Peter Norton
@norton.bsky.social
Historian; author of Fighting Traffic: The Dawn of the Motor Age in the American City, and of Autonorama: The Illusory Promise of High-Tech Driving.
100 years ago, John F. Hylan was mayor of New York.
Mayor Hylan was the Zohran Mamdani of 1925.
Mayor Hylan was the Zohran Mamdani of 1925.
November 9, 2025 at 3:43 PM
100 years ago, John F. Hylan was mayor of New York.
Mayor Hylan was the Zohran Mamdani of 1925.
Mayor Hylan was the Zohran Mamdani of 1925.
History is not for cowards.
Even at 17, Sophie Kloppenburg knows that in history, denial is dishonesty.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=C47W...
Even at 17, Sophie Kloppenburg knows that in history, denial is dishonesty.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=C47W...
"It's unacceptable to just forget"
YouTube video by CBS Sunday Morning
www.youtube.com
November 3, 2025 at 8:33 PM
History is not for cowards.
Even at 17, Sophie Kloppenburg knows that in history, denial is dishonesty.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=C47W...
Even at 17, Sophie Kloppenburg knows that in history, denial is dishonesty.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=C47W...
Be more careful than I was, Virginians. I need to vote early. I typed "voting early in albemarle county" into the search box. The top link read "Vote Early - Find Your Polling Place Today - Check Polling Locations." I clicked it and started entering my information. Only then did this box appear.
October 28, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Be more careful than I was, Virginians. I need to vote early. I typed "voting early in albemarle county" into the search box. The top link read "Vote Early - Find Your Polling Place Today - Check Polling Locations." I clicked it and started entering my information. Only then did this box appear.
This is not patriotism. This is not conservatism. This is not sanity.
DT and all his apologists disgrace themselves and disgrace the United States.
DT and all his apologists disgrace themselves and disgrace the United States.
October 28, 2025 at 12:55 PM
This is not patriotism. This is not conservatism. This is not sanity.
DT and all his apologists disgrace themselves and disgrace the United States.
DT and all his apologists disgrace themselves and disgrace the United States.
Reposted by Peter Norton
As DT plays king, stuffing the Oval Office with gold bric-à-brac and planning a $200 million White House ballroom, it’s worth remembering the consternation Nancy Reagan faced for spending $200,000 in donated money for new White House china.
Paul Conrad in the Los Angeles Times, September 15, 1981.
Paul Conrad in the Los Angeles Times, September 15, 1981.
August 20, 2025 at 9:49 AM
As DT plays king, stuffing the Oval Office with gold bric-à-brac and planning a $200 million White House ballroom, it’s worth remembering the consternation Nancy Reagan faced for spending $200,000 in donated money for new White House china.
Paul Conrad in the Los Angeles Times, September 15, 1981.
Paul Conrad in the Los Angeles Times, September 15, 1981.
Reposted by Peter Norton
“Our peaceful trading partners are not our enemies. We should beware of the demagogues who are ready to declare a trade war against our friends, weakening our economy, our national security and the entire free world – all while cynically waving the American Flag.”
— Ronald Reagan, Nov 27, 1988.
— Ronald Reagan, Nov 27, 1988.
April 4, 2025 at 1:37 PM
“Our peaceful trading partners are not our enemies. We should beware of the demagogues who are ready to declare a trade war against our friends, weakening our economy, our national security and the entire free world – all while cynically waving the American Flag.”
— Ronald Reagan, Nov 27, 1988.
— Ronald Reagan, Nov 27, 1988.
The flag is not magic.
It cannot make every abomination it touches “conservative.”
It cannot make every abomination it touches “conservative.”
October 25, 2025 at 3:01 PM
The flag is not magic.
It cannot make every abomination it touches “conservative.”
It cannot make every abomination it touches “conservative.”
If you object to DJT’s lie that this absurd vanity project would not even touch any part of the existing White House, or if you object to the unannounced demolition of the entire East Wing, the president’s sycophants want you to know that you are an “unhinged leftist.”
October 23, 2025 at 8:17 AM
If you object to DJT’s lie that this absurd vanity project would not even touch any part of the existing White House, or if you object to the unannounced demolition of the entire East Wing, the president’s sycophants want you to know that you are an “unhinged leftist.”
