Anne Terpstra, Potter & Author 🏳️🌈
@aeterpstra.bsky.social
Queer Chicago potter, author, and photographer. Find pots at aeterpstra.com, as well as at local markets and shops. Find my book, BEYOND ANY EXPERIENCE, in paperback and ebook. LGBTQ+
Pinned
Quick intro: Like many creatives, I'm expanding my social media options. Because I'm a potter as well as a published author, you can expect to see lots of content connected to both pottery and books, as well as posts about the LGBTQ+ community. Any questions about my work? Drop a comment!
Reposted by Anne Terpstra, Potter & Author 🏳️🌈
"They are creating the war zone and then calling it a ‘war zone.’ It was not that before. If you want to really help folks in Chicago, we need resources, not boots on the ground in terms of ICE.”
More: www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...
More: www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...
October 27, 2025 at 1:09 PM
"They are creating the war zone and then calling it a ‘war zone.’ It was not that before. If you want to really help folks in Chicago, we need resources, not boots on the ground in terms of ICE.”
More: www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...
More: www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...
Reposted by Anne Terpstra, Potter & Author 🏳️🌈
BEST BIG CITY IN THE US 9 YEARS IN A ROW.
While critics try to paint Chicago as something to fear, the rest of the world knows the truth — this is the best big city in America.
While critics try to paint Chicago as something to fear, the rest of the world knows the truth — this is the best big city in America.
Best Big City: Chicago Wins Award 9th Year in a Row
Learn why Chicago was voted the Best Big City for the 9th consecutive year by exploring our vibrant culture, welcoming inclusion, and so much more.
www.choosechicago.com
October 7, 2025 at 8:26 PM
BEST BIG CITY IN THE US 9 YEARS IN A ROW.
While critics try to paint Chicago as something to fear, the rest of the world knows the truth — this is the best big city in America.
While critics try to paint Chicago as something to fear, the rest of the world knows the truth — this is the best big city in America.
Reposted by Anne Terpstra, Potter & Author 🏳️🌈
This image was posted on X today by a Chicago Tribune reporter. Trump’s government has declared war on the American people — or some of them, based on race.
October 7, 2025 at 10:49 PM
This image was posted on X today by a Chicago Tribune reporter. Trump’s government has declared war on the American people — or some of them, based on race.
Reposted by Anne Terpstra, Potter & Author 🏳️🌈
"“We’ve become a party that too often trims its sails. Too cautious, too rudderless. Too attached to poll-washed, pundit-rinsed, and donor-dried messages,” he said. “What comes out of the wash is all bleached and blow-dried.”
Senator Chris Van Hollen, Democrat of Maryland, endorsed Zohran Mamdani for mayor of New York City on Saturday and called on his party’s leadership to do the same, criticizing them for a delay that he said allowed President Trump to exploit Democratic divisions.
Van Hollen Criticizes Democratic Leaders for Delay in Endorsing Mamdani
At an annual fund-raiser in Iowa, the Maryland Democrat said he supported Zohran Mamdani for mayor of New York City and said people were sick of “spineless politics.”
nyti.ms
September 13, 2025 at 11:51 PM
"“We’ve become a party that too often trims its sails. Too cautious, too rudderless. Too attached to poll-washed, pundit-rinsed, and donor-dried messages,” he said. “What comes out of the wash is all bleached and blow-dried.”
Reposted by Anne Terpstra, Potter & Author 🏳️🌈
Every single US city needs to do this, and enforce it.
Brandon Johnson signed an executive order barring the city's police from collaborating with federal officers on civil immigration enforcement operations, and U.S. military personnel on police patrols.
Chicago's mayor pushes back as Trump administration readies immigration crackdown
Brandon Johnson signed an executive order barring the city's police from collaborating with federal officers on civil immigration enforcement operations, and U.S. military personnel on police patrols.
n.pr
August 31, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Every single US city needs to do this, and enforce it.
Reposted by Anne Terpstra, Potter & Author 🏳️🌈
A reminder that this is what the path to a full ban on vaccines looks like.
No one is banning vaccines for everyone overnight. Just like with abortion, they will carve off one group at a time and hope the those still eligible respond with gratitude and self-interest instead of anger and solidarity.
No one is banning vaccines for everyone overnight. Just like with abortion, they will carve off one group at a time and hope the those still eligible respond with gratitude and self-interest instead of anger and solidarity.
