Clay Risen
@risenc.bsky.social
1.8K followers 360 following 310 posts
Reporter, The New York Times; author of “Red Scare: Blacklists, McCarthyism and the Making of Modern America”
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Reposted by Clay Risen
poniewozik.bsky.social
“When I wore a younger man’s clothes” is a disturbing lyric
-Who was the younger man
-How did he get his clothes
-Was he wearing them as some kind of trophy
-Why does the piano man just shrug this off
Reposted by Clay Risen
mattzollerseitz.bsky.social
My next book will be a biography of Jack Nicholson, written as an epic story of the transformation of the movie industry and modern masculinity from the 1950s to the present, with Nicholson as the main character. The title: Leading Man.
New York Times bestselling author and film & TV critic at New York Magazine Matt Zoller Seitz's LEADING MAN, the definitive biography of Jack Nicholson, casting Nicholson as the complex main character in an era of American culture spanning six decades, while shining a light on the actor’s crucial role in shaping modern masculinity, both on and off the screen, based on new interviews and original reporting, to Amar Deol at Grand Central, in an exclusive submission, by Ethan Bassoff at WME.
Reposted by Clay Risen
sallylepage.bsky.social
This may be too niche, but I'm prepping some bark and all I have running though my head is:

Now we've stabilised it with washi kozo, it's time to remove the old varnish. Sadly the last conservator didn't use reversible materials, so I have to chip away at it manually with my scalpel...
risenc.bsky.social
But that just shows how easily terms like “anti-fascism” can be hijacked and weaponized to go after political opponents, even if they have nothing to do with communism, or violent radicalism or what have you. (FWIW I cover all this at length in my book “Red Scare”).
risenc.bsky.social
For example, signing a petition, or donating funds to support anti-Franco fighters — was grounds for suspicion and an FBI investigation. Of course, there was a there there: communists were anti-fascists, and some communists did work against the interests of the US. 4/
risenc.bsky.social
One of the first moves by the newly reconstituted HUAC was to subpoena the leaders of a small group called the Joint Anti-Fascist Refugee Committee, demanding their papers. When they refused, they went to jail for contempt. In the years that followed, any affiliation with 1930s anti-fascism — … 3/
risenc.bsky.social
But with the onset of the Red Scare after WW2, having been anti-fascist became a huge liability. Since communists were anti-fascist, so the thinking went, then anyone who had been anti-fascist in the 1830s (ie, before the US military itself became anti-fascist) were therefore communists. …2/
risenc.bsky.social
Attacks on “anti-fascism” have a long history in the US. In the 1930s, being “anti-fascist” was to be against Hitler and Mussolini but especially Franco; anti-fascism was also a bedrock of the Popular Front coalition that linked socialists, communists, and many New Deal Democrats…1/
Rutgers Expert on Antifa Tries to Flee to Spain After Death Threats
www.nytimes.com
Reposted by Clay Risen
carlzimmer.com
Today my @nytimes.com colleagues and I are launching a new series called Lost Science. We interview US scientists who can no longer discover something new about our world, thanks to this year‘s cuts. Here is my first interview with a scientist who studied bees and fires. Gift link: nyti.ms/3IWXbiE
nyti.ms
risenc.bsky.social
It would rank among history’s greatest trollings for the Swedes to give the award to Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner instead.
ddiamond.bsky.social
Trump’s desire for a Nobel Peace Prize has shaken up global diplomacy, as allies try to curry favor.

It may have even helped spur this week’s Hamas-Israel deal, one former Israeli negotiator said — a bid to help Trump cinch the Nobel before tomorrow’s announcement.

