Maya Chhabra
@mayachhabra.bsky.social
Author of FIREBIRD CAGED, CHIARA IN THE DARK, and more. Translator. Not willing to let democracy die quietly. 🇺🇸 🇮🇹 🇮🇳
she/her
https://mayachhabra.com/
she/her
https://mayachhabra.com/
Reposted by Maya Chhabra
“Even though she was still trying to produce breast milk for her daughter, Guzmán had limited access to food and water…and was never provided a breast pump… Guzmán was left to manage the pain of her C-section recovery as well as her Type 1 diabetes with the supplies she had in her backpack”
Her baby was in the NICU. She was in ICE detention.
Before Trump took office, postpartum immigrants were rarely detained by ICE. Nayra Guzmán was detained while her 15-day-old baby was in the NICU.
19thnews.org
December 8, 2025 at 2:11 AM
“Even though she was still trying to produce breast milk for her daughter, Guzmán had limited access to food and water…and was never provided a breast pump… Guzmán was left to manage the pain of her C-section recovery as well as her Type 1 diabetes with the supplies she had in her backpack”
Reposted by Maya Chhabra
The death rate among children under 5 is expected to grow this year for the first time in the 21st century, researchers say. A key factor, they say, is cuts to U.S. and other foreign aid
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...
Child deaths under 5 believed to be rising for first time in decades
Cuts to development aid from several countries is a key factor, researchers said.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 7, 2025 at 10:25 PM
The death rate among children under 5 is expected to grow this year for the first time in the 21st century, researchers say. A key factor, they say, is cuts to U.S. and other foreign aid
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...
Reposted by Maya Chhabra
Reposted by Maya Chhabra
As long as Spotify is willing to take money from ICE, they don’t need (or deserve) free advertising for Spotify Wrapped: indivisible.org/cancel-spotify?source=bluesky
December 6, 2025 at 1:06 AM
As long as Spotify is willing to take money from ICE, they don’t need (or deserve) free advertising for Spotify Wrapped: indivisible.org/cancel-spotify?source=bluesky
Reposted by Maya Chhabra
Please get in touch with my friend Will if you are (or know) an artist who can donate a little time and skill to this union fight.
Are there any fan artists who can do (Western) TV cartoon characters reasonably true-to-style who want to donate a little mischievous labor to some Canadian creative industry workers in a union fight against corporate greed? If so, send me a message and I can give you details!
December 6, 2025 at 12:27 AM
Please get in touch with my friend Will if you are (or know) an artist who can donate a little time and skill to this union fight.
Amnesty International report on "Alligator Alcatraz" concentration camp and its torture methods:
www.amnesty.org/en/latest/ne...
www.amnesty.org/en/latest/ne...
USA: New Findings Reveal Human Rights Violations at Florida’s “Alligator Alcatraz” and Krome Detention Centers
Amnesty International today released a new report documenting cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment at two immigration detention centers in Florida: The Everglades Detention Facility (“Alligator Alc...
www.amnesty.org
December 5, 2025 at 8:09 PM
Amnesty International report on "Alligator Alcatraz" concentration camp and its torture methods:
www.amnesty.org/en/latest/ne...
www.amnesty.org/en/latest/ne...
I've read this report (it's in the public domain) and it is very illuminating. And drastically lowered my opinion of Eisenhower as a president. If you have no checks and balances you end up with the executive branch plotting to poison Lumumba's toothpaste because racism and vibes.
“It is clear that Congress must exert its will and devise procedures that will enable it to play its full constitutional role in making policy decisions concerning intelligence activities. Failure to do so would permit further erosion of constitutional government.”
That was written in 1975.
That was written in 1975.
December 2, 2025 at 6:24 PM
I've read this report (it's in the public domain) and it is very illuminating. And drastically lowered my opinion of Eisenhower as a president. If you have no checks and balances you end up with the executive branch plotting to poison Lumumba's toothpaste because racism and vibes.
Reposted by Maya Chhabra
This cross-pollination IS how new ideas happen. EVERY field needs humanistic thinking, that's why they call PhDs "Doctors of Philosophy"
Alt text for those who need it. This is amazing.
December 2, 2025 at 11:38 AM
This cross-pollination IS how new ideas happen. EVERY field needs humanistic thinking, that's why they call PhDs "Doctors of Philosophy"
Reposted by Maya Chhabra
Our months are pretty metal tbh. January is Am Faoilleach (the Wolf Month)
Your annual reminder that the most revealing difference between Irish and Scottish Gaelic is definitely in the words for December: Mí na Nollag (Month of Christmas) in Ireland, and An Dubhlachd (the Blackness) in Scotland. So once again may I wish you all a lovely Blackness.
