Dana R. Fisher (aka the Apocalyptic Optimist)
banner
fisherdanar.bsky.social
Dana R. Fisher (aka the Apocalyptic Optimist)
@fisherdanar.bsky.social

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

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%
Pinned
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
MoveOn, Indivisible, Our Revolution, and 6 Democrats have called on Chuck Schumer to step aside as leader.

So we asked all 40 Democratic senators who didn’t cave to Republicans if they still think Schumer is the right leader.

Here's what they said.

@andrewperez.bsky.social @swin24.bsky.social
Furious Liberals Call for Schumer to Step Aside, Senate Dems Mostly Quiet
After their shutdown surrender, liberal lawmakers are begging their base to unite behind them anyway – as Trumpland celebrates that their opposition is a bunch of 'p*ssies.'
zeteo.com

Reposted by Mark Lubell

Looking forward to this event on visualizing environmental change at @au-cece.bsky.social with Megan Martin from @climatecentral.org! If you’re in DC, #JoinUs!

🎁Article
Tucked in the CR that 7 Democrats and an Independent just voted to pass, along with the Republicans is this👇
6 Republican Senators can sue taxpayers $500,000 each🤬🤬 because Jack Smith dared to do the job that he was appointed to do!

#OneV1

www.nytimes.com/2025/11/10/u...
Spending Bill Would Pave Way for Senators to Sue Over Phone Searches
www.nytimes.com

Reposted by Dana R. Fisher

🎁Article
Tucked in the CR that 7 Democrats and an Independent just voted to pass, along with the Republicans is this👇
6 Republican Senators can sue taxpayers $500,000 each🤬🤬 because Jack Smith dared to do the job that he was appointed to do!

#OneV1

www.nytimes.com/2025/11/10/u...
Spending Bill Would Pave Way for Senators to Sue Over Phone Searches
www.nytimes.com

Reposted by Dana R. Fisher

We are headed toward martial law and the end of our democracy and I will never forgive the people in power who every step of the way told us it was all just fine and everything would work out swell as long as we kept pretending that nothing we have actually seen with our own two eyes was happening

Interesting...

Some valuable thoughts about the role the media plays in climate communication and the challenges of echo chambers by Ingmar Rentzhog from @wedonthavetime.bsky.social Tune in to #COPOut to watch the entire episode also with @magnoliae.bsky.social and Jamie Minden
cece.american.edu/cop-out-epis...

I’m excited to be a part of this online festival with @rogerhallam.com and all these amazing folks!

Reposted by Dana R. Fisher

Right, the answer isn't to abandon the party to these weasels.

The answer is to flood the party with people who will take it over and transform it.
Hey, a lot of people are talking about changing affiliation from Democratic to Independent.

Let me tell you why you shouldn’t do that in Colorado.

One of the main ways to get a primary challenge candidate on a ballot is to caucus for your party. You need to be registered as a Dem to caucus.

Delighted to have our #COPOut Podcast featured as part of @wedonthavetime.bsky.social's coverage of #COP30!
For expansive coverage of everything going on at the climate negotiations, check out their hub here: www.wedonthavetime.org/events/cop30
Hey, a lot of people are talking about changing affiliation from Democratic to Independent.

Let me tell you why you shouldn’t do that in Colorado.

One of the main ways to get a primary challenge candidate on a ballot is to caucus for your party. You need to be registered as a Dem to caucus.
Quick thread on the BBC and the political and societal significance of recent developments:

One of the main reasons the UK has historically been so much less polarised than the US, is that Britain has a shared source of information, consumed and trusted by most people regardless of their politics.

Reposted by Dana R. Fisher

Durbin’s term ends in ‘27. Hassan runs November 7, 2028. NO Dem opponents… yet.

Shaheen has 2 progressive opponents. Support @karishmaforsenate.bsky.social & @chrispappasnh.bsky.social

Jackie Rosen, Angus King & Tim Kain’s terms end in 2031, Fetterman & Cortez Masto’s term in 2029

Flip them
a man petting a small white dog while wearing a grey shirt that says n on it
ALT: a man petting a small white dog while wearing a grey shirt that says n on it
media.tenor.com

Interesting idea!! I don’t know that I have time, but happy to discuss (in December).

Reposted by Dana R. Fisher

Have you thought of doing a Copout online eventwhere no fossil fuel/ Big Ag, etc. lobbyists would be invited? I'd be more interested in that than in any of the Cops that seem to have just become a place for industry executives...Bonus, no airplanes needed. Would volunteer to help if you did! . :)

For more, see "Understanding Disenfranchisement: Civil Society and Developing Countries’ Influence and Participation in Global Governance for Sustainable Development" in @gepjournal.bsky.social (with @greenprofgreen.bsky.social): www.drfisher.umd.edu/GEP.4.3.pdf (published 20 years ago 😶)

Check out how the UNFCCC is policing the language of civil society at #COP30 along with limiting their access from Zero Hour ED. Tune in to #COPOut to watch the entire episode also with Ingmar Rentzhog from @wedonthavetime.bsky.social & @magnoliae.bsky.social cece.american.edu/cop-out-epis...

With some moderate Democrats caving to Republican pressure, the shutdown was all for naught. www.cnn.com/2025/11/10/p...

Thank you and YES! We are recording an episode on (mal)adaptation and climate shocks today with the amazing @lisaschipper.bsky.social and @rodschoonover.bsky.social who speak at the intersection of these issues. More on when the episode will hit soon!

Reposted by Dana R. Fisher

@fisherdanar.bsky.social Just listened to episode 1! Loved the conversation, especially regarding the importance of communication tactics to counter fossil fuel industry propaganda. Have been wondering if the effects of all these horrific wars on climate instability will also be discussed..?

Absolutely 💯🎯👇
"PROMISE OF A VOTE ON HEALTHCARE"
The centrists in the Senate Democratic caucus saw that the country was rallying to the party in the 2025 elections and resolved that they would do anything they could to kill that momentum.

YASSS 👇
I just did this and if nothing else it was cathartic. I said I would make it my life’s mission to make sure there’s a primary challenger for any D involved in this deal, it’s fucking embarrassing.
So, listen, call Schumer’s office no matter where you live, no matter if you’re registered to vote. Leave a voicemail that says if Senate Dems cave without an ACA premiums fix, you will never vote for or donate to another Senate Democrat as long as he is Leader

Why isn't Fetterman on that list??
I think Senate folders are significantly underestimating how fucking angry Democratic voters are at them
Tens of thousands of Maine people are facing skyrocketing health care costs because of Donald Trump and Susan Collins.

Maine people deserve affordable health care — not just the promise of a vote that won’t go anywhere.

Fight back.