Peter Ryan
@drpeterryan.bsky.social
Sociologist of religion and social movements. Dabbler in creative writing and board games.
Reposted by Peter Ryan
A cool natural experiment using cellphone data finds that, when people relocate to more walkable areas, they walk more and are more active. Why does this matter? Because many related studies were affected by self-selection bias, where people who like to walk might choose to live in walkable places
Countrywide natural experiment links built environment to physical activity - Nature
By analysing the smartphone data of 2,112,288 participants, in particular observing and comparing the activity of the same individual in two different environments, we find that increases in the walka...
www.nature.com
September 11, 2025 at 10:12 PM
A cool natural experiment using cellphone data finds that, when people relocate to more walkable areas, they walk more and are more active. Why does this matter? Because many related studies were affected by self-selection bias, where people who like to walk might choose to live in walkable places
Reposted by Peter Ryan
'God loves Gaza': US Christians gather in rare display of solidarity with Palestine - https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/god-loves-gaza-us-christians-gather-rare-display-solidarity-palestinians
'God loves Gaza': US Christians gather in rare display of solidarity with Palestine
The Church at the Crossroads event aims to showcase a counterweight to traditionally pro-Zionist Christian churches
www.middleeasteye.net
September 11, 2025 at 9:27 PM
'God loves Gaza': US Christians gather in rare display of solidarity with Palestine - https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/god-loves-gaza-us-christians-gather-rare-display-solidarity-palestinians
Reposted by Peter Ryan
If you're a Trump judicial nominee who wants to get confirmed, it's too risky to say things like "presidents can't use the military to kill their political opponents"
Can Trump Have His Political Opponents Killed? This Trump Judicial Nominee Won’t Say
Jennifer Mascott shows that if you are a Trump loyalist who aspires to be a federal judge, there are some things you just can’t say, no matter how absurd you look in the process.
ballsandstrikes.org
September 11, 2025 at 3:42 PM
If you're a Trump judicial nominee who wants to get confirmed, it's too risky to say things like "presidents can't use the military to kill their political opponents"
Reposted by Peter Ryan
Some good news for once. Kidnapped in Iraq during her PhD fieldwork by an armed faction that wanted to silence her, after 903 days in captivity Princeton researcher and rights activist Elizabeth Tsurkov has been released by the Iran-backed militia which was holding her.
September 10, 2025 at 6:25 AM
Some good news for once. Kidnapped in Iraq during her PhD fieldwork by an armed faction that wanted to silence her, after 903 days in captivity Princeton researcher and rights activist Elizabeth Tsurkov has been released by the Iran-backed militia which was holding her.
Reposted by Peter Ryan
Reposted by Peter Ryan
The president of the United States just declared war, actual military war, not a metaphorical one, on a major American city, and one governed by his political opponents.
In any other period, this would be impeachment-worthy.
In any other period, this would be impeachment-worthy.
September 6, 2025 at 3:54 PM
The president of the United States just declared war, actual military war, not a metaphorical one, on a major American city, and one governed by his political opponents.
In any other period, this would be impeachment-worthy.
In any other period, this would be impeachment-worthy.
Reposted by Peter Ryan
This is terrifying.
Ice obtains access to Israeli-made spyware that can hack phones and encrypted apps
Trump administration contract with Paragon Solutions gives immigration agency access to one of the most powerful stealth cyberweapons
www.theguardian.com
September 2, 2025 at 6:14 PM
This is terrifying.
Reposted by Peter Ryan
It’s all so stupid and evil, developed by the worst people for the worst reasons.
"Those who own land would be offered a digital token by the trust in exchange for rights to redevelop their property, to be used to finance a new life elsewhere or eventually redeemed for an apartment in one of six to eight new “AI-powered, smart cities” to be built in Gaza."
Gaza postwar plan envisions ‘voluntary’ relocation of entire population
President Donald Trump and international partners are discussing plans to build a “Riviera of the Middle East” on the rubble of Gaza. One would establish U.S. control and pay Palestinians to leave.
www.washingtonpost.com
August 31, 2025 at 1:46 PM
It’s all so stupid and evil, developed by the worst people for the worst reasons.
