david helps
@david-helps.bsky.social
historian & postdoc, USC • writing a people’s history of global LA • Great Lakes supremacist • he/they • https://www.david-helps.com/writing
Reposted by david helps
Some Democrat is going to propose a truth and reconciliation commission but it’s gotta be truth and consequences. There’s no way to find out what happened, get transparency, and move on. We have to salt the earth under the DHS, dismantle the policing and surveillance infrastructure that allowed it.
January 24, 2026 at 11:07 PM
Some Democrat is going to propose a truth and reconciliation commission but it’s gotta be truth and consequences. There’s no way to find out what happened, get transparency, and move on. We have to salt the earth under the DHS, dismantle the policing and surveillance infrastructure that allowed it.
Reposted by david helps
L.A. Metro, the main transit operator for Los Angeles, just voted to oppose SB 79, a law legalizing the construction of housing near stations. You can't make this stuff up. Legislators should remember this the next time they come to Sacramento begging for more money.
laist.com/news/housing...
laist.com/news/housing...
LA transit agency seeks to override state law allowing more homes near train and bus lines
The L.A. Metro Board of Directors voted to oppose implementation of SB 79, calling for a countywide exemption.
laist.com
January 22, 2026 at 10:19 PM
L.A. Metro, the main transit operator for Los Angeles, just voted to oppose SB 79, a law legalizing the construction of housing near stations. You can't make this stuff up. Legislators should remember this the next time they come to Sacramento begging for more money.
laist.com/news/housing...
laist.com/news/housing...
Reposted by david helps
Another friend put it to me like this: "ICE has made the classic Nazi mistake. They've invaded a winter people in the winter."
January 22, 2026 at 3:58 AM
Another friend put it to me like this: "ICE has made the classic Nazi mistake. They've invaded a winter people in the winter."
Reposted by david helps
Another week, another $100 million that a broke city will magically conjure up for a megaevent that's not supposed to cost taxpayers a dime
LAPD wants nearly $100M to police the Olympics. Who's going to pay for it?
City Hall is already in dispute over the department's current budget. Now, LAPD wants new vehicles and equipment for 2028.
laist.com
January 20, 2026 at 9:49 PM
Another week, another $100 million that a broke city will magically conjure up for a megaevent that's not supposed to cost taxpayers a dime
Reposted by david helps
A prerequisite to competing in, and winning fair elections is that you need political freedom and basic human rights. How could a party not, when they get power, dismantle a secret police force dedicated to imprisoning and killing them?
January 18, 2026 at 8:35 PM
A prerequisite to competing in, and winning fair elections is that you need political freedom and basic human rights. How could a party not, when they get power, dismantle a secret police force dedicated to imprisoning and killing them?
$30 billion budget but nobody thought to order these guys some decent boots
The amount of ICE agents slipping on actual ice is out of control lmao. They really sent motherfuckers into Minnesota in the middle of winter who don't know how to run in snow let alone on ice. It's having an effect that makes people less afraid, like someone straight up jumps on this ICE loser lmao
January 15, 2026 at 1:33 AM
$30 billion budget but nobody thought to order these guys some decent boots
Reposted by david helps
The thing that really makes Minneapolis different, other than the fact that they straight up murdered someone, is that they've dropped all pretense that this is just about immigration. The state has declared war on its own people, or at least those people who live in cities.
January 14, 2026 at 2:47 PM
The thing that really makes Minneapolis different, other than the fact that they straight up murdered someone, is that they've dropped all pretense that this is just about immigration. The state has declared war on its own people, or at least those people who live in cities.
Reposted by david helps
Very grateful for this smart and far-reaching review of Born in Flames by @david-helps.bsky.social in @dissentmag.bsky.social
dissentmagazine.org/article/the-...
dissentmagazine.org/article/the-...
January 13, 2026 at 8:15 PM
Very grateful for this smart and far-reaching review of Born in Flames by @david-helps.bsky.social in @dissentmag.bsky.social
dissentmagazine.org/article/the-...
dissentmagazine.org/article/the-...
For Dissent’s Winter issue, I wrote about urban climate risk, the burning of the Bronx, and @benchansfield.bsky.social’s phenomenal new book ‘Born in Flames.’
Our winter issue, Socialism in the City, is out now!
