Wordsmatter
@robertbetts.bsky.social
We can be better and be together through discussion, debate, dialogue, dissent and deliberation. Community College professor and PhD in Rhetoric. Cubs, Bears, Bulls and Badgers.
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Wordsmatter
@robertbetts.bsky.social
· Nov 9
I wondered if deleting the unfortunate app would mean an end to interesting cultural conversations. Thankfully I was wrong. It is peaceful here too. Look at the #Bluesky
Reposted by Wordsmatter
the nba postponed a game because the united states government is killing its citizens
January 24, 2026 at 7:51 PM
the nba postponed a game because the united states government is killing its citizens
Reposted by Wordsmatter
Saint Paul schools will be closed Tuesday and Wednesday to prepare for optional online learning.
I’ve seen schools close for snow, for pandemic, for natural disaster. I’ve never seen schools close because of threat from our own government.
I’ve seen schools close for snow, for pandemic, for natural disaster. I’ve never seen schools close because of threat from our own government.
January 15, 2026 at 1:05 AM
Saint Paul schools will be closed Tuesday and Wednesday to prepare for optional online learning.
I’ve seen schools close for snow, for pandemic, for natural disaster. I’ve never seen schools close because of threat from our own government.
I’ve seen schools close for snow, for pandemic, for natural disaster. I’ve never seen schools close because of threat from our own government.
Reposted by Wordsmatter
Steve Kerr on the ICE killing of Renee Good:
"It's shameful that the government can come out and lie about what happened when there's video and witnesses who have all come out and disputed what the government is saying."
"It's shameful that the government can come out and lie about what happened when there's video and witnesses who have all come out and disputed what the government is saying."
January 10, 2026 at 4:46 PM
Steve Kerr on the ICE killing of Renee Good:
"It's shameful that the government can come out and lie about what happened when there's video and witnesses who have all come out and disputed what the government is saying."
"It's shameful that the government can come out and lie about what happened when there's video and witnesses who have all come out and disputed what the government is saying."
Reposted by Wordsmatter
Just an absolutely gutting essay by Tatiana Schlossberg, a writer, mother of two young children, and cousin of RFK Jr who is dying of leukemia.
www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
November 22, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Just an absolutely gutting essay by Tatiana Schlossberg, a writer, mother of two young children, and cousin of RFK Jr who is dying of leukemia.
www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
That was possibly the worst half of Wisconsin Badgers football I have ever seen. There are no words.
September 20, 2025 at 5:51 PM
That was possibly the worst half of Wisconsin Badgers football I have ever seen. There are no words.
Reposted by Wordsmatter
White supremacist tropes and ironic viral jokes illustrate the administration's project of redefining who belongs in the United States.
What's behind the Trump administration's immigration memes?
White supremacist tropes and ironic viral jokes illustrate the administration's project of redefining who belongs in the United States.
n.pr
August 23, 2025 at 8:44 PM
White supremacist tropes and ironic viral jokes illustrate the administration's project of redefining who belongs in the United States.
Reposted by Wordsmatter
If they suspend Habeas Corpus, it won't just be for "migrants" or "illegals" or "criminals." If they suspend Habeas Corpus it will be for you and me and whomever this regime decides is unfit, undesirable, and a threat or a problem. This is how it works. This is how it's always worked.
May 11, 2025 at 4:53 PM
If they suspend Habeas Corpus, it won't just be for "migrants" or "illegals" or "criminals." If they suspend Habeas Corpus it will be for you and me and whomever this regime decides is unfit, undesirable, and a threat or a problem. This is how it works. This is how it's always worked.
Reposted by Wordsmatter
It's 2015. President Barack Obama has accepted a "sky palace" jumbo jet from the Qatari government, which he'll own after he leaves office. "Everybody relax," he says in an interview with the New York Times. Everyone does. The networks then televise the military parade in his honor on his birthday.
May 11, 2025 at 6:43 PM
It's 2015. President Barack Obama has accepted a "sky palace" jumbo jet from the Qatari government, which he'll own after he leaves office. "Everybody relax," he says in an interview with the New York Times. Everyone does. The networks then televise the military parade in his honor on his birthday.
