Stuart Morris
@foundinchina.bsky.social
Teaching would-be international students from within the belly of the dragon. Here for sanity, civility, and honesty in China-related discourse. Hoping the planet doesn't blow up while waiting for answers. Confidence level < Hades.
Complicity, thy name is legacy media.
Headline and sub-hed in WaPo, about Trump's deranged performance today.
January 22, 2026 at 7:59 AM
Complicity, thy name is legacy media.
Reposted by Stuart Morris
Why @mark-carney.bsky.social 's speech yesterday was so effective and important.
(By me. Main points before paywall; detailed annotation after.)
fallows.substack.com/p/a-speech-f...
(By me. Main points before paywall; detailed annotation after.)
fallows.substack.com/p/a-speech-f...
A Speech for the History Books.
And for the here and now. A memorable discourse on America's place in the world, by the leader of a US neighbor and former friend.
fallows.substack.com
January 21, 2026 at 10:36 PM
Why @mark-carney.bsky.social 's speech yesterday was so effective and important.
(By me. Main points before paywall; detailed annotation after.)
fallows.substack.com/p/a-speech-f...
(By me. Main points before paywall; detailed annotation after.)
fallows.substack.com/p/a-speech-f...
Reposted by Stuart Morris
This. This. This.
Midterms will set us right, you say? Dream on.
But 2028, you insist? You're out of your friggin' mind!
Neither of these things is happening.
Midterms will set us right, you say? Dream on.
But 2028, you insist? You're out of your friggin' mind!
Neither of these things is happening.
I really don't think the people doing politics, and this ranges from the level of Senators and governors down to like the people following elections on social media, understand that the country that existed a year ago simply does not exist anymore. It is not coming
Moreover, ICE must be destroyed
Moreover, ICE must be destroyed
January 19, 2026 at 9:26 AM
This. This. This.
Midterms will set us right, you say? Dream on.
But 2028, you insist? You're out of your friggin' mind!
Neither of these things is happening.
Midterms will set us right, you say? Dream on.
But 2028, you insist? You're out of your friggin' mind!
Neither of these things is happening.
Reposted by Stuart Morris
Four GOP Senators.
At most four Repubs in the House.
Together they could stop nearly all the mad-king's rampages. They would be known to history as Profiles in Courage. They might/would lose the next election. But people have sacrificed a lot more, for a lot less.
At most four Repubs in the House.
Together they could stop nearly all the mad-king's rampages. They would be known to history as Profiles in Courage. They might/would lose the next election. But people have sacrificed a lot more, for a lot less.
I can't repeat this enough.
I've said this before and I'll say it again.
It would only take a tiny handful of Republican Congress members or senators to stop the slide of America toward authoritarian fascism, but nope. They're all in.
It would only take a tiny handful of Republican Congress members or senators to stop the slide of America toward authoritarian fascism, but nope. They're all in.
January 17, 2026 at 8:41 PM
Four GOP Senators.
At most four Repubs in the House.
Together they could stop nearly all the mad-king's rampages. They would be known to history as Profiles in Courage. They might/would lose the next election. But people have sacrificed a lot more, for a lot less.
At most four Repubs in the House.
Together they could stop nearly all the mad-king's rampages. They would be known to history as Profiles in Courage. They might/would lose the next election. But people have sacrificed a lot more, for a lot less.
Reposted by Stuart Morris
Brett Kavanaugh must be so proud.
How much more in your face can it be?
"Why are you asking me for my paperwork?"
"Because of your accent."
"You have an accent too."
"Where were you born sir?"
"Where were you born at?"
"Put your hands behind your back."
"Why are you asking me for my paperwork?"
"Because of your accent."
"You have an accent too."
"Where were you born sir?"
"Where were you born at?"
"Put your hands behind your back."
January 17, 2026 at 11:10 PM
Brett Kavanaugh must be so proud.
It was a decade ago on a fateful November morning here in China that I first posted this iteration of the meme. The only thing that has changed is that the slap is getting harder.
But slapping is no longer enough, it seems.
But slapping is no longer enough, it seems.
January 18, 2026 at 3:34 AM
It was a decade ago on a fateful November morning here in China that I first posted this iteration of the meme. The only thing that has changed is that the slap is getting harder.
But slapping is no longer enough, it seems.
But slapping is no longer enough, it seems.
Reposted by Stuart Morris
They nearly killed this woman. Then they went on national TV and tried to smear her.
