Carol Ann VaughnCross, Ph.D.
@vaughncrossca.bsky.social
Social Historian, Pre-21c Tech History, American Religious History, History of SexRaceReligion in the US Bible Belt; 6th-Generation Alabamian; Anti-Trump 1989+ “All I have is a voice to undo the folded lie” - WA Auden, “Sept 1, 1939”
Reposted by Carol Ann VaughnCross, Ph.D.
As he was being arrested, Rev. Woolf asked police to loosen the restraints on his hands, as one of his hands was going numb.
According to Woolf, an officer replied to the pastor: “Nobody wants to talk to you — shut the f–k up.” religionnews.com/2025/11/15/a...
According to Woolf, an officer replied to the pastor: “Nobody wants to talk to you — shut the f–k up.” religionnews.com/2025/11/15/a...
At least seven faith leaders arrested at Broadview ICE facility protest
(RNS) — 'I've got bruises all over my body,' the Rev. Michael Woolf, who was thrown to the ground and arrested by police, told RNS.
religionnews.com
November 15, 2025 at 8:05 PM
As he was being arrested, Rev. Woolf asked police to loosen the restraints on his hands, as one of his hands was going numb.
According to Woolf, an officer replied to the pastor: “Nobody wants to talk to you — shut the f–k up.” religionnews.com/2025/11/15/a...
According to Woolf, an officer replied to the pastor: “Nobody wants to talk to you — shut the f–k up.” religionnews.com/2025/11/15/a...
Reposted by Carol Ann VaughnCross, Ph.D.
Once again, I reiterate: the Christian right has made entire political and fundraising campaigns about supposedly impending "criminalization of Christianity" by Democratically-led governments, and that they would literally be prevented from worshipping.
Correction: technically DHS called the protesters "imbecilic morons" — not just "imbeciles."
I regret this error.
I regret this error.
November 16, 2025 at 12:21 PM
Once again, I reiterate: the Christian right has made entire political and fundraising campaigns about supposedly impending "criminalization of Christianity" by Democratically-led governments, and that they would literally be prevented from worshipping.
Reposted by Carol Ann VaughnCross, Ph.D.
Charlotte NC protest against ICE at First Ward Park with more people joining every minute
November 15, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Charlotte NC protest against ICE at First Ward Park with more people joining every minute
Reposted by Carol Ann VaughnCross, Ph.D.
“I’m not quite sure what border we’re patrolling here,” one state representative said. “Are we patrolling Rock Hill or South Carolina?”
‘No transparency.’ Charlotte leaders blast secrecy around Border Patrol move into NC
“I’m not quite sure what border we’re patrolling here,” one state representative said. “Are we patrolling Rock Hill or South Carolina?”
bit.ly
November 14, 2025 at 6:40 PM
“I’m not quite sure what border we’re patrolling here,” one state representative said. “Are we patrolling Rock Hill or South Carolina?”
Reposted by Carol Ann VaughnCross, Ph.D.
A Charlotte pastor said Border Patrol came into his church and made an arrest in front of children. They cried “a lot,” he said.
“We are trying to clean the property. We didn’t know this is gonna happen.”
#borderpatrol #charlotte #nc
“We are trying to clean the property. We didn’t know this is gonna happen.”
#borderpatrol #charlotte #nc
November 15, 2025 at 9:56 PM
A Charlotte pastor said Border Patrol came into his church and made an arrest in front of children. They cried “a lot,” he said.
“We are trying to clean the property. We didn’t know this is gonna happen.”
#borderpatrol #charlotte #nc
“We are trying to clean the property. We didn’t know this is gonna happen.”
#borderpatrol #charlotte #nc
Reposted by Carol Ann VaughnCross, Ph.D.
NC Governor urges citizens to remain peaceful but vigilant as Border Patrol arrives in Charlotte ncnewsline.com/briefs/nc-go... #ncpol #Charlotte
NC Governor urges citizens to remain peaceful but vigilant as Border Patrol arrives in Charlotte • NC Newsline
The veteran Democratic congresswoman said she has heard from numerous constituents worried about how immigration enforcement will unfold in the Queen City.
ncnewsline.com
November 14, 2025 at 8:17 PM
NC Governor urges citizens to remain peaceful but vigilant as Border Patrol arrives in Charlotte ncnewsline.com/briefs/nc-go... #ncpol #Charlotte
Reposted by Carol Ann VaughnCross, Ph.D.
