Sherman Dorn
@shermandorn.com
Personal account, historian of education policy
We're already getting spoilers for the 2027 season.
They aren’t going anywhere.
Billionaires are considering cutting or reducing their ties to California by the end of the year because of a proposed ballot measure that could tax the state’s wealthiest residents.
December 27, 2025 at 2:05 AM
We're already getting spoilers for the 2027 season.
Proposal: the past tense of "weed" should be "wed." Reasons:
1) It would promote the resurgence of madcap comedies, which we need more of.
2) After weeding, I'm too damned tired to use two syllables to describe what I just did.
3) I drafted another 78 reasons, but after reflection I wed 76 of them.
1) It would promote the resurgence of madcap comedies, which we need more of.
2) After weeding, I'm too damned tired to use two syllables to describe what I just did.
3) I drafted another 78 reasons, but after reflection I wed 76 of them.
December 26, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Proposal: the past tense of "weed" should be "wed." Reasons:
1) It would promote the resurgence of madcap comedies, which we need more of.
2) After weeding, I'm too damned tired to use two syllables to describe what I just did.
3) I drafted another 78 reasons, but after reflection I wed 76 of them.
1) It would promote the resurgence of madcap comedies, which we need more of.
2) After weeding, I'm too damned tired to use two syllables to describe what I just did.
3) I drafted another 78 reasons, but after reflection I wed 76 of them.
Side note: my daughter and I watched @joshjohnsoncomedy.bsky.social's video on the Vanity Fair photos and had to stop to (pick)
a) make sure we didn't laugh so hard we cramped up
b) go find the photos and look at them
I am both mad and not surprised that his Phoenix shows sold out (too) quickly
a) make sure we didn't laugh so hard we cramped up
b) go find the photos and look at them
I am both mad and not surprised that his Phoenix shows sold out (too) quickly
Simon just asked me to go for a walk as I was finishing a moka pot's worth of coffee. It'll be a few minutes, pup!
December 25, 2025 at 10:48 PM
Side note: my daughter and I watched @joshjohnsoncomedy.bsky.social's video on the Vanity Fair photos and had to stop to (pick)
a) make sure we didn't laugh so hard we cramped up
b) go find the photos and look at them
I am both mad and not surprised that his Phoenix shows sold out (too) quickly
a) make sure we didn't laugh so hard we cramped up
b) go find the photos and look at them
I am both mad and not surprised that his Phoenix shows sold out (too) quickly
Simon just asked me to go for a walk as I was finishing a moka pot's worth of coffee. It'll be a few minutes, pup!
December 25, 2025 at 10:09 PM
Simon just asked me to go for a walk as I was finishing a moka pot's worth of coffee. It'll be a few minutes, pup!
@jessicacalarco.com (QPing @kevinmkruse.bsky.social) is correct. Plus:
A little less than two years ago, I planned a little study that I never ended up having time for because life. (My wife got very sick.) But it gave me a chance to think through the issues with using LLMs for qualitative coding.
A little less than two years ago, I planned a little study that I never ended up having time for because life. (My wife got very sick.) But it gave me a chance to think through the issues with using LLMs for qualitative coding.
This thread perfectly explains why AI has little value for qualitative research.
Yes, large language models can find patterns in qualitative data. But, they're trained on what we already know. So, they won't find anything surprising. And, surprise is qualitative research's primary value-add.
Yes, large language models can find patterns in qualitative data. But, they're trained on what we already know. So, they won't find anything surprising. And, surprise is qualitative research's primary value-add.
Absolutely right.
AI might be able to summarize (poorly) what we currently know, but a major goal of historical research is to find the hidden surprises out there.
Let me illustrate …
AI might be able to summarize (poorly) what we currently know, but a major goal of historical research is to find the hidden surprises out there.
Let me illustrate …
December 24, 2025 at 9:32 PM
@jessicacalarco.com (QPing @kevinmkruse.bsky.social) is correct. Plus:
A little less than two years ago, I planned a little study that I never ended up having time for because life. (My wife got very sick.) But it gave me a chance to think through the issues with using LLMs for qualitative coding.
A little less than two years ago, I planned a little study that I never ended up having time for because life. (My wife got very sick.) But it gave me a chance to think through the issues with using LLMs for qualitative coding.
Just in time for Christmas: a great interview with an absolute legend.
Theda Skocpol and Edwin Amenta on her career, US politics, the erosion of democracy, and most of all, what to do about it.
sociologica.unibo.it/article/view...
Theda Skocpol and Edwin Amenta on her career, US politics, the erosion of democracy, and most of all, what to do about it.
sociologica.unibo.it/article/view...
View of Theda Skocpol in Conversation with Edwin Amenta on Sociology, Political Science, Higher Education, and U.S. Politics
| Sociologica
sociologica.unibo.it
December 24, 2025 at 5:47 PM
The great writer Douglas Adams once said, "I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sounds they make as they fly by."
Substantively, the failure to come to an agreement is the most recent sign that 7 state authorities never read Elinor Ostrom on how to work together in water cooperatives.
Substantively, the failure to come to an agreement is the most recent sign that 7 state authorities never read Elinor Ostrom on how to work together in water cooperatives.
