Benjamin Downs Lane
@slowtalking.bsky.social
Atlanticist gone Gaullist
Retired WHO.
Health Systems Governance/ Emergencies/Public Economics.
UVA/Geneva/Tulane/Graz
Novels: Pale Fire / Der Zauberberg
Political philosophy: The Devil’s Dictionary, by Ambrose Bierce
Retired WHO.
Health Systems Governance/ Emergencies/Public Economics.
UVA/Geneva/Tulane/Graz
Novels: Pale Fire / Der Zauberberg
Political philosophy: The Devil’s Dictionary, by Ambrose Bierce
Three reactions:
1. Yes. The moderate position is abolish.
2. American tolerance for bullying culture is the main reason why I chose Europe.
3. Will Bunch is amazing.
1. Yes. The moderate position is abolish.
2. American tolerance for bullying culture is the main reason why I chose Europe.
3. Will Bunch is amazing.
They weren't rookies
The two federal agents who murdered Alex Pretti had a combined 20 years of experience with BP or CBP, and simmered in a toxic culture with an absurd crime rate that must be erased, not "reformed"
My new column on what really killed Alex www.inquirer.com/columnists/a...
The two federal agents who murdered Alex Pretti had a combined 20 years of experience with BP or CBP, and simmered in a toxic culture with an absurd crime rate that must be erased, not "reformed"
My new column on what really killed Alex www.inquirer.com/columnists/a...
The toxic culture that killed Alex Pretti | Will Bunch Newsletter
Plus, who is Tulsi Gabbard really working for?
www.inquirer.com
February 3, 2026 at 6:22 PM
Three reactions:
1. Yes. The moderate position is abolish.
2. American tolerance for bullying culture is the main reason why I chose Europe.
3. Will Bunch is amazing.
1. Yes. The moderate position is abolish.
2. American tolerance for bullying culture is the main reason why I chose Europe.
3. Will Bunch is amazing.
Reposted by Benjamin Downs Lane
Trump's assistance to the Russian attack on Ukrainian power and heating last night was so egregious that I put together this short, free piece on it. He helped Putin kill Ukrainians. If the USA does not do something soon, the US should be seen as a Putin ally. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
Trump Helps Putin Kill Ukrainians: A Case Study
Hi All,
open.substack.com
February 3, 2026 at 5:03 PM
Trump's assistance to the Russian attack on Ukrainian power and heating last night was so egregious that I put together this short, free piece on it. He helped Putin kill Ukrainians. If the USA does not do something soon, the US should be seen as a Putin ally. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
Reposted by Benjamin Downs Lane
Okay, I'm now hearing reports of other locals being removed from Minnesota rapid response for interacting with press, as well as some "organizers" instituting onerous screening processes to join these networks.
It's time for local leaders to step in. These policies are incredibly counterproductive.
It's time for local leaders to step in. These policies are incredibly counterproductive.
February 3, 2026 at 4:09 PM
Okay, I'm now hearing reports of other locals being removed from Minnesota rapid response for interacting with press, as well as some "organizers" instituting onerous screening processes to join these networks.
It's time for local leaders to step in. These policies are incredibly counterproductive.
It's time for local leaders to step in. These policies are incredibly counterproductive.
Reposted by Benjamin Downs Lane
"The real European financial threat to America: An uncoordinated, decentralised and gradual buyers’ strike is the actual danger" www.ft.com/content/d267...
February 3, 2026 at 12:21 PM
"The real European financial threat to America: An uncoordinated, decentralised and gradual buyers’ strike is the actual danger" www.ft.com/content/d267...
Reposted by Benjamin Downs Lane
Reposted by Benjamin Downs Lane
According to the Toronto Police, 150,000 people attended the demonstration in solidarity with Iranian protesters.
February 3, 2026 at 12:31 AM
According to the Toronto Police, 150,000 people attended the demonstration in solidarity with Iranian protesters.
