Ben Abrams

"This business will get out of control. It will get out of control and we'll be lucky to live through it."
- Admiral Josh Painter, "The Hunt for Red October" (1990)

Americans Are Leaving the U.S. in Record Numbers More citizens are replanting overseas, drawn by a quality of life made easily affordable by the U.S.’s enviable salaries.

This is such a well done piece that reports out, with hard data and interviews, something profound about what's gone wrong in this country.

www.wsj.com/us-news/amer...

Record 129 press members killed in 2025; Israel responsible for 2/3 of deaths - Committee to Protect Journalists Key findings Introduction At a time when armed conflict has reached historic levels around the world, journalist killings also reached an all-time high primarily due to the actions of one government: ...

New @pressfreedom.bsky.social report shows that a record 129 journalists, media workers were killed worldwide in 2025, with Israel responsible for over two-thirds of those killings.

And drone killings of journalists spiked from two in 2023 to 39 in 2025 — with Israel responsible for 28 of the 39.

a screenshot of the U2 extended play "Days Of Ash," with the track "American Obituary" playing

We are SO back

Bono lambasts ICE, Putin, Netanyahu and more as U2 release first collection of new songs since 2017 New EP Days of Ash features songs about Renee Good, Iranian protesters and other political topics, and precedes new ‘defiantly joyful’ album later in 2026 • Alexis Petridis on Days of Ash: six new tracks that reaffirm the band as a vital political voice U2 have released their first collection of new music since 2017 – a politically charged EP entitled Days of Ash, which focuses on a series of high-profile global deaths including the killing of Renee Good by ICE agents. Good, a mother of three children who was killed on 7 January while protesting against ICE activity in Minneapolis, is the subject of the opening song, American Obituary. Continue reading...

Bono lambasts ICE, Putin, Netanyahu and more as U2 release first collection of new songs since 2017

U2 drops blistering song about Minneapolis mom Renee Good The instant protest tune is part of a new urgent EP about current events.

U2 released a new song, “American Obituary,” about Renee Good and Minneapolis.

a screenshot of the upcoming album "Fidelity" by yaya bey on Bandcamp

I desperately need this to brighten up my 2026

With Ring, American Consumers Built a Surveillance Dragnet Ring's 'Search Party' is dystopian surveillance accelerationism.

Ring is a wildly dangerous company. Always has been. But it has sort of flown under the radar the last couple years as it tried to soften its image. Make no mistake that this is an extremely dangerous surveillance dragnet:

www.404media.co/with-ring-am...

Kehlani gets second Grammy of the day as "Folded" wins Best R&B Song stereogum.com/2487089/gram...

‘Folded’ by Kehlani wins the #GRAMMYs  award for Best R&B Song.

It becomes her second win, following her win for Best R&B Performance just moments ago.

Gaza's Rafah border crossing with Egypt to reopen for limited travel Monday Israel says Gaza's Rafah border crossing with Egypt is scheduled to resume Monday as its ceasefire with Hamas moves ahead.

Palestinians in Gaza watched with hope and impatience Sunday as workers laid the groundwork to reopen the territory's Rafah border crossing with Egypt, its lifeline to the world. Israel says the crossing is scheduled to resume Monday as its ceasefire with Hamas moves ahead.https://to.pbs.org/3ZbSFBv

This image shows a logo of The Washington Post Guild and our statement: The Post Guild vehemently opposes any more cuts to the staff of The Washington Post. As we’ve seen in recent years, continuing to eliminate scores of workers who make this storied institution what it is only stands to weaken the newspaper, drive away readers and undercut The Post’s mission: to hold power to account without fear or favor and provide critical insight into communities across the region, country and world. If Jeff Bezos no longer supports that mission, then The Post and its readers deserve a steward who does. If you value The Post’s journalism and its renowned past — if you care about its future — we ask that you join us in our call to #SaveThePost.

#SaveThePost, Jeff Bezos.

a menu option on Suoer Smash Bros. Ultimate showing a match time of 99 minutes. Title: "DIE OF OLD AGE"

I've been wondering why my friends don't want to come over and play Smash anymore...

The FBI’s raid of journalist’s home was the product of decades of backsliding | Seth Stern and Chip Gibbons The trend of invading newsrooms, in violation of federal law, has now spread to the highest levels of the federal government

"The raid of Hannah Natanson is a shocking escalation, not a rupture. The United States has been backsliding to this point – at both the federal and local levels – for quite some time," write FPF's Seth Stern and @chipgibbons.bsky.social of @rightsdissent.bsky.social in The Guardian.

Tulsa Jewish leaders surprised by Jewish charter school application The Jewish Federation of Tulsa said it was not consulted about an application seeking to found a taxpayer-funded online Jewish charter school.

Leaders of Tulsa’s Jewish community have expressed surprise and unease about a potential Jewish online charter school they said was introduced without local input. #tulsa

A photo of Claudette Colvin in a red sweater

WASHINGTON (AP) — Claudette Colvin, whose refusal to move seats on a segregated bus helped spark the civil rights movement, dies at 86.

‘It’s hate coming from fear’: Muslim residents disappointed as Broken Arrow rejects plan for new mosque The decision from Broken Arrow City Council came after a marathon of public comments both in favor of and against the proposed Islamic center.

“The people who smile at me, my neighbors, they just came with so much hate,” said Nadia Rafiuddin, a long-time Broken Arrow resident and member of the Muslim community.