December 1, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Our months are pretty metal tbh. January is Am Faoilleach (the Wolf Month)
Reposted by Maya Chhabra
+972’s West Bank reporter Basel Adra reports that Israeli police arrested his father, Naser Adra, following a settler attack on the village of Al-Faqra in Masafer Yatta.
November 30, 2025 at 5:10 PM
+972’s West Bank reporter Basel Adra reports that Israeli police arrested his father, Naser Adra, following a settler attack on the village of Al-Faqra in Masafer Yatta.
Reposted by Maya Chhabra
In other words, I don't want to slide through life like a soapy butt on a slip 'n slide, okay? That's actually not my goal.
November 9, 2025 at 7:44 PM
In other words, I don't want to slide through life like a soapy butt on a slip 'n slide, okay? That's actually not my goal.
Reposted by Maya Chhabra
At events I always insist that I enjoy the daily act of writing, and I'm often met with skepticism. But an activity can be frustrating/challenging and still bring joy. In fact, that's part of it-- like playing a video game on a too-easy difficulty setting, a frictionless existence is not rewarding.
Sometimes I wonder if our many years of jokes about writers hating writing and doing anything but writing, etc, have convinced people that the writing part is the hurdle and the goal is just to have a thing in hand. But I am here to tell you: the writing is the best part. The act is the thing.
November 9, 2025 at 7:41 PM
At events I always insist that I enjoy the daily act of writing, and I'm often met with skepticism. But an activity can be frustrating/challenging and still bring joy. In fact, that's part of it-- like playing a video game on a too-easy difficulty setting, a frictionless existence is not rewarding.
Reposted by Maya Chhabra
I was talking to a friend-colleague last night about how little vocabulary we have for the depth of friendship, relationships unregulated, uncontrolled — built on intention & choice, of shared vision & values.
And thus how durable, how fragile: Prince Rupert’s drops.
And thus how durable, how fragile: Prince Rupert’s drops.
Today's Love Letter is a stunning meditation on birdwatching and the loss of a friendship, from the one and only @amalelmohtar.com
stone-soup.ghost.io/love-letter-...
stone-soup.ghost.io/love-letter-...
Why I Need the Birds
A Love Letters Feature by Amal El-Mohtar - November 2025
stone-soup.ghost.io
November 26, 2025 at 5:35 PM
I was talking to a friend-colleague last night about how little vocabulary we have for the depth of friendship, relationships unregulated, uncontrolled — built on intention & choice, of shared vision & values.
And thus how durable, how fragile: Prince Rupert’s drops.
And thus how durable, how fragile: Prince Rupert’s drops.
Blessed are those who catalogue minutia, for they shall know the names of the stars.
Anyone who does this deserves their own beatitude
"oh, you research literature? you must get to read all the time, how fun!"
*me, going through every single (digital) issue of an 18th century daily newspaper to make a spreadsheet listing number of advertisements and the portion of them that were for books*
*me, going through every single (digital) issue of an 18th century daily newspaper to make a spreadsheet listing number of advertisements and the portion of them that were for books*
November 27, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Blessed are those who catalogue minutia, for they shall know the names of the stars.
Reposted by Maya Chhabra
I once asked a bookseller at a large indie store how many people would have to buy a book for it to get the attention of the store buyer and cause an additional order and they said: Three.
I see some book piracy discourse, and, to make a positive argument in favor of buying books, your marginal ability to influence what books get published and support the careers of writers you like is massive compared to most other forms of media.
November 25, 2025 at 11:07 PM
I once asked a bookseller at a large indie store how many people would have to buy a book for it to get the attention of the store buyer and cause an additional order and they said: Three.
Reposted by Maya Chhabra
In Monrovia, California, protesters are purchasing 17¢ ICE scrapers from Home Depot and immediately returning them to create long lines and slow down the entire store. Their aim is to disrupt sales and convey a message opposing ICE raids occurring in their neighborhood.
November 23, 2025 at 11:37 AM
In Monrovia, California, protesters are purchasing 17¢ ICE scrapers from Home Depot and immediately returning them to create long lines and slow down the entire store. Their aim is to disrupt sales and convey a message opposing ICE raids occurring in their neighborhood.
