Jeff Brock

“Break into small groups” is one of the most terrifying phrases in the English language.

Every social theory undergirding Trumpism has been broken on the steel of Minnesotan resolve. The multiracial community in Minneapolis was supposed to shatter. It did not. It held until Bovino was forced out of the Twin Cities with his long coat between his legs. The secret fear of the morally depraved is that virtue is actually common, and that they’re the ones who are alone. In Minnesota, all of the ideological cornerstones of MAGA have been proved false at once. Minnesotans, not the armed thugs of ICE and the Border Patrol, are brave. Minnesotans have shown that their community is socially cohesive—because of its diversity and not in spite of it. Minnesotans have found and loved one another in a world atomized by social media, where empty men have tried to fill their lonely soul with lies about their own inherent superiority. Minnesotans have preserved everything worthwhile about “Western civilization,” while armed brutes try to tear it down by force.

Last week in Minnesota, I watched ordinary people risk their lives to protect their neighbors. In the process, they not only won a significant—though not final—victory against authoritarianism, they proved virtually every MAGA social theory wrong. (gift link) www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...

Everything Trump is doing now (from from Portland to Minneapolis to Chicago) is a preamble for his regime's real goal: to invoke the Insurrection Act.

I don’t want to unduly alarm you, but I've been warning for months of this imminent danger. Let me explain what’s going on.

“The death of truth is the ultimate victory of evil. When truth leaves us, when we let it slip away, when it’s ripped from our hands, we become vulnerable to the appetite of whatever monster screams the loudest.”

Mon Mothma, future leader of the Rebel Alliance. #Andor #StarWars #DisneyPlus

DS9 is my favorite Trek, yet somehow this perfect comparison hadn’t occurred to me!

andor is ds9 for star wars fans

On mainstream coverage of #Andor & other art meeting this American moment: America’s fascism is not occasional—calling it out can’t be occasional. Especially in mainstream spaces. Blast away at it like you blasted away at Biden's age. Don't think because you mentioned it once you shouldn't again

Such a treat to see this fantastical image that captivated my imagination as a child - my mother grew up with this book and she shared it with me.

Author stands with sign reading “Hands Off! Personal Data” at the Hands Off 2025 March in Poulsbo WA

Incredible turnout this weekend in Poulsbo, WA (population only 12K) - peaceful, upbeat and determined #handsoff #poulsbo #handsoff2025

It’s such a tired trope the right-wing uses with memes like this. Sure, their salary may be less when they move into government - but they aren’t doing it for love of country. They’re doing it for love of POWER.

E-M-P-A-T-H-Y

Spread it around!

Butterfly Nebula. Two enormous, knotted lobes of pink, red, and white gas and dust extend out from a central point and diagonally to the top right and lower left. The lobes resemble the wings of a butterfly, and they glow against black space dotted with more distant stars and galaxies. image credit: NASA, ESA, and the Hubble SM4 ERO Team

“we are like butterflies who flutter for a day and think it is forever.”
- carl sagan

As the proud owner of an original movie poster from when I saw The Matrix in its 1999 theatrical debut - after a mysterious ad campaign teasing “What is The Matrix?” with a link to a cryptic website - I say, YOU ARE CORRECT.

This series finale is very black mirror

The Heart Nebula

Yes, it constantly clicks at me because apparently I’m too deliberately paced for its high-strung nature.

It’s quite possible both were true.

A star cluster is shown inside a large nebula of many-coloured gas and dust. The material forms dark ridges and peaks of gas and dust surrounding the cluster, lit on the inner side, while layers of diffuse, translucent clouds blanket over them. Around and within the gas, a huge number of distant galaxies can be seen, some quite large, as well as a few stars nearer to us which are very large and bright.

Mountain-like structures of gas and dust jut upwards into space. Mostly brown with glowing orange regions, these structures narrow as they grow taller, with jets of gas seen at their tips. The nebulous background of space glows in shades of blue and violet, with a few pink stars scattered throughout.

An image of the black hole at the center of the Milky Way, Sagittarius A*, which appears as an orange donut shape with a dark center. At the edges of the black hole are fine lines.

A Juno image of Jupiter showing its swirling bands and storms. Processing: David Marriott

it’s such a beautiful thing that we as humans can see things like this in space thanks to machines we made on earth

I feel mislead by all dystopian literature. It's supposed to be a powerful authoritarian government that lords over a cowering population, and and we just need need a few brave acts of heroism to give the people the courage to rise up.

Instead it's just half the country being dumb and mean.

Mariner from Star Trek: Lower Decks with a frustrated expression

Today's mood

#StarTrek

Why Star Wars is relevant to our lives...

The stirring, cello-infused intro of the late, great "Star Trek: Discovery", backed by scientific illustration-style graphics which change to reflect each season's motifs. Close 2nd: the pure Enterprise "starship porn" of "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds" narrated by my man-crush Anson Mount.

the actual best thing you can do for your mental health the next 4 years is make it a point to not wake up everyday and google the president to see what shit he did while you were asleep. Stay engaged, stay aware stay alert but don't do this, it will not only not help it'll make you feel worse daily

Them: you're really going to due for drag and queer folk? star trek lady holding a gun: someone is

Bluesky culture is this:

What has helped me is reorienting my focus to local—news, shopping, events—a few years ago.

Keeps relationships close and meaningful.

Less instinct for (and invitation to) constant combat.

More room for curiosity.

Fundamentally, this approach has made me both happier and more effective.