Patrick Hruby
@patrickhruby.bsky.social
Deputy Editor, Washingtonian | Alum and bylines, many places | To pitch me: [email protected] | To reach me: www.patrickhruby.net
Reposted by Patrick Hruby
...but, to the maximal extent possibly (and also often quiteincoherently) ALWAYS encodes a narrative that good guys get to use guns, and bad guys get to have guns used upon them. (Wilhoit's Law: Google it.) The NRA statement the sin qua non of this logic.
www.nytimes.com/2013/07/14/u...
www.nytimes.com/2013/07/14/u...
Zimmerman Is Acquitted in Trayvon Martin Killing (Published 2013)
www.nytimes.com
January 25, 2026 at 5:09 PM
...but, to the maximal extent possibly (and also often quiteincoherently) ALWAYS encodes a narrative that good guys get to use guns, and bad guys get to have guns used upon them. (Wilhoit's Law: Google it.) The NRA statement the sin qua non of this logic.
www.nytimes.com/2013/07/14/u...
www.nytimes.com/2013/07/14/u...
Reposted by Patrick Hruby
it's equal parts great and bizarre to see someone in office who seems genuinely proud to be a public servant
We're getting a snowstorm tomorrow. But New York City is prepared.
January 25, 2026 at 4:50 PM
it's equal parts great and bizarre to see someone in office who seems genuinely proud to be a public servant
Reposted by Patrick Hruby
Congressional Republicans gave Trump a slush fund for ICE and CBP in the "Big Beautiful Bill." Tens of billions of dollars that is still usable even during a shutdown.
Democrats must make rescinding that money the price of any future govt funding, as Republicans did with IRS money from the IRA.
Democrats must make rescinding that money the price of any future govt funding, as Republicans did with IRS money from the IRA.
January 25, 2026 at 4:36 PM
Congressional Republicans gave Trump a slush fund for ICE and CBP in the "Big Beautiful Bill." Tens of billions of dollars that is still usable even during a shutdown.
Democrats must make rescinding that money the price of any future govt funding, as Republicans did with IRS money from the IRA.
Democrats must make rescinding that money the price of any future govt funding, as Republicans did with IRS money from the IRA.
Reposted by Patrick Hruby
I actually think it's pretty easy to explain.
Younger people didn't buy into an older neoliberal elite's prejudices, the older neoliberal elite absolutely lost their shit at the notion that they might be called on to change, and fascists exploited that reactionary moment
Younger people didn't buy into an older neoliberal elite's prejudices, the older neoliberal elite absolutely lost their shit at the notion that they might be called on to change, and fascists exploited that reactionary moment
Years from now, it'll be difficult to explain the things people in media were wailing about before all this. Sophomores writing underconsidered op-eds about cultural appropriation. Protests against demagogues on campus. YA drama. "Mobs" on Twitter. These were the threats to free society.
January 25, 2026 at 3:49 PM
I actually think it's pretty easy to explain.
Younger people didn't buy into an older neoliberal elite's prejudices, the older neoliberal elite absolutely lost their shit at the notion that they might be called on to change, and fascists exploited that reactionary moment
Younger people didn't buy into an older neoliberal elite's prejudices, the older neoliberal elite absolutely lost their shit at the notion that they might be called on to change, and fascists exploited that reactionary moment
Reposted by Patrick Hruby
"What can Democrats actually do?"
- Vote against funding for ICE and DHS
- State that any ICE officers who commit crimes under Trump will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law
- Encourage cities and states to refuse to cooperate with ICE
- Explain ICE is part of Trump's tyranny
- Vote against funding for ICE and DHS
- State that any ICE officers who commit crimes under Trump will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law
- Encourage cities and states to refuse to cooperate with ICE
- Explain ICE is part of Trump's tyranny
January 24, 2026 at 7:34 PM
"What can Democrats actually do?"
- Vote against funding for ICE and DHS
- State that any ICE officers who commit crimes under Trump will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law
- Encourage cities and states to refuse to cooperate with ICE
- Explain ICE is part of Trump's tyranny
- Vote against funding for ICE and DHS
- State that any ICE officers who commit crimes under Trump will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law
- Encourage cities and states to refuse to cooperate with ICE
- Explain ICE is part of Trump's tyranny
The finger biting chyron is incredible
Kristi Noem: "These are not just agitators anymore. They are violent protests. Frankly, this didn't turn violent until we uncovered the fraud in Minneapolis."
