Janet Sternberg
@janetphd.bsky.social
scholar/professor, Portugal/Brasil/USA, media ecologist, linguist, cat lover, a voice on NASA Voyager Golden Record (Português), author of Misbehavior in Cyber Places
Pinned
Crisis in Linguistic Inquiry
Crisis in Linguistic Inquiry
www.academia.edu
Chomsky, yet another megalomaniac, was responsible for a revolution, a dictatorship, and a purge in linguistics in the 1960s. You can still read my 1979 article, "Crisis in Linguistic Inquiry," in which I describe Chomsky's ascent in and toxic influence on the field. www.academia.edu/1984315/Cris...
Reposted by Janet Sternberg
Celebrating Bolsonaro’s arrest the Brazilian way
November 22, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Celebrating Bolsonaro’s arrest the Brazilian way
Reposted by Janet Sternberg
The war criminal was arrested. He had tampered with his ankle monitor and was plotting to escape into the chaos of a planned demonstration.
Brazil police take ex-president Jair Bolsonaro into custody on.ft.com/4rh2j2C
Brazil police take ex-president Jair Bolsonaro into custody
Court says Trump ally was planning to take advantage of a demonstration outside his home to escape
on.ft.com
November 22, 2025 at 3:57 PM
The war criminal was arrested. He had tampered with his ankle monitor and was plotting to escape into the chaos of a planned demonstration.
Reposted by Janet Sternberg
🇧🇷 Manifestantes comemoram prisão de Jair Bolsonaro estourando champagne em frente à Superintendência da Polícia Federal, onde está preso o ex-presidente.
November 22, 2025 at 3:37 PM
🇧🇷 Manifestantes comemoram prisão de Jair Bolsonaro estourando champagne em frente à Superintendência da Polícia Federal, onde está preso o ex-presidente.
Reposted by Janet Sternberg
That sound you hear is justice being served. 🎇🎆🎇
🇧🇷 Fogos de artifício atrapalham fala da deputada Bia Kicis, aliada de Jair Bolsonaro, em frente à Superintendência da PF, onde o ex-presidente está preso.
🎥 @metropoles.com
🎥 @metropoles.com
November 22, 2025 at 4:00 PM
That sound you hear is justice being served. 🎇🎆🎇
Reposted by Janet Sternberg
Every liberal democratic voter should see the way the Mamdani and Trump spoke and how Mamdani, never having to compromise his positions, was able to get Trump to agree with him.
Thats what left-wing populism can do and it’s the direction the Democratic Party must go.
Thats what left-wing populism can do and it’s the direction the Democratic Party must go.
November 22, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Every liberal democratic voter should see the way the Mamdani and Trump spoke and how Mamdani, never having to compromise his positions, was able to get Trump to agree with him.
Thats what left-wing populism can do and it’s the direction the Democratic Party must go.
Thats what left-wing populism can do and it’s the direction the Democratic Party must go.
Reposted by Janet Sternberg
"Brazil’s former far-right president, Jair Bolsonaro, has been arrested at his villa in the capital, Brasília, amid suspicions he was poised to abscond to a foreign embassy to avoid going to prison for masterminding a military coup."
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Brazilian police arrest Bolsonaro amid suspicions he was about to flee
Politician reportedly taken from his villa into custody at a federal police base about 7 miles from presidential palace
www.theguardian.com
November 22, 2025 at 12:44 PM
"Brazil’s former far-right president, Jair Bolsonaro, has been arrested at his villa in the capital, Brasília, amid suspicions he was poised to abscond to a foreign embassy to avoid going to prison for masterminding a military coup."
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Reposted by Janet Sternberg
"Trump is a fucking idiot who gets rolled by anyone who's nice to him" theory remains undefeated, putting someone like Mamdani in there is like having Randy Johnson sub in for a 5th grade Little League game
Q: Stefanik has called Mamdani a 'jihadist.' Do you think you're standing next to a jihadist right now?
TRUMP: No, I don't. I met with a man who's a very rational person
TRUMP: No, I don't. I met with a man who's a very rational person
November 21, 2025 at 9:17 PM
"Trump is a fucking idiot who gets rolled by anyone who's nice to him" theory remains undefeated, putting someone like Mamdani in there is like having Randy Johnson sub in for a 5th grade Little League game
Reposted by Janet Sternberg
Mamdani getting Trump to back down & even *compliment* him costs Mamdani absolutely nothing (& indeed actually shows his skills) & probably also saves a lot of vulnerable ppl in this city a trememndous amount of pain if it means Trump is less inclined to act shitty towards us bc of this meeting
November 21, 2025 at 9:36 PM
Mamdani getting Trump to back down & even *compliment* him costs Mamdani absolutely nothing (& indeed actually shows his skills) & probably also saves a lot of vulnerable ppl in this city a trememndous amount of pain if it means Trump is less inclined to act shitty towards us bc of this meeting
Reposted by Janet Sternberg
Q: “Are you affirming you think Trump is a fascist?”
