Richard Melendez
@richardmelendez.bsky.social
"That's my secret, Cap. I'm always hungry."
Editor, writer, news junkie, comic geek, casual gamer, unfussy foodie and proud Boricua.
Opinions are my own. Reskeets (?) are not necessarily endorsements.
Editor, writer, news junkie, comic geek, casual gamer, unfussy foodie and proud Boricua.
Opinions are my own. Reskeets (?) are not necessarily endorsements.
Reposted by Richard Melendez
Do people know that there are almost 1 million Muslims in NYC? Where are the stories about how Muslims are feeling about the first Muslim Mayor in NYC?
January 3, 2026 at 12:30 AM
Do people know that there are almost 1 million Muslims in NYC? Where are the stories about how Muslims are feeling about the first Muslim Mayor in NYC?
Once upon a time there was only one sub option for Netflix streaming. It was ad-free. It was good.
Then the ad-free sub became an ad-supported one. If I wanted Netflix w/o ads, I had to pay more. I did not.
Now I learn some movies on Netflix are not available for the ad-supported tier.
Then the ad-free sub became an ad-supported one. If I wanted Netflix w/o ads, I had to pay more. I did not.
Now I learn some movies on Netflix are not available for the ad-supported tier.
January 3, 2026 at 12:17 AM
Once upon a time there was only one sub option for Netflix streaming. It was ad-free. It was good.
Then the ad-free sub became an ad-supported one. If I wanted Netflix w/o ads, I had to pay more. I did not.
Now I learn some movies on Netflix are not available for the ad-supported tier.
Then the ad-free sub became an ad-supported one. If I wanted Netflix w/o ads, I had to pay more. I did not.
Now I learn some movies on Netflix are not available for the ad-supported tier.
Reposted by Richard Melendez
It's still unreal to me that a week later, we still don't know if the claim by the sitting COMMANDER IN CHIEF about a *military strike* in a country WE'RE NOT AT WAR WITH is real or not.
In this clip from a right wing radio show on Friday, Trump claims that on Christmas Eve the US “knocked out” a facility in Venezuela from which the supposed drug boats launch. Has this been reported anywhere else?
The station’s write up doesn’t mention it: wabcradio.com/2025/12/26/s...
The station’s write up doesn’t mention it: wabcradio.com/2025/12/26/s...
January 2, 2026 at 9:15 PM
It's still unreal to me that a week later, we still don't know if the claim by the sitting COMMANDER IN CHIEF about a *military strike* in a country WE'RE NOT AT WAR WITH is real or not.
Reposted by Richard Melendez
Incredible. CBS Evening News announces five new “simple values” — instead of their “38-page handbook” — as they roll out Tony Dokoupil is lead anchor.
One of those values is simply: “We love America and make no apologies for saying so.”
One of those values is simply: “We love America and make no apologies for saying so.”
January 2, 2026 at 9:00 PM
Incredible. CBS Evening News announces five new “simple values” — instead of their “38-page handbook” — as they roll out Tony Dokoupil is lead anchor.
One of those values is simply: “We love America and make no apologies for saying so.”
One of those values is simply: “We love America and make no apologies for saying so.”
Reposted by Richard Melendez
Support Steve Rude! I just picked up a bunch of digital sketchbooks from his web store.
www.steverude.com/collections/...
www.steverude.com/collections/...
Veteran US Comic Artist Steve Rude Needs Your Help
Help The Dude Out Over on his Facebook page, US comic artist Steve Rude (Nexus) announced that he needs our financial help (photo©Greg Preston. All Rights Reserved)… Friends, Another birthday. Another...
tripwiremagazine.co.uk
January 2, 2026 at 8:14 PM
Support Steve Rude! I just picked up a bunch of digital sketchbooks from his web store.
www.steverude.com/collections/...
www.steverude.com/collections/...
Reposted by Richard Melendez
This is the "testing the waters" phase of the playbook. The GOP ecosystem targets groups like Somalis, Haitians, and trans people specifically because they've calculated that the average person's passive disapproval won't ever turn into active defense. They're exploiting public apathy.
i'm really having a hard time getting past the "surely we can all agree that Somalis are worse than trash" thing. this feels new and very bad
January 2, 2026 at 6:32 PM
This is the "testing the waters" phase of the playbook. The GOP ecosystem targets groups like Somalis, Haitians, and trans people specifically because they've calculated that the average person's passive disapproval won't ever turn into active defense. They're exploiting public apathy.
Reposted by Richard Melendez
The Republicans tried to stir up pogroms against Haitian communities during the 2024 campaign, and they’re setting the stage to do the same thing to Somalis as we head into 2026. It’s the new migrant caravans, but potentially far more deadly.
January 2, 2026 at 8:04 PM
The Republicans tried to stir up pogroms against Haitian communities during the 2024 campaign, and they’re setting the stage to do the same thing to Somalis as we head into 2026. It’s the new migrant caravans, but potentially far more deadly.
