Ben Blythe
@visitingwriter.bsky.social
Jewish SciFi/Fantasy/Horror author. Developmental editor. University instructor. Chicago Manual of Style enthusiast.
I think, for me, this does more to explain how 4chan stayed alive than anything else. And it underscores how much of a colossal failure it was that the government didn't nuke that hellsite from orbit when it had the chance.
"moot is in the epstein files" is the completely true sentence that has finally convinced me this is all an extremely stupid simulation and that we're all being used to power a robot overlord's game gear or something
January 31, 2026 at 5:56 PM
I think, for me, this does more to explain how 4chan stayed alive than anything else. And it underscores how much of a colossal failure it was that the government didn't nuke that hellsite from orbit when it had the chance.
Reposted by Ben Blythe
thought this was a shitpost and oh jesus
![From: Jeffrey Epstein [mailto:jeevacation@gmail.com]
Sent: Monday, October 24, 2011 8:31 AM
To: Boris Nikolic
Subject: Re:
i liked mmot alot. i drove him home, he is very bright
On Mon, Oct 24, 2011 at 11:29 AM, Boris Nikolic kc C91117' wrote:
Sure.
I will be there as well.
In 2 weeks or so.
Just left Bill — running for a lunch with Rubenstein.
How did you like moot?](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:tj2pxmoos64rzl2ofxkeke2d/bafkreidfyt4bab4roc3b3e2cyxjvpglanjz2acizlljc6nk5osi2bqbnsy@jpeg)
January 31, 2026 at 3:44 AM
thought this was a shitpost and oh jesus
Reposted by Ben Blythe
every epstein file drop underscores how elite power operates through shared socio-economic networks, regardless of people's ideological differences, populist posturing, or public feuds
January 30, 2026 at 11:58 PM
every epstein file drop underscores how elite power operates through shared socio-economic networks, regardless of people's ideological differences, populist posturing, or public feuds
Reposted by Ben Blythe
btw the civility panic a few years ago was about precisely this: the ability to have polite conversations about how black people are racially inferior in public without criticism or backlash bsky.app/profile/hann...
Jeffrey Epstein sent a link to the white nationalist podcast The Right Stuff, whose core hosts played an active role in the 2017 “Unite the Right” rally. He did so in February 2016. Before TRS made national news, really.
Genuinely bizarre.
Genuinely bizarre.
January 31, 2026 at 12:33 PM
btw the civility panic a few years ago was about precisely this: the ability to have polite conversations about how black people are racially inferior in public without criticism or backlash bsky.app/profile/hann...
Reposted by Ben Blythe
If this is the same Peter Attia MD who was just revealed as one of Bari Weiss's big new additions to CBS News, he can just tell the stories about the "outrageous" life Jeffrey Epstein led on the Evening News.
Think of the ratings!
Think of the ratings!
And Peter Attia MD telling Epstein the biggest problem with being his friend is he can’t tell anyone about the life he lives. Nice.
January 31, 2026 at 2:48 PM
If this is the same Peter Attia MD who was just revealed as one of Bari Weiss's big new additions to CBS News, he can just tell the stories about the "outrageous" life Jeffrey Epstein led on the Evening News.
Think of the ratings!
Think of the ratings!
Reposted by Ben Blythe
Reposted by Ben Blythe
Now *this* is more like it
Good to see --> Reps Eric Swalwell and Dan Goldman just introduced their bill stripping ICE agents of qualified immunity. We broke the news that this was coming on our podcast (see thread below for more info and context).
January 30, 2026 at 10:35 PM
Now *this* is more like it
I have drafted this post six times and still can't come up with anything fit for a public space, so:
BIG news from @bloomberg.com, which confirms that ICE has gone ahead and *purchased* multiple commercial warehouses with the aim of converting them into mass detention camps.
This is likely to be the big detention story of 2026 — literal warehousing of people.
www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...
This is likely to be the big detention story of 2026 — literal warehousing of people.
www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...