From @mbirnbaum.bsky.social + me
Trump wants a Nobel Prize. He’ll learn Friday if his campaign paid off.
President Donald Trump’s long quest for a Nobel Peace Prize has sparked an unusual global scramble.
www.washingtonpost.com
risenc.bsky.social
Or just The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie but it’s her, Logan Paul and KSI dousing themselves in blue water.
nitishpahwa.com
is this anything: The Prime Day of Miss Jean Brodie
risenc.bsky.social
Pretty sure that back then, the Nashville-area showing of Rocky Horror was in [check notes] downtown Franklin?
kevinmkruse.bsky.social
"But they're just supposed to be from Transylvania!!!!"
risenc.bsky.social
Having spent time in both, Old Piedmont vs New Piedmont is a spot-on distinction.
anthonymkreis.bsky.social
This nails New Jersey. It's basically a pork roll-Taylor Ham line.
williamhazen.bsky.social
This is the most accurate depiction of the Midwest to date. Wichita has always felt like the last Midwest city while also being the first plains city.
Reposted by Clay Risen
anthonymkreis.bsky.social
This nails New Jersey. It's basically a pork roll-Taylor Ham line.
williamhazen.bsky.social
This is the most accurate depiction of the Midwest to date. Wichita has always felt like the last Midwest city while also being the first plains city.
Cultural Regions of the US
risenc.bsky.social
Think of all those kids who went to midnight showings of Rocky Horror.
kevinmkruse.bsky.social
Never heard this cover before, but it’s brilliant.

Also, I listened to the original in high school, while “classic rock” radio was playing hits like “Lola” and “Walk on the Wild Side”

Some people in my generation somehow missed all that and were shocked to discover trans people at middle age.
chrissteller.bsky.social
I guess this obligates you to rank the solo Joan version. I like this video where she's reading her children's book telling the song as her story, and her partner John Doe is standing by in support. www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNgi...
Reposted by Clay Risen
themountaingoats.bsky.social
highland cattle have it figured out
dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social
Highland cattle are famous for their ability to "disco nap". Normally these brief, efficient sleeps will last between three and twenty minutes, deploying a variety of objects as pillows, including moorland boulders, cars or any particularly large dog or sheep who happens to be nearby.
A highland cow having a little nap on a boulder on Dartmoor (ok, it was actually scratching its head)
Reposted by Clay Risen
dlknowles.bsky.social
Good reporting on the South Shore raid from South Side weekly here.

Confirms one thing I was told but didn't put in my own piece because I didn't have a second source and it seemed too insane: border agents segregated arrested residents by race

southsideweekly.com/federal-agen...
Federal Agents Storm South Shore Building, Detaining Families and Children
Families were woken by flashbangs and helicopters as hundreds of federal agents raided their homes. Days later, neighbors are still searching for the missing.
southsideweekly.com
risenc.bsky.social
I don’t think we as a country have ever dealt with how awful and Un-American COINTELPRO was, and for that reason we risk repeating it.
qjurecic.bsky.social
Hey guys. It's your boy J Edgar here. I have something new that I'm really excited to share with you—it's called COINTELPRO and I really think you're gonna love it
willoremus.com
Obviously not the main point here, but it's interesting how this is framed as content rather than policy.

"BREAKING" is typically what journalists or influencers say when they have a big story -- not what government officials say when they launch "undercover" operations
Reposted by Clay Risen
qagggy.bsky.social
My photo doesn’t do it justice but Court Street in Brooklyn is going to be nice when it’s done.
Reposted by Clay Risen
janecoaston.bsky.social
“Was he ever a good coach at all” is a legit question now www.wsj.com/sports/footb...
Reposted by Clay Risen
catsofyore.bsky.social
Vintage lucite lint brush from my collection, ca. 1970s.
Photo of a white woman’s hand holding up what looks like a small statue of a white cat curled up in a light blue basket bed. Photo of a white woman’s hand holding up the same statue as the previous photo but this was the bottom side of it showing a lot of basket details. Photo of a white woman’s hand holding the lint brush side of the white cat statue towards the camera. It is stiff light blue velvet with lines on it like corduroy.
risenc.bsky.social
Ha! zing yep. This is why I don’t post.
promich.bsky.social
Meanwhile the rest of planet earth assumed the NYT esprit de corps was based on being racist, ethno-supremacist pro-genocide zionists. Opps. Our bad. Tee-hee. Any hoo, sorry that other racist zionist grifted too close to the sun or whatever.
Reposted by Clay Risen
washingtonpost.com
Post food critic Tom Sietsema is stepping down after 25 years — and is finally showing his face.

In his final column, Tom shares some tricks of the trade after decades of reviewing restaurants anonymously. https://wapo.st/4pWgp8K