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Justin Ling

@justinling.ca

49K followers 1.4K following 6.2K posts

Uh-oh!! Freelance journalist in @thestar.com, @wired.com, @foreignpolicy.com, @thewalrus.ca. Subscribe to my newsletter: www.bugeyedandshameless.com Signal: JustinLing.42

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Justin Ling @justinling.ca · 14d

This, but just about every definition, is fascism. The only question now is whether everyone lets it continue. www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...

Justin Ling: We need to stop being so naive about what America is becoming. Trump and his secretary of war just showed us why

Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright observed some years ago that fascism is quite hard to define. It is not an ideology, she said. “I think it is a method,

www.thestar.com

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Justin Ling @justinling.ca · 2h

Today in unhinged Russian propaganda: Moscow says Ukraine is funneling drones to the Islamic State Sahel Province via Libya, and sending mercenaries into the Sudanese civil war. (Per 'African Initiative,' Moscow's bespoke disinformation initiative for the continent.)

Headlien: Zakharova says growing evidence shows Ukraine’s support for terrorist groups in the Sahel
Published: 08.10.2025, 05:45

Text:
There is increasing evidence that Ukraine is supporting terrorist groups in the Sahara–Sahel region of Africa, including proof of drone supplies to militants, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said during a briefing.

“There is mounting evidence that the Zelensky regime is supporting terrorist groups in the Sahara–Sahel region of Africa. The security bloc of Libya’s Government of National Unity (GNU), with the mediation of the United Kingdom, has established co-operation with Ukrainian militants, which includes the supply of strike drones by the Kyiv regime and the organisation of training activities by instructors from the Ukrainian Defence Ministry,” the diplomat stated.

Zakharova stressed that, according to the Sudanese Armed Forces, Ukrainian mercenaries are also taking part in fighting in the west of the war-torn country on the side of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) rebels.

“Colonel Fath al-Sayed of Sudanese military intelligence told the media that Ukrainian and Colombian mercenaries fighting on the side of the [RSF] rebels suffered heavy losses in battles in the western part of the country. It is known that they were using, once again, Ukrainian-made drones,” the diplomat said.

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Justin Ling @justinling.ca · 23h

Oh yeah, the Marc Lamont post makes me think it probably is legit.

Fuck!

Justin Ling @justinling.ca · 23h

Ach! Are you seeing this anywhere legit? I see mostly shady blogs and tweets.

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Justin Ling @justinling.ca · 1d

spend $400 to join the club so they can send you piss chardonnay, then shell out $600 to listen to Eric Trump whine about being persecuted. shop.trumpwinery.com/product/sign...

Trump Winery invites you to an extraordinary experience—one that few will ever access.

On a day when our doors are closed to the public, we open them just for you. Join Eric Trump, President of Trump Winery, for a special in-person gathering as he discusses his bold new book, Under Siege, shares behind-the-scenes insights, and answers your questions in a live Q&A.

This exclusive experience offers a rare opportunity to hear directly from Eric in a distraction-free setting.

Tuesday, October 28, 2025 | 4:00 PM

Your ticket includes:

A signed copy of Under Siege
Welcome pour of our Presidential Reserve
Signature Trump Winery Riedel Flute
A Compelling talk and Q&A session with Eric Trump

Access. Insight. Inspiration.

Experience storytelling, fine wine, and an evening to remember; only at Trump Winery.

Date: Tuesday, October 28, 2025
Time: 4:00 PM
Location: Trump Winery, Grand Hall

PLEASE NOTE: All guests will be required to present VALID identification upon entry.

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Justin Ling @justinling.ca · 2d

well when you put it that way!

Justin Ling @justinling.ca · 2d

All praise of Kusher is, really, just fawning over Mohammed bin Salman.

(And this praise is whack.)
thehub.ca/2025/10/13/j...

Jared Kushner—the world’s most underrated diplomat?

He is, objectively, the most successful diplomat of the post-war era

thehub.ca

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Justin Ling @justinling.ca · 2d

People say good things about Tuta. tuta.com

Apart from that, there's not many major providers that can give you close to the reliability of Google whilst also providing good security. I've used Proton for years and endorse it.

