Hugh Ryan
@hughryan.bsky.social
Author & queer historian. The Women’s House of Detention (2022) and When Brooklyn Was Queer (2019). I also teach nonfiction in the Bennington MFA program. Support my work: https://www.patreon.com/HughRyan
Reposted by Hugh Ryan
A leader would not have lost eight colleagues tonight. This happened because you let it happen or because you’ve totally lost control of the caucus in one of the most important moments since you’ve been Democratic leader. Either way, it’s on you. You need to step down. We need someone who can lead.
Democrats have been fighting for months to address America's healthcare crisis
For the millions who will lose coverage
For people with cancer who won't get the care they need
For working families who can't afford to pay $25K more a year for healthcare
We will keep fighting
For the millions who will lose coverage
For people with cancer who won't get the care they need
For working families who can't afford to pay $25K more a year for healthcare
We will keep fighting
November 10, 2025 at 4:23 AM
A leader would not have lost eight colleagues tonight. This happened because you let it happen or because you’ve totally lost control of the caucus in one of the most important moments since you’ve been Democratic leader. Either way, it’s on you. You need to step down. We need someone who can lead.
Reposted by Hugh Ryan
OSCAR ISAAC, on whether he'd return to "Star Wars":
".. Yeah. I mean, I’d be open to it, although right now I’m not so open to working with Disney. But if they can kinda figure it out and, you know, not succumb to fascism, that would be great."
@variety.com $DIS
variety.com/2025/film/ne...
".. Yeah. I mean, I’d be open to it, although right now I’m not so open to working with Disney. But if they can kinda figure it out and, you know, not succumb to fascism, that would be great."
@variety.com $DIS
variety.com/2025/film/ne...
Oscar Isaac Was ‘Not So Open to Working With Disney’ After Jimmy Kimmel Suspension, Said He’d Return to ‘Star Wars’ if Disney Does ‘Not Succumb to Fascism’
Oscar Isaac was not open to working with Disney after Jimmy Kimmel's suspension and will only return to 'Star Wars' if the studio avoids fascism.
variety.com
November 10, 2025 at 3:28 PM
OSCAR ISAAC, on whether he'd return to "Star Wars":
".. Yeah. I mean, I’d be open to it, although right now I’m not so open to working with Disney. But if they can kinda figure it out and, you know, not succumb to fascism, that would be great."
@variety.com $DIS
variety.com/2025/film/ne...
".. Yeah. I mean, I’d be open to it, although right now I’m not so open to working with Disney. But if they can kinda figure it out and, you know, not succumb to fascism, that would be great."
@variety.com $DIS
variety.com/2025/film/ne...
Reposted by Hugh Ryan
I received this email about Democrats caving to end the shutdown from one of the SNAP recipients I spoke to:
November 10, 2025 at 2:17 PM
I received this email about Democrats caving to end the shutdown from one of the SNAP recipients I spoke to:
Reposted by Hugh Ryan
"I can’t think of any other American novel that traces the AIDS pandemic to the early months of the COVID pandemic w/as much heart, humor, & radical style" Thanks to @iamlisako.bsky.social for a stunning intro to this excerpt @electricliterature.com, thank you💞 electricliterature.com/terry-dactyl...
Ecstasy Is Temporary but Being Fabulous Is Forever - Electric Literature
An excerpt from TERRY DACTYL by Mattilda Bernstein Sycamore, recommended by Lisa Ko
electricliterature.com
November 10, 2025 at 2:56 PM
"I can’t think of any other American novel that traces the AIDS pandemic to the early months of the COVID pandemic w/as much heart, humor, & radical style" Thanks to @iamlisako.bsky.social for a stunning intro to this excerpt @electricliterature.com, thank you💞 electricliterature.com/terry-dactyl...
