Michael Sappir
@m.sappir.net
Jewish-Israeli, against apartheid and genocide. Co-host parallelweltpalaestina.info (in German), co-founder @thediasporist.bsky.social
📍Chicago
📍Chicago
Pinned
Michael Sappir
@m.sappir.net
· Aug 8
Stickers Against Germany – the Diasporist
The antideutsch leftists papering cities in pro-Israel stickers
thediasporist.de
In Germany, I developed a slight obsession with political stickers – and especially the unhinged pro-Israel stickers from the German left's creepy philosemitic neocons, the "anti-Germans" (the most German Germans). For @thediasporist.bsky.social, I wrote up some of the wildest examples
Reposted by Michael Sappir
In September 2023, Lilian Weng, then Head of "Safety" at OpenAI, used her public Twitter account to announce how ChatGPT could be used as a therapist, and encouraged users to also use it as such.
December 28, 2025 at 7:49 PM
In September 2023, Lilian Weng, then Head of "Safety" at OpenAI, used her public Twitter account to announce how ChatGPT could be used as a therapist, and encouraged users to also use it as such.
Reposted by Michael Sappir
Somehow we’ve ended up in a position where the richest most powerful people in the world are innocent benevolent bystanders while a college professor with no tenure is part of a decadent and corrupt establishment that controls everything
The perfect Yglesias post: declaring “billionaires are good, actually,” as if it was some bold, counterintuitive take.
December 29, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Somehow we’ve ended up in a position where the richest most powerful people in the world are innocent benevolent bystanders while a college professor with no tenure is part of a decadent and corrupt establishment that controls everything
Reposted by Michael Sappir
This, combined with "vice signaling" (taking pride in antisocial behavior) has given us the reign of the Stupid Asshole, something most people are against, but can only be remedied if we're not too polite to talk about it
An essential development over the past decade-plus is that the ignorant went from feeling chastened when their ignorance was revealed to banding together and deciding that, actually, they were right. They might disagree at times, but they agreed that ignorance itself was an indicator of trust.
December 29, 2025 at 6:46 PM
This, combined with "vice signaling" (taking pride in antisocial behavior) has given us the reign of the Stupid Asshole, something most people are against, but can only be remedied if we're not too polite to talk about it
Reposted by Michael Sappir
Reposted by Michael Sappir
So, the US has abandoned the "international waters" justification for its bombings. With a naval blockade, domestic no-fly-zone, and dock bombing, let there be no doubt that the US is at war with Venezuela.
Trump says US hit Venezuela dock where drugs were allegedly loaded reut.rs/4q9Fi0k
Trump says US hit Venezuela dock where drugs were allegedly loaded
U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday said the U.S. had "hit" a dock area in Venezuela where he alleged drugs were loaded onto boats.
reut.rs
December 29, 2025 at 7:04 PM
So, the US has abandoned the "international waters" justification for its bombings. With a naval blockade, domestic no-fly-zone, and dock bombing, let there be no doubt that the US is at war with Venezuela.
Reposted by Michael Sappir
Microplastics are here to stay; that's why we need to eat them responsibly in the classroom
August 3, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Microplastics are here to stay; that's why we need to eat them responsibly in the classroom
Reposted by Michael Sappir
It is fascinating to me that people think that folks who mask need to explain it to... Anyone. Like, do you want people to give you the murder board explanation of our chronic illness? Talk about our parent or kid with cancer?
It couldn't be less of your business.
It couldn't be less of your business.
Disappointed to see Jon Stewart & co joke about masking in public. I do it for my medically fragile daughter (Batten Disease). People not masking properly led to her getting pneumonia, which led to her being on life support, which led to me getting price quotes on her cremation just in case.
December 29, 2025 at 5:42 PM
It is fascinating to me that people think that folks who mask need to explain it to... Anyone. Like, do you want people to give you the murder board explanation of our chronic illness? Talk about our parent or kid with cancer?
It couldn't be less of your business.
It couldn't be less of your business.