Tuta: Turn ON privacy for free with secure emails, calendars & contacts | Tuta

Tuta guarantees your data stays private for free & without ads. Quantum-resistant encryption makes Tuta the best secure technology solution to protect your privacy.

tuta.com

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Justin Ling @justinling.ca · 2d

I think the choice between Proton and Google is a no-brainer on about every level. Proton is the safer option.

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Justin Ling @justinling.ca · 4d

I imagine it's possible that Barghouti gets included in future exchanges, but if you're looking for evidence that Israel wants to push Hamas to scupper the deal, this would be a good place to look.

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Justin Ling @justinling.ca · 4d

Extremely troubling that the swap list doesn't include Marwan Barghouti, probably the most popular politician in Palestine. Israel had signaled months ago that they intended to swap Barghouti.

(I initially read that the list *does* include Barghouti. Sorry for the error.)

Rima I Anabtawi @rimaanabtawi.bsky.social · 4d

Israel publishes list of 250 prisoners slated for release as part of Gaza deal
Several heavyweights demanded by Hamas, incl Barghouti, omitted; terror group reportedly claims list not approved; 11 Fatah convicts swapped out at last minute for Hamas members

www.timesofisrael.com/israel-publi...

Israel publishes list of 250 security prisoners slated for release as part of Gaza deal

Several heavyweights demanded by Hamas, including Barghouti, omitted; terror group reportedly claims list not approved; 11 Fatah convicts swapped out at last minute for Hamas members

www.timesofisrael.com

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Reposted by Justin Ling

James Miller (Millermena) @jamesmiller.bsky.social · 7d

If you're ever in Russia, stay away from the windows:

Pravda Publisher Dies in Fall From a Window in Putin’s Moscow www.thedailybeast.com/pravda-publi...

Pravda Publisher Dies After Fall From a Window in Putin’s Moscow

Authorities claimed Vyacheslav Leontyev had a “nervous breakdown” and stumbled out of a window.

www.thedailybeast.com

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Justin Ling @justinling.ca · 7d

A reminder that, for all the unhinged attacks on it, the ICC is still a functional institution that is capable of holding world leaders accountable for atrocities they commit.

Democracy Now! @democracynow.org · 7d

ICC Convicts Former Sudanese Militia Leader of War Crimes in Darfur

The International Criminal Court has convicted a former Sudanese militia leader of war crimes and crimes against humanity for his role in mass executions, rapes and torture in the Darfur region.

www.democracynow.org

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Justin Ling @justinling.ca · 8d

Thank you!

Justin Ling @justinling.ca · 8d

remember when tom cotton demanded that trump dispatch the 82nd Airborne to do "whatever it takes to restore order" in portland and then twitter said "stop doing that" and this guy was like "well, hang on a second"

(and here's the link: www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv... )

On June 1, Tom Cotton, a former Army officer and the junior senator from Arkansas, was advancing the argument—in exchanges with President Trump and on his Twitter feed—that the president should invoke the 1807 Insurrection Act to deploy, “if necessary, the 10th Mountain, 82nd Airborne, 1st Cav, 3rd Infantry—whatever it takes to restore order. No quarter for insurrectionists, anarchists, rioters, and looters.” The “no quarter” element caused alarm—did Cotton mean “leave no survivor,” as the phrase’s use in a military context could suggest? “A no quarter order is a war crime,” the conservative commentator and former Army lawyer David French responded. Cotton clarified, tweeting: “If you say that someone was given no quarter, you mean that they were not treated kindly by someone who had power or control over them,” with a link to that definition in a dictionary. Not everyone was convinced.
The next day, Cotton’s office pitched me an op-ed about Twitter threatening to lock his account if he didn’t delete the original tweet. I sent the pitch to

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Justin Ling @justinling.ca · 8d

i genuinely can't believe this was less than two years ago.

On one of my first days at The New York Times, I went to an orientation with more than a dozen other new hires. We had to do an icebreaker: Pick a Starburst out of a jar and then answer a question. My Starburst was pink, I believe, and so I had to answer the pink prompt, which had me respond with my favorite sandwich. Russ & Daughters’ Super Heebster came to mind, but I figured mentioning a $19 sandwich wasn’t a great way to win new friends. So I blurted out, “The spicy chicken sandwich from Chick-fil-A,” and considered the ice broken.
The HR representative leading the orientation chided me: “We don’t do that here. They hate gay people.” People started snapping their fingers in acclamation. I hadn’t been thinking about the fact that Chick-fil-A was transgressive in liberal circles for its chairman’s opposition to gay marriage. “Not the politics, the chicken,” I quickly said, but it was too late. I sat down, ashamed.

