Ryan Van Loan
@ryanvanloan.bsky.social
Former infantry NCO turned fantasy/scifi author repped by DongWon Song. Proud Girl Dad.
THE SIN IN THE STEEL, THE JUSTICE IN REVENGE, & THE MEMORY IN THE BLOOD out now from Tor Books!
Eat. Lift. Travel. WRITE.
(he/him)
https://bio.site/RyanVanLoan
THE SIN IN THE STEEL, THE JUSTICE IN REVENGE, & THE MEMORY IN THE BLOOD out now from Tor Books!
Eat. Lift. Travel. WRITE.
(he/him)
https://bio.site/RyanVanLoan
Pinned
Ryan Van Loan
@ryanvanloan.bsky.social
· Nov 13
Hey old friends from X & new followers! I'm a fantasy author. You can check out the link in my bio for my books which are about found friends overthrowing corrupt society along with magic, dead gods, & a lot of swashbuckling. I'm a former infantry NCO and polisci grad so politics comes up a lot 😅
Reposted by Ryan Van Loan
I remember when Yglesias and others treated @jamellebouie.net like he was being hysterical for saying the administration was seeking to resegregate, but the guy that's been their poster child on the ground already had this on his public record prospect.org/2026/01/27/i...
January 27, 2026 at 3:10 PM
I remember when Yglesias and others treated @jamellebouie.net like he was being hysterical for saying the administration was seeking to resegregate, but the guy that's been their poster child on the ground already had this on his public record prospect.org/2026/01/27/i...
This. And again. Fuck Axios.
As I mentioned on MS NOW yesterday, it’s really important that no one, including the media, let Trump distance himself from this thing that he has vociferously defended and over which he has power.
Was on TV earlier, asked about Leavitt trying to distance Trump from the Pretti death and then about some of the other stories we've heard about immigration enforcement. (Sorry for the cruddy quality.)
January 27, 2026 at 2:43 PM
This. And again. Fuck Axios.
Reposted by Ryan Van Loan
This is the crux. We're at a major inflection point. Doing nothing or almost nothing to hold the ones overthrowing our democracy to account is what got us here. If we repeat that our democracy will die. Now is the time to bet on us and dare to reclaim our nation.
The thing about Schumer and Jeffries (and really the whole caucus) is that they are extraordinarily risk averse at a time when we need bold leadership.
On top of that, their sense of risk is skewed by an outdated conventional wisdom of what is and isn't risky.
On top of that, their sense of risk is skewed by an outdated conventional wisdom of what is and isn't risky.
January 27, 2026 at 1:56 PM
This is the crux. We're at a major inflection point. Doing nothing or almost nothing to hold the ones overthrowing our democracy to account is what got us here. If we repeat that our democracy will die. Now is the time to bet on us and dare to reclaim our nation.
Reposted by Ryan Van Loan
Okay I think I've mapped out ICE politics as of Monday night
January 27, 2026 at 2:47 AM
Okay I think I've mapped out ICE politics as of Monday night
This is the crux. We're at a major inflection point. Doing nothing or almost nothing to hold the ones overthrowing our democracy to account is what got us here. If we repeat that our democracy will die. Now is the time to bet on us and dare to reclaim our nation.
The thing about Schumer and Jeffries (and really the whole caucus) is that they are extraordinarily risk averse at a time when we need bold leadership.
On top of that, their sense of risk is skewed by an outdated conventional wisdom of what is and isn't risky.
On top of that, their sense of risk is skewed by an outdated conventional wisdom of what is and isn't risky.
January 27, 2026 at 1:56 PM
This is the crux. We're at a major inflection point. Doing nothing or almost nothing to hold the ones overthrowing our democracy to account is what got us here. If we repeat that our democracy will die. Now is the time to bet on us and dare to reclaim our nation.
Reposted by Ryan Van Loan
Remember the other day when I was saluting my friend Greg Ketter, owner of Minneapolis’ DreamHaven Books? This is him the following day. Greg will never say this, so I will — now is a great time to buy books from DreamHaven. Support Americans who stand up vs. 🧊. dreamhavenbooks.com
January 25, 2026 at 5:32 PM
Remember the other day when I was saluting my friend Greg Ketter, owner of Minneapolis’ DreamHaven Books? This is him the following day. Greg will never say this, so I will — now is a great time to buy books from DreamHaven. Support Americans who stand up vs. 🧊. dreamhavenbooks.com
Reposted by Ryan Van Loan
The killing of Alex Pretti and the grotesque lying was an overreach by the administration. They've paid a price and had to pull back a bit. But it's when there's some disarray that the democratic opposition needs to intensify the offensive, and turn a marginal tactical success into a major victory.
