Sam Menefee-Libey
@sml47.bsky.social
Antifascist. Anthropology, Critical Theory, American Studies, dogs, film, music, democratic pedagogy, degrowth and bioregionalism in greater Los Angeles. This world (system) we must leave. https://boxd.it/6oFrP
Pinned
This is an empowering read - encouraging without being condescending or flip about difficulty - for someone like me, in that do-or-die stage of dissertation writing.
Academia is dying, but scholarship and the joys of study, knowledge, and critical discursive communities are vigorous and rich
Academia is dying, but scholarship and the joys of study, knowledge, and critical discursive communities are vigorous and rich
“I agonized over just what I was doing. Whether it was building to something, whether I would eventually complete one of the dozens of projects I’ve outlined in my “Pandora’s Box” document, whether I could someday leave a mark on the field.“
December 31, 2025 at 7:48 PM
This is an empowering read - encouraging without being condescending or flip about difficulty - for someone like me, in that do-or-die stage of dissertation writing.
Academia is dying, but scholarship and the joys of study, knowledge, and critical discursive communities are vigorous and rich
Academia is dying, but scholarship and the joys of study, knowledge, and critical discursive communities are vigorous and rich
As the immiseration gets worse (and it will), people will be looking for scapegoats. Trump/MAGA have spent over a decade conditioning them in specific ways of thinking and accessing and processing information to do that in extremely destructive ways.
This is the impact of networked incitement. And now every other “citizen journalist” wannabe Nick Shirley is on the ground in Washington, Ohio, and I assume elsewhere trying to break/make the next viral story. There’s potential for this to spin further out of control, hoping it doesn’t
Somali-run day care in Minneapolis broken into, vandalized
www.fox9.com
December 31, 2025 at 7:40 PM
As the immiseration gets worse (and it will), people will be looking for scapegoats. Trump/MAGA have spent over a decade conditioning them in specific ways of thinking and accessing and processing information to do that in extremely destructive ways.
This is one of the greatest “dad jokes” I’ve ever seen.
I want to found a beef-stew-in-a-round-loaf restaurant chain that also hosts formal events so I can sponsor a college game and have a Bull Boule Ball Bowl
December 31, 2025 at 7:32 PM
This is one of the greatest “dad jokes” I’ve ever seen.
Reposted by Sam Menefee-Libey
I'm overjoyed by the publication of this open-access journal issue themed around my book, Beyond Education. I'm honored to see these brilliant contributions to how we think about intersecting struggles across K-12, higher ed, and beyond.
works.swarthmore.edu/critedpol/
The contents include:
(1/5)
works.swarthmore.edu/critedpol/
The contents include:
(1/5)
December 30, 2025 at 8:46 PM
I'm overjoyed by the publication of this open-access journal issue themed around my book, Beyond Education. I'm honored to see these brilliant contributions to how we think about intersecting struggles across K-12, higher ed, and beyond.
works.swarthmore.edu/critedpol/
The contents include:
(1/5)
works.swarthmore.edu/critedpol/
The contents include:
(1/5)
Reposted by Sam Menefee-Libey
The entire city living in sheer panic of dying in a fire for 10 days straight really set the tone.
I truly cannot believe the year we have had.
definitely in the running for worst year Los Angeles has ever had in my lifetime. In many ways worse than 2020!
definitely in the running for worst year Los Angeles has ever had in my lifetime. In many ways worse than 2020!
December 30, 2025 at 4:08 PM
The entire city living in sheer panic of dying in a fire for 10 days straight really set the tone.
Reposted by Sam Menefee-Libey
In the summer of 2007, in the Pacific Palisades, Ray Liotta threatened to hit me with his car.
It was very funny.
It was very funny.
Right folks. Feeling rather down at the moment so bringing back an oldie
Please Quote this with your most minor celebrity interaction
Please Quote this with your most minor celebrity interaction
June 14, 2025 at 4:40 AM
In the summer of 2007, in the Pacific Palisades, Ray Liotta threatened to hit me with his car.
It was very funny.
It was very funny.
College professors to the rest of civil society:
December 29, 2025 at 9:25 PM
College professors to the rest of civil society:
Reposted by Sam Menefee-Libey
"There is no condition in which the university is under attack that the whole of U.S. educational infrastructure, public and private, from pre-K up, is not under attack. And there is no condition in which education is under attack in which civil society can remain unimperiled."
I wasn’t sure they were going to publish this. So good for them.
The ‘Crisis of the Humanities’ Is Over. That’s Not a Good Thing.
All of higher ed now suffers the attacks of politics and technology.
www.chronicle.com
December 29, 2025 at 2:18 PM
"There is no condition in which the university is under attack that the whole of U.S. educational infrastructure, public and private, from pre-K up, is not under attack. And there is no condition in which education is under attack in which civil society can remain unimperiled."
