Nathan S. French
@innesseff.bsky.social
Researching & Teaching -- Religious Studies, Islamic Studies, Religion & Law, Jihadi-Salafi Studies, 9/11
Baseball spectator.
Baseball spectator.
Not the only faculty member facing this. Lots of former students seeking a letter of recommendation for graduate school having been laid off from their USAID, State Dept, War Dept., and other positions. Demoralizing.
Smart people in whom the US gov't invested with their careers derailed for what?
Smart people in whom the US gov't invested with their careers derailed for what?
November 14, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Not the only faculty member facing this. Lots of former students seeking a letter of recommendation for graduate school having been laid off from their USAID, State Dept, War Dept., and other positions. Demoralizing.
Smart people in whom the US gov't invested with their careers derailed for what?
Smart people in whom the US gov't invested with their careers derailed for what?
It's hilarious watching ChatGPT 5.1 absolutely faceplant on Arabic PDFs. When asked, I received the following responses (see below). What made me laugh is when it said that this "wasn't real Arabic text."
Uh, it is. I'm working on a set of fatwas from the Minbar al-Tawhid wa-l-Jihad. 1800, really.
Uh, it is. I'm working on a set of fatwas from the Minbar al-Tawhid wa-l-Jihad. 1800, really.
November 14, 2025 at 2:33 AM
It's hilarious watching ChatGPT 5.1 absolutely faceplant on Arabic PDFs. When asked, I received the following responses (see below). What made me laugh is when it said that this "wasn't real Arabic text."
Uh, it is. I'm working on a set of fatwas from the Minbar al-Tawhid wa-l-Jihad. 1800, really.
Uh, it is. I'm working on a set of fatwas from the Minbar al-Tawhid wa-l-Jihad. 1800, really.
Some of us love it enough to use it as a profile photo. Honestly, this Esquire cover is one of the most haunting baseball images I've ever seen: Joe DiMaggio hitting in a suit in an empty Yankee Stadium in 1960.
November 6, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Some of us love it enough to use it as a profile photo. Honestly, this Esquire cover is one of the most haunting baseball images I've ever seen: Joe DiMaggio hitting in a suit in an empty Yankee Stadium in 1960.
Reposted by Nathan S. French
Acknowledging that NYC mayor elections are a Whole Thing, this is easily one of the most robust faith outreach operations I've ever seen for a mayoral race.
"…(Mamdani) has attended Friday prayers, Diwali celebrations in Queens, Baptist church services in Harlem and Sukkot observances in Hasidic Williamsburg."
…
"On the final Friday before Election Day, volunteers from the campaign and other organizations canvassed at 210 of the city’s 300 mosques…"
…
"On the final Friday before Election Day, volunteers from the campaign and other organizations canvassed at 210 of the city’s 300 mosques…"
Truly brilliant @rns.org team reporting here from @ulaakuzi.bsky.social, @fiona-ndre.bsky.social and @richakarma.bsky.social:
Inside Zohran Mamdani's bid to win over religious New Yorkers —> religionnews.com/2025/11/04/i...
Inside Zohran Mamdani's bid to win over religious New Yorkers —> religionnews.com/2025/11/04/i...
November 5, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Acknowledging that NYC mayor elections are a Whole Thing, this is easily one of the most robust faith outreach operations I've ever seen for a mayoral race.
Me, a scholar studying jihadism, whenever I hear someone call a politician a Marxist jihadi:
“Please use your theory of communist Islamist jihadism to explain this image.”
“Please use your theory of communist Islamist jihadism to explain this image.”
November 5, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Me, a scholar studying jihadism, whenever I hear someone call a politician a Marxist jihadi:
“Please use your theory of communist Islamist jihadism to explain this image.”
“Please use your theory of communist Islamist jihadism to explain this image.”
