Avi Rappoport
@avirr.bsky.social
Trying to be more curious.
It’s hard to post anything but politics as our nation implodes. But the Medievalsky community is delightful.
FYI: I rarely follow additional accounts that post really often. It’s not you, it’s me.
It’s hard to post anything but politics as our nation implodes. But the Medievalsky community is delightful.
FYI: I rarely follow additional accounts that post really often. It’s not you, it’s me.
Reposted by Avi Rappoport
Do enough litigation and you realize that most people are positively moronic about what they put in their emails.
of all the atrocities these emails likely allude to, it's still amazing that 'elites' write awful things *in emails*. so above the law, so convinced of their rectitude, so conditioned to impunity.
November 12, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Do enough litigation and you realize that most people are positively moronic about what they put in their emails.
Reposted by Avi Rappoport
While I get this person means that Republicans are attempting to usher in a very bad, unequal form of government, I literally have no idea why this could be read a "feudal" or what people think "feudal" means at this point. (This is quite aside from the fact that feudalism never existed ofc.)
November 12, 2025 at 5:35 PM
While I get this person means that Republicans are attempting to usher in a very bad, unequal form of government, I literally have no idea why this could be read a "feudal" or what people think "feudal" means at this point. (This is quite aside from the fact that feudalism never existed ofc.)
Reposted by Avi Rappoport
Another species no longer on the global Endangered list:
Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae).
A few decades after a Star Trek movie where the central conflict was the total extinction of the humpback, their numbers are rising fast enough to put them at "Least Concern" on the IUCN Red List.
Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae).
A few decades after a Star Trek movie where the central conflict was the total extinction of the humpback, their numbers are rising fast enough to put them at "Least Concern" on the IUCN Red List.
a man with a mustache says there be whales here in a dark room
Alt: Scotty from Star Trek Original Series (played by Jimmy Doohan) says there be whales here in a Klingon vessel's cargo hold.
media.tenor.com
November 9, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Another species no longer on the global Endangered list:
Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae).
A few decades after a Star Trek movie where the central conflict was the total extinction of the humpback, their numbers are rising fast enough to put them at "Least Concern" on the IUCN Red List.
Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae).
A few decades after a Star Trek movie where the central conflict was the total extinction of the humpback, their numbers are rising fast enough to put them at "Least Concern" on the IUCN Red List.
Reposted by Avi Rappoport
White Afrikaners looking at Trump and saying “don’t associate us with this racist!”
That’s quite a legacy.
That’s quite a legacy.
Prominent Afrikaners are pushing back after President Trump announced no U.S. officials will attend the G20 in Johannesburg, rejecting his claims of "white persecution" in South Africa as false and politically driven.
Prominent Afrikaners refuse to be 'pawns,' and hit back at Trump's claims about South Africa
Prominent Afrikaners are pushing back after President Trump announced no U.S. officials will attend the G20 in Johannesburg, rejecting his claims of "white persecution" in South Africa as false and politically driven.
n.pr
November 11, 2025 at 2:13 AM
White Afrikaners looking at Trump and saying “don’t associate us with this racist!”
That’s quite a legacy.
That’s quite a legacy.
Reposted by Avi Rappoport
Important to be clear here that the proposed homes wouldn't mean demolishing the 18th century garden - it's just that they might possibly be visible from it. What appallingly selfish behaviour.
November 10, 2025 at 10:10 PM
Important to be clear here that the proposed homes wouldn't mean demolishing the 18th century garden - it's just that they might possibly be visible from it. What appallingly selfish behaviour.
Ah, the Turning Point tour is at UC Berkeley, hence the circling helicopters.
November 11, 2025 at 12:56 AM
Ah, the Turning Point tour is at UC Berkeley, hence the circling helicopters.
Reposted by Avi Rappoport
“Rather than taking over the Democratic Party the same way the right took over the Republican Party, we should take the easier route and just start up a new party ourselves!”
I’m about to fill my pockets with stones and walk into the sea.
I’m about to fill my pockets with stones and walk into the sea.
November 10, 2025 at 8:29 PM
“Rather than taking over the Democratic Party the same way the right took over the Republican Party, we should take the easier route and just start up a new party ourselves!”
I’m about to fill my pockets with stones and walk into the sea.
I’m about to fill my pockets with stones and walk into the sea.
Reposted by Avi Rappoport
Funny, but also rage-making that women keep having to be funny about this take. www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
November 10, 2025 at 9:24 PM
Funny, but also rage-making that women keep having to be funny about this take. www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
Reposted by Avi Rappoport
All I’ll say is that if you think i don’t have rage enough to blame both republicans AND democrats appropriately according to their real albeit asymmetrical desserts you underestimate my capabilities
November 10, 2025 at 3:58 AM
All I’ll say is that if you think i don’t have rage enough to blame both republicans AND democrats appropriately according to their real albeit asymmetrical desserts you underestimate my capabilities
Reposted by Avi Rappoport
To repeat: I have studied a lot of cases of autocratization over the past 15 years. Wrote about them, taught about them, consulting about them.