Reposted by Michael Sappir
ShotSpotter = Junk Science
NEW: A steep drop in homicides in the 12 South and West side neighborhoods that had ShotSpotter sensors lasted a full year after Mayor Brandon Johnson scrapped the city’s controversial gunshot detection system, an updated analysis of Chicago crime data shows. @wttw.bsky.social
Steep Drop in Homicides Continued for Full Year After ShotSpotter Was Removed: Analysis
Supporters of the gunshot detection system said it helped officers save lives when shootings were not reported to emergency services. ShotSpotter was never used to dispatch paramedics.
news.wttw.com
December 29, 2025 at 5:34 PM
ShotSpotter = Junk Science
Reposted by Michael Sappir
People always cite "Arab Muslim and Christian members of Knesset" (they are almost all Palestinians) as evidence of the lack of apartheid but those very MKs themselves call it an apartheid state.
Did Jim Crow stop existing because there were a handful of Black congressmen?
Did Jim Crow stop existing because there were a handful of Black congressmen?
December 28, 2025 at 5:14 PM
People always cite "Arab Muslim and Christian members of Knesset" (they are almost all Palestinians) as evidence of the lack of apartheid but those very MKs themselves call it an apartheid state.
Did Jim Crow stop existing because there were a handful of Black congressmen?
Did Jim Crow stop existing because there were a handful of Black congressmen?
Reposted by Michael Sappir
Remember:
When Tylenol was poisoned *by an outsider* and killed people, the company recalled all their products & redesigned them.
When Intel’s Pentium had a bug so obscure it affected 1 in _9 billion_ long division calculations, they recalled their chips.
ChatGPT was made deadly *by its team*.
When Tylenol was poisoned *by an outsider* and killed people, the company recalled all their products & redesigned them.
When Intel’s Pentium had a bug so obscure it affected 1 in _9 billion_ long division calculations, they recalled their chips.
ChatGPT was made deadly *by its team*.
i don’t see how any of the benefits of chatgpt and other consumer-facing LLMs can possibly outweigh their incredible ability to induce suicides
Adam Raine’s life hurtled toward tragedy soon after he began talking with ChatGPT about homework. Analysis of his ChatGPT account shows how the chatbot became a confidant as he planned to end his life.
December 28, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Remember:
When Tylenol was poisoned *by an outsider* and killed people, the company recalled all their products & redesigned them.
When Intel’s Pentium had a bug so obscure it affected 1 in _9 billion_ long division calculations, they recalled their chips.
ChatGPT was made deadly *by its team*.
When Tylenol was poisoned *by an outsider* and killed people, the company recalled all their products & redesigned them.
When Intel’s Pentium had a bug so obscure it affected 1 in _9 billion_ long division calculations, they recalled their chips.
ChatGPT was made deadly *by its team*.
Reposted by Michael Sappir
1. Sometimes, the absurdity of the situation we're all in just hits me. Going forward, ongoing and continuous transmission of SARS-CoV-2 will lead to an ever-increasing percentage of the global population developing chronic illnesses due to sequelae of infection.
December 28, 2025 at 11:45 AM
1. Sometimes, the absurdity of the situation we're all in just hits me. Going forward, ongoing and continuous transmission of SARS-CoV-2 will lead to an ever-increasing percentage of the global population developing chronic illnesses due to sequelae of infection.
Reposted by Michael Sappir
This is a fun juxtaposition of text and ai slop ad though
December 26, 2025 at 3:49 PM
This is a fun juxtaposition of text and ai slop ad though
Reposted by Michael Sappir
Everyone involved in the publication and promotion of this book should be embarrassed. It's not a "harsh truth" that COVID mitigation was a mistake, it's ghoulish and false.
"In Covid's Wake" Part 1: Lyin… - If Books Could Kill - Apple Podcasts
Podcast Episode · If Books Could Kill · 06/17/2025 · 58m
podcasts.apple.com
December 24, 2025 at 5:08 AM
Everyone involved in the publication and promotion of this book should be embarrassed. It's not a "harsh truth" that COVID mitigation was a mistake, it's ghoulish and false.
Reposted by Michael Sappir
A small (personal) example of this book’s intellectual dishonesty:
My father-in-law is reading In Covid’s Wake, and excitedly told me he found a passage where I’m quoted. The quote in question is me saying the FBI worked to censor speech on social media.
Huh? When did I say that?!
My father-in-law is reading In Covid’s Wake, and excitedly told me he found a passage where I’m quoted. The quote in question is me saying the FBI worked to censor speech on social media.
Huh? When did I say that?!