TRUMP: “That’s ok, you can just say yes.”
ZOHRAN: “Ok. Yes.”
TRUMP: “That’s ok, you can just say yes.”
ZOHRAN: “Ok. Yes.”
November 21, 2025 at 9:35 PM
Q: “Are you affirming you think Trump is a fascist?”
TRUMP: “That’s ok, you can just say yes.”
ZOHRAN: “Ok. Yes.”
TRUMP: “That’s ok, you can just say yes.”
ZOHRAN: “Ok. Yes.”
Reposted by Janet Sternberg
Trump in a room with a very charismatic person results in like half a day of Trump agreeing with everything that person said, so this has the potential to be very, very funny.
Trump says he’s meeting with “communist” Mamdani at the White House on Friday
November 20, 2025 at 1:55 AM
Trump in a room with a very charismatic person results in like half a day of Trump agreeing with everything that person said, so this has the potential to be very, very funny.
Reposted by Janet Sternberg
The jocular, grandfatherly pat! How’s ol Karoline going to spin this one?! 💀
Q: Are you affirming that you think President Trump is a fascist?
MAMDANI: I've spoken about--
TRUMP: That's okay. You can just say yes. I don't mind.
MAMDANI: I've spoken about--
TRUMP: That's okay. You can just say yes. I don't mind.
November 21, 2025 at 9:47 PM
The jocular, grandfatherly pat! How’s ol Karoline going to spin this one?! 💀
Reposted by Janet Sternberg
I really, really strongly encourage you to watch Aaron's clips of the Trump-Mamdani meeting, not just read his recaps.
This is a totally different Trump than we ever normally see. It's wild to see him like this—and Mamdani is the one who brought it out in him. There's a lesson here.
This is a totally different Trump than we ever normally see. It's wild to see him like this—and Mamdani is the one who brought it out in him. There's a lesson here.
Q: would you feel comfortable living in NYC under a Mamdani administration ?
TRUMP: I would. I really would.
TRUMP: I would. I really would.
November 21, 2025 at 9:41 PM
I really, really strongly encourage you to watch Aaron's clips of the Trump-Mamdani meeting, not just read his recaps.
This is a totally different Trump than we ever normally see. It's wild to see him like this—and Mamdani is the one who brought it out in him. There's a lesson here.
This is a totally different Trump than we ever normally see. It's wild to see him like this—and Mamdani is the one who brought it out in him. There's a lesson here.
Reposted by Janet Sternberg
Trump feuding with Marjorie Taylor Greene but being in love with Zohran Mamdani was not on my November 2025 bingo card
November 21, 2025 at 9:59 PM
Trump feuding with Marjorie Taylor Greene but being in love with Zohran Mamdani was not on my November 2025 bingo card
Reposted by Janet Sternberg
I agree. And political junkies who watched this will remember it, just like baseball fans will remember this year’s World Series. It’s not often you see a game played this well.
I've seen in-person politics since the time Jimmy Carter charmed Hunter S Thompson. Which really mattered, then.
Nothing matches the way Mamdani made Trump into his little fan-boy today.
Maybe tomorrow, Trump will realize this and go berserk. But for this moment—it's like when I saw Sandy Koufax.
Nothing matches the way Mamdani made Trump into his little fan-boy today.
Maybe tomorrow, Trump will realize this and go berserk. But for this moment—it's like when I saw Sandy Koufax.
Holy shiz Mamdabi turned Trump into a chump on Trump's home field. Skillz.
www.youtube.com/live/fD9h8xI...
www.youtube.com/live/fD9h8xI...
November 21, 2025 at 10:07 PM
I agree. And political junkies who watched this will remember it, just like baseball fans will remember this year’s World Series. It’s not often you see a game played this well.
Reposted by Janet Sternberg
Is it possible Trump thinks this is actually Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman with his head uncovered?
November 21, 2025 at 10:24 PM
Is it possible Trump thinks this is actually Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman with his head uncovered?
Reposted by Janet Sternberg
And his world revolves around being a "star." Mamdani is a star, and trump is a star fucker from way back.
November 21, 2025 at 10:15 PM
And his world revolves around being a "star." Mamdani is a star, and trump is a star fucker from way back.
Reposted by Janet Sternberg
Trump is the easiest mark and Mamdani is a very shrewd politician.
November 21, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Trump is the easiest mark and Mamdani is a very shrewd politician.
Reposted by Janet Sternberg
DT likes charismatic, popular leaders who show him warmth & respect. He likes winners. Mamdani's all of these things.
Plus, DT loves NYC and probably misses it.
Plus, DT loves NYC and probably misses it.
