Zach Rabiroff
@zachrabiroff.com
Writer for the Comics Journal, Flaming Hydra, Polygon, io9, etc.
www.zachrabiroff.com
www.zachrabiroff.com
Pinned
Vision blurred / Seeing good
The eyes of Zach Rabiroff; David Roth, cinéaste, shares rare holiday films
flaminghydra.com
This Christmas, I lost my job, lost my sight, and had some thoughts about Napoleon. A new essay for @flaminghydra.com called "Blind Spots."
flaminghydra.com/issue-468/
flaminghydra.com/issue-468/
That will be infinitely easier once Ellison has control, of course. But Insta was doing huge work pushing this one out, as was youtube, even despite their algorithms.
January 14, 2026 at 12:01 AM
That will be infinitely easier once Ellison has control, of course. But Insta was doing huge work pushing this one out, as was youtube, even despite their algorithms.
Yes and no. Plugged-in people on bluesky are obviously going to react faster than anyone else would. But if this were 40 years ago, the network news would be covering it with the urgency and moral clarity of Selma. We have to work against that change.
January 13, 2026 at 11:45 PM
Yes and no. Plugged-in people on bluesky are obviously going to react faster than anyone else would. But if this were 40 years ago, the network news would be covering it with the urgency and moral clarity of Selma. We have to work against that change.
Yeah, and it's distinctly a media propaganda problem. Which means our first and highest-priority task is to continue raising awareness before we expect the political consequences to kick in
January 13, 2026 at 11:43 PM
Yeah, and it's distinctly a media propaganda problem. Which means our first and highest-priority task is to continue raising awareness before we expect the political consequences to kick in
I can think of another guy who was obnoxious, often disliked, and prone to get into constant unnecessary arguments written down in print for posterity, and his name was John fuckin' Adams
January 13, 2026 at 11:41 PM
I can think of another guy who was obnoxious, often disliked, and prone to get into constant unnecessary arguments written down in print for posterity, and his name was John fuckin' Adams
You know that we're on war footing. I know that we're on war footing. The unavoidable reality is that 52% of the public still does not know that we're on war footing. They're learning fast considering the total lack of media urgency, but they aren't there, and Democrats won't be until they are.
January 13, 2026 at 11:39 PM
You know that we're on war footing. I know that we're on war footing. The unavoidable reality is that 52% of the public still does not know that we're on war footing. They're learning fast considering the total lack of media urgency, but they aren't there, and Democrats won't be until they are.
To the extent that you think Congress and the legal code still mean anything (debatable) I think this actually has substance, especially since it's meant to push a handful of Republicans to their side in a House with a very small margin.
January 13, 2026 at 10:36 PM
To the extent that you think Congress and the legal code still mean anything (debatable) I think this actually has substance, especially since it's meant to push a handful of Republicans to their side in a House with a very small margin.
I'd add that in at least some cases (e.g. Goldman) this is very directly a result of short House terms, since they're afraid of being vulnerable in a primary if they vote more funding. Their default, like the Senate, is just to let the bill coast through.
January 13, 2026 at 10:34 PM
I'd add that in at least some cases (e.g. Goldman) this is very directly a result of short House terms, since they're afraid of being vulnerable in a primary if they vote more funding. Their default, like the Senate, is just to let the bill coast through.
I'm not on the ground, but I suspect there might be a majority of Democrats in the House in favor of denying further ICE funding, at least without substantive restrictions in place. I'm certain no such true majority exists in the Senate.
January 13, 2026 at 10:31 PM
I'm not on the ground, but I suspect there might be a majority of Democrats in the House in favor of denying further ICE funding, at least without substantive restrictions in place. I'm certain no such true majority exists in the Senate.
I'm old enough to remember this past Sunday, when the news was repeatedly scandalized by a Democratic mayor who, in response to the murder of one of his constituents by masked federal agents, said "fuck."
January 13, 2026 at 10:30 PM
I'm old enough to remember this past Sunday, when the news was repeatedly scandalized by a Democratic mayor who, in response to the murder of one of his constituents by masked federal agents, said "fuck."
House members are largely responsive to events. Senators, insulated due to infrequent elections, remain blithely indifferent. Conclusion: Madison was right, should have gone with the Virginia Plan.
January 13, 2026 at 10:25 PM
House members are largely responsive to events. Senators, insulated due to infrequent elections, remain blithely indifferent. Conclusion: Madison was right, should have gone with the Virginia Plan.
Good lord, somehow I have yet to encounter one of these.
January 13, 2026 at 10:20 PM
Good lord, somehow I have yet to encounter one of these.
Pedophile protector protects protector of pedophiles
January 13, 2026 at 10:16 PM
Pedophile protector protects protector of pedophiles
In fairness, if I had to spend a whole week of my life working with Tony Dokoupil, I'd probably need the Jack Daniels, too.