Trump launches a military occupation of Charlotte, NC, to punish the city for having a Democratic governor and Democratic mayor. www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
Charlotte latest Democratic-run city targeted by Trump’s anti-immigration offensive
Agents were spotted making arrests across the city as the Homeland Security announced the action
www.independent.co.uk
November 15, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Trump launches a military occupation of Charlotte, NC, to punish the city for having a Democratic governor and Democratic mayor. www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
Reposted by Carol Ann VaughnCross, Ph.D.
Political outrage over Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show selection reveals a larger pattern: culture wars now begin in the political sector, manufactured by partisans and amplified by media before the actual event even occurs, according to the author of a book on propaganda. buff.ly/oNAs4QT
Bad Bunny is the latest product of political rage — how pop culture became the front line of American politics
Culture wars once arose from impromptu events that struck a nerve among Americans, but they are now started by partisan agitators who introduce them to politicians and watch them take hold.
buff.ly
November 15, 2025 at 10:04 PM
Political outrage over Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show selection reveals a larger pattern: culture wars now begin in the political sector, manufactured by partisans and amplified by media before the actual event even occurs, according to the author of a book on propaganda. buff.ly/oNAs4QT
Reposted by Carol Ann VaughnCross, Ph.D.
Suzanne Kaye is one of several MAGA terrorists who was arrested, tied and sentenced for threatening to murder FBI agents. Now Trump has pardoned her. www.miamiherald.com/news/local/c...
Florida woman spent 18 months in prison for threatening FBI. Trump pardoned her
Boca Raton’s Suzanne Ellen Kaye, who went by “Angry Patriot Hippie” online, had said the videos that got her convicted were meant as a joke.
www.miamiherald.com
November 15, 2025 at 10:07 PM
Suzanne Kaye is one of several MAGA terrorists who was arrested, tied and sentenced for threatening to murder FBI agents. Now Trump has pardoned her. www.miamiherald.com/news/local/c...
Reposted by Carol Ann VaughnCross, Ph.D.
New Mexico introduces free child care and quickly discovers that it supercharges the economy by allowing both parents to work. www.economist.com/united-state...
One of the poorest states in America introduces free child care
Can New Mexico’s experiment work where others have failed?
www.economist.com
November 15, 2025 at 10:30 PM
New Mexico introduces free child care and quickly discovers that it supercharges the economy by allowing both parents to work. www.economist.com/united-state...
Reposted by Carol Ann VaughnCross, Ph.D.
A site affiliated with Lee Greenwood sells merchandise with the seal—such as a $20 beer pong set with “Presidential themed balls”—and pays licensing fees to a Trump LLC.
Trump-Licensed Presidential Seal Beer Pong Set Could Violate Federal Law
A site affiliated with Lee Greenwood sells merchandise with the seal—such as a $20 beer pong set with “Presidential themed balls”—and pays licensing fees to a Trump LLC.
www.forbes.com
November 15, 2025 at 3:05 PM
A site affiliated with Lee Greenwood sells merchandise with the seal—such as a $20 beer pong set with “Presidential themed balls”—and pays licensing fees to a Trump LLC.
Reposted by Carol Ann VaughnCross, Ph.D.
With @arynbraun.bsky.social, this week we ran this big look at what ICE/CBP has become under Donald Trump and how the agencies increasingly resemble a sort of national police force he can send to whatever city he likes to intimidate people:
www.economist.com/interactive/...
www.economist.com/interactive/...
See how Donald Trump is creating his own police force
Immigration agents are operating in cities with few legal constraints
www.economist.com
November 15, 2025 at 5:29 PM
With @arynbraun.bsky.social, this week we ran this big look at what ICE/CBP has become under Donald Trump and how the agencies increasingly resemble a sort of national police force he can send to whatever city he likes to intimidate people:
www.economist.com/interactive/...
www.economist.com/interactive/...