Reposted by Nathan S. French
The #1 lesson from yesterday’s blowout:
Humanities majors killed on the job market
1) Mamdani- Africana Studies
2) Spanberger -French
3) Sherill - Global History
Humanities majors killed on the job market
1) Mamdani- Africana Studies
2) Spanberger -French
3) Sherill - Global History
November 5, 2025 at 3:59 PM
The #1 lesson from yesterday’s blowout:
Humanities majors killed on the job market
1) Mamdani- Africana Studies
2) Spanberger -French
3) Sherill - Global History
Humanities majors killed on the job market
1) Mamdani- Africana Studies
2) Spanberger -French
3) Sherill - Global History
Really interesting results here -- but a note on how this might be framed. The category "other" likely captures Muslim, Hindu voters -- definitely religious! Equally, "None" might include "spiritual, but not religious" and any form of non-institutional or anti-institutional practice.
November 5, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Really interesting results here -- but a note on how this might be framed. The category "other" likely captures Muslim, Hindu voters -- definitely religious! Equally, "None" might include "spiritual, but not religious" and any form of non-institutional or anti-institutional practice.
It’s funny how many Americans think Trump will care about the Blue Jays winning the World Series.
November 2, 2025 at 3:55 AM
It’s funny how many Americans think Trump will care about the Blue Jays winning the World Series.
No matter who wins, we all lose, really.
game 7 is the least important game of the world series because the season’s over at the end of the season either way. they only play it so that someone can feel like they won
November 2, 2025 at 2:24 AM
No matter who wins, we all lose, really.
The narrative arc of this week on my bluesky threads.
October 31, 2025 at 12:37 PM
The narrative arc of this week on my bluesky threads.
“We want to build a university our football team can be proud of.”
George L Cross, President, University of Oklahoma, responding to a state senator in the 1950s who asked, following Cross’ request for more funding, “that’s all well and good, but what kind of football team will we have this year?”
George L Cross, President, University of Oklahoma, responding to a state senator in the 1950s who asked, following Cross’ request for more funding, “that’s all well and good, but what kind of football team will we have this year?”
the amount US universities are paying non-working football coaches will soon top $140 million, if you thought we were gonna cure cancer or something any time soon
October 27, 2025 at 7:10 PM
“We want to build a university our football team can be proud of.”
George L Cross, President, University of Oklahoma, responding to a state senator in the 1950s who asked, following Cross’ request for more funding, “that’s all well and good, but what kind of football team will we have this year?”
George L Cross, President, University of Oklahoma, responding to a state senator in the 1950s who asked, following Cross’ request for more funding, “that’s all well and good, but what kind of football team will we have this year?”
Quietly, many U.S. universities are shifting their evaluation of faculty research to align it with the Scopus database of Elsevier. Elsevier recently bought into the US News & World Report rankings used by students and their parents (and alumni, and *far* too many scholars). Why? In part, A.I. ...
October 27, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Quietly, many U.S. universities are shifting their evaluation of faculty research to align it with the Scopus database of Elsevier. Elsevier recently bought into the US News & World Report rankings used by students and their parents (and alumni, and *far* too many scholars). Why? In part, A.I. ...
Reposted by Nathan S. French
Oxford graciously decided to move up the US publication date of America’s Middle East and you can now buy the Kindle edition, and hard copies should ship very soon!
www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0FW...
www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0FW...
America's Middle East: The Ruination of a Region
America's Middle East: The Ruination of a Region - Kindle edition by Lynch, Marc. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading America's Middle East: The Ruination of a Region.
www.amazon.com
October 24, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Oxford graciously decided to move up the US publication date of America’s Middle East and you can now buy the Kindle edition, and hard copies should ship very soon!
www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0FW...
www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0FW...
Reposted by Nathan S. French
Please repost:
We're looking for an excellent writer/editor with strong data journalism skills to join the religion team at @pewresearch.org.
pewtrusts.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/Center...
We're looking for an excellent writer/editor with strong data journalism skills to join the religion team at @pewresearch.org.
pewtrusts.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/Center...
October 23, 2025 at 11:55 PM
Please repost:
We're looking for an excellent writer/editor with strong data journalism skills to join the religion team at @pewresearch.org.
pewtrusts.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/Center...
We're looking for an excellent writer/editor with strong data journalism skills to join the religion team at @pewresearch.org.
pewtrusts.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/Center...
Likely the sort of remarks that will be used as a primary source in courses on American Islam in the years ahead.
