Dana R. Fisher | Lightnews

Dana R. Fisher (aka the Apocalyptic Optimist)

@fisherdanar.bsky.social

27K followers 2.5K following 4.8K posts

Director, Center for Environment Community, & Equity and Professor, AU | NonRes Sr Fellow, Brookings | IPCCWG3 AR6 | www.danarfisher.com | TED Talk on being an Apocalyptic Optimist : 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

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

See the full thread here: bsky.app/profile/cost...

Costa Samaras @costasamaras.com · 18h

power transformers mentioned in halftime show ⚡️

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

Moreover, he DID draw attention to energy reliability etc in his performance--check out the thread by @costasamaras.com last night for details!

Reposted by Dana R. Fisher

Kai Ryssdal @kairyssdal.bsky.social · 3h

Okay wait. The vice-chair of the National Governors Association - who just so happens to be Black - has been disinvited from a White House event? wtaf

Dana R. Fisher (aka the Apocalyptic Optimist) @fisherdanar.bsky.social · 8h

Just added a NEWSLETTER through my blog (trying to avoid using Substack)!! You can now sign up on my homepage or at the bottom of every post. Check it out to get little doses of apocalyptic optimism delivered directly to your email (and learn about the podcast) here:
danarfisher.com/2026/02/08/i...

Introducing the Apocalyptic Optimist Podcast:

Real talk about what’s broken and how to fix it. The Apocalyptic Optimist Podcast is LIVE! In the first episode, I speak with Rachel Carmona and Tamika Middleton from Women’s March abou…

danarfisher.com

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

👇👇👇

Costa Samaras @costasamaras.com · 18h

Bad Bunny is telling the world that the people in Puerto Rico are American citizens and deserve reliable and resilient electricity and infrastructure investment from the U.S. government.

Reposted by Dana R. Fisher

Costa Samaras @costasamaras.com · 18h

Bad Bunny is telling the world that the people in Puerto Rico are American citizens and deserve reliable and resilient electricity and infrastructure investment from the U.S. government.

Reposted by Heather Boushey, Elizabeth Sharrow, Richard S.J. Tol , and 6 more Heather Boushey, Elizabeth Sharrow, Richard S.J. Tol, Christian E. Weller, Melissa R. Michelson, Joseph Schafer, Michael Kevane, Rebecca M. Bratspies, Dana R. Fisher

Costa Samaras @costasamaras.com · 18h

Just a few weeks ago, the administration cancelled all remaining department of energy grid resilience projects in Puerto Rico. All of them. www.latitudemedia.com/news/the-end...

The end of DOE’s grid work in Puerto Rico

The Trump administration has canceled all eight of the remaining awards devoted to distributed energy on the island.

www.latitudemedia.com

Reposted by Heather Boushey, Dana R. Fisher

Costa Samaras @costasamaras.com · 18h

power transformers mentioned in halftime show ⚡️

Reposted by Dana R. Fisher

Libra on Fire 🔥 ⚖️ @libraonfire.bsky.social · 19h

.

Conservatives backing themselves into a corner where they have to pretend to be excited to watch 55 year old Kid Rock on their phone at halftime tonight

😂 is funnier than anything we could say or do to them.

#SuperBowl

.

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

Yes! Will give it a look as I’m exploring the role of martyrs

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

I saw the interview but didn't listen since I'm pretty sure I know what both sides will be saying...

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

Agreed!

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

Just added a NEWSLETTER through my blog (trying to avoid the issues with Substack)!! You can now sign up on my homepage or at the bottom of every post. Check it out and sign up at the bottom of my most recent post here: danarfisher.com/2026/02/04/r...

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

More evidence that a #BlueWave is coming (if we still have free and fair elections that is...)

MeidasTouch @meidastouch.com · 1d

NEWS: Democrat Chasity Martinez has won the Louisiana HD-60 special election, defeating Republican Brad Daigle and holding the seat.

Martinez won 63%–37%. Trump carried the district by 13 points in 2024.

Another major Democratic overperformance.

Reposted by Dana R. Fisher, David Darmofal

MeidasTouch @meidastouch.com · 1d

Reposted by Rebecca Solnit, Ben Barr, Philip N. Cohen , and 12 more Rebecca Solnit, Ben Barr, Philip N. Cohen, Edgar Morgenroth, Michelle Everson, Aaron Sojourner, Stacy D. VanDeveer, Michael D. McDonald, James Goodwin, Erol Akçay, Dana R. Fisher, Robert L. Tsai, Nathan P. Kalmoe, David Darmofal, Harvey J. Kaye

Acyn @acyn.bsky.social · 2d

Ossoff: We were told that MAGA was for working-class Americans. But this is a government of, by, and for the ultra-rich. It’s the wealthiest Cabinet ever. This is the Epstein class. They are the elites they pretend to hate.

