Bench Ansfield
@benchansfield.bsky.social
asst prof of history at temple // they/them
BORN IN FLAMES: The Business of Arson and the Remaking of the American City (W.W. Norton, August 19)
https://wwnorton.com/books/9781324093510
BORN IN FLAMES: The Business of Arson and the Remaking of the American City (W.W. Norton, August 19)
https://wwnorton.com/books/9781324093510
Pinned
I'm certain this is a mistake but my book is somehow on Barnes & Noble's list of "Most Anticipated Nonfiction of 2025" (link below).
BORN IN FLAMES: The Business of Arson and the Remaking of the American City is out Aug 19th from
@wwnorton.bsky.social
BORN IN FLAMES: The Business of Arson and the Remaking of the American City is out Aug 19th from
@wwnorton.bsky.social
Reposted by Bench Ansfield
On the hit podcast @deathpanel.bsky.social, @benchansfield.bsky.social discusses their new book, *Born in Flames: The Business of Arson and the Remaking of the American City.*
Born in Flames w/ Bench Ansfield (11/03/25) | The Death Panel
Get more from The Death Panel on Patreon
www.patreon.com
November 7, 2025 at 4:49 PM
On the hit podcast @deathpanel.bsky.social, @benchansfield.bsky.social discusses their new book, *Born in Flames: The Business of Arson and the Remaking of the American City.*
Reposted by Bench Ansfield
bro are you fucking kidding me
![quote from the Economist article which says "[study authors] are now looking at whether AI facial analysis can give lenders useful clues about a person’s propensity to repay loans. For people without access to credit, that could be a blessing."](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:6ofjbklfvptnupad4lxumblw/bafkreia3yctiqd7ejumpd6novxjpiycphtfkc3bdgd573jw37faqdl7o7m@jpeg)
November 6, 2025 at 5:59 PM
bro are you fucking kidding me
Reposted by Bench Ansfield
Truly an honor to have a chance to finally talk about @benchansfield.bsky.social’s pathbreaking book together & think deeply about the ways that the institution of insurance (doesn’t just reflect but) actually upholds and reproduces the popular imaginary of racial capitalism as common sense
I got to talk with two of the smartest people I know -- @reallandsend.bsky.social and @city.bsky.social -- about BORN IN FLAMES. Check out the latest @deathpanel.bsky.social here
In our latest, we speak with @benchansfield.bsky.social about “riot prone areas,” moral hazard, how landlords burned the Bronx in the 1970s, and their new book Born in Flames: The Business of Arson and the Remaking of the American City
www.patreon.com/posts/142681697
www.patreon.com/posts/142681697
November 6, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Truly an honor to have a chance to finally talk about @benchansfield.bsky.social’s pathbreaking book together & think deeply about the ways that the institution of insurance (doesn’t just reflect but) actually upholds and reproduces the popular imaginary of racial capitalism as common sense
Reposted by Bench Ansfield
Zohran was polling at six percent in January. Nothing is impossible
November 5, 2025 at 2:34 AM
Zohran was polling at six percent in January. Nothing is impossible
I got to talk with two of the smartest people I know -- @reallandsend.bsky.social and @city.bsky.social -- about BORN IN FLAMES. Check out the latest @deathpanel.bsky.social here
In our latest, we speak with @benchansfield.bsky.social about “riot prone areas,” moral hazard, how landlords burned the Bronx in the 1970s, and their new book Born in Flames: The Business of Arson and the Remaking of the American City
www.patreon.com/posts/142681697
www.patreon.com/posts/142681697
Born in Flames w/ Bench Ansfield (11/03/25) | The Death Panel
Get more from The Death Panel on Patreon
www.patreon.com
November 3, 2025 at 4:06 PM
I got to talk with two of the smartest people I know -- @reallandsend.bsky.social and @city.bsky.social -- about BORN IN FLAMES. Check out the latest @deathpanel.bsky.social here
Reposted by Bench Ansfield
Reposted by Bench Ansfield
In our latest, we speak with @benchansfield.bsky.social about “riot prone areas,” moral hazard, how landlords burned the Bronx in the 1970s, and their new book Born in Flames: The Business of Arson and the Remaking of the American City
www.patreon.com/posts/142681697
www.patreon.com/posts/142681697
Born in Flames w/ Bench Ansfield (11/03/25) | The Death Panel
Get more from The Death Panel on Patreon
www.patreon.com
November 3, 2025 at 2:55 PM
In our latest, we speak with @benchansfield.bsky.social about “riot prone areas,” moral hazard, how landlords burned the Bronx in the 1970s, and their new book Born in Flames: The Business of Arson and the Remaking of the American City
www.patreon.com/posts/142681697
www.patreon.com/posts/142681697
Reposted by Bench Ansfield
I have been charged in a federal indictment sought by the Department of Justice.