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Justin Ling @justinling.ca · 8d

it dawns on me that not everyone might be well-versed on obscenely niche media controversy from last year
bsky.app/profile/crb1...

Article in the The Atlantic headline "I Was a Heretic at The New York Times"

subhead: "I did what I was hired to do, and I paid for it."
By Adam Rubenstein

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Justin Ling @justinling.ca · 8d

ok this one broke me
nypost.com/2025/10/06/m...

Exclusive | CBS News taps Adam Rubenstein — once ostracized at NY Times for liking Chick-fil-A — as new deputy editor

Sources expect Rubenstein will effectively run the Free Press now that Weiss will be busy steering the editorial direction of shows like “60 Minutes,” “Face The Nation” and …

nypost.com

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Justin Ling @justinling.ca · 8d

might be someone trying to make a phone call in the other room

Justin Ling @justinling.ca · 8d

From the Bug-eyed and Shameless archives (because I'm late posting a newsletter from last week): My piece, written the day before Trump's re-election, on how the reactionary right monopolized optimism and why nobody else has figured out a counter-message. www.bugeyedandshameless.com/p/the-utopia...

The Utopian-Pessimist Manifesto

To be a good optimist, you must admit the worst-case-scenario is lurking.

www.bugeyedandshameless.com

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Justin Ling @justinling.ca · 8d

On the good news front, California has recommitted to carbon pricing. The California-Québec (soon to include Washington, probably) carbon market remains a really positive program that will, hopefully, entice in new states.

Emily Pontecorvo @emilypont.bsky.social · 8d

California passed a huge climate package last month, w/ a big effort to weave in affordability. It's wonky but important stuff, and I broke it all down for you:
- Cap & invest extension / rebrand
- transmission accelerator
- permission to join a Western RTO!
more here heatmap.news/energy/calif...

California’s Big Climate and Energy Package, Explained

The state quietly refreshed its cap and trade program, revamped how it funds wildfire cleanup, and reorganized its grid governance — plus offered some relief on gas prices.

heatmap.news

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Reposted by Justin Ling

Brian Barrett @brbarrett.bsky.social · 8d

This really gets at the scale of OpenAI's ambitions, a world in which it's not just a chatbot living inside a browser but an entire platform unto itself. from @willknight.bsky.social @laurengoode.bsky.social and @thiccreese.bsky.social

OpenAI Wants ChatGPT to Be Your Future Operation System

At OpenAI’s Developer Day, CEO Sam Altman showed off apps that run entirely inside the chat window—a new effort to turn ChatGPT into a platform.

www.wired.com

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Reposted by Justin Ling

unraveled @unraveledpress.com · 10d

Heard an officer say "let's do it" and then, in the dark, they tackle Rabbi Ben to the ground. He's being loaded into a CCSO wagon now. Broadview police also here screaming at people.

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Justin Ling @justinling.ca · 10d

yt-dlp (github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp) is basically the gold standard for scraping video and it generally works with Bluesky.

GitHub - yt-dlp/yt-dlp: A feature-rich command-line audio/video downloader

A feature-rich command-line audio/video downloader - yt-dlp/yt-dlp

github.com

Reposted by Justin Ling

WIRED @wired.com · 11d

For years, white nationalist influencer Nick Fuentes was too extreme even for MAGA. Now he's working his way into the mainstream—and has a plan for his secret followers to seize the levers of power.

Nick Fuentes’ Plan to Conquer America

For years, influencer Nick Fuentes was too extreme even for MAGA. Now he's working his way into the mainstream—and has a plan for his secret followers to seize the levers of power.

wrd.cm

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Justin Ling @justinling.ca · 10d

"When authoritarian regimes broadcast their messages, we're threatened from the outside. But we would be naive not to see what's happening internally, we're turning inward. We're doubting ourselves. We're not so sure about this democracy."

Meanwhile:
www.dw.com/en/czech-rep...

Czech Republic: 'Trumpist' ex-PM Babis wins elections – DW – 10/04/2025

Billionaire Andrej Babis wants to cut aid to Ukraine, and now he is the projected winner of the Czech parliamentary elections. With 90% of districts reporting, his party took 36% of the vote.

www.dw.com

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