Crystal D. Howell, Ph.D.
@crystaldhowell.bsky.social
Teacher educator, researcher, daughter, wife, friend, runner, writer, and woman about town
Pinned
Hi, Bluesky! I’m a brand-new user after being summarily kicked off Facebook and the other Meta platforms this morning. Why, you ask?
Reposted by Crystal D. Howell, Ph.D.
what will become obvious and serious in the coming days is: the US has an entire health care system staffed by people who have never treated ONE case of measles, let alone a wave infected children & kids are going to die or lose their hearing because of this completely avoidable attack on innocents
I can’t see an ICE facility, especially based on what little we know, having the capacity to treat a severe case of measles, never mind multiple cases.
ICE now confirming that there is a measles outbreak at the Texas concentration camp where young Liam was held.
February 2, 2026 at 3:29 AM
what will become obvious and serious in the coming days is: the US has an entire health care system staffed by people who have never treated ONE case of measles, let alone a wave infected children & kids are going to die or lose their hearing because of this completely avoidable attack on innocents
Reposted by Crystal D. Howell, Ph.D.
Some jawdropping CBP crime statistics here...
February 1, 2026 at 5:37 PM
Some jawdropping CBP crime statistics here...
Reposted by Crystal D. Howell, Ph.D.
"What we know from research is, if you don’t have compulsory voting, the people least likely to vote are poorer people, people from new migrant groups, and often the young," says an Australian scholar on what it means that Australia requires voting.
“An Egalitarian Pressure”: Australia Has Been Requiring People to Vote for 100 Years
As Australia compels voters to show up at the polls this weekend, a scholar lays out the genesis of
boltsmag.org
February 1, 2026 at 2:08 PM
"What we know from research is, if you don’t have compulsory voting, the people least likely to vote are poorer people, people from new migrant groups, and often the young," says an Australian scholar on what it means that Australia requires voting.
This Virginian is pretty pumped for our Dem trifecta, led by the Commonwealth’s first woman governor—no cheating required.
Trump on the Virginia governor: "I don't know how they get elected. The get elected because they cheat, if you want to know the truth. If they didn't cheat, they'd have no chance."
January 31, 2026 at 10:42 PM
This Virginian is pretty pumped for our Dem trifecta, led by the Commonwealth’s first woman governor—no cheating required.
Reposted by Crystal D. Howell, Ph.D.
We've just learned that the man in this video, Ian Austin, was among those arrested by federal officials.
More info to come soon.
More info to come soon.
Ian Austin, an Army veteran, was arrested for protesting ICE in Minneapolis. But he’s continued protesting. Senior reporter @julialurie.bsky.social spoke to him.
“When they say, ‘Why would you be out here?’ How the fuck could I not be out here?” he says. “My nation is under attack."
“When they say, ‘Why would you be out here?’ How the fuck could I not be out here?” he says. “My nation is under attack."
January 30, 2026 at 11:34 PM
We've just learned that the man in this video, Ian Austin, was among those arrested by federal officials.
More info to come soon.
More info to come soon.
Reposted by Crystal D. Howell, Ph.D.
I may have a stroke.
Someone said protests don’t belong in church and it took every ounce of self-censure within me not to say “Deborah you are literally a Protestant.”
A PROTESTant.
I assume they think Luther was nailing Bed, Bath, & Beyond coupons to the door.
Someone said protests don’t belong in church and it took every ounce of self-censure within me not to say “Deborah you are literally a Protestant.”
A PROTESTant.
I assume they think Luther was nailing Bed, Bath, & Beyond coupons to the door.
January 30, 2026 at 5:15 PM
I may have a stroke.
Someone said protests don’t belong in church and it took every ounce of self-censure within me not to say “Deborah you are literally a Protestant.”
A PROTESTant.
I assume they think Luther was nailing Bed, Bath, & Beyond coupons to the door.
Someone said protests don’t belong in church and it took every ounce of self-censure within me not to say “Deborah you are literally a Protestant.”
A PROTESTant.
I assume they think Luther was nailing Bed, Bath, & Beyond coupons to the door.
Reposted by Crystal D. Howell, Ph.D.
Via appalachians4appalachia
January 29, 2026 at 12:03 AM
Via appalachians4appalachia
Reposted by Crystal D. Howell, Ph.D.
Thousands of people filled the streets of downtown Minneapolis in protest of federal immigration enforcement for the second consecutive Friday.
📷️: Aaron Lavinsky
📷️: Aaron Lavinsky
January 30, 2026 at 9:42 PM
Thousands of people filled the streets of downtown Minneapolis in protest of federal immigration enforcement for the second consecutive Friday.
📷️: Aaron Lavinsky
📷️: Aaron Lavinsky
Reposted by Crystal D. Howell, Ph.D.
