Terrific defense of local history institutions and the work of historians by Colin Gordon, using the case of the State Historical Society of Iowa. 🗃️

In a highly unusual move, the EPA is revising an assessment of the health dangers posed by formaldehyde, a widespread pollutant that causes far more cancer than any other chemical in the air. (Published Dec. 2025)

OK, so obviously I work for Forest Service. And while I am not a firefighter, I do get to work with them. And wildland firefighters are so freaking amazing. Every time I’ve seen them, I’ve been blown away by their professionalism. Cannot tell you how much I respect them. #HATM

“Our compatriots fulfilled their duty with dignity and heroism and fell, after fierce resistance, in direct combat against the attackers or as a result of the bombings,” Díaz-Canel said, announcing 2 days of mourning..[A]n exceptional public admission by Cuba that its soldiers are in Venezuela"

"Cuban state media reported 32 Cubans killed in U.S. attacks in Venezuela on Saturday. President Miguel Díaz-Canel of Cuba said the people were from Cuba’s armed forces or its interior ministry, on a mission at the request of Venezuela, according to state media" www.nytimes.com/live/2026/01...

great video from @jasonkpargin.bsky.social explaining very clearly how and why microsoft onedrive is not to be trusted: www.tiktok.com/@jasonkpargi...

TLDR: Immigration is keeping America healthy. 🤷🏿‍♀️

The foreign policy of a personalist dictatorship. There are no constraints.

the number of people who can't clock bad AI-generated video footage as such really makes me more sympathetic to the people who fell for the Cottingsley fairies. Our eye for the real in video or photo footage isn't natural, it's a learned skill.

I nearly forgot about #Stunday

QUERY FOR HISTORIANS (Not directly on preoccupying current events): I’m making tweaks to syllabi. I want to show students in a Craft of History class how to analyze academic articles (& talk about what AI summaries miss or mangle). What’s your favorite article, esp. in terms of compelling writing?

Still have to feed myself dinner in the face of unlawful imperial expansion. Huli huli style chicken, a crowd fave in grad school b/c it has no exotic ingredients. My cook time was 7 mins per side, monitor carefully that skin doesn't burn. Recipe: www.hawaiianelectric.com/recipes/find...

Given that Trump's critics call it a kidnapping, and Trump says it's an apt term, I see no reason for the media not to use it. Literally both sides agree it's the proper description of what happened.

@echinoblog.bsky.social another sea star looking like it is eating, but I don't see anything under it. I thought maybe another Psalidaster, but the arms look different to me. @schmidtocean.bsky.social dive 893 #argentiniandeepseeps #CONICET #MarineLife

To add context, the United States has always acted as it pleased.

Looking to understand the long history behind the US attack on Venezuela? Here are a few introductory-level reading recommendations from a professor and historian of US-Latin American Relations: (1/5) 🗃️ #history 1. Kyle Longley's "In the Eagle's Shadow: The United States and Latin America"

Ironic that our celebration of the 250th anniversary of our Declaration of Independence will be led by a mad king.

Probably preferable to a civil war to fill the power vacuum created by Maduro's kidnapping. Also probably preferable to US occupation.

ALOT going on in the world, so here’s an adorable yet majestic owl for your TL. Hang in there, friends! 🦉 🗃️

Red-bellied Woodpecker with a peanut 🪶

A young white-tailed deer paused in my backyard with just enough time to allow this picture to be taken. 👏👍💕🥰🦌

Cold day where you are? Elegant Dutch folks of the Golden Age had no problems with that! A+ ice sailboats bc of course. Dogs also having fine time. By Adam van Breen, whose day was today.

Love this from Guillermo del Toro

Trump in a single gaggle on Air Force One just threatened: -- a second strike against Venezuela -- Cuba -- Mexico -- Colombia -- Iran -- Greenland (which in turn would be an attack on the EU and Denmark)

One of the final House votes of 2025 was a vote on @repmcgovern.bsky.social war powers resolution to bar President Trump from military action against Venezuela without authorization by Congress. All Republicans except Reps. Massie, Bacon, and Marjorie Taylor Greene voted to defeat the measure:

all of this

The reason Venezuela's VP Delcy Rodriguez is not taking over the presidency after declaring the office vacant is because that would mandate an election within 30 days according to the constitution. This indicates that the regime may be planning to retain power sans Maduro.

New Venezuela statement from all 26 EU member states:

The Venezuelan military it appears remains loyal to Maduro. However, this does not preclude attempts by junior officers. news.sky.com/story/venezu...

Who are the experts on Venezuelan history and politics I should be following on here?

You can say that again

This directory of local journalism in the US from @mediaanddemocracy.bsky.social is vital resource for everyone fighting for democracy on both the local and national levels. Be informed locally and support locally. www.mediaanddemocracyproject.org/journalism-d...

Bit of good news - the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction agreement, which protects marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction, comes into force on 17 January. It has 145 signatories (although the US has not signed up) economist.com/internationa...

Our article about the Maduro op has received a large update with additional details. Not to toot our own horn but we're far ahead of the big newspapers with this story. Please give it a read. thehighside.substack.com/p/bold-delta...

New: Trump admin officials tell Zeteo that Trump is “very interested” in secret plans drawn up last year to send US Special Forces into Mexico. One official even says Trump recently asked for updates on preparations for a possible operation.

This is how you do it. No preamble to swear to God you don't like Maduro.

BRENNAN: The president's last envoy to Venezuela, Elliot Abrams, says US oil executives seem to be coming to Mar-a-Lago and whispering about how easy life would be if we just made a deal with the regime once Maduro is gone. Is that what happened here? MARCO RUBIO: No.

Scottish Blankface i believe.

I was just peckish - honest..

They’re sheepish

Google did it to a cow in Cambridge a few years back

Ok. So. They anonymised the sheep.

If I wanted to be liked I wouldn't have become a journalist

Might be time to tidy my desk

Men of Instagram. We get it. You go to the gym. But you also live in Minnesota and it’s January and you’re doing your taxes. Put on a shirt. One would think no guy between the ages of 18 - 40 owns upper body clothing. Your abs are still there from yesterday. Relax.

As the Trump administration steadily hypes the benefits it sees from its monthslong immigration enforcement surge in Illinois, federal officials have been less eager to address the other side of the ledger: the fiscal cost of Operation Midway Blitz.