Featuring @resnikoff.bsky.social @wlacher.bsky.social @yguichaoua.bsky.social @awhf.bsky.social @alanyan.bsky.social @atossaaraxia.bsky.social @mmschwartz.bsky.social @cgmaisano.bsky.social @arvinalaigh.bsky.social @ninasparling.bsky.social
Featuring @resnikoff.bsky.social @wlacher.bsky.social @yguichaoua.bsky.social @awhf.bsky.social @alanyan.bsky.social @atossaaraxia.bsky.social @mmschwartz.bsky.social @cgmaisano.bsky.social @arvinalaigh.bsky.social @ninasparling.bsky.social
January 12, 2026 at 6:35 PM
For Dissent’s Winter issue, I wrote about urban climate risk, the burning of the Bronx, and @benchansfield.bsky.social’s phenomenal new book ‘Born in Flames.’
Reposted by david helps
Los Angeles, CA -
Bit of a false alarm; crowd isn’t marching yet though they are assembled in the street currently. Making speeches still.
Bit of a false alarm; crowd isn’t marching yet though they are assembled in the street currently. Making speeches still.
January 10, 2026 at 11:06 PM
Los Angeles, CA -
Bit of a false alarm; crowd isn’t marching yet though they are assembled in the street currently. Making speeches still.
Bit of a false alarm; crowd isn’t marching yet though they are assembled in the street currently. Making speeches still.
Reposted by david helps
From Echo Park Tenants Union, 10 people taken today in Echo Park/Silver Lake. Some were gardners, painters, and workers. All of them my neighbors.
January 10, 2026 at 4:21 AM
From Echo Park Tenants Union, 10 people taken today in Echo Park/Silver Lake. Some were gardners, painters, and workers. All of them my neighbors.
Reposted by david helps
They will expect that this escalated violence will restore their authority, because, in the moment, it makes them feel like Big Men to shout 'fucking bitch' at the woman they have murdered in her car, next to her child's stuffed toy.
Instead, it will erode the thin veneer of law that protects them.
Instead, it will erode the thin veneer of law that protects them.
January 10, 2026 at 1:47 AM
They will expect that this escalated violence will restore their authority, because, in the moment, it makes them feel like Big Men to shout 'fucking bitch' at the woman they have murdered in her car, next to her child's stuffed toy.
Instead, it will erode the thin veneer of law that protects them.
Instead, it will erode the thin veneer of law that protects them.
Reposted by david helps
2025 is now, officially, the worst year for job creation outside of recession since 2003.
@byheatherlong.bsky.social
@byheatherlong.bsky.social
January 9, 2026 at 1:43 PM
2025 is now, officially, the worst year for job creation outside of recession since 2003.
@byheatherlong.bsky.social
@byheatherlong.bsky.social
Reposted by david helps
im sorry i know it sucks but journalists are going to have to be willing to get fired for simply describing what they see happening with their own eyes, you look like fucking morons
"Was the officer struck by the vehicle, as President Trump insists, or did the car pass by or around him?"
If we only had some trusted institution that could adjudicate between competing claims by relying on facts.
If we only had some trusted institution that could adjudicate between competing claims by relying on facts.
January 8, 2026 at 2:53 AM
im sorry i know it sucks but journalists are going to have to be willing to get fired for simply describing what they see happening with their own eyes, you look like fucking morons
Reposted by david helps
If you follow me I'd love you to also follow @contingent-mag.bsky.social, the history magazine I co-edit. We pay all of our contributors and publish some neat stuff.
Our Series
Contingent publishes accessible, engaging, well-researched pieces on history, the work of doing history, and the community of people involved in that work. We’ve organized our content here by series t...
contingentmagazine.org
January 5, 2026 at 4:53 AM
If you follow me I'd love you to also follow @contingent-mag.bsky.social, the history magazine I co-edit. We pay all of our contributors and publish some neat stuff.
Reposted by david helps
Given that Trump's critics call it a kidnapping, and Trump says it's an apt term, I see no reason for the media not to use it. Literally both sides agree it's the proper description of what happened.
Q: Rodriguez called it a 'kidnapping' of Maduro
TRUMP: That's alright. That's not a bad term.
TRUMP: That's alright. That's not a bad term.
January 5, 2026 at 2:09 AM
Given that Trump's critics call it a kidnapping, and Trump says it's an apt term, I see no reason for the media not to use it. Literally both sides agree it's the proper description of what happened.