Reposted by Hugh Ryan
The Supreme Court has rejected a call to overturn its landmark decision that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide
Supreme Court Rejects Call To Overturn Its Decision Legalizing Same-sex Marriage Nationwide
The Supreme Court has rejected a call to overturn its landmark decision that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide.
www.huffpost.com
November 10, 2025 at 3:01 PM
The Supreme Court has rejected a call to overturn its landmark decision that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide
Reposted by Hugh Ryan
"Democratic capitulators whose seats would be filled by Democratic governors in the event of vacancy (Durbin, Fetterman, Kaine, King) should be under immense pressure to resign mid-session. Now, even. Or in Kaine’s case, after Abigail Spanberger is sworn in. If your senator fits that bill, get loud"
Thoughts on Dems throwing a game they were winning. www.offmessage.net/p/16-thought...
16 Thoughts On The Dem Shutdown Cave
Another disgrace, and a new path forward.
www.offmessage.net
November 10, 2025 at 11:49 AM
"Democratic capitulators whose seats would be filled by Democratic governors in the event of vacancy (Durbin, Fetterman, Kaine, King) should be under immense pressure to resign mid-session. Now, even. Or in Kaine’s case, after Abigail Spanberger is sworn in. If your senator fits that bill, get loud"
Reposted by Hugh Ryan
i think this is key. taking the deal would amount to taking the blame. it would turn a clear political victory into an unambiguous defeat.
If the Dems blink after all of this, for a deal that all but ensures no ACA subsidies in 2026 anyway, then what was the purpose of letting the shutdown go for 40 days in the first place?
November 10, 2025 at 12:56 AM
i think this is key. taking the deal would amount to taking the blame. it would turn a clear political victory into an unambiguous defeat.
Reposted by Hugh Ryan
What an amazing essay from the former chair of Africana Studies at Bowdoin. I'll share a few sections in the reply but seriously, read the whole thing. It's all insightful and beautifully written.
lithub.com/maybe-dont-t...
lithub.com/maybe-dont-t...
Maybe Don’t Talk to the New York Times About Zohran Mamdani
It’s remarkable, the people you’ll hear from. Teach for even a little while at an expensive institution—the term they tend to prefer is “elite”—and odds are that eventually someone who was a studen…
lithub.com
November 8, 2025 at 7:11 PM
What an amazing essay from the former chair of Africana Studies at Bowdoin. I'll share a few sections in the reply but seriously, read the whole thing. It's all insightful and beautifully written.
lithub.com/maybe-dont-t...
lithub.com/maybe-dont-t...
Reposted by Hugh Ryan
Buried in the Big Beautiful Bill were changes to food assistance that demanded “any future change be cost-neutral. Translation: no more benefit increases, even if food prices skyrocket.”
The result was “institutionalized hunger.”
@kristencrowell.bsky.social
www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...
The result was “institutionalized hunger.”
@kristencrowell.bsky.social
www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...
November 7, 2025 at 8:30 PM
Buried in the Big Beautiful Bill were changes to food assistance that demanded “any future change be cost-neutral. Translation: no more benefit increases, even if food prices skyrocket.”
The result was “institutionalized hunger.”
@kristencrowell.bsky.social
www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...
The result was “institutionalized hunger.”
@kristencrowell.bsky.social
www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...
Reposted by Hugh Ryan
photos of Trump sleeping through yesterday's Oval Office event via Andrew Harnik of Getty
November 7, 2025 at 4:38 PM
photos of Trump sleeping through yesterday's Oval Office event via Andrew Harnik of Getty
Reposted by Hugh Ryan
I know this is pedantic, but Kim Davis was not "jailed for refusing to issue same-sex marriage licenses." She was jailed for contempt of court because she refused to follow a court order (she had stopped issuing all marriage licenses). NYT makes it sound like the Woke Police broke down her door.
November 7, 2025 at 9:35 PM
I know this is pedantic, but Kim Davis was not "jailed for refusing to issue same-sex marriage licenses." She was jailed for contempt of court because she refused to follow a court order (she had stopped issuing all marriage licenses). NYT makes it sound like the Woke Police broke down her door.
Reposted by Hugh Ryan
The US is the world's largest oil and gas producer. Yet, "China is now making more money from exporting green technology than America makes from exporting fossil fuels."