It's official: Updated COVID vaccines have been approved by the FDA, but with restrictions.
Moderna: 6 months and up if high risk
Pfizer: 5 years and up if high risk
Novavax: 12 years and up if high risk
Anyone 65 years and up is eligible for updated COVID vaccines regardless of risk status.
Moderna: 6 months and up if high risk
Pfizer: 5 years and up if high risk
Novavax: 12 years and up if high risk
Anyone 65 years and up is eligible for updated COVID vaccines regardless of risk status.
August 27, 2025 at 10:42 PM
A reminder that this is what the path to a full ban on vaccines looks like.
No one is banning vaccines for everyone overnight. Just like with abortion, they will carve off one group at a time and hope the those still eligible respond with gratitude and self-interest instead of anger and solidarity.
No one is banning vaccines for everyone overnight. Just like with abortion, they will carve off one group at a time and hope the those still eligible respond with gratitude and self-interest instead of anger and solidarity.
Reposted by Anne Terpstra, Potter & Author 🏳️🌈
one very real, concrete way to help feed Gaza right now is through donating to World Central Kitchen
WCK’s mobile bakery in Gaza is currently producing 45,000 loaves of bread every day. With more supplies, including flour and fuel, we'd be able to more than double that daily output and support more Palestinian families in need. #ChefsForGaza
August 22, 2025 at 3:25 PM
one very real, concrete way to help feed Gaza right now is through donating to World Central Kitchen
Let’s party!🎉
Anthropic threatening us with a good time.
“If every author in the class filed a claim, industry advocates warned, it would "financially ruin" the entire AI industry”
“If every author in the class filed a claim, industry advocates warned, it would "financially ruin" the entire AI industry”
Authors celebrate “historic” settlement coming soon in Anthropic class action
Advocates fear such settlements will “financially ruin” the AI industry.
arstechnica.com
August 28, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Let’s party!🎉
Reposted by Anne Terpstra, Potter & Author 🏳️🌈
Yes, it should. However, that would require an effective mainstream media in America — which we don’t currently have.
August 28, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Yes, it should. However, that would require an effective mainstream media in America — which we don’t currently have.
Reposted by Anne Terpstra, Potter & Author 🏳️🌈
One extraordinary thing about Pritzker's speech: saying this won't last forever and justice will eventually find the perpetrators.
Shouldn't have stood out so much. But did, because way too many US elites in politics, media, business, etc. are acting like it's popular and permanent. It's neither.
Shouldn't have stood out so much. But did, because way too many US elites in politics, media, business, etc. are acting like it's popular and permanent. It's neither.
August 28, 2025 at 2:11 PM
One extraordinary thing about Pritzker's speech: saying this won't last forever and justice will eventually find the perpetrators.
Shouldn't have stood out so much. But did, because way too many US elites in politics, media, business, etc. are acting like it's popular and permanent. It's neither.
Shouldn't have stood out so much. But did, because way too many US elites in politics, media, business, etc. are acting like it's popular and permanent. It's neither.
Reposted by Anne Terpstra, Potter & Author 🏳️🌈
I think it's time for us to view Kennedy's actions as an attack not just on our public health but the country itself. He's an incredible monster.
Health Secretary Kennedy to oust advisory panel on cancer screenings, HIV prevention drugs, WSJ reports reut.rs/452or6u
Health Secretary Kennedy to oust advisory panel on cancer screenings, HIV prevention drugs, WSJ reports
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is planning to remove all the members of an advisory panel that determines what cancer screenings and other preventive health measures insurers must cover, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter.
reut.rs
July 25, 2025 at 9:17 PM
I think it's time for us to view Kennedy's actions as an attack not just on our public health but the country itself. He's an incredible monster.
Reposted by Anne Terpstra, Potter & Author 🏳️🌈
As we celebrate #ADA35, we reaffirm our commitment to its vision.
Under my admin, we've made the largest investment in state history to support people with disabilities.
Illinois will keep fighting against those in DC who want to roll back the progress we’ve made.
Under my admin, we've made the largest investment in state history to support people with disabilities.
Illinois will keep fighting against those in DC who want to roll back the progress we’ve made.
July 26, 2025 at 4:34 PM
As we celebrate #ADA35, we reaffirm our commitment to its vision.