The seven states that rely on the river blew a deadline to strike a new water sharing agreement. Cuts are surely coming.
Arizona stalled in fight for share of the Colorado River: What to know
The seven states that rely on the river blew a deadline to strike a new water sharing agreement. Cuts are surely coming.
www.phoenixnewtimes.com
December 22, 2025 at 2:59 PM
The great writer Douglas Adams once said, "I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sounds they make as they fly by."
Substantively, the failure to come to an agreement is the most recent sign that 7 state authorities never read Elinor Ostrom on how to work together in water cooperatives.
Substantively, the failure to come to an agreement is the most recent sign that 7 state authorities never read Elinor Ostrom on how to work together in water cooperatives.
Woke up in the middle of the night to my brain’s mashup of “Here Comes Santa Claus” and the Notre Dame fight song.
You’re welcome 🤣🤣🤣
You’re welcome 🤣🤣🤣
December 22, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Woke up in the middle of the night to my brain’s mashup of “Here Comes Santa Claus” and the Notre Dame fight song.
You’re welcome 🤣🤣🤣
You’re welcome 🤣🤣🤣
Hypothetically -- if I were a grifter who had ginned up a Substack and found myself the head of CBS News, and -- again, entirely hypothetically, suppose I were self-aware enough to guess I'd be out within the year, this is what I'd do: CBS News's failure would be FP's coup.
Entirely hypothetical
Entirely hypothetical
Things That Matter:
DOES AMERICA NEED STEVEN PINKER AND ROSS DOUTHAT?
Brought to you by
BANK OF AMERICA
DOES AMERICA NEED STEVEN PINKER AND ROSS DOUTHAT?
Brought to you by
BANK OF AMERICA
December 21, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Hypothetically -- if I were a grifter who had ginned up a Substack and found myself the head of CBS News, and -- again, entirely hypothetically, suppose I were self-aware enough to guess I'd be out within the year, this is what I'd do: CBS News's failure would be FP's coup.
Entirely hypothetical
Entirely hypothetical
Current view, a few minutes before the solstice.
December 21, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Current view, a few minutes before the solstice.
Early this morning, I committed my first over-the-transom op-ed pitch in a few years, thanks to @lollardfish.bsky.social's encouragement of us all and a few specific nudges from him and my daughter.
I look forward to "The Public Scholar," out in April 2026.
I look forward to "The Public Scholar," out in April 2026.
The Public Scholar
A Practical Handbook
www.press.jhu.edu
December 20, 2025 at 1:26 AM
Early this morning, I committed my first over-the-transom op-ed pitch in a few years, thanks to @lollardfish.bsky.social's encouragement of us all and a few specific nudges from him and my daughter.
I look forward to "The Public Scholar," out in April 2026.
I look forward to "The Public Scholar," out in April 2026.
Brilliance on the level of Paul Conrad
December 19, 2025 at 11:55 PM
Brilliance on the level of Paul Conrad
As someone who competed at the national level in h.s. policy debate, I'll just say it's one of the most arcane art forms humans have come up with and rivals curling in its suspense and 20th c figure skating in the objectivity of its judging.
I get these overtures to debate this or that person and let me ask you something. Why, in god’s name, would I do that? Is this high school? Do I have abs again??? Stacked bangs? What’s debating do in 2025??
December 18, 2025 at 3:48 PM
As someone who competed at the national level in h.s. policy debate, I'll just say it's one of the most arcane art forms humans have come up with and rivals curling in its suspense and 20th c figure skating in the objectivity of its judging.
December 17, 2025 at 4:06 AM
It warms my heart that so many people are going to hold my grudges against my former senator long after I’m gone.
I shall bequeath all my Sinemaschadenfreude to Dominique
I shall bequeath all my Sinemaschadenfreude to Dominique
"You can’t give me a viable business case and that’s my concern." said a councilmember who was originally inclined to approve the project.
Also several people said they had no idea about the project until Krysten popped onto the scene. Great lobbying girl!
www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/chandle...
Also several people said they had no idea about the project until Krysten popped onto the scene. Great lobbying girl!
www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/chandle...
Thumbs down: Chandler kills Sinema-backed data center in 7-0 vote
Sinema lobbied hard for the data center, but her involvement created exactly the opposition she tried to sweeping away.
www.phoenixnewtimes.com
December 17, 2025 at 1:10 AM
It warms my heart that so many people are going to hold my grudges against my former senator long after I’m gone.
I shall bequeath all my Sinemaschadenfreude to Dominique
I shall bequeath all my Sinemaschadenfreude to Dominique
I'm exhausted just reading this headline. Replace "AI" with "battery-powered drill" or "asbestos," and see if it makes any sense:
"Profile of a Battery-Powered Drill Ready Graduate"
"Profile of an Asbestos Ready Graduate"
"Profile of a Battery-Powered Drill Ready Graduate"
"Profile of an Asbestos Ready Graduate"
What It Means for a High School Graduate to Be ‘AI-Ready’: Students should learn how to harness AI to solve problems, new "Profile of an AI Ready Graduate" says.