Woman Seen Pulled from Car Speaks Out: 'Lucky to be alive'
Aliya Rahman "said she was driving to an appointment at the Traumatic Brain Injury Center when the incident occurred."
She asked for a doctor and was taken to a detention center where she lost consciousness.
abcnews.go.com/US/live-upda...
Aliya Rahman "said she was driving to an appointment at the Traumatic Brain Injury Center when the incident occurred."
She asked for a doctor and was taken to a detention center where she lost consciousness.
abcnews.go.com/US/live-upda...
January 17, 2026 at 12:31 AM
They nearly killed this woman. Then they went on national TV and tried to smear her.
Reposted by Stuart Morris
People who are speaking up, in the right way:
fallows.substack.com/p/the-rhetor...
By me. First 4/5ths before paywall.
fallows.substack.com/p/the-rhetor...
By me. First 4/5ths before paywall.
The Rhetoric of Leaders: Meeting the Moment.
'In the life of the human spirit, words are action.' So said a US president during the Iron Curtain era, supporting all who spoke up for human dignity and human rights. Who is speaking up now? A list.
fallows.substack.com
January 17, 2026 at 1:09 AM
People who are speaking up, in the right way:
fallows.substack.com/p/the-rhetor...
By me. First 4/5ths before paywall.
fallows.substack.com/p/the-rhetor...
By me. First 4/5ths before paywall.
BBC going all out to capture the mood of the moment in the US.
January 17, 2026 at 4:37 AM
BBC going all out to capture the mood of the moment in the US.
The BBC, it seems, no longer care about the degree to which they abase themselves over Trump. With his unhinged presidency plumbing new depths, they’ve chosen this moment to go with Leavitt-level BS dressed up as reporting from the heart of Trump country.
January 16, 2026 at 3:11 PM
The BBC, it seems, no longer care about the degree to which they abase themselves over Trump. With his unhinged presidency plumbing new depths, they’ve chosen this moment to go with Leavitt-level BS dressed up as reporting from the heart of Trump country.
Reposted by Stuart Morris
I spent the week in Minneapolis. About the only thing I’m sure of now is that more people are going to die. www.thestar.com/opinion/star...
Richard Warnica: In Minnesota, I witnessed Donald Trump’s American carnage made real
As confrontations between ICE and protestors and activists grow more common, the tension only rises.
www.thestar.com
January 16, 2026 at 12:43 PM
I spent the week in Minneapolis. About the only thing I’m sure of now is that more people are going to die. www.thestar.com/opinion/star...
Reposted by Stuart Morris
"It seems ridiculous that we even have to say this, but Democrats shouldn’t affirmatively fund a government that’s terrorizing their constituents with a secret police force."
New in PN: Democrats need to shut down Trump's terrorist government
"Democrats should reject any pretense of political normalcy while Trump’s goons wage an ongoing terror campaign against their own constituents. With government funding running out soon, the time to take a stand is now."
"Democrats should reject any pretense of political normalcy while Trump’s goons wage an ongoing terror campaign against their own constituents. With government funding running out soon, the time to take a stand is now."
Democrats need to shut down Trump's terrorist government
Funding the war on their own constituents would be a grave betrayal.
www.publicnotice.co
January 16, 2026 at 12:32 AM
"It seems ridiculous that we even have to say this, but Democrats shouldn’t affirmatively fund a government that’s terrorizing their constituents with a secret police force."
Reposted by Stuart Morris
Strong recommend: @cohen489.bsky.social is really bringing the heat, in this and many other posts.
(Including on why she quit Skadden, how white peoples' fear at the moment differs from other peoples', etc.)
(Including on why she quit Skadden, how white peoples' fear at the moment differs from other peoples', etc.)
me again
what a legend lmao
January 16, 2026 at 1:17 AM
Strong recommend: @cohen489.bsky.social is really bringing the heat, in this and many other posts.
(Including on why she quit Skadden, how white peoples' fear at the moment differs from other peoples', etc.)
(Including on why she quit Skadden, how white peoples' fear at the moment differs from other peoples', etc.)
Reposted by Stuart Morris
The one thing authoritarian leaders usually have going for them is the general apathy of the majority when they make a move solely against a marginal group in society.
But when they occupy an entire city with clumsy, brutal force, that just forces everyone out of that apathy.
But when they occupy an entire city with clumsy, brutal force, that just forces everyone out of that apathy.
January 15, 2026 at 2:17 PM
The one thing authoritarian leaders usually have going for them is the general apathy of the majority when they make a move solely against a marginal group in society.
