People are losing faith in democracy’s ability to deliver social progress. But are democracies better than autocracies at promoting economic growth, alleviating poverty, and creating healthier, more educated, and more peaceful societies? On all counts, the answer is yes.
Earlier this year, the United States deported 252 Venezuelans to El Salvador and paid its government to imprison them. Now two human-rights organizations have found that all of those men were physically abused, Conor Friedersdorf writes:
Yn a free society, universitye-level studye of the artes and humanityes sholde not be avaylable onlye to the wealthye and privileged.
“We don’t deserve the trust of the nation if we’re unclear about the divisiveness of swastikas,” the official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity due to a fear of reprisal.
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Cast your mind back a few presidents and remind yourself how INSANE this question is.
Ken Burns’ new documentary about the American Revolution premieres on Sunday at 8pm Eastern, and @herberthistory.bsky.social, @michaelhattem.bsky.social, & I are hosting a watch party!
It’s free to join and you can chat with and ask us questions throughout the premiere.
Think all Rev War artists were elite white men?
Meet Prince Demah: Black, enslaved, trained in London, and a Patriot.
🎧 His story challenges the canon. Hear more on Ben Franklin’s World w/ @drzara.bsky.social
#ArtHistory #RevWar #Revolution250 #USHistory #History
Revolutionary art wasn’t all Trumbull and Copley.
🎨 Some artists were enslaved. Some were women.
In Ep. 423, @drzara.bsky.social shares the story of Prince Demah—painter, patriot, and genius.
🎧 benfranklinsworld.com/423
#ArtHistory #AmericanRevolution
Museums show us the art that survives.
But what about the art—and artists—we’ve lost?
🎧 In Ep. 423, @drzara.bsky.social reveals the lives of forgotten creators like Prince Demah.
Listen: benfranklinsworld.com/423
💬 Which stories deserve to be remembered?
#AmericanRevolution #History
Prince Demah: Enslaved in Massachusetts. Trained in London. Painted portraits. Fought for liberty. Left everything to his mother, Daphny. His life reads like fiction—but it’s true.
🎧 Hear his story: benfranklinsworld.com/423 w/ @drzara.bsky.social
#HiddenHistories #AmericanRevolution
REV. BLACK (who was shot in the head with a pepper ball): “If this is what they’re doing to pastors, journalists, teachers, mothers, and the elderly gathered to sing and pray outside ICE facilities… what might they be doing to our neighbors who are behind those walls?”
Marc Lobliner post on X: "Why the hell are we giving food stamps to 40 million people? Does anyone work anymore?"
SNAP isn't about "people who don't work." It's about people who don't get paid enough to live.
Of the 40 or so million people who rely on food stamps:
* Two-thirds are children, seniors, or disabled
* Most working-age adults who receive SNAP are employed—but in jobs that pay poverty wages
Here it is, my 247th #ScholarSunday thread of great public scholarly writing & work, podcast episodes, new & forthcoming books from the last week. Add more below, share as widely as possible, & enjoy, all! 🗃️
blackwhiteandread.com/scholarsunda...
What will surprise you most about Prince Demah?
His London training? His enlistment with Paul Revere’s artillery unit? Or how he honored his mother Daphny in his will?
🎧 Ep. 423 of Ben Franklin’s World w/ @drzara.bsky.social
🔗 benfranklinsworld.com/423
#History #AmericanRevolution
I have been indulging in this for years now and it is 💯 worth the expense
Ben Franklin's World has a weekly newsletter, History Behind the Headlines. Each week, @lizcovart.bsky.social takes a historical lens to the origins of a topic in the news.
This week, learn more about the White House. Read the issue and subscribe: ben-franklins-world.kit.com/profile
Revolutionary art wasn’t all Trumbull and Copley.
🎨 Some artists were enslaved. Some were women.
In Ep. 423, @drzara.bsky.social shares the story of Prince Demah—painter, patriot, and genius.
🎧 benfranklinsworld.com/423
#ArtHistory #AmericanRevolution
What will surprise you most about Prince Demah?
His London training? His enlistment with Paul Revere’s artillery unit? Or how he honored his mother Daphny in his will?
🎧 Ep. 423 of Ben Franklin’s World w/ @drzara.bsky.social
🔗 benfranklinsworld.com/423
#History #AmericanRevolution
Think all Rev War artists were elite white men?
Meet Prince Demah: Black, enslaved, trained in London, and a Patriot.
🎧 His story challenges the canon. Hear more on Ben Franklin’s World w/ @drzara.bsky.social
#ArtHistory #RevWar #Revolution250 #USHistory #History
Museums show us the art that survives.
But what about the art—and artists—we’ve lost?
🎧 In Ep. 423, @drzara.bsky.social reveals the lives of forgotten creators like Prince Demah.
Listen: benfranklinsworld.com/423
💬 Which stories deserve to be remembered?
#AmericanRevolution #History
Prince Demah: Enslaved in Massachusetts. Trained in London. Painted portraits. Fought for liberty. Left everything to his mother, Daphny. His life reads like fiction—but it’s true.
🎧 Hear his story: benfranklinsworld.com/423 w/ @drzara.bsky.social
#HiddenHistories #AmericanRevolution
A big question now is: why isn't FEMA in western Alaska?
Because they have not been deployed.
Gov. Dunleavy has requested a federal disaster declaration, and Alaska is waiting to hear back.
In the meantime, it's all local, tribal and state led relief efforts.
alaskabeacon.com/2025/10/17/m...
ICYMI, I wrote this about why we need humanities majors now, more than ever, and how they succeed.
Maybe even pass it on to students whose One Relative at the Thanksgiving table condescendingly asks "what are you going to do with THAT degree?" Here are some talking points—and data!—to refute them.
Speaker Johnson: "People’s faith in the government is at an all time low"
Republicans control all 3 branches of the government.
Hanging onto every bit of good news
The river has come alive in the Klamath with wild Chinook salmon. The wider ecosystem is healing.
This most powerful story of Indigenous-led #rewilding after the largest dam removal in US history keeps getting better.
lostcoastoutpost.com/2025/oct/9/o...
Again, Trump has crossed a Red Line no president has ever crossed: personally ordering the criminal prosecution of an American he doesn't like despite DOJ not finding evidence of any crime.
If Trump can do this to the powerful, he can do it to you. That's not freedom, and its not America.
This is the lesson of 2025
Today is a day when arts degrees are worthless, but the product of those degrees is so valuable it would kill an entire industry if they were made to pay for it.
