Joanna Kenty
@jokenty.bsky.social
Former professor of Latin/Roman history, author of Cicero’s Political Personae (2020). I write Humanist, a blog about teaching humanities in higher ed (humanist.ghost.io), and write about democracy for The Renovator (therenovator.substack.com). She/her
Reposted by Joanna Kenty
Two weeks into a new program that gives New Mexico children free childcare, officials are opening up about the surge that happened day one & how it’s been moving forward. In just a short time, the state said thousands of children are now enrolled in free childcare, & daycares are lining up to join.
www.krqe.com
November 16, 2025 at 11:54 PM
Two weeks into a new program that gives New Mexico children free childcare, officials are opening up about the surge that happened day one & how it’s been moving forward. In just a short time, the state said thousands of children are now enrolled in free childcare, & daycares are lining up to join.
Reposted by Joanna Kenty
a big runoff last night, in New Orleans:
Calvin Duncan was exonerated after spending *28 years* in prison; he tried to get his own case records from the New Orleans city clerk—but the office dragged its feet.
So Duncan ran to become city clerk himself, and yesterday ousted the incumbent.
Calvin Duncan was exonerated after spending *28 years* in prison; he tried to get his own case records from the New Orleans city clerk—but the office dragged its feet.
So Duncan ran to become city clerk himself, and yesterday ousted the incumbent.
Calvin Duncan wins Orleans clerk of court race - Verite News New Orleans
Duncan, a political newcomer and former prisoner, defeated incumbent Darren Lombard by a wide margin in Saturday's runoff.
veritenews.org
November 16, 2025 at 4:09 PM
a big runoff last night, in New Orleans:
Calvin Duncan was exonerated after spending *28 years* in prison; he tried to get his own case records from the New Orleans city clerk—but the office dragged its feet.
So Duncan ran to become city clerk himself, and yesterday ousted the incumbent.
Calvin Duncan was exonerated after spending *28 years* in prison; he tried to get his own case records from the New Orleans city clerk—but the office dragged its feet.
So Duncan ran to become city clerk himself, and yesterday ousted the incumbent.
Reposted by Joanna Kenty
As the history wars heat up, we’re releasing a new book that brings together some of the nation’s leading voices—Nikole Hannah-Jones, Annette Gordon-Reed, and many others—for an urgent, energizing conversation about the origins of the United States. Preorder is now available.
November 16, 2025 at 7:05 PM
As the history wars heat up, we’re releasing a new book that brings together some of the nation’s leading voices—Nikole Hannah-Jones, Annette Gordon-Reed, and many others—for an urgent, energizing conversation about the origins of the United States. Preorder is now available.
Reposted by Joanna Kenty
It was a victim of its own success in a lot of ways.
I was doing economic justice work pre-Occupy and the before/after was light and day.
The previously-fringe discussion or wealth inequality became SO mainstream SO fast that folks kind of forgot it was new information to most in 2011.
I was doing economic justice work pre-Occupy and the before/after was light and day.
The previously-fringe discussion or wealth inequality became SO mainstream SO fast that folks kind of forgot it was new information to most in 2011.
I've listened to several podcasts and read several articles on why people are souring on capitalism and they all don't mention Occupy which is weird to me because of nothing else they mainstreamed a lot of the language we use today. And it was a genuinely big deal at the time.
November 16, 2025 at 5:20 PM
It was a victim of its own success in a lot of ways.
I was doing economic justice work pre-Occupy and the before/after was light and day.
The previously-fringe discussion or wealth inequality became SO mainstream SO fast that folks kind of forgot it was new information to most in 2011.
I was doing economic justice work pre-Occupy and the before/after was light and day.
The previously-fringe discussion or wealth inequality became SO mainstream SO fast that folks kind of forgot it was new information to most in 2011.
