Blue Violets
@blueviolets1727.bsky.social
Poetry, books, art, photography, science, nature, politics.
Reposted by Blue Violets
"'If the administration’s refusal to participate becomes a valid reason to spike a story, we have effectively handed them a "kill switch" for any reporting they find inconvenient,' Ms. Alfonsi wrote."
{gift link} www.nytimes.com/2025/12/21/b...
{gift link} www.nytimes.com/2025/12/21/b...
‘60 Minutes’ Pulled a Segment. A Correspondent Calls It ‘Political.’
www.nytimes.com
December 22, 2025 at 1:27 PM
"'If the administration’s refusal to participate becomes a valid reason to spike a story, we have effectively handed them a "kill switch" for any reporting they find inconvenient,' Ms. Alfonsi wrote."
{gift link} www.nytimes.com/2025/12/21/b...
{gift link} www.nytimes.com/2025/12/21/b...
Reposted by Blue Violets
As a historian I've looked at hundreds of thousands of pages of government documents. And I just have to say that aside from being obviously illegal and clearly suggestive of some major crime, this “redaction” business is not a position in which serious people or serious governments find themselves
There is no basis to withhold these images under the clear terms of the Epstein Files Transparency Act. None.
WOW: The DOJ has DELETED an image from its release of the Epstein files that shows photos of Trump in a drawer.
Yesterday, we noted that this image — file 468 — likely slipped through the cracks while officials were attempting to hide materials pertaining to Trump.
Now, it’s gone.
Yesterday, we noted that this image — file 468 — likely slipped through the cracks while officials were attempting to hide materials pertaining to Trump.
Now, it’s gone.
December 21, 2025 at 9:42 PM
As a historian I've looked at hundreds of thousands of pages of government documents. And I just have to say that aside from being obviously illegal and clearly suggestive of some major crime, this “redaction” business is not a position in which serious people or serious governments find themselves
Reposted by Blue Violets
December 21, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Reposted by Blue Violets
Why did CBS delete this promo and cancel this from airing in full?
December 22, 2025 at 12:41 AM
Why did CBS delete this promo and cancel this from airing in full?
Reposted by Blue Violets
Tonight’s dumb napkin cartoon…
December 22, 2025 at 12:43 AM
Tonight’s dumb napkin cartoon…
Reposted by Blue Violets
Why would anyone risk themselves to go on 60 Minutes after this? How can viewers ever trust CBS News to report fairly on topics this White House is sensitive about?
December 22, 2025 at 2:07 AM
Why would anyone risk themselves to go on 60 Minutes after this? How can viewers ever trust CBS News to report fairly on topics this White House is sensitive about?
Reposted by Blue Violets
Don’t forget. Biden’s DoJ was investigating uncharged third parties in the Epstein files up until the last minute. Trump shut down the investigation, sent the files to DC, & fired the prosecutors. They went through them, redacted Trump’s name, then elected not to release them and closed the matter.
December 22, 2025 at 3:09 AM
Don’t forget. Biden’s DoJ was investigating uncharged third parties in the Epstein files up until the last minute. Trump shut down the investigation, sent the files to DC, & fired the prosecutors. They went through them, redacted Trump’s name, then elected not to release them and closed the matter.
Reposted by Blue Violets
“These men risked their lives to speak with us. We have a moral and professional obligation to the sources who entrusted us with their
stories. Abandoning them now is a betrayal of the most basic tenet of journalism: giving voice to the voiceless.”
stories. Abandoning them now is a betrayal of the most basic tenet of journalism: giving voice to the voiceless.”
Per NY Times’s Michael Grynbaum on X, this is Sharyn Alfonsi’s email to her “60 Minutes” colleagues in full:
December 22, 2025 at 3:42 AM
“These men risked their lives to speak with us. We have a moral and professional obligation to the sources who entrusted us with their
stories. Abandoning them now is a betrayal of the most basic tenet of journalism: giving voice to the voiceless.”
stories. Abandoning them now is a betrayal of the most basic tenet of journalism: giving voice to the voiceless.”