January 26, 2026 at 10:56 PM
The killing of Alex Pretti and the grotesque lying was an overreach by the administration. They've paid a price and had to pull back a bit. But it's when there's some disarray that the democratic opposition needs to intensify the offensive, and turn a marginal tactical success into a major victory.
Reposted by Ryan Van Loan
Ta-Nehisi Coates: With the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, "Trump has clarified an inconvenient fact—the culture war is an actual war"
“The Homeland” Is War on America: The Blood-and-Soil Nationalism That Killed Renee Good and Alex Pretti
In the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, Trump has clarified an inconvenient fact: the culture war is an actual war.
www.vanityfair.com
January 26, 2026 at 7:11 PM
Ta-Nehisi Coates: With the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, "Trump has clarified an inconvenient fact—the culture war is an actual war"
Reposted by Ryan Van Loan
"what if the next administration will be democratic and they cut all the contracts with us?"
maybe a something all these corporations that decided to throw themselves whole-hog into trumpism should have thought about!
maybe a something all these corporations that decided to throw themselves whole-hog into trumpism should have thought about!
Some comments from workers in the hours after Pretti's killing:
“In my opinion ICE are the bad guys. I am not proud that the company I enjoy so much working for is part of this."
www.wired.com/story/palant...
“In my opinion ICE are the bad guys. I am not proud that the company I enjoy so much working for is part of this."
www.wired.com/story/palant...
January 26, 2026 at 11:39 PM
"what if the next administration will be democratic and they cut all the contracts with us?"
maybe a something all these corporations that decided to throw themselves whole-hog into trumpism should have thought about!
maybe a something all these corporations that decided to throw themselves whole-hog into trumpism should have thought about!
Reposted by Ryan Van Loan
Democracy 1. Nazis 0.
BREAKING Greg Bovino has been removed as Border Patrol "commander at large" and will return to El Centro Calif, where he is expected to retire soon. A stunning turnaround after Pretti killing. Bovino's traveling blue city crackdown is over www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
Gregory Bovino Gets Demoted
The Border Patrol chief was the public face of a traveling immigration crackdown on cities governed by Democrats.
www.theatlantic.com
January 26, 2026 at 11:41 PM
Democracy 1. Nazis 0.
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the preceding paragraph that I should have included:
January 26, 2026 at 11:30 PM
the preceding paragraph that I should have included:
Reposted by Ryan Van Loan
I admit, it feels very weird to be advertising for clients with everything that is going on here, but bills must still be paid. I have openings in my editing calendar. I do mainly developmental editing on novels and novellas. More info here: www.kathowardbooks.com/editing Always happy to answer qs!
January 26, 2026 at 9:24 PM
I admit, it feels very weird to be advertising for clients with everything that is going on here, but bills must still be paid. I have openings in my editing calendar. I do mainly developmental editing on novels and novellas. More info here: www.kathowardbooks.com/editing Always happy to answer qs!
Reposted by Ryan Van Loan
Homan to MN, Trump speaks with Walz, Leavitt marginally distances Trump from Noem—all show Trump’s feeling a little heat. But these gestures mean as much as Putin suggesting he’s changed and wants peace with Ukraine.
Don’t fall for it.
Insist: ICE and CBP off the streets of Minnesota.
Don’t fall for it.
Insist: ICE and CBP off the streets of Minnesota.
January 26, 2026 at 8:27 PM
Homan to MN, Trump speaks with Walz, Leavitt marginally distances Trump from Noem—all show Trump’s feeling a little heat. But these gestures mean as much as Putin suggesting he’s changed and wants peace with Ukraine.
Don’t fall for it.
Insist: ICE and CBP off the streets of Minnesota.
Don’t fall for it.
Insist: ICE and CBP off the streets of Minnesota.
Generally speaking, I treat everyone on here like a barracks room lawyer. (A lot of talk, some of it even sounds sensical, wouldn't trust anyone to represent me in court that isn't credentialed and in my employ.)
