Michael Stambolis
@mstambolis.bsky.social
Sociologist. Associate Professor of American Studies at the University of Toulouse - Jean Jaurès. Author of: By the Power Vested in Me (Columbia University Press, 2025). I study how experts participate in controversial political debates.
Pinned
Michael Stambolis
@mstambolis.bsky.social
· May 14
By the Power Vested in Me | Columbia University Press
In both the United States and France, each side of the legal battle over same-sex marriage and parenthood relied heavily on experts. Despite the similarity o... | CUP
tinyurl.com
By the Power Vested in Me is here!
Through the story of the fight over same-sex marriage in the United States and France, this book sheds new light on the contested power of experts to influence high-stakes democratic debates.
Get your copy wherever books are sold or here: tinyurl.com/37t88xme
1/
Through the story of the fight over same-sex marriage in the United States and France, this book sheds new light on the contested power of experts to influence high-stakes democratic debates.
Get your copy wherever books are sold or here: tinyurl.com/37t88xme
1/
Reposted by Michael Stambolis
I think the key to this version of US imperialism is the interaction of 1 and 2 here
i think that people really underestimate reality that
1) administration has no doctrine, it is really about a single, mercurial, and half-awake man
2) the administration is a constantly churning system with factions that rise and fall contextually
3) might not have happened if trump tower caracas
1) administration has no doctrine, it is really about a single, mercurial, and half-awake man
2) the administration is a constantly churning system with factions that rise and fall contextually
3) might not have happened if trump tower caracas
January 3, 2026 at 3:08 PM
I think the key to this version of US imperialism is the interaction of 1 and 2 here
Reposted by Michael Stambolis
En 2026, "dernière année avant RN" (en théorie), on verra sans doute croître l'"obéissance par anticipation" aux fascistes des élites, institutions, médias etc., notion que @timothysnyder.bsky.social a mise en avant à raison, et déjà illustrée à la radio par ex.
L'article wiki serait bon à traduire.
L'article wiki serait bon à traduire.
January 3, 2026 at 3:44 PM
En 2026, "dernière année avant RN" (en théorie), on verra sans doute croître l'"obéissance par anticipation" aux fascistes des élites, institutions, médias etc., notion que @timothysnyder.bsky.social a mise en avant à raison, et déjà illustrée à la radio par ex.
L'article wiki serait bon à traduire.
L'article wiki serait bon à traduire.
I had a very mediocre SAT score and a not great GRE score. People who think either of these things translates to reliable measurement of faculty intellectual merit is a fool. We should, however, test faculty on their ability to make good coffee, clean the seminar room, and wash dishes.
Like, not even GRE scores. SAT scores.
January 2, 2026 at 9:43 PM
I had a very mediocre SAT score and a not great GRE score. People who think either of these things translates to reliable measurement of faculty intellectual merit is a fool. We should, however, test faculty on their ability to make good coffee, clean the seminar room, and wash dishes.
C'est amusant!
Hé Bluesky, j'ai créé un petit jeu. Il s'appelle Fausse Commune, et il va mettre à l'épreuve ta connaissance des régions françaises.
C'est gratuit, c'est absurde, c'est rapide, ça marche sur téléphone ou ordi.
C'est là : faussecommune.fr
C'est gratuit, c'est absurde, c'est rapide, ça marche sur téléphone ou ordi.
C'est là : faussecommune.fr
January 2, 2026 at 10:24 AM
C'est amusant!
Pas merci aux chasseurs qui tirent dans l'allée de ma belle-mère à quelques mètres de la maison et qui ne ramassent même pas leurs douilles. On adore! 💩
January 1, 2026 at 7:14 PM
Pas merci aux chasseurs qui tirent dans l'allée de ma belle-mère à quelques mètres de la maison et qui ne ramassent même pas leurs douilles. On adore! 💩
It's the annual cardoon (cardon in French) workshop with my mother in law. It looks like celery but it tastes like artichoke. Apparently it's commonly mostly around Lyon and in parts of North Africa. It's work to grow and prep but is pretty yummy!
