Louise Seamster
@louiseseamster.bsky.social
debt, development, infrastructure, the economics of racial inequality, and the myth of racial progress. I express my own views
Reposted by Louise Seamster
massive. catapult.
Elon Musk told employees at xAI, his artificial intelligence company, on Tuesday that the company needed a factory on the moon to build A.I. satellites and a massive catapult to launch them into space.
Elon Musk Wants to Build an A.I. Satellite Factory on the Moon
In a meeting with employees at his company xAI, Mr. Musk revealed a vision for a facility that includes a giant catapult to launch his satellites into space.
nyti.ms
February 11, 2026 at 1:43 PM
massive. catapult.
Reposted by Louise Seamster
“Four of my children just evaporated,” Badran said, holding back tears. “I looked for them a million times. Not a piece was left. Where did they go?”
There are no words to adequately describe the evil here.
There are no words to adequately describe the evil here.
Israel used weapons in Gaza that made thousands of Palestinians evaporate
US-made thermal weapons burning at 3,500C caused 2,842 people to "evaporate" in Gaza, Al Jazeera investigation finds.
www.aljazeera.com
February 10, 2026 at 10:29 PM
“Four of my children just evaporated,” Badran said, holding back tears. “I looked for them a million times. Not a piece was left. Where did they go?”
There are no words to adequately describe the evil here.
There are no words to adequately describe the evil here.
Reposted by Louise Seamster
Word choices matter. Like saying “scientists and philosophers have come to understand” is very different from “scientists and philosophers are claiming“
One primes your audience to respect authority and the other primes your audience to question
One primes your audience to respect authority and the other primes your audience to question
Researchers working with the A.I. system Claude have come to understand that the model’s selfhood, like our own, is a matter of both neurons and narratives. newyorkermag.visitlink.me/kEX1vV
February 11, 2026 at 1:29 PM
Word choices matter. Like saying “scientists and philosophers have come to understand” is very different from “scientists and philosophers are claiming“
One primes your audience to respect authority and the other primes your audience to question
One primes your audience to respect authority and the other primes your audience to question
Reposted by Louise Seamster
Jesus
“The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill recently rolled out a new policy that permits university officials to record classes without notifying the instructor. It’s a practice administrators have used in the past to investigate professors but have now formalized in writing.”
UNC Admin Can Now, Officially, Secretly Record Faculty
The new policy prohibits students from recording class without permission but explicitly allows administrators to surveil professors for any “lawful purpose.”
www.insidehighered.com
February 11, 2026 at 1:31 PM
Jesus
Reposted by Louise Seamster
Not to mention the way SEO fucked with online searching in addition to Boolean searches no longer being effective.
suggesting online search > using a medical AI chatbot may underestimate how many websites are now full of AI slop (not to mention how AI has permeated online search)
this is why people are comparing AI to microplastics or a virus—there are no uncontaminated parts of our info ecosystem.
this is why people are comparing AI to microplastics or a virus—there are no uncontaminated parts of our info ecosystem.
"People are better off using online searches or their own judgement" is an unbelievably harsh indictment of AI chatbots
February 10, 2026 at 3:48 PM
Not to mention the way SEO fucked with online searching in addition to Boolean searches no longer being effective.
Reposted by Louise Seamster
The first draft of my effort to theorize the political/coalitional characteristics of student debt is out for review.
It's really the first step in an effort to think through how to design a free college program with durable long-term coalitions
It's really the first step in an effort to think through how to design a free college program with durable long-term coalitions
February 10, 2026 at 2:57 PM
The first draft of my effort to theorize the political/coalitional characteristics of student debt is out for review.
It's really the first step in an effort to think through how to design a free college program with durable long-term coalitions
It's really the first step in an effort to think through how to design a free college program with durable long-term coalitions
Reposted by Louise Seamster
It’s so odd to me that we’ve reached a point where making something shoddy is not only *not* a source of shame and embarrassment, but also something they double down on. Even more puzzling is the willful erosion of value (and the good name of one’s brand) in the online search function.
suggesting online search > using a medical AI chatbot may underestimate how many websites are now full of AI slop (not to mention how AI has permeated online search)
this is why people are comparing AI to microplastics or a virus—there are no uncontaminated parts of our info ecosystem.
this is why people are comparing AI to microplastics or a virus—there are no uncontaminated parts of our info ecosystem.
