With Kanye claiming he's a Nazi and selling swastika T-shirts, I'm reminded of one of the more prescient books of the last few years from scholar Brandi Collins-Dexter (@brandicd.bsky.social). I interviewed her about the book three years ago. It predicted a lot more than just Kanye's latest turn.

Black Skinhead: A Conversation with Brandi Collins-Dexter | TechPolicy.Press

Part media criticism, part memoir, and part warning, the book takes us to the fringes of Black communities to make sense of our political moment.

techpolicy.press

Running this back…

Brandi Collins-Dexter@brandicd.bsky.social · 2y ago

This article about How South African (primarily white) men are changing the course of American democracy lives rent free in my mind... So much of politics are local but we can‘t ignore how history & global politics influence our reality. Some tidbits + www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024...

"CIA releases docs on Latino civil rights-era surveillance" www.axios.com/2025/01/06/c...

CIA releases docs on Latino civil rights-era surveillance

The documents confirm Latino civil rights pioneers' long-held suspicions about surveillance.

axios.com

Regulation matters

Mathias Vermeulen@mathver.bsky.social · 2y ago

Meta has "no plans to end fact-checking in the EU", the company clarified and "will review its EU content moderation obligations before making changes" www.politico.eu/article/mark...

Donna Ladd writes on an anonymous attempt to discredit the Mississippi Free Press using a mailer with false statements about the publication and its reporters.

Democracy | Jackson Mailer Attacks MFP, Donors (Again)

Donna Ladd writes on an anonymous attempt to discredit the Mississippi Free Press using a mailer with false statements about the publication and its reporters.

buff.ly

The city of New Orleans uses the Mississippi River as drinking water. Our current governor begged the state to remove funding from the city of New Orleans to fix the pumps and the decaying sewage and water system UNTIL the DA agrees to prosecute women for abortions. www.essence.com/news/louisia...

Mississippi Free Press@mississippifreepress.org · 2y ago

This is the third year in a row that saltwater from the Gulf of Mexico has crept up the Mississippi River. This phenomenon, known as saltwater intrusion, previously only happened about once per decade.

As the year comes to a close, I remain grateful for all of the support I've received. I'm hoping to get to $16,000 by this time tomorrow. Please consider sharing this link to help me reach that goal. www.gofundme.com/f/community-...

Donate to Community Support for Aura Bogado, organized by Jonathan Jones

Hi, my name is Jonathan Jones, and I’m a work colleague of Aura Bogado. Aura is an aw… Jonathan Jones needs your support for Community Support for Aura Bogado

gofundme.com

It is fascinating how just being wealthy affords Elon positive traits that are completely contrary to what we see with our own eyes

Raw Story@rawstory.com · 2y ago

“The left was very successful the last four years in bringing a negative connotation to MAGA, and I think they lost that battle the day that Elon Musk came out in support [of Trump], because now all of a sudden it just became punk rock to be Republican."

A lot of the present discourse about H1-B visas mirror a debate I discussed in one of my essays (An Abomination of Obamanation) between Bannon & Candace Owens that was posted on YT (post 1/2) Steve Bannon Joins War Against Elon as MAGA Implodes newrepublic.com/post/189694/... via @newrepublic.com 1

Steve Bannon Joins War Against Elon Musk as MAGA Implodes

Donald Trump’s biggest fans are at each other’s throats over immigration, and H-1B visas in particular.

newrepublic.com

Me, a Bears fan, watching the Vikings skywalk all over the Packers on their way to the playoffs:

And I say this not as someone that is just giddy about nationstates but as someone who has been warning about, researching (& attempting to organize against) the rising tide of techno-authoritarianism for over a decade.The most effective tool we had was antitrust/regulation- watch them go to work.

Brandi Collins-Dexter@brandicd.bsky.social · 2y ago

Obviously Trump has always been a Ron Burgundy style empty vessel. Just like the first administration was made in Bannon’s image, this one will be made in Musk/Thiel’s image. It’s not clunky “MAGA,” it’s about making nationstates irrelevant. Project 2025 is window dressing, Zero to One is end game.

I am not a baseball expert, just a nosy fan. Even I knew Burnes was not coming back here just because he performed well & got along in the clubhouse. Man gave the most unenthusiastic press conference going to spring training & told his pregnant wife not to come here. How’d the O’s miss this?

Obviously Trump has always been a Ron Burgundy style empty vessel. Just like the first administration was made in Bannon’s image, this one will be made in Musk/Thiel’s image. It’s not clunky “MAGA,” it’s about making nationstates irrelevant. Project 2025 is window dressing, Zero to One is end game.

Happy #Caturday 😻 I’ve been pretty sick. When I’m home, these little guys haven’t left my side. Especially the alpha girl cat. One thing about cats, when they love you, they love fiercely. They also love to start singing as soon as I’m even slightly awake, which is sweet but also kinda creepy.