This political prosecution is an attack on all of our First Amendment rights. I’m not backing down, and we’re going to win.
This political prosecution is an attack on all of our First Amendment rights. I’m not backing down, and we’re going to win.
October 29, 2025 at 4:55 PM
I have been charged in a federal indictment sought by the Department of Justice.
This political prosecution is an attack on all of our First Amendment rights. I’m not backing down, and we’re going to win.
This political prosecution is an attack on all of our First Amendment rights. I’m not backing down, and we’re going to win.
New Haven & CT folks: Elizabeth Hinton & I will be talking about BORN IN FLAMES at Possible Futures Books on 11/7. Plz come out!
@elizabethkai.bsky.social
@elizabethkai.bsky.social
October 27, 2025 at 3:02 PM
New Haven & CT folks: Elizabeth Hinton & I will be talking about BORN IN FLAMES at Possible Futures Books on 11/7. Plz come out!
@elizabethkai.bsky.social
@elizabethkai.bsky.social
Found the future of the field in my mailbox. Huge congrats @danielle-wiggins.bsky.social @m-r-glass.bsky.social @randolphjustin.bsky.social ! ! !
October 23, 2025 at 9:51 PM
Found the future of the field in my mailbox. Huge congrats @danielle-wiggins.bsky.social @m-r-glass.bsky.social @randolphjustin.bsky.social ! ! !
Reposted by Bench Ansfield
It’s hard to convey just how much Chicagoans are mobilizing against ICE. Don’t want to downplay the harm, or make it seem like a fair fight. But in neighborhoods across this city, ICE is getting chased by people blowing whistles and shouting. People are running TOWARD ICE to protect their neighbors.
October 22, 2025 at 12:12 PM
It’s hard to convey just how much Chicagoans are mobilizing against ICE. Don’t want to downplay the harm, or make it seem like a fair fight. But in neighborhoods across this city, ICE is getting chased by people blowing whistles and shouting. People are running TOWARD ICE to protect their neighbors.
Reposted by Bench Ansfield
My friend told me that her 14 year old son started doing laundry on Sundays for some of his elderly neighbors. He doesn't charge for the labor. And now he is the most popular person in the building and has non stop pies, cookies, and cake. The 14 year old should be our model of modern masculinity.
October 23, 2025 at 2:27 AM
My friend told me that her 14 year old son started doing laundry on Sundays for some of his elderly neighbors. He doesn't charge for the labor. And now he is the most popular person in the building and has non stop pies, cookies, and cake. The 14 year old should be our model of modern masculinity.
Reposted by Bench Ansfield
I want more people to care that SNAP benefits are being cut off on November 1. 40% of SNAP beneficiaries are children. This is callous and vile.
October 22, 2025 at 12:33 AM
I want more people to care that SNAP benefits are being cut off on November 1. 40% of SNAP beneficiaries are children. This is callous and vile.
Join @ceaweaver.bsky.social, Sarah Seidman, and me for a wide-ranging discussion about the fight for housing justice from the '70s to today. This Saturday @museumofcityny.bsky.social 2:30.
Come thru right after the #nokings protest!
DISCOUNT CODE: Students can use code BX10 for 50% off their order
Come thru right after the #nokings protest!
DISCOUNT CODE: Students can use code BX10 for 50% off their order
October 15, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Join @ceaweaver.bsky.social, Sarah Seidman, and me for a wide-ranging discussion about the fight for housing justice from the '70s to today. This Saturday @museumofcityny.bsky.social 2:30.
Come thru right after the #nokings protest!
DISCOUNT CODE: Students can use code BX10 for 50% off their order
Come thru right after the #nokings protest!
