Dana R. Fisher | Lightnews

Dana R. Fisher (aka the Apocalyptic Optimist)

@fisherdanar.bsky.social

26K followers 2.5K following 4.5K posts

Director, Center for Environment Community, & Equity and Professor, AU | NonRes Sr Fellow, Brookings | IPCCWG3 AR6 | www.danarfisher.com | TED Talk on Saving Ourselves: go.ted.com/danarfisher

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Dana R. Fisher is an American sociologist, professor of sociology, public speaker, and author. She is the director of the Center for Environment, Community, and Equity and a professor in the School of International Service at American University. Her areas of research and expertise are activism, democracy, the climate crisis, and environmental policy. .. more

Political science 27%

Environmental science 23%

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Dana R. Fisher (aka the Apocalyptic Optimist) @fisherdanar.bsky.social · Nov 19

My TED Talk on Saving Ourselves is OUT! Tune in to learn why we ALL need to be apocalyptic optimists: Prepared for the climate shocks that are coming and ready to rally as activists, disruptors, and bridge-builders to save ourselves from the climate crisis. go.ted.com/danarfisher

Reposted by Dana R. Fisher

Muhammad Ittefaq, Ph.D. @ittefaq.bsky.social · 14h

Dr. Dana Fisher suggested how to build community resilience, empower people to challenge governments on climate action, how fossil fuel companies have captured the U.S. government, how to build a successful climate movement, and more. @fisherdanar.bsky.social
youtube.com/shorts/BrIeV...

Fossil Fuel Companies and the United States Government

YouTube video by Science Talk

youtube.com

Dana R. Fisher (aka the Apocalyptic Optimist) @fisherdanar.bsky.social · 16h

😊

Dana R. Fisher (aka the Apocalyptic Optimist) @fisherdanar.bsky.social · 18h

In a Christmas miracle of 2025, my third R&R has been submitted (and just in time). Happy winter break to all and to all an amazing break!!

a man in a green elf costume is screaming in a room with other people .

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media.tenor.com

Dana R. Fisher (aka the Apocalyptic Optimist) @fisherdanar.bsky.social · 19h

Oh I’ve read it but yes, great!!

Dana R. Fisher (aka the Apocalyptic Optimist) @fisherdanar.bsky.social · 1d

A thoughtful piece about what the US is doing in Venezuela (and why it is starting to look a lot like Iraq) from @msifry.bsky.social theconnector.substack.com/p/war-with-v...

Dana R. Fisher (aka the Apocalyptic Optimist) @fisherdanar.bsky.social · 1d

Falalalalalalalaaaaa 🎵 🎄☃️🎅

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 1d

Having a normal Christmas morning

Image of Trump going on a posting binge early Christmas morning

Reposted by Will Jennings, Anders Nilsson, Dana R. Fisher , and 3 more Will Jennings, Anders Nilsson, Dana R. Fisher, Sarah Roberts, Timothy D. McBride, David Darmofal

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 1d

Having a normal Christmas morning

Dana R. Fisher (aka the Apocalyptic Optimist) @fisherdanar.bsky.social · 1d

Thanks—definitely sounds unusual (and not ideal for teaching the basics) but I’ll check it out!

Dana R. Fisher (aka the Apocalyptic Optimist) @fisherdanar.bsky.social · 2d

I know it's a weird time to ask for syllabus suggestions, but I need to update my qualitative methods class. Please share your top recommendations for recent books that are based on: interview data, analysis of textual/media data, ethnographic methods so I have something to read this break!

a woman in a floral dress says thank you to another woman

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Dana R. Fisher (aka the Apocalyptic Optimist) @fisherdanar.bsky.social · 2d

Worth tagging @edwinamenta.bsky.social here:

Anna Grzymala-Busse @annagbusse.bsky.social · 2d

Just in time for Christmas: a great interview with an absolute legend.

Theda Skocpol and Edwin Amenta on her career, US politics, the erosion of democracy, and most of all, what to do about it.

sociologica.unibo.it/article/view...

View of Theda Skocpol in Conversation with Edwin Amenta on Sociology, Political Science, Higher Education, and U.S. Politics | Sociologica

sociologica.unibo.it

Reposted by Dana R. Fisher

Justin Hendrix @justinhendrix.bsky.social · 2d

"Nora Benavidez, senior counsel at Free Press, an American organization that seeks to protect digital rights and privacy, called the announcement 'chilling and unconstitutional.' She said the administration was silencing its critics in the name of protecting free speech."

U.S. Bars 5 European Tech Regulators and Researchers

www.nytimes.com

Reposted by Melissa Johnson, Dana R. Fisher

Senator Chris Van Hollen @vanhollen.senate.gov · 2d

Finally a ruling from this Supreme Court that makes clear what all patriotic Americans know:

No Kings.