January 1, 2026 at 5:57 PM
It's the annual cardoon (cardon in French) workshop with my mother in law. It looks like celery but it tastes like artichoke. Apparently it's commonly mostly around Lyon and in parts of North Africa. It's work to grow and prep but is pretty yummy!
Reposted by Michael Stambolis
Curtis Yarvin, JD Vance’s friend & ideological influence, ended 2025 by claiming “only Hitler spoke the truth” about “too many subjects” & “Hitler was a genius.”
Extremism isn’t fringe on the right. Once marginal online extremists like Yarvin are influential at the highest levels of government.
Extremism isn’t fringe on the right. Once marginal online extremists like Yarvin are influential at the highest levels of government.
January 1, 2026 at 2:49 PM
Curtis Yarvin, JD Vance’s friend & ideological influence, ended 2025 by claiming “only Hitler spoke the truth” about “too many subjects” & “Hitler was a genius.”
Extremism isn’t fringe on the right. Once marginal online extremists like Yarvin are influential at the highest levels of government.
Extremism isn’t fringe on the right. Once marginal online extremists like Yarvin are influential at the highest levels of government.
Foreshadowing the 2026 dinosaur attack.
January 1, 2026 at 2:27 PM
Foreshadowing the 2026 dinosaur attack.
Reposted by Michael Stambolis
Fantastic piece putting the Bari Weiss Experiment in perspective
As it happens, I have experience with high-level government demands to stop an explosive, accurate story from running, and I also have experience with 60 Minutes spiking a story I was involved in, so I have thoughts about the travesty at CBS. If you want some journalism anecdotes, here are a lot:
Watching Bari Weiss Murder Investigative Journalism at CBS
Notes from someone who's withstood White House demands to stop an explosive story—and who once even had a 60 Minutes piece spiked
www.forever-wars.com
December 31, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Fantastic piece putting the Bari Weiss Experiment in perspective
Dans la liste il y a "couple".... Marianne veut retourner à une époque où les couples homosexuels n'avaient aucune existence juridique. Les veufs du sida été expulsés de l'apart commun, la famille du défunt héritait tout, pas de droit de visite à l'hôpital...
Marianne n'est pas un titre dont la grille de lecture est presque exclusivement réaco-passéiste. De toute évidence.
December 31, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Dans la liste il y a "couple".... Marianne veut retourner à une époque où les couples homosexuels n'avaient aucune existence juridique. Les veufs du sida été expulsés de l'apart commun, la famille du défunt héritait tout, pas de droit de visite à l'hôpital...
Entre ma mère américaine et ma belle-mère française, la discussion lost in translation est passée de pelle à tarte à Petula Clark. Maintenant on fait un Karaoke de la chanson Dowtown tout en mangeant le gâteau au chocolat.
December 31, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Entre ma mère américaine et ma belle-mère française, la discussion lost in translation est passée de pelle à tarte à Petula Clark. Maintenant on fait un Karaoke de la chanson Dowtown tout en mangeant le gâteau au chocolat.
Reposted by Michael Stambolis
Folks look at you like you're crazy when you say we're in the midst of the worst, most unprecedented Article I constitutional crisis in American history, & then it's Tuesday.
BREAKING
The Trump administration says it has frozen all childcare payments to Minnesota in the aftermath of allegations of fraud by some in the Somali community.
Important: allegations along these lines have existed for years, which has resulted in prosecutions starting with the Biden DOJ.
The Trump administration says it has frozen all childcare payments to Minnesota in the aftermath of allegations of fraud by some in the Somali community.
Important: allegations along these lines have existed for years, which has resulted in prosecutions starting with the Biden DOJ.
December 30, 2025 at 11:58 PM
Folks look at you like you're crazy when you say we're in the midst of the worst, most unprecedented Article I constitutional crisis in American history, & then it's Tuesday.
Canceling my New York Times subscription was fun and easy! Best thing I did in 2025. It was about time. Thanks @nytimes.com for making my year feel special! I hope 2026 brings you a record year of falling readership!
Trump’s approval is under 40% so naturally the New York Times found a whole bunch of people that support or defend what he’s doing, including a Kamala 2024 voter who regrets his vote lmao
December 30, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Canceling my New York Times subscription was fun and easy! Best thing I did in 2025. It was about time. Thanks @nytimes.com for making my year feel special! I hope 2026 brings you a record year of falling readership!
