The Trump admin’s offer to give preferential treatment to institutions that toe the party line reeks of bribery in exchange for allegiance to a partisan ideological agenda. This is corruption. Adherence to ‘loyalty oaths’ would usher in a new era of thought policing in American higher education.

“If any California university signs this radical agreement, they’ll lose billions in state funding — including Cal Grants — instantly,” Newsom said. www.latimes.com/california/s...

With the US federal shutdown underway, the race to assign blame has already begun. Be especially cautious about what you post and share in moments like this. #checkyoursources

"These prejudicial words do not reflect the qualities of a saint. To compare Mr. Kirk to St. Paul risks confusing the true witness of the Gospel and giving undue sanction to words and actions that hurt the very people Jesus calls us to love."

Rep. Frost: "We cannot let the fear of speaking out become normal. We cannot allow truth telling to become a crime. And we cannot let them silence us."

As someone who does religion and politics, I really didn’t need more content for my classes. I’m all good.

“There are campuses where professors are being fired for statements made in classes. And there’s this sense of am I being recorded? Are people signing up for classes simply to antagonize? And all of that does feel even more amplified now, especially in the aftermath of this killing.”

(un)friendly reminder to my fellow faculty as the semester starts that accommodations for disabled students aren't optional, rewards for good behavior, some sort of challenge to see how much you get away with, or a challenge to your authority. it's your job to provide them. stop being asses about it

When the rising generation of a putatively democratic society becomes "deskilled" in key cognitive areas, like the ability to summarize and critically assess an argument, then that generation becomes dependent upon the machines they've relied on to do that. Not thrilled to give that power to Grok.

But when a society, at scale, becomes less able to read an essay and accurately summarize its argument...then we as a society are being deprived of a skill that is essential for participation in a deliberative, democratic society. This is not just about fewer people knowing how to churn butter.

I’m a nerd who actually enjoys class prep & revising/updating syllabi. But I’ll always enjoy doing it for Media & Religion classes best! Trying to prioritize what fun to fit into 10 weeks!

Another example of my reason for including a whole chapter in my dissertation about Rockwell, the endurance of these images, & how they relate to (re)narrations of the nation in mediated American Civil Religion

As @judithweisenfeld.com mentions in her post on this — pretty sure they don’t mean all faiths.

Taking bets that "religion" mostly equals evangelical Christianity in this case. And, may I recommend @profirmf.bsky.social and @mpgphd.bsky.social's *Religion is Not Done With You: Or, the Hidden Power of Religion on Race, Maps, Bodies, and Law.* www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/757650...

In my latest copy editing batch I’ve noticed a theme — not indenting paragraphs. Some do add an extra space to mark a shift, but what’s up with this?

Check out this thread…learned a lot.

NEW: A GOP-led House investigation is targeting 200+ groups accused of fueling Biden's "historic border crisis" by helping immigrants. But list includes several faith groups and *entire denominations*, and some are calling the probe a violation of religious liberty. religionnews.com/2025/06/25/f...

Just going to join the host of lawyers and academics who are screaming at the press that THE PRESIDENT DOESN'T GET TO DECLARE WAR ALL ON HIS OWN no matter how special a boy he thinks he is.

Weren’t those affiliated w/this admin complaining about limits to their free speech just last year? 🤔 This looks a lot like examining speech to ensure it fits an agenda — just fyi that’s not the absolute free speech the US supposedly espouses. apnews.com/article/stud...

Question is whether or not law enforcement is buying the myth of anti-Christian bias or interested in the frightening trend of radicalization into Christian extremism. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s...

My favorite valentine this year thanks to @newslit.org

Honestly one of my favorite questions to ask students when I teach Intro to Media Studies classes.

Anyone else see the Vance clip from a speech at National Conservatism back in July circulating? He quotes Nixon about professors. I’m currently digging in digital archives & verifying.

In fact, real experts are often also the most humble. They’ve gazed into the deep recesses of a subject area, and get that “there’s always more facts/data I haven’t yet seen.” So they retain curiosity & the capacity to be surprised. What a contrast with the loudmouth know-nothings now taking power.

this is like perfect

UPDATE: A Denver Public Schools memo urges families to opt out of school directories that can be accessed by law enforcement and to identify those who can pick up their child "if a parent or guardian cannot." #copolitics

“Social experiments in the military” is what racists denounced when the armed forces were desegregated

100%. This inaugural speech is what I expected in 2017 but we got a more “traditional” speech (except for the carnage part).

Was glad to see Trump didn't use a heretical "God Bless the USA" Bible, instead going for same 2 he used 8 years ago. Of note, though, he didn't actually take the office on any Bibles; Melania held them but he never put his hand there.

How will we keep the nation “disease-free” while at the same time flaunting vaccine mandates? Oh, but we’re going to Mars, also.

Mood

Yep space manifest destiny. #inauguration

Was wondering when the ceasefire would come up. #inauguration

Oh great “color blind” cuz that’s ever worked. And in stating that there are 2 genders in an #inauguration speech you’re bringing gender into politics explicitly after you say you won’t “socially engineer race and gender” into public and private spaces.

To my nonbinary, agender, genderqueer, and otherwise off the binary friends & siblings: You are loved, you are valued, you are important to our community, you've been here longer than the tyrants, and you will still be here when their bones are dust and the names of their false gods are forgotten.

And there it is — claims to “bring back free speech to America” as we see some nice propaganda on TikTok’s welcome back message. #inauguration

So…Trump didn't put his hand on the Bible when taking the oath of office? (Not required, I don't believe, but notable!)

And with “drill baby drill” there goes the future. Time to prepare for the climate apocalypse. #inauguration

Here's how to cover things that are illegal: (i) this is illegal (ii) they say it's legal (iii) It's not Truth sandwich, extra mustard

Ummmm this is definitely more a victory speech than it is an inaugural speech.

I’ve never paid attn to the NFL like I have this season due to fantasy. Grateful it overlapped w/this Lions teams. 🦁

because black is now white and up is down, telephone services are not information services because "the telephone service merely transmits that which a speaker creates; it does not access information.” www.theverge.com/2025/1/2/243...

2nd annual NYE bookstore date was a success. The rule this year was that it had to be historical fiction. Excuse us while we read in the new year.

‘Gisèle has forced France to stop looking away’: our panel on the Pelicot rape trial verdict | Rokhaya Diallo, Anne Bouillon and others

Y’all why did I stay up to 2am reading a new book on a school night? Books 📚 I love you but sometimes…

Has anyone ventured into the Star Wars Skeleton Crew show? @jackjenkins.me? Looking for thoughts. I’m about to dive into the 2 episode premiere.

Rachel Whyte, one of RRCHNM's graduate students, put together an introductory video about the Religious Bodies censuses conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau. It provides a brief history of the census and an overview of the American Religious Ecologies project. www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNgJ...

The Program in Jewish Studies & CU Libraries support visiting scholars whose research interests take advantage of unique resources in the Innovations in Jewish Life Collections. tinyurl.com/ShneerFellow... Note: this website is under construction and will be updated 12/10 @samirakmehta.bsky.social

Interesting inversion of prevailing narratives here. A TN lawmaker at the rally opposing trans rights cited scripture to defend his position, but faith presence (e.g., clergy) is noticeably heavier on the side advocating for trans rights. Also on the anti-trans rights side: an atheist Democrat.