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

💔💔

Bob on Books @bobonbooks.bsky.social · 2d

The mass market paperback, light in the hand and on the wallet, once filled airport bookstores and supermarket media aisles. You may never buy a new one again.

www.nytimes.com/2026/02/06/b...

So Long to Cheap Books You Could Fit in Your Pocket

www.nytimes.com

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

This coming week on Tuesday (2/10), we hold our rescheduled workshop on studying disaster at @au-cece.bsky.social. Join us as we talk about the diversity of research taking place at AU around disaster (and brainstorm opportunities to collaborate). To RSVP:
cece.american.edu/perspectives...

RESCHEDULED- Workshop on Studying Disaster at AU - Center for Environment, Community, & Equity (CECE)

Due to the weather, we have rescheduled this event to Tuesday, February 10th. Join us for the CECE Colloquium Series, happening the last Tuesday of each month at 2pm. The series will serve as an oppor...

cece.american.edu

Reposted by Dana R. Fisher

Bob on Books @bobonbooks.bsky.social · 2d

The mass market paperback, light in the hand and on the wallet, once filled airport bookstores and supermarket media aisles. You may never buy a new one again.

www.nytimes.com/2026/02/06/b...

So Long to Cheap Books You Could Fit in Your Pocket

www.nytimes.com

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

WHOA!

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

???

Reposted by Dana R. Fisher

Dr. Samantha Montano @samlmontano.bsky.social · 2d

😡😡😡
apnews.com/article/fema...

FEMA will resume staff reductions that were paused during winter storm, managers say

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is resuming staff cuts that were paused during January's severe winter storm, according to two FEMA managers.

apnews.com

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

👇👇👇

Noah Berlatsky @nberlat.bsky.social · 2d

who's winning in D races now? Mamdani won in a surprise upset. Mejia looks to be pulling off a big surprise upset in NJ 11....

at some point the surprise upsets stop being surprises...

Reposted by Dana R. Fisher

Noah Berlatsky @nberlat.bsky.social · 2d

who's winning in D races now? Mamdani won in a surprise upset. Mejia looks to be pulling off a big surprise upset in NJ 11....

at some point the surprise upsets stop being surprises...

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

Amazing seeing you two together 🤩

Reposted by Anna O. Law, Ben H. Ansell, Matthew Bunn , and 38 more Anna O. Law, Ben H. Ansell, Matthew Bunn, Dorothy Bishop, Steve Peers, Robert W. Wallace, Samuel L. Perry, Caroline Krafft, Jonathan M. Gilligan, Martin Paul Eve, Pierre Bataille, Lesley A. Hall, Peter Campbell, Calvin K. Lai, Peter Holmes, Peter Schöttler, Jonathan Hopkin, Robert C. Richards, Rebecca Tushnet, Alan Richardson, Silvia Secchi, Julia Lynch, Andrew L. Whitehead, Nazita Lajevardi, Stacy D. VanDeveer, Margot C. Finn, Stephen Jones, Jens Rydgren, Ben Rosamond, Dana R. Fisher, Cailin O’Connor, Lisa Diedrich, Paul Nightingale, Catherine J. Frieman, Gerardo Martí, Gayle Kaufman, Anthony Pecqueux, Olúfẹ́mi Táíwò, Marianne Blanchard, Nathan P. Kalmoe, Martin Winter

Victor Ray @victorerikray.bsky.social · 3d

I do want to shout-out my fellow sociologists, who have collectively created a discipline so woke that not a single one of our introductory textbooks can make it past Florida's censors.

Great work everyone.

The Board of Governors decided, unilaterally, that no published textbook in the field of sociology could be used in compliance with the law for an Intro to Sociology class. None.
Victor: There's not a single existing textbook on the market that could be used that would qualify under state law?
Zachary: Correct.
Victor: I'm sorry, that's kind of funny. Like, the absurdity of not a single sociology textbook getting past the censors. I mean, it makes me kind of proud of our colleagues, but...

Reposted by Michael A. Messner, Samuel L. Perry, Robin Celikates , and 4 more Michael A. Messner, Samuel L. Perry, Robin Celikates, Andrew L. Whitehead, Dana R. Fisher, Nicole Guenther Discenza, Nathan P. Kalmoe

Victor Ray @victorerikray.bsky.social · 3d

This week at Group Threat, I spoke with @grundrza.bsky.social about Florida's censorship regime, teaching under authoritarianism, and how folks are coping (or not).

What's the Matter with Florida? An Interview with Zachary Levenson

A discussion about Florida's censorship of sociology and teaching under authoritarianism

groupthreat.com

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

For more on this process, see my recent piece in @theguardian.com Resistance to Trump 2.0 is getting more confrontational www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...