I hate that AI has made me approach cute animal videos with an air of suspicion. I resent having to harden my heart to the possibility of an unlikely friendship between a very large dog and a very small one

internet is crazy

two dumb bitches saying exaaactlyyy

and thank god she did

There's so little great film criticism anymore that I will happily share any and all I come across. There are spoilers here, but Asch's insight and understanding are really great.

in online corners like these I think people largely recognize how credulous, unprincipled opposition to "wokeness" functioned as lightly papered over defenses of impunity, but it's one of those drums people should probably start beating for normies

got the always great Mark Asch on Bugonia

these epstein emails are pretty damning. i sure hope that we haven't spent the last couple years in a cultural backslide where men are seemingly allowed to openly and gleefully fantasize about dominating young women without any threat of reproach

From: Jeffrey Epstein To: Donald Trump Subject: Pedophilia Hello my good friend Donald Trump. I am a pedophile, and I know you are also. We are friends and pedophiles, together. Best, Jeffrey Epstein, famous pedophile.

Here's the full Summers email, btw.

The birth of the author

This is such a good analysis of both book and movie

I think the belief by the powerful that "people will put up with many things if you are excellent at math" is incredibly revealing in terms of understanding How We Got Here

having read both versions of frankenstein and a book of criticism and a novel based on frankenstein in the last month… i am happy to release my creature (this blog) defector.com/guillermo-de...

The thing about the "I voted against this" position Schumer is taking is that either he is trying to mislead Dem voters by implying he didn't support reopening right now, or he has no control over his caucus.

Cornell agreed to pay $30m, hand over admissions data with demographic breakdowns, produce annual "campus climate" surveys to check on antisemitism and changes "since October of 2023," and—here's the dumbest part they agreed to—that the govt can open new investigations whenever it wants. Appeasers.

Here is what reading to my child has done to my brain: defector.com/here-is-what...

bro are you fucking kidding me

lmao

Can we fix this problem that did not happen with something that does not exist?

Bernard-Henri buttoning one extra shirt button, mid-navel, to show that this moment calls for solemnity

so many good pictures out there

'For Cookie and Lizzy, art makes life worthwhile, whether life deserves it or not.' Kelly Reichardt's films mean so much to me & i love The Mastermind. Thanks for this thoughtful review @robrubsam.bsky.social defector.com/kelly-reicha...

dawg not the steakhouse wedding font

let’s go

better things are indeed possible

Many thanks to @brandyjensen.bsky.social for letting me write about Kelly Reichardt, our slow action maestra defector.com/kelly-reicha...

really nice work here from @robrubsam.bsky.social

The defense team presses Lairmore on whether the sandwich really 'exploded.' They return to the photo of the sandwich and wrapper on the ground. "That sandwich hasn't exploded at all, has it?" defense asks. "It looks like a little bit is coming out towards the bottom," Lairmore replies.

The officer Sandwich Guy is charged with assaulting testifies that he could feel the impact of the sandwich through his ballistic vest, and it “exploded all over my uniform.” He says he could “smell the onions and the mustard.”

i'm a very biased party here but pretty much everything about the Mamdani campaign and the discourse around it thus far is a pretty thorough vindication of Africana Studies

watching the Mamdani campaign from afar during the primary, so many things were impressive, among them the incredible work his online video team was doing to spread the message in fun, creative, educational, invigorating ways that spoke to people this is my story about how they did it

It's not in this article but the government asserts that the sandwich was thrown at "point blank range", which implies subway sandwiches have defined effective weapon ranges of varying lethality, and I would like to see the government's chart of these ranges.

I — yes? what do you think is supposed to happen in the situation you describe?

It’s his day.

fascinating!

Larry Bushart, 61, spent over a month in jail over a liberal meme he posted on Facebook. He celebrated his freedom by eating wings, drinking margaritas — and posting a bunch more liberal memes on Facebook. Heart of a true boomer poster. Gift link: wapo.st/4qwXqSJ w/ @benbrasch.bsky.social

good review of Werner Herzog’s book, which is about the dangers of AI, going on long walks, and a cube-shaped translucent pig stuck in a sewer grate

For this year’s Tip Jar drive, we invite you to travel to Philadelphia to either judge (easy mode) or bake along with (chaos mode) Kelsey McKinney and Chris Thompson as they take on another timed baking challenge. defector.com/help-secure-...

CHOTINER: So you asked for a Birkin bag? KOKO: Yes. Possession Bag. CHOTINER: And you had the funds to acquire this? KOKO: No, Professor Purchase Koko Gorilla CHOTINER: That doesn't sound like the funds were justifiable. KOKO: Hostility Interviewer

incredible news

They’re just never ever gonna stop this and our tax dollars pay for it

Happy to be there writing On IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT (one of the year’s finest films) and the relief of seeing Jafar Panahi finally working outside his own head. Also includes a brief examination of my own (embarassing, unsettling) feelings about vengeance in fascist times.

so so pleased to have @fauxbeatpoet.bsky.social up on defector today

If British Airways don't want to be associated with controversial people that's fine but then why were they sponsoring a podcast made by Louis "interviews controversial people" Theroux www.theguardian.com/music/2025/o...

"EdTech has been leading this charge since long before the AI craze...clawing shared governance back can help ensure that universities aren’t converted into profit centers for private equity firms." every day is a good day to be burstingly proud of @jraden.bsky.social defector.com/higher-eds-r...

Theres a guy who makes videos where he forces Barstool employees to do the NYT mini and so far the two people who’ve done it took 5 and 8 minutes respectively. Insane

This whole article is fabulously smart, but this line, in particular, is its crowning glory.

Wrote a thing on the hot summer of uni AI adoption for @defector.com A huge thanks to @nathankhensley.bsky.social and @anniemcc.bsky.social. @brandyjensen.bsky.social is a legend. And anything smart in hear is thanks to hours of discussion, texting, and draft reading by @smosment.bsky.social