Jack Whalen
@jackwhalen.bsky.social
Former many things, in many places. Fave thing: Philly cabbie. Or maybe Santa Barbara drummer. Or Eugene 9-1-1 dispatcher. Or really, ethnographer all over the place. Anyway, now full time grandparent. Proud dual-national
🇺🇸🇮🇪
🇺🇸🇮🇪
Reposted by Jack Whalen
President Hernandez was responsible for smuggling 500 TONS of cocaine into the United States! He was the top dog; the Pablo Escobar figure! He wasn’t just “selling drugs in that country.”
Reporter: You have made so clear how you want to keep drugs out of the US—
Trump: Right
Reporter: Can you explain why you would pardon a notorious drug trafficker?
Trump: If somebody sells drugs in that country, that doesn’t mean you arrest the president
Trump: Right
Reporter: Can you explain why you would pardon a notorious drug trafficker?
Trump: If somebody sells drugs in that country, that doesn’t mean you arrest the president
December 1, 2025 at 1:02 AM
President Hernandez was responsible for smuggling 500 TONS of cocaine into the United States! He was the top dog; the Pablo Escobar figure! He wasn’t just “selling drugs in that country.”
Duh!
(And certainly *all* the strikes have been illegal, are violations of international and USA laws)
(And certainly *all* the strikes have been illegal, are violations of international and USA laws)
Lawmakers Suggest Follow-Up Boat Strike Could Be a War Crime
www.nytimes.com
December 1, 2025 at 1:15 AM
Duh!
(And certainly *all* the strikes have been illegal, are violations of international and USA laws)
(And certainly *all* the strikes have been illegal, are violations of international and USA laws)
Reposted by Jack Whalen
This is murder. www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
November 28, 2025 at 6:16 PM
This is murder. www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Reposted by Jack Whalen
Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, would be alive today if Donald J. Trump hadn't callously used her as a prop to provoke violence he wished to opportunistically use as a pretext to impose authoritarian rule.
20 year-old National Guard member Sarah Beckstrom has died from her gunshot wounds. May she rest in peace.
November 28, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, would be alive today if Donald J. Trump hadn't callously used her as a prop to provoke violence he wished to opportunistically use as a pretext to impose authoritarian rule.
A depraved government backed by depraved Israelis who obviously have lost their morality… like national security minister Ben-Gvir, convicted in 2007 of incitement to racism and supporting a terrorist organisation, who now says “The fighters acted exactly as expected of them – terrorists must die.”
The obscenity that is Israel
“In Israel, there is no mechanism that acts to stop the killing of Palestinians or is capable of prosecuting those responsible"
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
“In Israel, there is no mechanism that acts to stop the killing of Palestinians or is capable of prosecuting those responsible"
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Video shows Israeli forces shooting Palestinians dead moments after surrender
Far-right minister defends killing of two men who appeared to have given themselves up, saying ‘terrorists must die’
www.theguardian.com
November 28, 2025 at 7:17 PM
A depraved government backed by depraved Israelis who obviously have lost their morality… like national security minister Ben-Gvir, convicted in 2007 of incitement to racism and supporting a terrorist organisation, who now says “The fighters acted exactly as expected of them – terrorists must die.”
They had all followed the required steps: They had submitted extensive paperwork & paid fees. The foreign spouses had been fingerprinted & passed medical exams. None had criminal records. None had entered the country illegally. They had already been granted employment authorization.
Green Card Interviews End in Handcuffs for Spouses of U.S. Citizens
www.nytimes.com
November 28, 2025 at 7:07 PM
They had all followed the required steps: They had submitted extensive paperwork & paid fees. The foreign spouses had been fingerprinted & passed medical exams. None had criminal records. None had entered the country illegally. They had already been granted employment authorization.
Israel is a sick siciety, its IDF and worse, most of its citizens, tolerating and even supporting the terror being rained on Palestinians by its depraved settler communities and enthusiastically promoted by Netanyahu’s ministers
A Bloody Month in the West Bank Olive Harvest Leads to the Death of a Boy
www.nytimes.com
November 14, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Israel is a sick siciety, its IDF and worse, most of its citizens, tolerating and even supporting the terror being rained on Palestinians by its depraved settler communities and enthusiastically promoted by Netanyahu’s ministers
The president has placed proponents of his false claims into government jobs while dismantling systems built to secure voting, raising fears that he aims to seize authority over elections ahead of next year’s midterms.
Trump Empowers Election Deniers, Still Fixated on 2020 Grievances
www.nytimes.com
October 23, 2025 at 8:07 PM
The president has placed proponents of his false claims into government jobs while dismantling systems built to secure voting, raising fears that he aims to seize authority over elections ahead of next year’s midterms.
Reposted by Jack Whalen
Just know that “conversion therapy” is three incoherent pseudoscientific ramblings standing on each other’s shoulders under a trench coat. It’s not therapeutic (it doesn’t help, does net harm), it doesn’t convert (practically no “success” documented), and it should absolutely be banned.
