There are lots of rich people in Mexico.”
B: “Nope. You’re trippin.”
…
To be clear, 60% of the jury thought Comey should go to trial for obstruction charges and 100% of the jury thought Trump sexually abused Jean Carrill.
September 27, 2025 at 7:40 PM
To be clear, 60% of the jury thought Comey should go to trial for obstruction charges and 100% of the jury thought Trump sexually abused Jean Carrill.
In prison, I received a book in the mail by Murray Bookchin, called "Social Ecology and Communalism".
The prison guard, a Christian who poked fun at my leftist leanings, said, "So you're a communist?"
"It says communalism, not communism."
"Oh," he said. "Haha".
The prison guard, a Christian who poked fun at my leftist leanings, said, "So you're a communist?"
"It says communalism, not communism."
"Oh," he said. "Haha".
September 27, 2025 at 3:43 PM
In prison, I received a book in the mail by Murray Bookchin, called "Social Ecology and Communalism".
The prison guard, a Christian who poked fun at my leftist leanings, said, "So you're a communist?"
"It says communalism, not communism."
"Oh," he said. "Haha".
The prison guard, a Christian who poked fun at my leftist leanings, said, "So you're a communist?"
"It says communalism, not communism."
"Oh," he said. "Haha".
When I was in prison, I read Assata’s autobiography and had to put a book cover on it so the other white people didn’t see me reading it. Hers was the first of many such books that required secrecy. George Jackson, Malcolm X, James Baldwin, etc.
September 27, 2025 at 1:50 AM
When I was in prison, I read Assata’s autobiography and had to put a book cover on it so the other white people didn’t see me reading it. Hers was the first of many such books that required secrecy. George Jackson, Malcolm X, James Baldwin, etc.
Let's make this a little less passive:
Israel killed four (more) journalists.
Israel killed four (more) journalists.
Anas al-Sharif: Four Al Jazeera journalists killed in Israeli strike near Al-Shifa hospital
Al Jazeera had condemned a "campaign of incitement" by the IDF against its reporters, but the military claims one of the journalists was part of Hamas.
www.bbc.com
August 10, 2025 at 11:16 PM
Let's make this a little less passive:
Israel killed four (more) journalists.
Israel killed four (more) journalists.
The Weather Underground would like a word.
August 10, 2025 at 12:41 AM
The Weather Underground would like a word.