January 25, 2026 at 4:31 PM
The finger biting chyron is incredible
Reposted by Patrick Hruby
“You’re making a low trust society” I scream as I expand police budget and authority to maintain iron clad control over degenerates I don’t like but democratically
January 25, 2026 at 1:41 PM
“You’re making a low trust society” I scream as I expand police budget and authority to maintain iron clad control over degenerates I don’t like but democratically
Reposted by Patrick Hruby
i think the "immigration turns high trust societies into low trust societies" people were already on really shaky ideological ground but now they're watching neighbors helping one another and calling them paid antifa agitators
January 25, 2026 at 1:00 PM
i think the "immigration turns high trust societies into low trust societies" people were already on really shaky ideological ground but now they're watching neighbors helping one another and calling them paid antifa agitators
Reposted by Patrick Hruby
Really hard to look at this and all the other examples of bravery and kindness from ordinary people in this moment not think also of the tremendous cowardice exhibited over the past year by some of the richest, most well-protected people in business, media and politics
Let us all have the courage displayed by the residents of Minneapolis.
January 25, 2026 at 2:24 PM
Really hard to look at this and all the other examples of bravery and kindness from ordinary people in this moment not think also of the tremendous cowardice exhibited over the past year by some of the richest, most well-protected people in business, media and politics
Reposted by Patrick Hruby
i keep thinking to myself how lucky we are that theyre actually dumb as dog shit, how much worse and more prolonged this would be if they werent so high on their own bull shit
January 25, 2026 at 3:06 PM
i keep thinking to myself how lucky we are that theyre actually dumb as dog shit, how much worse and more prolonged this would be if they werent so high on their own bull shit
Reposted by Patrick Hruby
They're both bullies and constant victims of other bullies who jostle and check these guys to ensure they never do anything even slightly reasonable, because their online flying monkey brigade would descend upon them.
January 25, 2026 at 3:18 PM
They're both bullies and constant victims of other bullies who jostle and check these guys to ensure they never do anything even slightly reasonable, because their online flying monkey brigade would descend upon them.
Reposted by Patrick Hruby
i think this attitude — that all opposition is illegitimate and nothing we do can be questioned— is probably pervasive in the white house and helps explain why they keep making terrible political choices
Putin pioneered this. No opposition is legitimate. Regular, decent, “ordinary” people cannot possibly be against us because only we represent “the real people.”
Tell-tale sign of authoritarianism.
Tell-tale sign of authoritarianism.
January 25, 2026 at 3:02 PM
i think this attitude — that all opposition is illegitimate and nothing we do can be questioned— is probably pervasive in the white house and helps explain why they keep making terrible political choices
Reposted by Patrick Hruby
An insane, perfect encapsulation of it all:
The same day Trump’s agents kill a Veterans Affairs ICU nurse in broad daylight, the CEOs of Apple and Amazon join Trump to watch a private screening of a film about his wife directed by an alleged sexual abuser who was seen shirtless in the Epstein Files
The same day Trump’s agents kill a Veterans Affairs ICU nurse in broad daylight, the CEOs of Apple and Amazon join Trump to watch a private screening of a film about his wife directed by an alleged sexual abuser who was seen shirtless in the Epstein Files
January 25, 2026 at 3:28 AM
An insane, perfect encapsulation of it all:
The same day Trump’s agents kill a Veterans Affairs ICU nurse in broad daylight, the CEOs of Apple and Amazon join Trump to watch a private screening of a film about his wife directed by an alleged sexual abuser who was seen shirtless in the Epstein Files
The same day Trump’s agents kill a Veterans Affairs ICU nurse in broad daylight, the CEOs of Apple and Amazon join Trump to watch a private screening of a film about his wife directed by an alleged sexual abuser who was seen shirtless in the Epstein Files
Republican voters created a whole regime of the same
A fascinating read. We created an entire agency of rejects and failures
Curious why ICE and CBP agents are so brutal? Here's a useful explainer I wrote last week, before Saturday's outrageous murder, about how uniquely unsuited ICE and CBP are for this moment—and why they were so corruptible into Trump's own fascist secret police: www.doomsdayscenario.co/p/ice-101-ho...
January 25, 2026 at 3:51 PM
Republican voters created a whole regime of the same
Incredible, peak NY Post
From the NY Post. You know they are really scrambling when they are running "The gun was no angel" stories.
January 25, 2026 at 3:42 PM
Incredible, peak NY Post
Reposted by Patrick Hruby
when you realize what a tedious slog bringing down a fascist regime and permanently destroying the system that created it is going to be
a man wearing glasses and a striped shirt is looking at the camera
Alt: Michael Bolton from Office Space
media.tenor.com
January 25, 2026 at 3:38 PM
when you realize what a tedious slog bringing down a fascist regime and permanently destroying the system that created it is going to be
Reposted by Patrick Hruby
The fact that every right winger with influence screams "who is paying for all of this" tells you exactly how awash in cash they all are, and how much they rely on that to keep their movement afloat.
James O'Keefe says he's never seen anything so organized as the anti-ICE movement, observers--he seems to think this term is code--everywhere he goes. Who is paying for it??? he demands to know. It's like he can't even imagine people caring for one another.
