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
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
so excited to find these pieces as followup by @reprolawyer.bsky.social and @jessicavalenti.bsky.social ! bsky.app/profile/repr...
On Friday, I wrote about what SRH care access advocates should know about Heritage's new insidious plan for "saving" (read: breaking) the U.S. Today, @jessicavalenti.bsky.social published a piece that offers a great big picture look at the plan: jessica.substack.com/p/theyre-com...
February 9, 2026 at 5:03 PM
so excited to find these pieces as followup by @reprolawyer.bsky.social and @jessicavalenti.bsky.social ! bsky.app/profile/repr...
"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.
this is not just conservative support for gender discrimination--it's support for gender subjugation.
February 8, 2026 at 11:27 PM
this is not just conservative support for gender discrimination--it's support for gender subjugation.
as a side note, I keep retweeting that heritage paper periodically because I find it so incredibly disturbing.
preferring HS-only women because they have more kids...
at the same time guys are coming out of the woodwork saying age gaps are good, Epstein's victims wanted to be sugar babies, etc.
preferring HS-only women because they have more kids...
at the same time guys are coming out of the woodwork saying age gaps are good, Epstein's victims wanted to be sugar babies, etc.
February 8, 2026 at 11:27 PM
as a side note, I keep retweeting that heritage paper periodically because I find it so incredibly disturbing.
preferring HS-only women because they have more kids...
at the same time guys are coming out of the woodwork saying age gaps are good, Epstein's victims wanted to be sugar babies, etc.
preferring HS-only women because they have more kids...
at the same time guys are coming out of the woodwork saying age gaps are good, Epstein's victims wanted to be sugar babies, etc.
Black Mirror now part of the training data feeding whoever turned to AI for "ideas for super bowl ads"
February 8, 2026 at 11:19 PM
Black Mirror now part of the training data feeding whoever turned to AI for "ideas for super bowl ads"
also worth noting masters degrees are in general now more held by women (as I've argued elsewhere, in part because women have to offset their own gender wage discrimination)
www.rsfjournal.org/content/11/1...
www.rsfjournal.org/content/11/1...
February 8, 2026 at 11:17 PM
also worth noting masters degrees are in general now more held by women (as I've argued elsewhere, in part because women have to offset their own gender wage discrimination)
www.rsfjournal.org/content/11/1...
www.rsfjournal.org/content/11/1...
As of 2021-22, Women earned 80% of masters degrees in education, health, social services. nces.ed.gov/programs/coe...
February 8, 2026 at 11:17 PM
As of 2021-22, Women earned 80% of masters degrees in education, health, social services. nces.ed.gov/programs/coe...
Again, Heritage has explicitly linked its policy goal of limiting student loan assumption to encouraging women to have babies earlier. bsky.app/profile/loui...
From the linked Heritage policy paper--
this isn't about making better jobs that don't need college and provide in house training, this is about erasing the opportunity to get an education so people take whatever jobs are offered, and start cranking out kids during peak fertility years: pre *25*
this isn't about making better jobs that don't need college and provide in house training, this is about erasing the opportunity to get an education so people take whatever jobs are offered, and start cranking out kids during peak fertility years: pre *25*
February 8, 2026 at 11:17 PM
Again, Heritage has explicitly linked its policy goal of limiting student loan assumption to encouraging women to have babies earlier. bsky.app/profile/loui...
"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
but definitely students don’t need any classes that discuss this, ever
February 7, 2026 at 2:43 PM
but definitely students don’t need any classes that discuss this, ever
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.
dusting off this thread bsky.app/profile/loui...
a sharp left turn into a rabbit hole this morning as I finally dug up pictures I remembered seeing of one of the first humanistic automatons, “Rastus Robot,” sparker of multiple cultural studies reflections on race, automation and work
cyberneticzoo.com/robots/1930-...
cyberneticzoo.com/robots/1930-...
1930 - Rastus Robot & Willie Jr. - Thomas / Kintner (Westinghouse) (American) - cyberneticzoo.com
Above: Mr. 'Rastus Robot, the most lifelike of mechanical men, conducting a conversation with S. M. Kintner, assistant vice-president of the Westinghouse Co., Mr. Robot needs some prompting, it is tru...
cyberneticzoo.com
February 7, 2026 at 12:35 PM
dusting off this thread bsky.app/profile/loui...
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.