Dael Norwood
@dael.bsky.social
Historian of America's old, weird political economy. Unincorporated but proudly unionized citizen of Delaware. Adding “levity to discussions of financing and high politics” since 2022. Wrote Trading Freedom: How Trade with China Defined Early America.
Reposted by Dael Norwood
It's like ICE is completely ignoring every lesson that moderately competent police forces are forced to learn, like "don't do high speed chases in densely populated areas with low risk targets"
ICE killed a teacher in Georgia today when they chose to chase a man who posed no danger and had no criminal history.
Savannah teacher killed in crash by man fleeing from ICE
According to the Chatham County Police Department, Monday morning’s fatal crash was the result of a chase between Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and a suspect.
www.wtoc.com
February 17, 2026 at 2:29 AM
It's like ICE is completely ignoring every lesson that moderately competent police forces are forced to learn, like "don't do high speed chases in densely populated areas with low risk targets"
I do wonder how much eminent domain action is coming down the pike.
"The owners of a Dallas County warehouse that ICE had planned to use as a mega detention center said Monday it will not sell or lease the property to the federal government.
“God answered our prayers,” the Hutchins Mayor said after learning of the decision...
www.dallasnews.com/news/immigra...
“God answered our prayers,” the Hutchins Mayor said after learning of the decision...
www.dallasnews.com/news/immigra...
Warehouse owner won’t sell Dallas County property to ICE for migrant detention center
The owners of a Dallas County warehouse that Immigration and Customs Enforcement had planned to use as a mega detention center said Monday it will not sell or...
www.dallasnews.com
February 17, 2026 at 12:54 AM
I do wonder how much eminent domain action is coming down the pike.
Reposted by Dael Norwood
A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to restore an exhibit about slavery at a historic site in Philadelphia, quoting George Orwell’s ‘1984’ in her scathing decision.
www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...
www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...
Trump Admin Ordered to Restore Slavery Exhibits Stripped From Historic Site in Philly
A judge has ordered the Trump administration to restore exhibits about slavery removed from the President's House Site in Philadelphia last month.
www.rollingstone.com
February 16, 2026 at 9:46 PM
A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to restore an exhibit about slavery at a historic site in Philadelphia, quoting George Orwell’s ‘1984’ in her scathing decision.
www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...
www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...
Reposted by Dael Norwood
Abigail Spanberger is showing how it's done. Democrats need leaders who are coldly ruthless like this.
This is a nice move in an interview www.nytimes.com/2026/02/16/u...
February 16, 2026 at 8:39 PM
Abigail Spanberger is showing how it's done. Democrats need leaders who are coldly ruthless like this.
Reposted by Dael Norwood
UCLA faculty stopped a $1.2 billion ransom payment to Trump while their bosses hid in the corner
Trump administration drops appeal of court order blocking $1.2-billion UCLA settlement
The Trump administration dropped its appeal of a major higher education case in which a federal judge blocked its $1.2-billion settlement proposal to UCLA over alleged civil rights violations. It will...
www.latimes.com
February 16, 2026 at 8:27 PM
UCLA faculty stopped a $1.2 billion ransom payment to Trump while their bosses hid in the corner
Reposted by Dael Norwood
Judge Rufe's opinion ordering the Trump administration to restore truthful panels about Washington's ownership of enslaved persons from the President's House site in Phila is here. (I jailbroke it from PACER.)
TL;DR: Gov't acted arbitrarily, capriciously.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
TL;DR: Gov't acted arbitrarily, capriciously.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
![Some escaped to freedom, including Oney Judge. The President’s House displays recognized
Oney Judge and focused on how her struggle for freedom represented this country’s progress
away from the horrors of slavery and into an era where the founding ideals of “Life, Liberty and
the pursuit of Happiness”
165 could be embodied for every American.
