Elisheva
@desert-hearts.bsky.social
Civil rights/disability justice lawyer, former fed civil servant, anti-zionist Jew, queer/nonbinary human. Art, film, food, policy, user-centered design. Philly/Central VT.
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Elisheva
@desert-hearts.bsky.social
· Nov 17
When asked what she had learned from the Holocaust, Susan Sontag said that 10 percent of any population is cruel, no matter what, and that 10 percent is merciful, no matter what, and that the remaining 80 percent could be moved in either direction.
Reposted by Elisheva
This.
The challenge is that people were taught *that* the nazis were bad, but not *why* the Nazis were bad.
Studying Black History, Indian History, and African History, would have revealed why Hitler didn't see himself or the Nazis as bad, and the danger and rot lurking in our societies.
The challenge is that people were taught *that* the nazis were bad, but not *why* the Nazis were bad.
Studying Black History, Indian History, and African History, would have revealed why Hitler didn't see himself or the Nazis as bad, and the danger and rot lurking in our societies.
This exactly. U.S. and European culture uniformly showing the villainy of the Nazis, and the heroism of the leaders and the millions of volunteers on the Allied side—Evelyn Waugh, Kurt Vonnegut, James Stewart, Audrey Hepburn!—every film, every TV show, every thriller in the bookshop. And now this?
It's weird thinking about all the history classes where we were sold ideas about decency, inclusiveness, democracy etc. Even if they were aspirational simplifications of nuanced history, I can't believe how many people were like, 'No. The Nazis were cool, slavery is good, ethnic cleansing is good.'
January 13, 2026 at 2:17 PM
This.
The challenge is that people were taught *that* the nazis were bad, but not *why* the Nazis were bad.
Studying Black History, Indian History, and African History, would have revealed why Hitler didn't see himself or the Nazis as bad, and the danger and rot lurking in our societies.
The challenge is that people were taught *that* the nazis were bad, but not *why* the Nazis were bad.
Studying Black History, Indian History, and African History, would have revealed why Hitler didn't see himself or the Nazis as bad, and the danger and rot lurking in our societies.
Reposted by Elisheva
It would take a two-word amendment to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 to subject ICE agents and other federal law enforcement officers to the same liability for constitutional violations that local and state officers currently face.
If Congress actually cared about what it's seeing, it could pass that overnight.
If Congress actually cared about what it's seeing, it could pass that overnight.
January 12, 2026 at 10:56 PM
It would take a two-word amendment to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 to subject ICE agents and other federal law enforcement officers to the same liability for constitutional violations that local and state officers currently face.
If Congress actually cared about what it's seeing, it could pass that overnight.
If Congress actually cared about what it's seeing, it could pass that overnight.
They were a queer couple who moved to Minnesota to find safe harbor.
January 10, 2026 at 12:45 AM
They were a queer couple who moved to Minnesota to find safe harbor.
Reposted by Elisheva
Journalists need to stop writing that “Grok is spreading child pornography” or “Grok is spreading antisemitic messages.” Grok is a human creation with algorithms created by humans working for X. The technology is not responsible. The people running the company are.
January 6, 2026 at 9:37 AM
Journalists need to stop writing that “Grok is spreading child pornography” or “Grok is spreading antisemitic messages.” Grok is a human creation with algorithms created by humans working for X. The technology is not responsible. The people running the company are.
Reposted by Elisheva
Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries: “Strong floor, no ceiling”
Colombian President Gustavo Petro: “A clan of pedophiles wants to destroy our democracy.”
Colombian President Gustavo Petro: “A clan of pedophiles wants to destroy our democracy.”
December 3, 2025 at 6:53 AM
Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries: “Strong floor, no ceiling”
Colombian President Gustavo Petro: “A clan of pedophiles wants to destroy our democracy.”
Colombian President Gustavo Petro: “A clan of pedophiles wants to destroy our democracy.”
Reposted by Elisheva
Don't forget folks: allowing yourself a vision of the future you'd want for our country and planet - not the one you'd settle for, not the one you fear, but the future of your dreams - isn't naive, it's a vital cognitive skill. That's how we articulate what we most value. What's worth fighting for.
Instead of whatever this is, we should have a government getting lots of new homes and apartments built, lots of clean energy built, lots of high speed rail and transit and bike lanes built, human rights for everyone, economic & healthcare opportunities for all, & innovation that leads the world.
January 4, 2026 at 2:34 AM
Don't forget folks: allowing yourself a vision of the future you'd want for our country and planet - not the one you'd settle for, not the one you fear, but the future of your dreams - isn't naive, it's a vital cognitive skill. That's how we articulate what we most value. What's worth fighting for.