Under my admin, we've made the largest investment in state history to support people with disabilities.
Illinois will keep fighting against those in DC who want to roll back the progress we’ve made.
Under my admin, we've made the largest investment in state history to support people with disabilities.
Illinois will keep fighting against those in DC who want to roll back the progress we’ve made.
Reposted by Anne Terpstra, Potter & Author 🏳️🌈
There's going to war on faulty intelligence, then there's going to war in absence of intelligence, and then there's this:
Going to war in the face of contrary intelligence
Vice Chair of Senate Intelligence Committee asking one of the most important questions👇
Going to war in the face of contrary intelligence
Vice Chair of Senate Intelligence Committee asking one of the most important questions👇
The Intelligence Community said a week ago that Iran had not moved towards a nuclear weapon.
Have they changed their assessment? And if not, what the hell is the U.S. doing ignoring our own intelligence?
Have they changed their assessment? And if not, what the hell is the U.S. doing ignoring our own intelligence?
June 23, 2025 at 6:29 PM
There's going to war on faulty intelligence, then there's going to war in absence of intelligence, and then there's this:
Going to war in the face of contrary intelligence
Vice Chair of Senate Intelligence Committee asking one of the most important questions👇
Going to war in the face of contrary intelligence
Vice Chair of Senate Intelligence Committee asking one of the most important questions👇
Reposted by Anne Terpstra, Potter & Author 🏳️🌈
Undocumented immigrants contribute nearly $100 billion in taxes every year.
Meanwhile, the wealthiest 1% dodge $163 billion in taxes annually.
The real drain on America isn’t coming from the border — it’s coming from the boardroom.
Meanwhile, the wealthiest 1% dodge $163 billion in taxes annually.
The real drain on America isn’t coming from the border — it’s coming from the boardroom.
June 12, 2025 at 12:42 AM
Undocumented immigrants contribute nearly $100 billion in taxes every year.
Meanwhile, the wealthiest 1% dodge $163 billion in taxes annually.
The real drain on America isn’t coming from the border — it’s coming from the boardroom.
Meanwhile, the wealthiest 1% dodge $163 billion in taxes annually.
The real drain on America isn’t coming from the border — it’s coming from the boardroom.
Reposted by Anne Terpstra, Potter & Author 🏳️🌈
I’ve never forgotten this picture from 2016 and how it completely reshaped my understanding of how the media covers protests.
But if a few people in masks start lighting stuff on fire? Then you have news. This creates an *enormous* attentional advantage towards the most violent and chaotic kind of protest.
June 11, 2025 at 1:06 PM
I’ve never forgotten this picture from 2016 and how it completely reshaped my understanding of how the media covers protests.
Reposted by Anne Terpstra, Potter & Author 🏳️🌈
Even after all this, the @nytimes continues to normalize it
May 25, 2025 at 11:21 PM
Even after all this, the @nytimes continues to normalize it
Reposted by Anne Terpstra, Potter & Author 🏳️🌈
Yup. I continue to say that AI is for those who fetishize THE IDEA and dismiss THE WORK. It's for those people who come up to writers and say, "I got a great idea for a book, I'll give it to you, you write it, and we'll split the profits 50/50," as if the idea is the hardest and most important part.
I saw someone say AI is useful because it generates ideas. My dude, I'm full of ideas. I have docs and docs marked under 'ideas.' I have outlines and fragments of stuff I might work on. Trunked stories galore. Even if I continue to write a novel a year for the next 40 years I won't run out of ideas.
May 21, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Yup. I continue to say that AI is for those who fetishize THE IDEA and dismiss THE WORK. It's for those people who come up to writers and say, "I got a great idea for a book, I'll give it to you, you write it, and we'll split the profits 50/50," as if the idea is the hardest and most important part.
Reposted by Anne Terpstra, Potter & Author 🏳️🌈
Everyone deserves dignity and equality regardless of who they are or who they love.
On International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia, know that Illinois stands with our LGBTQ+ community.
Hate has no home here in the Land of Lincoln.
On International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia, know that Illinois stands with our LGBTQ+ community.
Hate has no home here in the Land of Lincoln.
May 17, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Everyone deserves dignity and equality regardless of who they are or who they love.
On International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia, know that Illinois stands with our LGBTQ+ community.
Hate has no home here in the Land of Lincoln.
