Re: nostalgia for VHS tapes and other analog media, I saw someone say like "a VHS tape never sold my information to a nazi" and yes that's true! But the reason it's true is actually because Congress passed a law in 1988 specifically making it illegal for video stores to sell your rental history

Another example demonstrating that the federal science and research ecosystem is being seriously damaged regardless of what’s ultimately appropriated

Trump is reported close to a "deal" with himself under which US taxpayers would pay him $10 billion. I served in multiple communist and authoritarian dictatorships, but I never witnessed corruption on this scale or this blatant.

“[W]oe to those who manipulate religion and the very name of God for their own military, economic and political gain, dragging that which is sacred into darkness and filth.” - Pope Leo XIV

The Trump administration has abruptly canceled an $11 mn contract with Catholic Charities to shelter and care for migrant children who enter the US alone, ending a relationship between the Catholic Church and the US government dating back to the first arrivals of Cuban exiles in South Florida.

I wrote a little thing about how we orient ourselves toward the moon, thinking with the work of @blmckean.bsky.social on neoliberalism "Who gets to decide what future generations will see when they look at the moon through a telescope? Will there be a democratic process for deciding?" 🧪🌒🔭

It’s been overshadowed by Venezuela and especially Iran, but the deadly boat bombing campaign is still going, even though: -There’s no war -The US wasn’t attacked or under threat -Drug traffickers aren’t terrorists -These may not be traffickers -It’s blatantly illegal -With no clear strategy either

Genuinely funny that Sonia Sotomayor issued a public apology today for her mild criticism of a conservative colleague on a specific, substantive issue, and then a few hours later Clarence Thomas picked up a mic and was like ALL LIBERALS ARE AMERICA-HATING COWARDS

Um… not us. We owe and a lot. While I’ve no problem paying taxes as my contribution to supporting a federal government, it’s disgusting that we’re supporting such a gross maladministration of the federal government and supporting tax cuts some others who really don’t need or merit such cuts.

Trump admin nixed the annual federal employee survey in 2025 to comply with anti-diversity orders. Alternative polling reveals a sharp decline in worker morale across government. Read more from Sean Michael Newhouse here:

I can't wait to read this book!!!

Cover drop and I'm in love press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...

conservative free speech is when they speak and you listen or suffer the consequences

Robert P. George of Princeton, the guy behind these conservative centers on campuses, has nothing to say about Trump's attacks on civil liberties, but he's incensed about supposed attacks by Biden put out by right-wingers in Trump & Vance's DOJ. But don't dare call these centers conservative!

Washington State Institute for Public Policy is seeking a visionary Director to lead a nonpartisan research organization and deliver rigorous, policy-relevant analysis to inform legislative decision-making. www.publicservicecareers.org/job/82952099/ #PAJobMarket

Re-posting this study because it is demoralizing but essential data.

My mind keeps bringing me back to Pope Leo's words: "I have no fear...of the Trump administration..." Refreshing to hear them uttered and be heartfelt by a global leader. Incredible reminder too of how much cowardice we are actually witnessing in the world, especially in the the US, by "leaders."

Q: "Did you post that picture of yourself depicted as Jesus Christ?" Trump: "It wasn't a depiction. It was me. I did post it and I thought it was me as a doctor and had to do with Red Cross… It's supposed to be me as a doctor, making people better. And I do make people better."

We're excited to announce the release of the preliminary program for the 13th Annual Atlanta Studies Symposium! We hope to see you all on Thursday, May 14th at Georgia State!

TIL: "In 1989, Americans over age 55 held 56 percent of [American wealth]; today they hold 74 percent. During that same period, the share of wealth held by Americans under 40 has shrunk by nearly half, from 12 to 6.6 percent. The color of money is now gray."

This does not seem like the time in history to cut Religious Studies programs, but what do I know?

Opinion | I converted to Catholicism last month. But if the pope doesn’t get tough on crime, I’m going to convert to Eastern Orthodox.

Whether it's Donald Trump attacking the Pope or Barack Obama asking for Dijon mustard on a hot dog, both men shattered Washington norms.

Share a preacher, nun, or priest.

Imagine sending people to the moon and then doing this

historic rejection of JD Vance

Best and final offer on Day 1?

maybe the Iranians didn't say thank you enough. Did they wear suits?

Obama negotiated for two years with Iran over JCPOA and went into every detail painstakingly. These guys, after 20h -- "it's too complicated; talks failed".

How did this dream team not come back with the gold

Many trans Kansans whose licenses were cancelled by a recent state law now face a kind of poll tax: To vote, they’ll have to pay $16 for a replacement license with a gender marker that doesn’t match their identity.

#OtD 11 April 1945 expecting the arrival of US troops, the resistance in the Buchenwald concentration camp rose up and seized control of it. This delayed the Nazi evacuation of the camp which helped save many lives. US forces arrived later that day stories.workingclasshistory.com/article/1124...

men can’t understand what it’s like for women to see story after story after story of women being victims of sexual violence in a culture where it’s routine; what it’s like to live in a world that is fundamentally hostile to our existence. it’s a wonder we leave the fucking house, let alone thrive.

Spot on.

Sure it goes to help Americans... like Ashli Babbitt's family and Mike Flynn.

"Participants were more likely to attribute superhuman traits to the Black victim [than to a White one police paralyzed]—a racialized justification tied to reduced [police] reform support and to weaker translation of outrage into [police] reform." www.ipr.northwestern.edu/our-work/wor...

how much money does the marine corps lose

“I’ve never experienced anything like this in my entire life,” Rep. Adelita Grijalva said. “It is frightening in there. It is disgusting.” story via @jerodmacevoy.com

"The most serious challenge to Christian nationalism isn’t secularism. Christian nationalism will almost always progress toward a secular totalitarianism if left to its own devices—because while its means are Christian-ish, its ends are political."

#OtD 10 Apr 2006 following mass protests by workers and young people across France, the regressive CPE law was repealed. Had the law passed, it would have allowed employers to fire any workers below the age of 26 without giving any reason or notice www.tiktok.com/@workingclas...

📣 📣You can read the first chapter of my book for FREE until May 10 here: academic.oup.com/book/62224/c...

TIL: “The F.A.A. plans to begin prioritizing recruiting gamers over more traditional avenues like college fairs, officials said, pointing out that only 25 percent of controllers have a traditional college degree, while the vast majority appear to have logged hours gaming.”

fun fact: if we lose the USPS, an org enshrined in the constitution, as it has historically functioned for this country's entire lifespan, the United States will collapse

He should have been hanged.

New in PN: A regime of idiots — A complete inventory of Trump stooges "The downside of Trump’s reliance on sub-mediocre stooges is they amplify his own stupidity & terrible judgment. Dumb stooges inevitably emulate his sadism & laziness, leading to a govt marked by sociopathology on a grand scale."