China’s clean-energy revolution will reshape markets and politics
The world’s biggest manufacturer now has an interest in the world decarbonising
www.economist.com
November 7, 2025 at 11:05 AM
The US is the world's largest oil and gas producer. Yet, "China is now making more money from exporting green technology than America makes from exporting fossil fuels."
Reposted by Hugh Ryan
A family friend was telling us about what her husband shared about his experience in Broadview before he was deported back to Mexico. She's been sharing to friends and family because she's just in disbelief & horror what her husband told her. She wasn't able to talk to him until he was in Mexico.
November 7, 2025 at 3:08 AM
A family friend was telling us about what her husband shared about his experience in Broadview before he was deported back to Mexico. She's been sharing to friends and family because she's just in disbelief & horror what her husband told her. She wasn't able to talk to him until he was in Mexico.
Reposted by Hugh Ryan
real sign of the times that an oil fund has to suspend its ethics rules to hold tech company stocks
Norway suspends $2.1tn oil fund's ethics rules to avoid selling Big Tech stakes
Finance minister Jens Stoltenberg says #NBIM move will avoid forced sale of shares in Amazon, Microsoft and Alphabet over their work for Israel:
Finance minister Jens Stoltenberg says #NBIM move will avoid forced sale of shares in Amazon, Microsoft and Alphabet over their work for Israel:
November 7, 2025 at 3:31 PM
real sign of the times that an oil fund has to suspend its ethics rules to hold tech company stocks
Reposted by Hugh Ryan
Douthat has basically become the ambassador to the NYT for Breitbart nation. Only a matter of time before we get a regular show from him about Black crime and race & IQ studies.
November 6, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Douthat has basically become the ambassador to the NYT for Breitbart nation. Only a matter of time before we get a regular show from him about Black crime and race & IQ studies.
Reposted by Hugh Ryan
Rep. Yassamin Ansari has set up a table and this sign outside Speaker Johnson’s office.
November 6, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Rep. Yassamin Ansari has set up a table and this sign outside Speaker Johnson’s office.
Reposted by Hugh Ryan
The goddamn nerve of Jeff Bezos' newspaper to talk shit about raising the minimum wage at a moment when workers at Jeff Bezos' online superstore -- who are paid so little half of them in one study were on SNAP benefits -- are going hungry.
The fucking arrogance.
The fucking arrogance.
Wow, sounds like Jeff Bezos is mad
(from A Washington Post editorial entitled "Zohran Mamdani’s victory is bad for New York and the Democratic Party")
(from A Washington Post editorial entitled "Zohran Mamdani’s victory is bad for New York and the Democratic Party")
November 7, 2025 at 1:00 AM
The goddamn nerve of Jeff Bezos' newspaper to talk shit about raising the minimum wage at a moment when workers at Jeff Bezos' online superstore -- who are paid so little half of them in one study were on SNAP benefits -- are going hungry.
The fucking arrogance.
The fucking arrogance.
Reposted by Hugh Ryan
Implications for redirection/diversion CVE interventions🧪
“It shows how internet users can quickly develop&then defend false beliefs—despite being offered better info.& the inability to correct something this small &specific doesn’t bode well for the bigger news-cycle missteps we’ll inevitably face”
“It shows how internet users can quickly develop&then defend false beliefs—despite being offered better info.& the inability to correct something this small &specific doesn’t bode well for the bigger news-cycle missteps we’ll inevitably face”
A man collapsed in the Oval Office yesterday. The internet got the story wrong.
My experience struggling to correct the record — including on Bluesky! — and the warning signs as AI, aggregation, and social media increasingly drive our news consumption.
My experience struggling to correct the record — including on Bluesky! — and the warning signs as AI, aggregation, and social media increasingly drive our news consumption.
A man collapsed in the Oval Office. The internet got the story wrong.