But when they occupy an entire city with clumsy, brutal force, that just forces everyone out of that apathy.
But when they occupy an entire city with clumsy, brutal force, that just forces everyone out of that apathy.
Reposted by Stuart Morris
None of this shit matters! The right's wet dream came true, the government is attacking its people on American soil. The civil war is here and look at the fuck all our so-called leaders are doing. We are the only ones left protecting us.
January 15, 2026 at 6:10 AM
None of this shit matters! The right's wet dream came true, the government is attacking its people on American soil. The civil war is here and look at the fuck all our so-called leaders are doing. We are the only ones left protecting us.
Reposted by Stuart Morris
Damm...
ICE's opsec in shambles.
Fuck ICE.
ICE's opsec in shambles.
Fuck ICE.
ICE agents fled from the crowd and left behind their CONOPS battle plan for Minneapolis, including agent's names, hotel rooms, phone numbers, boxes of license plates, and tac radio frequencies.
January 15, 2026 at 8:11 AM
Damm...
ICE's opsec in shambles.
Fuck ICE.
ICE's opsec in shambles.
Fuck ICE.
US right on the precipice.
January 15, 2026 at 4:57 AM
US right on the precipice.
Reposted by Stuart Morris
Obviously correct, and worth underscoring in every press report.
As is the reality that Trump himself would obviously be removed from positions of responsibility in any other setting—pilot, surgeon, teacher, company official, bus driver—and those around him are denying that while using him.
As is the reality that Trump himself would obviously be removed from positions of responsibility in any other setting—pilot, surgeon, teacher, company official, bus driver—and those around him are denying that while using him.
ICE officers tell media that the conduct in Minneapolis is part of a plan by Stephen Miller to provoke as much violence and death as possible—which in turn will be taken as pretext for more. “They’re essentially operating now in a resource constraint-free environment and doing very dangerous things”
Former members of ICE say recent violence is "by design"
"What has changed is there has been an encouragement from the top to be much more aggressive in enforcement."
www.motherjones.com
January 14, 2026 at 10:35 PM
Obviously correct, and worth underscoring in every press report.
As is the reality that Trump himself would obviously be removed from positions of responsibility in any other setting—pilot, surgeon, teacher, company official, bus driver—and those around him are denying that while using him.
As is the reality that Trump himself would obviously be removed from positions of responsibility in any other setting—pilot, surgeon, teacher, company official, bus driver—and those around him are denying that while using him.
Reposted by Stuart Morris
fun fact: turns out I retain the ability to be shocked
January 15, 2026 at 4:33 AM
fun fact: turns out I retain the ability to be shocked
Reposted by Stuart Morris
Even just a name can put in motion efforts that get someone released. If they're a citizen, we can get them jail support. If they're an immigrant, there are groups working overtime to file habeas petitions before they're whisked out of state. But it starts with a name.
If you see one, the most important thing to say is “WHAT’S YOUR NAME” because otherwise the person is gone for good, maybe. I witnessed one in an alley as the sole pursuit car, I was the only witness, I froze for a second and didn’t shout it in time, and the guy is just… gone now. I’ll never know.
January 14, 2026 at 2:56 PM
Even just a name can put in motion efforts that get someone released. If they're a citizen, we can get them jail support. If they're an immigrant, there are groups working overtime to file habeas petitions before they're whisked out of state. But it starts with a name.
For the love of everything holy, BBC, will you PLEASE stop inserting the name 'Tr**p' into every single headline about the unfolding—and tragic—upheaval in Iran.
January 14, 2026 at 11:58 AM
For the love of everything holy, BBC, will you PLEASE stop inserting the name 'Tr**p' into every single headline about the unfolding—and tragic—upheaval in Iran.
This is fucking insane.
Which figures.
Which figures.
I wrote book reviews for a while for the WSJ well over a decade ago, and Bari Weis was my editor. One of her special tricks was to try to insert a sharp rightward slant into my essays *after* it had been copy edited, as a way of slipping her viewpoint in at the last minute.
January 14, 2026 at 11:44 AM
This is fucking insane.
Which figures.
Which figures.
Let’s be clear: they WILL be used to intimidate voters. Anyone of the mindset that “if we can just hang on until the midterms…” is clinging to some imagined vestige of normalcy that is no longer there.
January 14, 2026 at 11:41 AM
Let’s be clear: they WILL be used to intimidate voters. Anyone of the mindset that “if we can just hang on until the midterms…” is clinging to some imagined vestige of normalcy that is no longer there.