October 7, 2025 at 9:55 PM
Just know that “conversion therapy” is three incoherent pseudoscientific ramblings standing on each other’s shoulders under a trench coat. It’s not therapeutic (it doesn’t help, does net harm), it doesn’t convert (practically no “success” documented), and it should absolutely be banned.
Reposted by Jack Whalen
eventually politicians need to start advocating for criminal and civil penalties for people involved in fabricating stories to get citizens incarcerated.
or, put another way: a society that would like to keep functioning has to discourage baldfaced lying, especially by authorities
or, put another way: a society that would like to keep functioning has to discourage baldfaced lying, especially by authorities
Body-camera video appears to contradict the government’s claim that Marimar Martinez, 30, drove toward officers before one of them opened fire at her late Saturday morning in Brighton Park, her attorney claimed.
trib.al/9Sxu9IN
trib.al/9Sxu9IN
Attorney for woman shot by Border Patrol claims officer said 'Do something b-----' before shooting
Body-camera video appears to contradict the government's claim that Marimar Martinez, 30, drove toward officers before one of them opened fire at her late Saturday morning in Brighton Park, her attorney claimed. A judge ordered Martinez and a co-defendant released pending trial.
trib.al
October 7, 2025 at 2:10 AM
eventually politicians need to start advocating for criminal and civil penalties for people involved in fabricating stories to get citizens incarcerated.
or, put another way: a society that would like to keep functioning has to discourage baldfaced lying, especially by authorities
or, put another way: a society that would like to keep functioning has to discourage baldfaced lying, especially by authorities
Reposted by Jack Whalen
I'm doing an end-of-year push for my newsletter in order to bankroll a new publication I'll be launching in 2026. Annual membership is as low as $30 to provide access to a robust community, smart conversation, and culture work that can't be found elsewhere. www.aliciakennedy.news/upgrade
October 2, 2025 at 2:34 PM
I'm doing an end-of-year push for my newsletter in order to bankroll a new publication I'll be launching in 2026. Annual membership is as low as $30 to provide access to a robust community, smart conversation, and culture work that can't be found elsewhere. www.aliciakennedy.news/upgrade
Reposted by Jack Whalen
“…The party was a celebration of all that TIME had done that year. I had forgotten that (Crown Prince) MBS was one of Time’s 100 most influential people in the world in 2018.”
Important context: the regime-aligned WaPo fired Attiah, their last black columnist, last month.
Important context: the regime-aligned WaPo fired Attiah, their last black columnist, last month.
The Saudi government murdered Jamal Khashoggi seven years ago today. His editor @karenattiah.bsky.social wrote this two years ago.
Opinion | The moment I knew the world would try to move on from Jamal Khashoggi
I could see it coming at Time’s 2018 Person of the Year celebration.
wapo.st
October 2, 2025 at 2:07 PM
“…The party was a celebration of all that TIME had done that year. I had forgotten that (Crown Prince) MBS was one of Time’s 100 most influential people in the world in 2018.”
Important context: the regime-aligned WaPo fired Attiah, their last black columnist, last month.
Important context: the regime-aligned WaPo fired Attiah, their last black columnist, last month.
Reposted by Jack Whalen
More guns than people…
Is it freedom or a national death cult that keeps growing?
Is it freedom or a national death cult that keeps growing?
September 30, 2025 at 11:12 PM
More guns than people…
Is it freedom or a national death cult that keeps growing?
Is it freedom or a national death cult that keeps growing?
Reposted by Jack Whalen
Medical ethicist Arthur Kaplan, quoted in the NYT:
“The announcement on autism was the saddest display of a lack of evidence, rumors, recyling old myths, lousy advice, outright lies & dangerous advice I have ever witnessed by anyone in authority in the world claiming to know anything about science”
“The announcement on autism was the saddest display of a lack of evidence, rumors, recyling old myths, lousy advice, outright lies & dangerous advice I have ever witnessed by anyone in authority in the world claiming to know anything about science”
This MAGA/MAHA/Trump/RFK Jr/Dr Oz/Dr Bhattacharya press conference right now is quite possibly the worst press conference—from the viewpoints of medicine, public health, & medical ethics—that I’ve ever seen. These men are so shameless & deeply irresponsible. Wherever happened to science & evidence?
September 22, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Medical ethicist Arthur Kaplan, quoted in the NYT:
“The announcement on autism was the saddest display of a lack of evidence, rumors, recyling old myths, lousy advice, outright lies & dangerous advice I have ever witnessed by anyone in authority in the world claiming to know anything about science”
“The announcement on autism was the saddest display of a lack of evidence, rumors, recyling old myths, lousy advice, outright lies & dangerous advice I have ever witnessed by anyone in authority in the world claiming to know anything about science”
Reposted by Jack Whalen
Powerful new piece from Ta-Nehisi Coates @vanityfair.com www.vanityfair.com/news/story/c...
September 16, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Powerful new piece from Ta-Nehisi Coates @vanityfair.com www.vanityfair.com/news/story/c...
