Deborah McDowell
@dem8z.bsky.social
Reader, writer, teacher, gardener, seamstress, contrarian. Professor, @WoodsonUVA Alice Griffin Professor of English, University of Virginia. Please, no DMs unless I know you. For professional matters, please contact me via UVA.
Pinned
Deborah McDowell
@dem8z.bsky.social
· Feb 24
The World We Want Is Us
It moves my heart to see your awakened faces;
poets.org
Alice Walker, “The World We Want is Us”https://poets.org/poem/world-we-want-us
Reposted by Deborah McDowell
Reposted by Deborah McDowell
The madman in the White House has started his campaign to take over the entire Western Hemisphere and Congress is doing nothing to stop him as we watch in horror. 😱😱😱
January 6, 2026 at 1:42 AM
The madman in the White House has started his campaign to take over the entire Western Hemisphere and Congress is doing nothing to stop him as we watch in horror. 😱😱😱
Reposted by Deborah McDowell
1000%
kind of darkly funny that "gender studies" is the stereotypical "useless degree" because gender studies will help you understand a large and important chunk of the current psychosis in american life
January 6, 2026 at 3:49 AM
1000%
Reposted by Deborah McDowell
🚨BREAKING: DOJ admits it has only released 12,285 documents required by Epstein Files Transparency Act. More than 2 million documents still need to be reviewed/released. DOJ is in violation of federal law that required release by Dec. 19.
More from Democracy Docket in am. www.democracydocket.com
More from Democracy Docket in am. www.democracydocket.com
January 6, 2026 at 3:31 AM
🚨BREAKING: DOJ admits it has only released 12,285 documents required by Epstein Files Transparency Act. More than 2 million documents still need to be reviewed/released. DOJ is in violation of federal law that required release by Dec. 19.
More from Democracy Docket in am. www.democracydocket.com
More from Democracy Docket in am. www.democracydocket.com
Reposted by Deborah McDowell
"Government by organized money is just as dangerous as Government by organized mob."
—FDR, 1936
—FDR, 1936
January 5, 2026 at 11:00 PM
"Government by organized money is just as dangerous as Government by organized mob."
—FDR, 1936
—FDR, 1936
Reposted by Deborah McDowell
"The announcement follows months of efforts by Kennedy to change the way vaccines are approved, reviewed, & recommended. Kennedy was the co-founder of the anti-vaccine group Children’s Health Defense, before leaving that role to run for president...1/2
www.statnews.com/2026/01/05/c...
www.statnews.com/2026/01/05/c...
Federal health officials slash recommended childhood vaccinations under Trump’s directive
The number of recommended childhood shots drops from 17 to 11.
www.statnews.com
January 6, 2026 at 2:07 AM
"The announcement follows months of efforts by Kennedy to change the way vaccines are approved, reviewed, & recommended. Kennedy was the co-founder of the anti-vaccine group Children’s Health Defense, before leaving that role to run for president...1/2
www.statnews.com/2026/01/05/c...
www.statnews.com/2026/01/05/c...
Reposted by Deborah McDowell
This is disgusting that this was done to Sheryl.
Actual exchange from court today:
Me: I can't do January 20 for the hearing, your honor, because I'm having surgery, but I can do [dates in February]
Judge: Ordinarily I'd accommodate medical issues, but not for people like you. Attend from the hospital if you have to.
Me: I can't do January 20 for the hearing, your honor, because I'm having surgery, but I can do [dates in February]
Judge: Ordinarily I'd accommodate medical issues, but not for people like you. Attend from the hospital if you have to.
January 6, 2026 at 1:16 AM
This is disgusting that this was done to Sheryl.
Reposted by Deborah McDowell
But way too many of us want the carceral state to stay because of how it stratifies society against racialized people, so we're willing to put up with a little dictatorship for that whilst we wring our hands about it.