Unless someone is staking their IRL career and personal reputation I am skeptical.
Unless someone is staking their IRL career and personal reputation I am skeptical.
This is why I always caution against listening to security experts or enthusiasts who are not specifically experienced with movement comms. They know all of the risks; they don’t necessarily have a good handle on their likelihood or the risk of people getting overwhelmed and missing important parts.
I think it is *incredibly* irresponsible for someone like @stonekettle.bsky.social, with a huge following, to claim that Signal is just as insecure as texts or other public social media.
This is a classic “making perfect the enemy of the good” error.
This is a classic “making perfect the enemy of the good” error.
January 26, 2026 at 8:19 PM
Generally speaking, I treat everyone on here like a barracks room lawyer. (A lot of talk, some of it even sounds sensical, wouldn't trust anyone to represent me in court that isn't credentialed and in my employ.)
Unless someone is staking their IRL career and personal reputation I am skeptical.
Unless someone is staking their IRL career and personal reputation I am skeptical.
Reposted by Ryan Van Loan
I genuinely think this is both necessary *and* perfectly achievable, and I think anyone who claims it isn’t should not be taken seriously and certainly not elected to any public office
The 2029 Pretti Good Act will establish a commission to identify all agents, create a detailed accounting of all acts, and hold criminally liable as necessary. Agents who voluntarily and truthfully disclose will be granted some leniency, provided their crimes did not include murder or torture.
When I say this agency [ICE and CBP] CAN’T be reformed this is why.
January 26, 2026 at 6:34 PM
I genuinely think this is both necessary *and* perfectly achievable, and I think anyone who claims it isn’t should not be taken seriously and certainly not elected to any public office
This.
Also he's done so many psychedelics he isn't capable of holding a position and agrees with whomever he is speaking with/spoke to last. He's highly movable...which is why Dems ceding that space to right wing fools was a mistake.
Also he's done so many psychedelics he isn't capable of holding a position and agrees with whomever he is speaking with/spoke to last. He's highly movable...which is why Dems ceding that space to right wing fools was a mistake.
the whole thing there is that he's mostly not political and his audience is largely low info/low engagement on politics, so when he *does* talk politics it can be extraordinarily influential with people who are hard to reach otherwise
it sucks but FYI there are a ton of normies who listen to stuff like JRE. I found out a few family members do and they were shocked that I thought it was political (this was like 2 years ago, in fairness)
January 26, 2026 at 6:45 PM
This.
Also he's done so many psychedelics he isn't capable of holding a position and agrees with whomever he is speaking with/spoke to last. He's highly movable...which is why Dems ceding that space to right wing fools was a mistake.
Also he's done so many psychedelics he isn't capable of holding a position and agrees with whomever he is speaking with/spoke to last. He's highly movable...which is why Dems ceding that space to right wing fools was a mistake.
Reposted by Ryan Van Loan
to the extent that there is a “carrot” to trumpism it is the same carrot that slaveholders offered to lower class white men: “you can be an overseer”
January 26, 2026 at 2:43 PM
to the extent that there is a “carrot” to trumpism it is the same carrot that slaveholders offered to lower class white men: “you can be an overseer”
Reposted by Ryan Van Loan
understandable frustration with respectability politics but worth acknowledging that this kind of political situation is what it was for
The execution of Alex Pretti is playing so badly because you can look at his actions and life story - his last act was helping, boy scout, athlete, health care worker to veterans - and compare those to the men who killed him and know which you would want to be your son, brother, father, uncle.
January 26, 2026 at 5:27 PM
understandable frustration with respectability politics but worth acknowledging that this kind of political situation is what it was for
Reposted by Ryan Van Loan
So many folks have never done anything complicated involving dozens let alone thousands of humans from birth to death they have no comprehension of what concepts like "logistics" mean. Jamelle is right. Hate and a big budget don't just make shit happen at scale. ICE can't handle one mid sized city.
last thing i’ll say since a lot of you are hung up on “complex and sophisticated.” even something as “simple” as sending thousands of guys to polling places in the 40 or so districts most likely to flip — and have them posted for the length of voting — is, uh, logistically demanding.
strange to me that a lot of people on this website simultaneously agree that the administration is run by incompetents who struggle to carry out their agenda without major political blowback AND that they’ll pull off a complex and sophisticated effort to rig elections and prevent defeat in November
January 25, 2026 at 9:41 PM
So many folks have never done anything complicated involving dozens let alone thousands of humans from birth to death they have no comprehension of what concepts like "logistics" mean. Jamelle is right. Hate and a big budget don't just make shit happen at scale. ICE can't handle one mid sized city.