You will be visited by 3 spirits
December 9, 2025 at 4:10 AM
You will be visited by 3 spirits
Reposted by Elisheva
It's not hypocrisy, it's power.
December 4, 2025 at 11:59 PM
It's not hypocrisy, it's power.
Reposted by Elisheva
The DC shooting story is really getting to me because we literally trained this man as a child soldier for a death squad in a forever war and Stephen Miller et al want to blame it on other cultures? It's our culture, American culture, that killed that woman.
November 28, 2025 at 1:40 PM
The DC shooting story is really getting to me because we literally trained this man as a child soldier for a death squad in a forever war and Stephen Miller et al want to blame it on other cultures? It's our culture, American culture, that killed that woman.
Nobody puts Charlie Brown in a corner.
We all float down here, Charlie Brown
Second prize is a set of steak knives, Charlie Brown
November 24, 2025 at 11:36 AM
Nobody puts Charlie Brown in a corner.
Reposted by Elisheva
This moment, like every moment before, is time for unrelenting, unwavering truth and democratic principles.
We must not allow authoritarian forces to break our own commitment to representative democracy.
The working class of all backgrounds must organize for the good.
We must not allow authoritarian forces to break our own commitment to representative democracy.
The working class of all backgrounds must organize for the good.
November 17, 2025 at 3:26 PM
This moment, like every moment before, is time for unrelenting, unwavering truth and democratic principles.
We must not allow authoritarian forces to break our own commitment to representative democracy.
The working class of all backgrounds must organize for the good.
We must not allow authoritarian forces to break our own commitment to representative democracy.
The working class of all backgrounds must organize for the good.
Reposted by Elisheva
NEW: Epstein survivors release the most powerful PSA I have ever seen.
Make this go viral so every member of the House of Representatives sees it.
Make this go viral so every member of the House of Representatives sees it.
November 16, 2025 at 11:43 PM
NEW: Epstein survivors release the most powerful PSA I have ever seen.
Make this go viral so every member of the House of Representatives sees it.
Make this go viral so every member of the House of Representatives sees it.
Reposted by Elisheva
David Lynch being a total fucking coffee freak is so funny, he's characterizing people with it in such effective shorthand. The Northwestern Hotel has bootleg La Pavoni machines, Colonel Briggs has an electric percolator while Pete has a stovetop model, and Harry has the most insane carafe ever
August 27, 2025 at 1:35 AM
David Lynch being a total fucking coffee freak is so funny, he's characterizing people with it in such effective shorthand. The Northwestern Hotel has bootleg La Pavoni machines, Colonel Briggs has an electric percolator while Pete has a stovetop model, and Harry has the most insane carafe ever
Top five film genres:
Normie dude visits place where locals reject patriarchy, throws massive tantrum
People talk/listen to each other thoughtfully, often w/food
Mundane thing (car, book, 2D shape) haunted as metaphor for traumas of empire
End of the world as Rorschach test
Everyone is queer
Normie dude visits place where locals reject patriarchy, throws massive tantrum
People talk/listen to each other thoughtfully, often w/food
Mundane thing (car, book, 2D shape) haunted as metaphor for traumas of empire
End of the world as Rorschach test
Everyone is queer
Top five film genres:
Gloopy melting monster
70s science fiction film about contemporary politics that's a total bummer
It all happened in one crazy night!
Groups of men dancing and singing about their jobs
Children's story written by someone who has never met a child
Gloopy melting monster
70s science fiction film about contemporary politics that's a total bummer
It all happened in one crazy night!
Groups of men dancing and singing about their jobs
Children's story written by someone who has never met a child
top five film genres:
lady journalist in depression era america is going to get to the bottom of this, man or no man
warriors learn magic, defeat master who killed their master
the camera moves!: an experiment
the folks in this building is a reflection of all america
immigration as a vibe
lady journalist in depression era america is going to get to the bottom of this, man or no man
warriors learn magic, defeat master who killed their master
the camera moves!: an experiment
the folks in this building is a reflection of all america
immigration as a vibe
November 16, 2025 at 10:42 PM
Top five film genres:
Normie dude visits place where locals reject patriarchy, throws massive tantrum
People talk/listen to each other thoughtfully, often w/food
Mundane thing (car, book, 2D shape) haunted as metaphor for traumas of empire
End of the world as Rorschach test
Everyone is queer
Normie dude visits place where locals reject patriarchy, throws massive tantrum
People talk/listen to each other thoughtfully, often w/food
Mundane thing (car, book, 2D shape) haunted as metaphor for traumas of empire
End of the world as Rorschach test
Everyone is queer
Reposted by Elisheva
One way I have found to mourn someone is to set up a monthly sustaining donation to a mutual aid effort they cared about. If you can join me in honoring Alice Wong, @sfdirewolf.bsky.social with a sustaining donation today, please do. Thank you Alice, and I will not let the bastards grind me down.