Reposted by Wordsmatter
Steve Kerr wore a Harvard basketball shirt after the Warriors’ win tonight: “Yes, this is me supporting Harvard. Way to go. Way to stand up to the bully.”
April 16, 2025 at 7:09 AM
Steve Kerr wore a Harvard basketball shirt after the Warriors’ win tonight: “Yes, this is me supporting Harvard. Way to go. Way to stand up to the bully.”
Reposted by Wordsmatter
In his 1957 filibuster, Strom Thurmond said "Negroes ... are not so well qualified to vote as are the white people.”
A Black senator just broke the record Thurmond set with that speech.
talkingpointsmemo.com/news/cory-bo...
A Black senator just broke the record Thurmond set with that speech.
talkingpointsmemo.com/news/cory-bo...
Cory Booker Just Gave The Longest Speech In The History of The US Senate
Only two men have spoken on the floor of the U.S. Senate...
talkingpointsmemo.com
April 1, 2025 at 11:31 PM
In his 1957 filibuster, Strom Thurmond said "Negroes ... are not so well qualified to vote as are the white people.”
A Black senator just broke the record Thurmond set with that speech.
talkingpointsmemo.com/news/cory-bo...
A Black senator just broke the record Thurmond set with that speech.
talkingpointsmemo.com/news/cory-bo...
Reposted by Wordsmatter
If Sen. Cory Booker makes it to 7:19 p.m. EST, he will break segregationist Dixiecrat Strom Thurmond's record for his 24 hour 18 minute Senate floor speech against the Civil Rights Act of 1957.
April 1, 2025 at 9:33 PM
If Sen. Cory Booker makes it to 7:19 p.m. EST, he will break segregationist Dixiecrat Strom Thurmond's record for his 24 hour 18 minute Senate floor speech against the Civil Rights Act of 1957.
Reposted by Wordsmatter
WOW. Watch a constitutional law expert completely DEBUNK Republicans’ censorship crusade, while articulating exactly how Donald Trump is threatening freedom of speech. 🔥
March 25, 2025 at 11:57 PM
WOW. Watch a constitutional law expert completely DEBUNK Republicans’ censorship crusade, while articulating exactly how Donald Trump is threatening freedom of speech. 🔥
Reposted by Wordsmatter
The Defense Department just got caught removing all references to racial discrimination, the Holocaust, sexual assault, the LGBTQ+ community, and suicide prevention from its webpages. These topics don’t even qualify as “DEI”; instead, Trump wants to roll back civil rights and civil liberties.
March 20, 2025 at 1:57 AM
The Defense Department just got caught removing all references to racial discrimination, the Holocaust, sexual assault, the LGBTQ+ community, and suicide prevention from its webpages. These topics don’t even qualify as “DEI”; instead, Trump wants to roll back civil rights and civil liberties.
Reposted by Wordsmatter
Elon Musk says that no one has died because he slashed humanitarian aid. I went to South Sudan to check if that's true. It's not. Meet Peter, Achol and Evan, ages 10, 8 and 5. The reckless actions of the world's richest men are killing the world's poorest kids www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Opinion | Musk Said No One Has Died Since Aid Was Cut. That Isn’t True. (Gift Article)
A journey through the front lines of global poverty shows that when the world’s richest men slash aid for the world’s poorest children, the result is sickness, starvation and death.
www.nytimes.com
March 15, 2025 at 11:31 AM
Elon Musk says that no one has died because he slashed humanitarian aid. I went to South Sudan to check if that's true. It's not. Meet Peter, Achol and Evan, ages 10, 8 and 5. The reckless actions of the world's richest men are killing the world's poorest kids www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
It is too much now. I cancelled my Post subscription.
Scoop: As Jeff Bezos pushes The Washington Post in a rightward direction, publisher Will Lewis quietly met last month with the editor in chief of the Free Beacon where the two discussed recruiting conservative journalists.
Details in Status: www.status.news/p/washington...
Details in Status: www.status.news/p/washington...