Reposted by Richard Melendez
OPINION: "In my view, when a society forces people to choose between paying for housing and staying safe, that society has failed. Housing should be a right, not a risk calculation," Ivis Garcia writes.
buff.ly
January 2, 2026 at 7:05 PM
OPINION: "In my view, when a society forces people to choose between paying for housing and staying safe, that society has failed. Housing should be a right, not a risk calculation," Ivis Garcia writes.
Reposted by Richard Melendez
happy new year, losers!
January 1, 2026 at 2:01 PM
happy new year, losers!
IT'S ONLY THE 9TH DAY OF CHRISTMAS SO KEEP THOSE TREES UP YOU COWARDS
January 2, 2026 at 6:57 PM
IT'S ONLY THE 9TH DAY OF CHRISTMAS SO KEEP THOSE TREES UP YOU COWARDS
Reposted by Richard Melendez
House Republicans Buried the Jack Smith Transcript on New Year’s Eve. I Read It So You Don’t Have To.
open.substack.com/pub/readtpa/...
open.substack.com/pub/readtpa/...
House Republicans Buried the Jack Smith Transcript on New Year’s Eve. I Read It So You Don’t Have To.
12 takeaways from Smith's closed-door testimony
open.substack.com
January 2, 2026 at 4:29 PM
House Republicans Buried the Jack Smith Transcript on New Year’s Eve. I Read It So You Don’t Have To.
open.substack.com/pub/readtpa/...
open.substack.com/pub/readtpa/...
Reposted by Richard Melendez
"It's another thing for The New York Times to report this. I think they put a stamp of legitimacy on medical falsehoods. They also legitimized anti-trans hate, really." Very important comments from @billiejsweeney.bsky.social. transnews.network/p/a-directiv...
'A directive from above': Former NYT editor lays out how the paper pushes anti-trans bigotry
In this in-depth interview, former New York Times editor Billie Jean Sweeney details how the paper shifted towards openly promoting anti-trans hatred, how some staff tried to stop it, how it's directe...
transnews.network
January 2, 2026 at 2:31 PM
"It's another thing for The New York Times to report this. I think they put a stamp of legitimacy on medical falsehoods. They also legitimized anti-trans hate, really." Very important comments from @billiejsweeney.bsky.social. transnews.network/p/a-directiv...
Reposted by Richard Melendez
sometimes I’ll make a joke to my wife and she’ll roll her eyes and ask if I’m “gonna post that one on bluesky.” I mean, yes, but her tone is very hurtful
January 2, 2026 at 3:00 AM
sometimes I’ll make a joke to my wife and she’ll roll her eyes and ask if I’m “gonna post that one on bluesky.” I mean, yes, but her tone is very hurtful
Since we're doing music videos, figured I'd share this one, too.
"I am gonna make it through this year if it kills me" just feels like an appropriately defiant battle cry as we step into a new year and say "fuck you" to the old.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7fB...
"I am gonna make it through this year if it kills me" just feels like an appropriately defiant battle cry as we step into a new year and say "fuck you" to the old.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7fB...
the Mountain Goats - This Year (Official Video)
YouTube video by the Mountain Goats
www.youtube.com
December 31, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Since we're doing music videos, figured I'd share this one, too.
"I am gonna make it through this year if it kills me" just feels like an appropriately defiant battle cry as we step into a new year and say "fuck you" to the old.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7fB...
"I am gonna make it through this year if it kills me" just feels like an appropriately defiant battle cry as we step into a new year and say "fuck you" to the old.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7fB...
Can't say for sure that this is my favorite, but it's what came to mind first. Definitely up there
A visual masterpiece that matches the tone/feel of the song.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UE7...
A visual masterpiece that matches the tone/feel of the song.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UE7...
December 31, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Can't say for sure that this is my favorite, but it's what came to mind first. Definitely up there
A visual masterpiece that matches the tone/feel of the song.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UE7...
A visual masterpiece that matches the tone/feel of the song.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UE7...
Co-worker (a fellow Gen Xer) just played "She's Like the Wind" by Patrick Swayze, just to mess with us in this corner of the office.
He followed that up with "Under the Boardwalk" by Bruce Willis.
What a trip trying to explain that this was really a thing to my Gen Z co-workers here. Like,
He followed that up with "Under the Boardwalk" by Bruce Willis.
What a trip trying to explain that this was really a thing to my Gen Z co-workers here. Like,
December 30, 2025 at 11:48 PM
Co-worker (a fellow Gen Xer) just played "She's Like the Wind" by Patrick Swayze, just to mess with us in this corner of the office.
He followed that up with "Under the Boardwalk" by Bruce Willis.
What a trip trying to explain that this was really a thing to my Gen Z co-workers here. Like,
He followed that up with "Under the Boardwalk" by Bruce Willis.