November 15, 2025 at 12:34 PM
One way I have found to mourn someone is to set up a monthly sustaining donation to a mutual aid effort they cared about. If you can join me in honoring Alice Wong, @sfdirewolf.bsky.social with a sustaining donation today, please do. Thank you Alice, and I will not let the bastards grind me down.
Reposted by Elisheva
One thing I learned many years ago on the fringes of Film Twitter is that people who get granular about the age of consent are bad news. (Ditto irl men who can quote from memory Humbert Humbert lines from Lolita.)
November 15, 2025 at 3:36 AM
One thing I learned many years ago on the fringes of Film Twitter is that people who get granular about the age of consent are bad news. (Ditto irl men who can quote from memory Humbert Humbert lines from Lolita.)
Reposted by Elisheva
emailing in a semi-literate manner isn’t a sign of stupidity, it’s another form of rich asshole arrogance because you don’t think you owe anyone coherent thoughts
November 13, 2025 at 3:27 AM
emailing in a semi-literate manner isn’t a sign of stupidity, it’s another form of rich asshole arrogance because you don’t think you owe anyone coherent thoughts
Reposted by Elisheva
Harm to SNAP recipients, federal workers, and others is real. In a normal democracy it’d make sense to prioritize reducing that harm in the short term.
In a rapidly backsliding democracy, harm is happening no matter what. Preventing authoritarian consolidation is the most harm-reducing move.
In a rapidly backsliding democracy, harm is happening no matter what. Preventing authoritarian consolidation is the most harm-reducing move.
two contradictory ideas that i hold in my head at the same time: 1) i think the threat to both SNAP recipients and federal workers is significant enough now that even bad deals are worth making to prevent further harm, and, 2) everyone who caves now should retire in shame
November 10, 2025 at 2:54 AM
Harm to SNAP recipients, federal workers, and others is real. In a normal democracy it’d make sense to prioritize reducing that harm in the short term.
In a rapidly backsliding democracy, harm is happening no matter what. Preventing authoritarian consolidation is the most harm-reducing move.
In a rapidly backsliding democracy, harm is happening no matter what. Preventing authoritarian consolidation is the most harm-reducing move.
Reposted by Elisheva
I don't think it's cowardice. I think that they are OK with what the GOP is doing. The sooner folks reconcile with this, the better.
November 10, 2025 at 12:17 AM
I don't think it's cowardice. I think that they are OK with what the GOP is doing. The sooner folks reconcile with this, the better.
Reposted by Elisheva
Schumer either planned it or lost control of the caucus. It doesn’t matter. He needs to be out as leader now, and primaried now. Primary all of them with people who will one day vote to abolish the senate.
November 10, 2025 at 3:54 AM
Schumer either planned it or lost control of the caucus. It doesn’t matter. He needs to be out as leader now, and primaried now. Primary all of them with people who will one day vote to abolish the senate.
Reposted by Elisheva
Anyway a great way to radicalize people is for them to realize that you just abandoned their chance at being able to access and afford health care because you didn’t like waiting in line at the airport.
November 10, 2025 at 1:17 AM
Anyway a great way to radicalize people is for them to realize that you just abandoned their chance at being able to access and afford health care because you didn’t like waiting in line at the airport.
Reposted by Elisheva
The coordinated nature of this—none are facing voters in 2026—means that either Schumer approved it or failed in his job as Senate Majority Leader to stop it.
Dems voting "no" get zero credit until they demand a change in leadership. Schumer out as Leader, Durbin out as Whip.
Dems voting "no" get zero credit until they demand a change in leadership. Schumer out as Leader, Durbin out as Whip.
so currently defectors are:
Kaine (2030)
Shaheen (Retiring)
Hasan (2028)
Fetterman (2028)
Durbin (Retiring)
CCM (2028)
Rosen (2030)
King (2030)
Kaine (2030)
Shaheen (Retiring)
Hasan (2028)
Fetterman (2028)
Durbin (Retiring)
CCM (2028)
Rosen (2030)
King (2030)
November 10, 2025 at 2:43 AM
The coordinated nature of this—none are facing voters in 2026—means that either Schumer approved it or failed in his job as Senate Majority Leader to stop it.
Dems voting "no" get zero credit until they demand a change in leadership. Schumer out as Leader, Durbin out as Whip.
Dems voting "no" get zero credit until they demand a change in leadership. Schumer out as Leader, Durbin out as Whip.