Something I’ve been thinking about: History as a profession has long relied on affiliation. Your university or museum pays your salary, and in return, you give time to edit journals, peer review articles, write book reviews, consult on exhibits, and volunteer for institutional support. 1/

I love how AI just called Dutch involvement in the American Revolution “a bit of a deep cut.” Like a deep track on an album. The Dutch supported the revolutionaries. They sent a lot of supplies & materiel, & allowed France & Spain to send their aid through Sint Eustatius and other Dutch ports.

If you're interested in learning about smallpox as germ warfare, the Continental Army, & Washington's inoculation mandate, you can still check out Forgotten America with The Great Courses Plus (or on Audible). bit.ly/4omm0oi 🗃️

This is so random: There is a police car in our neighborhood that has a dying siren. It turns on, starts loud, and then quickly does a fade out like it’s dying. It sounds so sad & yet brings a smile to my face every time I hear it go by. It’s such a comical sound.

Looking for that NPS article about disease and the Continental Army? Sorry, “Page not Found.” What on earth could be considered controversial about the fact that more soldiers died of disease and illness than combat?

Have a lot of Feelings about the National Park Service and how it, the staff, and the sites are being treated right now? Why not let them know it? Public comments on "Improving Visitor Services in National Parks" are being accepted until October 9. 🗃️📚📜 #NPS www.regulations.gov/document/NPS...

I’ve found a great tool that is helping me capture all my brainstorm & book notes more quickly. It’s called Wisper Flow. It’s a great speech-to-text app that works in any other app. They have a mobile and desktop version. 1/2 * This is a link that will get you a free month and me 2 free months.

This is a stroopwafel (pronounced Strope-waffle) and it is sitting on top of my tea cup in proper form. Stroopwafels are yummy Dutch tea cookies. This one has a a honey syrup in the middle.

Voted! It’s the #Boston City Preliminary.

I’m really excited about this episode because it explains a LOT about the origins of the U.S. Federal Government and its operations. Also, I love good histories about bureaucracies because they explain how things work.

NEW EPISODE 📊 In 1790, the U.S. federal government had about 1,000 employee. By 1829? Nearly 30,000. How did a government that small manage diplomacy, law, and westward expansion? 🎧 Ep. 420 with Peter Kastor: www.benfranklinsworld.com/420

Massachusetts made COVID vaccines available to all yesterday, so naturally Tim and I got ours today.

I think Mass may be considering a new state tourism motto: “Come to Massachusetts, We Have Vaccines!”

Military History Question, #Skystorians. I read last night in a book that Brandywine was the second bloodiest day of fighting. The first was Bunker Hill. Now I have a scholar on the podcast saying the second bloodiest conflict in the Rev War was the Siege of Savannah. Thoughts?

This is Harlie. She's a Yoda/Baked Potato mix found as a stray with severely infected ears. She needed a double ear canal ablation, and @15outof10.org was able to fully cover her care thanks to your support of our merch. She's now fully healed and wanted to introduce you to her new brother, Pierre ❤️‍🩹

I’m feeling excited! I just received an invitation to speak at a symposium next year on the American Revolution. Plus, the organization invited me to speak with students about podcasting and digital history.

Yes, we did love the the 4-run second inning. Go Sox!

Tonight’s view at Fenway. The Sox are playing Cleveland.

I just finished up a trio of class discussions about the Declaration of Independence. It was an absolutely amazing experience, and the podcasts of Ben Franklin's World were a big reason why! Please consider supporting this now-independently-funded nonprofit! benfranklinsworld.com/support-ben-...

I’m working on a September #BFWorld episode about the creation of the federal government.

One of my favorite paragraphs in my forthcoming book was how, when Mount Vernon installed the first granite marker for the enslaved burial ground in 1929, the local newspaper totally ignored it, but was full of 6yo's birthday parties, appendicitis cases, chairs purchased, aunts visited, etc.

When institutions fail, how do everyday people fight back? In 1760s North Carolina, the Regulators: farmers, craftsmen & religious dissenters rose against corruption, injustice & land theft. They asked for reform. They got cannon fire. 🎧 www.benfranklinsworld.com/419 #History #Revolution250

As @sethrockman.bsky.social notes eloquently in the conclusion to Plantation Goods, the work of history isn’t about building up or tearing down heroes. It’s about understanding the world in all of its messiness and humanity.

