Tim Verstynen
@tdverstynen.bsky.social
Professor
Department Gadfly
Data Alchemist
Synthetic Psychologist
Zombie Apologist
“The enemy” - JD Vance
This is an anti-ICE account
Opinions are my own. Not gonna let my employer take credit for them.
Department Gadfly
Data Alchemist
Synthetic Psychologist
Zombie Apologist
“The enemy” - JD Vance
This is an anti-ICE account
Opinions are my own. Not gonna let my employer take credit for them.
Pinned
Tim Verstynen
@tdverstynen.bsky.social
· Jan 28
I grew up a white kid in a bilingual, majority Hispanic state, in a pueblo region continuously occupied by indigenous peoples for over a thousand years, and in a city whose name is derived from an old Arabic phrase.
This is what America looks like.
This is what America looks like.
Reposted by Tim Verstynen
Historian of medicine here. Yes. Yes, they did.
before antibiotics did people just die all the time from everything?
February 17, 2026 at 5:47 PM
Historian of medicine here. Yes. Yes, they did.
Reposted by Tim Verstynen
she should have been allowed to kill one guy per season
February 17, 2026 at 10:13 PM
she should have been allowed to kill one guy per season
Reposted by Tim Verstynen
Imagine doing this with your one precious life. Other people are out there teaching children and curing cancer and you decide to spend your time telling outrageous, laughably unbelievable lies about a dementia-addled rapist and fraud whose legacy will be nearly ending US democracy
Leavitt: "I think it's frankly ridiculous that anyone in this room would even suggest that President Trump is doing anything for his own benefit. He left a life of luxury and a life of running a very successful real estate empire for public service."
February 18, 2026 at 2:48 AM
Imagine doing this with your one precious life. Other people are out there teaching children and curing cancer and you decide to spend your time telling outrageous, laughably unbelievable lies about a dementia-addled rapist and fraud whose legacy will be nearly ending US democracy
How do you scream “I’m an insecure loser” without saying “I’m an insecure loser”?
The US Department of Health and Human Services just released this video.
February 18, 2026 at 3:09 AM
How do you scream “I’m an insecure loser” without saying “I’m an insecure loser”?
Reposted by Tim Verstynen
me casually talking about the replication crisis with my undergrads
a man with long hair is making a funny face and saying `` i was there gandalf i was there 3000 years ago ... ''
Alt: Elrond from lord of the ring saying "i was there gandalf i was there 3000 years ago ..."
media.tenor.com
February 17, 2026 at 9:28 PM
me casually talking about the replication crisis with my undergrads
Reposted by Tim Verstynen
A study reported by The Register showed that 98% of CIOs had pressure from the board "to demonstrate measurable, increasing ROI" from AI, with 71% believing that their AI budget would face cuts or freeze if targets aren't met by mid-2026
www.theregister.com/2026/02/17/n...
www.theregister.com/2026/02/17/n...
February 17, 2026 at 9:50 PM
A study reported by The Register showed that 98% of CIOs had pressure from the board "to demonstrate measurable, increasing ROI" from AI, with 71% believing that their AI budget would face cuts or freeze if targets aren't met by mid-2026
www.theregister.com/2026/02/17/n...
www.theregister.com/2026/02/17/n...
Reposted by Tim Verstynen
jesse jackson was constantly played as a punchline on 90s late-night TV to the point that i didn't understand his history of activism and serious left-leaning political platform until i was much older. i have to think, to some degree, that was on purpose.
February 17, 2026 at 3:40 PM
jesse jackson was constantly played as a punchline on 90s late-night TV to the point that i didn't understand his history of activism and serious left-leaning political platform until i was much older. i have to think, to some degree, that was on purpose.
Pierce/Carnap and it’s not even close
Most cursed (philosophy) ticket go
Wittgenstein/Heidegger
Wittgenstein/Heidegger
Most Cursed Ticket go
Buttigieg/Bennett
Buttigieg/Bennett
February 17, 2026 at 9:34 PM
Pierce/Carnap and it’s not even close
Reposted by Tim Verstynen
“I don’t want to be in this place I want to go to my school.”
- 7 year old imprisoned by ICE for 70 days in a concentration camp in Texas.
Today, after @propublica.org published this story, the camp was raided to confiscate letters from the children.
www.propublica.org/article/ice-...