January 6, 2026 at 12:50 AM
But way too many of us want the carceral state to stay because of how it stratifies society against racialized people, so we're willing to put up with a little dictatorship for that whilst we wring our hands about it.
Reposted by Deborah McDowell
As long as there is a lower class, I am in it; while there is a criminal element, I am of it; and while there is a soul in prison, I am not free. - Eugene Debs
Pic of the day
#photography
Pic of the day
#photography
January 5, 2026 at 11:31 PM
As long as there is a lower class, I am in it; while there is a criminal element, I am of it; and while there is a soul in prison, I am not free. - Eugene Debs
Pic of the day
#photography
Pic of the day
#photography
Reposted by Deborah McDowell
The theories tying voting machine companies to Venezuela and election fraud have long been debunked.
Trump Pushes Conspiracy That Venezuela Helped Biden Win After Maduro’s Capture
The theories tying voting machine companies to Venezuela and election fraud have long been debunked.
www.forbes.com
January 5, 2026 at 5:30 PM
The theories tying voting machine companies to Venezuela and election fraud have long been debunked.
Reposted by Deborah McDowell
I will start using Hilton more!!!
January 5, 2026 at 10:12 PM
I will start using Hilton more!!!
Reposted by Deborah McDowell
Dear Homeland Security. Hilton is NOT "siding with murderers and rapists."
If you haven't figured it out yet, that's exactly why they canceled YOUR reservations.
If you haven't figured it out yet, that's exactly why they canceled YOUR reservations.
January 5, 2026 at 10:05 PM
Dear Homeland Security. Hilton is NOT "siding with murderers and rapists."
If you haven't figured it out yet, that's exactly why they canceled YOUR reservations.
If you haven't figured it out yet, that's exactly why they canceled YOUR reservations.
Reposted by Deborah McDowell
Gee, why wouldn't Hilton welcome jackbooted, masked, lawless thugs with a reputation for disregarding the law, tearing apart families and destroying private property?
They reserve the right to not host Nazis. Welcome to the free market, DHS/ICE. Hope you enjoy your stay.
They reserve the right to not host Nazis. Welcome to the free market, DHS/ICE. Hope you enjoy your stay.
January 5, 2026 at 10:04 PM
Gee, why wouldn't Hilton welcome jackbooted, masked, lawless thugs with a reputation for disregarding the law, tearing apart families and destroying private property?
They reserve the right to not host Nazis. Welcome to the free market, DHS/ICE. Hope you enjoy your stay.
They reserve the right to not host Nazis. Welcome to the free market, DHS/ICE. Hope you enjoy your stay.
Reposted by Deborah McDowell
Contact Hilton and thank them!
January 5, 2026 at 11:57 PM
Contact Hilton and thank them!
Reposted by Deborah McDowell
"The sentence provides us a space for wandering."
Renee Gladman
Renee Gladman
January 5, 2026 at 9:33 PM
"The sentence provides us a space for wandering."
Renee Gladman
Renee Gladman
Reposted by Deborah McDowell
Looking forward to my UVA debut at this symposium later this week with many fantastic visitors and colleagues, including @histoftech.bsky.social. I'll be speaking on "Grok as an Epistemic Weapon." contagion-science.virginia.edu/jan-9-social...
Jan. 9: Social Contagions, Artificial Intelligence, and Democracy - 2nd Annual Workshop | Contagion Science
contagion-science.virginia.edu
January 5, 2026 at 9:35 PM
Looking forward to my UVA debut at this symposium later this week with many fantastic visitors and colleagues, including @histoftech.bsky.social. I'll be speaking on "Grok as an Epistemic Weapon." contagion-science.virginia.edu/jan-9-social...
Reposted by Deborah McDowell
The DOJ is very likely to lose this case. Maduro, as a sitting President, will argue that he has Sovereign Immunity protecting him from prosecution in foreign courts and may also argue that his abduction was part of a war crime for the purposes of stealing oil.