This development “comes after the university surprised some administration officials by publicly rejecting a Trump administration proposal to link preferential treatment for federal funding to a school’s public commitment to Pres. Trump’s higher education ideology.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/21/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/21/u...
October 22, 2025 at 9:37 AM
This development “comes after the university surprised some administration officials by publicly rejecting a Trump administration proposal to link preferential treatment for federal funding to a school’s public commitment to Pres. Trump’s higher education ideology.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/21/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/21/u...
In a speech in Iowa on January 19, 2004, presidential contender Howard Dean screamed “yeah!” The utterance lasted about 1 second. Within a week, the consensus was that this moment of spontaneity was unpresidential, and so undignified that Dean could no longer be considered a serious candidate.
October 21, 2025 at 10:18 PM
In a speech in Iowa on January 19, 2004, presidential contender Howard Dean screamed “yeah!” The utterance lasted about 1 second. Within a week, the consensus was that this moment of spontaneity was unpresidential, and so undignified that Dean could no longer be considered a serious candidate.
“I could not in light of these firm and repeated commitments carry out your direction.”
October 20: On this day in 1973, Elliot Richardson set the example we need in 2025.
Rather than accede to a president’s personal interference in the Department of Justice, the Attorney General resigned.
October 20: On this day in 1973, Elliot Richardson set the example we need in 2025.
Rather than accede to a president’s personal interference in the Department of Justice, the Attorney General resigned.
October 20, 2025 at 10:51 AM
“I could not in light of these firm and repeated commitments carry out your direction.”
October 20: On this day in 1973, Elliot Richardson set the example we need in 2025.
Rather than accede to a president’s personal interference in the Department of Justice, the Attorney General resigned.
October 20: On this day in 1973, Elliot Richardson set the example we need in 2025.
Rather than accede to a president’s personal interference in the Department of Justice, the Attorney General resigned.
There was a time when the White House federalized a state national guard to protect Americans’ human and constitutional rights under the First Amendment to the freedoms of peaceable assembly and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
October 18, 2025 at 3:31 PM
There was a time when the White House federalized a state national guard to protect Americans’ human and constitutional rights under the First Amendment to the freedoms of peaceable assembly and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
En conversation avec M Laurent Verpooten de RCF Liège, sur
« L’évolution des relations piétons-voitures au XXe siècle »
« Pour beaucoup de gens, l’automobile était un envahisseur mortel. La rue était pour tout le monde – c’était avant tout pour marcher. »
www.rcf.fr/vie-spiritue...
« L’évolution des relations piétons-voitures au XXe siècle »
« Pour beaucoup de gens, l’automobile était un envahisseur mortel. La rue était pour tout le monde – c’était avant tout pour marcher. »
www.rcf.fr/vie-spiritue...
L'écho des archives
Depuis des décennies, radios et télévisions belges francophones ont produit des milliers d’heures d’émissions devenues de véritables témoins de l’histoire. Ce patrimoine audiovisuel, sauvegardé et num...
www.rcf.fr
October 15, 2025 at 1:52 PM
En conversation avec M Laurent Verpooten de RCF Liège, sur
« L’évolution des relations piétons-voitures au XXe siècle »
« Pour beaucoup de gens, l’automobile était un envahisseur mortel. La rue était pour tout le monde – c’était avant tout pour marcher. »
www.rcf.fr/vie-spiritue...
« L’évolution des relations piétons-voitures au XXe siècle »
« Pour beaucoup de gens, l’automobile était un envahisseur mortel. La rue était pour tout le monde – c’était avant tout pour marcher. »
www.rcf.fr/vie-spiritue...
October 13, 1925: One hundred years ago today, Miller McClintock was hired to serve as the director of the new Albert Russel Erskine Bureau for Street Traffic Research, endowed at the Southern Branch of the University of California (today’s UCLA). ...
October 13, 2025 at 11:04 PM
October 13, 1925: One hundred years ago today, Miller McClintock was hired to serve as the director of the new Albert Russel Erskine Bureau for Street Traffic Research, endowed at the Southern Branch of the University of California (today’s UCLA). ...
Happy centennial!
It’s worth noting that originally this body, the first national traffic engineering institute, was funded 100% by one automobile manufacturer: Studebaker. It was named the Erskine Bureau after the company’s president. In 1935 the Automobile Manufacturers Association took it over.