ICE Begins Buying ‘Mega’ Warehouse Detention Centers Across US
Plans for such centers and jails in nearly two dozen communities have sparked protests over suitability, proximity to homes and schools.
www.bloomberg.com
January 30, 2026 at 10:50 PM
I have drafted this post six times and still can't come up with anything fit for a public space, so:
Reposted by Ben Blythe
the arrest of journalists in minneapolis, including don lemon, is more evidence that the only move the administration knows how to make is to use force, and does not know how to respond when that force is met with defiance and indifference.
January 30, 2026 at 4:40 PM
the arrest of journalists in minneapolis, including don lemon, is more evidence that the only move the administration knows how to make is to use force, and does not know how to respond when that force is met with defiance and indifference.
I say again: During his first term, these little gatherings were a dominance display. In his second, they're how his viziers control him.
RFK Jr: "Mr President, we're in the process of implementing your great American healthcare bill." (There is no healthcare bill.)
January 30, 2026 at 4:04 PM
I say again: During his first term, these little gatherings were a dominance display. In his second, they're how his viziers control him.
Reposted by Ben Blythe
Graham objected to unanimous consent.
And he blocked the business of the Senate.
Any Senate Democrat could do this.
And he blocked the business of the Senate.
Any Senate Democrat could do this.
NO SENATE VOTE TONIGHT
Couldn’t get all senators to allow a speedy vote. Schumer tells reporters Lindsey Graham is blocking it. “That’s the holdup,” Schumer tells reporters. Graham wants to keep a provision letting him sue to pocket $500,000 over J6 phone records seized.
Couldn’t get all senators to allow a speedy vote. Schumer tells reporters Lindsey Graham is blocking it. “That’s the holdup,” Schumer tells reporters. Graham wants to keep a provision letting him sue to pocket $500,000 over J6 phone records seized.
January 30, 2026 at 5:15 AM
Graham objected to unanimous consent.
And he blocked the business of the Senate.
Any Senate Democrat could do this.
And he blocked the business of the Senate.
Any Senate Democrat could do this.
Reposted by Ben Blythe
Folks, I don't know whether the dems will make good use of this in 2 weeks.
But this is an amazing move in terms of the possibilities it opens up.
They can now block DHS funding forever with no collateral damage
But this is an amazing move in terms of the possibilities it opens up.
They can now block DHS funding forever with no collateral damage
Republicans agreed to split up the spending bill -- pass year long funding for the other five bills + a DHS two week CR to allow time for negotiations.
January 30, 2026 at 4:20 AM
Folks, I don't know whether the dems will make good use of this in 2 weeks.
But this is an amazing move in terms of the possibilities it opens up.
They can now block DHS funding forever with no collateral damage
But this is an amazing move in terms of the possibilities it opens up.
They can now block DHS funding forever with no collateral damage
Reposted by Ben Blythe
now this is fucking thinking like an appropriator.
speaking as a federal bureaucrat, do you know how many completely fucking absurd rules there are making it next to impossible to do our jobs? how many forms I have to file to hire anyone? put a few dozen of those restrictions on ICE...
speaking as a federal bureaucrat, do you know how many completely fucking absurd rules there are making it next to impossible to do our jobs? how many forms I have to file to hire anyone? put a few dozen of those restrictions on ICE...
"Whoops sorry guys, we've upped your training requirements to 30 months. You'll have to pay your recruits full salary during that time too. We're not going to budget any money for that but you can draw from the already allocated money in the BBB."
The job right now isn't to advocate for more training, or body cams or QR codes or whatever because those things will be effective in their own right. It's to advocate for those things because it will bleed ICE's slush-fund white.
January 30, 2026 at 3:51 AM
now this is fucking thinking like an appropriator.
speaking as a federal bureaucrat, do you know how many completely fucking absurd rules there are making it next to impossible to do our jobs? how many forms I have to file to hire anyone? put a few dozen of those restrictions on ICE...
speaking as a federal bureaucrat, do you know how many completely fucking absurd rules there are making it next to impossible to do our jobs? how many forms I have to file to hire anyone? put a few dozen of those restrictions on ICE...
And it's looking like this is the case, but, like.