What a trip trying to explain that this was really a thing to my Gen Z co-workers here. Like,
Not to diminish the point of this thread (which is spot-on, I should say), but when this popped up in my feed, I immediately thought this was comics related and referencing how artist Jack Kirby would work outside the constraints of a comics panel.
if they say something and you say that's not true, your response is still shaped like their frame
Your frame has to *contain and explain* their frame, not just contradict it.
You have to eat their frame. Like Kirby
Your frame has to *contain and explain* their frame, not just contradict it.
You have to eat their frame. Like Kirby
December 30, 2025 at 6:25 PM
Not to diminish the point of this thread (which is spot-on, I should say), but when this popped up in my feed, I immediately thought this was comics related and referencing how artist Jack Kirby would work outside the constraints of a comics panel.
Reposted by Richard Melendez
if they say something and you say that's not true, your response is still shaped like their frame
Your frame has to *contain and explain* their frame, not just contradict it.
You have to eat their frame. Like Kirby
Your frame has to *contain and explain* their frame, not just contradict it.
You have to eat their frame. Like Kirby
September 24, 2025 at 2:22 PM
if they say something and you say that's not true, your response is still shaped like their frame
Your frame has to *contain and explain* their frame, not just contradict it.
You have to eat their frame. Like Kirby
Your frame has to *contain and explain* their frame, not just contradict it.
You have to eat their frame. Like Kirby
Reposted by Richard Melendez
i would again like to remind everyone that NEGATING A FRAME REINFORCES IT
"he's not really targeting criminals" makes it an argument about criminality
"this is a fascist attack" states what is actually happening
START WITH WHAT IT IS
not what it isn't
"he's not really targeting criminals" makes it an argument about criminality
"this is a fascist attack" states what is actually happening
START WITH WHAT IT IS
not what it isn't
September 24, 2025 at 2:14 PM
i would again like to remind everyone that NEGATING A FRAME REINFORCES IT
"he's not really targeting criminals" makes it an argument about criminality
"this is a fascist attack" states what is actually happening
START WITH WHAT IT IS
not what it isn't
"he's not really targeting criminals" makes it an argument about criminality
"this is a fascist attack" states what is actually happening
START WITH WHAT IT IS
not what it isn't
late contender for best thread of the year
Yeah, man, the only difference between your career and Mark Rufallo’s career is the political stuff.
December 30, 2025 at 5:14 PM
late contender for best thread of the year
Reposted by Richard Melendez
This is the kind of critical local reporting that reveals how a dangerous fascist lie that's destroying lives gets built. I found it when I checked into X, as I do to monitor rightwing chatter. There it's mildly viral; here, close to crickets. Why, and how can we change that?
In November, a conservative website published an explosive claim: Al-Shabab is largely funded by money stolen from Minnesota. But the story's only named source who connected fraud to terrorism told me the story is “bullshit": www.startribune.com/city-journal...
Key source says story that prompted Trump tirade against Somalis is erroneous
The writers of a City Journal story alleging a connection between Minnesota fraud and al-Shabab say they stand by their story.
www.startribune.com
December 30, 2025 at 2:01 AM
This is the kind of critical local reporting that reveals how a dangerous fascist lie that's destroying lives gets built. I found it when I checked into X, as I do to monitor rightwing chatter. There it's mildly viral; here, close to crickets. Why, and how can we change that?
Reposted by Richard Melendez
In November, a conservative website published an explosive claim: Al-Shabab is largely funded by money stolen from Minnesota. But the story's only named source who connected fraud to terrorism told me the story is “bullshit": www.startribune.com/city-journal...
Key source says story that prompted Trump tirade against Somalis is erroneous
The writers of a City Journal story alleging a connection between Minnesota fraud and al-Shabab say they stand by their story.
www.startribune.com
December 29, 2025 at 2:12 PM
In November, a conservative website published an explosive claim: Al-Shabab is largely funded by money stolen from Minnesota. But the story's only named source who connected fraud to terrorism told me the story is “bullshit": www.startribune.com/city-journal...
Reposted by Richard Melendez
Ed's on fuckin fire with this one
December 29, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Ed's on fuckin fire with this one
Reposted by Richard Melendez
Palantir. Sauron. CyberDyne. Blackrock. Mr Beast Inc. Cerberus. Blackwater. Anduril. Citizen. Citadel. Gilead. Bain Capital. Darktrace. Oracle. Umbra.
December 29, 2025 at 5:54 AM
Palantir. Sauron. CyberDyne. Blackrock. Mr Beast Inc. Cerberus. Blackwater. Anduril. Citizen. Citadel. Gilead. Bain Capital. Darktrace. Oracle. Umbra.
Reposted by Richard Melendez
If you ask someone when they were forced to apologize for being white, they will absolutely name a time when they were asked to apologize for doing something racist and they conflated doing racism with being white because they have a vague understanding of the power dynamics of white supremacy
December 29, 2025 at 3:41 PM
If you ask someone when they were forced to apologize for being white, they will absolutely name a time when they were asked to apologize for doing something racist and they conflated doing racism with being white because they have a vague understanding of the power dynamics of white supremacy