Reposted by Carol Ann VaughnCross, Ph.D.
Officers caught on camera slamming to the ground @revdrmichaelwoolf.bsky.social (American Baptist/Alliance of Baptists pastor) during vigil outside ICE facility. I reported last week about Michael & how Illinois State Police shot him with a pepper ball: publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/baptist-pa...
at one point, i watched a cook county sheriff’s officer (who appears to be in charge) point out a priest in the crowd.
he and a couple officers then went into the crowd , dragged him into the street, and arrested him.
situation is still tense as crowd jostles with police to get into the street.
he and a couple officers then went into the crowd , dragged him into the street, and arrested him.
situation is still tense as crowd jostles with police to get into the street.
November 14, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Officers caught on camera slamming to the ground @revdrmichaelwoolf.bsky.social (American Baptist/Alliance of Baptists pastor) during vigil outside ICE facility. I reported last week about Michael & how Illinois State Police shot him with a pepper ball: publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/baptist-pa...
Reposted by Carol Ann VaughnCross, Ph.D.
I wanted to share probably the most important sermon I’ve given and it’s while I’m being arrested. It’s torture pure and simple what happens at #Broadview. I’m ok, though I was thrown to the ground and choked with my pectoral cross. A review of the video shows I was peaceful - did I deserve this?
November 15, 2025 at 5:57 AM
I wanted to share probably the most important sermon I’ve given and it’s while I’m being arrested. It’s torture pure and simple what happens at #Broadview. I’m ok, though I was thrown to the ground and choked with my pectoral cross. A review of the video shows I was peaceful - did I deserve this?
Reposted by Carol Ann VaughnCross, Ph.D.
Oh wow @reuters.com got the photo here:
November 14, 2025 at 9:25 PM
Oh wow @reuters.com got the photo here:
Reposted by Carol Ann VaughnCross, Ph.D.
My takeaway from every new Epstein revelation is that some powerful people victimized many powerless young women, many more knew, some actively enabled it--and we're still being told that MeToo and accountability for sexual violence have gone too far
November 12, 2025 at 5:05 PM
My takeaway from every new Epstein revelation is that some powerful people victimized many powerless young women, many more knew, some actively enabled it--and we're still being told that MeToo and accountability for sexual violence have gone too far
Reposted by Carol Ann VaughnCross, Ph.D.
“Cuts and disruptions to federal research funding are causing many young brain scientists to reconsider their career choice….Morrison says what's at stake is the next generation of scientists who will study the circuitry underlying disorders like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and schizophrenia.”
Young brain researchers ponder other careers amid federal funding cuts
Cuts and disruptions to federal research funding are causing many young brain scientists to reconsider their career choice.
www.npr.org
November 15, 2025 at 11:37 AM
“Cuts and disruptions to federal research funding are causing many young brain scientists to reconsider their career choice….Morrison says what's at stake is the next generation of scientists who will study the circuitry underlying disorders like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and schizophrenia.”
Reposted by Carol Ann VaughnCross, Ph.D.
Just going to leave this here for those who are readers, like me.
While we can't yet say LLMs are making people dumber, we can say they appear to be limiting brain connections based on a preliminary brain scan study.
While we can't yet say LLMs are making people dumber, we can say they appear to be limiting brain connections based on a preliminary brain scan study.
Project Overview ‹ Your Brain on ChatGPT – MIT Media Lab
Check project's website: https://www.brainonllm.comWith today's wide adoption of LLM products like ChatGPT from OpenAI, humans and businesses engage and u…
www.media.mit.edu
November 15, 2025 at 9:27 AM
Just going to leave this here for those who are readers, like me.
While we can't yet say LLMs are making people dumber, we can say they appear to be limiting brain connections based on a preliminary brain scan study.
While we can't yet say LLMs are making people dumber, we can say they appear to be limiting brain connections based on a preliminary brain scan study.
Reposted by Carol Ann VaughnCross, Ph.D.
Donald Trump is clearly willing to do whatever it takes to stay in power, regardless of what the Constitution says. He “has always told us exactly who he is,” J. Michael Luttig argues. “We have just not wanted to believe him. But we must believe him now.”
