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Brian Kelly
@briankellyrh.bsky.social
160 followers 450 following 44 posts

History, geography, and politics.

Mets, Steelers, Tottenham. Cats, obviously.

Poughkeepsie, New York.

Videos

Brian Kelly is an American historian and a lecturer in US history, teaching at Queen's University Belfast in Northern Ireland. His work is concerned mainly with labor and race in the American South, although much of his most recent scholarship focuses on the formative struggles around slave emancipation during the American Civil War and the Reconstruction Era that followed. .. more

Political science 27%
Sociology 23%
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briankellyrh.bsky.social
Brian Kelly @briankellyrh.bsky.social · Nov 30
Profile pic: Ogallala, Nebraska.
Banner: Dolly Sods Wilderness, West Virginia.
Trying to keep us all tied together.

Reposted by Brian Kelly, David R. Miller

mcopelov.bsky.social
Mark Copelovitch @mcopelov.bsky.social · 6d
Why are we here, you ask?

This. This is why we are here.
ronfilipkowski.bsky.social Ron Filipkowski @ronfilipkowski.bsky.social · 6d
Well, my fellow Maine voters. Here is Susan Collins today paying tribute to her boss while holding her MAGA hat.

Reposted by Rebecca Solnit, Brendan Nyhan, Caroline Krafft , and 8 more

bzosiad.bsky.social
Becky Zosia Dernbach @bzosiad.bsky.social · 6d
Elizabeth is a Columbia Heights fourth-grader who loves volleyball, learning English and giggling in the halls with her friends. She's been held in the Dilley Immigration Processing Center for nearly a month, and she and her mom have both fallen ill. sahanjournal.com/education/co...
Sick fourth-grader among 4 Columbia Heights students held by ICE
Columbia Heights Public Schools says four students remain detained by ICE after Liam’s return, including 10-year-old Elizabeth, who has fallen ill.
sahanjournal.com

Reposted by Brian Kelly

whstancil.bsky.social
Will Stancil @whstancil.bsky.social · 7d
This is an extremely clarifying comment: these people think that this is somehow their war and they’re mad that regular folks are fighting it. That’s not what’s happening. Minnesotans are rallying to ensure their neighbors can’t be stolen in secret. It’s not even ideological.

Reposted by Brian Kelly

leonalurid.bsky.social
leona lurid 🫦 @leonalurid.bsky.social · 7d
bro you’re the interloper not the anarchists in bloc

jesus christ man can’t you give it a fucking rest

Reposted by Anna O. Law, Scott L. Greer, Melissa Johnson , and 5 more

drhonor.bsky.social
honor sachs @drhonor.bsky.social · 7d
Please circulate and share this important resource: thepanorama.shear.org/2025/04/09/t...
The Early Republic Tracker
The Early Republic Tracker documents instances where the federal government is removing facts and stories essential to the public’s understanding American history from public historical sites, muse…
thepanorama.shear.org

Reposted by Brian Kelly, Graham Webster, Michael D. McDonald

josephcox.bsky.social
Joseph Cox @josephcox.bsky.social · 7d
"Criminality is so rampant inside CBP that it has seen one of its own agents or officers arrested every 24 to 36 hours since 2005."

"it appears the crime rate of CBP agents and offices was higher PER CAPITA than the crime rate of undocumented immigrants." www.doomsdayscenario.co/p/accountabi...
Accountability for ICE and CBP
However bad you think the corruption and misconduct at ICE and CBP is — the reality is far far worse.
www.doomsdayscenario.co

Reposted by Brian Kelly

matthew.flux.community
Matthew Sheffield @matthew.flux.community · 10d
Almost all of them genuinely are this ill-informed. They know very little about policy or politics. This is why they have to resort to debating sophomores. They cannot debate against professional center-to-left commentators. Everything is Gish Gallop.

briankellyrh.bsky.social
Brian Kelly @briankellyrh.bsky.social · 11d
This is the sort of stuff you might agree to after an exhaustive negotiation…not your starting offer. Schumer is a spent force.
washingtonpost.com The Washington Post @washingtonpost.com · 11d
Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said the party agreed on three main goals:

° Require warrants in some cases and ICE coordination with state and local law enforcement

° Create a code of conduct and enforce it

° Require agents to wear body cams and not masks
Democrats demand new ICE restrictions as government shutdown looms
After federal agents shot and killed Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, Senate Democrats say they’ll block a massive government funding package without policy changes.
www.washingtonpost.com

Reposted by Brian Kelly

richcondon.bsky.social
Rich Condon @richcondon.bsky.social · 11d
A standing testament to the Minnesotans who helped stem the tide of disunion at Gettysburg.

