Ben Alpers
@benalpers.bsky.social
Professor of US History. Author of HAPPY DAYS: IMAGES OF THE PRE-SIXTIES PAST IN SEVENTIES AMERICA (Rutgers University Press, 2024). Opinions are entirely my own. He/him.
So very this.
My hot take is that I don't give a fuck if someone without disabilities gets an accommodation. They get a slightly better grade on a test? Tests are just part of a grade or portfolio and also, who FUCKING CARES. I care that a disabled person isn't *penalized* for needing more time.
Balancing "no person with a disability should be denied accommodations" with "it's important to discourage non-disabled people from pretending to be disabled to take advantage of these accommodations" is really difficult and I don't have a great answer for what anyone should do about it.
December 3, 2025 at 4:03 PM
So very this.
Game recognize game.
Trump said he is offering a "full and unconditional PARDON" to a Democratic Rep. and his wife who were indicted for bribery and money laundering
Trump Says He's Pardoning Henry Cuellar
www.huffpost.com
December 3, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Game recognize game.
Currently working the Not Arguing Online With Fellow Opponents of Fascism Who Happen To Be Very Wrong About Some Political Things on The Internet Popular Front Challenge.
December 3, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Currently working the Not Arguing Online With Fellow Opponents of Fascism Who Happen To Be Very Wrong About Some Political Things on The Internet Popular Front Challenge.
💯
December 3, 2025 at 3:31 PM
💯
Not sure what "progressive centrist"
means, but the only non-fascist I know who thinks Trump provides a model of getting things done is a proud centrist who thinks that left and right are equally at fault for failing to embrace the entirely obvious (to him) technocratic solutions to our problems.
means, but the only non-fascist I know who thinks Trump provides a model of getting things done is a proud centrist who thinks that left and right are equally at fault for failing to embrace the entirely obvious (to him) technocratic solutions to our problems.
There is such a thirst in some progressive centrist circles that they will look at the Trump administration as a model to get things done. I think its worth addressing the argument. This is from Mark Dunkelman, author of the widely praised "Why Nothing Works."
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/03/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/03/o...
Opinion | What the Left Could Learn From Trump’s Brutal Efficiency
www.nytimes.com
December 3, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Not sure what "progressive centrist"
means, but the only non-fascist I know who thinks Trump provides a model of getting things done is a proud centrist who thinks that left and right are equally at fault for failing to embrace the entirely obvious (to him) technocratic solutions to our problems.
means, but the only non-fascist I know who thinks Trump provides a model of getting things done is a proud centrist who thinks that left and right are equally at fault for failing to embrace the entirely obvious (to him) technocratic solutions to our problems.
This is pretty much the right response to Yglesias on anything...unless one prefers simply ignoring him.
okay matt
December 3, 2025 at 2:06 PM
This is pretty much the right response to Yglesias on anything...unless one prefers simply ignoring him.
Reposted by Ben Alpers
For my newsletter, I wrote about that college essay scandal that's gone viral and what everyone is seeming to miss:
It's about ATTACKING TRANS PEOPLE!!!
www.burnsnotice.com/that-viral-e...
It's about ATTACKING TRANS PEOPLE!!!
www.burnsnotice.com/that-viral-e...
That Viral Essay Scandal is (SURPRISE!) Actually About Trans People
A shoddy Oklahoma University essay went viral. Cis people think this is about conservatives whining for better grades. Trans people see a planned attack on a trans academic.
(Note for free subscriber...
www.burnsnotice.com
December 1, 2025 at 3:18 PM
For my newsletter, I wrote about that college essay scandal that's gone viral and what everyone is seeming to miss:
It's about ATTACKING TRANS PEOPLE!!!
www.burnsnotice.com/that-viral-e...
It's about ATTACKING TRANS PEOPLE!!!
www.burnsnotice.com/that-viral-e...
Reposted by Ben Alpers
it is the worst of all worlds. a "unitary *presidency*" insulated from judicial or congressional power and a weak president unable to do the job of governing
December 1, 2025 at 5:36 PM
it is the worst of all worlds. a "unitary *presidency*" insulated from judicial or congressional power and a weak president unable to do the job of governing
Reposted by Ben Alpers
No value, no villain, no vision. Sounds like the tagline for the earnings call of a collapsing appliance retailer
November 30, 2025 at 1:20 PM
No value, no villain, no vision. Sounds like the tagline for the earnings call of a collapsing appliance retailer
Reposted by Ben Alpers
yeah AI Ben Garrison is incredible
November 30, 2025 at 5:17 PM
yeah AI Ben Garrison is incredible
Reposted by Ben Alpers
someone attended the Bari Weiss School of Having Principles
November 29, 2025 at 2:45 PM
someone attended the Bari Weiss School of Having Principles
Reposted by Ben Alpers
A game where you can do anything and they’re mad that people are doing anything.
November 30, 2025 at 8:32 AM
A game where you can do anything and they’re mad that people are doing anything.
"In conclusion, the Trump White House is a land of contrasts."
November 30, 2025 at 3:11 AM
"In conclusion, the Trump White House is a land of contrasts."
I Was Involved in a Hot Air Balloon Accident...and Now I'm Being Stalked!
On the other hand I think it would be very funny to retitle literary fiction light novel style. “Oh No! This Author Stand-In is Unhappily Married”
This attitude is how you end up with light novel titles.
November 30, 2025 at 1:25 AM
I Was Involved in a Hot Air Balloon Accident...and Now I'm Being Stalked!
Reposted by Ben Alpers
Former US military lawyers speak out:
"The Former JAGs Working Group unanimously considers both the giving and the execution of these orders, if true, to constitute war crimes, murder, or both."