January 5, 2026 at 6:35 PM
The DOJ is very likely to lose this case. Maduro, as a sitting President, will argue that he has Sovereign Immunity protecting him from prosecution in foreign courts and may also argue that his abduction was part of a war crime for the purposes of stealing oil.
Reposted by Deborah McDowell
Agreed, Trump is a much greater threat to the world than Maduro ever was. We have the mechanisms to get rid of Trump, but unfortunately, not the courage. The Republicans have chosen to go down with the ship, throwing their careers away for the Führer. Sorry, no sympathy from me. 😒
January 5, 2026 at 9:03 PM
Agreed, Trump is a much greater threat to the world than Maduro ever was. We have the mechanisms to get rid of Trump, but unfortunately, not the courage. The Republicans have chosen to go down with the ship, throwing their careers away for the Führer. Sorry, no sympathy from me. 😒
Reposted by Deborah McDowell
#Trump
He doesn't GAF about Americans or the Venezuelan People. He cares about what he can siphon off our government, and now, another sovereign country's wealth. He is a criminal parasite.
He doesn't GAF about Americans or the Venezuelan People. He cares about what he can siphon off our government, and now, another sovereign country's wealth. He is a criminal parasite.
January 5, 2026 at 9:12 PM
#Trump
He doesn't GAF about Americans or the Venezuelan People. He cares about what he can siphon off our government, and now, another sovereign country's wealth. He is a criminal parasite.
He doesn't GAF about Americans or the Venezuelan People. He cares about what he can siphon off our government, and now, another sovereign country's wealth. He is a criminal parasite.
Reposted by Deborah McDowell
cannot stop thinking about the dozens of people dead from this act of blatant imperialism. i'd be astonished if 40 is the final number. i'd be astonished if it's not in the triple digits.
January 4, 2026 at 6:18 PM
cannot stop thinking about the dozens of people dead from this act of blatant imperialism. i'd be astonished if 40 is the final number. i'd be astonished if it's not in the triple digits.
Reposted by Deborah McDowell
i can't stop thinking about how the US's stance is that the US can prosecute foreign Presidents for crimes allegedly committed in the US, but that the ICC and UN cannot do so, and also that the US cannot prosecute *its own President* for crimes committed in the US
January 4, 2026 at 6:17 PM
i can't stop thinking about how the US's stance is that the US can prosecute foreign Presidents for crimes allegedly committed in the US, but that the ICC and UN cannot do so, and also that the US cannot prosecute *its own President* for crimes committed in the US
Reposted by Deborah McDowell
“You cannot continue to have the largest energy reserves in the world under the control of adversaries of the United States.”
January 5, 2026 at 9:52 PM
“You cannot continue to have the largest energy reserves in the world under the control of adversaries of the United States.”
Reposted by Deborah McDowell
Henceforth I will be referring to them as the TRUMP files, not the Epstein files.
January 4, 2026 at 7:53 PM
Henceforth I will be referring to them as the TRUMP files, not the Epstein files.
Reposted by Deborah McDowell
I've said this before and I'll say it again.
It would only take a tiny handful of Republican Congress members or senators to stop the slide of America toward authoritarian fascism, but nope. They're all in.
It would only take a tiny handful of Republican Congress members or senators to stop the slide of America toward authoritarian fascism, but nope. They're all in.
January 5, 2026 at 2:59 AM
I've said this before and I'll say it again.
It would only take a tiny handful of Republican Congress members or senators to stop the slide of America toward authoritarian fascism, but nope. They're all in.
It would only take a tiny handful of Republican Congress members or senators to stop the slide of America toward authoritarian fascism, but nope. They're all in.
Reposted by Deborah McDowell
Trump’s ‘American Dominance’ May Leave Us With Nothing - The Atlantic
January 5, 2026 at 6:48 PM
Trump’s ‘American Dominance’ May Leave Us With Nothing - The Atlantic