Reposted by Joanna Kenty
And Theda Skocpol brings the HEAT here:
November 16, 2025 at 7:17 PM
And Theda Skocpol brings the HEAT here:
From our co-editor Beth’s first draft, I thought this was an incredibly powerful piece that everyone should read. I’ve never read anything like it, and I’m proud @the-renovator.bsky.social got to publish it.
Bad Politician: When Not Giving the Speech They Wanted Changed Everything
A new series for readers who want to survive politics, stay human in public life, and understand how quiet choices decide who stays, who walks away, and the leaders we all live with.
therenovator.substack.com
November 16, 2025 at 3:34 PM
From our co-editor Beth’s first draft, I thought this was an incredibly powerful piece that everyone should read. I’ve never read anything like it, and I’m proud @the-renovator.bsky.social got to publish it.
Reposted by Joanna Kenty
Charlotte NC: citizens are saying no to the deployment of ICE in their cities.
#ResistFascim
#ProudBlue
#ResistFascim
#ProudBlue
November 15, 2025 at 9:17 PM
Charlotte NC: citizens are saying no to the deployment of ICE in their cities.
#ResistFascim
#ProudBlue
#ResistFascim
#ProudBlue
Reposted by Joanna Kenty
also I want to stress that ordinarily a person's health is nobody's business but maybe their own and /or their loved ones. But he made his health our business when he became a senator and it seems to be increasingly affecting his capacity to serve his constituents
November 15, 2025 at 9:40 PM
also I want to stress that ordinarily a person's health is nobody's business but maybe their own and /or their loved ones. But he made his health our business when he became a senator and it seems to be increasingly affecting his capacity to serve his constituents
Reposted by Joanna Kenty
We are so grateful to our panelists - Christine Davidson, Johanna Kaiser, and Kaitlin Smith - for their valuable time and insight!
For those who couldn't make it - we compiled a resource list for anyone in our fields who are navigating their first conference experiences.
fglif.org/2025/11/10/c...
For those who couldn't make it - we compiled a resource list for anyone in our fields who are navigating their first conference experiences.
fglif.org/2025/11/10/c...
November 15, 2025 at 9:56 PM
We are so grateful to our panelists - Christine Davidson, Johanna Kaiser, and Kaitlin Smith - for their valuable time and insight!
For those who couldn't make it - we compiled a resource list for anyone in our fields who are navigating their first conference experiences.
fglif.org/2025/11/10/c...
For those who couldn't make it - we compiled a resource list for anyone in our fields who are navigating their first conference experiences.
fglif.org/2025/11/10/c...
This lesson plan is AWESOME
From Panthers to Policy: Food Justice Through History
A Multi-Standard Aligned Lesson Plan
drtorie.substack.com
November 14, 2025 at 8:22 PM
This lesson plan is AWESOME
Reposted by Joanna Kenty
New post on @the-renovator.bsky.social! It was genuinely a pleasure to speak to Joe Bubman at Urban Rural Action. They are doing bridge-building and dialogue the right way - and I learned something new about how peace and democracy are sort of the same thing.
Freeing Ourselves From the Cycle of Rising Violence
Urban Rural Action’s Uniters come together to renovate democracy and make their communities more peaceful at the same time.
therenovator.substack.com
November 13, 2025 at 9:10 PM
New post on @the-renovator.bsky.social! It was genuinely a pleasure to speak to Joe Bubman at Urban Rural Action. They are doing bridge-building and dialogue the right way - and I learned something new about how peace and democracy are sort of the same thing.
Reposted by Joanna Kenty
NEW: The first two years of Massachusetts' millionaire tax has raised $3 billion more than expected.
And rather than driving the rich away, IPS researchers found that the number of millionaires has *increased.*
Tax the rich. Greg Ryan in @bloomberg.com:
And rather than driving the rich away, IPS researchers found that the number of millionaires has *increased.*
Tax the rich. Greg Ryan in @bloomberg.com:
Millionaire Tax That Inspired Mamdani Fuels $5.7 Billion Haul in Massachusetts
A millionaire levy in Massachusetts that New York City mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani holds up as a model for taxing the rich has generated $3 billion more in revenue than expected without forcing...
www.bloomberg.com
November 12, 2025 at 4:01 PM
NEW: The first two years of Massachusetts' millionaire tax has raised $3 billion more than expected.
