Richie Assaly

Statement from Liam Og:

“This entire process was never about me, never about any threat to the public and never about "terrorism", a word used by your government to discredit people you oppress.

It was always about Gaza.”

Kneecap member's terrorism case in U.K. 'null and void,' judge rules | CBC News A member of Irish rap group Kneecap was charged too late with a terrorism offence for allegedly displaying a flag of Iran-backed Lebanese militia Hezbollah, a London court ruled on Friday, throwing ou...

U.K. court throws out terrorism case against Kneecap member

“The charge is unlawful and null and this court has no jurisdiction to try the charge," the judge said to cheers from the public gallery.

www.cbc.ca/news/world/u...

so yeah generative AI is a flop, and the rush to incorporate it into every workplace was motivated by little more than the “fear of missing out”

www.404media.co/email/641a21...

Also a reminder that Honest Reporting Canada is a registered charity.

Latest reminder that in Canadian media, any attempt to engage with art made by Palestinians (or art that is sympathetic to Palestinians) will be met with a sophisticated campaign to denigrate your work and demand you be deplatformed.

Forget symbolic statehood — the world must recognize Israeli apartheid The push to recognize a Palestinian state creates the illusion of action, but delays the real remedies: sanctioning and isolating Israel's apartheid regime.

Good piece by Alaa Salama, on the futility and dangers of symbolic statehood

www.972mag.com/palestinian-...

Third Stepdad In Row Has Goatee

Third Stepdad In Row Has Goatee

YouTube video by AzariandiiiOfficial Azari & III - Reckless (With Your Love) Official Video

RIP Alphonse Lanza, co-founder of Toronto’s premier house supergroup Azari & III. youtu.be/aMEhf9iw55M?...

Civilians made up 15 of every 16 people killed by Israel in Gaza since March, data suggests Report from independent conflict tracker Acled indicates one of the highest civilian death rates since start of war

Civilians made up 15 of every 16 people killed by Israel in Gaza since March, data suggests

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...

Billy-Ray Belcourt’s poems insist on Indigenous freedom In his first poetry collection since 2019, the acclaimed author from Driftpile Cree Nation challenges readers to imagine new political possibilities.

In his first poetry collection since 2019, acclaimed author Billy-Ray Belcourt of Driftpile Cree Nation challenges readers to imagine new political possibilities.

By @rdassaly.bsky.social. www.thegrindmag.ca/billy-ray-be...

Had a blast working on the latest issue of @thegrindto.bsky.social, which is rolling out acroess Toronto this weekend.

If you want to support independent, progressive media, consider donating a few bucks here:

www.thegrindmag.ca/support-the-...

So America's bigot-in-chief gets a standing ovation in Parliament, but the semi-satirical Irish band gets banned from the country because of their staunchly pro-Palestine stance.

Embarrassing!

You know it!

lolol

Billy-Ray Belcourt’s poems insist on Indigenous freedom In his first poetry collection since 2019, the acclaimed author from Driftpile Cree Nation challenges readers to imagine new political possibilities.

I spoke to Billy-Ray Belcourt about his latest book, the "false promises" of reconciliation, and how poetry can be used to imagine new political possibilities.

My latest for @thegrindto.bsky.social

www.thegrindmag.ca/billy-ray-be...

Though the man’s killing had been filmed, a fact checker is obliged to seek comment from any party alleged to have committed a crime. I called the soldier’s lawyer. He picked up from a café, where I could hear trance music blasting in the background. The lawyer told me that while, yes, his client did shoot the man picking olives, and yes, the man did die, the Israeli military court found his client not guilty of murder because the man picking olives was a terrorist who was throwing stones. Even though the video did not show the Palestinian man throwing stones, the court said that he was, so he was. QED, his client did not murder anyone, and it would be slanderous for us to say so.

if you read one thing today, make it this absolutely devastating piece from a fact-checker who quit the New Yorker
bidoun.org/articles/hou...

I was unable to make sense of it

FTC sues Ticketmaster, Live Nation, alleging 'illegal' ticket resale tactics The Federal Trade Commission sued Ticketmaster and Live Nation on Thursday for allegedly engaging in "illegal ticket resale tactics."

FTC sues Ticketmaster, Live Nation, alleging 'illegal' ticket resales

“The consumer protection agency said the company made $3.7 billion in resold tickets between 2019 and 2024.”
www.cnbc.com/2025/09/18/f...

we live in hell

Over 400 artists and labels announce Israel streaming boycott · News ⟋ RA The No Music For Genocide boycott, inspired by activism against apartheid in 1980s South Africa, counts Arca, Massive Attack, NTS and more among its supporters.

Hundreds of indie musicians and labels join the cultural boycott of Israel, pull their music from streaming:

BADBADNOTGOOD, Elisapie, Grizzly Bear, Japanese Breakfast, MJ Lenderman, King Krule, Erika de Casier, Oklou, Nourished by Time, Yaeji ...

ra.co/news/83615

Comedy is legal again

Congrats to Yves Jarvis on his Polaris Music Prize win!

Here’s an interesting tidbit from my recent interview with him 😅

Why Do I Keep Getting Mad at Coachella Lineups? What’s Wrong With Me? It’s once again time to wince at uninspiring headliners, squint at acts I’ve never heard of, and yearn for the days when the festival had an independent, trailblazing spirit. It’s an annual ritual tha...

Why Do I Keep Getting Mad at Coachella Lineups? What’s Wrong With Me?

pitchfork.com/thepitch/coa...

Charlie Kirk, Redeemed: A Political Class Finds Its Lost Cause By ignoring the rhetoric and actions of the Turning Point USA founder, pundits and politicians are sanitizing his legacy.

"Garden-variety transphobia is sadly unremarkable. But Kirk was a master of folding seemingly discordant bigotries into each other."

www.vanityfair.com/news/story/c...

Congrats to Yves Jarvis on his Polaris Music Prize win!

Here’s an interesting tidbit from my recent interview with him 😅

Here’s what’s happening on the other site

TIFF '25 Wrap-Up A few words about permanent stains

"Never have I felt so personally disrespected by TIFF, as both a Jew and a human being."

for the newsletter, i wrapped up #TIFF25 with some words on the great Rose of Nevada, and a long rant about Cameron Bailey's shameful display in support of The Road Between Us

Independent UN commission finds that’s Israel has been committing genocide in Gaza *since* October 7.

The report was limited to Gaza, but raises the “serious concern” that Israel intends “to destroy the Palestinians as a whole.”

Human rights experts join rising chorus that accuses Israel of genocide in Gaza A team of experts commissioned by the U.N.'s Human Rights Council has concluded that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.

BREAKING: Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, a team of independent experts commissioned by the U.N.’s Human Rights Council concludes.

I sent an email to Giller Prize Executive Director Elana Rabinovitch, who told me that this year's prize will be funded "with the support of gifts from donors who wish to remain anonymous."