- 7 year old imprisoned by ICE for 70 days in a concentration camp in Texas.
Today, after @propublica.org published this story, the camp was raided to confiscate letters from the children.
www.propublica.org/article/ice-...
February 17, 2026 at 7:31 PM
“I don’t want to be in this place I want to go to my school.”
- 7 year old imprisoned by ICE for 70 days in a concentration camp in Texas.
Today, after @propublica.org published this story, the camp was raided to confiscate letters from the children.
www.propublica.org/article/ice-...
- 7 year old imprisoned by ICE for 70 days in a concentration camp in Texas.
Today, after @propublica.org published this story, the camp was raided to confiscate letters from the children.
www.propublica.org/article/ice-...
Reposted by Tim Verstynen
Stephen Colbert said that the FCC and CBS - which is in no way a compromised or complicit organization - wouldn’t allow him to broadcast an interview with Democratic State Rep James Talarico. www.nytimes.com/2026/02/17/a...
Colbert Doesn’t Give an FCC About Calling Out CBS
www.nytimes.com
February 17, 2026 at 12:04 PM
Stephen Colbert said that the FCC and CBS - which is in no way a compromised or complicit organization - wouldn’t allow him to broadcast an interview with Democratic State Rep James Talarico. www.nytimes.com/2026/02/17/a...
We bought a new alarm clock based on a NYT Wirecutter recommendation. Apparently it can only be set via an app, automatically subscribes you to a service for playing white noise, and the company has their own credit card they keep pushing on you.
For an ALARM CLOCK.
I’m slowly becoming a Luddite.
For an ALARM CLOCK.
I’m slowly becoming a Luddite.
February 17, 2026 at 11:56 AM
We bought a new alarm clock based on a NYT Wirecutter recommendation. Apparently it can only be set via an app, automatically subscribes you to a service for playing white noise, and the company has their own credit card they keep pushing on you.
For an ALARM CLOCK.
I’m slowly becoming a Luddite.
For an ALARM CLOCK.
I’m slowly becoming a Luddite.
Reposted by Tim Verstynen
Breaking News: The Rev. Jesse Jackson, whose fiery speeches and populist vision made him a charismatic champion of civil rights, died at 84.
Jesse Jackson, Civil Rights Leader Who Sought the Presidency, Dies at 84
www.nytimes.com
February 17, 2026 at 9:55 AM
Breaking News: The Rev. Jesse Jackson, whose fiery speeches and populist vision made him a charismatic champion of civil rights, died at 84.
Advertise your account with a gif
February 17, 2026 at 10:12 AM
Advertise your account with a gif
Reposted by Tim Verstynen
Let’s all be anti-ice accounts. Abolish ICE: Put it in on your own account!
Homeland Security Wants Social Media Sites to Expose Anti-ICE Accounts
www.nytimes.com
February 16, 2026 at 11:39 PM
Let’s all be anti-ice accounts. Abolish ICE: Put it in on your own account!
Reposted by Tim Verstynen
Right-wing Heritage Foundation’s own data shows fewer than 100 noncitizens voted since 1982 (!!!)
This is not a real problem. “The SAVE ACT is a Trojan horse to nationalize elections”: open.substack.com/pub/thiswill...
This is not a real problem. “The SAVE ACT is a Trojan horse to nationalize elections”: open.substack.com/pub/thiswill...
February 16, 2026 at 3:24 PM
Right-wing Heritage Foundation’s own data shows fewer than 100 noncitizens voted since 1982 (!!!)
This is not a real problem. “The SAVE ACT is a Trojan horse to nationalize elections”: open.substack.com/pub/thiswill...
This is not a real problem. “The SAVE ACT is a Trojan horse to nationalize elections”: open.substack.com/pub/thiswill...
Reposted by Tim Verstynen
Now posted ahead of print:
"Conceptualizing Academic Freedom," forthcoming, Annual Review of Political Science.
(Uncorrected proofs, so a few minor edits different from the version that will be published in June.)
doi.org/10.1146/annu...
"Conceptualizing Academic Freedom," forthcoming, Annual Review of Political Science.
(Uncorrected proofs, so a few minor edits different from the version that will be published in June.)
doi.org/10.1146/annu...
February 16, 2026 at 2:10 PM
Now posted ahead of print:
"Conceptualizing Academic Freedom," forthcoming, Annual Review of Political Science.