A drawing by a 5-year-old girl detained at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center in Texas with her mother Hayam El-Gamal. “I am 5 years old” is written at the top of the page. Lower down, next to stick figures, are the words “let us go.” Courtesy of Eric Lee, Lee & Godshall-Bennett, LLP
January 29, 2026 at 9:20 PM
A drawing by a 5-year-old girl detained at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center in Texas with her mother Hayam El-Gamal. “I am 5 years old” is written at the top of the page. Lower down, next to stick figures, are the words “let us go.” Courtesy of Eric Lee, Lee & Godshall-Bennett, LLP
Reposted by Crystal D. Howell, Ph.D.
A Minnesota woman observing ICE agents in her car was cornered on one-way streets. An agent approached, called her by name—citing facial recognition. Days later, her Global Entry and TSA privileges were revoked, with no explanation.
How ICE Already Knows Who Minneapolis Protesters Are
www.nytimes.com
January 30, 2026 at 11:55 AM
A Minnesota woman observing ICE agents in her car was cornered on one-way streets. An agent approached, called her by name—citing facial recognition. Days later, her Global Entry and TSA privileges were revoked, with no explanation.
Reposted by Crystal D. Howell, Ph.D.
"I'm coming to Boston and I'm bringing hell with me."
--Homan in February
"Do I expect violence to escalate? Absolutely."
-- Tom Homan in March
"I actually thought about getting up and throwing that man a beating right there in the middle of the room"
-- Homan in July, referring to a D congressman
--Homan in February
"Do I expect violence to escalate? Absolutely."
-- Tom Homan in March
"I actually thought about getting up and throwing that man a beating right there in the middle of the room"
-- Homan in July, referring to a D congressman
Homan: "I begged for the last two months on TV for the rhetoric to stop. I said in March -- if the rhetoric doesn't stop, there is gonna be bloodshed. And there has been. I wish I wasn't right. I don't want to see anybody die."
January 29, 2026 at 3:32 PM
"I'm coming to Boston and I'm bringing hell with me."
--Homan in February
"Do I expect violence to escalate? Absolutely."
-- Tom Homan in March
"I actually thought about getting up and throwing that man a beating right there in the middle of the room"
-- Homan in July, referring to a D congressman
--Homan in February
"Do I expect violence to escalate? Absolutely."
-- Tom Homan in March
"I actually thought about getting up and throwing that man a beating right there in the middle of the room"
-- Homan in July, referring to a D congressman
Reposted by Crystal D. Howell, Ph.D.
Approval for Donald Trump now on 39%, lagging far behind Joe Biden and every other modern president.
January 28, 2026 at 9:17 PM
Approval for Donald Trump now on 39%, lagging far behind Joe Biden and every other modern president.
Reposted by Crystal D. Howell, Ph.D.
It's easy to get inured to this. But it's genuinely shocking. These are just untrained, hyped up hooligans terrorizing people.
A retired Minneapolis couple who had guns pointed at them by ICE in a church parking lot.
"They were obviously not trained at all. I've known many police officers in my life. These people were right off the streets."
"They had the professional demeanor of criminals."
ht: @paulgraham.bsky.social
"They were obviously not trained at all. I've known many police officers in my life. These people were right off the streets."
"They had the professional demeanor of criminals."
ht: @paulgraham.bsky.social
January 28, 2026 at 7:57 PM
It's easy to get inured to this. But it's genuinely shocking. These are just untrained, hyped up hooligans terrorizing people.
Oh…oh, no.
January 28, 2026 at 5:31 AM
Oh…oh, no.
Reposted by Crystal D. Howell, Ph.D.
Something important to understand about ICE thugs in the Twin Cities is that they're harassing innocent kids and parents at bus stops and schools every single day. Even after the Pretti shooting. It's terrorism.
January 27, 2026 at 7:30 PM
Something important to understand about ICE thugs in the Twin Cities is that they're harassing innocent kids and parents at bus stops and schools every single day. Even after the Pretti shooting. It's terrorism.
Users of Facebook, Instagram, and Threads can no longer share links to ICE List, a website listing what it claims are the names of thousands of DHS employees. www.wired.com/story/meta-i...
Meta Is Blocking Users From Sharing Website Listing ICE Agents
Users of Facebook, Instagram, and Threads can no longer share links to ICE List, a website listing what it claims are the names of thousands of DHS employees.
www.wired.com
January 27, 2026 at 6:24 PM
Reposted by Crystal D. Howell, Ph.D.
Ian Austin, an Army veteran, was arrested for protesting ICE in Minneapolis. But he’s continued protesting. Senior reporter @julialurie.bsky.social spoke to him.
“When they say, ‘Why would you be out here?’ How the fuck could I not be out here?” he says. “My nation is under attack."
“When they say, ‘Why would you be out here?’ How the fuck could I not be out here?” he says. “My nation is under attack."
