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Richie Assaly

@rdassaly.bsky.social

2.8K followers 490 following 650 posts

Writes about music, books and politics. https://linktr.ee/richieassaly

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Richie Assaly @rdassaly.bsky.social · May 3

Here's my profile on Madeleine Thien, whose first novel in nearly a decade arrives next week.

We spoke about Hannah Arendt, visiting Palestine, the limits of autofiction and much more.

www.thestar.com/entertainmen...

Madeleine Thien is the quiet conscience of Canadian literature. Nine years after winning the country’s top book prize, she returns with a stirring new novel

In “The Book of Records,” the outspoken author moves between centuries and perspectives – past and imagined futures – in a prismatic attempt to unearth the very root of thinking.

www.thestar.com

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Richie Assaly @rdassaly.bsky.social · 12d

Statement from Liam Og:

“This entire process was never about me, never about any threat to the public and never about "terrorism", a word used by your government to discredit people you oppress.

It was always about Gaza.”

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Richie Assaly @rdassaly.bsky.social · 12d

U.K. court throws out terrorism case against Kneecap member

“The charge is unlawful and null and this court has no jurisdiction to try the charge," the judge said to cheers from the public gallery.

www.cbc.ca/news/world/u...

Kneecap member's terrorism case in U.K. 'null and void,' judge rules | CBC News

A member of Irish rap group Kneecap was charged too late with a terrorism offence for allegedly displaying a flag of Iran-backed Lebanese militia Hezbollah, a London court ruled on Friday, throwing ou...

www.cbc.ca

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Richie Assaly @rdassaly.bsky.social · 14d

so yeah generative AI is a flop, and the rush to incorporate it into every workplace was motivated by little more than the “fear of missing out”

www.404media.co/email/641a21...

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Richie Assaly @rdassaly.bsky.social · 15d

Also a reminder that Honest Reporting Canada is a registered charity.

Richie Assaly @rdassaly.bsky.social · 15d

Latest reminder that in Canadian media, any attempt to engage with art made by Palestinians (or art that is sympathetic to Palestinians) will be met with a sophisticated campaign to denigrate your work and demand you be deplatformed.

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Richie Assaly @rdassaly.bsky.social · 17d

Good piece by Alaa Salama, on the futility and dangers of symbolic statehood

www.972mag.com/palestinian-...

Forget symbolic statehood — the world must recognize Israeli apartheid

The push to recognize a Palestinian state creates the illusion of action, but delays the real remedies: sanctioning and isolating Israel's apartheid regime.

www.972mag.com

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Reposted by Richie Assaly

The Onion @theonion.com · 17d

Third Stepdad In Row Has Goatee

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Reposted by Richie Assaly

Stuart Berman @stuberman.bsky.social · 18d

RIP Alphonse Lanza, co-founder of Toronto’s premier house supergroup Azari & III. youtu.be/aMEhf9iw55M?...

Azari & III - Reckless (With Your Love) Official Video

YouTube video by AzariandiiiOfficial

youtu.be

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Richie Assaly @rdassaly.bsky.social · 18d

Civilians made up 15 of every 16 people killed by Israel in Gaza since March, data suggests

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...

Civilians made up 15 of every 16 people killed by Israel in Gaza since March, data suggests

Report from independent conflict tracker Acled indicates one of the highest civilian death rates since start of war

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Richie Assaly

The Grind @thegrindto.bsky.social · 19d

In his first poetry collection since 2019, acclaimed author Billy-Ray Belcourt of Driftpile Cree Nation challenges readers to imagine new political possibilities.

By @rdassaly.bsky.social. www.thegrindmag.ca/billy-ray-be...

Billy-Ray Belcourt’s poems insist on Indigenous freedom

In his first poetry collection since 2019, the acclaimed author from Driftpile Cree Nation challenges readers to imagine new political possibilities.

www.thegrindmag.ca

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Richie Assaly @rdassaly.bsky.social · 19d

Had a blast working on the latest issue of @thegrindto.bsky.social, which is rolling out acroess Toronto this weekend.

If you want to support independent, progressive media, consider donating a few bucks here:

www.thegrindmag.ca/support-the-...

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Richie Assaly @rdassaly.bsky.social · 19d

So America's bigot-in-chief gets a standing ovation in Parliament, but the semi-satirical Irish band gets banned from the country because of their staunchly pro-Palestine stance.

Embarrassing!

Toronto Star @thestar.com · 19d

#Breaking: Canada bans Irish band Kneecap over its alleged support for Hamas and Hezbollah

Canada bans Irish band Kneecap over its alleged support for Hamas and Hezbollah

Kneecap has attracted high-profile controversy in recent months and has been branded as antisemitic.

www.thestar.com

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Richie Assaly @rdassaly.bsky.social · 20d

You know it!

