Robert Balkovich
@robertbalkovich.bsky.social
Sr. Lead Editor at Explore, former Lonely Planet guidebook writer, prolific and unremarked on fiction writer
I did too, btw
November 28, 2025 at 4:13 AM
I did too, btw
The Nuzzi thing makes me actually so mad as hell because I work with and know so many talented, dedicated journalists and writers who will never get the opportunity or money that have come her way despite the fact that her behavior is grossly irresponsible and morally bankrupt.
November 27, 2025 at 1:23 AM
The Nuzzi thing makes me actually so mad as hell because I work with and know so many talented, dedicated journalists and writers who will never get the opportunity or money that have come her way despite the fact that her behavior is grossly irresponsible and morally bankrupt.
Reposted by Robert Balkovich
To be clear Lizza’s story is that Nuzzi sat on important matters of national significance for personal benefit and he’s sat on these details until he could personally benefit.
All of DC media needs to be thrown into the sea. Anyone who defends these people is a goddamn clown.
All of DC media needs to be thrown into the sea. Anyone who defends these people is a goddamn clown.
November 26, 2025 at 10:17 PM
To be clear Lizza’s story is that Nuzzi sat on important matters of national significance for personal benefit and he’s sat on these details until he could personally benefit.
All of DC media needs to be thrown into the sea. Anyone who defends these people is a goddamn clown.
All of DC media needs to be thrown into the sea. Anyone who defends these people is a goddamn clown.
Chat am I cooked if a strange fog descends on my home?
November 27, 2025 at 12:41 AM
Chat am I cooked if a strange fog descends on my home?
So is anybody going to follow up on that bombshell regarding the (alleged?) assassination attempt against Trump that Lizza alluded to??
November 26, 2025 at 11:08 PM
So is anybody going to follow up on that bombshell regarding the (alleged?) assassination attempt against Trump that Lizza alluded to??
Reposted by Robert Balkovich
November 26, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Reposted by Robert Balkovich
Good morning to Brazilian reporter Manuela Borges, who’s been waiting eleven years for this petty moment. ❤️ 🇧🇷
November 26, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Good morning to Brazilian reporter Manuela Borges, who’s been waiting eleven years for this petty moment. ❤️ 🇧🇷
EU GOSTO
November 25, 2025 at 10:01 PM
EU GOSTO
I know we have a lot of people to hold accountable when this is over but I really do hope we make it to the people who continue to say "tsk tsk it's not polite to call Trump a fascist" while masked goons are kidnapping people off the street.
OPINION: "Calling the president a fascist does nothing to advance the Democrats’ cause — and more of the party’s leaders would do well to realize that." — Jonathan Zimmerman
To defeat Trump, stop calling him names
Calling the president a fascist does nothing to advance the Democrats’ cause — and more of the party's leaders would do well to realize that, Jonathan Zimmerman writes.
www.inquirer.com
November 25, 2025 at 2:39 PM
I know we have a lot of people to hold accountable when this is over but I really do hope we make it to the people who continue to say "tsk tsk it's not polite to call Trump a fascist" while masked goons are kidnapping people off the street.
Me when I have severe brain damage:
Matt Stoller: “..Trump & Mamdani defeated establishment in their own way, representing hunger of voters on the right & left who want something different. If those sides cd come together.. that would be a sea change in how we organize our political economy”.
www.thebignewsletter.com/p/monopoly-r...
www.thebignewsletter.com/p/monopoly-r...
Monopoly Round-Up: Why the Establishment Freaked Out Over a Mamdani-Trump Press Conference
Meta wins its antitrust case, there are now two fire truck antitrust claims, the stock market got wobbly, and Larry Summers was exiled from the establishment, at least for now.
www.thebignewsletter.com
November 24, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Me when I have severe brain damage:
Reposted by Robert Balkovich
How I feel about the whole Olivia Nuzzi story is that there are a lot of talented, ethical, underemployed or unemployed black and brown journalists right now who are ready to work.
November 22, 2025 at 2:20 PM
How I feel about the whole Olivia Nuzzi story is that there are a lot of talented, ethical, underemployed or unemployed black and brown journalists right now who are ready to work.
Literal lol
Q: “Are you affirming you think Trump is a fascist?”
TRUMP: “That’s ok, you can just say yes.”
ZOHRAN: “Ok. Yes.”
TRUMP: “That’s ok, you can just say yes.”
ZOHRAN: “Ok. Yes.”
November 21, 2025 at 11:44 PM
Literal lol
Velázquez was my rep for many years and I always felt like I was in steady hands. I appreciate her service and her decision to pass the torch.
Breaking News: Nydia Velázquez, a Democratic trailblazer and 16-term New York congresswoman, announced she will retire next year.
