Robert Balkovich
@robertbalkovich.bsky.social
490 followers 210 following 1.6K posts
Sr. Lead Editor at Explore, former Lonely Planet guidebook writer, prolific and unremarked on fiction writer
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Reposted by Robert Balkovich
lauracreature.bsky.social
don't talk to me till I've had my 300 years of silent contemplation
robertbalkovich.bsky.social
I gasped like Sarah Jessica Parker at the eclipse when I walked outside and saw this.
Image of a giant complete rainbow on a field in the country.
robertbalkovich.bsky.social
Those moments where it really clicks into place that all of human history is just the propaganda people put out responding to billions of "some random dude's [gender inclusive] choice of ____" moments
nathankalmoe.bsky.social
Weird random meme-y shit (laudatory) like this is how it might eventually be called The Great Frog Resistance, where everyone wears a frog pin, & remembrance events in 50 years begin with reverent croaks. Just from some dude's choice of a frog for a costume. Humans are weird.
adamchicago.bsky.social
The frogs have landed in Chicago!
robertbalkovich.bsky.social
idk for me that is so firmly in the center of the Venn diagram of "Not worth relitigating nearly 20 years later" and "So far above my paygrade that it doesn't really matter anyway"
robertbalkovich.bsky.social
These people are so incompetent that I do think not that long from now anybody who capitulated without a fight is going to look profoundly foolish and weak (more so than they already do).
annabower.bsky.social
ICE official testifies that DHS “prematurely” sent Abrego Garcia a notice that he would be removed to Ghana.

Just this morning, Ghana’s foreign minister wrote on X that the country had “directly and unambiguously conveyed to US authorities” that Abrego cannot be deported there.
Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa &
@S
_OkudzetoAblak
X.com
Ghana is not accepting Abrego Garcia.
He cannot be deported to Ghana.
This has been directly and unambiguously conveyed to US authorities.
In my interactions with US officials, I made clear that our understanding to accept a limited number of non-criminal West Africans, purely on the grounds of African solidarity and humanitarian principles would not be expanded.
Ghana strongly objects to these misleading media reports.
robertbalkovich.bsky.social
am I just ignorant or is this one of the most insane things that has happened thus far in Trump II?
atrupar.com
Hegseth: "I'm also proud that today we're signing a letter of acceptance to build a Qatari Emeri air force facility at the Mountain Home Airbase in Idaho."
robertbalkovich.bsky.social
It is starting to feel like legacy media outlets aren't just pivoting to the right, they are starting to specifically pander to Trump himself the way Fox News does.
mbkplus.bsky.social
This is an op-ed from one of the framers of the Trump administration’s compact with universities. Regardless of whether one believes the litany of accusations the beginning, the idea of the compact and its mechanics are completely bad faith: [1/2]
Opinion | Trump’s ‘Compact’ With Universities Is Badly Needed
www.nytimes.com
Reposted by Robert Balkovich
gregsargent.bsky.social
This is good, from Hakeem Jeffries. More of this please, in every conceivable forum:

"Sycophants who aid and abet the President’s vengeful schemes will not be able to hide from the serious legal consequences of their behavior. They will be held accountable."
robertbalkovich.bsky.social
America first!!!!!
fintwitter.bsky.social
Bessent Says Today They Directly Purchased Argentine Pesos Bessent Says They Have Finalized $20 Billion Currency Swap Framework With Argentina’s Central Bank
robertbalkovich.bsky.social
100% fact. Dolly is the best of us (Capricorns)
robertbalkovich.bsky.social
oh word???
atrupar.com
Trump: "We took the freedom of speech away because that's been through the courts and the courts said you have freedom of speech, but what has happened is when they burn a flag it agitates and irritates crowds."
robertbalkovich.bsky.social
Your balls aren't going to fill themselves with micro-plastics. 🤷‍♂️
robertbalkovich.bsky.social
Honestly....................................................tea
popcrave.com
Rolling Stone’s Top 10 Songs of the 21st Century:

1. Get Ur Freak On
2. Maps
3. Crazy in Love
4. Seven Nation Army
5. All Too Well
6. Dancing on My Own
7. Alright
8. Idioteque
9. Toxic
10. Thinkin Bout You
robertbalkovich.bsky.social
That doesn't make the argument less true or the moment we're in less dangerous. 🤷‍♂️
robertbalkovich.bsky.social
There is no argument for going along with fascism to avoid personal consequence that will move me. It is horrible that these people are in that position, but now is the time for them to take a stand before their souls are stained forever.
robertbalkovich.bsky.social
That is a horrible position for people to be in and also it doesn't change the fact of the matter that it is imperative that people who are called on to enact fascist plans say "No." Those who don't become fascists.
robertbalkovich.bsky.social
I don't think you're going to find a lot of people interested in signing onto "Let's wait until they start killing people until we get concerned" as a strategy.
robertbalkovich.bsky.social
Every time this gets brought up there are people in the comments like "uh, you can't just quit the national guard dumbass 🙄" as though the lessons to be taken away from Nazi Germany et al is that if there are consequences to opposing fascism you should just go along with it instead.
robertbalkovich.bsky.social
I mean, yes they are the brownshirts if they choose to put the brownshirt on. Treating them like they have no agency in this situation is as unhelpful as knee-jerk demonization.
robertbalkovich.bsky.social
Yes there are lots of people in this thread with common sense. "National Guard troops should refuse orders to be deployed against their fellow Americans or they will become complicit in fascism" is the common sense position.