Benjamin Balthaser
@blbalthaser.bsky.social
Assoc prof of multiethnic US lit; au of Dedication (2011), Anti-Imperialist Modernism (2016), Citizens of the Whole World: Anti-Zionism & the Cultures of the US Jewish Left (2025). He/him. 🕎🌹😷🇵🇸Chicago 🐢
https://iusb.academia.edu/BenjaminBalthaser
https://iusb.academia.edu/BenjaminBalthaser
January 16, 2026 at 4:10 AM
my god
“A few minutes later, at least two ICE agents arrived in an unmarked S.U.V. and sprayed chemical agents in the faces of protesters who approached them, causing one protester to keel over and say that he could not see.”
“A few minutes later, at least two ICE agents arrived in an unmarked S.U.V. and sprayed chemical agents in the faces of protesters who approached them, causing one protester to keel over and say that he could not see.”
January 15, 2026 at 3:45 AM
my god
“A few minutes later, at least two ICE agents arrived in an unmarked S.U.V. and sprayed chemical agents in the faces of protesters who approached them, causing one protester to keel over and say that he could not see.”
“A few minutes later, at least two ICE agents arrived in an unmarked S.U.V. and sprayed chemical agents in the faces of protesters who approached them, causing one protester to keel over and say that he could not see.”
I find this funny bc it unwittingly implies equivalency, in which case, the US should treat Israel like Iran, and sanction it until its economy screams, we should call for an overthrow of its govt., and bomb its military leaders, airports and energy infrastructure
January 14, 2026 at 6:56 PM
I find this funny bc it unwittingly implies equivalency, in which case, the US should treat Israel like Iran, and sanction it until its economy screams, we should call for an overthrow of its govt., and bomb its military leaders, airports and energy infrastructure
Even while Israel continues to deny aid & building materials to Gaza:
“A headstone has finally been placed on the grave of Refaat Alareer…. Inscribed on the headstone are the closing lines of his most famous poem: "If I must die, / Let it bring hope; / Let it be a tale."
“A headstone has finally been placed on the grave of Refaat Alareer…. Inscribed on the headstone are the closing lines of his most famous poem: "If I must die, / Let it bring hope; / Let it be a tale."
January 13, 2026 at 8:43 PM
Even while Israel continues to deny aid & building materials to Gaza:
“A headstone has finally been placed on the grave of Refaat Alareer…. Inscribed on the headstone are the closing lines of his most famous poem: "If I must die, / Let it bring hope; / Let it be a tale."
“A headstone has finally been placed on the grave of Refaat Alareer…. Inscribed on the headstone are the closing lines of his most famous poem: "If I must die, / Let it bring hope; / Let it be a tale."
I joked to a friend that the only way we could get the “anti-antisemitism industry” to pay attention to a synagogue burning would be to claim the arsonist supported Palestine.
The arsonist was ofc a right-wing Christian supremacist.
Lipstadt and her ilk are craven demagogues
The arsonist was ofc a right-wing Christian supremacist.
Lipstadt and her ilk are craven demagogues
January 13, 2026 at 3:15 AM
I joked to a friend that the only way we could get the “anti-antisemitism industry” to pay attention to a synagogue burning would be to claim the arsonist supported Palestine.
The arsonist was ofc a right-wing Christian supremacist.
Lipstadt and her ilk are craven demagogues
The arsonist was ofc a right-wing Christian supremacist.
Lipstadt and her ilk are craven demagogues
Murders will continue until America looks on the bright side of life
January 12, 2026 at 6:59 AM
Murders will continue until America looks on the bright side of life
It’s apropos of the “antisemitism” discourse that the Jewish press can’t stop talking about activists deploying a dumb & provocative chant to protest a synagogue selling Palestinian land, and a probable Nazi burning down a storied synagogue in Mississippi seems to barely register as news
January 12, 2026 at 1:44 AM
It’s apropos of the “antisemitism” discourse that the Jewish press can’t stop talking about activists deploying a dumb & provocative chant to protest a synagogue selling Palestinian land, and a probable Nazi burning down a storied synagogue in Mississippi seems to barely register as news
As Ida B Wells and Gwendolyn Brooks reminded us a century ago, the abduction and terrorization of Black men (in MN’s case Somali Americans) is not extricable from the policing and punishing of (defiant and white) women.
January 10, 2026 at 7:29 PM
As Ida B Wells and Gwendolyn Brooks reminded us a century ago, the abduction and terrorization of Black men (in MN’s case Somali Americans) is not extricable from the policing and punishing of (defiant and white) women.