And rather than driving the rich away, IPS researchers found that the number of millionaires has *increased.*
Tax the rich. Greg Ryan in @bloomberg.com:
And rather than driving the rich away, IPS researchers found that the number of millionaires has *increased.*
Tax the rich. Greg Ryan in @bloomberg.com:
Reposted by Joanna Kenty
We have thoughts about the #WutheringHeights trailer but we have to stop laughing first before we can express them
tomandlorenzo.com/2025/11/we-h...
tomandlorenzo.com/2025/11/we-h...
We Have Thoughts About the WUTHERING HEIGHTS Trailer - Tom + Lorenzo
Here's the trailer for Emerald Fennell's upcoming adaptation of Wuthering Heights. We should tell you that we laughed uproariously through the whole
tomandlorenzo.com
November 13, 2025 at 6:57 PM
We have thoughts about the #WutheringHeights trailer but we have to stop laughing first before we can express them
tomandlorenzo.com/2025/11/we-h...
tomandlorenzo.com/2025/11/we-h...
Reposted by Joanna Kenty
Favorite new reaction image
November 14, 2025 at 12:14 AM
Favorite new reaction image
Reposted by Joanna Kenty
You didn't get a doctorate so you could 'get your syllabus approved' and then 'not depart from it' and just 'tell the students what they need in order to work in their profession'.
You're the *expert*; your job is to convey your sense of reality, and also encourage them to think for themselves.
You're the *expert*; your job is to convey your sense of reality, and also encourage them to think for themselves.
November 14, 2025 at 12:39 AM
You didn't get a doctorate so you could 'get your syllabus approved' and then 'not depart from it' and just 'tell the students what they need in order to work in their profession'.
You're the *expert*; your job is to convey your sense of reality, and also encourage them to think for themselves.
You're the *expert*; your job is to convey your sense of reality, and also encourage them to think for themselves.
New post on @the-renovator.bsky.social! It was genuinely a pleasure to speak to Joe Bubman at Urban Rural Action. They are doing bridge-building and dialogue the right way - and I learned something new about how peace and democracy are sort of the same thing.
Freeing Ourselves From the Cycle of Rising Violence
Urban Rural Action’s Uniters come together to renovate democracy and make their communities more peaceful at the same time.
therenovator.substack.com
November 13, 2025 at 9:10 PM
New post on @the-renovator.bsky.social! It was genuinely a pleasure to speak to Joe Bubman at Urban Rural Action. They are doing bridge-building and dialogue the right way - and I learned something new about how peace and democracy are sort of the same thing.
Reposted by Joanna Kenty
such exciting book mail!!! @curtisdozier.bsky.social
November 12, 2025 at 8:27 PM
such exciting book mail!!! @curtisdozier.bsky.social
Reposted by Joanna Kenty
A basic requirement of government is to support its people in meeting their needs. As cost of living continues to rise throughout our country, our people deserve more investment from their government than what we delivered today—which is why I voted no.
November 12, 2025 at 10:29 PM
A basic requirement of government is to support its people in meeting their needs. As cost of living continues to rise throughout our country, our people deserve more investment from their government than what we delivered today—which is why I voted no.
Reposted by Joanna Kenty
Kind of wild that while food assistance was withheld from millions of families, one Trump-supporting billionaire (Ellison) saw his net worth grow more this year than the entire SNAP budget. And the YTD gains of the other four richest men would’ve fully covered salaries for all 2M federal employees.
November 11, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Kind of wild that while food assistance was withheld from millions of families, one Trump-supporting billionaire (Ellison) saw his net worth grow more this year than the entire SNAP budget. And the YTD gains of the other four richest men would’ve fully covered salaries for all 2M federal employees.