DISCOUNT CODE: Students can use code BX10 for 50% off their order
Reposted by Bench Ansfield
The Regime's goal is to grind everyone down. Plain & simple. Our goal is to refuse this by taking turns to fight where and how we can. When one group needs to bow out, then another group needs to step in and so on. We don't all have to do everything. We can all do something though. Stay in the fight
October 14, 2025 at 3:28 AM
The Regime's goal is to grind everyone down. Plain & simple. Our goal is to refuse this by taking turns to fight where and how we can. When one group needs to bow out, then another group needs to step in and so on. We don't all have to do everything. We can all do something though. Stay in the fight
Reposted by Bench Ansfield
CHICAGO: REBUILD is providing therapy to folks detained by ICE. Please feel free to let people know.
findmeatherapist.org
findmeatherapist.org
Find Me A Therapist
findmeatherapist.org
October 11, 2025 at 12:28 AM
CHICAGO: REBUILD is providing therapy to folks detained by ICE. Please feel free to let people know.
findmeatherapist.org
findmeatherapist.org
Reposted by Bench Ansfield
“Someone” cancelled my family’s flight out of the country at the last second.
We got our boarding passes. We checked our bags. Went through security. Then at our gate our reservation ‘disappeared.’
We got our boarding passes. We checked our bags. Went through security. Then at our gate our reservation ‘disappeared.’
October 8, 2025 at 11:57 PM
“Someone” cancelled my family’s flight out of the country at the last second.
We got our boarding passes. We checked our bags. Went through security. Then at our gate our reservation ‘disappeared.’
We got our boarding passes. We checked our bags. Went through security. Then at our gate our reservation ‘disappeared.’
Reposted by Bench Ansfield
For the evening crowd:
Conservatives have dreamed of taking control of CBS News for the better part of 80 years. They've finally done it.
My latest for Time's Made By History series:
time.com/7318570/cbs-...
My latest for Time's Made By History series:
time.com/7318570/cbs-...
CBS Has Been in Conservative Sights for Decades
It was once deemed the "Communist Broadcasting System" by conservative activists.
time.com
October 8, 2025 at 11:20 PM
For the evening crowd:
NYC come thru!! I'll be doing two BORN IN FLAMES launch events next week 10/16 and 10/18. Plz spread the word!
(links to follow)
(links to follow)
October 8, 2025 at 8:36 PM
NYC come thru!! I'll be doing two BORN IN FLAMES launch events next week 10/16 and 10/18. Plz spread the word!
(links to follow)
(links to follow)
Reposted by Bench Ansfield
It really doesn't make much sense to talk about right-wing media as distinct from legacy or mainstream media at this point.
October 7, 2025 at 2:44 AM
It really doesn't make much sense to talk about right-wing media as distinct from legacy or mainstream media at this point.
Reposted by Bench Ansfield
This video of Chicagoans intervening to save a man from being abducted off the streets by ICE is making the rounds on Instagram.
Community action works.
Source: www.instagram.com/reel/DPZL2AL...
Community action works.
Source: www.instagram.com/reel/DPZL2AL...
October 5, 2025 at 5:24 PM
This video of Chicagoans intervening to save a man from being abducted off the streets by ICE is making the rounds on Instagram.
Community action works.
Source: www.instagram.com/reel/DPZL2AL...
Community action works.
Source: www.instagram.com/reel/DPZL2AL...
After the Palisades & Eaton fires, insurers leaned on a program designed to respond to the '60s uprisings. The climate crisis is being hedged with the same faulty tools created for the urban crisis. I wrote about that inheritance for @zocalopublicsquare.bsky.social and @sfchronicle.com
October 3, 2025 at 2:36 PM
After the Palisades & Eaton fires, insurers leaned on a program designed to respond to the '60s uprisings. The climate crisis is being hedged with the same faulty tools created for the urban crisis. I wrote about that inheritance for @zocalopublicsquare.bsky.social and @sfchronicle.com
Reposted by Bench Ansfield
By leaning on insurance-based solutions to deep-seated societal problems, California has put itself on a path toward repeating the mistakes of the past, warns Temple University historian @benchansfield.bsky.social. zps.la/4nuhIdv
The Disasters ‘High-Risk’ Insurance Fails to Paper Over | Essay
From the Watts Riots to 2025 Wildfires, California’s FAIR Plan Has Stood in the Way of Transformative Change
zps.la
October 2, 2025 at 5:24 PM
By leaning on insurance-based solutions to deep-seated societal problems, California has put itself on a path toward repeating the mistakes of the past, warns Temple University historian @benchansfield.bsky.social. zps.la/4nuhIdv