Reposted by Peter Ryan
What a cursed sentence (gift link)
“The A.I. companies selected to oversee the program would have a strong financial incentive to deny claims. Medicare plans to pay them a share of the savings generated from rejections.”
“The A.I. companies selected to oversee the program would have a strong financial incentive to deny claims. Medicare plans to pay them a share of the savings generated from rejections.”
Medicare Will Require Prior Approval for Certain Procedures
www.nytimes.com
August 29, 2025 at 12:43 PM
What a cursed sentence (gift link)
“The A.I. companies selected to oversee the program would have a strong financial incentive to deny claims. Medicare plans to pay them a share of the savings generated from rejections.”
“The A.I. companies selected to oversee the program would have a strong financial incentive to deny claims. Medicare plans to pay them a share of the savings generated from rejections.”
Reposted by Peter Ryan
The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a peer-to-peer evaluation of a country's rights record. All 193 UN member states are expected to participate, and even states like Russia and China do.
Today, the US took the unprecedented step of withdrawing from the UPR www.reuters.com/world/europe...
Today, the US took the unprecedented step of withdrawing from the UPR www.reuters.com/world/europe...
US withdraws from key UN human rights report, draws criticism from rights advocates
The United States will not participate in a U.N. review of its human rights record, officials said, a move that rights advocates called a worrying retreat from Washington's global engagement on rights and justice issues.
www.reuters.com
August 28, 2025 at 10:25 PM
The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a peer-to-peer evaluation of a country's rights record. All 193 UN member states are expected to participate, and even states like Russia and China do.
Today, the US took the unprecedented step of withdrawing from the UPR www.reuters.com/world/europe...
Today, the US took the unprecedented step of withdrawing from the UPR www.reuters.com/world/europe...
Reposted by Peter Ryan
DNC Rejects Resolution Calling for an Arms Embargo on Israel
DNC Rejects Resolution Calling for an Arms Embargo on Israel
A Democratic National Committee panel has rejected a resolution calling for an arms embargo on Israel and a ceasefire in Gaza. The vote came during a DNC meeting in Minneapolis. A second resolution on Israel was initially approved but then withdrawn by ...
www.democracynow.org
August 27, 2025 at 5:27 PM
DNC Rejects Resolution Calling for an Arms Embargo on Israel
Reposted by Peter Ryan
Remembering today when pro-GOP media erupted with outrage over Kamala Harris' warning that Trump had plans to militarize the national guard and deploy them on the streets of US cities. Indeed, he had such plans. And now he's implementing them.
August 24, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Remembering today when pro-GOP media erupted with outrage over Kamala Harris' warning that Trump had plans to militarize the national guard and deploy them on the streets of US cities. Indeed, he had such plans. And now he's implementing them.
Reposted by Peter Ryan
A passage from They Thought They Were Free: The Germans, 1933-45.
This feels too familiar these days.
This feels too familiar these days.
August 24, 2025 at 5:37 PM
A passage from They Thought They Were Free: The Germans, 1933-45.
This feels too familiar these days.
This feels too familiar these days.
Reposted by Peter Ryan
I joined several of my fellow Syrian journalists in a solidarity vigil to condemn the killing of Palestinian journalists who lost their lives as a result of Israeli airstrikes.
August 12, 2025 at 6:21 PM
I joined several of my fellow Syrian journalists in a solidarity vigil to condemn the killing of Palestinian journalists who lost their lives as a result of Israeli airstrikes.
Reposted by Peter Ryan
Many #SociologyOfReligion conversations and more happening around the theme 'Religion and Resilience' this weekend at the ASR Annual Conference in Chicago. Check out the program ⬇️
@ntammerman.bsky.social @ruthbraunstein.bsky.social @gerardomarti.bsky.social
sociologyofreligion.org/annual-meeti...
@ntammerman.bsky.social @ruthbraunstein.bsky.social @gerardomarti.bsky.social
sociologyofreligion.org/annual-meeti...
