Vanessa Braganza
@vanessabraganza.bsky.social
'The real Robert Langdon' | writer and future civil rights lawyer | 📖 THE SECRET-SEEKERS: A BOOK DETECTIVE'S QUEST out from HarperOne 2026 | PhD @harvard, JD @columbialaw
Pinned
hey, do you think it’d be cool to read about women’s ciphers, secretly subversive jewelry, and tudor court intrigue?
it’s extremely cool. check this out this gift link & follow @vanessabraganza.bsky.social. she’s working on a new discovery right now!
it’s extremely cool. check this out this gift link & follow @vanessabraganza.bsky.social. she’s working on a new discovery right now!
Decoding the Defiance of Henry VIII’s First Wife (Published 2022)
Using a process she called “early modern Wordle,” a scholar claims to have uncovered a hidden message from Catherine of Aragon in a book of jewelry designs.
www.nytimes.com
Lining up interviews for my Smithsonian articles while reading First Amendment cases for my law school thesis like
a woman is carrying a tray of coffee cups in front of a starbucks coffee shop
ALT: a woman is carrying a tray of coffee cups in front of a starbucks coffee shop
media.tenor.com
November 24, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Lining up interviews for my Smithsonian articles while reading First Amendment cases for my law school thesis like
There are many reasons to love my mum, not least because when she asks me what I like to read and I answer "Anything," this is what she picks:
November 22, 2025 at 2:19 PM
There are many reasons to love my mum, not least because when she asks me what I like to read and I answer "Anything," this is what she picks:
I'm writing a new piece for Smithsonian Magazine for Christmas! 🎄🎅 In Little Women, the March sisters give their Christmas breakfast away--but I've dug up another Yuletide tale by Alcott that you've never heard of. I'll be bringing its magic back next month! ✨️
@smithsonianmag.bsky.social #christmas
@smithsonianmag.bsky.social #christmas
November 21, 2025 at 7:18 PM
I'm writing a new piece for Smithsonian Magazine for Christmas! 🎄🎅 In Little Women, the March sisters give their Christmas breakfast away--but I've dug up another Yuletide tale by Alcott that you've never heard of. I'll be bringing its magic back next month! ✨️
@smithsonianmag.bsky.social #christmas
@smithsonianmag.bsky.social #christmas
Before the Epstein files, Larry Summers was public about his belief that women were innately inferior to men at math. One of the more bigoted encounters I had in my #Harvard department was with a diss advisor who defended him as a great university president, then lambasted Claudine Gay.
rb.gy/sj4zu4
rb.gy/sj4zu4
Why women are poor at science, by Harvard president
The president of Harvard University has provoked a furore by arguing that men outperform women in maths and sciences because of biological difference, and discrimination is no longer a career barrier ...
www.theguardian.com
November 18, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Before the Epstein files, Larry Summers was public about his belief that women were innately inferior to men at math. One of the more bigoted encounters I had in my #Harvard department was with a diss advisor who defended him as a great university president, then lambasted Claudine Gay.
rb.gy/sj4zu4
rb.gy/sj4zu4
I'm thrilled to share that I'll be interning with the Constitutional Accountability Center in DC next summer. They take textualist and historicist approaches to progressive #SCOTUS cases as amici.
And they're still hiring! Law students hoping to do work that meets the moment, take note! #lawschool
And they're still hiring! Law students hoping to do work that meets the moment, take note! #lawschool
CAC is hiring legal interns for Summer 2026! If you're a law student who's passionate about the progressive promise of our Constitution, apply to join our team: www.theusconstitution.org/legal-intern...
November 1, 2025 at 2:33 PM
I'm thrilled to share that I'll be interning with the Constitutional Accountability Center in DC next summer. They take textualist and historicist approaches to progressive #SCOTUS cases as amici.
And they're still hiring! Law students hoping to do work that meets the moment, take note! #lawschool
And they're still hiring! Law students hoping to do work that meets the moment, take note! #lawschool
One of many things to love about legal academics: their article titles aren't longer than the actual article.
Meanwhile, in the humanities:
#academia
Meanwhile, in the humanities:
#academia
October 31, 2025 at 6:32 PM
One of many things to love about legal academics: their article titles aren't longer than the actual article.
Meanwhile, in the humanities:
#academia
Meanwhile, in the humanities:
#academia
Reposted by Vanessa Braganza
"All clean and comfortable I sit down to write." — John Keats, born on this day in 1795 #AmWriting
October 31, 2025 at 1:51 PM
"All clean and comfortable I sit down to write." — John Keats, born on this day in 1795 #AmWriting
As we grapple with how to resist the rise of authoritarianism, I'd like to offer this op-ed by my law professor and mentor, Kate Andrias, on the power of popular movements.
As she says, "Our Constitution is not dying. It is waiting...for us to claim it."