December 24, 2025 at 7:00 PM
A small (personal) example of this book’s intellectual dishonesty:
My father-in-law is reading In Covid’s Wake, and excitedly told me he found a passage where I’m quoted. The quote in question is me saying the FBI worked to censor speech on social media.
Huh? When did I say that?!
My father-in-law is reading In Covid’s Wake, and excitedly told me he found a passage where I’m quoted. The quote in question is me saying the FBI worked to censor speech on social media.
Huh? When did I say that?!
Reposted by Michael Sappir
For others who are struggling with the Chomsky-Epstein connection, I highly recommend Greg Grandin's piece in the Nation. It reminds us of a key context - Chomsky answered emails from *everyone* - without minimizing his disappointment with a genuine moral failure. www.thenation.com/article/soci...
December 16, 2025 at 12:27 AM
For others who are struggling with the Chomsky-Epstein connection, I highly recommend Greg Grandin's piece in the Nation. It reminds us of a key context - Chomsky answered emails from *everyone* - without minimizing his disappointment with a genuine moral failure. www.thenation.com/article/soci...
Reposted by Michael Sappir
I deplore how the German and western political classes have abused Holocaust memory to the point that publics have lost faith in its lessons.
In the next contribution to our series on the Rise & Fall of the BRD, @dirkmoses.bsky.social explores the incipient end of Holocaust memory, and identifies German political and media institutions as the culprits: thediasporist.de/is-holocaust...
Is Holocaust Memory Over? – the Diasporist
How the German political and media classes have hollowed out the lessons of history
thediasporist.de
December 23, 2025 at 1:10 PM
I deplore how the German and western political classes have abused Holocaust memory to the point that publics have lost faith in its lessons.
Reposted by Michael Sappir
Mere recognition of the single state reality is shunned in the West while in Israel every single Zionist bloc party from Yair Golan's to Naftali Bennett's not only recognizes it but affirms it daily. It's a vital load bearing pillar in the discursive frameworks that enable Israeli impunity .
My position on the debate on "From the River to the Sea" is that it should start with the party that is actually advancing this vision not only through chants but also through genocide and ethnic cleansing - the current Israeli government.
December 23, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Mere recognition of the single state reality is shunned in the West while in Israel every single Zionist bloc party from Yair Golan's to Naftali Bennett's not only recognizes it but affirms it daily. It's a vital load bearing pillar in the discursive frameworks that enable Israeli impunity .
Reposted by Michael Sappir
Good start to this series "Bad Cousins," on the Abraham Accords.
Extra bonus points for having the wonderful @danaelkurd.bsky.social as their first guest
open.spotify.com/show/3QUSxmu...
Extra bonus points for having the wonderful @danaelkurd.bsky.social as their first guest
open.spotify.com/show/3QUSxmu...
Blood and Oil
open.spotify.com
November 4, 2025 at 12:52 PM
Good start to this series "Bad Cousins," on the Abraham Accords.
Extra bonus points for having the wonderful @danaelkurd.bsky.social as their first guest
open.spotify.com/show/3QUSxmu...
Extra bonus points for having the wonderful @danaelkurd.bsky.social as their first guest
open.spotify.com/show/3QUSxmu...
Reposted by Michael Sappir
«Antisemitismus und Rassismus dienten, so meine These, als Klebstoff, der den Deutschen den Übergang in die Demokratie erleichterte, gerade weil sie eigentlich weder ihren Wertekanon noch ihre nationale Selbstwahrnehmung wirklich in Frage stellen, geschweige denn ändern mussten …»
Klebstoff und Erinnerung – the Diasporist
Wie die überlebenden Opfer des Nationalsozialismus eine Herausforderung für die deutsche Erinnerungskultur darstellen
thediasporist.de
December 22, 2025 at 7:28 PM
«Antisemitismus und Rassismus dienten, so meine These, als Klebstoff, der den Deutschen den Übergang in die Demokratie erleichterte, gerade weil sie eigentlich weder ihren Wertekanon noch ihre nationale Selbstwahrnehmung wirklich in Frage stellen, geschweige denn ändern mussten …»
Reposted by Michael Sappir
@thediasporist.bsky.social wird schrittweise Beiträge der Konferenz "Rise and Fall of the BRD" veröffentlichen. Den Anfang macht D. Diedrichsens Beitrag, allein schon lesenswert wegen der prägnanten "Klassischen Polit-Matrix der BRD" und ihrem Update.
thediasporist.de/de/im-garten...
thediasporist.de/de/im-garten...