On International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia, know that Illinois stands with our LGBTQ+ community.
Hate has no home here in the Land of Lincoln.
Bonkers thread!
OK, this is wild.
In September 2023, geophysicists across the world started monitoring a very odd signal coming from the ground under them.
It was picked up in the Arctic. And Antarctica. It was detected everywhere, every 90 seconds, as regular as a metronome, for *nine days*.
What the HELL?
1/
In September 2023, geophysicists across the world started monitoring a very odd signal coming from the ground under them.
It was picked up in the Arctic. And Antarctica. It was detected everywhere, every 90 seconds, as regular as a metronome, for *nine days*.
What the HELL?
1/
May 12, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Bonkers thread!
Reposted by Anne Terpstra, Potter & Author 🏳️🌈
Well yes that’s the plan. Also, not a secret. Also, never been so close to achieving it before.
Wealthy, powerful people are generally such because they never, ever let a good crisis pass without breaking their enemies and stealing their stuff.
Wealthy, powerful people are generally such because they never, ever let a good crisis pass without breaking their enemies and stealing their stuff.
I've been thinking that, if there really is a big recession (as it looks like there will be), the resulting conditions will enable universities to get closer to their goal of fully eliminating expensive tenure-track faculty in favor of large pools of less expensive adjunct instructors
May 1, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Well yes that’s the plan. Also, not a secret. Also, never been so close to achieving it before.
Wealthy, powerful people are generally such because they never, ever let a good crisis pass without breaking their enemies and stealing their stuff.
Wealthy, powerful people are generally such because they never, ever let a good crisis pass without breaking their enemies and stealing their stuff.
Reposted by Anne Terpstra, Potter & Author 🏳️🌈
Trump said that he does have the ability to bring back Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, the Maryland man who was wrongly deported to El Salvador, but is not willing to do so.
April 30, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Trump said that he does have the ability to bring back Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, the Maryland man who was wrongly deported to El Salvador, but is not willing to do so.
Reposted by Anne Terpstra, Potter & Author 🏳️🌈
Absolutely deplorable. Don’t be confused. This administration knows what it is doing. This is a campaign of smear & intimidation being waged against US citizens & those lawfully in this country. DHS is trying to intimidate a family because it isn’t getting its way.
Wife of Kilmar Abrego Garcia moves to safe house after DHS posts address online
Homeland Security shared copy of protective order from 2021 revealing family’s address on social media
www.independent.co.uk
April 24, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Absolutely deplorable. Don’t be confused. This administration knows what it is doing. This is a campaign of smear & intimidation being waged against US citizens & those lawfully in this country. DHS is trying to intimidate a family because it isn’t getting its way.
Reposted by Anne Terpstra, Potter & Author 🏳️🌈
What people really don’t want to hear is that shaming people who brag about writing emails with AI would be just fine. Admirable in fact. Norms can sometimes do what law won’t.
April 24, 2025 at 2:56 PM
What people really don’t want to hear is that shaming people who brag about writing emails with AI would be just fine. Admirable in fact. Norms can sometimes do what law won’t.
Reposted by Anne Terpstra, Potter & Author 🏳️🌈
An autism "registry" culled from private medical records could potentially violate federal privacy laws and runs the risk of abuse.
It also harkens back to a time when disabled people were labeled, segregated, and excluded. We won't go back.
It also harkens back to a time when disabled people were labeled, segregated, and excluded. We won't go back.
RFK Jr’s autism study collecting Americans’ private medical records
The National Institutes of Health claims it is fulfilling RFK’s promise to find cause of autism by September
www.theguardian.com
April 23, 2025 at 8:31 PM
An autism "registry" culled from private medical records could potentially violate federal privacy laws and runs the risk of abuse.
It also harkens back to a time when disabled people were labeled, segregated, and excluded. We won't go back.
It also harkens back to a time when disabled people were labeled, segregated, and excluded. We won't go back.
Reposted by Anne Terpstra, Potter & Author 🏳️🌈
It works. The government here largely works. Because we are so spoiled by how well it works, we are letting a fool convince us it is broken.
In 90 years of social security, we have never had a check bounce or be late, but they want you to believe the system is broken.
April 16, 2025 at 1:48 PM
It works. The government here largely works. Because we are so spoiled by how well it works, we are letting a fool convince us it is broken.