Reposted by Michael Stambolis
Ah bah ça alors, comment diable cela a t'il pu arriver?
un truc tombé du plafond ?
un truc tombé du plafond ?
December 30, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Ah bah ça alors, comment diable cela a t'il pu arriver?
un truc tombé du plafond ?
un truc tombé du plafond ?
Reposted by Michael Stambolis
Pretty simple answer to this question, it’s because Sam Alito is steeped in right-wing grievance culture and views himself as entitled to deference and respect from everyone he encounters
ANALYSIS: Samuel Alito keeps getting his way. So why does he seem so unhappy? | CNN Politics
Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito has a remarkable record of transforming his old dissenting opinions into the new majority view and setting the direction of the law in America.
www.cnn.com
December 30, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Pretty simple answer to this question, it’s because Sam Alito is steeped in right-wing grievance culture and views himself as entitled to deference and respect from everyone he encounters
Reposted by Michael Stambolis
I was today years old
before I discovered the magic of graphic audio books. Wow! love it so much.
before I discovered the magic of graphic audio books. Wow! love it so much.
December 30, 2025 at 4:26 AM
I was today years old
before I discovered the magic of graphic audio books. Wow! love it so much.
before I discovered the magic of graphic audio books. Wow! love it so much.
Reposted by Michael Stambolis
I will not use it at the beach
I will not use it when I teach
I do not want it in a church
I do not want it for research
I see no reason to concede
I will not use it when I read
Although its hype should have no end
Upon it I will not depend
I will not use it when I teach
I do not want it in a church
I do not want it for research
I see no reason to concede
I will not use it when I read
Although its hype should have no end
Upon it I will not depend
I do not like your AI slop
I do not like it, make it stop
I do not want an AI house
I do not want an AI mouse
No AI box. No AI fox—
That AI slop can go kick rocks
I would not AI here or there
I would not AI anywhere
No AI car, no AI czar
Your AI slop is killing trees
I do not like it, let me be!
I do not like it, make it stop
I do not want an AI house
I do not want an AI mouse
No AI box. No AI fox—
That AI slop can go kick rocks
I would not AI here or there
I would not AI anywhere
No AI car, no AI czar
Your AI slop is killing trees
I do not like it, let me be!
December 30, 2025 at 5:10 AM
I will not use it at the beach
I will not use it when I teach
I do not want it in a church
I do not want it for research
I see no reason to concede
I will not use it when I read
Although its hype should have no end
Upon it I will not depend
I will not use it when I teach
I do not want it in a church
I do not want it for research
I see no reason to concede
I will not use it when I read
Although its hype should have no end
Upon it I will not depend
Reposted by Michael Stambolis
CALL: seminar funding for 2026
The Foundation is inviting submissions for its 2026 Undisciplining Seminar Series exploring who and what sociology is for.
Submit your proposal by 31 January for public events focusing on the transformative potential of sociological thinking.
➡️
The Foundation is inviting submissions for its 2026 Undisciplining Seminar Series exploring who and what sociology is for.
Submit your proposal by 31 January for public events focusing on the transformative potential of sociological thinking.
➡️
The Undisciplining Seminar Series 2026 Call for applications
The Sociological Review Foundation invites proposals for its 2026 Undisciplining Seminar Series exploring “Who and what is sociology for?”
buff.ly
December 29, 2025 at 8:01 AM
CALL: seminar funding for 2026
The Foundation is inviting submissions for its 2026 Undisciplining Seminar Series exploring who and what sociology is for.
Submit your proposal by 31 January for public events focusing on the transformative potential of sociological thinking.
➡️
The Foundation is inviting submissions for its 2026 Undisciplining Seminar Series exploring who and what sociology is for.
Submit your proposal by 31 January for public events focusing on the transformative potential of sociological thinking.
➡️
A racist, xénophobic actress died. She was in many movies. So what? Should we care? No.
December 28, 2025 at 8:07 PM
A racist, xénophobic actress died. She was in many movies. So what? Should we care? No.
