*me, negotiating between my past and future self to figure out who needs to do all this work someone scheduled to get done before the semester begins

One of the most meaningful lessons I’ve learned is how important it is to make others feel important. Not on a surface-level—really notice what you appreciate, show them, and SAY it. We often assume our kind, talented friends already know how amazing they are. But often, they don’t hear it enough.

Right now a lot of people are facing a constant barrage of messages that they are less than, that they don't belong.

To anyone being targeted: You unequivocally are valuable and you deserve dignity, respect, and a supportive community. The world is a better, richer place with you in it.

I really think Noem’s plans to “liberate” California from its democratically elected government with military force should not have gotten lost in the news cycle but that appears to be exactly what is happening

Your daily reminder that Trump has not invoked the Insurrection Act, and therefore any use of military forces to engage in the ordinary business of domestic law enforcement is illegal. I do not think saying so has any magical power but think it’s worth noting so I will continue to do so.

Ok my extremely hare-brained plan to teach intro American politics in the Fall:

"Are you smarter than an LLM" - students take turns designing multiple choice questions and essay that 80%+ of students can ace, but the extremely expensive AI our provost paid for cannot.

My “Stop comparing ICE to Gestapo” shirt has people asking a lot of questions already answered by the shirt.

It’s important to acknowledge that the US immigration system has been a muddled and frequently cruel nightmare maze for generations. And it’s equally important to see clearly that the Trump administration has infused it with pervasive malice, greater cruelty, and fresh new horrors.

This is Shadow. He forgot to put on his parking brakes. 12/10 we’ve all been there

@fivefourpod.bsky.social listening to the back-catalog episode

Here's a depiction of what it is like to listen to the RBG jokes from 2020.....what a tragedy in slow motion.

one thing that Democratic politicians should take note of is that the overlap between “great political optics” and “actual morally good stuff” is really big right now

I said my main goal of this trip was to meet with Kilmar. Tonight I had that chance. I have called his wife, Jennifer, to pass along his message of love. I look forward to providing a full update upon my return.