Charles T. Mathewes

Charles Mathewes @ctmathewes.bsky.social · 12h

www.niemanlab.org/2026/02/the-...

The Atlantic’s Elizabeth Bruenig on her “hypothetical,” heavily reported measles essay

"We were attracted to the idea of providing a play-by-play of the progression of measles in granular detail."

www.niemanlab.org

Charles Mathewes @ctmathewes.bsky.social · 12h

Many who felt deceived had posted about it _before reaching the end_, and were embarassed when they realized their initial posts misrepresented her piece.

If this is right it reinforces my impression that phones & the social media cult of urgency costs us the reflective time we once had.

Charles Mathewes @ctmathewes.bsky.social · 12h

I think I've cracked the mystery of why so many people are upset about Elizabeth Bruenig's piece on measles.

www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...?

The Atlantic’s essay about measles was gut-wrenching. Some readers feel deceived.

Some critics and physicians said Elizabeth Bruenig’s account of a mother confronting a child’s death from measles felt misleading once they learned the story was reported fiction.

www.washingtonpost.com

Charles Mathewes @ctmathewes.bsky.social · 1d

OK this is pretty good. Watch till the end.

Nur Shahir, PhD @gigiomics.bsky.social · 1d

Easily the best Ramadan meme 🤣

Rami Ismail (رامي) @ramiismail.com · 1d

Many often ask whether Ramadan is difficult, & while it can be, it is by far my favorite time of year. You don't have to feel bad for people fasting. In many ways, Ramadan is a celebration of faith, culture, & community. Plus, Muslim TikTok gets hilarious:

Charles Mathewes @ctmathewes.bsky.social · 1d

Religious pluralism ftw. Ramadan Mubarak!

Osama Siddiqui @orsiddiqui.bsky.social · 1d

Happy lunar Ramadan new year Lent Mubarak! 🌙🧧🎉

Capital Weather Gang @capitalweather.bsky.social · 1d

Coldest winter to date in more than 2 decades. Cold spot in hemisphere. 🥶

Through Monday, DC in its coldest meteorological winter to date since 2002-03. Temperature of 34.5 about 5 degrees below normal.

Warmer than normal rest of this week and mixed next week to close out met winter.

Map showing D.C. region and the East Coast of U.S. in a colder than normal pocket surrounded largely by warmer than normal zones.

Osama Siddiqui @orsiddiqui.bsky.social · 1d

Happy lunar Ramadan new year Lent Mubarak! 🌙🧧🎉

Nur Shahir, PhD @gigiomics.bsky.social · 1d

Easily the best Ramadan meme 🤣

Rami Ismail (رامي) @ramiismail.com · 1d

Many often ask whether Ramadan is difficult, & while it can be, it is by far my favorite time of year. You don't have to feel bad for people fasting. In many ways, Ramadan is a celebration of faith, culture, & community. Plus, Muslim TikTok gets hilarious:

Charles Mathewes @ctmathewes.bsky.social · 2d

The sign: www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/bein...

Perspective | Being rich wrecks your soul. We used to know that.

It’s time to bring back the stigma of extreme wealth.

www.washingtonpost.com

Charles Mathewes @ctmathewes.bsky.social · 2d

Don't make me tap the sign

Marlow Stern @marlownyc.bsky.social · 3d

pretty stunning chart

Charles Mathewes @ctmathewes.bsky.social · 2d

I'm sure our agreement doesn't stop there. And if we cannot communicate awe & love & delight at what we teach, goodness gracious let us step aside, for there are others who would want to take our place in an instant, you know?

Charles Mathewes @ctmathewes.bsky.social · 2d

Before anyone gets smart: I teach courses on evil, I have close colleagues who teach courses on the holocaust; finding the topic that you study absolutely worthy of your devotion doesnt mean you approve of everything you study. But you find absorption in this work absolutely meaningful and good.

Charles Mathewes @ctmathewes.bsky.social · 2d

110% agree. Multiple layers of teaching, but if you don’t teach at the foundation a fundamental love of what you study, no one will care.

Scott D. Moringiello @sdeltam.bsky.social · 2d

Sed contra:

Your primary objective as a professor should be to convey how wonder-full your subject is and how much you love it.

Your students might not get the same thrill as you do, but they should recognize that you do get that thrill.

Our subjects are not just true, they're also beautiful.

Kate Ozment @grubstreetwomen.bsky.social · 2d

No one expects "enjoy solving math problems" to be the primary objective of a college math class, but a lot of folks seem to think the point of English classes is to love the act of reading.

If you want to read a book for pleasure, read! If you want to be taught a skillset, take a class.

Scott D. Moringiello @sdeltam.bsky.social · 2d

Sed contra:

Your primary objective as a professor should be to convey how wonder-full your subject is and how much you love it.

Your students might not get the same thrill as you do, but they should recognize that you do get that thrill.

Our subjects are not just true, they're also beautiful.

