Shannon Mattern
@shannonmattern.bsky.social
director of creative research @ the metro ny library council; resigned full professor of media studies, art history + anthropology
architecture, archives, 🎨, cities, 🐕, infrastructure, libraries, 🗺️, sound++
nyc + upstate
wordsinspace.net
architecture, archives, 🎨, cities, 🐕, infrastructure, libraries, 🗺️, sound++
nyc + upstate
wordsinspace.net
Reposted by Shannon Mattern
Hey Siri, show me the Library of Babel but let's make sure it only contains the worst and most nightmarish content ever produced.
This absolutely defies belief.
This absolutely defies belief.
Exclusive: The US State Department is developing an online portal to enable people in Europe and elsewhere to see content banned by their governments including alleged hate speech and terrorist propaganda, sources told Reuters reut.rs/4cySsA6
Exclusive: US plans online portal to bypass content bans in Europe and elsewhere
The U.S. State Department is developing an online portal that will enable people in Europe and elsewhere to see content banned by their governments including alleged hate speech and terrorist propagan...
reut.rs
February 19, 2026 at 7:33 AM
Hey Siri, show me the Library of Babel but let's make sure it only contains the worst and most nightmarish content ever produced.
This absolutely defies belief.
This absolutely defies belief.
Reposted by Shannon Mattern
How is it possible that Kristi Noem still has this job. Imagine if you’re a family member or a shipmate of this guardsman.
www.nbcnews.com/politics/imm...
www.nbcnews.com/politics/imm...
February 17, 2026 at 3:17 PM
How is it possible that Kristi Noem still has this job. Imagine if you’re a family member or a shipmate of this guardsman.
www.nbcnews.com/politics/imm...
www.nbcnews.com/politics/imm...
Reposted by Shannon Mattern
February 18, 2026 at 7:22 PM
Reposted by Shannon Mattern
If you’ve felt exhausted, anxious, or numb in the face of nonstop political turmoil, you’re not imagining it and you're definitely not alone.
@sarahsloat.bsky.social looks at the research on the psychological and physical toll of polycrisis.
@sarahsloat.bsky.social looks at the research on the psychological and physical toll of polycrisis.
How Political Chaos Is Affecting Americans’ Mental Health - Dame Magazine
As political instability rises, so do anxiety, depression, and disengagement. New research shows how national turmoil is reshaping Americans’ mental health.
www.damemagazine.com
February 18, 2026 at 6:04 PM
If you’ve felt exhausted, anxious, or numb in the face of nonstop political turmoil, you’re not imagining it and you're definitely not alone.
@sarahsloat.bsky.social looks at the research on the psychological and physical toll of polycrisis.
@sarahsloat.bsky.social looks at the research on the psychological and physical toll of polycrisis.
Reposted by Shannon Mattern
Thousands of institutions abandoned programs, ended or rewrote scholarships, closed down clubs and publications, all in pre-emptive compliance.
And you know why?
Mostly because they wanted to do it if they thought they could blame someone else for it.
And you know why?
Mostly because they wanted to do it if they thought they could blame someone else for it.
February 18, 2026 at 11:47 PM
Thousands of institutions abandoned programs, ended or rewrote scholarships, closed down clubs and publications, all in pre-emptive compliance.
And you know why?
Mostly because they wanted to do it if they thought they could blame someone else for it.
And you know why?
Mostly because they wanted to do it if they thought they could blame someone else for it.
Reposted by Shannon Mattern
Exactly, David. They did what they wanted to do when Trump admin was more than willing to take the blame.
Thousands of institutions abandoned programs, ended or rewrote scholarships, closed down clubs and publications, all in pre-emptive compliance.
And you know why?
Mostly because they wanted to do it if they thought they could blame someone else for it.
And you know why?
Mostly because they wanted to do it if they thought they could blame someone else for it.
February 19, 2026 at 1:24 AM
Exactly, David. They did what they wanted to do when Trump admin was more than willing to take the blame.
Reposted by Shannon Mattern
“Publics are made and maintained, not discovered preformed, like rock formations. It is a sign of a fatally limited imagination to assume that we can only ever desire the pittance to which we are currently reconciled.”
ily Becca Rothfeld
ily Becca Rothfeld
The End of Books Coverage at the Washington Post
Becca Rothfeld, a former critic at the Washington Post, on the death of the paper’s books section.
www.newyorker.com
February 18, 2026 at 11:25 PM
“Publics are made and maintained, not discovered preformed, like rock formations. It is a sign of a fatally limited imagination to assume that we can only ever desire the pittance to which we are currently reconciled.”
ily Becca Rothfeld
ily Becca Rothfeld
Reposted by Shannon Mattern
In the concentration camp universe, this is what's known as a filtration camp. A government preemptively takes a whole class of people to interrogate and detain extrajudicially in order to inflict duress on them while arbitrarily assessing their (supposed) culpability.