Moreover I've never understood the point of trying to keep votes away from the far-right by adopting their pet hatreds. The far-right is bad because they're bigoted and xenophobic, it's not like putting that poison in a bottle labeled "social democracy" makes it less poisonous.
After more than 10 years of “the Danish Model”, nativism is hegemonic in the country, the far right polls near level highs again, and the Social Democrats lost Copenhagen and poll at historic low.
European Social Democrats should look at the facts, not the myths!
Me in @theguardian.com
European Social Democrats should look at the facts, not the myths!
Me in @theguardian.com
The ‘Danish model’ is the darling of centre-left parties like Labour. The problem is, it doesn’t even work in Denmark | Cas Mudde
This week’s local elections are the latest reminder that when social democrats move rightwards, they’re making a mistake, says academic and author Cas Mudde
www.theguardian.com
November 23, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Moreover I've never understood the point of trying to keep votes away from the far-right by adopting their pet hatreds. The far-right is bad because they're bigoted and xenophobic, it's not like putting that poison in a bottle labeled "social democracy" makes it less poisonous.
"Ukrainians can enter legally only by first flying to Sheremetyevo International Airport in Moscow....
By changing many street names and building numbers, the authorities have rendered Ukrainian property deeds invalid."
By changing many street names and building numbers, the authorities have rendered Ukrainian property deeds invalid."
In Russian-Occupied Mariupol, Everything Ukrainian Must Go
www.nytimes.com
November 23, 2025 at 10:44 AM
"Ukrainians can enter legally only by first flying to Sheremetyevo International Airport in Moscow....
By changing many street names and building numbers, the authorities have rendered Ukrainian property deeds invalid."
By changing many street names and building numbers, the authorities have rendered Ukrainian property deeds invalid."
This is just true, though.
Hillary Mantel's A Place of Greater Safety is better than the Wolf Hall trilogy
Tell me your most unhinged literary opinion, as a little treat
November 23, 2025 at 2:14 AM
This is just true, though.
Reposted by Maya Chhabra
#BREAKING: A student intern at Rhode Island Superior Court was briefly taken into custody by ICE this afternoon before a judge intervened, 12 News has learned. Story by @jusolyn.bsky.social and @timwhiteri.bsky.social: ⤵️
RI judge intervenes after ICE mistakenly detains Superior Court intern
A teenager was nearly taken into federal immigration custody in Providence Thursday afternoon before a Superior Court judge intervened, according to the Rhode Island Judiciary.
www.wpri.com
November 20, 2025 at 10:51 PM
#BREAKING: A student intern at Rhode Island Superior Court was briefly taken into custody by ICE this afternoon before a judge intervened, 12 News has learned. Story by @jusolyn.bsky.social and @timwhiteri.bsky.social: ⤵️
Reposted by Maya Chhabra
I don't know where Chevy Chase is these days, but in his honor, all together now:
Generalissimo Francisco Franco is still dead.
(For 50 years, today.)
Generalissimo Francisco Franco is still dead.
(For 50 years, today.)
November 20, 2025 at 5:44 PM
I don't know where Chevy Chase is these days, but in his honor, all together now:
Generalissimo Francisco Franco is still dead.
(For 50 years, today.)
Generalissimo Francisco Franco is still dead.
(For 50 years, today.)
Reposted by Maya Chhabra
"Greeks living in Afghanistan were Buddhist 500 years before China and a thousand years before Southeast Asia" is one of those things that sounds made up but is in fact true
November 20, 2025 at 3:25 PM
"Greeks living in Afghanistan were Buddhist 500 years before China and a thousand years before Southeast Asia" is one of those things that sounds made up but is in fact true
Reposted by Maya Chhabra
Illinois State Police have been assisting ICE at Broadview.
"I’ve never faced as much violence in my life as I have from Illinois State Police. I would really like for the governor to watch the video of my arrest and answer whether he thought that was an appropriate use of force."
"I’ve never faced as much violence in my life as I have from Illinois State Police. I would really like for the governor to watch the video of my arrest and answer whether he thought that was an appropriate use of force."
November 20, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Illinois State Police have been assisting ICE at Broadview.
"I’ve never faced as much violence in my life as I have from Illinois State Police. I would really like for the governor to watch the video of my arrest and answer whether he thought that was an appropriate use of force."
"I’ve never faced as much violence in my life as I have from Illinois State Police. I would really like for the governor to watch the video of my arrest and answer whether he thought that was an appropriate use of force."
Reposted by Maya Chhabra
November 20, 2025 at 4:33 PM