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/10/o... #democracy
As she says, "Our Constitution is not dying. It is waiting...for us to claim it."
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/10/o... #democracy
Opinion | The Constitution Doesn’t Belong to Trump or the Supreme Court
www.nytimes.com
October 26, 2025 at 2:33 PM
As we grapple with how to resist the rise of authoritarianism, I'd like to offer this op-ed by my law professor and mentor, Kate Andrias, on the power of popular movements.
As she says, "Our Constitution is not dying. It is waiting...for us to claim it."
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/10/o... #democracy
As she says, "Our Constitution is not dying. It is waiting...for us to claim it."
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/10/o... #democracy
This is an example of the lawless conduct made possible by the #SCOTUS stay in Noem v Perdomo, allowing ICE to racially profile individuals in deciding whether to conduct a stop. It facilitates the abuse of immigration enforcement as a means of unconstitutional racial discrimination and retaliation.
Bodycam video shows off-duty ICE agent, stopped in Florida for suspected DUI, threatening to check the immigration status of a Haitian-born sheriff’s deputy and deport him if “not legit”
He was charged with DUI with children in the car
@benbrasch.bsky.social @bellwak.bsky.social
wapo.st/4ovDPQU
He was charged with DUI with children in the car
@benbrasch.bsky.social @bellwak.bsky.social
wapo.st/4ovDPQU
ICE agent threatens to check deputy’s status during DUI stop, asks if he’s Haitian
Scott Deiseroth told a Florida sheriff’s deputy that he would have his colleague deported if “not legit,” body camera video shows.
www.washingtonpost.com
October 25, 2025 at 4:10 PM
This is an example of the lawless conduct made possible by the #SCOTUS stay in Noem v Perdomo, allowing ICE to racially profile individuals in deciding whether to conduct a stop. It facilitates the abuse of immigration enforcement as a means of unconstitutional racial discrimination and retaliation.
If I were ever President, I would demolish the Trump ballroom and rebuild the East Wing.
I would use the rebuilding process as an opportunity for educational public programming about the history of the White House and about building--and rebuilding--democracy.
www.cnn.com/2025/10/25/p... #potus
I would use the rebuilding process as an opportunity for educational public programming about the history of the White House and about building--and rebuilding--democracy.
www.cnn.com/2025/10/25/p... #potus
Analysis: The East Wing demolition speaks to Trump’s wrecking-ball presidency | CNN Politics
Everyone says the same thing the first time they go inside the White House: It’s much smaller than they expected.
www.cnn.com
October 25, 2025 at 12:42 PM
If I were ever President, I would demolish the Trump ballroom and rebuild the East Wing.
I would use the rebuilding process as an opportunity for educational public programming about the history of the White House and about building--and rebuilding--democracy.
www.cnn.com/2025/10/25/p... #potus
I would use the rebuilding process as an opportunity for educational public programming about the history of the White House and about building--and rebuilding--democracy.
www.cnn.com/2025/10/25/p... #potus
I spoke to the Boston Globe about which Shakespearean tragic hero is fallen NFL coach Bill Belichick's spirit animal. Hands up, Team Richard II! 👋👑
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/10/21/l...
.
#shakespeare #nfl #nflnews #billbelichick #hollowcrown @bostonglobe.com @bethteitell.bsky.social
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/10/21/l...
.
#shakespeare #nfl #nflnews #billbelichick #hollowcrown @bostonglobe.com @bethteitell.bsky.social
Bill Belichick keeps losing at UNC. Is he becoming a tragic Shakespearean figure? - The Boston Globe
Experts see echoes of King Lear, Julius Caesar, and other doomed heroes from the tragedies of William Shakespeare.
www.bostonglobe.com
October 21, 2025 at 5:34 PM
I spoke to the Boston Globe about which Shakespearean tragic hero is fallen NFL coach Bill Belichick's spirit animal. Hands up, Team Richard II! 👋👑
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/10/21/l...
.
#shakespeare #nfl #nflnews #billbelichick #hollowcrown @bostonglobe.com @bethteitell.bsky.social
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/10/21/l...
.
#shakespeare #nfl #nflnews #billbelichick #hollowcrown @bostonglobe.com @bethteitell.bsky.social
Reposted by Vanessa Braganza
Supreme Court seems poised to further undercut the Voting Rights Act
npr.org/2025/10/15/n...
#SCOTUS #VRA
npr.org/2025/10/15/n...
#SCOTUS #VRA
Supreme Court seems poised to further undercut the Voting Rights Act
The court's conservative majority could invalidate the section of the Voting Rights Act aimed at ensuring minority voters are not shut out of the process of drawing new congressional district lines.
npr.org
October 16, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Supreme Court seems poised to further undercut the Voting Rights Act
npr.org/2025/10/15/n...