November 21, 2025 at 10:17 PM
DT likes charismatic, popular leaders who show him warmth & respect. He likes winners. Mamdani's all of these things.
Plus, DT loves NYC and probably misses it.
Plus, DT loves NYC and probably misses it.
Reposted by Janet Sternberg
Kudus to Mamdani for understanding that Trump’s desire for views/attention outweighs any ideological objection he has to Mamdani.
November 21, 2025 at 10:16 PM
Kudus to Mamdani for understanding that Trump’s desire for views/attention outweighs any ideological objection he has to Mamdani.
Reposted by Janet Sternberg
I think this clip is the key to understanding why Trump acted the way he did with Mamdani. His world revolves around TV ratings.
"I tell you, the press has eaten this thing up."
"I tell you, the press has eaten this thing up."
November 21, 2025 at 10:10 PM
I think this clip is the key to understanding why Trump acted the way he did with Mamdani. His world revolves around TV ratings.
"I tell you, the press has eaten this thing up."
"I tell you, the press has eaten this thing up."
Reposted by Janet Sternberg
There’s a word we used to say. They don’t let you say it anymore, but I think it’s a beautiful word. We call it: dialectic. You have the thesis, and then the antithesis, and if you put them together it’s a synthesis. Very powerful. We’ll be looking into that. Very materialist, the theory of history
TRUMP [after spending 5 minutes with Zohran]: surplus value, it’s a very wonderful thing, very wonderful, and they’re stealing it. Can you believe that?
We’re going to be looking very strongly at the bourgeoisie, what they’re up to
We’re going to be looking very strongly at the bourgeoisie, what they’re up to
November 21, 2025 at 10:13 PM
There’s a word we used to say. They don’t let you say it anymore, but I think it’s a beautiful word. We call it: dialectic. You have the thesis, and then the antithesis, and if you put them together it’s a synthesis. Very powerful. We’ll be looking into that. Very materialist, the theory of history
Reposted by Janet Sternberg
Nothing can possibly do justice to the incredible body language on display here—Mamdani's rigid spine, his hands clasped tightly to prevent them from punching a hole in the Oval Office window and jumping out of it, Trump repeatedly touching Mamdani's arm, smiling at him like the son he's never had.
Wow, President Trump Fucking LOVES This Mamdani Guy
Asdfjasdfjlsakdfsdhfsodfh;asdfasdf
hellgatenyc.com
November 21, 2025 at 9:50 PM
Nothing can possibly do justice to the incredible body language on display here—Mamdani's rigid spine, his hands clasped tightly to prevent them from punching a hole in the Oval Office window and jumping out of it, Trump repeatedly touching Mamdani's arm, smiling at him like the son he's never had.
Reposted by Janet Sternberg
The funny thing about this meeting is that Mamdani didn't back down on a single policy point or anything he's said about Trump.
November 21, 2025 at 9:45 PM
The funny thing about this meeting is that Mamdani didn't back down on a single policy point or anything he's said about Trump.
Reposted by Janet Sternberg
The last sentence is key. Trump got swept up in the moment. Once he sees how it played he's gonna explode and everything will go back to normal.
Sorry to repeat it but:
Having seen a lot of person-to-person showdowns w elected leaders, don't think I've ever seen as complete an "own" as Mamdani does w Trump here.
JDV should be furious
Cuckolded Republicans should be furious
Trump's actual kids should be furious
Trump will be furious—tomorrow
Having seen a lot of person-to-person showdowns w elected leaders, don't think I've ever seen as complete an "own" as Mamdani does w Trump here.
JDV should be furious
Cuckolded Republicans should be furious
Trump's actual kids should be furious
Trump will be furious—tomorrow
Trump frickin' loves this guy lmao
November 21, 2025 at 10:29 PM
The last sentence is key. Trump got swept up in the moment. Once he sees how it played he's gonna explode and everything will go back to normal.
Reposted by Janet Sternberg
Trump is nice to those who are nice to him!
It’s often as simple as that.
I knew Mamdani was going to be nice to him because I don’t sit here and have a narrow view of who Mamdani is.
Mamdani is very smart and practical.
Put those two things together and you’re going to have a love fest!
It’s often as simple as that.
I knew Mamdani was going to be nice to him because I don’t sit here and have a narrow view of who Mamdani is.
Mamdani is very smart and practical.
Put those two things together and you’re going to have a love fest!
November 21, 2025 at 11:25 PM
Trump is nice to those who are nice to him!
It’s often as simple as that.
I knew Mamdani was going to be nice to him because I don’t sit here and have a narrow view of who Mamdani is.
Mamdani is very smart and practical.
Put those two things together and you’re going to have a love fest!
It’s often as simple as that.
I knew Mamdani was going to be nice to him because I don’t sit here and have a narrow view of who Mamdani is.
Mamdani is very smart and practical.
Put those two things together and you’re going to have a love fest!