I’ve talked about “internal colonies” of the US, but I never thought the phrase might describe the entire state of MN: but cutting off food is really some colonial-level collective punishment
January 10, 2026 at 4:34 PM
I’ve talked about “internal colonies” of the US, but I never thought the phrase might describe the entire state of MN: but cutting off food is really some colonial-level collective punishment
No politician who roared about restoring “the classics” ever wanted to pay state salaries for faculty to teach classics. It’s sort of like Am Firsters who say they support “the traditional family” while deporting families. The violence was always the point: a defense of hierarchy not philosophy
January 9, 2026 at 6:26 PM
No politician who roared about restoring “the classics” ever wanted to pay state salaries for faculty to teach classics. It’s sort of like Am Firsters who say they support “the traditional family” while deporting families. The violence was always the point: a defense of hierarchy not philosophy
Avatar is not a good movie, but even in 2009 it was clear that the US was going to invade Venezuela: an oil-rich nation signing deals w China and giving discounted oil shipments to Cuba
January 8, 2026 at 10:03 PM
Avatar is not a good movie, but even in 2009 it was clear that the US was going to invade Venezuela: an oil-rich nation signing deals w China and giving discounted oil shipments to Cuba
“ChatGPU Edu” is catchy. Maybe we should just rename the university and make it simple
January 7, 2026 at 9:27 PM
“ChatGPU Edu” is catchy. Maybe we should just rename the university and make it simple
I’ve (unfortunately) watched the video of this woman’s death now several times: she was not trying to “run over agents.” She was blocking ICE agents w her car - to protect ppl targeted by ICE in her city. She was shot as she tried to turn her car away to leave
January 7, 2026 at 6:54 PM
I’ve (unfortunately) watched the video of this woman’s death now several times: she was not trying to “run over agents.” She was blocking ICE agents w her car - to protect ppl targeted by ICE in her city. She was shot as she tried to turn her car away to leave
“Covid is over” might be the biggest lie sold to us in a staggering decade of lies
January 6, 2026 at 6:18 AM
“Covid is over” might be the biggest lie sold to us in a staggering decade of lies
Newsom promises more competent imperialism. Tbh if these were my only choices, I’d rather have less competent managers of the imperium
January 6, 2026 at 5:35 AM
Newsom promises more competent imperialism. Tbh if these were my only choices, I’d rather have less competent managers of the imperium
Nobody, nobody in the entire world
Netanyahu: this is good for Israel
Netanyahu: this is good for Israel
January 5, 2026 at 8:25 PM
Nobody, nobody in the entire world
Netanyahu: this is good for Israel
Netanyahu: this is good for Israel
That’s funny I could have sworn you were desperate to know Mamdani’s position on Israel/Palestine. I mean it’s all you asked about
January 5, 2026 at 1:34 AM
That’s funny I could have sworn you were desperate to know Mamdani’s position on Israel/Palestine. I mean it’s all you asked about
The popular juxtaposition of MTG’s strong statement on the US’s invasion of Venezuela w Spreaker Jeffries’ vacillating one may be well intentioned, or might not be, but does tacitly imply the only alternative to neoliberal imperialism is America 1st nationalism. ramirez.house.gov/media/press-...
January 4, 2026 at 7:23 AM
The popular juxtaposition of MTG’s strong statement on the US’s invasion of Venezuela w Spreaker Jeffries’ vacillating one may be well intentioned, or might not be, but does tacitly imply the only alternative to neoliberal imperialism is America 1st nationalism. ramirez.house.gov/media/press-...
There was a small part of me that didn’t think the US would actually go thru w an attack on Venezuela - esp as there has been widespread skepticism of US aggression towards VZ even in the mainstream press - but it’s clear that small part is living an imaginary fantasy of the past
January 3, 2026 at 7:10 AM
There was a small part of me that didn’t think the US would actually go thru w an attack on Venezuela - esp as there has been widespread skepticism of US aggression towards VZ even in the mainstream press - but it’s clear that small part is living an imaginary fantasy of the past
“Humanity's self-alienation has reached such a degree that it can experience its own destruction as an aesthetic pleasure of the first order.”
January 3, 2026 at 12:36 AM
“Humanity's self-alienation has reached such a degree that it can experience its own destruction as an aesthetic pleasure of the first order.”
Even the original author of the IHRA thinks Zionists and western states are weaponizing antisemitism at the expense of Palestinian rights, diaspora Jewry and free speech.
January 2, 2026 at 11:28 PM
Even the original author of the IHRA thinks Zionists and western states are weaponizing antisemitism at the expense of Palestinian rights, diaspora Jewry and free speech.
a tale of two inaugurations
January 1, 2026 at 9:02 PM
a tale of two inaugurations
mazel tov: the one area of growth in America’s work force since the pandemic, workers w a disability
January 1, 2026 at 7:28 AM
mazel tov: the one area of growth in America’s work force since the pandemic, workers w a disability
Happy New Year’s Chicago, Portland and LA. Protest works
January 1, 2026 at 2:11 AM
Happy New Year’s Chicago, Portland and LA. Protest works