Kate Ozment @grubstreetwomen.bsky.social · 2d

No one expects "enjoy solving math problems" to be the primary objective of a college math class, but a lot of folks seem to think the point of English classes is to love the act of reading.

If you want to read a book for pleasure, read! If you want to be taught a skillset, take a class.

Marlow Stern @marlownyc.bsky.social · 3d

pretty stunning chart

Charles Mathewes @ctmathewes.bsky.social · 3d

It would help me to live better were I to live un-harassed by, and unreminded of the existence of, any of the Emanuel brothers

Charles Mathewes @ctmathewes.bsky.social · 5d

Undoubtedly. But some of us like that character

Charles Mathewes @ctmathewes.bsky.social · 5d

You???

Justin Sherin @wychstreet.bsky.social · 5d

Anniversary of the death of Charles M Schulz, 13 Feb 2000 - also the date this strip ran. It was drawn weeks in advance but he died in his sleep on the 13th, just before people got their newspapers..

UVA Law School @uvalaw.bsky.social · 5d

Prof. Andrew Block discusses the State and Local Government Policy Clinic’s work with state Sen. Scott Surovell ’96 and Del. Katrina Callsen ’14 on legislation to extend term limits for university board appointees. @ssurovell.bsky.social @katrinacallsen.com @vpm.org

Reforming public university boards is a hot topic at the General Assembly

Lawmakers have proposed changes to board structure, rules on legal counsel and more.

www.vpm.org

Charles Mathewes @ctmathewes.bsky.social · 6d

Oh no this is terrible

Adam DJ Brett @adjb.co · 6d

I'm stunned and disappointed to see the shuttering of yet another piece of public religious studies scholarship. #acrel #amrel #aarsbl #sblaar

Reading Religion @readingreligion.bsky.social · 6d

After careful consideration, the American Academy of Religion has decided that Reading Religion will cease operations on May 31, 2026.

Reviews will continue through May, after which the site will become a public archive.

With gratitude.

Official Statement: buff.ly/DYwZsam

Adam DJ Brett @adjb.co · 6d

I'm stunned and disappointed to see the shuttering of yet another piece of public religious studies scholarship. #acrel #amrel #aarsbl #sblaar

Reading Religion @readingreligion.bsky.social · 6d

After careful consideration, the American Academy of Religion has decided that Reading Religion will cease operations on May 31, 2026.

Reviews will continue through May, after which the site will become a public archive.

With gratitude.

Official Statement: buff.ly/DYwZsam

buff.ly

Charles Mathewes @ctmathewes.bsky.social · 6d

Yeah, you fuckers would never even endorse Biden in November of ‘24.

You’re all a bunch of cowards. You should’ve quit when Bezos told you you couldn’t do it.

Peter Baker @peterbakernyt.bsky.social · 6d

Public disapproval of Trump's performance has grown so much that more Americans think Biden did a better job than he is doing, according to three polls. Zachary Basu www.axios.com/2026/02/12/t...

A year into Trump's term, voters say Biden was better

Trump has squandered virtually every advantage that won him the presidency.

www.axios.com

Scholars' Lab @scholarslab.bsky.social · 6d

And: the DH Center is co-sponsoring another installment of the Humanities AI Research Showcase, organized by @ctmathewes.bsky.social (Religious Studies) on 2/19. @hgnroadshow.bsky.social will present on her virtual writing editor agent.

jamelle @jamellebouie.net · 6d

easy slogan for the next democratic presidential candidate is “i will reform the corrupt supreme court and repeal citizens united”

Omar Wasow @owasow.bsky.social · 6d

“When Citizens United was decided in 2010, billionaires had spent $18 million on the 2000 election, $13M 2004 and $16M in 2008. Then came the deluge. In 2012 it was $231M, and nearly doubled again in next three election cycles —to $682M in 2016, $1.2 billion in 2020 and $2.6 billion in 2024.” Gift:

Opinion | Affordability and the ‘Epstein Class’ Will Define American Politics

www.nytimes.com

Phil Klay @philklay.bsky.social · 6d

“To a skeptical believer, the great mark of sincerity is the extent to which you attempt to live out your beliefs in your own life despite your own doubts, not the extent to which you silence those doubts or the doubts of others.”

www.nytimes.com/2026/02/11/o...

Opinion | Ash Wednesday and the Burden of Living Your Beliefs

www.nytimes.com

Jèf Uphoff @juphoff.bsky.social · 7d

I love this headline about Virginia's Senate president--the one who recently smacked down U.S. Senator Ted Cruz. :)

www.thebulwark.com/p/how-82-yea...

How an 82-Year-Old Great-Grandmother Became a Master-Class Dem Shitposter

Meet the unstoppable L. Louise Lucas.

www.thebulwark.com

Acyn @acyn.bsky.social · 8d

Watters: I was walking in my street, a car drives by and I give him a wave. He rolls down the window and says, “F U fascist.” He doesn’t know I’m a fascist!

Jessica: Yes, he does. You’re on TV.

Charles Mathewes @ctmathewes.bsky.social · 9d

You're right!

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