In honor of Susan Stamberg’s passing, I made Mama Stamberg’s Cranberry Relish for Thanksgiving. It was a surprise hit for those willing to try it. As an avid @npr.org fan, I always listened with anticipation for Stamberg’s recipe segment and laughed at how she would sneak it in. Funny. And yummy.

Refugees have consistently contributed to building the country. My own family came as Puritan refugees in the 1620s and 1630s and as Huguenot refugees in 1685. Their descendants fought in the Revolutionary War. Subsequent waves of refugees have made our country stronger.

Since my daughter is now a cheerleader, this is my first time experiencing the weird New England tradition of high school football on Thanksgiving. I don’t get the idea of having a school event on a family holiday. This was not a Midwestern tradition. Can someone explain?

F these sorry excuses for humans.

I feel like my 12-year-old and I accomplished something today. Before and after photos.

Just when I think this administration can’t go any lower, they surprise me with new levels of cruelty and stupidity. Attacking the Scouts for not being manly enough is just idiotic. Mr. slicked-back hair Hegseth is trying to destroy every institution he can reach.

These guys are really hoping you’re having a vegetarian Thanksgiving!

Just when I think this administration can’t go any lower, they surprise me with new levels of cruelty and stupidity. Attacking the Scouts for not being manly enough is just idiotic. Mr. slicked-back hair Hegseth is trying to destroy every institution he can reach.

Oh, this is just too rich. Chief presidential shit shoveler has family member detained by ICE.

Every time the Franklin Graham “pray this prayer” ad comes on TV, I can’t dive for the mute button quickly enough. If this ad by one of the country’s leading Christian bigots bothers me as a practicing Christian so much, I can’t imagine how non-Christians feel. Makes me want to not watch the news.

Our country is being run by the absolutely worst people. Like, if you were writing a script and created Pete Hegseth as a character, your editor would insist that someone that stupid, petty, and evil is too unbelievable to stay in the text.

Funny how people who are unaffected by it personally are happy enough to have someone else suffer a "necessary evil."

So the government being led by some of the least civil politicians in American history are launching a civility campaign? Sure. That'll work.

Good article in the Globe on how ICE raids are affecting religious institutions. The fact the Trump administration has rejected the ancient concept of sanctuary and announced intentions to target faith communities belies their claim to be protectors of religious liberty.

It’s like these people have never lived in the real world. Sell your house, give up your job, and pay to move … to save half a % at the grocery store? And how does he even know this alleged statistic, given the decimation of the government’s information gathering system? It’s all lies & stupidity!

One of the things I appreciate about conferences is the intergenerational exchange that takes place. At the African Studies Association, I had meals with a couple of senior scholars who had helped me with my career and a couple of junior scholars who I tried to assist. What goes around comes around.

And, sadly, dark days for K through 12 as well

I’ve been in Atlanta almost a week, and today is the first day the air is clear enough to see the hills on the horizon. It’s still pretty hazy, though. I’d forgotten what air pollution does to the sky and hadn’t realized how clear the skies back in Boston are.

Welp, guess it’s time to invade Venezuela!

"Mobutu expo lays bare DR Congo dictator's troubled legacy 30 years on" NPR had a very good segment on this yesterday that I've been unable to find online. Mobutu expo lays bare DR Congo dictator's troubled legacy 30 years on www.indopremier.com/ipotnews/new...

I know I’m not supposed to say this on Bluesky, but I don’t actually care about either Olivia Nuzzi or Ryan Lizza.

I worked the register at Marshall Fields the year of the dancing Christmas tree. We had one at the register, and every customer would clap their hands, and the toy tree would wiggle and sing a tinny version of Jingle Bells. Every. Damn. Customer. And no one ever actually bought one.

I am at an academic conference, and the main topic of conversation is the horrors that everyone is facing at their institutions: departments closed, colleagues fired, speech censored, DEI programs eliminated, websites scrubbed. These are dark days for higher education.

If you need to be uplifted, give a listen to the Moorehouse Glee Club singing, “Me Hab Home Een de Rock.” Enough to restore your faith in humanity.