Nydia Velázquez, a New York Trailblazer in Congress, to Retire Next Year
Ms. Velázquez, 72, a 16-term congresswoman, said it was time for a new generation of Democrats to step forward.
nyti.ms
November 21, 2025 at 3:14 AM
Velázquez was my rep for many years and I always felt like I was in steady hands. I appreciate her service and her decision to pass the torch.
Reposted by Robert Balkovich
It's not complicated, honestly.
The dead ender sycophants who have no career post-Trump need Trump to stay gold and in office, as a corpse if necessary.
The Nazis, meanwhile, are building a coalition to replace him.
People are choosing sides.
The dead ender sycophants who have no career post-Trump need Trump to stay gold and in office, as a corpse if necessary.
The Nazis, meanwhile, are building a coalition to replace him.
People are choosing sides.
I can no longer follow the plot of this show. I suspect the writers and actors can’t either. I don’t think they have a show runner.
November 18, 2025 at 6:22 PM
It's not complicated, honestly.
The dead ender sycophants who have no career post-Trump need Trump to stay gold and in office, as a corpse if necessary.
The Nazis, meanwhile, are building a coalition to replace him.
People are choosing sides.
The dead ender sycophants who have no career post-Trump need Trump to stay gold and in office, as a corpse if necessary.
The Nazis, meanwhile, are building a coalition to replace him.
People are choosing sides.
I know we get a fresh one about every other day now but this is a new low for Trump. Unequivocally anti-America.
Trump suggests Khashoggi had it coming: "You're mentioning someone that was extremely controversial. A lot of people didn't like that gentleman that you're talking about. Whether you like him or didn't like him, things happen. But he knew nothing about it. You don't have to embarrass our guest."
November 18, 2025 at 6:16 PM
I know we get a fresh one about every other day now but this is a new low for Trump. Unequivocally anti-America.
*me after putting down my $125 Trump healthcare stipend toward a $300,000 hospital bill* Thank you, sir.
Trump: "THE ONLY HEALTHCARE I'LL SUPPORT OR APPROVE IS SENDING MONEY DIRECTLY BACK TO THE PEOPLE W/ NOTHING GOING TO THE BIG, FAT, RICH INSURANCE COMPANIES, WHO HAVE RIPPED OFF AMERICA LONG ENOUGH. THE PEOPLE WILL BE ALLOWED TO NEGOTIATE & BUY THEIR OWN, MUCH BETTER, INSURANCE. POWER TO THE PEOPLE!"
November 18, 2025 at 3:21 PM
*me after putting down my $125 Trump healthcare stipend toward a $300,000 hospital bill* Thank you, sir.
Welcome to Derry has given me the headcanon that the worm in RFK Jr.'s brain was an aspect of It: The Clown.
November 18, 2025 at 4:17 AM
Welcome to Derry has given me the headcanon that the worm in RFK Jr.'s brain was an aspect of It: The Clown.
Reposted by Robert Balkovich
I noticed this is getting engagement so folks must be talking about Olivia Nuzzi again
November 17, 2025 at 3:51 PM
I noticed this is getting engagement so folks must be talking about Olivia Nuzzi again
I'm playing (and loving) Silent Hill 2 Remake and am at the other world hospital portion and I just keep yelling "EWWWW!!!" out loud at everything.
November 17, 2025 at 4:21 AM
I'm playing (and loving) Silent Hill 2 Remake and am at the other world hospital portion and I just keep yelling "EWWWW!!!" out loud at everything.
Any journalistic institution that does Olivia Nuzzi apologia should just be shuttered. This is basically the New York Post but with moodier photography.
November 14, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Any journalistic institution that does Olivia Nuzzi apologia should just be shuttered. This is basically the New York Post but with moodier photography.
The way some people talk about Bluesky content moderation....like I think it's always a good idea to discuss and question where the line is and how/when the rules are applied but it's starting to give
November 14, 2025 at 4:13 PM
The way some people talk about Bluesky content moderation....like I think it's always a good idea to discuss and question where the line is and how/when the rules are applied but it's starting to give
Sometimes you see a picture of a guy who was born the same year as you and you go "I'm actually doing fine. I look great, actually."
November 13, 2025 at 11:21 PM
Sometimes you see a picture of a guy who was born the same year as you and you go "I'm actually doing fine. I look great, actually."
This is actually a pretty perfect encapsulation of the abject media failure that got us here: a prolific sexual predator who had close connections to the country's most powerful people is "a guy" and a two-time president is just "somebody" so the things they said about each other aren't newsworthy.
The emails that you’re seeing now are news in themselves, but that’s because of how they’re coming out—a congressional committee released them—& the context in which they’re being viewed. A guy emailing a reporter talking about old girlfriends or saying someone is “dirty” is not a whole news story.
November 13, 2025 at 5:39 PM
This is actually a pretty perfect encapsulation of the abject media failure that got us here: a prolific sexual predator who had close connections to the country's most powerful people is "a guy" and a two-time president is just "somebody" so the things they said about each other aren't newsworthy.