What It Means for a High School Graduate to Be ‘AI-Ready’
Students should learn how to harness AI to solve problems, new "Profile of an AI Ready Graduate" says.
www.edweek.org
December 16, 2025 at 9:31 PM
I'm exhausted just reading this headline. Replace "AI" with "battery-powered drill" or "asbestos," and see if it makes any sense:
"Profile of a Battery-Powered Drill Ready Graduate"
"Profile of an Asbestos Ready Graduate"
"Profile of a Battery-Powered Drill Ready Graduate"
"Profile of an Asbestos Ready Graduate"
Happy @kjzz.org kept in my mentions of @eveewing.bsky.social's "Ghosts in the Schoolyard" in the segment on closures today. I don't remember if I did not clearly enough mention the racial dynamics of closures in the original studio interview or if that was edited out. I'm guessing it's mea culpa.
Lots of Arizona schools are closing. Here are 4 reasons why
There have been a wave of school closures across metro Phoenix of late. What that means for families.
www.kjzz.org
December 15, 2025 at 11:57 PM
Happy @kjzz.org kept in my mentions of @eveewing.bsky.social's "Ghosts in the Schoolyard" in the segment on closures today. I don't remember if I did not clearly enough mention the racial dynamics of closures in the original studio interview or if that was edited out. I'm guessing it's mea culpa.
Keeping in mind that Bouie was talking about Xitter vs. video-focused social media, I'll add this epicycle: getting attention isn't the same as influence. I've been on TV and radio (on separate issues) in the last week in AZ. Friends noticed, which is nice! Not sure if that's influence.
i have said this before but if you are actually interested in influencing people beyond a narrow circle of too-online journalists you will be making direct to camera videos on tiktok, instagram and youtube. if you primarily post on text-based social media then you're just dicking around.
December 15, 2025 at 11:11 PM
Keeping in mind that Bouie was talking about Xitter vs. video-focused social media, I'll add this epicycle: getting attention isn't the same as influence. I've been on TV and radio (on separate issues) in the last week in AZ. Friends noticed, which is nice! Not sure if that's influence.
My EdD advisees this morning at ASU.
There is good news every day, though sometimes it’s helpful to have it scheduled
There is good news every day, though sometimes it’s helpful to have it scheduled
December 15, 2025 at 5:01 PM
My EdD advisees this morning at ASU.
There is good news every day, though sometimes it’s helpful to have it scheduled
There is good news every day, though sometimes it’s helpful to have it scheduled
Stealing the phrase “authoritarian internationale.”
"Trump's minions are scared. They parrot lines from the authoritarian internationale. They say we’re engaged in a color revolution when veteran lawmakers remind our armed forces of their obligations to the law and not to him." www.liberalcurrents.com/a-new-season...
A New Season of Hope
Looking back on this year's battlegrounds, looking ahead to 2026 and beyond.
www.liberalcurrents.com
December 15, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Stealing the phrase “authoritarian internationale.”
Stealing the phrase “authoritarian internationale.”
"Trump's minions are scared. They parrot lines from the authoritarian internationale. They say we’re engaged in a color revolution when veteran lawmakers remind our armed forces of their obligations to the law and not to him." www.liberalcurrents.com/a-new-season...
A New Season of Hope
Looking back on this year's battlegrounds, looking ahead to 2026 and beyond.
www.liberalcurrents.com
December 15, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Stealing the phrase “authoritarian internationale.”
“I’m sorry, Grandma, but I’m not writing you letters any more; you can find me on TikTok.”
if you want to reach an audience with your funny little takes you have to do video
it doesn't matter if you're on bsky or x, the everything app, it's just a matter of how good your sharing video is
or you can do some posts in a dying medium (text) for other people who like text posts or whatever
it doesn't matter if you're on bsky or x, the everything app, it's just a matter of how good your sharing video is
or you can do some posts in a dying medium (text) for other people who like text posts or whatever
December 15, 2025 at 3:48 PM
“I’m sorry, Grandma, but I’m not writing you letters any more; you can find me on TikTok.”
Dick Van Dyke is 100 years old today. Excuse me while I fall over an ottoman 100 times in his honor.
a man in a suit and tie stands next to a woman and a child
Alt: a man in a suit and tie stands next to a woman and a child
media.tenor.com
December 13, 2025 at 12:09 PM
Dick Van Dyke is 100 years old today. Excuse me while I fall over an ottoman 100 times in his honor.
Hey @repgregstanton.bsky.social @captmarkkelly.bsky.social @gallego.senate.gov -- if you co-sponsor or vote for repealing Section 230, you're supporting Trump
Oh. Cool. Just as the President is using every power he can to suppress dissent and stifle speech, @whitehouse.senate.gov and the @judiciarydems.senate.gov are trying to hand Trump a new tool to suppress speech online.
What a joke.
What a joke.
Sen. WHITEHOUSE: We finally are moving to file a bipartisan Section 230 repeal bill. Waiting any longer serves no useful purpose.
December 13, 2025 at 5:40 AM
Hey @repgregstanton.bsky.social @captmarkkelly.bsky.social @gallego.senate.gov -- if you co-sponsor or vote for repealing Section 230, you're supporting Trump