New: CBS News seems to be preparing a new segment called "Whiskey Fridays with Tony Dokoupil," per sources.
Some staff were only first made aware of it as they encountered CBS testing out set designs of a faux-stocked bar in the newsroom, featuring a large sponsor banner for Jack Daniels.
Some staff were only first made aware of it as they encountered CBS testing out set designs of a faux-stocked bar in the newsroom, featuring a large sponsor banner for Jack Daniels.
January 13, 2026 at 9:47 PM
In fairness, if I had to spend a whole week of my life working with Tony Dokoupil, I'd probably need the Jack Daniels, too.
Reposted by Zach Rabiroff
Twelve-month slide from "illegal immigrants" to "immigrants" to "criminals" to "middle class woman going out to get groceries"
January 13, 2026 at 8:56 PM
Twelve-month slide from "illegal immigrants" to "immigrants" to "criminals" to "middle class woman going out to get groceries"
Twelve-month slide from "illegal immigrants" to "immigrants" to "criminals" to "middle class woman going out to get groceries"
January 13, 2026 at 8:56 PM
Twelve-month slide from "illegal immigrants" to "immigrants" to "criminals" to "middle class woman going out to get groceries"
Not sure this is a political incentive problem, so much as a social problem that racism is a bigger political winner than anti-fraud prosecution.
January 13, 2026 at 6:59 PM
Not sure this is a political incentive problem, so much as a social problem that racism is a bigger political winner than anti-fraud prosecution.
Hi, Chu. I'm a reporter with the Comics Journal, and we're putting together a story on Hiveworks. I'd love to talk to you about your experience. Would you DM me, or reach out at signal to ZRabiroff.73 ?
January 13, 2026 at 5:55 PM
Hi, Chu. I'm a reporter with the Comics Journal, and we're putting together a story on Hiveworks. I'd love to talk to you about your experience. Would you DM me, or reach out at signal to ZRabiroff.73 ?
Hi, Livali. I'm a reporter with the Comics Journal, and we're putting together a story on Hiveworks. I'd like to talk to you about your experience. Would you reach out by DM or on signal at Zrabiroff.73 ?
January 13, 2026 at 5:52 PM
Hi, Livali. I'm a reporter with the Comics Journal, and we're putting together a story on Hiveworks. I'd like to talk to you about your experience. Would you reach out by DM or on signal at Zrabiroff.73 ?
Hi, August. I'm a reporter with the Comics Journal and I'd like to speak with you about this for a story we're putting together. Would you reach out to me via DM or on Signal at Zrabiroff.73 ?
January 13, 2026 at 5:35 PM
Hi, August. I'm a reporter with the Comics Journal and I'd like to speak with you about this for a story we're putting together. Would you reach out to me via DM or on Signal at Zrabiroff.73 ?
Deep condolences to my supporter, who I assume was some kind of recently-deceased podcaster as usual
Trump: "Sadly, the Great Influencer, Scott Adams, has passed away. He was a fantastic guy, who liked and respected me when it wasn’t fashionable to do so. He bravely fought a long battle against a terrible disease. My condolences go out to his family, and all of his many friends and listeners."
January 13, 2026 at 5:24 PM
Deep condolences to my supporter, who I assume was some kind of recently-deceased podcaster as usual
I tend to be less of an economic determinist than (probably) most people here, and suspect all of the economic complaints were stalking horses for less respectable urges on the part of voters. Regardless, they regret it.
January 13, 2026 at 3:06 PM
I tend to be less of an economic determinist than (probably) most people here, and suspect all of the economic complaints were stalking horses for less respectable urges on the part of voters. Regardless, they regret it.
The costs aren't that much higher! Mostly people are annoyed about the masked storm troopers who might kidnap and shoot them!
January 13, 2026 at 2:47 PM
The costs aren't that much higher! Mostly people are annoyed about the masked storm troopers who might kidnap and shoot them!
People just very reasonably hate him for totally different reasons!
January 13, 2026 at 2:41 PM
People just very reasonably hate him for totally different reasons!
Trucker's strike was the core of the CIA's operation to fatally undermine the Allende presidency in Chile. There, as here, truckers were an unfortunately right-wing bunch, generally.
January 13, 2026 at 6:30 AM
Trucker's strike was the core of the CIA's operation to fatally undermine the Allende presidency in Chile. There, as here, truckers were an unfortunately right-wing bunch, generally.
I am once again politely requesting that the two nations of which I am a citizen not imminently go to war with each other over Greenland. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
January 13, 2026 at 6:05 AM
I am once again politely requesting that the two nations of which I am a citizen not imminently go to war with each other over Greenland. Thank you for your attention to this matter.