My latest for @publicradiotulsa.bsky.social

www.publicradiotulsa.org/local-region...

Okla. AG launches investigation into proposed Broken Arrow mosque The Oklahoma chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) called Drummond's investigation a "witch hunt" in a statement.

A group of at least 200 people gathered Tuesday in opposition to the mosque, with flyers reportedly handed out to attendees linking Islam as a whole to terrorism.
My latest for @publicradiotulsa.bsky.social

www.publicradiotulsa.org/local-region...

A screenshot of a Facebook marketplace listing for a 2014 Ford Fusion sedan, the picture of which shows the sedan on its side on the road, clearly damaged. Seller is asking for $3000.

Facebook Marketplace has lost its ever-loving mind.

Holocaust survivor Eva Schloss, the stepsister of Anne Frank, dies at 96 Schloss, who was friends with Frank in Amsterdam and whose mother later married Frank's father, was a tireless educator about the Holocaust and was honorary president of The Anne Frank Trust UK.

Schloss, who was friends with Frank in Amsterdam and whose mother later married Frank's father, was a tireless educator about the Holocaust and was honorary president of The Anne Frank Trust UK. n.pr/4pnJxEo

Oklahoma congressional delegation backs Venezuelan attack Emphasizing the alleged connection between the Venezuelan president and drug trafficking to the U.S., Sens. Lankford and Mullin and Congressmen Hern and Cole said the action demonstrated strong presid...

Oklahoma congressional delegation backs Venezuelan attack
tulsaworld.com/news/state-r...

a screenshot of smartphone notifications from the Associated Press regarding the U.S. military action in Venezuela

Insane series of AP blasts

At least 7 explosions and low-flying aircraft are heard in Venezuela's Caracas At least seven explosions and low-flying aircraft are heard around 2 a.m. local time Saturday in Venezuela’s capital, Caracas.

BREAKING: U.S. President Donald Trump says Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro has been captured after US conducted a "large scale strike" on the country.

Venezuela accuses US after explosions and low-flying aircraft reported in Caracas – live Multiple loud explosions were reported in Caracas at about 2am on Saturday Venezuela’s authoritarian government has accused the US of risking plunging Latin America into chaos with “an extremely serious” act of “imperial aggression” after Donald Trump reportedly ordered strikes against the South American country. Explosions, loud noises and low-flying aircraft were heard in the Venezuelan capital of Caracas in the early hours of Saturday amid reports that Trump had ordered the attack. In a statement, Venezuela’s government confirmed that Caracas had come under attack, as well as three other states: Miranda, La Guaira and Aragua. Continue reading...

Venezuela accuses US after explosions and low-flying aircraft reported in Caracas – live

At least 7 explosions and low-flying aircraft are heard in Venezuela's Caracas At least seven explosions and low-flying aircraft are heard around 2 a.m. local time Saturday in Venezuela’s capital, Caracas.

At least seven explosions and low-flying aircraft were heard around 2 a.m. local time Saturday in Venezuela's capital, Caracas.

"Folded" is a great song. It's also not Kehlani's first great song. My personal favorites are "Undercover" and "Act A Fool." I'm glad she's getting the recognition she deserves, but it took too long. I've been listening since Cloud 19... there's an entire discography of slept-on hits there. #Kehlani

Gaza Newborn Dies of Hypothermia as Israel Continues to Block Lifesaving Aid | Common Dreams "This must stop," the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees said in response to the ongoing Israeli blockade. "Aid must be allowed in at scale, now."

More than a dozen Palestinians—including children and infants as young as 2 weeks old—have died of hypothermia in Gaza amid winter rain, wind, exposure, and bodies weakened by 803 days of Israel's genocide By @brettwilkins.bsky.social

Palestinians struggle as heavy rain hits the Bureij refugee camp in Gaza City [Moiz Salhi/Anadolu]

Damaged tents are worsening conditions for people struggling to survive the cold and exposure. [Moiz Salhi/Anadolu]

Israel is accused of operating a systemic ban or severe restrictions on the entry of tents and mobile homes for displaced Palestinians in Gaza. [Moiz Salhi/Anadolu]

Residents and displaced families say the tents they live in now offer little protection. [Moiz Salhi /Anadolu]

Winter storms plague Palestinians left in desperate need of aid by Gaza war https://aje.io/wsckcd

The victims of the Bondi terror attack, what we know so far A Holocaust survivor, a young Frenchman exploring the world and a rabbi are among the victims of the Bondi attack.

- Matilda
- Alex Kleytman
- Eli Schlanger
- Dan Elkayam
- Yaakov Levitan
- Reuven Morrison
- Peter Meagher
- Tibor Weitzen
- Marika Pogany
...and those who have yet to be identified.
May their memory be a blessing.
www.smh.com.au/national/wha...

Hero who wrestled gun from terrorist says he’d do it again despite being ‘riddled with bullets’ Despite Ahmed al Ahmed being in a lot of pain, according to his migration lawyer, he felt as if disarming the gunman at Bondi was an act for the community.

via @sydmorningherald.bsky.social - Ahmed al Ahmed, who disarmed one of the Bondi Beach gunman, said he "doesn't regret" his heroic actions.
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Story by Kayla Olaya, Mostafa Rachwani, Emily Kowal, Carla Jaeger, Josefine Ganko and Nick Newling.
www.smh.com.au/national/nsw...