Reposted by Benjamin Downs Lane
A Ukrainian night in numbers:
Out of 521 in total, 38 Russian missiles &
412 drones were intercepted, say officials.
Energy infrastructure was targeted across eight regions.
Leaving 1100 homes without power.
With temperatures at -21 degrees Celsius.
Out of 521 in total, 38 Russian missiles &
412 drones were intercepted, say officials.
Energy infrastructure was targeted across eight regions.
Leaving 1100 homes without power.
With temperatures at -21 degrees Celsius.
February 3, 2026 at 8:09 AM
A Ukrainian night in numbers:
Out of 521 in total, 38 Russian missiles &
412 drones were intercepted, say officials.
Energy infrastructure was targeted across eight regions.
Leaving 1100 homes without power.
With temperatures at -21 degrees Celsius.
Out of 521 in total, 38 Russian missiles &
412 drones were intercepted, say officials.
Energy infrastructure was targeted across eight regions.
Leaving 1100 homes without power.
With temperatures at -21 degrees Celsius.
Same same, actually
Genuinely curious: If your family is American, what brought them here?
Mine: religious nuttery & primogeniture
Mine: religious nuttery & primogeniture
February 3, 2026 at 12:54 AM
Same same, actually
Reposted by Benjamin Downs Lane
NFL offensive players: i just think we need to stop picking people from new mexico. i mean nobody any disrespect but football is an american sport.
NFL defensive players: carly rae jepsen is mother
NFL defensive players: carly rae jepsen is mother
February 2, 2026 at 8:24 PM
NFL offensive players: i just think we need to stop picking people from new mexico. i mean nobody any disrespect but football is an american sport.
NFL defensive players: carly rae jepsen is mother
NFL defensive players: carly rae jepsen is mother
Nice to see that there some Americans who saw from the outset how shameful a war of conquest against a neighbor was.
Today marks the 178th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which formally ended the Mexican-American War.
"The anniversary is also significant because the treaty was negotiated by a U.S. diplomat in direct defiance of the president of the US," writes expert James Lindsay.
"The anniversary is also significant because the treaty was negotiated by a U.S. diplomat in direct defiance of the president of the US," writes expert James Lindsay.
Remembering the 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo | Council on Foreign Relations
The United States secured the third-largest territorial acquisition in its history after a U.S. diplomat defied the president who appointed him.
www.cfr.org
February 2, 2026 at 6:23 PM
Nice to see that there some Americans who saw from the outset how shameful a war of conquest against a neighbor was.
February 2, 2026 at 12:18 PM
Reposted by Benjamin Downs Lane
know this is not something that could happen either in general or at least in the next few years but I would genuinely love it if a journalist could sit down with some of the powerful people who interacted with Epstein - even anonymously - so they could explain what they got out of the relationship
February 2, 2026 at 11:35 AM
know this is not something that could happen either in general or at least in the next few years but I would genuinely love it if a journalist could sit down with some of the powerful people who interacted with Epstein - even anonymously - so they could explain what they got out of the relationship
Reposted by Benjamin Downs Lane
patrickwyman.substack.com/p/american-g... Is anybody working on this? Obviouly there's a lot of literature that overlaps with parts of this (economic opportunity and geography, inequality, etc), but is anybody taking the bull by the horns?
American Gentry
Local Power and the Social Order
patrickwyman.substack.com
February 2, 2026 at 10:01 AM
patrickwyman.substack.com/p/american-g... Is anybody working on this? Obviouly there's a lot of literature that overlaps with parts of this (economic opportunity and geography, inequality, etc), but is anybody taking the bull by the horns?
Reposted by Benjamin Downs Lane
A reminder that the New England Patriots plane is flown by Omni air who contracts with ICE to fly people in chains to Africa and Asia several times per week.
Go Seahawks.
Go Seahawks.