So many folks have never done anything complicated involving dozens let alone thousands of humans from birth to death they have no comprehension of what concepts like "logistics" mean. Jamelle is right. Hate and a big budget don't just make shit happen at scale. ICE can't handle one mid sized city.
last thing i’ll say since a lot of you are hung up on “complex and sophisticated.” even something as “simple” as sending thousands of guys to polling places in the 40 or so districts most likely to flip — and have them posted for the length of voting — is, uh, logistically demanding.
strange to me that a lot of people on this website simultaneously agree that the administration is run by incompetents who struggle to carry out their agenda without major political blowback AND that they’ll pull off a complex and sophisticated effort to rig elections and prevent defeat in November
January 25, 2026 at 9:41 PM
So many folks have never done anything complicated involving dozens let alone thousands of humans from birth to death they have no comprehension of what concepts like "logistics" mean. Jamelle is right. Hate and a big budget don't just make shit happen at scale. ICE can't handle one mid sized city.
Reposted by Ryan Van Loan
You have to read this. Firsthand affidavit from one of the women who was there and recording the video. She talks about how Alex Pretti was directing traffic when she arrived. She watched him be killed in front of her. She's afraid to go home, worried she'll be arrested.
January 25, 2026 at 1:15 AM
You have to read this. Firsthand affidavit from one of the women who was there and recording the video. She talks about how Alex Pretti was directing traffic when she arrived. She watched him be killed in front of her. She's afraid to go home, worried she'll be arrested.
But someone from Trump's number texts back so totes worth it 🫠
When you realize you used your influential platform to make this version of our country happen
January 25, 2026 at 3:52 AM
But someone from Trump's number texts back so totes worth it 🫠
Reposted by Ryan Van Loan
This.
Not a legitimate president. Next administration needs to remove the corrupt SC holders, reform the Court, retroactively disqualify Trump & all his works. Which means all pardons in 2.0. Then every insurrectionist, every masked thug, every official involved faces the full measure of justice.
Not a legitimate president. Next administration needs to remove the corrupt SC holders, reform the Court, retroactively disqualify Trump & all his works. Which means all pardons in 2.0. Then every insurrectionist, every masked thug, every official involved faces the full measure of justice.
January 25, 2026 at 1:38 AM
This.
Not a legitimate president. Next administration needs to remove the corrupt SC holders, reform the Court, retroactively disqualify Trump & all his works. Which means all pardons in 2.0. Then every insurrectionist, every masked thug, every official involved faces the full measure of justice.
Not a legitimate president. Next administration needs to remove the corrupt SC holders, reform the Court, retroactively disqualify Trump & all his works. Which means all pardons in 2.0. Then every insurrectionist, every masked thug, every official involved faces the full measure of justice.
Reposted by Ryan Van Loan
“Get it all on record now — get the films — get the witnesses — because somewhere down the road of history some bastard will get up and say that this never happened.”
Dwight D. Eisenhower, after visiting liberated concentration camps in April 1945
Dwight D. Eisenhower, after visiting liberated concentration camps in April 1945
January 24, 2026 at 9:24 PM
“Get it all on record now — get the films — get the witnesses — because somewhere down the road of history some bastard will get up and say that this never happened.”
Dwight D. Eisenhower, after visiting liberated concentration camps in April 1945
Dwight D. Eisenhower, after visiting liberated concentration camps in April 1945
Reposted by Ryan Van Loan
I remain absolutely furious that all this shit in Minneapolis started because a barely-literate homeschooled mormon made a video trying to run up in daycare centers trying to find people of Somalian descent doing fraud despite the ringleader (a white woman) being in jail since March. Demonic.
January 24, 2026 at 8:21 PM
I remain absolutely furious that all this shit in Minneapolis started because a barely-literate homeschooled mormon made a video trying to run up in daycare centers trying to find people of Somalian descent doing fraud despite the ringleader (a white woman) being in jail since March. Demonic.