Ralph Drayton
@rddrayton.bsky.social
Historian of science and medicine, esp. c.1250-1700, esp. France, esp. medical authority, astrology, religion, and magic
Malik Monk appreciator
Portland, Oregon, the biofilm
Malik Monk appreciator
Portland, Oregon, the biofilm
Reposted by Ralph Drayton
U.S. District Court Judge Michael Simon: “In a well-functioning constitutional democratic republic, free speech, courageous newsgathering, and nonviolent protest are all permitted, respected, and even celebrated. In an authoritarian regime, that is not the case. Our nation is now at a crossroads."
A federal judge in Oregon has temporarily limited federal officers’ use of force on peaceful protesters outside the Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in Portland. The ruling blocks federal officers from directing or using munitions such as pepper balls and tear gas.
Judge limits federal officers’ use of crowd control munitions at Portland ICE building
The decision Tuesday applies only outside the federal facility in Portland. It blocks federal officers from directing or using “chemical or projectile munitions,” including pepper balls, tear gas and other crowd control munitions.
www.opb.org
February 3, 2026 at 11:03 PM
U.S. District Court Judge Michael Simon: “In a well-functioning constitutional democratic republic, free speech, courageous newsgathering, and nonviolent protest are all permitted, respected, and even celebrated. In an authoritarian regime, that is not the case. Our nation is now at a crossroads."
He suffers from hack philosopher brain. (My political statements aren't political, you see, they're simply analytical.) Which is why he hangs out with philosophical hacks.
It’s so funny that this guy’s entire thing is “Oh are you triggered by what I have to say about marginalized people” but he loses it when someone more well-liked than he will ever be talks about an actual injustice
Ricky Gervais calls out Grammy winners for making political acceptance speeches: "You're in no position to lecture the public about anything"
February 3, 2026 at 5:48 PM
He suffers from hack philosopher brain. (My political statements aren't political, you see, they're simply analytical.) Which is why he hangs out with philosophical hacks.
Reposted by Ralph Drayton
Please circulate and share this important resource: thepanorama.shear.org/2025/04/09/t...
The Early Republic Tracker
The Early Republic Tracker documents instances where the federal government is removing facts and stories essential to the public’s understanding American history from public historical sites, muse…
thepanorama.shear.org
February 2, 2026 at 10:39 PM
Please circulate and share this important resource: thepanorama.shear.org/2025/04/09/t...
Reposted by Ralph Drayton
In many of the first generation of modern concentration camp systems (near the turn of the twentieth century), the vast majority of deaths were caused by disease and malnutrition. Most of the victims were women and children.
It appears there is now a measles outbreak at the Dilley family detention facility. www.sacurrent.com/news/san-ant...
Source: Measles outbreak reported at ICE's Dilley family detention facility
DPS troopers stand guard in front of the Dilley detention center during a protest last weekend. After a week of public outcry over the Dilley, Texas South
www.sacurrent.com
February 2, 2026 at 12:29 AM
In many of the first generation of modern concentration camp systems (near the turn of the twentieth century), the vast majority of deaths were caused by disease and malnutrition. Most of the victims were women and children.
Reposted by Ralph Drayton
Happy Black History Month! I wrote y'all a book! It's available from @undpress.bsky.social or your favorite retailer!
February 2, 2026 at 1:53 AM
Happy Black History Month! I wrote y'all a book! It's available from @undpress.bsky.social or your favorite retailer!
Reposted by Ralph Drayton
It appears there is now a measles outbreak at the Dilley family detention facility. www.sacurrent.com/news/san-ant...
Source: Measles outbreak reported at ICE's Dilley family detention facility
DPS troopers stand guard in front of the Dilley detention center during a protest last weekend. After a week of public outcry over the Dilley, Texas South
www.sacurrent.com
February 1, 2026 at 11:17 PM
It appears there is now a measles outbreak at the Dilley family detention facility. www.sacurrent.com/news/san-ant...
Reposted by Ralph Drayton
The Hawaii SC majority seems to be a voice of reason in these upside-down times.
“State constitutionalism makes it easy to consider Roberts Court jurisprudence white noise,” Hawaii Justice Todd Eddins wrote in a recent ruling that assailed the U.S. Supreme Court’s conservative majority.
Hawaii Supreme Court Expands Rights of Defendants, and Once Again Rebukes SCOTUS
The justices ruled that Hawaii’s constitution requires police to record interrogations. And they vowed to protect due process for Hawaii residents—unlike, they said, the Roberts Court.
boltsmag.org
January 31, 2026 at 1:17 AM
The Hawaii SC majority seems to be a voice of reason in these upside-down times.