I watched “No Other Choice” last week, and it got me thinking about the (masterful) films of Park Chan-wook.
“How are otherwise well-meaning and mild-mannered people led down a path to extreme brutality?” is the archetypal premise for, if I’m not mistaken, every single one of his films?
“How are otherwise well-meaning and mild-mannered people led down a path to extreme brutality?” is the archetypal premise for, if I’m not mistaken, every single one of his films?
December 29, 2025 at 9:12 PM
I watched “No Other Choice” last week, and it got me thinking about the (masterful) films of Park Chan-wook.
“How are otherwise well-meaning and mild-mannered people led down a path to extreme brutality?” is the archetypal premise for, if I’m not mistaken, every single one of his films?
“How are otherwise well-meaning and mild-mannered people led down a path to extreme brutality?” is the archetypal premise for, if I’m not mistaken, every single one of his films?
This was awesome and the original filing is worth a peruse-and-laugh alabnews.com/ex-prosecuto...
December 29, 2025 at 8:12 AM
This was awesome and the original filing is worth a peruse-and-laugh alabnews.com/ex-prosecuto...
Reposted by Sam Menefee-Libey
Still unreported, should be investigated:
ICE shot Richard outside a mall. I visited mall security office. Guard said ICE and LAPD came in, used thumb drive to copy mall’s video footage, and THEN DELETED THE EVIDENCE from mall’s local drives. He showed me the missing timeline part saying “no data.”
ICE shot Richard outside a mall. I visited mall security office. Guard said ICE and LAPD came in, used thumb drive to copy mall’s video footage, and THEN DELETED THE EVIDENCE from mall’s local drives. He showed me the missing timeline part saying “no data.”
Huge win for Richard Noticias LA, TikTok journalist shot by ICE. Criminal charges dismissed with prejudice, meaning can’t be refiled.
ICE did him DIRTY. Repeatedly. Inhumane treatment, basically medical torture.
Still in ICE custody on immigration case. They owe him unconditional release.
ICE did him DIRTY. Repeatedly. Inhumane treatment, basically medical torture.
Still in ICE custody on immigration case. They owe him unconditional release.
Federal judge dismisses indictment against TikToker shot by ICE, citing constitutional violations
Days before Carlitos Ricardo Parias was set to to go to trial for assault on a federal officer, a federal judge dismissed the case against him. The judge cited the deprivation of Parias' access to cou...
www.latimes.com
December 29, 2025 at 3:41 AM
Still unreported, should be investigated:
ICE shot Richard outside a mall. I visited mall security office. Guard said ICE and LAPD came in, used thumb drive to copy mall’s video footage, and THEN DELETED THE EVIDENCE from mall’s local drives. He showed me the missing timeline part saying “no data.”
ICE shot Richard outside a mall. I visited mall security office. Guard said ICE and LAPD came in, used thumb drive to copy mall’s video footage, and THEN DELETED THE EVIDENCE from mall’s local drives. He showed me the missing timeline part saying “no data.”
Reposted by Sam Menefee-Libey
Republicans motivate their core voters to show up every cycle and they do. Democrats just assume their equivalent will do the same and spend the entire cycle pursuing swing voters, meanwhile depressing core turnout. Then they blame those core voters when they lose. The cycle must be broken.
What got us Trump was the GOP being a malevolent force for evil and the Democrats at every turn refusing to fire full blast at the right (including before Trump). It’s obviously not all on Harris but a cycle with Democrats assuming the left would just show up without any motivation is a big reason.
They have a point. “She didn’t earn my vote” got us Trump. Like I think it’s good to push against the party for better policy but when the alternative is Trump, it’s too much.
December 28, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Republicans motivate their core voters to show up every cycle and they do. Democrats just assume their equivalent will do the same and spend the entire cycle pursuing swing voters, meanwhile depressing core turnout. Then they blame those core voters when they lose. The cycle must be broken.
Everyone should read this fabulous book.
December 28, 2025 at 4:50 AM
Everyone should read this fabulous book.
• The best book I read this year
• The best book I read FROM this year
• The best comic book I read this year
• The best audiobook I heard this year
• The best book I read FROM this year
• The best comic book I read this year
• The best audiobook I heard this year
December 27, 2025 at 8:14 PM
• The best book I read this year
• The best book I read FROM this year
• The best comic book I read this year
• The best audiobook I heard this year
• The best book I read FROM this year
• The best comic book I read this year
• The best audiobook I heard this year
The Department of Unsubtle Metaphors has exceeded expectations once again.
another robot highlight for 2025: man wearing humanoid mocap suit kicks himself in the balls
December 27, 2025 at 6:40 PM
The Department of Unsubtle Metaphors has exceeded expectations once again.
Reposted by Sam Menefee-Libey
i just did it all scared
What gave you courage in 2025?