During the monument’s dedication in 1897, Gov. David Clough argued that “if…the people of Minnesota dedicate themselves…the future will see the children of the North Star state on every field of conflict…

Reposted by Brian Kelly, Robert C. Richards, Aaron Sojourner , and 3 more

timdickinson.bsky.social
Tim Dickinson @timdickinson.bsky.social · 11d
Looking at the mug shots Bondi posted of folks who allegedly impeded ICE officers... I'm reminded me of some of the iconic 1960s images of 'criminals' from counter sitins and freedom rides

Reposted by Rosemary A. Joyce, Brian Kelly, Sarah Roberts , and 3 more

washingtonpost.com
The Washington Post @washingtonpost.com · 11d
Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said the party agreed on three main goals:

° Require warrants in some cases and ICE coordination with state and local law enforcement

° Create a code of conduct and enforce it

° Require agents to wear body cams and not masks
Democrats demand new ICE restrictions as government shutdown looms
After federal agents shot and killed Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, Senate Democrats say they’ll block a massive government funding package without policy changes.
www.washingtonpost.com

Reposted by Brian Kelly, Michael Jones‐Correa

npr.org
NPR @npr.org · 11d
The Labor Department has proposed rescinding an Obama-era rule that gave home care workers the right to overtime pay and other wage protections. The administration says the rule made care too costly. n.pr/4a1rrSZ
Caregivers for the elderly could lose wage protections under Trump proposal
The Labor Department has proposed rescinding an Obama-era rule that gave home care workers the right to overtime pay and other wage protections. The administration says the rule made care too costly.
n.pr

Reposted by John F. McCarthy, Steve Peers, Brian Kelly , and 5 more

adamserwer.bsky.social
Adam Serwer @adamserwer.bsky.social · 12d
We need to talk about the rise of "smol bean fascism" where you have all the guns and the immunity but the really scary people are the ones with whistles and phone cameras and they're giving you generational trauma and ptsd by filming you killing people for no reason

Reposted by Steve Peers, Brian Kelly, Jonathan Hopkin , and 1 more

motherjones.com
Mother Jones @motherjones.com · 15d
He spent decades bringing the religious right to power. Now he's marching to undo it.

Rev. Rob Schenck spent decades helping build the Religious Right—commingling church and state to advance conservative causes. Now, he says he must confront the damage he helped cause.

Reposted by Scott L. Greer, Brian Kelly, Julia Lynch , and 10 more

libankerdc.bsky.social
Elisabeth R. Anker @libankerdc.bsky.social · 18d
Wise words from WEB DuBois to gird us today: "It would be shame and cowardice to surrender this glorious land and its opportunities for civilization and humanity to the thugs and lynchers, the mobs and profiteers, the monopolists & gamblers who today choke its soul and steal its resources."

Reposted by Will Jennings, Brendan Nyhan, Steven S. Smith , and 4 more

billkristolbulwark.bsky.social
Bill Kristol @billkristolbulwark.bsky.social · 29d
With Trump going full authoritarian on Venezuela-Greenland, ICE, and the Fed, the response has to be serious. Four Republican senators (Tillis, McConnell, Murkowski, Collins?) could announce they’ll caucus for now with the Dems to give them control of the Senate to check Trump.

Reposted by Stephen M. Walt, Anna O. Law, Elizabeth Saunders , and 29 more

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Charlie Thomas @cthomasjamh.bsky.social · 29d
This is the sort of statement that was expected from every university president and law firm partner over the last year. That those statements weren’t made played a huge part in where we are now and people will remember.
joshuajfriedman.com Joshua J. Friedman @joshuajfriedman.com · 29d
Jerome Powell: "This is about whether the Fed will be able to continue to set interest rates based on evidence and economic conditions—or whether instead monetary policy will be directed by political pressure or intimidation."

Reposted by Brendan Nyhan, Robert W. Wallace, Rosemary A. Joyce , and 16 more

bgrueskin.bsky.social
Bill Grueskin @bgrueskin.bsky.social · 29d
Powell, showing more guts than almost any GOP legislators:

"The threat of criminal charges is a consequence of the Fed setting interest rates based on our best assessment of what will serve the public, rather than following the preferences of the President."

www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/s...