Reposted by Ralph Drayton
Okay, I’ll go:
1. History of Southern Africa (it was 1984)
2. The 19th-c. Russian Novel
3. Greek Tragedy
4. Hegel and Marx
5. Quantum electrodynamics
1. History of Southern Africa (it was 1984)
2. The 19th-c. Russian Novel
3. Greek Tragedy
4. Hegel and Marx
5. Quantum electrodynamics
All hail liberal-arts studies, and I'll do the five-classes thing too:
1. Writing for the Theatre
2. Principles of Paleontology
3. Contemporary Africa
4. Literature of Confinement (gulags, camps, cheerful stuff)
5. Organic Chemistry (great teachers, *loved* it)
🟣 🐄
1. Writing for the Theatre
2. Principles of Paleontology
3. Contemporary Africa
4. Literature of Confinement (gulags, camps, cheerful stuff)
5. Organic Chemistry (great teachers, *loved* it)
🟣 🐄
Never mind the jobs you had, tell me five classes you took in college:
1. Marine Biology (we got to go out on a boat!)
2. The History of the Holocaust
3. Logic and Critical Thinking
4. Eastern Religions
5. The French Revolution
1. Marine Biology (we got to go out on a boat!)
2. The History of the Holocaust
3. Logic and Critical Thinking
4. Eastern Religions
5. The French Revolution
January 31, 2026 at 6:24 PM
Okay, I’ll go:
1. History of Southern Africa (it was 1984)
2. The 19th-c. Russian Novel
3. Greek Tragedy
4. Hegel and Marx
5. Quantum electrodynamics
1. History of Southern Africa (it was 1984)
2. The 19th-c. Russian Novel
3. Greek Tragedy
4. Hegel and Marx
5. Quantum electrodynamics
Okay, I’ll go:
1. History of Southern Africa (it was 1984)
2. The 19th-c. Russian Novel
3. Greek Tragedy
4. Hegel and Marx
5. Quantum electrodynamics
1. History of Southern Africa (it was 1984)
2. The 19th-c. Russian Novel
3. Greek Tragedy
4. Hegel and Marx
5. Quantum electrodynamics
All hail liberal-arts studies, and I'll do the five-classes thing too:
1. Writing for the Theatre
2. Principles of Paleontology
3. Contemporary Africa
4. Literature of Confinement (gulags, camps, cheerful stuff)
5. Organic Chemistry (great teachers, *loved* it)
🟣 🐄
1. Writing for the Theatre
2. Principles of Paleontology
3. Contemporary Africa
4. Literature of Confinement (gulags, camps, cheerful stuff)
5. Organic Chemistry (great teachers, *loved* it)
🟣 🐄
Never mind the jobs you had, tell me five classes you took in college:
1. Marine Biology (we got to go out on a boat!)
2. The History of the Holocaust
3. Logic and Critical Thinking
4. Eastern Religions
5. The French Revolution
1. Marine Biology (we got to go out on a boat!)
2. The History of the Holocaust
3. Logic and Critical Thinking
4. Eastern Religions
5. The French Revolution
January 31, 2026 at 6:24 PM
Okay, I’ll go:
1. History of Southern Africa (it was 1984)
2. The 19th-c. Russian Novel
3. Greek Tragedy
4. Hegel and Marx
5. Quantum electrodynamics
1. History of Southern Africa (it was 1984)
2. The 19th-c. Russian Novel
3. Greek Tragedy
4. Hegel and Marx
5. Quantum electrodynamics
The Hawaii SC majority seems to be a voice of reason in these upside-down times.
“State constitutionalism makes it easy to consider Roberts Court jurisprudence white noise,” Hawaii Justice Todd Eddins wrote in a recent ruling that assailed the U.S. Supreme Court’s conservative majority.
Hawaii Supreme Court Expands Rights of Defendants, and Once Again Rebukes SCOTUS
The justices ruled that Hawaii’s constitution requires police to record interrogations. And they vowed to protect due process for Hawaii residents—unlike, they said, the Roberts Court.
boltsmag.org
January 31, 2026 at 1:17 AM
The Hawaii SC majority seems to be a voice of reason in these upside-down times.
Oh no!