This is a truly horrifying memo. It says that the policy of the US government will now be to proactively seek out and arrest likely tens of thousands of refugees who entered legally under Biden and subject them to detention, where they will be interrogated about their status.
February 19, 2026 at 2:20 AM
In the concentration camp universe, this is what's known as a filtration camp. A government preemptively takes a whole class of people to interrogate and detain extrajudicially in order to inflict duress on them while arbitrarily assessing their (supposed) culpability.
Reposted by Shannon Mattern
No different from the Mamdani election, the money the millionaires and billionaires spent trying to bet him was more than they would have paid under his plan. They just want to decide how & who their money helps.
February 18, 2026 at 3:25 PM
No different from the Mamdani election, the money the millionaires and billionaires spent trying to bet him was more than they would have paid under his plan. They just want to decide how & who their money helps.
Reposted by Shannon Mattern
This stuff is basically propaganda, and probably more dangerous than more obvious propaganda, because it performs the overcoming of objections to AI in a way educated readers are meant to find aspirationally sophisticated
July 19, 2025 at 2:51 PM
This stuff is basically propaganda, and probably more dangerous than more obvious propaganda, because it performs the overcoming of objections to AI in a way educated readers are meant to find aspirationally sophisticated
Reposted by Shannon Mattern
The profile of “an artist exploring the new frontier of human-machine collaboration,” the wistful first-person literary essay about the writer’s mildly disorienting and somewhat dispiriting but ultimately bracing and useful week with ChatGPT
July 19, 2025 at 2:46 PM
The profile of “an artist exploring the new frontier of human-machine collaboration,” the wistful first-person literary essay about the writer’s mildly disorienting and somewhat dispiriting but ultimately bracing and useful week with ChatGPT
Reposted by Shannon Mattern
The most depressing AI pieces are always going to be the thoughtful, nuanced, open-minded considerations by respected writers who are transparently responding to the publicity incentive created by editors whose owners want this kind of content
July 19, 2025 at 2:43 PM
The most depressing AI pieces are always going to be the thoughtful, nuanced, open-minded considerations by respected writers who are transparently responding to the publicity incentive created by editors whose owners want this kind of content
Reposted by Shannon Mattern
BREAKING: The Department of Education has ended its directive that attempted to restrict diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in schools nationwide.
This is a victory for academic freedom and education equity.
This is a victory for academic freedom and education equity.
February 18, 2026 at 5:39 PM
BREAKING: The Department of Education has ended its directive that attempted to restrict diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in schools nationwide.
This is a victory for academic freedom and education equity.
This is a victory for academic freedom and education equity.
Reposted by Shannon Mattern
three answers suggesting you might want to think about the question a little bit and one releasing you from ever thinking about anything again
February 18, 2026 at 4:59 PM
three answers suggesting you might want to think about the question a little bit and one releasing you from ever thinking about anything again
Reposted by Shannon Mattern
I think it is bad that our political class has engineered all of society to cater to business goblins and encourage everyone from childhood to aspire to become business goblins
February 18, 2026 at 5:53 PM
I think it is bad that our political class has engineered all of society to cater to business goblins and encourage everyone from childhood to aspire to become business goblins
Reposted by Shannon Mattern
I regularly see people wondering how it's possible that there are so many musicians and writers and film makers and artists from a tiny nation like Iceland.
And the answer is really simple: State funding for art education and artists. I literally get a salary from the government to write books.
And the answer is really simple: State funding for art education and artists. I literally get a salary from the government to write books.
I’m constantly astounded at the sheer level of artistic production coming out of Iceland. Novels, movies, music. Amazing.
February 18, 2026 at 2:23 PM
I regularly see people wondering how it's possible that there are so many musicians and writers and film makers and artists from a tiny nation like Iceland.
And the answer is really simple: State funding for art education and artists. I literally get a salary from the government to write books.
And the answer is really simple: State funding for art education and artists. I literally get a salary from the government to write books.
Reposted by Shannon Mattern
when big tech companies say that AI will save the planet, what kinds of AI are they actually talking about — and what's their proof? i took a look at some great new research from @ketanjoshi.co and talked to other experts about how a lot of this talk is probably bullshit:
Big Tech Says Generative AI Will Save the Planet. It Doesn't Offer Much Proof
A new report finds that of 154 specific claims about how AI will benefit the climate, just a quarter cited academic research. A third included no evidence at all.
www.wired.com
February 18, 2026 at 3:19 PM
when big tech companies say that AI will save the planet, what kinds of AI are they actually talking about — and what's their proof? i took a look at some great new research from @ketanjoshi.co and talked to other experts about how a lot of this talk is probably bullshit:
Reposted by Shannon Mattern
The website for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) is completely scrubbed and gone! They didn't even leave a legacy statement.
cpb.org
February 18, 2026 at 3:55 PM
The website for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) is completely scrubbed and gone! They didn't even leave a legacy statement.