I do not recall an opposition so apathetic, ignorant, and inept as the @democrats.org. They cling to their power, rather than fight for democracy. Shame.
I do not recall an opposition so apathetic, ignorant, and inept as the @democrats.org. They cling to their power, rather than fight for democracy. Shame.
March 13, 2025 at 11:22 PM
To repeat: I have studied a lot of cases of autocratization over the past 15 years. Wrote about them, taught about them, consulting about them.
I do not recall an opposition so apathetic, ignorant, and inept as the @democrats.org. They cling to their power, rather than fight for democracy. Shame.
I do not recall an opposition so apathetic, ignorant, and inept as the @democrats.org. They cling to their power, rather than fight for democracy. Shame.
Reposted by Avi Rappoport
This is the correct explanation of what happened tonight👇
KBJ threaded the needle thanks to CA1’s unfinished business.
-if she denied the admin stay, the full SCOTUS woulda stepped in to override her.
-if she immediately referred the case to the full Court, they coulda dragged feet.
-instead she boxed them in to act quickly once she does refer the case.
-if she denied the admin stay, the full SCOTUS woulda stepped in to override her.
-if she immediately referred the case to the full Court, they coulda dragged feet.
-instead she boxed them in to act quickly once she does refer the case.
November 8, 2025 at 3:35 AM
This is the correct explanation of what happened tonight👇
Reposted by Avi Rappoport
I made a “how do you do, fellow kids?” joke to someone in their mid 20s who, it turns out, was too young to have heard of that meme.
So “how do you do, fellow kids?” is now an example of “how do you do, fellow kids?”
So “how do you do, fellow kids?” is now an example of “how do you do, fellow kids?”
November 7, 2025 at 5:28 PM
I made a “how do you do, fellow kids?” joke to someone in their mid 20s who, it turns out, was too young to have heard of that meme.
So “how do you do, fellow kids?” is now an example of “how do you do, fellow kids?”
So “how do you do, fellow kids?” is now an example of “how do you do, fellow kids?”
Reposted by Avi Rappoport
Are we invading Poland
November 7, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Are we invading Poland
Reposted by Avi Rappoport
One analytical model shows that, as of November 5th, the dismantling of U.S.A.I.D. has already caused the deaths of 600,000 people, two-thirds of them children. https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/jUzNSc
The Shutdown of U.S.A.I.D. Has Already Killed Hundreds of Thousands
The short documentary “Rovina’s Choice” tells the story of what goes when aid goes.
newyorkermag.visitlink.me
November 6, 2025 at 9:00 PM
One analytical model shows that, as of November 5th, the dismantling of U.S.A.I.D. has already caused the deaths of 600,000 people, two-thirds of them children. https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/jUzNSc
Reposted by Avi Rappoport
"Images of manuscripts...help document the provenance of items that are taken from their rightful owners during war or under other circumstances. The images are evidence of histories, invaluable in situations where legally uncontestable ownership records do not exist..." hmml.org/stories/reve...
Reversal of Fates: Access Through Photographs can be a Counterbalance
“Cultural losses continue to beset communities around the world, especially in areas subject to armed conflict...”
hmml.org
November 6, 2025 at 11:56 PM
"Images of manuscripts...help document the provenance of items that are taken from their rightful owners during war or under other circumstances. The images are evidence of histories, invaluable in situations where legally uncontestable ownership records do not exist..." hmml.org/stories/reve...
Reposted by Avi Rappoport
Incredibly classy move from a WIRED reporter who’s just been fired (for what seems like protected union activity) – completely commendable way to look out for your colleagues and their work.
Feels like the kind of person any newsroom would be lucky to have, tbh.
Feels like the kind of person any newsroom would be lucky to have, tbh.
As my general two cents: don't cancel your WIRED subscriptions.
Best culture, best newsroom of anywhere I've worked. I love the living shit out of these folks, and they don't deserve to be negatively impacted by a decision that was made by the parent company, not them. And it's only $2 a month.
Best culture, best newsroom of anywhere I've worked. I love the living shit out of these folks, and they don't deserve to be negatively impacted by a decision that was made by the parent company, not them. And it's only $2 a month.
November 6, 2025 at 7:22 PM
Incredibly classy move from a WIRED reporter who’s just been fired (for what seems like protected union activity) – completely commendable way to look out for your colleagues and their work.
Feels like the kind of person any newsroom would be lucky to have, tbh.