#SCOTUS #VRA
npr.org/2025/10/15/n...
#SCOTUS #VRA
Wednesday mood.
October 15, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Wednesday mood.
Itching to write something on Hedda Gabler--aka my favorite play--given the new movie...
October 13, 2025 at 11:33 PM
Itching to write something on Hedda Gabler--aka my favorite play--given the new movie...
Me when the temperature drops to 60 in early October: (busts out overcoat and Christmas carols)
Also me when Mariah Carey comes on Spotify shuffle the same day: Okay, I might have overreacted a tad... 👀
Also me when Mariah Carey comes on Spotify shuffle the same day: Okay, I might have overreacted a tad... 👀
a woman in a red dress is standing in a glass container
ALT: a woman in a red dress is standing in a glass container
media.tenor.com
October 12, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Me when the temperature drops to 60 in early October: (busts out overcoat and Christmas carols)
Also me when Mariah Carey comes on Spotify shuffle the same day: Okay, I might have overreacted a tad... 👀
Also me when Mariah Carey comes on Spotify shuffle the same day: Okay, I might have overreacted a tad... 👀
Very excited to be teaming up once again with my editors at Smithsonian Magazine on a story about a brave young woman who broke a barrier for all women who became published writers. This one will be out next year!
@smithsonianmag.bsky.social #women #herstory
@smithsonianmag.bsky.social #women #herstory
October 12, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Very excited to be teaming up once again with my editors at Smithsonian Magazine on a story about a brave young woman who broke a barrier for all women who became published writers. This one will be out next year!
@smithsonianmag.bsky.social #women #herstory
@smithsonianmag.bsky.social #women #herstory
Reposted by Vanessa Braganza
"Write what you know will always be excellent advice for those who ought not to write at all. Write what you think, what you imagine, what you suspect!" — Gore Vidal, born on this day in 1925 #AmWriting
October 3, 2025 at 2:27 PM
"Write what you know will always be excellent advice for those who ought not to write at all. Write what you think, what you imagine, what you suspect!" — Gore Vidal, born on this day in 1925 #AmWriting
Reposted by Vanessa Braganza
Elon saying he’s going to reprogram his chatbot’s view of history is a perfect example of why these kinds of AI products aren’t the neutral “tools” people always defend them as. They’re little political projects reflecting the ideologies of their creators
June 21, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Elon saying he’s going to reprogram his chatbot’s view of history is a perfect example of why these kinds of AI products aren’t the neutral “tools” people always defend them as. They’re little political projects reflecting the ideologies of their creators
Interesting fact for everyone: the War Powers Resolution (1973) accordingly places limits on the President's ability to deploy troops without Congressional authorization.
Question for #law folks: any writing you recommend on how drone/other unmanned warfare limits the War Powers Resolution?
Question for #law folks: any writing you recommend on how drone/other unmanned warfare limits the War Powers Resolution?
It bears pointing out that the power to declare war is vested solely and explicitly in Congress. (U.S. Const., art. 1, sec. 8, cl. 11) #law #constitution
June 20, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Interesting fact for everyone: the War Powers Resolution (1973) accordingly places limits on the President's ability to deploy troops without Congressional authorization.
Question for #law folks: any writing you recommend on how drone/other unmanned warfare limits the War Powers Resolution?
Question for #law folks: any writing you recommend on how drone/other unmanned warfare limits the War Powers Resolution?
It bears pointing out that the power to declare war is vested solely and explicitly in Congress. (U.S. Const., art. 1, sec. 8, cl. 11) #law #constitution
June 20, 2025 at 12:13 PM
It bears pointing out that the power to declare war is vested solely and explicitly in Congress. (U.S. Const., art. 1, sec. 8, cl. 11) #law #constitution
Been thinking about this lately: "Maybe you need to ask yourself: 'how secretly furious am I?'"
#women #womenempoweringwomen
youtu.be/TOEEHUjBwNQ?...
#women #womenempoweringwomen
youtu.be/TOEEHUjBwNQ?...
FKA Twigs & Minnie Driver read letters from the Ask Polly column about the secret fury of nice women
YouTube video by Letters Live
youtu.be
June 3, 2025 at 10:42 PM
Been thinking about this lately: "Maybe you need to ask yourself: 'how secretly furious am I?'"
#women #womenempoweringwomen
youtu.be/TOEEHUjBwNQ?...
#women #womenempoweringwomen
youtu.be/TOEEHUjBwNQ?...
Without downloading any new pics, where are you mentally?
June 1, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Without downloading any new pics, where are you mentally?
Unpopular opinion: there's something oddly calming about Bluebooking over your morning tea. This might become my version of yoga. #law #lawschool
May 27, 2025 at 11:58 AM
Unpopular opinion: there's something oddly calming about Bluebooking over your morning tea. This might become my version of yoga. #law #lawschool