And yet, in its argument, the government claims it alone has the power to erase, alter,
remove and hide historical accounts on taxpayer and local government-funded monuments
within its control. Its claims in this regard echo Big Brother’s domain in Orwell’s 1984, where:
The largest section of the [government’s] Records Department . . . consisted simply
of persons whose duty it was to track down and collect all copies of books,
newspapers, and other documents which had been superseded and were due for
destruction. A number of the Times [a newspaper] which might, because of changes
in political alignment, or mistaken prophesies uttered by Big Brother, have been
rewritten a dozen times still stood on the files bearing its original date, and no other
copy existed to contradict it. Books, also, were recalled and rewritten again and
again, and were invariably reissued without any admission that any alteration had
been made. Even the written instructions [for workers in the Records Department]
. . . never stated or implied that an act of forgery was to be committed; always the
reference was to slips, errors, misprints, or misquotations which it was necessary to
put right in the interests of accuracy.166
The government here likewise asserts truth is no longer self-evident, but rather the property of
the elected chief magistrate and his appointees and delegees, at his whim to be scraped clean,
hidden, or overwritten. And why? Solely because, as Defendants state, it has the power. At oral
argument, Defendants insisted:
Although many people feel strongly about this one way, other people may disagree
or feel strongly another way. Ultimatel…](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:wovz3whdkughp6decczypkqq/bafkreieozargzz4mwsqojgo7uapxz6ucuof2uw7k66q45tlgjvu3bgnupi@jpeg)
![. . . [T]he message that the Government chooses to convey is for the Government
to choose. I don't get to choose what that message is. And it's our position that the
City doesn't either.167
An agency, whether the Department of the Interior, NPS, or any other agency, cannot
arbitrarily decide what is true, based on its own whims or the whims of the new leadership,
regardless of the evidence before it. Accordingly, the City is likely to prevail on its claims that
the removal was arbitrary and capricious](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:wovz3whdkughp6decczypkqq/bafkreidpzcv3mt65ac543gn5t4vkirwm6d64zr6taujzfiybsps65np6ea@jpeg)
February 16, 2026 at 5:43 PM
Judge Rufe's opinion ordering the Trump administration to restore truthful panels about Washington's ownership of enslaved persons from the President's House site in Phila is here. (I jailbroke it from PACER.)
TL;DR: Gov't acted arbitrarily, capriciously.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
TL;DR: Gov't acted arbitrarily, capriciously.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Reposted by Dael Norwood
I propose to make universal the old policy of the Blackfriars conference at the American Shakespeare Center:
If you do not end your paper on time, you will be forced to exit, pursued by a bear. Literally, a bear will come take your paper from you.
If you do not end your paper on time, you will be forced to exit, pursued by a bear. Literally, a bear will come take your paper from you.
February 16, 2026 at 1:14 AM
I propose to make universal the old policy of the Blackfriars conference at the American Shakespeare Center:
If you do not end your paper on time, you will be forced to exit, pursued by a bear. Literally, a bear will come take your paper from you.
If you do not end your paper on time, you will be forced to exit, pursued by a bear. Literally, a bear will come take your paper from you.
Reposted by Dael Norwood
Higher Ed, in particular, should have fought 2FA on personal phones and removing our office phones tooth and nail for this reason.
I think it was @tressiemcphd.bsky.social who was insistent that we decouple our online work lives from our online personal lives and here's data point one million supporting that theory. A lot of people can't ditch google for work functionality, but separating out personal accounts gives you options
Reddit, Meta, and Google Voluntarily Gave DHS Info of Anti-ICE Users, Report Says
DHS is expanding its use of administrative subpoenas, which don't come from judges.
gizmodo.com
February 16, 2026 at 6:15 PM
Higher Ed, in particular, should have fought 2FA on personal phones and removing our office phones tooth and nail for this reason.
Reposted by Dael Norwood
I wrote about the cowardly lions of corporate America under Trump and their decades-long push to shape the country’s political life and democracy, no matter their protestations to the contrary now. Gift link: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
America’s Most Powerful CEOs Are Awfully Quiet Lately
Trump has exposed an ugly truth about corporations: They’re no longer even pretending to be good citizens.
www.bloomberg.com
February 16, 2026 at 12:09 PM
I wrote about the cowardly lions of corporate America under Trump and their decades-long push to shape the country’s political life and democracy, no matter their protestations to the contrary now. Gift link: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
“The Italian Job”
Sweden curling set up a sting operation to catch Canada cheating i’m fucking losing it
February 16, 2026 at 4:28 AM
“The Italian Job”
Reposted by Dael Norwood
We finally managed to wrangle the damn bull out of the china shop.