Apropos of this crap, a good friend who has been an immigration judge for years just got unceremoniously fired by email — another victim of the ongoing purges of those who believe in due process. I am furious. Years of civil service ended by people who hate that an immigrant might win a case.

Wow. I’ve given talks in Utah in the past but I guess I won’t be able to in the future. How could I talk about human rights and genocide without mentioning oppression?

That John Roberts was more concerned with nuisance lawsuits against the president than he was with whatever this is will haunt this country for a long time

Last month it was the Young Republicans praising Hitler. Last week it was Fuentes & Carlson criticizing "Jewry". This week, they're saying swastikas and nooses aren't hate speech. The rot is party-wide. www.seattletimes.com/nation-world...

TEN MONTHS IN: The national debt is higher. The trade deficit is wider. The inflation rate has worsened. The unemployment rate is up.

It must be fun to live in a fantasy world, completely disconnected from facts and reality. Who cares that things got better under Biden on almost every measure and haven’t gotten worse on every measure under Trump? Everything is happy in MAGA’s fantasy world.

A Trump supporter started murdering his way through an assassination list of Democratic law makers FIVE MONTHS AGO. He murdered my colleague Melissa Hortman, and her husband Mark — and attempted to assassinate my dear friend John Hoffman and his wife Yvette. I was also on the hit list. WTF

Wow! Jesse Welles performed his song “Join ICE” on the Colbert Show last night. 🏆

It must be fun to live in a fantasy world, completely disconnected from facts and reality. Who cares that things got better under Biden on almost every measure and haven’t gotten worse on every measure under Trump? Everything is happy in MAGA’s fantasy world.

Marjorie Taylor Greene has been disliked by the left for years and years and had never had to fear for her life. She's been disliked by the right for 1 day and now has to hire security.

If this ruling stands, what happens to California’s referendum? Does it become moot? Or do gerrymanders in Missouri and elsewhere keep it in effect?

Okay, somebody’s algorithm is clearly off. Whoever thought an ad evoking Elon Musk would make me want to buy a product obviously knows nothing about me.

I am fortunate to work in a beautiful place. It’s important to pause and appreciate the world around you now and then.

MBS is like “if only we could bonesaw all these journalists instead of yelling at them”

A reminder that seven years ago almost to the day, the CIA determined that Mohammed Bin Salman ordered the killing of @washingtonpost.com journalist Jamal Khashoggi. I hired and worked with Jamal for a year. www.washingtonpost.com/world/nation...

I am fortunate to work in a beautiful place. It’s important to pause and appreciate the world around you now and then.

Can UK folks explain what is going on with Labour? What exactly does the party stand for anymore? Their policies seem to the right even of Blair's New Labour attempt at centrism, which at least included progressive social policies.

Trump releases the Epstein Files.

NEW: Epstein survivors release the most powerful PSA I have ever seen. Make this go viral so every member of the House of Representatives sees it.

Listening to the Reverend Doctor Senator Raphael Warnock preach at BU this morning made me wish I lived in Georgia so I could vote for him. Such an inspiring ability to provide a Biblical basis for progressive politics!

Smart electoral strategy. I strongly encourage the GOP to keep it up.

This is actually a good answer. We’ll have to see whether MTG continues down this reasonable path. But hearing a politician apologize and admit fault and pledge to change is honestly refreshing.

Clergy getting arrested was a huge tactic in the US Civil Rights era and the anti-apartheid movement. It makes moderates who may not embrace the movement uncomfortable with government repression. It’s a key part of the repertoire for a reason.

Just watched Out of Africa with my kid. As an Africanist, I know I’m supposed to hate it, but honestly, I’ve always loved it. Meryl Streep doing accents! Robert Redford! The stunning Kenyan scenery, fancy historic costumes, & that melancholy, nostalgic longing for paradise lost. What’s not to love?

The snarling cruelty of Trump administration social media posts is something I have never seen in other authoritarian regimes. It’s like the opposite of public relations and propaganda. They’re trying to alienate people rather than win them over.

With Trump's minions attacking churches, clerical protests could swell into a broad, powerful interreligious movement. www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politic...