"People are better off using online searches or their own judgement" is an unbelievably harsh indictment of AI chatbots
February 10, 2026 at 2:05 PM
It’s so odd to me that we’ve reached a point where making something shoddy is not only *not* a source of shame and embarrassment, but also something they double down on. Even more puzzling is the willful erosion of value (and the good name of one’s brand) in the online search function.
suggesting online search > using a medical AI chatbot may underestimate how many websites are now full of AI slop (not to mention how AI has permeated online search)
this is why people are comparing AI to microplastics or a virus—there are no uncontaminated parts of our info ecosystem.
this is why people are comparing AI to microplastics or a virus—there are no uncontaminated parts of our info ecosystem.
"People are better off using online searches or their own judgement" is an unbelievably harsh indictment of AI chatbots
⚠️ Despite all the hype, chatbots still make terrible doctors. Out today is the largest user study of language models for medical self-diagnosis. We found that chatbots provide inaccurate and inconsistent answers, and that people are better off using online searches or their own judgment.
February 10, 2026 at 1:26 PM
suggesting online search > using a medical AI chatbot may underestimate how many websites are now full of AI slop (not to mention how AI has permeated online search)
this is why people are comparing AI to microplastics or a virus—there are no uncontaminated parts of our info ecosystem.
this is why people are comparing AI to microplastics or a virus—there are no uncontaminated parts of our info ecosystem.
Reposted by Louise Seamster
this may be a radical take BUT I think we should proceed cautiously with the rushed integration of half-cooked automation into problematic business sectors in a broadly-corrupt country without functional regulatory oversight
As AI enters the operating room, reports arise of botched surgeries and misidentified body parts
Medical device makers have been rushing to add AI to their products. While proponents say the new technology will revolutionize medicine, regulators are receiving a rising number of claims of patient ...
www.reuters.com
February 9, 2026 at 8:56 PM
this may be a radical take BUT I think we should proceed cautiously with the rushed integration of half-cooked automation into problematic business sectors in a broadly-corrupt country without functional regulatory oversight
"Seen how people like me, immigrants are been treated changes my perspective about the U.S. My mom and I came to The U.S looking for a good and safe place to live"
2/ “I miss my school and my friends I feel bad since when I came here to this Place, because I have been here too long.”
From 9-year-old Susej F, detained for 50+ days
From 9-year-old Susej F, detained for 50+ days
February 9, 2026 at 12:33 PM
"Seen how people like me, immigrants are been treated changes my perspective about the U.S. My mom and I came to The U.S looking for a good and safe place to live"
Reposted by Louise Seamster
jack asked if i would sketch up a poster to tell people in nearby neighborhoods about the partnership between flock and ring, and this is what i came up with. it can be printed on an 8.5x11 sheet of paper.
![YOUR RING CAMERA IS AN ICE AGENT
[a drawing of a ring camera with an ice agent dragging a person away in its field of vision]
"In October of 2025, Amazon's Ring announced its partnership with FLOCK, an A.I. surveillance group that freely shares its footage with ICE, the secret service, and the navy. Flock customers can use A.I. tools to sift through footage to assist in all manner of operations (like raids and deportations) without a warrant. Unplug Ring! Melt ICE! Protect your neighbors!
See: https://blog.ring.com/about-ring/ring-expands-community-requests-to-additional-community-safety-partners/
https://www.404media.co/ice-secret-service-navy-all-had-access-to-flocks-nationwide-network-of-cameras/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pp9MwZkHiMQ
https://www.aclum.org/campaigns-initiatives/get-the-flock-out-resource-guide/](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:p2aefnvhb3zmkrazk67dppxw/bafkreic7teyeocg7k5qcqxnc666k7clyiislh2zfi6iopcz6fs3e3lt6xy@jpeg)
January 19, 2026 at 8:15 PM
jack asked if i would sketch up a poster to tell people in nearby neighborhoods about the partnership between flock and ring, and this is what i came up with. it can be printed on an 8.5x11 sheet of paper.
"deprofessionalizing" fields that are majority-women...not by accident!
Public comments needed!