Reposted by Blue Violets
Expect a "revolt" among 60 Minutes staff over Bari Weiss pulling the CECOT segment at the last minute, one network insider told me.
Another CBS News reporter added that a Rubicon had been crossed with this decision, which 60 Minutes correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi called "political" and not editorial.
Another CBS News reporter added that a Rubicon had been crossed with this decision, which 60 Minutes correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi called "political" and not editorial.
December 22, 2025 at 3:22 AM
Expect a "revolt" among 60 Minutes staff over Bari Weiss pulling the CECOT segment at the last minute, one network insider told me.
Another CBS News reporter added that a Rubicon had been crossed with this decision, which 60 Minutes correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi called "political" and not editorial.
Another CBS News reporter added that a Rubicon had been crossed with this decision, which 60 Minutes correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi called "political" and not editorial.
Reposted by Blue Violets
Read this and then try to tell me with a straight face that schools can "teach students how to use AI ethically."
This is so depressing. I’m so furious that a) these tech cos have offered kids a drug for free; b) the schools have no solution (neither do colleges, from what I can see).
open.substack.com/pub/fitzyhis...
open.substack.com/pub/fitzyhis...
AI Conversations Behind Closed Doors
Student Focus Groups Reveal What's Actually Happening
open.substack.com
December 22, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Read this and then try to tell me with a straight face that schools can "teach students how to use AI ethically."
Reposted by Blue Violets
This is so depressing. I’m so furious that a) these tech cos have offered kids a drug for free; b) the schools have no solution (neither do colleges, from what I can see).
open.substack.com/pub/fitzyhis...
open.substack.com/pub/fitzyhis...
AI Conversations Behind Closed Doors
Student Focus Groups Reveal What's Actually Happening
open.substack.com
December 22, 2025 at 1:06 PM
This is so depressing. I’m so furious that a) these tech cos have offered kids a drug for free; b) the schools have no solution (neither do colleges, from what I can see).
open.substack.com/pub/fitzyhis...
open.substack.com/pub/fitzyhis...
Reposted by Blue Violets
Per NY Times’s Michael Grynbaum on X, this is Sharyn Alfonsi’s email to her “60 Minutes” colleagues in full:
December 22, 2025 at 3:37 AM
Per NY Times’s Michael Grynbaum on X, this is Sharyn Alfonsi’s email to her “60 Minutes” colleagues in full:
Reposted by Blue Violets
Congratulations to the ADL for deciding to go all-in on working with this administration because of some college student protestors who used intemperate rhetoric.
December 20, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Congratulations to the ADL for deciding to go all-in on working with this administration because of some college student protestors who used intemperate rhetoric.
Reposted by Blue Violets
Chicago is having none of this administration's BS.
December 20, 2025 at 9:40 PM
Chicago is having none of this administration's BS.
Reposted by Blue Violets
Reposted by Blue Violets
I mean, if we're talking about the red meat in the era of Upton Sinclair's The Jungle, sure.
A diseased product sold by hucksters that wreaks havoc and even causes death, forcing the federal government to step in with harsh regulations?
Yeah, man, that works.
A diseased product sold by hucksters that wreaks havoc and even causes death, forcing the federal government to step in with harsh regulations?
Yeah, man, that works.
“AI” is the new “red meat”.
December 21, 2025 at 1:06 AM
I mean, if we're talking about the red meat in the era of Upton Sinclair's The Jungle, sure.
A diseased product sold by hucksters that wreaks havoc and even causes death, forcing the federal government to step in with harsh regulations?
Yeah, man, that works.
A diseased product sold by hucksters that wreaks havoc and even causes death, forcing the federal government to step in with harsh regulations?
Yeah, man, that works.
Reposted by Blue Violets
This is my favorite version of the AI push — we don’t have any real ideas for how you should use it, but it’s not going anywhere, so you had better figure out a use for it and then start using it quick!