STARTING SOON: Zohran Mamdani gives remarks about Islamophobia outside the Islamic Cultural Center of the Bronx
LIVE | Zohran Mamdani gives remarks on Islamophobia outside a mosque in the Bronx, NYC
YouTube video by Eyewitness News ABC7NY
www.youtube.com
October 24, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Likely the sort of remarks that will be used as a primary source in courses on American Islam in the years ahead.
I'm beginning to get the feeling that A.I. usage is going to align along red / blue political splits in U.S. politics ...
Now, I'm beginning to wonder how A.I. usage will filter or sort across the pluralities of U.S. religious identities (inclusive of atheists, spiritual-but-not-religious, etc.).
Now, I'm beginning to wonder how A.I. usage will filter or sort across the pluralities of U.S. religious identities (inclusive of atheists, spiritual-but-not-religious, etc.).
Need another reason to just say no? Here you go.
How Trump is Using AI to Attack Enemies and Rouse Supporters (Gift Article)
The president has posted A.I.-generated images and videos dozens of times on social media, in some cases misleading viewers and amplifying political divisions.
www.nytimes.com
October 22, 2025 at 9:00 PM
I'm beginning to get the feeling that A.I. usage is going to align along red / blue political splits in U.S. politics ...
Now, I'm beginning to wonder how A.I. usage will filter or sort across the pluralities of U.S. religious identities (inclusive of atheists, spiritual-but-not-religious, etc.).
Now, I'm beginning to wonder how A.I. usage will filter or sort across the pluralities of U.S. religious identities (inclusive of atheists, spiritual-but-not-religious, etc.).
Following the availability of Chat GPT, et al., I asked students since they were willing use "wearables" for fitness (e.g., Apple watch) and wear "WWJD" religious bracelets, would they be willing to wear an AI "moral" guide to optimize their relations ...
They said no. One said, "Hell no."
They said no. One said, "Hell no."
>I tell Leif we read Margaret Atwood’s dystopian novel Oryx and Crake. What did he think of it? “Hmm, Oryx and Crake is a wild ride. Atwood’s really good at imagining dark futures, isn’t she?”
It is amazing (but not surprising) how generic everything it says is.
It is amazing (but not surprising) how generic everything it says is.
Is it good when your product is reviewed by everyone but they all say it sucks.
October 22, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Following the availability of Chat GPT, et al., I asked students since they were willing use "wearables" for fitness (e.g., Apple watch) and wear "WWJD" religious bracelets, would they be willing to wear an AI "moral" guide to optimize their relations ...
They said no. One said, "Hell no."
They said no. One said, "Hell no."
Reposted by Nathan S. French
we're bringing it back, brothers and sisters in Christ
86% of Christians in the US say that being honest is *essential* to being a Christian. www.pewresearch.org/religion/202...
October 22, 2025 at 1:05 PM
we're bringing it back, brothers and sisters in Christ
So, how have the contractors for this been vetted for clearance? Who has handled the screening?
Can't help but think that foreign intelligence agencies are looking into ways of taking advantage of the demolition and construction in any number of ways.
Can't help but think that foreign intelligence agencies are looking into ways of taking advantage of the demolition and construction in any number of ways.
October 22, 2025 at 8:34 PM
So, how have the contractors for this been vetted for clearance? Who has handled the screening?
Can't help but think that foreign intelligence agencies are looking into ways of taking advantage of the demolition and construction in any number of ways.
Can't help but think that foreign intelligence agencies are looking into ways of taking advantage of the demolition and construction in any number of ways.
Broadcaster voice: "Tech leaders promising that A.I. will revolutionize higher ed were met with heavy setbacks today after popular LMS, Canvas, went down due to the Amazon AWS outage."
A note. Universities still taught. We managed without Canvas just fine. Learning occurred. Projects were planned.
A note. Universities still taught. We managed without Canvas just fine. Learning occurred. Projects were planned.
October 20, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Broadcaster voice: "Tech leaders promising that A.I. will revolutionize higher ed were met with heavy setbacks today after popular LMS, Canvas, went down due to the Amazon AWS outage."
A note. Universities still taught. We managed without Canvas just fine. Learning occurred. Projects were planned.
A note. Universities still taught. We managed without Canvas just fine. Learning occurred. Projects were planned.