August 10, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Many #SociologyOfReligion conversations and more happening around the theme 'Religion and Resilience' this weekend at the ASR Annual Conference in Chicago. Check out the program ⬇️
@ntammerman.bsky.social @ruthbraunstein.bsky.social @gerardomarti.bsky.social
sociologyofreligion.org/annual-meeti...
@ntammerman.bsky.social @ruthbraunstein.bsky.social @gerardomarti.bsky.social
sociologyofreligion.org/annual-meeti...
Reposted by Peter Ryan
@ndsociology.bsky.social is hiring an Endowed Chair in Demography at the Full level! Building ND Pop Analytics: populationanalytics.nd.edu. Check out the ad here: apply.interfolio.com/171683 Share widely!
Apply - Interfolio
{{$ctrl.$state.data.pageTitle}} - Apply - Interfolio
apply.interfolio.com
August 7, 2025 at 11:05 PM
@ndsociology.bsky.social is hiring an Endowed Chair in Demography at the Full level! Building ND Pop Analytics: populationanalytics.nd.edu. Check out the ad here: apply.interfolio.com/171683 Share widely!
Probably not making it to ASA, but excited to be presenting for the Chicago Congregations Project at ASR next week. See some of y’all there!
August 7, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Probably not making it to ASA, but excited to be presenting for the Chicago Congregations Project at ASR next week. See some of y’all there!
Reposted by Peter Ryan
Job opportunity ➡️ The Department of Religious Studies at @depauluniversity.bsky.social invites applicants for a (tenure-track) position, Assistant Professor rank. Specialization: Contemporary Islam in the Americas. Apply by October 1, 2025. apply.interfolio.com/169330
August 4, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Job opportunity ➡️ The Department of Religious Studies at @depauluniversity.bsky.social invites applicants for a (tenure-track) position, Assistant Professor rank. Specialization: Contemporary Islam in the Americas. Apply by October 1, 2025. apply.interfolio.com/169330
Reposted by Peter Ryan
#Syria: there were demonstrations today in #Suwayda prov., amid accusations by some the Gov' blockades the area.
Authorities replied humanitarian corridors are fully operational w/ regular arrival of supplies & that pro-Hijri monopolize the aid.
176K displaced & a solution remains a long way off.
Authorities replied humanitarian corridors are fully operational w/ regular arrival of supplies & that pro-Hijri monopolize the aid.
176K displaced & a solution remains a long way off.
July 28, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Reposted by Peter Ryan
"Nearly 25 million naturalized citizens live in the U.S., and we are accustomed to extra scrutiny...But I had never doubted that my U.S. citizenship was permanent, and that I was guaranteed the same rights of speech, assembly, and due process as natural-born Americans. Now I’m not so sure."
A political scientist born in Brazil and adopted into the U.S. as a baby wrote, "Naturalized Citizens Are Scared."
Naturalized Citizens Are Scared
To become Americans, we promised to defend the laws of the United States. What if defending them now puts our status at risk?
www.theatlantic.com
July 20, 2025 at 7:23 PM
"Nearly 25 million naturalized citizens live in the U.S., and we are accustomed to extra scrutiny...But I had never doubted that my U.S. citizenship was permanent, and that I was guaranteed the same rights of speech, assembly, and due process as natural-born Americans. Now I’m not so sure."
Reposted by Peter Ryan
NEW: Of the 230+ Venezuelans deported to El Salvador:
• Almost half had immigration cases that were not yet decided
• More than 60 had pending asylum claims, some just days away from final hearings
These men had followed U.S. immigration procedures. Then Trump changed the rules.
• Almost half had immigration cases that were not yet decided
• More than 60 had pending asylum claims, some just days away from final hearings
These men had followed U.S. immigration procedures. Then Trump changed the rules.
He Came to the U.S. to Support His Sick Child. He Was Detained. Then He Disappeared.