February 2, 2026 at 12:16 AM
A reminder that the New England Patriots plane is flown by Omni air who contracts with ICE to fly people in chains to Africa and Asia several times per week.
Go Seahawks.
Go Seahawks.
What will become of NSO?
@musicologyduck.bsky.social, any idea?
@musicologyduck.bsky.social, any idea?
February 2, 2026 at 1:31 AM
What will become of NSO?
@musicologyduck.bsky.social, any idea?
@musicologyduck.bsky.social, any idea?
Reposted by Benjamin Downs Lane
Look, not to "hand it" to anyone but the plans for the new Kennedy Center are actually kinda ok looking
February 1, 2026 at 11:53 PM
Look, not to "hand it" to anyone but the plans for the new Kennedy Center are actually kinda ok looking
Reposted by Benjamin Downs Lane
(1/17 🧵) Here's my further analysis of the recent journalist arrests, for those not inclined to hunt down my posts elsewhere. While this is a political flash point, I do not believe it is a partisan issue. It is part of a pattern perpetrated by, and that hurts, both parties:
February 2, 2026 at 12:49 AM
(1/17 🧵) Here's my further analysis of the recent journalist arrests, for those not inclined to hunt down my posts elsewhere. While this is a political flash point, I do not believe it is a partisan issue. It is part of a pattern perpetrated by, and that hurts, both parties:
Reposted by Benjamin Downs Lane
Good to see that many Dem elected officials now want to be seen getting involved in the cases of immigrants who have been wrongly detained by ICE.
Let's spare a word for @vanhollen.senate.gov, who did this for Kilmar Abrego Garcia back when wise pundits said this was politically dangerous.
Let's spare a word for @vanhollen.senate.gov, who did this for Kilmar Abrego Garcia back when wise pundits said this was politically dangerous.
February 1, 2026 at 11:32 PM
Good to see that many Dem elected officials now want to be seen getting involved in the cases of immigrants who have been wrongly detained by ICE.
Let's spare a word for @vanhollen.senate.gov, who did this for Kilmar Abrego Garcia back when wise pundits said this was politically dangerous.
Let's spare a word for @vanhollen.senate.gov, who did this for Kilmar Abrego Garcia back when wise pundits said this was politically dangerous.
Reposted by Benjamin Downs Lane
At least Mussolini was housebroken
February 1, 2026 at 9:58 PM
At least Mussolini was housebroken
Reposted by Benjamin Downs Lane
Saturday Night Live has a little time capsule of the vibe shift
a sketch where a mom finally snaps out of her Trump fugue
a sketch where a mom finally snaps out of her Trump fugue
February 1, 2026 at 5:54 PM
Saturday Night Live has a little time capsule of the vibe shift
a sketch where a mom finally snaps out of her Trump fugue
a sketch where a mom finally snaps out of her Trump fugue
I once used to ask myself how anyone could have really committed the crimes for which Élisabeth Báthory was convicted.
I was naïve.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabe...
I was naïve.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabe...
February 1, 2026 at 7:13 PM
I once used to ask myself how anyone could have really committed the crimes for which Élisabeth Báthory was convicted.
I was naïve.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabe...
I was naïve.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabe...
Reposted by Benjamin Downs Lane
Reposted by Benjamin Downs Lane
One year ago, the idea that RMB would be positioned to replace the USD as a lead global reserve currency was all but unthinkable. But one year of Trump monetary policy has trashed the greenback and assured the rise of RMB. There is no more astonishing story of monetary mismanagement in modern times
Xi Jinping calls for China’s renminbi to attain global reserve currency status
Latest commentary details ambitions for ‘powerful currency’ to play a greater role in trade and forex
www.ft.com
February 1, 2026 at 1:14 PM
One year ago, the idea that RMB would be positioned to replace the USD as a lead global reserve currency was all but unthinkable. But one year of Trump monetary policy has trashed the greenback and assured the rise of RMB. There is no more astonishing story of monetary mismanagement in modern times