February 15, 2026 at 3:25 PM
We finally managed to wrangle the damn bull out of the china shop.
No dog in the fight in this district *but* the “they’re not from here” criticism is a bedrock objection in basically all races in Delaware, from city council on up to Governor. It’s so common, in fact, that most candidates’ opening pitch involves them stating where (in DE) they went to high school.
February 16, 2026 at 1:44 AM
No dog in the fight in this district *but* the “they’re not from here” criticism is a bedrock objection in basically all races in Delaware, from city council on up to Governor. It’s so common, in fact, that most candidates’ opening pitch involves them stating where (in DE) they went to high school.
Reposted by Dael Norwood
This project - tracking DHS's effort to build a massive detainment system - is among the most consequential acts of resistance right now.
Imagine an alternative history where the Third Reich had faced organized, angry local resistance in every place they tried to build a concentration camp. 1/
Imagine an alternative history where the Third Reich had faced organized, angry local resistance in every place they tried to build a concentration camp. 1/
This is the testimony our team will be submitting tomorrow in support of HB 630. We are providing this to other Marylanders to use for inspiration, or to model their own submissions on.
An open letter from the team at Project Salt Box in support of MD House Bill 630
The testimony we will be submitting tomorrow in support of this emergency measure
open.substack.com
February 16, 2026 at 12:39 AM
This project - tracking DHS's effort to build a massive detainment system - is among the most consequential acts of resistance right now.
Imagine an alternative history where the Third Reich had faced organized, angry local resistance in every place they tried to build a concentration camp. 1/
Imagine an alternative history where the Third Reich had faced organized, angry local resistance in every place they tried to build a concentration camp. 1/
Reposted by Dael Norwood
"If the price of liberty is eternal vigilance, a country that inflicts the ultimate punishment on those who dare to be vigilant can no longer be free."
"The Crime of Witness" by Fintan O’Toole in @nyrb-imprints.bsky.social
"The videos that expose the administration’s mendacity about its own use of extreme violence against peaceful dissent are themselves products of the courage to show up [and] see for yourself."
www.nybooks.com/articles/202...
"The videos that expose the administration’s mendacity about its own use of extreme violence against peaceful dissent are themselves products of the courage to show up [and] see for yourself."
www.nybooks.com/articles/202...
February 16, 2026 at 12:10 AM
"If the price of liberty is eternal vigilance, a country that inflicts the ultimate punishment on those who dare to be vigilant can no longer be free."
I’m teaching a Gilded Age / Prog Era seminar for the first time this semester and even coming off years of teaching slavery and getting lots of questions about truly rough stuff there, it is *bracing* to have a student ask for help understanding a term they found in the sources: “race suicide”
February 15, 2026 at 11:21 PM
I’m teaching a Gilded Age / Prog Era seminar for the first time this semester and even coming off years of teaching slavery and getting lots of questions about truly rough stuff there, it is *bracing* to have a student ask for help understanding a term they found in the sources: “race suicide”
Reposted by Dael Norwood
I do think that the fact that the stars of the online “left” are all definitionally self-employed small-business owners is underdiscussed
Having the same class interest as a realtor and hating Democrats is a less interesting combination than many think!
Having the same class interest as a realtor and hating Democrats is a less interesting combination than many think!
I think "Hasan doesn't want his taxes raised" is an underrated explanation for his behavior
hasan, who is not trans or queer, saying that Dems would shoot every trans person in the head to win elections, is just straight up ratfucking, indefensible
February 12, 2026 at 9:27 PM
I do think that the fact that the stars of the online “left” are all definitionally self-employed small-business owners is underdiscussed
Having the same class interest as a realtor and hating Democrats is a less interesting combination than many think!
Having the same class interest as a realtor and hating Democrats is a less interesting combination than many think!
Reposted by Dael Norwood
According to Julie K. Brown, who did such invaluable reporting on Jeffrey Epstein for the Miami Herald, the Bard College Board of Trustees is conducting an emergency meeting tomorrow. I hope they do the right thing. x.com/jkbjournalis...