Richie Assaly @rdassaly.bsky.social · 20d

lolol

Richie Assaly @rdassaly.bsky.social · 20d

I spoke to Billy-Ray Belcourt about his latest book, the "false promises" of reconciliation, and how poetry can be used to imagine new political possibilities.

My latest for @thegrindto.bsky.social

www.thegrindmag.ca/billy-ray-be...

Billy-Ray Belcourt’s poems insist on Indigenous freedom

In his first poetry collection since 2019, the acclaimed author from Driftpile Cree Nation challenges readers to imagine new political possibilities.

www.thegrindmag.ca

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Reposted by Richie Assaly

Sabrina Imbler @sabs.bsky.social · 21d

if you read one thing today, make it this absolutely devastating piece from a fact-checker who quit the New Yorker
bidoun.org/articles/hou...

Though the man’s killing had been filmed, a fact checker is obliged to seek comment from any party alleged to have committed a crime. I called the soldier’s lawyer. He picked up from a café, where I could hear trance music blasting in the background. The lawyer told me that while, yes, his client did shoot the man picking olives, and yes, the man did die, the Israeli military court found his client not guilty of murder because the man picking olives was a terrorist who was throwing stones. Even though the video did not show the Palestinian man throwing stones, the court said that he was, so he was. QED, his client did not murder anyone, and it would be slanderous for us to say so.

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Richie Assaly @rdassaly.bsky.social · 20d

I was unable to make sense of it

Richie Assaly @rdassaly.bsky.social · 20d

FTC sues Ticketmaster, Live Nation, alleging 'illegal' ticket resales

“The consumer protection agency said the company made $3.7 billion in resold tickets between 2019 and 2024.”
www.cnbc.com/2025/09/18/f...

FTC sues Ticketmaster, Live Nation, alleging 'illegal' ticket resale tactics

The Federal Trade Commission sued Ticketmaster and Live Nation on Thursday for allegedly engaging in "illegal ticket resale tactics."

www.cnbc.com

Richie Assaly @rdassaly.bsky.social · 20d

we live in hell

billboard @billboard.com · 22d

AI Artist Xania Monet Climbs the Charts — And Signs a Multimillion-Dollar Record Deal

AI music artist Xania Monet has signed a multimillion-dollar record deal with Hallwood Media. The woman behind her used Suno to craft the music.

bit.ly

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Richie Assaly @rdassaly.bsky.social · 20d

Hundreds of indie musicians and labels join the cultural boycott of Israel, pull their music from streaming:

BADBADNOTGOOD, Elisapie, Grizzly Bear, Japanese Breakfast, MJ Lenderman, King Krule, Erika de Casier, Oklou, Nourished by Time, Yaeji ...

ra.co/news/83615

Over 400 artists and labels announce Israel streaming boycott · News ⟋ RA

The No Music For Genocide boycott, inspired by activism against apartheid in 1980s South Africa, counts Arca, Massive Attack, NTS and more among its supporters.

ra.co

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Reposted by Richie Assaly

J.M. Berger @jmberger.com · 21d

Comedy is legal again

Don Moynihan @donmoyn.bsky.social · 21d

I don’t know when it’s going to pop for a lot of normies that they are living under an authoritarian regime, but the cancellation of popular TV shows that make fun of the administration might do it www.vulture.com/article/abc-...

ABC Pulls Jimmy Kimmel Live! From the Air ‘Indefinitely’

The decision follows conservative backlash to a comment the late-night host made about Charlie Kirk.

www.vulture.com

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Richie Assaly @rdassaly.bsky.social · 21d

Congrats to Yves Jarvis on his Polaris Music Prize win!

Here’s an interesting tidbit from my recent interview with him 😅

Richie Assaly @rdassaly.bsky.social · 21d

Why Do I Keep Getting Mad at Coachella Lineups? What’s Wrong With Me?

pitchfork.com/thepitch/coa...

Why Do I Keep Getting Mad at Coachella Lineups? What’s Wrong With Me?

It’s once again time to wince at uninspiring headliners, squint at acts I’ve never heard of, and yearn for the days when the festival had an independent, trailblazing spirit. It’s an annual ritual tha...

pitchfork.com

Richie Assaly @rdassaly.bsky.social · 21d

"Garden-variety transphobia is sadly unremarkable. But Kirk was a master of folding seemingly discordant bigotries into each other."

www.vanityfair.com/news/story/c...

Charlie Kirk, Redeemed: A Political Class Finds Its Lost Cause

By ignoring the rhetoric and actions of the Turning Point USA founder, pundits and politicians are sanitizing his legacy.

www.vanityfair.com

Richie Assaly @rdassaly.bsky.social · 21d

Congrats to Yves Jarvis on his Polaris Music Prize win!

Here’s an interesting tidbit from my recent interview with him 😅