The Post's Beacon of Inspiration
As Jeff Bezos pushes The Washington Post to the right, publisher Will Lewis quietly met with a conservative editor last month.
www.status.news
March 5, 2025 at 1:03 AM
It is too much now. I cancelled my Post subscription.
Reposted by Wordsmatter
“We can disagree and still love each other unless your disagreement is rooted in my oppression and denial of my humanity and right to exist”
James Baldwin
James Baldwin
February 21, 2025 at 4:18 PM
“We can disagree and still love each other unless your disagreement is rooted in my oppression and denial of my humanity and right to exist”
James Baldwin
James Baldwin
Reposted by Wordsmatter
No, but if you’re looking for one, I am aware of a guy you work with that was indicted four times and convicted of thirty-four felonies.
February 20, 2025 at 8:04 PM
No, but if you’re looking for one, I am aware of a guy you work with that was indicted four times and convicted of thirty-four felonies.
Reposted by Wordsmatter
Good lord.
On Friday night, HHS ordered CDC to take down all flu vaccine campaign materials from its website. Materials are starting to come down.
For example, a campaign explaining that flu shot can reduce flu severity from "wild to mild" is now offline. Left image is from Friday, right is now
Meanwhile...
For example, a campaign explaining that flu shot can reduce flu severity from "wild to mild" is now offline. Left image is from Friday, right is now
Meanwhile...
February 16, 2025 at 11:47 PM
Good lord.
Reposted by Wordsmatter
Casual library pickup
Librarian told me "this ones been popular"
Shocking!
Librarian told me "this ones been popular"
Shocking!
February 6, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Casual library pickup
Librarian told me "this ones been popular"
Shocking!
Librarian told me "this ones been popular"
Shocking!
Reposted by Wordsmatter
Don’t forget to read while it’s still legal.
February 5, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Don’t forget to read while it’s still legal.
Reposted by Wordsmatter
Roger Goodell, on the NFL’s DEI policies moving forward: “We’re not in this because it’s a trend. It’s about attracting the best talents.”
“I think we’ll continue those efforts.”
“I think we’ll continue those efforts.”
February 3, 2025 at 9:17 PM
Roger Goodell, on the NFL’s DEI policies moving forward: “We’re not in this because it’s a trend. It’s about attracting the best talents.”
“I think we’ll continue those efforts.”
“I think we’ll continue those efforts.”
Reposted by Wordsmatter
On Dec. 4, 1969, Illinois Black Panther Party chapter Deputy Chairman Fred Hampton was assassinated in a coordinated effort by the FBI, Chicago police and Cook County State’s Attorney Office.
This mural in Chicago honors him and Mark Clark, also killed in the raid.
thetriibe.com/2023/06/in-c...
This mural in Chicago honors him and Mark Clark, also killed in the raid.
thetriibe.com/2023/06/in-c...
In Chicago, Black history is everywhere • The TRiiBE
Residents, family, and volunteers preserve Black history by creating public art, museums, and fighting for landmark status.
thetriibe.com
December 4, 2024 at 3:19 PM
On Dec. 4, 1969, Illinois Black Panther Party chapter Deputy Chairman Fred Hampton was assassinated in a coordinated effort by the FBI, Chicago police and Cook County State’s Attorney Office.
This mural in Chicago honors him and Mark Clark, also killed in the raid.
thetriibe.com/2023/06/in-c...
This mural in Chicago honors him and Mark Clark, also killed in the raid.
thetriibe.com/2023/06/in-c...
Reposted by Wordsmatter
Scientists, academics, researchers: We’re excited to share that @altmetric.com is now tracking mentions of your research on Bluesky! 🧪
There are already many articles for which there is more attention on Bluesky than on other comparable micro-blogging sites, meaning the academic community and the general public have clearly adopted Bluesky as one of its core places to disseminate and discuss new research.
A Place of Joy.
A Place of Joy.
December 3, 2024 at 2:10 PM
Scientists, academics, researchers: We’re excited to share that @altmetric.com is now tracking mentions of your research on Bluesky! 🧪