L'actrice canadienne Catherine O'Hara, notamment connue pour ses rôles dans "Beetlejuice" et "Maman, j'ai raté l'avion !", est décédée à l'âge de 71 ans, ont annoncé plusieurs médias américains. Aucun détail n'a été communiqué dans l'immédiat sur la cause de sa mort.
January 30, 2026 at 7:32 PM
Oh no!
@robynhitchcock.bsky. Are you and Emma in Nashville? I hope you are doing well under the circumstances.
January 30, 2026 at 4:09 AM
@robynhitchcock.bsky. Are you and Emma in Nashville? I hope you are doing well under the circumstances.
Reposted by Ralph Drayton
I wrote about how in a December email to me, RFK Jr.'s HHS insisted the current South Carolina measles outbreak wouldn't get that bad—and how it has since snowballed into the biggest US outbreak since measles was eliminated. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
HHS wasn't worried about South Carolina's measles outbreak. It's now enormous.
“CDC is not currently concerned that this will develop into a large, long-running outbreak," the agency said in December.
www.motherjones.com
January 29, 2026 at 3:28 PM
I wrote about how in a December email to me, RFK Jr.'s HHS insisted the current South Carolina measles outbreak wouldn't get that bad—and how it has since snowballed into the biggest US outbreak since measles was eliminated. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Ralph Drayton
REP. OMAR after being attacked with liquid: “We will continue! These fucking assholes are not gonna get away with this! Here is the reality people like this ugly man don’t understand — we are Minnesota Strong. We’ll stay resilient in the face of whatever they might throw at us.”
January 28, 2026 at 1:47 AM
REP. OMAR after being attacked with liquid: “We will continue! These fucking assholes are not gonna get away with this! Here is the reality people like this ugly man don’t understand — we are Minnesota Strong. We’ll stay resilient in the face of whatever they might throw at us.”
Reposted by Ralph Drayton
Comics retailing legend Greg Ketter standing up to ICE in Minneapolis. Yes, that's tear gas. He's 70 years old.
January 25, 2026 at 5:51 PM
Comics retailing legend Greg Ketter standing up to ICE in Minneapolis. Yes, that's tear gas. He's 70 years old.
Reposted by Ralph Drayton
⚠️WOKE CONTENT⚠️
🧵 In August of 1966, Black children in Grenada, Mississippi were still fighting for the right to attend White schools. What happened next was unconscionable.
Pull up a seat🪑, my friends. (cont)
#ProudBlue
#ResistanceRoots
#USDemocracy
#Voices4Victory
🧵 In August of 1966, Black children in Grenada, Mississippi were still fighting for the right to attend White schools. What happened next was unconscionable.
Pull up a seat🪑, my friends. (cont)
#ProudBlue
#ResistanceRoots
#USDemocracy
#Voices4Victory
January 25, 2026 at 12:13 PM
⚠️WOKE CONTENT⚠️
🧵 In August of 1966, Black children in Grenada, Mississippi were still fighting for the right to attend White schools. What happened next was unconscionable.
Pull up a seat🪑, my friends. (cont)
#ProudBlue
#ResistanceRoots
#USDemocracy
#Voices4Victory
🧵 In August of 1966, Black children in Grenada, Mississippi were still fighting for the right to attend White schools. What happened next was unconscionable.
Pull up a seat🪑, my friends. (cont)
#ProudBlue
#ResistanceRoots
#USDemocracy
#Voices4Victory
Reposted by Ralph Drayton
This must be weird news to see if you’re one of the literally hundreds or even thousands of university administrators who preemptively censored faculty, scrubbed websites, changed the names of centers, etc.
Trump administration drops legal appeal over anti-DEI funding threat to schools and colleges. This leaves in place a federal judge's ruling that the anti-DEI effort violated the First Amendment and federal procedural rules. (Via AP) apnews.com/article/dei-... #ncpol #nced
Trump administration drops legal appeal over anti-DEI funding threat to schools and colleges
The Trump administration is dropping its appeal of a federal court ruling that blocked a campaign against diversity, equity, and inclusion threatening federal funding to the nation’s schools and colle...
apnews.com
January 23, 2026 at 1:45 PM
This must be weird news to see if you’re one of the literally hundreds or even thousands of university administrators who preemptively censored faculty, scrubbed websites, changed the names of centers, etc.
Reposted by Ralph Drayton
Manuscript volvelle with animal faces and a little bird cut into one of the dials 📚📜
search.library.yale.edu/catalog/9996...
search.library.yale.edu/catalog/9996...
