James Welker

Early planning documents reviewed by WIRED describe a statewide transport grid designed for steady detainee transfers across Texas, with ICE estimating each trip to average 100 miles. Every county would have its own small, around-the-clock team of contractors collecting immigrants from local authorities deputized by ICE. It is a subtle transfer of the physical custody process into the hands of a private security firm—authorized to carry firearms and perform transport duties “in any and all local, county, state, and ICE locations.”

NEW: ICE is planning to build a shadow deportation network in Texas. A proposal outlines a 24/7 transport operation run by armed contractors—turning Texas into the logistical backbone of an industrialized deportation machine.

My latest @wired.com: www.wired.com/story/ice-is...

Amazon is helping fund a $300 million build of a ballroom for the White House.

Independent bookstores are donating to food banks and organizations that help with food insecurity.

They are not the same.

California – this Election Day, vote yes on Prop 50.

California’s Prop 50 says that if Republicans are going to abuse the system to try and hang onto power, we’re going to counteract that abuse and create a level playing field in the midterm elections.

Make a plan to vote yes on Prop 50.

Some White House ballroom contractors go underground Some firms involved in the White House ballroom project appear to be trying to lower their online profiles.

Bastards! Can’t believe any of them would’ve accepted the job of destroying the White House.

www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/som...

BREAKING: The Israeli military says it has begun a wave of air attacks on southern Gaza as the precarious ceasefire comes under threat.

🔴 LIVE updates: aje.io/7g8svh

Chicago Mayor Issues Defiant Call For A General Strike It was an audacious proposal, given that the U.S. has never held a true, nationwide general strike.

Whoa. Chicago mayor calls for a general strike; now we're talking

www.huffpost.com/entry/chicag...

Nobody’s Girl by Virginia Roberts Giuffre review – a devastating exposé of power, corruption and abuse Giuffre’s posthumously published memoir lays bare the life-wrecking impact of Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes – but it is also the story of how a young woman becomes a hero

Nobody’s Girl by Virginia Roberts Giuffre review – a devastating exposé of power, corruption and abuse

"Queer Throughlines" by @dotorious.bsky.social is now available! Trace contemporary transnational Korean LGTBQ+ activism with this new addition to our Global Queer Asias series. Start reading: buff.ly/xfJIUR5

BREAKING: At least 51 Palestinians have been killed across Gaza by Israeli attacks since the ceasefire came into effect less than two weeks ago, medical sources have told Al Jazeera.

🔴 LIVE updates: aje.io/z1q2d3

Toronto showed up! #NoKings #NoTyrants

On November 29, I will host the following online event. I would appreciate if you could share it with your networks!

In Japanese and Italian only but hoping to publish English transcription.

Exclusive: US carries out new strike in Caribbean and there are survivors, US official says By Phil Stewart October 16, 2025 11:06 PM UTC · Updated ago WASHINGTON, Oct 16 (Reuters) - The U.S. military carried out a new strike on Thursday against a suspected drug vessel in the Caribbean, and in what appeared to be a first, there were survivors among the crew, a U.S. official told Reuters. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, did not offer additional details about the incident, which has not been previously reported. Sign up here. The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Prior to Thursday's operation, U.S. military strikes against suspected drug boats off Venezuela killed at least 27 people, raising alarms among some legal experts and Democratic lawmakers, who question whether they adhere to the laws of war. The Trump administration argues the United States is already engaged in a war with narcoterrorist groups from Venezuela, making the strikes legitimate. Videos presented by the Trump administration of previous attacks showed vessels being completely destroyed, and there have been no prior accounts of survivors. The strikes come against the backdrop of a military buildup in the Caribbean that includes U.S.-guided missile destroyers, F-35 fighter jets, a nuclear submarine and around 6,500 troops as President Donald Trump escalates a standoff with the Venezuelan government. On Wednesday, Trump disclosed he had authorized the Central Intelligence Agency to conduct covert operations inside Venezuela, adding to speculation in Caracas that the United States is attempting to topple Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

Reportedly a 6th lawless US strike in the Caribbean.

This time reportedly with survivors.

If true, will the US military rescue the survivors?

Will the US military seek to detain the survivors, and if so, on what legal basis?

A phony war with real violence.

www.reuters.com/world/us/us-...

SOUTH CAROLINA… “Judge Goodstein was walking on the beach when the fire started. Her husband, Arnie, was in the house with children and perhaps grandchildren. The family had to escape by jumping from a window or balcony...” www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...

I’m horrified by Trump’s order to send 300 National Guard troops to Chicago. We’re only nine months into a four year term and already the president is trying to invade an American city. If you’re in the Guard, you can and should refuse these orders.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson:

"Private establishments can partner with us to make it clear that private property is private property and ICE cannot enter establishments without a valid warrant ... If Congress will not check this administration, then Chicago will."