I think what gets me is that Jeffries accepted the Republican framing of these things as deportations. They are not. They are illegal kidnappings and exile of American citizens by a corrupt, criminal government.
I think what gets me is that Jeffries accepted the Republican framing of these things as deportations. They are not. They are illegal kidnappings and exile of American citizens by a corrupt, criminal government.
I think the best case scenario is that their comments were edited into ragebait by a hostile media.
But even allowing for that, they're taking one of the easiest lay-ups I've ever seen and half-assing it into a net loss.
But even allowing for that, they're taking one of the easiest lay-ups I've ever seen and half-assing it into a net loss.
January 30, 2026 at 3:35 AM
And it's looking like this is the case, but, like.
I think what gets me is that Jeffries accepted the Republican framing of these things as deportations. They are not. They are illegal kidnappings and exile of American citizens by a corrupt, criminal government.
I think what gets me is that Jeffries accepted the Republican framing of these things as deportations. They are not. They are illegal kidnappings and exile of American citizens by a corrupt, criminal government.
Reposted by Ben Blythe
In case everyone's as confused as me, this is what happened tonight in the Senate
DHS defunding is still on the table, just without triggering a full shutdown
DHS defunding is still on the table, just without triggering a full shutdown
January 30, 2026 at 1:50 AM
In case everyone's as confused as me, this is what happened tonight in the Senate
DHS defunding is still on the table, just without triggering a full shutdown
DHS defunding is still on the table, just without triggering a full shutdown
Watching Schumer and Jeffries bitch out for the thousandth time like
January 30, 2026 at 3:28 AM
Watching Schumer and Jeffries bitch out for the thousandth time like
Reposted by Ben Blythe
this is actually really nice to hear
January 29, 2026 at 6:47 PM
this is actually really nice to hear
Reposted by Ben Blythe
Discworld QOTD, from Thud!
“Beating people up in little rooms…he knew where that led. And if you did it for a good reason, you’d do it for a bad one. You couldn’t say ‘We’re the good guys’ and do bad-guy things.”
“Beating people up in little rooms…he knew where that led. And if you did it for a good reason, you’d do it for a bad one. You couldn’t say ‘We’re the good guys’ and do bad-guy things.”
Discworld QOTD, from Making Money
"‘Even tyrants have to obey the law.’ He paused, looking thoughtful, and continued: ‘No, I tell a lie, tyrants do not have to obey the law, obviously, but they do have to observe the niceties.’"
"‘Even tyrants have to obey the law.’ He paused, looking thoughtful, and continued: ‘No, I tell a lie, tyrants do not have to obey the law, obviously, but they do have to observe the niceties.’"
Discworld QOTD, from Thief of Time
“People like that don't need a reason apart from "because I can". They have a nightmare and try to make it happen.”
“People like that don't need a reason apart from "because I can". They have a nightmare and try to make it happen.”
January 29, 2026 at 7:03 PM
Discworld QOTD, from Thud!
“Beating people up in little rooms…he knew where that led. And if you did it for a good reason, you’d do it for a bad one. You couldn’t say ‘We’re the good guys’ and do bad-guy things.”
“Beating people up in little rooms…he knew where that led. And if you did it for a good reason, you’d do it for a bad one. You couldn’t say ‘We’re the good guys’ and do bad-guy things.”
Reposted by Ben Blythe
Press Gazette’s investigation which uncovered 1,000 articles in the British press attributed to 50 fake, non-existent and AI-enhanced experts has spurred PR trade bodies into action pressgazette.co.uk/news/pr-bodi...
PR bodies launch campaign against fake experts after Press Gazette investigation
Trade bodies urge journalist to shun rogue PR operators.
pressgazette.co.uk
January 29, 2026 at 3:45 PM
Press Gazette’s investigation which uncovered 1,000 articles in the British press attributed to 50 fake, non-existent and AI-enhanced experts has spurred PR trade bodies into action pressgazette.co.uk/news/pr-bodi...
None of my students know a world without Trump. They have vague child-memories of the Obama Years. Most weren't even toddlers when Bush was in office.