January 22, 2026 at 4:53 PM
Manuscript volvelle with animal faces and a little bird cut into one of the dials 📚📜
search.library.yale.edu/catalog/9996...
search.library.yale.edu/catalog/9996...
Reposted by Ralph Drayton
BREAKING: San Francisco Giants star Jung Hoo Lee has been detained by CBP at LAX. Pelosi's office says she is working to secure his release. www.sfchronicle.com/sports/giant...
Giants outfielder Jung Hoo Lee detained at Los Angeles International Airport
San Francisco Giants outfielder Jung Hoo Lee was detained Wednesday evening at Los Angeles International Airport, his agent Scott Boras told the Chronicle.
www.sfchronicle.com
January 22, 2026 at 1:41 AM
BREAKING: San Francisco Giants star Jung Hoo Lee has been detained by CBP at LAX. Pelosi's office says she is working to secure his release. www.sfchronicle.com/sports/giant...
Reposted by Ralph Drayton
Cal State University’s deal with OpenAI — providing ChatGPT to all faculty, students, and staff — will expire in June 2026. Amid the prospect of layoffs in the CSU, we’re asking the chancellor not to renew this costly and demoralizing contract.
Link below and anyone can sign:
Link below and anyone can sign:
January 21, 2026 at 7:33 PM
Cal State University’s deal with OpenAI — providing ChatGPT to all faculty, students, and staff — will expire in June 2026. Amid the prospect of layoffs in the CSU, we’re asking the chancellor not to renew this costly and demoralizing contract.
Link below and anyone can sign:
Link below and anyone can sign:
Reposted by Ralph Drayton
Democracy Now is providing unparalleled coverage of the siege and occupation of Minnesota
Mainstream media is not covering it with the same depth or civil-liberties framing + are much less likely to foreground the on-the-ground testimony of legal observers, community patrols, Indigenous residents
Mainstream media is not covering it with the same depth or civil-liberties framing + are much less likely to foreground the on-the-ground testimony of legal observers, community patrols, Indigenous residents
Minneapolis resident Patty O’Keefe, who was violently arrested by ICE, says one agent told her that "obstructing" agents is "why that lesbian bitch is dead,” referring to Renee Good.
See our full report on community resistance:
https://www.democracynow.org/2026/1/20/minneapolis_minnesota_ice
See our full report on community resistance:
https://www.democracynow.org/2026/1/20/minneapolis_minnesota_ice
January 20, 2026 at 9:36 PM
Democracy Now is providing unparalleled coverage of the siege and occupation of Minnesota
Mainstream media is not covering it with the same depth or civil-liberties framing + are much less likely to foreground the on-the-ground testimony of legal observers, community patrols, Indigenous residents
Mainstream media is not covering it with the same depth or civil-liberties framing + are much less likely to foreground the on-the-ground testimony of legal observers, community patrols, Indigenous residents
You bet on the game and lost. That’s not the kids’ fault. It’s yours.
January 20, 2026 at 5:46 AM
You bet on the game and lost. That’s not the kids’ fault. It’s yours.
Reposted by Ralph Drayton
We now have a new website, which displays Galen's commentary of the first four Aphorisms in Greek, Arabic and Latin. A german translation is also available. goha.bbaw.de
GOHA | Galen's Commentary on the Hippocratic Aphorisms
goha.bbaw.de
January 19, 2026 at 4:38 PM
We now have a new website, which displays Galen's commentary of the first four Aphorisms in Greek, Arabic and Latin. A german translation is also available. goha.bbaw.de
Reposted by Ralph Drayton
The author of a controversial memo from centrist think tank Searchlight telling Democrats to abandon the slogan “Abolish ICE” is a senior advisor for WestExec, a D.C. shadow lobbyist for corporations in the defense, surveillance, and immigration enforcement industries.
prospect.org/2026/01/19/a...
prospect.org/2026/01/19/a...
Author of ‘Don’t Say Abolish ICE’ Memo Is a Corporate Consultant - The American Prospect
Blas Nuñez-Neto is a senior adviser to WestExec, a shadow lobbyist for defense and tech firms.
prospect.org
January 19, 2026 at 2:13 PM
The author of a controversial memo from centrist think tank Searchlight telling Democrats to abandon the slogan “Abolish ICE” is a senior advisor for WestExec, a D.C. shadow lobbyist for corporations in the defense, surveillance, and immigration enforcement industries.
prospect.org/2026/01/19/a...
prospect.org/2026/01/19/a...