Statement on Media Reports of Pentagon “No Quarter” Orders in Caribbean Boat Strikes
1/2
"The Former JAGs Working Group unanimously considers both the giving and the execution of these orders, if true, to constitute war crimes, murder, or both."
Statement on Media Reports of Pentagon “No Quarter” Orders in Caribbean Boat Strikes
1/2
November 29, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Former US military lawyers speak out:
"The Former JAGs Working Group unanimously considers both the giving and the execution of these orders, if true, to constitute war crimes, murder, or both."
Statement on Media Reports of Pentagon “No Quarter” Orders in Caribbean Boat Strikes
1/2
"The Former JAGs Working Group unanimously considers both the giving and the execution of these orders, if true, to constitute war crimes, murder, or both."
Statement on Media Reports of Pentagon “No Quarter” Orders in Caribbean Boat Strikes
1/2
VALERIE AND HER WEEK OF WONDERS
November 29, 2025 at 10:46 PM
VALERIE AND HER WEEK OF WONDERS
Yup.
Yeah. Before the fall, CK's act—and his fandom—rested on the premise that his worst self wasn't his true self. Now it's the opposite, and that's just not interesting as comedy.
He is just generally an alt-right, unrepentantly racist and transphobic piece of shit. He is also a genuinely bad comedian, much in the way that thin-skinned assholes often are 🤷♀️
www.gq.com/story/louis-...
www.gq.com/story/louis-...
November 29, 2025 at 10:28 PM
Yup.
Reposted by Ben Alpers
People will die, and are currently dying, because RFK was granted one of the most powerful megaphones in the country. Two people who could have thrown barriers in front of his climb decided not to; there's a sex scandal here but it is not the biggest scandal.
November 26, 2025 at 11:30 PM
People will die, and are currently dying, because RFK was granted one of the most powerful megaphones in the country. Two people who could have thrown barriers in front of his climb decided not to; there's a sex scandal here but it is not the biggest scandal.
Reposted by Ben Alpers
Northwestern bent the knee, choosing to give in to extortion at the expense of academic freedom.
Among the provisions:
-Pay a big bribe
-Give the govt data on students
-Validate BS about "fighting antisemitism"
-Be cruel to trans students
What to do about Vichy universities (now, later, or both)?
Among the provisions:
-Pay a big bribe
-Give the govt data on students
-Validate BS about "fighting antisemitism"
-Be cruel to trans students
What to do about Vichy universities (now, later, or both)?
BREAKING: Northwestern University has agreed to pay the U.S. Treasury $75 million, over the course of three years as part of an agreement with the federal government to restore funding and end investigations into the university
Full statement from NU below:
Full statement from NU below:
November 29, 2025 at 2:25 AM
Northwestern bent the knee, choosing to give in to extortion at the expense of academic freedom.
Among the provisions:
-Pay a big bribe
-Give the govt data on students
-Validate BS about "fighting antisemitism"
-Be cruel to trans students
What to do about Vichy universities (now, later, or both)?
Among the provisions:
-Pay a big bribe
-Give the govt data on students
-Validate BS about "fighting antisemitism"
-Be cruel to trans students
What to do about Vichy universities (now, later, or both)?
Reposted by Ben Alpers
Weather it’s Joe Biden pardoning kids who were caught with a couple ounces of weed or Donald Trump pardoning the Honduran president who smuggled in 400 tons of cocaine, both presidents were soft on drugs.
November 29, 2025 at 2:19 AM
Weather it’s Joe Biden pardoning kids who were caught with a couple ounces of weed or Donald Trump pardoning the Honduran president who smuggled in 400 tons of cocaine, both presidents were soft on drugs.
Reposted by Ben Alpers
The way you defeat them is to STOP BEING A STUPID SUCKER, and understand that they will NEVER admit to what they're doing, because THEY ARE LYING TO TROLL YOU. At some point you have to accept the evidence of your eyes and ears and not play the "some allege, but others disagree" game.
November 29, 2025 at 5:29 PM
The way you defeat them is to STOP BEING A STUPID SUCKER, and understand that they will NEVER admit to what they're doing, because THEY ARE LYING TO TROLL YOU. At some point you have to accept the evidence of your eyes and ears and not play the "some allege, but others disagree" game.
Reposted by Ben Alpers
Every single congressional Democrat needs to be out there, right now, insisting that Pete Hegseth resign right now and announcing that he will be held accountable for committing war crimes.
If you do not demand accountability here and now, they will only become more emboldened.
If you do not demand accountability here and now, they will only become more emboldened.
Exclusive: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gave an order to “kill everybody” in the first strike on suspected drug boats in the Caribbean. After two men survived, the mission commander ordered a second strike to comply with Hegseth’s instructions, according to two sources.
Hegseth order on first Caribbean boat strike, officials say: Kill them all
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a verbal order to kill all crew members in the Sept. 2 strike on a suspected drug boat. Navy SEALs fired a second missile.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 28, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Every single congressional Democrat needs to be out there, right now, insisting that Pete Hegseth resign right now and announcing that he will be held accountable for committing war crimes.
If you do not demand accountability here and now, they will only become more emboldened.
If you do not demand accountability here and now, they will only become more emboldened.
Reposted by Ben Alpers
America has gone full Nazi and it’s time to call out those accountable: Democrats not getting on board purging around a dozen trans athletes from the NCAA
—Tomorrow in The NY Times from some tedious twat
—Tomorrow in The NY Times from some tedious twat
November 28, 2025 at 6:54 PM
America has gone full Nazi and it’s time to call out those accountable: Democrats not getting on board purging around a dozen trans athletes from the NCAA
—Tomorrow in The NY Times from some tedious twat
—Tomorrow in The NY Times from some tedious twat