JUST IN: A federal appeals court concludes that discarding mail ballots in misdated or undated envelopes violates the Constitution.

Today is PUBLICATION DAY for Canal Dreamers! A dream come true! 🥳📘📖🗃️ Seacoast folks, I will be talking at Exeter’s Water Street Bookstore on October 9 at 7 PM. Please come! If you can't come, @uncpress.bsky.social has a sale (01NEWSITE50) or try 01SOCIAL30 uncpress.org/978146969055...

@hcrichardson.bsky.social tried to tell us this years ago in her book How the South Won the Civil War.

The bureaucratic step taken by every despot.

The new state flags are here! www.universalhub.com/2025/new-sta... #Massachusetts

I went to my first game at Yankee Stadium on Saturday, thanks to @noraslonimsky.bsky.social. We had a great time, although I had a better time because the Red Sox beat the Yanks 12-1.

Correction: Apparently the Philipse Family owned 53K acres of land, but their enslaved laborers and overseers lived here.

Philipsburg Manor, home of the Philipse family.

I’m hanging out in the southern Hudson River Valley today. I just took a tour of Washington Irving’s Sunnyside.

I am wicked concerned for our democracy. It’s imperiled and every day that imperilment looks and feels worse.

Trump is telling us his plan for 2026. Those of us who care about free and fair elections must take him seriously and literally. We cannot simply bring guns to a gun fight. We need to bring missiles.

Cute schnauzer.

I’m attending a workshop today and learned the most amazing term: Procrasti-Learner. I have never felt so seen. I will learn for a long time before launching into something new—although I see this in myself and try not to.

It was a pretty easy decision this week. The topic of my History Behind the Headlines newsletter: Standing armies in peacetime cities. You can subscribe below if you’d like to explore the early American history & ideas behind standing armies.

Tim and I have a record player and a vinyl collection. My Dad doesn’t get it. He says “we have digital, why would you ever want scratchy records?” (Most of our vinyl collection is used.) I tell my Dad it’s about the sound and the deliberate act of making time to listen to music.

Is it possible to survive a violent system without becoming part of it? Drivers—enslaved people forced to discipline others—walked this tightrope every day. Historian @randybrowne.bsky.social brings us into their world. 🎧 benfranklinsworld.com/418 #SlaveryStudies #EarlyAmerica #History

Sometimes it’s hard to tell where the dog bed ends and Orbit begins.

I’m attending History Camp 2025. @boston1775.bsky.social is talking about Henry Knox before the Revolution.

It never fails: When I sit down to prepare a presentation I always ask myself “how am I going to fill 30 minutes with information.” Then I outline my presentation and tell myself “I’m going to need more time.”

I followed the same process! I’m looking forward to my first S-USIH Conference too! Plus this panel will be a lot of fun!

I did something exciting & a bit scary today. I launched a new project through my email list. And people have said “yes!” It’s always a bit nerve wracking when you think you have a great idea, but aren’t 100 percent others will think so too. I’m deeply grateful to have some outside validation.

Apparently Elbridge Gerry didn’t like that members of the First Congress received $6/day. He noted this as evidence of intention to fill Congress with “nabobs or indigent men, who will unite in plans to plunder and oppress the people.”

I’ve seen a lot of entrepreneurs who write books in the business space use this web template for pre-ordering books and offering bonuses for those who pre-order. Here’s one example. (Thread)

Good Morning, it’s Wednesday, and from my feed I can see it is going to be another crazy news day.

Living the entrepreneur life and burning the candle at both ends as I get ready for the launch of my new project. 😂 It's worth it because Monday is going to be amazing! I can't wait to tell you what I've been working on. I'll be launching the beta of my new project only through my email list.

Friends. I’ll be at the Martha’s Vineyard Book Festival August 2 and 3 talking with Michele Norris and Henry Louis Gates Jr. about THE TROUBLE OF COLOR. It’s a great festival line up.

As @emilysneff.bsky.social recently discussed on @bfworld.bsky.social an original broadside of Declaration of Independence will be in my city. 🔥🎉🔥🎉🔥🎉🔥🎉