Randall Stephens
@randalljstephens.bsky.social
American historian, religion, environment, pop culture, the South. Author: The Devil's Music (Harvard, 2018). Prof of Am & Brit Studies, Univ of Oslo. Fulbright alumnus.
"Back to the cave." Herblock on the Reagan admin's regressive policies and its secret plans to invade Grenada, Oct 1983. UPI reported in that same month that "The Reagan administration is pressing the use of random lie detector tests by all government agencies..."
January 4, 2026 at 1:59 PM
"Back to the cave." Herblock on the Reagan admin's regressive policies and its secret plans to invade Grenada, Oct 1983. UPI reported in that same month that "The Reagan administration is pressing the use of random lie detector tests by all government agencies..."
"Where else can we send them?" Herblock depicts Reagan speaking to his Secretary of Defense, Caspar Weinberger, following the US invasion of Grenada, 1983.
January 4, 2026 at 1:08 PM
"Where else can we send them?" Herblock depicts Reagan speaking to his Secretary of Defense, Caspar Weinberger, following the US invasion of Grenada, 1983.
Dennis Renault satirizing Reagan, following the 1983 US invasion of Grenada.
January 4, 2026 at 11:58 AM
Dennis Renault satirizing Reagan, following the 1983 US invasion of Grenada.
"Say 'uncle.'" Dennis Renault on the US invasion of Grenada in late Oct 1983. The UN's Nov 1983 resolution "deeply deplor[ed] the armed intervention in Grenada, which constitutes a flagrant violation of international law and of the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of that State"
January 4, 2026 at 11:53 AM
"Say 'uncle.'" Dennis Renault on the US invasion of Grenada in late Oct 1983. The UN's Nov 1983 resolution "deeply deplor[ed] the armed intervention in Grenada, which constitutes a flagrant violation of international law and of the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of that State"
Mark Twain in his notebook, May 26, 1896: "Talking of patriotism what humbug it is; it is a word which always commemorates a robbery. There isn't a foot of land in the world which doesn't represent the ousting and re-ousting of a long line of successive 'owners'..."
January 4, 2026 at 10:50 AM
Mark Twain in his notebook, May 26, 1896: "Talking of patriotism what humbug it is; it is a word which always commemorates a robbery. There isn't a foot of land in the world which doesn't represent the ousting and re-ousting of a long line of successive 'owners'..."
A reminder about the last Trump approval rating from Gallup: 36%. It’ll be interesting to see what the latest numbers look like.
January 4, 2026 at 9:44 AM
A reminder about the last Trump approval rating from Gallup: 36%. It’ll be interesting to see what the latest numbers look like.
I think the word is “looting”
January 3, 2026 at 5:34 PM
I think the word is “looting”
Just thinking about all of the Church of the Nazarene pastors this coming Sunday who will be continuing with their sermon series on worldliness.
January 3, 2026 at 5:31 PM
Just thinking about all of the Church of the Nazarene pastors this coming Sunday who will be continuing with their sermon series on worldliness.
Promises to run it like one of his several bankrupted casinos
January 3, 2026 at 5:13 PM
Promises to run it like one of his several bankrupted casinos
Authoritarianism makes him so sleepy
January 3, 2026 at 5:07 PM
Authoritarianism makes him so sleepy
I’m sure the millions of Americans losing their healthcare will be heartened by this.
The president unilaterally decided to attack a sovereign nation and kidnap its leader, and now he says he's just going to run that county himself for a while too.
Call your representatives now and demand they impeach him.
Call your representatives now and demand they impeach him.
Trump on Venezuela: "We're going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper, and judicious transition"
January 3, 2026 at 5:06 PM
I’m sure the millions of Americans losing their healthcare will be heartened by this.
What a Trump speech. We are one minute away from hearing about his golf trophies.
January 3, 2026 at 4:54 PM
What a Trump speech. We are one minute away from hearing about his golf trophies.
Your slurring emperor has some words about. It will be a “jujicious” transition.
January 3, 2026 at 4:46 PM
Your slurring emperor has some words about. It will be a “jujicious” transition.
Reposted by Randall Stephens
Specifically, a protest song about how the sons of the rich were able to avoid fighting, like fighting-age Donald Trump who got four deferments for being in college and another for bone spurs.
Trump posts footage of the Maduro raid set to "Fortunate Son" -- a protest song about the Vietnam War draft
January 3, 2026 at 4:28 PM
Specifically, a protest song about how the sons of the rich were able to avoid fighting, like fighting-age Donald Trump who got four deferments for being in college and another for bone spurs.
In Norway, our frooted loops are not neon colored
January 3, 2026 at 3:31 PM
In Norway, our frooted loops are not neon colored
Republican senators: “Well, I haven’t been following that.”
January 3, 2026 at 1:27 PM
Republican senators: “Well, I haven’t been following that.”
Oslo from above yesterday afternoon
January 3, 2026 at 12:28 PM
Oslo from above yesterday afternoon
Probably thinking, “Nothing bad can happen, it can only good happen.”
January 3, 2026 at 12:24 PM
Probably thinking, “Nothing bad can happen, it can only good happen.”
“…not even the most prescient Trump-watcher could claim to have fully predicted: gutting cancer research in the name of expurgating diversity programs….Shutting the door to refugees….Empowering the world’s richest man to cut off funding for the world’s poorest children.”
Donald Trump’s Golden Age of Awful
A damage assessment of the President’s first year back in the White House.
www.newyorker.com
January 2, 2026 at 7:07 PM
“…not even the most prescient Trump-watcher could claim to have fully predicted: gutting cancer research in the name of expurgating diversity programs….Shutting the door to refugees….Empowering the world’s richest man to cut off funding for the world’s poorest children.”
“Out, damned spot.” Herblock, June 1967.
January 2, 2026 at 10:39 AM
“Out, damned spot.” Herblock, June 1967.
Herblock going after the NRA in 1967
January 1, 2026 at 11:28 PM
Herblock going after the NRA in 1967
New hairstyle trend for 2026
January 1, 2026 at 10:38 PM
New hairstyle trend for 2026
And, verily, in accordance with the scriptures…
Trump rings in 2026 at Mar-a-Lago with $2.75m auction of Jesus painting
President auctioned off freshly painted portrait and said his new year’s resolution was ‘peace on Earth’
www.theguardian.com
January 1, 2026 at 8:20 PM
And, verily, in accordance with the scriptures…
The 3D mural at the Philly airport has a real Epcot Spaceship Earth vibe.
January 1, 2026 at 7:35 PM
The 3D mural at the Philly airport has a real Epcot Spaceship Earth vibe.
New year, new name: Zebulon Eustace Turnbuckle.
January 1, 2026 at 7:00 PM
New year, new name: Zebulon Eustace Turnbuckle.