Thank you for this, I’m so glad you’re reading it and digging it! And the Dusty Rhodes/populism essay is definitely one of my favorite pieces I’ve ever done.

a man in a suit and tie is talking into a microphone with the words thats hard times above him

Alt: pro wrestler Dusty Rhodes, dressed in a suit and tie, is talking into a microphone with the words “thats hard times” above him

media.tenor.com

Rachel_Aytch@rachelaytch.bsky.social · 2y ago

Halfway through @brandicd.bsky.social book Black Skinhead, which is chock full of fascinating insights and analyses of US Black voters and politics, but I need to shout out the analogy of pro-wrestling as populism. Spot on, I've never had it explained to me better than that! ❤️

This is absolutely a trash move by @motherjones.com -- would like to know if there’s ethical news outlets (& nonprofits for that matter) not just talking the talk but actually doing the thing when it comes to internal cultural. Would love to put my end of year donations to THOSE places.

Aura Bogado@aurabogado.bsky.social · 2y ago

I was unexpectedly laid off from @motherjones.com on Friday the 13th. I’ve been deprived of direct access to my Google Drive, which contains seven years worth of work. I am also ineligible for unemployment. This is a terrible Christmas for me and my family. If you have leads for work, pls lmk.

BREAKING: The Teamsters are dramatically escalating their strike and taking it to Amazon’s largest NYC warehouse. Beginning at midnight tonight they will picket the massive facility with 5,500 workers. JFK8 on Staten Island is the first unionized Amazon warehouse.

Journalist friends & folks connected to media. The most badass reporter I know, @aurabogado.bsky.social is on the market. A seasoned immigration reporter, has done some incredible investigative pieces. Experienced on eitorial strategy & digital engagement. Always gets her story. Plz spread the word.

Watching Yankees fans pretending to take it in stride that Soto went to their “little brother” team is hilarious…until I remember this probably means Tony & Corbin are almost certainly headed up to the Bronx… 🤦🏾‍♀️

We have to build and rely on our own tools. The company obviously doesn’t have the stomach to stand up to bigotry in all forms. And this is likely only the beginning of Bsky carving out exemptions for “VIPs”

I can make peace with Corbin Burnes signing with a West Coast team. There will be no peace if he signs with the Yankees.

not to be redundant but I think it might be nice if the U.S. press informed the public that Trump's plan to take a hatchet to federal consumer, labor, environmental, and public safety protections is going to kill, injure, or defraud millions of people

Perhaps also a good time to revisit the American Experience episodes on the Gilded Age and the 1920 bombing of Wall Street before they officially gut PBS & wipe away all reminders of the longstanding struggle to try to make America great (& how elites hindered progress). www.pbs.org/wgbh/america...

The Bombing of Wall Street | American Experience | PBS

The story behind a mostly-forgotten 1920 bombing in the nation’s financial center that left 38 dead and remains unsolved today.

pbs.org

For the record: racism is not economically sound. It has cost the U.S. Trillions & cost society in ways that can‘ be quantified. The privatization of governent will do irreparable damage to the so called American dream. U.S. Economy Lost $16 Trillion Because Of Racism, www.npr.org/sections/liv...

This article about How South African (primarily white) men are changing the course of American democracy lives rent free in my mind... So much of politics are local but we can‘t ignore how history & global politics influence our reality. Some tidbits + www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024...

How SA men are changing the course of American democracy

What do figures like Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, David Sacks, Joel Pollak and Patrick Soon-Shiong have in common? They are public figures of considerable power and influence in the US – who all spent some...

dailymaverick.co.za

Let me get offline before I say something I can’t take back, because I’ve definitely hit the low empathy portion of this year...

On Dec. 4, 1969, Illinois Black Panther Party chapter Deputy Chairman Fred Hampton was assassinated in a coordinated effort by the FBI, Chicago police and Cook County State’s Attorney Office. This mural in Chicago honors him and Mark Clark, also killed in the raid. thetriibe.com/2023/06/in-c...

In Chicago, Black history is everywhere • The TRiiBE

Residents, family, and volunteers preserve Black history by creating public art, museums, and fighting for landmark status.

thetriibe.com

Yes it’s Wednesday but supporting @baltimorebeat.bsky.social is critical no matter the day. They’re 1 of few papers serving Baltimore that does print. In a city with a huge digital divide, it’s critical to support a paper both accessible & accountable to the people. baltimorebeat.com?form=FUNDGBL...

Issue 51

baltimorebeat.com

Baltimore Beat@baltimorebeat.bsky.social · 2y ago

Be part of something bigger this #GivingTuesday. Join the Baltimore Beat community and support independent journalism that uplifts our city. Together, we can make Baltimore stronger. 💛 https://buff.ly/4fUMPvb

How Chicago leaves communities in the dust - https://chicagoreader.com/news-politics/city-environmental-violations-contractors/

City rarely enforces environmental regulations for contractors, report finds

A new report found the department responsible for government contracts doesn’t monitor whether companies violate environmental regulations.

chicagoreader.com

Hello #Baltimore! Second Chance Inc. is happy to make its way to Bluesky! If you're looking for rare #architectural finds, incredible #vintage goods or #reclaimed building materials, come visit us at our South Baltimore warehouse Wednesday–Friday from 9 to 5! Learn more at SecondChanceInc.org!