M.J. Rymsza-Pawlowska
@mjrp.bsky.social
a historian currently writing a book about how visitors, newcomers, and outsiders came to dominate Washington, DC and another book about how we do history now.
https://linktr.ee/comingtowashington
https://linktr.ee/comingtowashington
Pinned
M.J. Rymsza-Pawlowska
@mjrp.bsky.social
· Oct 28
At some point I’ll probably start performing my professional self over here but right now I’m too tired! Anyway, stay tuned if you want (eventually) to hear my hot takes on Washington DC, the history profession, and the News Of The Day!
I guess that time is now! hi, my name is M.J., and I'm writing a book about where you get your ideas about Washington, D.C. and what that means for our democracy! I am writing *another* book about how Americans are engaging the past (and probably what that means for our democracy)
lots of other abominations in this article but I think it's worth pointing out this undermining reference to Smithsonian Institution as "a group." Part of the project here is false equivalence between actual scholarship and partisan hackery
February 14, 2026 at 2:30 PM
lots of other abominations in this article but I think it's worth pointing out this undermining reference to Smithsonian Institution as "a group." Part of the project here is false equivalence between actual scholarship and partisan hackery
there is an interesting way to think about how grantmaking has helped to shape "the humanities" (a category that was, in fact, popularized via grantmaking) but pinning it entirely on one person at Mellon is myopic and shortsighted
February 12, 2026 at 6:31 PM
there is an interesting way to think about how grantmaking has helped to shape "the humanities" (a category that was, in fact, popularized via grantmaking) but pinning it entirely on one person at Mellon is myopic and shortsighted
Reposted by M.J. Rymsza-Pawlowska
I think the greatest gift college professors in the humanities can give to students right now is a seminar room where, for 80 minutes twice a week, nothing that happens to them is a sales pitch for an AI product.
February 11, 2026 at 8:45 PM
I think the greatest gift college professors in the humanities can give to students right now is a seminar room where, for 80 minutes twice a week, nothing that happens to them is a sales pitch for an AI product.
the call is coming from inside the house
February 10, 2026 at 1:02 PM
the call is coming from inside the house
Reposted by M.J. Rymsza-Pawlowska
“But Mr. Trump is taking things to new levels. compared with Mr. Nixon, @mjrp.bsky.social said, Mr. Trump is politicizing the celebrations ‘in a more overt way, and with less pushback.’” www.nytimes.com/2026/02/08/u...
For $1 Million, Donors to U.S.A. Birthday Group Offered Access to Trump
www.nytimes.com
February 8, 2026 at 4:50 PM
“But Mr. Trump is taking things to new levels. compared with Mr. Nixon, @mjrp.bsky.social said, Mr. Trump is politicizing the celebrations ‘in a more overt way, and with less pushback.’” www.nytimes.com/2026/02/08/u...
if you are dismayed about the direction our 250th's taking--talk to the committed, inspiring public historians who are doing the work! I did just that and then wrote about it for TPH @ncph.bsky.social--available free at this link!
online.ucpress.edu/tph/article/...
online.ucpress.edu/tph/article/...
February 8, 2026 at 3:32 PM
if you are dismayed about the direction our 250th's taking--talk to the committed, inspiring public historians who are doing the work! I did just that and then wrote about it for TPH @ncph.bsky.social--available free at this link!
online.ucpress.edu/tph/article/...
online.ucpress.edu/tph/article/...
Reposted by M.J. Rymsza-Pawlowska
New, detailed reporting about how Trump is using the 250th to raise money, launch his pet projects, and advance his political interests—and how donors with interests before the administration are all too eager to oblige. With expert comment from @mjrp.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/08/u...
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/08/u...
For $1 Million, Donors to U.S.A. Birthday Group Offered Access to Trump
www.nytimes.com
February 8, 2026 at 12:02 PM
New, detailed reporting about how Trump is using the 250th to raise money, launch his pet projects, and advance his political interests—and how donors with interests before the administration are all too eager to oblige. With expert comment from @mjrp.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/08/u...
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/08/u...
excited to be heading back to Providence later this month for a talk and workshop at Brown!
can’t wait for a lecture by @mjrp.bsky.social on Feb. 26th at 6:30pm, followed by a workshop on Feb. 27th at 10am. more soon 📍🐻🤎
thank you! looking forward to sharing this material with the Brown 2026 community!