President for Life
Donald Trump is trying to amass the powers of a king.
bit.ly
November 15, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Donald Trump is clearly willing to do whatever it takes to stay in power, regardless of what the Constitution says. He “has always told us exactly who he is,” J. Michael Luttig argues. “We have just not wanted to believe him. But we must believe him now.”
Reposted by Carol Ann VaughnCross, Ph.D.
Still working our way through approx. 23,000 pages of Epstein related documents released by House Oversight Cmte.
In another email.. this one from Feb. 2017.. Epstein references Trump
==>
In another email.. this one from Feb. 2017.. Epstein references Trump
==>
November 13, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Still working our way through approx. 23,000 pages of Epstein related documents released by House Oversight Cmte.
In another email.. this one from Feb. 2017.. Epstein references Trump
==>
In another email.. this one from Feb. 2017.. Epstein references Trump
==>
Reposted by Carol Ann VaughnCross, Ph.D.
🚨 New paper out in the European Journal of Social Psychology!
Across one study using aggregated nation-level data and four preregistered experiments, we examined how freedom of speech within a society influences belief in conspiracy theories.
Across one study using aggregated nation-level data and four preregistered experiments, we examined how freedom of speech within a society influences belief in conspiracy theories.
The Impact of Freedom of Speech on Conspiracy Beliefs
Conspiracy beliefs are often portrayed as a threat to democracies. However, less is known about the extent to which the state of democracy may affect conspiracy beliefs. Hence, we investigated the im...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
October 31, 2025 at 12:57 PM
🚨 New paper out in the European Journal of Social Psychology!
Across one study using aggregated nation-level data and four preregistered experiments, we examined how freedom of speech within a society influences belief in conspiracy theories.
Across one study using aggregated nation-level data and four preregistered experiments, we examined how freedom of speech within a society influences belief in conspiracy theories.
Reposted by Carol Ann VaughnCross, Ph.D.
“Weaponizing the DOJ” takes on a whole new level when you order investigations in order to reopen it so it’s no longer closed and you can claim you can’t release information because it’s an “ongoing investigation”
November 15, 2025 at 2:55 AM
“Weaponizing the DOJ” takes on a whole new level when you order investigations in order to reopen it so it’s no longer closed and you can claim you can’t release information because it’s an “ongoing investigation”
Reposted by Carol Ann VaughnCross, Ph.D.
@kawulf.bsky.social wrote this piece in April. But if you haven't read it yet, take some time to do so now: scholarlykitchen.sspnet.org/2025/04/02/t...
The Humanities as Canary: Understanding this Crisis Now - The Scholarly Kitchen
The Humanities have always been the canary in the coal mine of the full knowledge industry. What information can help us understand this crisis and its implications?
scholarlykitchen.sspnet.org
November 12, 2025 at 4:52 PM
@kawulf.bsky.social wrote this piece in April. But if you haven't read it yet, take some time to do so now: scholarlykitchen.sspnet.org/2025/04/02/t...
Reposted by Carol Ann VaughnCross, Ph.D.
Before 2018, the planet didn’t have a single trillion-dollar company—now the equivalent can be generated in three months. Gilad Edelman on what happens when numbers grow faster than our ability to comprehend them:
Something Feels Different About the Economy
Human brains were not meant to think about trillions of dollars.
bit.ly
November 15, 2025 at 11:15 AM
Before 2018, the planet didn’t have a single trillion-dollar company—now the equivalent can be generated in three months. Gilad Edelman on what happens when numbers grow faster than our ability to comprehend them:
Reposted by Carol Ann VaughnCross, Ph.D.
JUST PUBLISHED! In our latest article we examine the 17th century craze for writing and reading letters, and how this became a major feature in Dutch art, featuring in masterful paintings by artists such as Gabriel Metsu and Jan Vermeer www.artinsociety.com/gabriel-mets...
November 10, 2025 at 7:08 AM
JUST PUBLISHED! In our latest article we examine the 17th century craze for writing and reading letters, and how this became a major feature in Dutch art, featuring in masterful paintings by artists such as Gabriel Metsu and Jan Vermeer www.artinsociety.com/gabriel-mets...