February 15, 2026 at 6:51 PM
According to Julie K. Brown, who did such invaluable reporting on Jeffrey Epstein for the Miami Herald, the Bard College Board of Trustees is conducting an emergency meeting tomorrow. I hope they do the right thing. x.com/jkbjournalis...
David Hackett Fischer’s book Albion’s Seed came out in 1989 and has a lot to answer for, re: providing a foundation and a lexicon for the worldview Musk, Vance et al are using the full force of their wealth and the US govt to make reality.
February 15, 2026 at 6:53 PM
David Hackett Fischer’s book Albion’s Seed came out in 1989 and has a lot to answer for, re: providing a foundation and a lexicon for the worldview Musk, Vance et al are using the full force of their wealth and the US govt to make reality.
So, a funny thing about corporations and citizenship…
February 15, 2026 at 6:47 PM
So, a funny thing about corporations and citizenship…
Reposted by Dael Norwood
This article briefly previews my forthcoming book Blue Power: How Police Organized to Protect and Serve Themselves, out in April from @basicbooksgroup.bsky.social. You can preorder it w/ the discount code BLUE20 here: www.basicbooks.com/titles/stuar...
February 15, 2026 at 3:36 PM
This article briefly previews my forthcoming book Blue Power: How Police Organized to Protect and Serve Themselves, out in April from @basicbooksgroup.bsky.social. You can preorder it w/ the discount code BLUE20 here: www.basicbooks.com/titles/stuar...
Sundays are no bones days
an unctuous mass wholly free from bones
February 15, 2026 at 3:49 PM
Sundays are no bones days
Reposted by Dael Norwood
Noting in this NEH grants filing from the Author's Guild that Michael McDonald wasn't the only NEH staffer collaborating: Adam Wolfson also helped triage which chat-GPT flagged grants might actually be related to the garden of heroes or America 250. www.neh.gov/staff/adam-w...
February 15, 2026 at 12:43 PM
Noting in this NEH grants filing from the Author's Guild that Michael McDonald wasn't the only NEH staffer collaborating: Adam Wolfson also helped triage which chat-GPT flagged grants might actually be related to the garden of heroes or America 250. www.neh.gov/staff/adam-w...
Reposted by Dael Norwood
This week on the blog: Against the State! Another military theory primer, this time focused on groups that take on the state itself, both with violent and non-violent means.
Given the enormous disparity in force, how can they win? How have they won?
acoup.blog/2026/02/13/c...
Given the enormous disparity in force, how can they win? How have they won?
acoup.blog/2026/02/13/c...
Collections: Against the State – A Primer on Terrorism, Insurgency and Protest
This week, continuing in the vein of some of our previous strategy and military theory primers, I wanted to off a basic 101-level survey of the strategic theory behind efforts, in a sense, directed…
acoup.blog
February 14, 2026 at 4:31 PM
This week on the blog: Against the State! Another military theory primer, this time focused on groups that take on the state itself, both with violent and non-violent means.
Given the enormous disparity in force, how can they win? How have they won?
acoup.blog/2026/02/13/c...
Given the enormous disparity in force, how can they win? How have they won?
acoup.blog/2026/02/13/c...
Man ppl really eat it on those moguls runs huh
February 15, 2026 at 3:35 AM
Man ppl really eat it on those moguls runs huh
Reposted by Dael Norwood
Massachusetts has spent months delaying & denying @boltsmag.org’s public records requests on how many people it has transferred ICE during Trump as part of its formal contract with ICE.
A supervisor of records ruled last week that the state’s denials are improper; we hope to get records soon.
A supervisor of records ruled last week that the state’s denials are improper; we hope to get records soon.
Inside ICE’s Only Contract with a Blue State - Bolts
As part of a 287(g) contract between state officials and ICE, Massachusetts continues to release prisoners into deportation—even as state lawmakers look to ban other forms of ICE collaboration.
boltsmag.org
February 14, 2026 at 11:56 PM
Massachusetts has spent months delaying & denying @boltsmag.org’s public records requests on how many people it has transferred ICE during Trump as part of its formal contract with ICE.
A supervisor of records ruled last week that the state’s denials are improper; we hope to get records soon.
A supervisor of records ruled last week that the state’s denials are improper; we hope to get records soon.