Reposted by Joanna Kenty
performative reading, lack of reading skills, nobody's reading anymore -- NO!
tell me about a book that changed you
for me? the *extremely* ahistorical novel, THE AGONY AND THE ECSTASY which I read at 13 and was like, "Oh, art can be *everything* to a maker, for good and bad"
tell me about a book that changed you
for me? the *extremely* ahistorical novel, THE AGONY AND THE ECSTASY which I read at 13 and was like, "Oh, art can be *everything* to a maker, for good and bad"
November 11, 2025 at 10:39 PM
performative reading, lack of reading skills, nobody's reading anymore -- NO!
tell me about a book that changed you
for me? the *extremely* ahistorical novel, THE AGONY AND THE ECSTASY which I read at 13 and was like, "Oh, art can be *everything* to a maker, for good and bad"
tell me about a book that changed you
for me? the *extremely* ahistorical novel, THE AGONY AND THE ECSTASY which I read at 13 and was like, "Oh, art can be *everything* to a maker, for good and bad"
Reposted by Joanna Kenty
there's a moment in PARADISE LOST where Satan arrives in Eden and realizes Hell isn't a place; it's a thing he carries within him and it'll follow him wherever he goes. and i think about that when i see these awful rich men whose monstrous wealth has enriched them not at all
“whatever club he’s invited to join has been devalued by the invitation”
November 11, 2025 at 6:31 AM
there's a moment in PARADISE LOST where Satan arrives in Eden and realizes Hell isn't a place; it's a thing he carries within him and it'll follow him wherever he goes. and i think about that when i see these awful rich men whose monstrous wealth has enriched them not at all
All-party primaries give us higher rates of participation that reconnect our political institutions to the people and require them to be responsive to the people, and require positive governance strategies that sustain majoritarian coalitions. (For the opposite, see the White House right now.)
New York Just Ran the Election the Rest of America Needs
Real Choice, Real Turnout, Real Legitimacy: Lessons from New York’s De Facto All-Party Primary
therenovator.substack.com
November 12, 2025 at 12:31 AM
I feel like eccentric geniuses don’t give useful job advice…also, at least two of these guys famously did not support the careers of women
Here's a fun column! Carsten Lund Pedersen uses #AI to create a kind of career advisory panel. Panelists include digital simulacra of Einstein, Bohr, Feynman, and on one memorable occasion, Bond author Ian Fleming. Here's how he did it.
@nature.com 🧪 www.nature.com/articles/d41...
@nature.com 🧪 www.nature.com/articles/d41...
I have Einstein, Bohr and Feynman in my pocket
Grappling with difficulties in your career? Try asking an AI-powered advisory panel of experts, suggests Carsten Lund Pedersen.
www.nature.com
November 11, 2025 at 10:36 PM
I feel like eccentric geniuses don’t give useful job advice…also, at least two of these guys famously did not support the careers of women
Reposted by Joanna Kenty
All-party primaries give us higher rates of participation that reconnect our political institutions to the people and require them to be responsive to the people, and require positive governance strategies that sustain majoritarian coalitions. (For the opposite, see the White House right now.)
New York Just Ran the Election the Rest of America Needs
Real Choice, Real Turnout, Real Legitimacy: Lessons from New York’s De Facto All-Party Primary
therenovator.substack.com
November 11, 2025 at 5:08 PM
All-party primaries give us higher rates of participation that reconnect our political institutions to the people and require them to be responsive to the people, and require positive governance strategies that sustain majoritarian coalitions. (For the opposite, see the White House right now.)
Spoken like a man who gets great healthcare coverage free from work.
I was at an event yesterday where Rand Paul spoke via video and talked about how great it was to send ACA money "directly to the people" so that they could work collectively to get better deals on health care.
November 11, 2025 at 2:02 AM
Spoken like a man who gets great healthcare coverage free from work.