It’s worth noting that originally this body, the first national traffic engineering institute, was funded 100% by one automobile manufacturer: Studebaker. It was named the Erskine Bureau after the company’s president. In 1935 the Automobile Manufacturers Association took it over.
🎉 Happy 100th birthday to transportation research at UCLA! 100 years ago today, the UC regents voted to establish the nation's first research center dedicated to street traffic issues. Learn more about our century-long tradition of transportation research www.its.ucla.edu/100...
October 13, 2025 at 9:57 PM
Happy centennial!
It’s worth noting that originally this body, the first national traffic engineering institute, was funded 100% by one automobile manufacturer: Studebaker. It was named the Erskine Bureau after the company’s president. In 1935 the Automobile Manufacturers Association took it over.
It’s worth noting that originally this body, the first national traffic engineering institute, was funded 100% by one automobile manufacturer: Studebaker. It was named the Erskine Bureau after the company’s president. In 1935 the Automobile Manufacturers Association took it over.
Charles Thompson was an accidental pioneer.
The Los Angeles Traffic Ordinance of 1925 went into effect 100 years ago this year, on January 24. It was not the first such ordinance, but it was by far the most successful – and the one that became the model for the nation. ...
The Los Angeles Traffic Ordinance of 1925 went into effect 100 years ago this year, on January 24. It was not the first such ordinance, but it was by far the most successful – and the one that became the model for the nation. ...
October 13, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Charles Thompson was an accidental pioneer.
The Los Angeles Traffic Ordinance of 1925 went into effect 100 years ago this year, on January 24. It was not the first such ordinance, but it was by far the most successful – and the one that became the model for the nation. ...
The Los Angeles Traffic Ordinance of 1925 went into effect 100 years ago this year, on January 24. It was not the first such ordinance, but it was by far the most successful – and the one that became the model for the nation. ...
In LA for the Urban History Assn, I've belatedly learned that my colleague and fellow UVa historian @Andrew Kahrl has won the Lizabeth Cohen Prize for Best Book on Cities and Political Power, for his masterful book The Black Tax: 150 Years of Theft, Exploitation, and Dispossession in America. 👏👏👏👏👏
I am happy to share the news that my book The Black Tax was named the winner of the Lizabeth Cohen Prize for Best Book on Cities and Political Power and received an Honorable Mention for the Kenneth Jackson Award for Best Book in North American Urban History from the Urban History Association
2025 Award Winners
www.urbanhistory.org
October 13, 2025 at 2:48 AM
In LA for the Urban History Assn, I've belatedly learned that my colleague and fellow UVa historian @Andrew Kahrl has won the Lizabeth Cohen Prize for Best Book on Cities and Political Power, for his masterful book The Black Tax: 150 Years of Theft, Exploitation, and Dispossession in America. 👏👏👏👏👏
Six months ago today, Col Meyers put her duty above her career.
Six months later, we need her example more than ever.
www.linkedin.com/pulse/colone...
Six months later, we need her example more than ever.
www.linkedin.com/pulse/colone...
Colonel Susan Meyers: The Responsible Leadership We Need Now
In 1946, American prosecutors at Nuremberg taught us that resisting illegal orders is a duty. At least on paper, their standard is our standard today.
www.linkedin.com
October 10, 2025 at 12:10 PM
Six months ago today, Col Meyers put her duty above her career.
Six months later, we need her example more than ever.
www.linkedin.com/pulse/colone...
Six months later, we need her example more than ever.
www.linkedin.com/pulse/colone...
Reposted by Peter Norton
“By 2028, an average family in the region will be paying around $70 a month extra on their electricity bills because of forecasted data center growth”
I'm once again asking why ratepayers are subsidizing AI titans?
www.eenews.net/articles/dat...
I'm once again asking why ratepayers are subsidizing AI titans?
www.eenews.net/articles/dat...
Data center boom sparks sticker shock for PJM ratepayers
New analyses show that costs passed on to utility customers to guarantee future electricity demand are rising rapidly.
www.eenews.net
October 6, 2025 at 11:11 PM
“By 2028, an average family in the region will be paying around $70 a month extra on their electricity bills because of forecasted data center growth”
I'm once again asking why ratepayers are subsidizing AI titans?
www.eenews.net/articles/dat...
I'm once again asking why ratepayers are subsidizing AI titans?
www.eenews.net/articles/dat...