I love that my partner knows me well enough to forward me a profile of zine by a crossing guard documenting her daily observations, and I can say: I love that this made you think of me! Not surprisingly, I already own it! :)
February 18, 2026 at 4:47 PM
I love that my partner knows me well enough to forward me a profile of zine by a crossing guard documenting her daily observations, and I can say: I love that this made you think of me! Not surprisingly, I already own it! :)
A new IMLS press release! "The Institute of Museum and Library Services Awards $4.1 Million to Support the Trump AI Action Plan!" — including a project at the University of OK that "integrate[s] Generative AI into children’s maker-based learning experiences in public libraries." Start 'em young!
February 18, 2026 at 4:17 PM
A new IMLS press release! "The Institute of Museum and Library Services Awards $4.1 Million to Support the Trump AI Action Plan!" — including a project at the University of OK that "integrate[s] Generative AI into children’s maker-based learning experiences in public libraries." Start 'em young!
Reposted by Shannon Mattern
Utah banned its 23rd book from all public schools across the state.
The book is a 1998 title by @stephenking.bsky.social.
bookriot.com/utah-bans-23...
The book is a 1998 title by @stephenking.bsky.social.
bookriot.com/utah-bans-23...
Amidst Lawsuit, Utah Bans Its 23rd Book from All Public Schools
On Friday the 13, Utah banned a Stephen King book from every school district in the state. That was Utah's 23rd state-sanctioned ban.
bookriot.com
February 18, 2026 at 1:12 PM
Utah banned its 23rd book from all public schools across the state.
The book is a 1998 title by @stephenking.bsky.social.
bookriot.com/utah-bans-23...
The book is a 1998 title by @stephenking.bsky.social.
bookriot.com/utah-bans-23...
Reposted by Shannon Mattern
Book Bans Still Happen Loudly in States with Anti-Book Ban Laws
If book banning is being crafted to circumvent Freedom to Read bills, it's beyond time to call this a public health crisis.
buttondown.com/wellsourced/...
If book banning is being crafted to circumvent Freedom to Read bills, it's beyond time to call this a public health crisis.
buttondown.com/wellsourced/...
Book Bans Still Happen Loudly in States with Anti-Book Ban Laws
If book banning is being crafted to circumvent Freedom to Read bills, it's beyond time to call this a public health crisis.
buttondown.com
February 17, 2026 at 8:31 PM
Book Bans Still Happen Loudly in States with Anti-Book Ban Laws
If book banning is being crafted to circumvent Freedom to Read bills, it's beyond time to call this a public health crisis.
buttondown.com/wellsourced/...
If book banning is being crafted to circumvent Freedom to Read bills, it's beyond time to call this a public health crisis.
buttondown.com/wellsourced/...
Reposted by Shannon Mattern
Demonstrates as well that they are fine moving that money around so long as they have control over who gets it: TV station and social media co owners for ads, consultants for strategy, but never fellow citizens.
Similar dynamics at work in philanthropy, for those who still even bother.
Similar dynamics at work in philanthropy, for those who still even bother.
The fact that so many billionaire Californians are each dedicating tens of millions of dollars to fighting a proposed wealth tax — rather than using those funds to pay the tax — demonstrates just how much play money they have and evidences the extent of their delusional entitlement
February 18, 2026 at 3:48 PM
Demonstrates as well that they are fine moving that money around so long as they have control over who gets it: TV station and social media co owners for ads, consultants for strategy, but never fellow citizens.
Similar dynamics at work in philanthropy, for those who still even bother.
Similar dynamics at work in philanthropy, for those who still even bother.
The fact that so many billionaire Californians are each dedicating tens of millions of dollars to fighting a proposed wealth tax — rather than using those funds to pay the tax — demonstrates just how much play money they have and evidences the extent of their delusional entitlement
February 18, 2026 at 3:19 PM
The fact that so many billionaire Californians are each dedicating tens of millions of dollars to fighting a proposed wealth tax — rather than using those funds to pay the tax — demonstrates just how much play money they have and evidences the extent of their delusional entitlement
“The brutal cuts to the [Daily News] are simply a consequence of being owned by Alden Global Capital*, a hedge fund notorious for buying up local newspapers and stripping them for parts, and which purchased the Daily News in 2021.”
*another Wharton product, btw!
*another Wharton product, btw!
New York Daily News, Decimated
Plus, more news for your Wednesday morning.
hellgatenyc.com
February 18, 2026 at 2:43 PM
“The brutal cuts to the [Daily News] are simply a consequence of being owned by Alden Global Capital*, a hedge fund notorious for buying up local newspapers and stripping them for parts, and which purchased the Daily News in 2021.”
*another Wharton product, btw!
*another Wharton product, btw!