January 27, 2026 at 5:30 PM
Ian Austin, an Army veteran, was arrested for protesting ICE in Minneapolis. But he’s continued protesting. Senior reporter @julialurie.bsky.social spoke to him.
“When they say, ‘Why would you be out here?’ How the fuck could I not be out here?” he says. “My nation is under attack."
“When they say, ‘Why would you be out here?’ How the fuck could I not be out here?” he says. “My nation is under attack."
Reposted by Crystal D. Howell, Ph.D.
One thing I found deeply moving about resistance in the Twin Cities was the universalism of loving your neighbor, the philosophy driving the opposition to the ICE/BP invasion. I couldn't help but notice the contrast with the blood and soil-ism of Miller and Vance. www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
January 27, 2026 at 2:38 PM
One thing I found deeply moving about resistance in the Twin Cities was the universalism of loving your neighbor, the philosophy driving the opposition to the ICE/BP invasion. I couldn't help but notice the contrast with the blood and soil-ism of Miller and Vance. www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
Reposted by Crystal D. Howell, Ph.D.
"Return CBP to the border"
Now that you have seen what CBP does, why is it okay to have them on the US-Mexico or US-Canada border? Some people say they want "a controlled border" but at what cost to life?
Now that you have seen what CBP does, why is it okay to have them on the US-Mexico or US-Canada border? Some people say they want "a controlled border" but at what cost to life?
January 27, 2026 at 1:23 PM
"Return CBP to the border"
Now that you have seen what CBP does, why is it okay to have them on the US-Mexico or US-Canada border? Some people say they want "a controlled border" but at what cost to life?
Now that you have seen what CBP does, why is it okay to have them on the US-Mexico or US-Canada border? Some people say they want "a controlled border" but at what cost to life?
I learned so much about making a fortune as a content creator from Eliza! Be SURE to visit her IG and swipe through the post here.
I learned a lot from this @elizaorlins.bsky.social IG post on how to earn six figures as a content creator.
www.instagram.com/p/DUBRwlAgMe...
www.instagram.com/p/DUBRwlAgMe...
January 27, 2026 at 5:13 PM
I learned so much about making a fortune as a content creator from Eliza! Be SURE to visit her IG and swipe through the post here.
Reposted by Crystal D. Howell, Ph.D.
“This is a preschool you stupid motherf*ckers!”
(From Somali Snaps)
(From Somali Snaps)
January 27, 2026 at 5:08 PM
“This is a preschool you stupid motherf*ckers!”
(From Somali Snaps)
(From Somali Snaps)
Reposted by Crystal D. Howell, Ph.D.
Wow— “Cardinal Tobin told hundreds of faithful gathered online that now is the time to say no — no to violence, no to indifference, and no to funding the U.S. government’s own “machinery of death.”
www.thelettersfromleo.com/p/pope-leos-...
www.thelettersfromleo.com/p/pope-leos-...
January 27, 2026 at 5:15 AM
Wow— “Cardinal Tobin told hundreds of faithful gathered online that now is the time to say no — no to violence, no to indifference, and no to funding the U.S. government’s own “machinery of death.”
www.thelettersfromleo.com/p/pope-leos-...
www.thelettersfromleo.com/p/pope-leos-...
Reposted by Crystal D. Howell, Ph.D.
Anyone ever say to you when you're talking about banned books some version of, "Well if you want the book, just buy it!" The Freedom to Read Project broke down exactly why that argument doesn't stand up to scrutiny:
What the Library Is For and Why “Just Buy the Book” Gets It Exactly Backwards
Libraries exist to guarantee equal access to ideas; telling families to buy books themselves undermines equity, choice, trust, and opportunity.
www.freedomtoreadproject.org
January 26, 2026 at 6:31 PM
Anyone ever say to you when you're talking about banned books some version of, "Well if you want the book, just buy it!" The Freedom to Read Project broke down exactly why that argument doesn't stand up to scrutiny:
Reposted by Crystal D. Howell, Ph.D.
I am just gonna say it, these guys are completely emasculated by the knowledge that they have been out-organized by a group that is significantly made up of women, and all the bullshit call of duty nonsense is cope for their wounded egos bsky.app/profile/jeet...
MAGA military geniuses are talking about Minnesota protestors like they are the Iraqi insurgency, the Taliban, and the Viet Cong all rolled into one.
January 26, 2026 at 6:12 PM
I am just gonna say it, these guys are completely emasculated by the knowledge that they have been out-organized by a group that is significantly made up of women, and all the bullshit call of duty nonsense is cope for their wounded egos bsky.app/profile/jeet...
Reposted by Crystal D. Howell, Ph.D.
Analysis | To avoid being murdered by fascist militias, liberals must look inward.
January 26, 2026 at 1:59 PM
Analysis | To avoid being murdered by fascist militias, liberals must look inward.