The admin wants to define grad programs in many "helping" fields (social work, nursing, teaching, etc) to no longer be "professional" degrees. This would mean major student loan restrictions: only $20,500/year. Tuition alone is often more.
Please comment by March 2!
The admin wants to define grad programs in many "helping" fields (social work, nursing, teaching, etc) to no longer be "professional" degrees. This would mean major student loan restrictions: only $20,500/year. Tuition alone is often more.
Please comment by March 2!
Reclassifying Social Work Degrees Will Harm Students, Communities, and the Profession
www.cswe.org
February 8, 2026 at 11:17 PM
"deprofessionalizing" fields that are majority-women...not by accident!
Reposted by Louise Seamster
Public comments needed!
The admin wants to define grad programs in many "helping" fields (social work, nursing, teaching, etc) to no longer be "professional" degrees. This would mean major student loan restrictions: only $20,500/year. Tuition alone is often more.
Please comment by March 2!
The admin wants to define grad programs in many "helping" fields (social work, nursing, teaching, etc) to no longer be "professional" degrees. This would mean major student loan restrictions: only $20,500/year. Tuition alone is often more.
Please comment by March 2!
Reclassifying Social Work Degrees Will Harm Students, Communities, and the Profession
www.cswe.org
February 8, 2026 at 10:59 PM
Public comments needed!
The admin wants to define grad programs in many "helping" fields (social work, nursing, teaching, etc) to no longer be "professional" degrees. This would mean major student loan restrictions: only $20,500/year. Tuition alone is often more.
Please comment by March 2!
The admin wants to define grad programs in many "helping" fields (social work, nursing, teaching, etc) to no longer be "professional" degrees. This would mean major student loan restrictions: only $20,500/year. Tuition alone is often more.
Please comment by March 2!
very excited to be hosting @berondam.bsky.social tomorrow! My class is excited too.
I know today is Bad Bunny Bowl, yet I'm also looking forward to tomorrow when I'll be in conversation about When Trees Testify: Science, Wisdom, History, and America's Black Botanical Legacy with @louiseseamster.bsky.social at @prairielights.com in IowA City.
Event followed by signing start at 7 PM.
Event followed by signing start at 7 PM.
February 8, 2026 at 10:59 PM
very excited to be hosting @berondam.bsky.social tomorrow! My class is excited too.
Reposted by Louise Seamster
I know today is Bad Bunny Bowl, yet I'm also looking forward to tomorrow when I'll be in conversation about When Trees Testify: Science, Wisdom, History, and America's Black Botanical Legacy with @louiseseamster.bsky.social at @prairielights.com in IowA City.
Event followed by signing start at 7 PM.
Event followed by signing start at 7 PM.
February 8, 2026 at 10:04 PM
I know today is Bad Bunny Bowl, yet I'm also looking forward to tomorrow when I'll be in conversation about When Trees Testify: Science, Wisdom, History, and America's Black Botanical Legacy with @louiseseamster.bsky.social at @prairielights.com in IowA City.
Event followed by signing start at 7 PM.
Event followed by signing start at 7 PM.
Reposted by Louise Seamster
FAMU can't use the word Black on anything posted around campus related to Black History Month, to stay in compliance with Florida state laws against DEI. Black students can't use the word Black at their Historically Black College during Black History Month.
February 8, 2026 at 2:28 PM
FAMU can't use the word Black on anything posted around campus related to Black History Month, to stay in compliance with Florida state laws against DEI. Black students can't use the word Black at their Historically Black College during Black History Month.
the “invisible hand” is actually just stacking up blocks on top of a giant pyramid scheme
The bosses are forcing their employees to use it. Politicians are competing to shovel money & infrastructure at it. The billionaires who control media are constantly lecturing & hectoring people to accept it & use it more.
They don't care it's losing money. They don't care people hate it.
They don't care it's losing money. They don't care people hate it.
February 8, 2026 at 2:22 PM
the “invisible hand” is actually just stacking up blocks on top of a giant pyramid scheme
Reposted by Louise Seamster
If Anemona Hartocollis were serious about covering higher ed in Florida she’d report on this.
Instead she does a puff piece on Rufo’s pet project at New College
It’s Orban’s Hungary down here at public unis and the NYT is like “hey, maybe starting a baseball team is a good idea!”