Reposted by Michael Stambolis
For non-French people sharing tributes to Brigitte Bardot: for context, she was a long-time supporter of Marine Le Pen, leader of the National Rally, France’s main far-right party, and later of Éric Zemmour (even further right). And she was convicted for incitement to racial hatred.
December 28, 2025 at 11:40 AM
For non-French people sharing tributes to Brigitte Bardot: for context, she was a long-time supporter of Marine Le Pen, leader of the National Rally, France’s main far-right party, and later of Éric Zemmour (even further right). And she was convicted for incitement to racial hatred.
Reposted by Michael Stambolis
Plus ça va, plus le recrutement devient une institution totale où l’on ne juge pas de la qualification d’une personne mais de l’entièreté de son être
France Travail mise sur des séances sportives anonymisées pour réinventer la rencontre entre demandeurs d’emploi et recruteurs
December 27, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Plus ça va, plus le recrutement devient une institution totale où l’on ne juge pas de la qualification d’une personne mais de l’entièreté de son être
Reposted by Michael Stambolis
This is the same dynamic which happened to me, a year ago to the day: a faculty appeals panel cleared
me entirely, after a six month investigation. NU effectively ignored it.
This is why adhering to rules (in Congress, the UN, unis) rarely works: the rules benefit the rulers, who can ignore them.
me entirely, after a six month investigation. NU effectively ignored it.
This is why adhering to rules (in Congress, the UN, unis) rarely works: the rules benefit the rulers, who can ignore them.
Texas A&M University will not reinstate a lecturer who was fired after a video of her teaching about gender identity in a children’s literature class went viral, despite a faculty appeals panel unanimously concluding that her dismissal was not justified.
Texas A&M won’t reinstate fired lecturer despite findings
A vice chancellor upheld the firing of Melissa McCoul, seen in a viral video being confronted by a student on her gender identity teachings, saying the termination was done with “good cause.”
www.texastribune.org
December 26, 2025 at 9:02 AM
This is the same dynamic which happened to me, a year ago to the day: a faculty appeals panel cleared
me entirely, after a six month investigation. NU effectively ignored it.
This is why adhering to rules (in Congress, the UN, unis) rarely works: the rules benefit the rulers, who can ignore them.
me entirely, after a six month investigation. NU effectively ignored it.
This is why adhering to rules (in Congress, the UN, unis) rarely works: the rules benefit the rulers, who can ignore them.
Reposted by Michael Stambolis
Bending your institution to meet the prejudices of your dumbest, meanest students is a surefire way to destroy a university.
Now any student can just scrawl “the Bible says this is wrong” on any test and skate to an A at the Oklahoma Football Outlet and Diploma Factory.
Now any student can just scrawl “the Bible says this is wrong” on any test and skate to an A at the Oklahoma Football Outlet and Diploma Factory.
The University of Oklahoma has removed an instructor who was accused by a student of religious discrimination over a failing grade on a psychology paper in which she cited the Bible and argued that promoting a “belief in multiple genders” was “demonic.” https://cnn.it/4b6g3rd
Oklahoma instructor removed from teaching for failing a Bible-based gender essay | CNN
The University of Oklahoma has removed an instructor who was accused by a student of religious discrimination over a failing grade on a psychology paper in which she cited the Bible and argued that promoting a “belief in multiple genders” was “demonic.”
cnn.it
December 24, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Bending your institution to meet the prejudices of your dumbest, meanest students is a surefire way to destroy a university.
Now any student can just scrawl “the Bible says this is wrong” on any test and skate to an A at the Oklahoma Football Outlet and Diploma Factory.
Now any student can just scrawl “the Bible says this is wrong” on any test and skate to an A at the Oklahoma Football Outlet and Diploma Factory.
Reposted by Michael Stambolis
it requires an absolutely staggering lack of self awareness for chatterton to complain that he has lost elite opportunities because he has anti-woke views.
The Other Way the ‘Super Woke’ Left Discriminates
Race and gender aren’t the only categories that determine who gets special treatment.
www.theatlantic.com
December 24, 2025 at 5:16 PM
it requires an absolutely staggering lack of self awareness for chatterton to complain that he has lost elite opportunities because he has anti-woke views.