Uh, no. I don’t think I will.
Uh, no. I don’t think I will.
Figure out how to use it. Ostrich mode will help no one.
December 21, 2025 at 2:37 PM
This is my favorite version of the AI push — we don’t have any real ideas for how you should use it, but it’s not going anywhere, so you had better figure out a use for it and then start using it quick!
Uh, no. I don’t think I will.
Uh, no. I don’t think I will.
Reposted by Blue Violets
All of this thread.
I understand the self interest that AI salesmen have to push their product, but the grasping way they’re doing it — the internet version of a traveling salesmen putting his foot in the door so you can’t close it — is only going to drive more people away.
I understand the self interest that AI salesmen have to push their product, but the grasping way they’re doing it — the internet version of a traveling salesmen putting his foot in the door so you can’t close it — is only going to drive more people away.
You absolutely will not convince a bunch of historians and sociologists and whoever else is in this thread that you know more than we do about this and we should use it. I wish you AI enthusiasts would stop wading into our conversations. You have nothing helpful to contribute and are snarky.
December 21, 2025 at 2:21 PM
All of this thread.
I understand the self interest that AI salesmen have to push their product, but the grasping way they’re doing it — the internet version of a traveling salesmen putting his foot in the door so you can’t close it — is only going to drive more people away.
I understand the self interest that AI salesmen have to push their product, but the grasping way they’re doing it — the internet version of a traveling salesmen putting his foot in the door so you can’t close it — is only going to drive more people away.
Reposted by Blue Violets
Rare footage of St Paul’s Cathedral testing its giant flamethrower
December 21, 2025 at 8:37 AM
Rare footage of St Paul’s Cathedral testing its giant flamethrower
Reposted by Blue Violets
Massie: "This is about oil and regime change"
December 17, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Massie: "This is about oil and regime change"
Reposted by Blue Violets
HUNT: So do you think the actions the DOJ is taking this are specifically designed to protect Donald Trump?
JAMIE RASKIN: Well, what else? Yeah
JAMIE RASKIN: Well, what else? Yeah
December 21, 2025 at 2:26 PM
HUNT: So do you think the actions the DOJ is taking this are specifically designed to protect Donald Trump?
JAMIE RASKIN: Well, what else? Yeah
JAMIE RASKIN: Well, what else? Yeah
Reposted by Blue Violets
Reposted by Blue Violets
Marianne Boruch
December 19, 2025 at 8:12 PM
Marianne Boruch
Reposted by Blue Violets
“Sometimes I am so surprised I show up to write a poem completely empty and yet, something shows up. Just keep making space for your work. Even if it doesn't make sense.”
-- Kelli Russell Agodon
-- Kelli Russell Agodon
December 15, 2025 at 2:05 PM
“Sometimes I am so surprised I show up to write a poem completely empty and yet, something shows up. Just keep making space for your work. Even if it doesn't make sense.”
-- Kelli Russell Agodon
-- Kelli Russell Agodon
Reposted by Blue Violets
“running the world is / a round puddle / of sunless water / where small islands / are only beginning / to cope”
— Audre Lorde
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.
.
This poem appeared in The Black Unicorn by Audre Lorde, published by W. W. Norton & Company, 1978. Shared here with deep gratitude.
— Audre Lorde
.
.
.
This poem appeared in The Black Unicorn by Audre Lorde, published by W. W. Norton & Company, 1978. Shared here with deep gratitude.
December 18, 2025 at 2:01 PM
“running the world is / a round puddle / of sunless water / where small islands / are only beginning / to cope”
— Audre Lorde
.
.
.
This poem appeared in The Black Unicorn by Audre Lorde, published by W. W. Norton & Company, 1978. Shared here with deep gratitude.
— Audre Lorde
.
.
.
This poem appeared in The Black Unicorn by Audre Lorde, published by W. W. Norton & Company, 1978. Shared here with deep gratitude.