Instead she does a puff piece on Rufo’s pet project at New College
It’s Orban’s Hungary down here at public unis and the NYT is like “hey, maybe starting a baseball team is a good idea!”
This week at Group Threat, I spoke with @grundrza.bsky.social about Florida's censorship regime, teaching under authoritarianism, and how folks are coping (or not).
What's the Matter with Florida? An Interview with Zachary Levenson
A discussion about Florida's censorship of sociology and teaching under authoritarianism
groupthreat.com
February 7, 2026 at 1:45 PM
If Anemona Hartocollis were serious about covering higher ed in Florida she’d report on this.
Instead she does a puff piece on Rufo’s pet project at New College
It’s Orban’s Hungary down here at public unis and the NYT is like “hey, maybe starting a baseball team is a good idea!”
Instead she does a puff piece on Rufo’s pet project at New College
It’s Orban’s Hungary down here at public unis and the NYT is like “hey, maybe starting a baseball team is a good idea!”
Reposted by Louise Seamster
Important thread, up and down.
I do want to shout-out my fellow sociologists, who have collectively created a discipline so woke that not a single one of our introductory textbooks can make it past Florida's censors.
Great work everyone.
Great work everyone.
February 7, 2026 at 1:44 PM
Important thread, up and down.
Reposted by Louise Seamster
Sociology is the enemy of the powerful. That's why authoritarians always come for it.
I do want to shout-out my fellow sociologists, who have collectively created a discipline so woke that not a single one of our introductory textbooks can make it past Florida's censors.
Great work everyone.
Great work everyone.
February 7, 2026 at 12:31 PM
Sociology is the enemy of the powerful. That's why authoritarians always come for it.
Reposted by Louise Seamster
If only sociologists would stop
talking about structure & agency.
talking about structure & agency.
I do want to shout-out my fellow sociologists, who have collectively created a discipline so woke that not a single one of our introductory textbooks can make it past Florida's censors.
Great work everyone.
Great work everyone.
February 7, 2026 at 2:32 AM
If only sociologists would stop
talking about structure & agency.
talking about structure & agency.
Reposted by Louise Seamster
In case anyone needs it for their syllabi, my statement in gen-Ai from the minicomic I made as a syllabus for class last semester. All online and printable here spinweaveandcut.com/fall-2025-sy...
January 6, 2026 at 4:54 PM
In case anyone needs it for their syllabi, my statement in gen-Ai from the minicomic I made as a syllabus for class last semester. All online and printable here spinweaveandcut.com/fall-2025-sy...
Reposted by Louise Seamster
I read the “SAVE Act” (the GOP’s new voter suppression bill) so you don’t have to. This is my one page summary. Jesus it’s bad. 1/
February 6, 2026 at 7:54 PM
I read the “SAVE Act” (the GOP’s new voter suppression bill) so you don’t have to. This is my one page summary. Jesus it’s bad. 1/
Reposted by Louise Seamster
Lawyers for the federal government have filed a motion to expedite the deportation of Liam Conejo Ramos, the 5-year-old boy in a bunny hat who was detained by ICE agents in Minnesota. A lawyer for Liam and his father said the family had legally entered the U.S. through a humanitarian program.
U.S. Seeks to Expedite Deportation of 5-Year-Old Liam Conejo Ramos
Liam was detained last month in Minneapolis during an immigration enforcement operation in which his father was also detained by federal agents.
nyti.ms
February 6, 2026 at 9:55 PM
Lawyers for the federal government have filed a motion to expedite the deportation of Liam Conejo Ramos, the 5-year-old boy in a bunny hat who was detained by ICE agents in Minnesota. A lawyer for Liam and his father said the family had legally entered the U.S. through a humanitarian program.
Reposted by Louise Seamster
@grundrza.bsky.social also reflects on the fact that exploiting existing inequalities between tenure track and adjunct faculty makes it easier to implement censorship. Without workplace protections, adjuncts can't refuse to teach censored books.
February 6, 2026 at 3:00 PM
@grundrza.bsky.social also reflects on the fact that exploiting existing inequalities between tenure track and adjunct faculty makes it easier to implement censorship. Without workplace protections, adjuncts can't refuse to teach censored books.