Like most of the more than 230 Venezuelan men deported to a Salvadoran prison, José Manuel Ramos Bastidas had followed U.S. immigration rules. Then Trump rewrote them.
www.propublica.org
July 18, 2025 at 3:41 PM
NEW: Of the 230+ Venezuelans deported to El Salvador:
• Almost half had immigration cases that were not yet decided
• More than 60 had pending asylum claims, some just days away from final hearings
These men had followed U.S. immigration procedures. Then Trump changed the rules.
• Almost half had immigration cases that were not yet decided
• More than 60 had pending asylum claims, some just days away from final hearings
These men had followed U.S. immigration procedures. Then Trump changed the rules.
Reposted by Peter Ryan
The right wing bullshit machine is going to try to find ways to divert blame from their toxic policies onto others. The left can’t assume that people who supported Trump/GOP, who are now impacted by these policies, will see through the BS, esp. when they are motivated by partisan identity not to.
Voters vulnerable to Medicaid cuts in President Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” law are reluctant to blame the president or congressional Republicans who approved it, instead directing their frustration at their hospital system.
A clinic blames its closing on Trump’s Medicaid cuts. Patients don’t buy it.
A clinic in rural Nebraska has become a political flash point after tying its looming closure to Trump’s law cutting Medicaid.
wapo.st
July 13, 2025 at 5:17 PM
The right wing bullshit machine is going to try to find ways to divert blame from their toxic policies onto others. The left can’t assume that people who supported Trump/GOP, who are now impacted by these policies, will see through the BS, esp. when they are motivated by partisan identity not to.
Reposted by Peter Ryan
Most people in Mexico and Canada say the United States is their country's greatest threat
www.pewresearch.org/global/2025/...
www.pewresearch.org/global/2025/...
July 12, 2025 at 10:28 PM
Most people in Mexico and Canada say the United States is their country's greatest threat
www.pewresearch.org/global/2025/...
www.pewresearch.org/global/2025/...
Reposted by Peter Ryan
Americans: Thom Tillis, of all people, came out as against the bill because of calls. this might be your last chance to convince your Senator - call today. I know it's a Saturday!
🚨 URGENT 🚨
The Senate may vote on gutting #Medicaid today, so Little Lobbyists kids need you to call your Senator now!
☎️ (202) 224-3121
"Hi, my name is [YOUR NAME], I'm a constituent from [ZIP CODE], I'm calling to tell the Senator not to cut a single dime from Medicaid!"
PLEASE SHARE
The Senate may vote on gutting #Medicaid today, so Little Lobbyists kids need you to call your Senator now!
☎️ (202) 224-3121
"Hi, my name is [YOUR NAME], I'm a constituent from [ZIP CODE], I'm calling to tell the Senator not to cut a single dime from Medicaid!"
PLEASE SHARE
Senate Republicans dropped a nearly 1,000-page “Big Beautiful Bill” in the DEAD OF THE NIGHT.
And they want to vote on it TODAY.
Trump is jamming through a bill that rips away health care, closes hospitals, raises grocery and utility bills to give tax breaks to billionaires.
And they want to vote on it TODAY.
Trump is jamming through a bill that rips away health care, closes hospitals, raises grocery and utility bills to give tax breaks to billionaires.
June 28, 2025 at 8:52 PM
Americans: Thom Tillis, of all people, came out as against the bill because of calls. this might be your last chance to convince your Senator - call today. I know it's a Saturday!
Reposted by Peter Ryan
Given that this entire thing is being done illegally via an executive memo with no legislation or enforcement mechanisms, it would be nice if Democrats started making it clear right now that they will never respect or acknowledge this assertion once in power.
"For the child born this summer in Texas, whose parents receive no documents, whose name never appears in any system, and who grows up asking why she can’t go on field trips, apply for scholarships, or open a bank account, the consequences are not legal theory. They are her life."
The United States Is About to Embark on a Terrifying Experiment in Mass Statelessness
This scenario, until recently, might have read like a dystopian projection. But after the court’s decision on Friday, it is no longer hypothetical.
slate.com
June 27, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Given that this entire thing is being done illegally via an executive memo with no legislation or enforcement mechanisms, it would be nice if Democrats started making it clear right now that they will never respect or acknowledge this assertion once in power.