December 27, 2025 at 5:22 PM
i just did it all scared
Good morning from Southern California
December 27, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Good morning from Southern California
Reposted by Sam Menefee-Libey
regular US policing.
ICE detain father shopping on Christmas Eve—then steal his family's groceries.
Then 3 agents divvy up his paid for food—taking what they want for themselves.
"Can I just get the wife's number to call and let her know?" woman asks.
"No, guess he should've complied," agent says.
Yakima, Washington
Then 3 agents divvy up his paid for food—taking what they want for themselves.
"Can I just get the wife's number to call and let her know?" woman asks.
"No, guess he should've complied," agent says.
Yakima, Washington
December 27, 2025 at 2:28 AM
regular US policing.
Reposted by Sam Menefee-Libey
Taxes are the LEAST COERCIVE acceptable option for the problem of billionaires.
The more they evade accountability, the more likely violence becomes.
The more they evade accountability, the more likely violence becomes.
December 27, 2025 at 3:39 AM
Taxes are the LEAST COERCIVE acceptable option for the problem of billionaires.
The more they evade accountability, the more likely violence becomes.
The more they evade accountability, the more likely violence becomes.
While we have settler states, I think its good that their leaders at least try to grapple with (and not minimize) the horrific violence that established settler states.
163 years ago in Mankato, 38 Dakota men were hung in the largest mass execution in our nation’s history.
I’m grateful to the riders who continue to remind us the importance of fighting for accountability and healing for the Dakota people.
www.mprnews.org/story/2025/1...
I’m grateful to the riders who continue to remind us the importance of fighting for accountability and healing for the Dakota people.
www.mprnews.org/story/2025/1...
Dakota riders return home to Minnesota via horseback, honoring legacy of Dakota 38
Dakota riders completed a journey of hundreds of miles to honor the 38 Dakota men executed in 1862 — the largest mass execution in U.S. history. The annual rides ending in Mankato serve as a poignant ...
www.mprnews.org
December 27, 2025 at 3:32 AM
While we have settler states, I think its good that their leaders at least try to grapple with (and not minimize) the horrific violence that established settler states.
Reposted by Sam Menefee-Libey
I’m very excited to read that one alongside this other new title press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...
Crime and No Punishment
How concentrated economic and political power in America protects elites and fosters violence of all kinds
press.princeton.edu
December 27, 2025 at 3:25 AM
I’m very excited to read that one alongside this other new title press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...
Reposted by Sam Menefee-Libey
I see the Panthers are being invoked. I like to remind people about what the U.S. government and local police forces did to the BPP. This recent book is useful. press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...
Police Against the Movement
A bold retelling of the 1960s civil rights struggle through its work against police violence—and a prehistory of both the Black Lives Matter and Blue Lives Matter movements that emerged half a century...
press.princeton.edu
December 27, 2025 at 3:06 AM
I see the Panthers are being invoked. I like to remind people about what the U.S. government and local police forces did to the BPP. This recent book is useful. press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...
I like that this flowchart is compatible with a wide variety of ethical frameworks. Its suggestions are for self-regulation to be a more effective group participant. Certainly not a holy grail or universal tool, but I did appreciate it as an aspirational model while in undergrad.
A diagram I offer to undergraduates at the beginning of each semester, explaining that it was something I benefited from as an undergrad and it’s a good tool to have for group discussion.
December 26, 2025 at 8:45 PM
I like that this flowchart is compatible with a wide variety of ethical frameworks. Its suggestions are for self-regulation to be a more effective group participant. Certainly not a holy grail or universal tool, but I did appreciate it as an aspirational model while in undergrad.
Great 2025 reads in this thread!
I'm taking a few days for a short writing retreat, but before that, I wanted to post things I read, ate, wore, listened to that got my through the year! 1/
December 26, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Great 2025 reads in this thread!
Reposted by Sam Menefee-Libey
On December 26, 1862, 38 Dakota men were hanged under orders of Abraham Lincoln, in the largest public mass extinction in US history.
Lakota Nation vs. United States (2022) dir. Jesse Short Bull and Laura Tomaselli, words and narration by Layli Long Soldier from her poem "38"
Lakota Nation vs. United States (2022) dir. Jesse Short Bull and Laura Tomaselli, words and narration by Layli Long Soldier from her poem "38"
December 26, 2025 at 7:22 AM
On December 26, 1862, 38 Dakota men were hanged under orders of Abraham Lincoln, in the largest public mass extinction in US history.
Lakota Nation vs. United States (2022) dir. Jesse Short Bull and Laura Tomaselli, words and narration by Layli Long Soldier from her poem "38"
Lakota Nation vs. United States (2022) dir. Jesse Short Bull and Laura Tomaselli, words and narration by Layli Long Soldier from her poem "38"