Reposted by david helps
first as tragedy then as farce. then as farce again. then farce one more time. a little more farce after that. then some farce. and then another farce and more farce after
July 11, 2024 at 6:10 PM
first as tragedy then as farce. then as farce again. then farce one more time. a little more farce after that. then some farce. and then another farce and more farce after
Reposted by david helps
Marco Rubio is reportedly saying Maduro will stand trial in US courts.
Which means it’s now the US administration’s position that US courts can hold foreign presidents, but not the US president, accountable for crimes.
Which means it’s now the US administration’s position that US courts can hold foreign presidents, but not the US president, accountable for crimes.
January 3, 2026 at 10:52 AM
Marco Rubio is reportedly saying Maduro will stand trial in US courts.
Which means it’s now the US administration’s position that US courts can hold foreign presidents, but not the US president, accountable for crimes.
Which means it’s now the US administration’s position that US courts can hold foreign presidents, but not the US president, accountable for crimes.
Reposted by david helps
anti-intellectualism is strange to me for many reasons, one of which is that it seems like the worst cases are almost always wealthy and well-educated elites. for example, bari weiss
January 2, 2026 at 9:44 PM
anti-intellectualism is strange to me for many reasons, one of which is that it seems like the worst cases are almost always wealthy and well-educated elites. for example, bari weiss
Reposted by david helps
Even after the past two years this article shook me. But the art world is entirely dependent on the very rich, so it should be no surprise to see artists who support Gaza having their careers destroyed or the editor of Artforum being fired. Desperate times.
www.equator.org/articles/how...
www.equator.org/articles/how...
How Gaza Broke the Art World • EQUATOR
The former editor of Artforum, fired in the wake of 7 October, reckons with two years of division, fear and silence
www.equator.org
December 30, 2025 at 11:04 AM
Even after the past two years this article shook me. But the art world is entirely dependent on the very rich, so it should be no surprise to see artists who support Gaza having their careers destroyed or the editor of Artforum being fired. Desperate times.
www.equator.org/articles/how...
www.equator.org/articles/how...
Reposted by david helps
Federal judge dismisses indictment against TikToker shot by ICE, citing constitutional violations
Federal judge dismisses indictment against TikToker shot by ICE, citing constitutional violations
Days before Carlitos Ricardo Parias was set to to go to trial for assault on a federal officer, a federal judge dismissed the case against him. The judge cited the deprivation of Parias' access to counsel while held in ICE detention and the government's failure to comply with discovery deadlines.
www.latimes.com
December 29, 2025 at 2:58 AM
Federal judge dismisses indictment against TikToker shot by ICE, citing constitutional violations
Reposted by david helps
*at a christmas party* oh Rudolph is your favorite reindeer? That’s cool yeah yeah he’s pretty great
*in reindeer chat*
BlitzenBoy92: at the work thinh. take a guess
DonnerTime: buncha dolphies?
VixenLover: fuckin lame bro just keep ur cool change the subject
The Dasher Enjoyer: thinh
*in reindeer chat*
BlitzenBoy92: at the work thinh. take a guess
DonnerTime: buncha dolphies?
VixenLover: fuckin lame bro just keep ur cool change the subject
The Dasher Enjoyer: thinh
December 25, 2025 at 4:14 AM
*at a christmas party* oh Rudolph is your favorite reindeer? That’s cool yeah yeah he’s pretty great
*in reindeer chat*
BlitzenBoy92: at the work thinh. take a guess
DonnerTime: buncha dolphies?
VixenLover: fuckin lame bro just keep ur cool change the subject
The Dasher Enjoyer: thinh
*in reindeer chat*
BlitzenBoy92: at the work thinh. take a guess
DonnerTime: buncha dolphies?
VixenLover: fuckin lame bro just keep ur cool change the subject
The Dasher Enjoyer: thinh
Reposted by david helps
This is the one I can’t get over, because for all the handwringing about out-of-touch liberal media elites, none of them would’ve ever thought that Middle America wants to hear, “Great news, we’ve got a Harvard professor and a New York Times columnist lined up to debate whether you need God.”
December 20, 2025 at 4:42 PM
This is the one I can’t get over, because for all the handwringing about out-of-touch liberal media elites, none of them would’ve ever thought that Middle America wants to hear, “Great news, we’ve got a Harvard professor and a New York Times columnist lined up to debate whether you need God.”