A case study in how bad information can spread — and how hard it is to correct it.
dandiamond.substack.com
November 7, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Implications for redirection/diversion CVE interventions🧪
“It shows how internet users can quickly develop&then defend false beliefs—despite being offered better info.& the inability to correct something this small &specific doesn’t bode well for the bigger news-cycle missteps we’ll inevitably face”
“It shows how internet users can quickly develop&then defend false beliefs—despite being offered better info.& the inability to correct something this small &specific doesn’t bode well for the bigger news-cycle missteps we’ll inevitably face”
Reposted by Hugh Ryan
One analytical model shows that, as of November 5th, the dismantling of U.S.A.I.D. has already caused the deaths of 600,000 people, two-thirds of them children. https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/jUzNSc
The Shutdown of U.S.A.I.D. Has Already Killed Hundreds of Thousands
The short documentary “Rovina’s Choice” tells the story of what goes when aid goes.
newyorkermag.visitlink.me
November 6, 2025 at 9:00 PM
One analytical model shows that, as of November 5th, the dismantling of U.S.A.I.D. has already caused the deaths of 600,000 people, two-thirds of them children. https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/jUzNSc
Reposted by Hugh Ryan
Quick quiz -- which president made food stamps into a massive national program?
Trump on food stamp recipients: "It wasn't meant for people that could do whatever they want. The people that say, 'Well, I don't think I'll work. I'll just collect this money.'"
November 7, 2025 at 1:22 AM
Quick quiz -- which president made food stamps into a massive national program?
Reposted by Hugh Ryan
Honestly one of the worst, most disturbing paragraphs — on the basis of process, substance, and effect — I’ve read in a Supreme Court order or opinion in a very long time.
November 7, 2025 at 12:55 AM
Honestly one of the worst, most disturbing paragraphs — on the basis of process, substance, and effect — I’ve read in a Supreme Court order or opinion in a very long time.
Reposted by Hugh Ryan
The civilian conservation corps did so much even with the shackles laced on it by private money (only unmarried currently unemployed men! Etc etc) imagine that for climate mitigation work
you ever think about the works progress administration? I sure do. I wish that was a thing now. I would be so glad to contribute my labor to like. A random ass local bridge
November 7, 2025 at 12:52 AM
The civilian conservation corps did so much even with the shackles laced on it by private money (only unmarried currently unemployed men! Etc etc) imagine that for climate mitigation work
And, properly prepared, Elon himself could feed a family of six for a month
To put this in scale, Elon Musk's salary from Tesla alone could fund the SNAP program for the entire country into 2034.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk scored a resounding victory on Thursday as shareholders approved a pay package of as much as $878 billion over the next decade, endorsing his vision of morphing the EV maker into an AI and robotics juggernaut.
November 7, 2025 at 12:36 AM
And, properly prepared, Elon himself could feed a family of six for a month
Reposted by Hugh Ryan
(Reuters) - Meta internally projected late last year that it would earn about 10% of its overall annual revenue – or $16 billion – from running advertising for scams and banned goods, internal company documents show.
$META @reuters.com
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
$META @reuters.com
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
November 6, 2025 at 1:20 PM
(Reuters) - Meta internally projected late last year that it would earn about 10% of its overall annual revenue – or $16 billion – from running advertising for scams and banned goods, internal company documents show.
$META @reuters.com
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
$META @reuters.com
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
This is going to be a really incredible conversation - join us tonight at 2pm at the Bureau of General Services Queer Division at the @lgbtcenternyc.bsky.social gaycenter.org/event/kids-o...
Kids on the Street: Joseph Plaster in conversation with Hugh Ryan (in person only) - The Center
Join authors Joseph Plaster and Hugh Ryan as they discuss Kids on the Street: Queer Kinship and Religion in San Francisco’s Tenderloin, a hidden history of queer and trans street youth who, abandoned ...
gaycenter.org
November 6, 2025 at 8:37 PM
This is going to be a really incredible conversation - join us tonight at 2pm at the Bureau of General Services Queer Division at the @lgbtcenternyc.bsky.social gaycenter.org/event/kids-o...