January 25, 2026 at 11:06 AM
The fact that every right winger with influence screams "who is paying for all of this" tells you exactly how awash in cash they all are, and how much they rely on that to keep their movement afloat.
Reposted by Patrick Hruby
Years from now, it'll be difficult to explain the things people in media were wailing about before all this. Sophomores writing underconsidered op-eds about cultural appropriation. Protests against demagogues on campus. YA drama. "Mobs" on Twitter. These were the threats to free society.
January 25, 2026 at 3:08 PM
Years from now, it'll be difficult to explain the things people in media were wailing about before all this. Sophomores writing underconsidered op-eds about cultural appropriation. Protests against demagogues on campus. YA drama. "Mobs" on Twitter. These were the threats to free society.
Reposted by Patrick Hruby
Saying there must be trials isn't just an emotive aspiration.
Congress can:
- Create a new court (complying w/ 6A jury vicinage)
- Give it jurisdiction over defined category of crimes
- Also create dedicated prosecutors for the same
- Strip SCOTUS of appellate jurisdiction
It can be done.
Congress can:
- Create a new court (complying w/ 6A jury vicinage)
- Give it jurisdiction over defined category of crimes
- Also create dedicated prosecutors for the same
- Strip SCOTUS of appellate jurisdiction
It can be done.
January 25, 2026 at 7:28 AM
Saying there must be trials isn't just an emotive aspiration.
Congress can:
- Create a new court (complying w/ 6A jury vicinage)
- Give it jurisdiction over defined category of crimes
- Also create dedicated prosecutors for the same
- Strip SCOTUS of appellate jurisdiction
It can be done.
Congress can:
- Create a new court (complying w/ 6A jury vicinage)
- Give it jurisdiction over defined category of crimes
- Also create dedicated prosecutors for the same
- Strip SCOTUS of appellate jurisdiction
It can be done.
Reposted by Patrick Hruby
Absolutely reprehensible that AG Bondi is offering ICE stand down in exchange for access to voting rolls. Outrageous and disgusting. It shows ICE is in Minneapolis is not for law enforcement purposes. Instead it’s a way to stir up shit in blue states and extort them.
In the wake of another fatal shooting in Minneapolis.
AG Pam Bondi sends Gov. Walz a letter today making several asks including:
"Allow DOJ Civil Rights division access to state voter rolls"
AG Pam Bondi sends Gov. Walz a letter today making several asks including:
"Allow DOJ Civil Rights division access to state voter rolls"
January 25, 2026 at 2:21 AM
Absolutely reprehensible that AG Bondi is offering ICE stand down in exchange for access to voting rolls. Outrageous and disgusting. It shows ICE is in Minneapolis is not for law enforcement purposes. Instead it’s a way to stir up shit in blue states and extort them.
Reposted by Patrick Hruby
I was a sensitive kid. I loved cats. I had OCD, undiagnosed.
When I was 9, a fraternity brother tortured a cat to death in my hometown. The details even now are beyond imagination. archive.is/xdmUL
I was traumatized for years from reading the news story.
The torturer? Now the head of the NRA.
When I was 9, a fraternity brother tortured a cat to death in my hometown. The details even now are beyond imagination. archive.is/xdmUL
I was traumatized for years from reading the news story.
The torturer? Now the head of the NRA.
January 25, 2026 at 4:55 AM
I was a sensitive kid. I loved cats. I had OCD, undiagnosed.
When I was 9, a fraternity brother tortured a cat to death in my hometown. The details even now are beyond imagination. archive.is/xdmUL
I was traumatized for years from reading the news story.
The torturer? Now the head of the NRA.
When I was 9, a fraternity brother tortured a cat to death in my hometown. The details even now are beyond imagination. archive.is/xdmUL
I was traumatized for years from reading the news story.
The torturer? Now the head of the NRA.
Reposted by Patrick Hruby
A reminder to the news media: “conflicting accounts” is what you say BEFORE the incontrovertible video evidence appears. After that, your job is to ask why one side is lying, not to repeat the lie and pretend no one knows the truth.
January 25, 2026 at 12:28 PM
A reminder to the news media: “conflicting accounts” is what you say BEFORE the incontrovertible video evidence appears. After that, your job is to ask why one side is lying, not to repeat the lie and pretend no one knows the truth.
Reposted by Patrick Hruby
some kid on my flight is reading shelby foote's civil war book and i want to tell him to throw that shit in the trash
January 23, 2026 at 7:00 PM
some kid on my flight is reading shelby foote's civil war book and i want to tell him to throw that shit in the trash
Reposted by Patrick Hruby
The govt lying about the killing of a U.S. citizen at the hands of the state, is by itself, a front page a story, worthy of drumbeat coverage, resignations, and impeachments.
January 25, 2026 at 1:16 AM
The govt lying about the killing of a U.S. citizen at the hands of the state, is by itself, a front page a story, worthy of drumbeat coverage, resignations, and impeachments.