Supreme Court hands Trump a major defeat on National Guard deployment

The Supreme Court holds that the president’s authority to deploy the National Guard for law enforcement purposes likely only applies in “exceptional” circumstances.

www.washingtonpost.com

Reposted by Daniel Ziblatt, Anna O. Law, Jan W. Mueller , and 9 more Daniel Ziblatt, Anna O. Law, Jan W. Mueller, David Brady, Stuart Elden, Efrén O. Pérez, Robert C. Richards, Markus Wagner, Dana R. Fisher, Pepper D. Culpepper, Nathan P. Kalmoe, David Stark

Anna Grzymala-Busse @annagbusse.bsky.social · 2d

View of Theda Skocpol in Conversation with Edwin Amenta on Sociology, Political Science, Higher Education, and U.S. Politics | Sociologica

sociologica.unibo.it

Reposted by Alan Richardson, Dana R. Fisher

Democracy Forward @democracyforward.org · 2d

BREAKING: The Trump-Vance admin bans abortion care and counseling for veterans in secret.

The VA now has the most extreme abortion restriction across federal agencies’ health care programs.

Veterans deserve the freedom to make their own health care choices. We're nowhere near done fighting.

Reposted by Dana R. Fisher

Natural Hazards Center @hazcenter.bsky.social · 2d

There are just two weeks left to submit ideas for the 2026 Natural Hazards Workshop! We're seeking proposals for creative, engaging sessions to build out our program. Share yours by Wednesday, January 7: bit.ly/49rq2pO

Reposted by Dana R. Fisher

Democracy Action Network @democracyactionnet.bsky.social · 3d

Gift article - Trump’s attacks on the regulation of toxic chemicals in the air and water, on strong vaccination policies, on rules restricting power plant pollution are part and parcel of what amounts to a killing spree cloaked as deregulation.

Opinion | Trump’s War on Public Health Is a Battle to the Death

www.nytimes.com

Dana R. Fisher (aka the Apocalyptic Optimist) @fisherdanar.bsky.social · 3d

Apparently my feed from Google is almost entirely generated by content from X

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Dana R. Fisher (aka the Apocalyptic Optimist) @fisherdanar.bsky.social · 3d

Using the same tactic that gained her notoriety in the first place, Greta Thunberg has been arrested in the UK. The notion that such a peaceful tactic has become an arrestable offense in a democracy like the Uk is really concerning.

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

Greta Thunberg arrested in London over ‘Palestine Action prisoners’ placard

Two other people held on suspicion of criminal damage after protest at insurance company’s offices

www.theguardian.com

Dana R. Fisher (aka the Apocalyptic Optimist) @fisherdanar.bsky.social · 3d

Ahh thanks for explaining!!

Dana R. Fisher (aka the Apocalyptic Optimist) @fisherdanar.bsky.social · 3d

Are those months??

Reposted by Will Jennings, Steve Peers, Rosemary A. Joyce , and 7 more Will Jennings, Steve Peers, Rosemary A. Joyce, Alan Richardson, Jacob T. Levy, Scott A. Imberman, Samantha Brennan, Dana R. Fisher, Nicole Guenther Discenza, Nathan P. Kalmoe

Sharon @sharonk.bsky.social · 3d

woof

Gallup poll | 12/1-12/15

President Trump approval crosstabs (%)

🟥Overall (59/36 disapprove) [-23]
🟥Democratic (93/3 disapprove) [-90]
🟩Republican (89/8 approve) [+81]
🟥Independent (68/25 disapprove) [-43]
🟥18-34 (68/25 disapprove) [-43]
🟥35-54 (59/36 disapprove) [-23]
🟥55+ (53/43 disapprove) [-10]
🟥No college (55/37 disapprove) [-18]
🟥College graduate (59/37 disapprove) [-22]
🟥Male (53/42 disapprove) [-11]
🟥Female (64/30 disapprove) [-34]
🟥White (52/46 disapprove) [-6]
🟥Non-white (71/21 disapprove) [-50]

Dana R. Fisher (aka the Apocalyptic Optimist) @fisherdanar.bsky.social · 3d

Yes 👇

Jake Grumbach @jakemgrumbach.bsky.social · 3d

For generations scholars have debated about whether fascism was driven more by elites or the masses. I’ll just say that Bari Weiss is an entirely elite phenomenon

Reposted by Adam Bonica, Dana R. Fisher

Jake Grumbach @jakemgrumbach.bsky.social · 3d

For generations scholars have debated about whether fascism was driven more by elites or the masses. I’ll just say that Bari Weiss is an entirely elite phenomenon

Dana R. Fisher (aka the Apocalyptic Optimist) @fisherdanar.bsky.social · 3d

I'm really curious what these resignations at the Heritage Foundation might mean in 2026. For anyone who does not remember, Pence was targeted by Trump and his followers during the insurrection at the US Capitol on January 6, 2020.
www.nationalreview.com/news/exclusi...

Dana R. Fisher (aka the Apocalyptic Optimist) @fisherdanar.bsky.social · 4d

👀👀 (and RIP NCA)

Chelsea Harvey @chelseaeharvey.bsky.social · 4d

Today from @scottpwaldman.bsky.social, who reveals that the Trump admin has tapped Judith Curry, & potentially other authors of the DOE's recent misinformation-filled climate report, to helm the next NCA. Other authors could include Ryan Maue + Grok. Yup, that Grok. www.eenews.net/articles/its...