Reposted by Shannon Vallor, Anna O. Law, Rebecca Solnit , and 6 more

clairenf.bsky.social
Claire Nevin-Field @clairenf.bsky.social · Jan 10
“I have asked the clergy of the diocese to make sure their affairs are in order and they have written their wills.,not the time for statements. It is time to put our bodies between the powers of this world and the most vulnerable”. Rob Hirschfeld, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire
Redirecting...
www.facebook.com

Reposted by Brian Kelly

sjshancoxli.liberalcurrents.com
Dr. Samantha Hancox-Li @sjshancoxli.liberalcurrents.com · Jan 3
good rundown of how many democrats are, in fact, coming out against this shit

www.lawyersgunsmoneyblog.com/2026/01/the-...
The Dem Reaction - Lawyers, Guns & Money
Where are the Democrats right now? Friend of the blog Jamie Mayerfeld has done the research: I saw someone write on Facebook: “Only a short matter of time before we see establishment liberals falling ...
www.lawyersgunsmoneyblog.com

Reposted by Stephan Lewandowsky, Will Jennings, Brendan Nyhan , and 14 more

tomjoscelyn.bsky.social
Tom Joscelyn @tomjoscelyn.bsky.social · Jan 1
Curtis Yarvin, JD Vance’s friend & ideological influence, ended 2025 by claiming “only Hitler spoke the truth” about “too many subjects” & “Hitler was a genius.”

Extremism isn’t fringe on the right. Once marginal online extremists like Yarvin are influential at the highest levels of government.

Reposted by Eric Goldman, Brian Kelly, Gerald Friedman , and 2 more

gelliottmorris.com
G Elliott Morris @gelliottmorris.com · Dec 31
An official account of the United States government is dreamposting about deporting 80+ million citizens

Reposted by Brian Kelly

lizzslockeroom.bsky.social
Strictly 4 My Navigators @lizzslockeroom.bsky.social · Dec 30
Rest easy, Isiah Whitlock Jr. 🙏🏾🕊💙

Reposted by Brian Kelly

civilwarmemory.bsky.social
Kevin M. Levin @civilwarmemory.bsky.social · Dec 13
Buy University Press Books This Holiday Season #academicpresses cc: @uncpress.bsky.social @utpress.bsky.social @lsupress.bsky.social @fordhampress.bsky.social @univpressofkansas.bsky.social @univnebpress.bsky.social open.substack.com/pub/kevinmle...
Buy University Press Books This Holiday Season
Whatever success I can claim as a published author is the result of editors at academic publishers believing in and supporting my projects.
open.substack.com

Reposted by Rosemary A. Joyce, Brian Kelly, Alan Richardson

taniel.bsky.social
Taniel @taniel.bsky.social · Dec 10
BREAKING: Democrats have *flipped* a seat in Georgia's state House tonight.

Democrat Eric Gisler has won the seat, which was previously held by a Republican who resigned this fall.

This is a red territory: Trump won the district by 13% in 2024.

Reposted by Rosemary A. Joyce, Brian Kelly, Scott A. Imberman , and 2 more

taniel.bsky.social
Taniel @taniel.bsky.social · Dec 10
CONFIRMED: Eileen Higgins, a Democrat, will be the new mayor of Miami.

She'll be the city's first Democratic mayor since the 1990s. She flipped the office from Republicans, and does so easily. She leads the DeSantis-endorsed Emilio González 59/41 right now with most ballots counted.

Reposted by Kori Schake, Brian Kelly, Kevin Carey , and 3 more

jamellebouie.net
jamelle @jamellebouie.net · Dec 9
i read stuff like this and can genuinely angry at guys like jd vance who insist that this country belongs to some narrow vision of the "native born"

Reposted by Brian Kelly, Luke Rendell, Smith , and 8 more

thegmcconnachie.bsky.social
Garry @thegmcconnachie.bsky.social · Dec 9
“I am so bored by AI. One of the things I love about the theatre is AI can’t do it.”

Ethan Hawke is a dude 👌🏻

Reposted by Brian Kelly

froomkin.bsky.social
Dan Froomkin/Press Watch/Heads Up News @froomkin.bsky.social · Dec 5
Notable absence of hemming and hawing and “critics say” bullshit here. The NYT is getting closer and closer to calling t murder. Good on ya. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/04/us/politics/trump-boat-attacks-killings.html
The United States has long handled the problem of maritime drug smuggling by using the Coast Guard to intercept boats and to arrest people. That echoes how it works on land: Police officers who believe people are dealing drugs arrest them, and if they are convicted, they serve time in prison. They are not executed. It would be a crime if officers instead simply gunned down suspected drug dealers in the street. Similarly, a military force is not allowed to target civilians, and being a suspected criminal does not make someone lose civilian status. In peacetime, targeting a civilian is murder. In an armed conflict, targeting a civilian is a war crime.

briankellyrh.bsky.social
Brian Kelly @briankellyrh.bsky.social · Dec 2
Perfect. And this is a band that opened an album with In Between Days, too!