We've failed them on a lot of fronts, but I think our failure to destroy Trumpism has been the worst. Everything else spirals from there.
We've failed them on a lot of fronts, but I think our failure to destroy Trumpism has been the worst. Everything else spirals from there.
These fucking people stole our youth, man. We were young in 2015 and we've been stuck in this same recursive nightmare hell ever since, but physics has kept us aging this whole time.
It's not fair that society is allowed to waste my life.
It's not fair that society is allowed to waste my life.
January 29, 2026 at 5:32 PM
None of my students know a world without Trump. They have vague child-memories of the Obama Years. Most weren't even toddlers when Bush was in office.
We've failed them on a lot of fronts, but I think our failure to destroy Trumpism has been the worst. Everything else spirals from there.
We've failed them on a lot of fronts, but I think our failure to destroy Trumpism has been the worst. Everything else spirals from there.
Reposted by Ben Blythe
Something I've been thinking about since the AI hype started is that the inevitable end game here is that human interaction will only be for people who can afford to pay for it. This isn't accessibility, it's automated inequity
We want to make sure tutoring isn't the preserve of a lucky few, but accessible to every child who needs it.
AI can help us do that.
Safe, personalised, one-to-one learning support to help every child achieve and thrive.
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/01...
AI can help us do that.
Safe, personalised, one-to-one learning support to help every child achieve and thrive.
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/01...
Poorest pupils to be given AI tutors
Bridget Phillipson says tuition would no longer be the preserve of ‘the lucky few’
www.telegraph.co.uk
January 29, 2026 at 4:21 PM
Something I've been thinking about since the AI hype started is that the inevitable end game here is that human interaction will only be for people who can afford to pay for it. This isn't accessibility, it's automated inequity
I hereby dub this the Turnbuckle-Assisted Fuck You.
January 29, 2026 at 4:02 AM
I hereby dub this the Turnbuckle-Assisted Fuck You.
This has the same energy as when Republicans resorted to terrorism because Tim Walz called them weird one time: Oh no, we're losing, QUICK DO SOMETHING BIG AND SCARY.
🚨BREAKING: Two top Democrats in Fulton County, Georgia allege that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) lacked the authority for Wednesday’s raid of the county’s central election hub, in which the Feds seized 700 boxes of ballots and other election materials related to the 2020 vote.
Fulton Co. Democrats allege FBI lacked authority for election center raid
“There is a case right now concerning this, trying to get these documents,” Commissioner Mo Ivory said. “They're under seal right now. Judge McBurney has not lifted the seal for them to be taken.”
www.democracydocket.com
January 29, 2026 at 3:34 AM
This has the same energy as when Republicans resorted to terrorism because Tim Walz called them weird one time: Oh no, we're losing, QUICK DO SOMETHING BIG AND SCARY.
Another reason engagement algorithms suck: Getting recommended the exact same artist 50423694860946505 times so you have to reprogram the stupid thing by Disliking literally all of their tracks.
I liked one sea shanty five years ago, goddammit.
I liked one sea shanty five years ago, goddammit.
January 29, 2026 at 3:32 AM
Another reason engagement algorithms suck: Getting recommended the exact same artist 50423694860946505 times so you have to reprogram the stupid thing by Disliking literally all of their tracks.
I liked one sea shanty five years ago, goddammit.
I liked one sea shanty five years ago, goddammit.
There's at least one future congressperson in these photos, and they're gonna have a shitload more street cred than whatever incumbent they kick out of office in a year or three.
Scrolling through the photos of Pam Bondi's "Minnesota rioters," it's just hero after hero. Every photo includes a cowardly DHS agent with their back to the camera.
Bondi thinks she's going to win the propaganda war with this shit, but it's never been more clear that they're losing.
Bondi thinks she's going to win the propaganda war with this shit, but it's never been more clear that they're losing.
January 29, 2026 at 12:55 AM
There's at least one future congressperson in these photos, and they're gonna have a shitload more street cred than whatever incumbent they kick out of office in a year or three.