Reposted by Jack Whalen
The Department of Justice has removed a study showing that white supremacist and far-right violence “continues to outpace all other types of terrorism and domestic violent extremism” in the United States.
🔗 www.404media.co/doj-deletes-...
🔗 www.404media.co/doj-deletes-...
DOJ Deletes Study Showing Domestic Terrorists Are Most Often Right Wing
Following Charlie Kirk’s assassination and the Trump administration’s promise to go after the “radical left” a study showing most domestic terrosim is far-right was disappeared.
www.404media.co
September 16, 2025 at 4:40 PM
The Department of Justice has removed a study showing that white supremacist and far-right violence “continues to outpace all other types of terrorism and domestic violent extremism” in the United States.
🔗 www.404media.co/doj-deletes-...
🔗 www.404media.co/doj-deletes-...
Reposted by Jack Whalen
One thing I look at in today's post is the different perceptions of local and national. (And personal and national). This is key to defeating the "burn it all down" tendency.
bsky.app/profile/pete...
bsky.app/profile/pete...
Just to confirm my suspicions that people’s perception of the national position (via social/media) is very different from their local perceptions, these graphs from @moreincommonuk.bsky.social via @samfr.bsky.social’s sane and vital Substack, illustrate the difference
September 15, 2025 at 2:24 PM
One thing I look at in today's post is the different perceptions of local and national. (And personal and national). This is key to defeating the "burn it all down" tendency.
bsky.app/profile/pete...
bsky.app/profile/pete...
Reposted by Jack Whalen
i think how we got here is that the right's favorite move is working the ref and the radical centrist's favorite move is self flattery that they could never be worked
September 16, 2025 at 12:05 PM
i think how we got here is that the right's favorite move is working the ref and the radical centrist's favorite move is self flattery that they could never be worked
I’m a U.S. citizen who was wrongly arrested and held by ICE. Here’s why you could be next
www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/open...
www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/open...
I’m a U.S. citizen who was wrongly arrested and held by ICE. Here’s why you could be next
OPINION: “No matter your race, background or beliefs — none of us should have to fear being silenced, detained or dehumanized by the very government meant to protect us.”
www.sfchronicle.com
September 16, 2025 at 5:20 PM
I’m a U.S. citizen who was wrongly arrested and held by ICE. Here’s why you could be next
www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/open...
www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/open...
Reposted by Jack Whalen
My friend Jane Leavy aka @ballgirl.bsky.social
--author of the definitive, blockbuster biographies on Koufax, Mantle, and Ruth--has a new book out today on how to fix the modern game. It's full of great ideas, and not finger wagging at all. It's a really fun read! bookshop.org/p/books/make...
--author of the definitive, blockbuster biographies on Koufax, Mantle, and Ruth--has a new book out today on how to fix the modern game. It's full of great ideas, and not finger wagging at all. It's a really fun read! bookshop.org/p/books/make...
Make Me Commissioner: I Know What's Wrong with Baseball and How to Fix It
I Know What's Wrong with Baseball and How to Fix It
bookshop.org
September 9, 2025 at 5:32 PM
My friend Jane Leavy aka @ballgirl.bsky.social
--author of the definitive, blockbuster biographies on Koufax, Mantle, and Ruth--has a new book out today on how to fix the modern game. It's full of great ideas, and not finger wagging at all. It's a really fun read! bookshop.org/p/books/make...
--author of the definitive, blockbuster biographies on Koufax, Mantle, and Ruth--has a new book out today on how to fix the modern game. It's full of great ideas, and not finger wagging at all. It's a really fun read! bookshop.org/p/books/make...
Reposted by Jack Whalen
“I’ve never seen this before—I’ve never seen the Democratic leadership not endorse the Democratic candidate. It’s so ugly, it’s so cowardly, it’s so stupid."
Democratic voters want their leaders to stop running from Zohran Mamdani
"It's so ugly, it's so cowardly, it's so stupid."
www.motherjones.com
September 10, 2025 at 1:00 AM
“I’ve never seen this before—I’ve never seen the Democratic leadership not endorse the Democratic candidate. It’s so ugly, it’s so cowardly, it’s so stupid."
Reposted by Jack Whalen
Exclusive by me: US research agency upheaval costs UK universities millions
Scale of disruption to British medical research caused by Trump’s science cuts revealed
Been working on this (intermittently) for months
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...
Scale of disruption to British medical research caused by Trump’s science cuts revealed
Been working on this (intermittently) for months
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...
US research agency upheaval costs UK universities millions - Research Professional News
Exclusive: Scale of disruption to British medical research caused by Trump’s science cuts revealed
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
September 3, 2025 at 6:48 AM
Exclusive by me: US research agency upheaval costs UK universities millions
Scale of disruption to British medical research caused by Trump’s science cuts revealed
Been working on this (intermittently) for months
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...
Scale of disruption to British medical research caused by Trump’s science cuts revealed
Been working on this (intermittently) for months
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...