Im Garten Feuilleton – the Diasporist
Das Geländer der Schöngeistigen in der neuen deutschen Polit-Matrix
thediasporist.de
December 17, 2025 at 3:27 PM
@thediasporist.bsky.social wird schrittweise Beiträge der Konferenz "Rise and Fall of the BRD" veröffentlichen. Den Anfang macht D. Diedrichsens Beitrag, allein schon lesenswert wegen der prägnanten "Klassischen Polit-Matrix der BRD" und ihrem Update.
thediasporist.de/de/im-garten...
thediasporist.de/de/im-garten...
Reposted by Michael Sappir
JOB!!!
Jewish Currents is searching for a new Editor in Chief!
This is a pretty important role, and I hope there is a diverse applicant pool. Being Jewish is NOT a requirement. As an advisory board member with no say in the hire, I hope especially that those who are POC and/or trans will apply!
Jewish Currents is searching for a new Editor in Chief!
This is a pretty important role, and I hope there is a diverse applicant pool. Being Jewish is NOT a requirement. As an advisory board member with no say in the hire, I hope especially that those who are POC and/or trans will apply!
Careers
Find out about career opportunities at Jewish Currents.
jewishcurrents.org
December 22, 2025 at 5:46 PM
JOB!!!
Jewish Currents is searching for a new Editor in Chief!
This is a pretty important role, and I hope there is a diverse applicant pool. Being Jewish is NOT a requirement. As an advisory board member with no say in the hire, I hope especially that those who are POC and/or trans will apply!
Jewish Currents is searching for a new Editor in Chief!
This is a pretty important role, and I hope there is a diverse applicant pool. Being Jewish is NOT a requirement. As an advisory board member with no say in the hire, I hope especially that those who are POC and/or trans will apply!
Reposted by Michael Sappir
i can't believe the number of people in my life who are enthusiastically using Chat GPT for therapy, to analyze text conversations with partners, get advice on disputes with neighbors etc.
it's just autocomplete!
it doesn't "know" anything and can't give you advice!
please please don't do this
it's just autocomplete!
it doesn't "know" anything and can't give you advice!
please please don't do this
December 21, 2025 at 6:16 PM
i can't believe the number of people in my life who are enthusiastically using Chat GPT for therapy, to analyze text conversations with partners, get advice on disputes with neighbors etc.
it's just autocomplete!
it doesn't "know" anything and can't give you advice!
please please don't do this
it's just autocomplete!
it doesn't "know" anything and can't give you advice!
please please don't do this
Reposted by Michael Sappir
Don’t worry, guys. Special envoy to the president Ric Grenell wants you to know that the CBS thing is totally on the up and up, and not to please the admin. He’s proving that by demanding CBS fires people.
December 22, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Don’t worry, guys. Special envoy to the president Ric Grenell wants you to know that the CBS thing is totally on the up and up, and not to please the admin. He’s proving that by demanding CBS fires people.
Reposted by Michael Sappir
It's down thread but I'm stealing "the process of searching is the process of learning" as one of the aphorisms I annoy my students by overusing, second only to "writing is thinking".
So one of the things that I think is lost on AI proponents is what I call the card catalog effect, a thing I shouldn’t call it because a lot of people probably have no experience with a card catalog.
February 18, 2025 at 7:54 AM
It's down thread but I'm stealing "the process of searching is the process of learning" as one of the aphorisms I annoy my students by overusing, second only to "writing is thinking".
Reposted by Michael Sappir
Woman comes to US at age 6. Graduates nursing school. Work permit. No criminal record. Snatched and imprisoned by ICE for 6 months now. About to be forced back to Honduras. A life destroyed and one less nurse. Merry Christmas.
www.nola.com/news/educati...
www.nola.com/news/educati...
December 20, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Woman comes to US at age 6. Graduates nursing school. Work permit. No criminal record. Snatched and imprisoned by ICE for 6 months now. About to be forced back to Honduras. A life destroyed and one less nurse. Merry Christmas.
www.nola.com/news/educati...
www.nola.com/news/educati...