It's a pretty big deal that the NYC Bar Association--one of the most prominent and respected bar associations in the country--is accusing the President of ordering the "unlawful summary execution," i.e. murder--of civilians in violation of US and international law. www.nycbar.org/press-releas...

Flier for talk. Here are the full details. I'll be giving an online lecture next week about my monograph, Transfiguring Women in Late Twentieth-Century Japan: Feminists, Lesbians, and Girls' Comics Artists and Fans (2024), hosted by Rutgers University Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, and Global Asias. Thursday, October 16 at 7 pm New York/Toronto time (or Friday, October 17 at 8 am Tokyo time) The lecture is open to the public. Please join if you missed one of my in-person talks over the past year. (It will not be recorded.) Zoom Meeting ID: 9181599714 Password: 446539 (Or DM me for the link.) ---- Abstract: In the early 1970s, Japan saw the emergence of three dynamic and overlapping communities of women and adolescent girls who challenged Japanese gender and sexual norms: the women’s liberation (ūman ribu) movement, the lesbian community, and a sphere comprised of artists and fans of queer shōjo manga (girls’ comics). In this talk, James Welker will discuss Transfiguring Women in Late Twentieth-Century Japan: Feminists, Lesbians, and Girls’ Comics Artists and Fans, which examines these communities and their cultural import. As he shows, individually and collectively, they found the normative understanding of the category “women” untenable and worked to redefine and expand its meaning by transfiguring ideas, images, and practices selectively appropriated from the “West.” They did so, however, while remaining primarily focused on the local. Welker argues that their transfiguration of Western culture into something locally meaningful had tangible effects far beyond these communities.

Online lecture (book talk):

James Welker
Reimaginging “Women” in 1970s–1980s Japan: Feminists, Lesbians, and Queer Manga Artists and Fans

Thurs, Oct 16, 7 pm New York/Toronto (8 am Friday in Tokyo)

Open to the public. (It will not be recorded.)
Zoom info is in the attached flier.

Many thanks for the kind words

Annual Conference Call for Papers: Mechademia 2026 Conference Theme: Traversing Trans-Asian Imaginaries: Anime, Manga, and Media CulturesDates: 29-30 May, 2026Location: National University of Singapore (NUS), Singap…

The Mechademia 2026 CFP is now available! Join us at the National University of Singapore, 29-30 May 2026!

Conference theme is "Traversing Trans-Asian Imaginaries: Anime, Manga, and Media Cultures" and ABSTRACTS ARE DUE 15 OCTOBER 2025.

Full info at the link:
www.mechademia.net/conferences/...

Text from a friend just now:

"Why are “travel disruptions” the only part of this Air Canada story the CBC deems worthy of coverage? What about union busting & expecting a whole cohort of women workers to perform unpaid labour? WTF. How do these people think strikes work?"

#cdnpoli #aircanadastrike

UN rapporteur demands global action to stop Israel’s ‘genocide’ in Gaza Francesca Albanese addresses delegates from 30 countries to discuss ways nations can try to stop Israel’s offensive.

Francesca Albanese addresses delegates from 30 countries to discuss ways nations can try to stop Israel’s offensive.

Cut to foreign PhD student support deals blow to Japanese academia - The Mainichi TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The Japanese government's plan to end financial support for foreign doctoral students has drawn criticism from students and academics

"The Japanese government's plan to end financial support for foreign doctoral students has drawn criticism from students and academics who have labeled the step unjust and counterproductive to fostering a diverse, inclusive and thriving academic environment."

WeTransfer TOS says they can use all your uploaded content for genAI

Bye forever, WeTransfer.

Flier for talk. Details in the flier can be found in text form via the link.

Lecture:

Julia Bullock, “Beauvoir in Japan: Japanese Women and The Second Sex”

Kanagawa U. Minatomirai Campus
Wed 23 July 3:30–5pm (hybrid)

Pls preregister to attend in person.

Preregistration & Zoom details:
human.kanagawa-u.ac.jp/kenkyu/sympo...

UPDATE through Fox News' 4 p.m. hour:

Biden: 85 mentions
Epstein: STILL ZERO

Fox is following Trump's marching orders and shutting up about the story currently consuming the MAGA movement.
bsky.app/profile/did:...
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How Trump’s big law impacts Massachusetts From health insurance to immigration enforcement and higher ed taxes, the WBUR newsroom took a look at how some key provisions may have an impact on residents and programs in Massachusetts.

Trump & Republicans' Big, Ugly Law is disastrous for Massachusetts.

—300,000 could lose healthcare
—175,000 could lose food assistance
—Higher energy & education costs
—More ICE kidnappings in our communities
—& much more.

We won't forget who did this.
www.wbur.org/news/2025/07...

Supporters of banned Palestine Action group arrested at London protest More than 25 protesters have been detained by police a day after the activist group was banned in the UK.

More than 25 protesters have been detained by police a day after the activist group was banned in the UK.