(Uncorrected proofs, so a few minor edits different from the version that will be published in June.)
doi.org/10.1146/annu...
"Conceptualizing Academic Freedom," forthcoming, Annual Review of Political Science.
(Uncorrected proofs, so a few minor edits different from the version that will be published in June.)
doi.org/10.1146/annu...
Reposted by Tim Verstynen
The Project 2025 architect who promised to put federal employees “in trauma” is spending $15 million of former USAID funding—money that would have gone toward fighting HIV, polio, malaria, and other diseases—to bankroll his security detail. trib.al/TSV3cmb
February 16, 2026 at 12:10 AM
The Project 2025 architect who promised to put federal employees “in trauma” is spending $15 million of former USAID funding—money that would have gone toward fighting HIV, polio, malaria, and other diseases—to bankroll his security detail. trib.al/TSV3cmb
Reposted by Tim Verstynen
mom they’re roasting the US economy on mastodon again
February 16, 2026 at 7:37 AM
mom they’re roasting the US economy on mastodon again
Reposted by Tim Verstynen
If you think there’s NOTHING in our heritage (or in any nation’s) to be unapologetic about, you’re a fool. A dangerous fool.
February 15, 2026 at 9:53 PM
If you think there’s NOTHING in our heritage (or in any nation’s) to be unapologetic about, you’re a fool. A dangerous fool.
Reposted by Tim Verstynen
Yes, that’s why my family left Germany because they really wanted to go to Great Britain and sort of missed it by thaaat much
February 15, 2026 at 4:38 PM
Yes, that’s why my family left Germany because they really wanted to go to Great Britain and sort of missed it by thaaat much
Reposted by Tim Verstynen
This reminds me of when Charles Murray wrote a book about human accomplishment and left out jazz.
February 15, 2026 at 11:49 PM
This reminds me of when Charles Murray wrote a book about human accomplishment and left out jazz.
Reposted by Tim Verstynen
A child dying of cancer spent her final days fighting to free her wrongfully detained father from ICE custody.
This comes just weeks after a mother from Maryland was denied the right to be at her son’s side as he died from cancer.
Not one dime for this cruelty.
www.cbsnews.com/amp/chicago/...
This comes just weeks after a mother from Maryland was denied the right to be at her son’s side as he died from cancer.
Not one dime for this cruelty.
www.cbsnews.com/amp/chicago/...
Ofelia Torres, teen who fought to have her father released from ICE custody, dies from rare cancer
Ofelia Torres, 16, died on Friday from Stage 4 alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer, her father's lawyer confirmed.
www.cbsnews.com
February 15, 2026 at 9:20 PM
A child dying of cancer spent her final days fighting to free her wrongfully detained father from ICE custody.
This comes just weeks after a mother from Maryland was denied the right to be at her son’s side as he died from cancer.
Not one dime for this cruelty.
www.cbsnews.com/amp/chicago/...
This comes just weeks after a mother from Maryland was denied the right to be at her son’s side as he died from cancer.
Not one dime for this cruelty.
www.cbsnews.com/amp/chicago/...
Reposted by Tim Verstynen
don't forget any middle aged person's biggest fantasy: incredible speed of recovery from bodily injuries without any leftover dysfunction or pain
The John Wick series is so effective because it fully embodies the three major tenets of dumb guy fantasy: 1. being able to kick anyone’s ass, 2. living by a code of honor, and 3. paying for things with gold coins
February 15, 2026 at 7:26 PM
don't forget any middle aged person's biggest fantasy: incredible speed of recovery from bodily injuries without any leftover dysfunction or pain
I do not advocate arson or property damage… but if when your grandchildren ask what you did to resist the rise of fascism in America you reply “I tried to burn down a potential concentration camp”, you’ll almost certainly have achieved legend status in your family lore.
By the power invested in me, I hearby proclaim this woman, "White Woman of Next Month!"
(sorry, you cant have February.)
Not all heroes wear blue jeans
(sorry, you cant have February.)
Not all heroes wear blue jeans
February 15, 2026 at 7:11 PM
I do not advocate arson or property damage… but if when your grandchildren ask what you did to resist the rise of fascism in America you reply “I tried to burn down a potential concentration camp”, you’ll almost certainly have achieved legend status in your family lore.