February 5, 2026 at 5:08 PM
excited to be heading back to Providence later this month for a talk and workshop at Brown!
I've watched a zillion tiktok videos, used the wayback machine to search c.2000s digital archives, and read some truly weird national treasure fan fiction, all to figure out how we are thinking about history now. I'll be road-testing my ideas this spring so watch this space for upcoming events!
February 4, 2026 at 4:52 PM
I've watched a zillion tiktok videos, used the wayback machine to search c.2000s digital archives, and read some truly weird national treasure fan fiction, all to figure out how we are thinking about history now. I'll be road-testing my ideas this spring so watch this space for upcoming events!
great @nytimes.com article on westminster dog show over the years but I am OBSESSED with this couple's style
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/30/a...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/30/a...
January 31, 2026 at 7:54 PM
great @nytimes.com article on westminster dog show over the years but I am OBSESSED with this couple's style
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/30/a...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/30/a...
tragic to see my hometown paper sink to such levels of unseriousness
January 31, 2026 at 6:20 PM
tragic to see my hometown paper sink to such levels of unseriousness
Ahhhhhh it’s #RainbowHistoryProject and @dchistorycenter.bsky.social on the new queer eye! 😍
January 23, 2026 at 1:20 AM
Ahhhhhh it’s #RainbowHistoryProject and @dchistorycenter.bsky.social on the new queer eye! 😍
what a way to kick of the 250th
This afternoon, the Trump administration removed exhibits about slavery at the President's House in Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia. The city's mayor has already filed a lawsuit challenging the removal.
The slavery exhibits at the President’s House have been removed following Trump administration push
President Donald Trump and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum ordered content at national parks that “inappropriately disparage” the U.S. to be reviewed and potentially removed.
www.inquirer.com
January 22, 2026 at 11:32 PM
what a way to kick of the 250th
Gotta say my life was infinitely better before anyone, from anywhere, could just zoom my ass
January 21, 2026 at 3:07 PM
Gotta say my life was infinitely better before anyone, from anywhere, could just zoom my ass
yet one more example of why consultants have no place in higher ed
A blistering critique of UVA’s presidential search process that also raises some serious concerns about Beardsley’s resume. That guy has got to go.
augustafreepress.com/news/vanishi...
augustafreepress.com/news/vanishi...
How UVA’s presidential search missed what took us an hour to find
Inside Higher Ed frames the controversy surrounding Scott C. Beardsley's appointment as the University of Virginia's president.
augustafreepress.com
January 12, 2026 at 1:29 PM
yet one more example of why consultants have no place in higher ed
this is what happens if you don't have any friends growing up because you're a shitty little dork and so you play civilization 2 in your basement all day
January 10, 2026 at 4:14 PM
this is what happens if you don't have any friends growing up because you're a shitty little dork and so you play civilization 2 in your basement all day
took exactly 35 minutes into my train trip for me to quiet car hulk out on a chatty couple behind me
January 6, 2026 at 5:45 PM
took exactly 35 minutes into my train trip for me to quiet car hulk out on a chatty couple behind me
always trying something new!
January 4, 2026 at 6:35 PM
always trying something new!
I finally watched “after the hunt” and it really feels like they should have consulted a single actual academic
January 4, 2026 at 3:48 PM
I finally watched “after the hunt” and it really feels like they should have consulted a single actual academic
I have a bunch but when I was in high school I was working at a store in Georgetown and Liam Gallagher came in and bought a throw with the Sgt Pepper album cover printed on it
Right folks. Feeling rather down at the moment so bringing back an oldie
Please Quote this with your most minor celebrity interaction
Please Quote this with your most minor celebrity interaction
December 30, 2025 at 4:18 AM
I have a bunch but when I was in high school I was working at a store in Georgetown and Liam Gallagher came in and bought a throw with the Sgt Pepper album cover printed on it
has anyone written a cultural history of the american university? if not, it would be a great time for someone to do it and i even have a great title for you: "what was college"
December 22, 2025 at 4:38 PM
has anyone written a cultural history of the american university? if not, it would be a great time for someone to do it and i even have a great title for you: "what was college"
I talked to @usatoday.com about commemoration and said "really" like a million times www.usatoday.com/story/news/n...
December 20, 2025 at 3:19 PM
I talked to @usatoday.com about commemoration and said "really" like a million times www.usatoday.com/story/news/n...