Really grateful for the exchange between @olufemiotaiwo.bsky.social and @eric-reinhart.com. The repetition of “invent[ing] new forms of shared meaning” and “reciprocal responsibility” in response to shame feel like the early sketch of a post-secular turn in shared liberal political life.
We shouldn't kid ourselves into thinking that we will frown our way out of fascism. But we shouldn't think we should appease our way out either (on that point, Eric and I agree). But how will we "invent new forms of shared meaning" or enforce "reciprocal responsibility to care for one another"?
October 15, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Really grateful for the exchange between @olufemiotaiwo.bsky.social and @eric-reinhart.com. The repetition of “invent[ing] new forms of shared meaning” and “reciprocal responsibility” in response to shame feel like the early sketch of a post-secular turn in shared liberal political life.
Item 1 — You should hire, not fire columnists and reporters right now. Especially religion reporters (if I may).
Item 2 — If you must fire reporters and columnists, don’t do it during a religious observance.
Somebody should’ve paid attention in their religion courses in college.
Item 2 — If you must fire reporters and columnists, don’t do it during a religious observance.
Somebody should’ve paid attention in their religion courses in college.
The Post laid off seemingly the remaining of their liberal-leaning staff members on Opinion last Thursday, when some of them were observing Yom Kippur.
from @oliverdarcy.bsky.social for Status
status.news/p/washington-post-opinion-cuts-adam-oneal
from @oliverdarcy.bsky.social for Status
status.news/p/washington-post-opinion-cuts-adam-oneal
October 8, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Item 1 — You should hire, not fire columnists and reporters right now. Especially religion reporters (if I may).
Item 2 — If you must fire reporters and columnists, don’t do it during a religious observance.
Somebody should’ve paid attention in their religion courses in college.
Item 2 — If you must fire reporters and columnists, don’t do it during a religious observance.
Somebody should’ve paid attention in their religion courses in college.
This reminds me of when @kevinjonheller.bsky.social wrote about the Obama administration’s killing of Anwar al-Awlaki and it apparently (allegedly) changed its argument midstream in response to his blogpost on Opinion Juris
Spoke with @charliesavage.bsky.social about how the administration is trying to backfill a legal rationale for US strikes in the Caribbean.
Seems by "determining" there is an armed conflict—without any basis in fact or law—POTUS is giving himself a license to kill.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/02/u...
Seems by "determining" there is an armed conflict—without any basis in fact or law—POTUS is giving himself a license to kill.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/02/u...
Trump ‘Determined’ the U.S. Is Now in a War With Drug Cartels, Congress Is Told
www.nytimes.com
October 2, 2025 at 7:04 PM
This reminds me of when @kevinjonheller.bsky.social wrote about the Obama administration’s killing of Anwar al-Awlaki and it apparently (allegedly) changed its argument midstream in response to his blogpost on Opinion Juris
Reposted by Nathan S. French
Remembrances from colleagues of Brinkley Messick (1946-2025)
In Memoriam - Brinkley Messick — Middle East Institute
www.mei.columbia.edu
October 2, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Remembrances from colleagues of Brinkley Messick (1946-2025)
Reposted by Nathan S. French
COVER REVEAL AND PREORDER: The Public Scholar - A Practical Handbook.
"Perry focuses on the practical details of how to approach public scholarship. How do you pitch a piece to an editor? When should you follow or ignore the rules of the genre? And what happens once your piece is out in the world?"
"Perry focuses on the practical details of how to approach public scholarship. How do you pitch a piece to an editor? When should you follow or ignore the rules of the genre? And what happens once your piece is out in the world?"
The Public Scholar
A Practical Handbook
www.press.jhu.edu
September 30, 2025 at 8:18 PM
COVER REVEAL AND PREORDER: The Public Scholar - A Practical Handbook.
"Perry focuses on the practical details of how to approach public scholarship. How do you pitch a piece to an editor? When should you follow or ignore the rules of the genre? And what happens once your piece is out in the world?"
"Perry focuses on the practical details of how to approach public scholarship. How do you pitch a piece to an editor? When should you follow or ignore the rules of the genre? And what happens once your piece is out in the world?"