Feels like the kind of person any newsroom would be lucky to have, tbh.
Reposted by Avi Rappoport
A List of Things Said to Have Been Ruined by Women
🧵
🧵
November 6, 2025 at 8:43 PM
A List of Things Said to Have Been Ruined by Women
🧵
🧵
Reposted by Avi Rappoport
What I most love about people who think hierarchy in tribes results in harmonious living together is the entire ignoring of religious schism history. People leave when they think their differences are significant, they don’t stay and support the leader just to maintain the peace. They leave.
THIS IS WHY WE ALL HATE EVOPSYCH. Can we please fucking discredit this pseudo-naturalist bullshit at last?
November 6, 2025 at 3:55 PM
What I most love about people who think hierarchy in tribes results in harmonious living together is the entire ignoring of religious schism history. People leave when they think their differences are significant, they don’t stay and support the leader just to maintain the peace. They leave.
Reposted by Avi Rappoport
this is traditionally the day when I discuss how close we are, and we KNOW that we are, to the entire of Palace of Westminster just spontaneously going up in flames
again
again
November 5, 2025 at 7:04 PM
this is traditionally the day when I discuss how close we are, and we KNOW that we are, to the entire of Palace of Westminster just spontaneously going up in flames
again
again
Reposted by Avi Rappoport
Direct File had tremendous potential to make tax filing less expensive, faster, and easier for millions of Americans.
What stands in the way is a tax prep industry that makes billions from being the middleman between you and filing your taxes.
What stands in the way is a tax prep industry that makes billions from being the middleman between you and filing your taxes.
👀 Scoop: IRS Direct File, the free government-backed program that let you file your taxes for free, is dead.
IRS wrote to state tax agencies saying it would not be operational this coming tax season, per records I've obtained.
IRS Direct File: 2023-2025.
(Story from when the pilot launched.)
IRS wrote to state tax agencies saying it would not be operational this coming tax season, per records I've obtained.
IRS Direct File: 2023-2025.
(Story from when the pilot launched.)
IRS tests free e-filing system that could compete with tax-prep giants
The tax agency has quietly built its own prototype system for filing tax returns digitally and free of charge, according to current and former officials.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 5, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Direct File had tremendous potential to make tax filing less expensive, faster, and easier for millions of Americans.
What stands in the way is a tax prep industry that makes billions from being the middleman between you and filing your taxes.
What stands in the way is a tax prep industry that makes billions from being the middleman between you and filing your taxes.
Reposted by Avi Rappoport
Academics in Assyria in the 7th c BC complain that admin is preventing them from doing research and teaching
November 3, 2025 at 10:04 AM
Academics in Assyria in the 7th c BC complain that admin is preventing them from doing research and teaching
Reposted by Avi Rappoport
WHY WILL NO ONE TELL HIM THIS IS NOT WHAT ASYLUM MEANS?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!?!
O'DONNELL: Are we going to war against Venezuela?
TRUMP: I doubt it. They emptied their mental institutions and insane asylums into the United States of America
TRUMP: I doubt it. They emptied their mental institutions and insane asylums into the United States of America
November 3, 2025 at 3:40 PM
WHY WILL NO ONE TELL HIM THIS IS NOT WHAT ASYLUM MEANS?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!?!
Reposted by Avi Rappoport
“I’m a law-abiding citizen who never thought I’d be of such interest that the U.S. government would use my tax dollars & yours to try to send me to prison…[after being] manhandled by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent trying to remove my phone from my hand.”
www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnb...
www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnb...
Opinion | A jury of my peers agreed that the feds wrongly charged me for watching ICE
I believe that filming what federal agents were doing that day counted as basic human decency.
www.msnbc.com
November 2, 2025 at 4:45 PM
“I’m a law-abiding citizen who never thought I’d be of such interest that the U.S. government would use my tax dollars & yours to try to send me to prison…[after being] manhandled by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent trying to remove my phone from my hand.”
www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnb...
www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnb...
Reposted by Avi Rappoport
All that room in the headline and the post to tell us who shot him and yet...
US citizen shot from behind as he warned ICE agents children would be coming to get bus, lawyers say
U.S. citizen shot from behind as he warned ICE agents about children gathering at bus stop, lawyers say
Lawyers for Carlos Jimenez said he was in fear after an agent threatened him with chemical spray, then pointed a gun at him.
www.latimes.com
November 2, 2025 at 11:40 PM
All that room in the headline and the post to tell us who shot him and yet...
Reposted by Avi Rappoport
Eminently reasonable proposed principles for professors’ use of AI, from a student refusinggenai.wordpress.com/2025/08/29/a...
October 31, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Eminently reasonable proposed principles for professors’ use of AI, from a student refusinggenai.wordpress.com/2025/08/29/a...