Jason
@jasonlabau.bsky.social
HS/MS History Teacher; Special interests in US politics and race; PhD; LDS; D&D; Opinions my own. he/him.
This is absolutely bonkers. Honestly, a great example of how history can be used to distort and attack.
Saddened that I used to be able to point students to government sources as generally accurate, careful, and reliable (if a bit traditional). First we lost the National Parks sites and now this?!?
Saddened that I used to be able to point students to government sources as generally accurate, careful, and reliable (if a bit traditional). First we lost the National Parks sites and now this?!?
Open the page. Scroll down to the timeline. Go through the timeline.
It’s… shocking
It’s… shocking
The White House Building
Every president since John Adams has occupied the White House, and the history of this building extends far beyond the construction of its walls. From the Ground Floor Corridor rooms, transformed from...
www.whitehouse.gov
October 25, 2025 at 2:07 AM
This is absolutely bonkers. Honestly, a great example of how history can be used to distort and attack.
Saddened that I used to be able to point students to government sources as generally accurate, careful, and reliable (if a bit traditional). First we lost the National Parks sites and now this?!?
Saddened that I used to be able to point students to government sources as generally accurate, careful, and reliable (if a bit traditional). First we lost the National Parks sites and now this?!?
So ... representation for 4M Americans, a responsive Congress, a respectable court, and a crucial element of health care returned to a constitutional right, like it was for 50 years?
Thune: "If the Democrats had won the majority, they probably would've tried to nuke the filibuster. And then you'd have four new senators from Puerto Rico and DC, you'd have a packed Supreme Court, you'd have abortion on demand ... "
October 11, 2025 at 5:23 AM
So ... representation for 4M Americans, a responsive Congress, a respectable court, and a crucial element of health care returned to a constitutional right, like it was for 50 years?
"Without interrupting each other, we both said at the same time, 'Lets never get out of touch with each other.' And we never have, although her death has come between us."
- Norman Maclean, A River Runs Through It
- Norman Maclean, A River Runs Through It
September 24, 2025 at 5:25 AM
"Without interrupting each other, we both said at the same time, 'Lets never get out of touch with each other.' And we never have, although her death has come between us."
- Norman Maclean, A River Runs Through It
- Norman Maclean, A River Runs Through It
Among the many points worth making: It is laughable that Trump is sincerely upset about people who criticize judges. It's a standard tactic of his, since before he won the office. He just likes to sound "law and order" when it's convenient.
Trump issues a statement after Kirk’s death blaming the “rhetoric of the radical left.”
September 11, 2025 at 5:01 AM
Among the many points worth making: It is laughable that Trump is sincerely upset about people who criticize judges. It's a standard tactic of his, since before he won the office. He just likes to sound "law and order" when it's convenient.
Please, not Hegseth poetry.
Also, literally saying he doesn't care about legality.
Also, literally saying he doesn't care about legality.
Hegseth: "Maximum lethality -- not tepid legality. Violent effect, not politically correct. We're gonna raise up warriors. Not just defenders."
September 6, 2025 at 4:39 AM
Please, not Hegseth poetry.
Also, literally saying he doesn't care about legality.
Also, literally saying he doesn't care about legality.
Sometimes I pause and think what terrible messages 24 sent to the whole nation. The ticking-clock idea of national security, where laws just got in the way and torture (a) worked and (b) was absolutely necessary. Not hard to imagine that making the difference for Bush's and now Trump's abuses.
Trump on deploying the National Guard to Chicago: "I have the right to do anything I want to do. I'm the president of the United States."
August 27, 2025 at 2:09 AM
Sometimes I pause and think what terrible messages 24 sent to the whole nation. The ticking-clock idea of national security, where laws just got in the way and torture (a) worked and (b) was absolutely necessary. Not hard to imagine that making the difference for Bush's and now Trump's abuses.
If an expert teacher with 30 years experience was willing to volunteer their time, but ...
sometimes: they just made things up that sounded good, were a bit racist, a bit sexist, exposed minors to inappropriate content, and blatantly stole from others ...
every school would pass. So why adopt AI?
sometimes: they just made things up that sounded good, were a bit racist, a bit sexist, exposed minors to inappropriate content, and blatantly stole from others ...
every school would pass. So why adopt AI?
July 9, 2025 at 7:44 PM
If an expert teacher with 30 years experience was willing to volunteer their time, but ...
sometimes: they just made things up that sounded good, were a bit racist, a bit sexist, exposed minors to inappropriate content, and blatantly stole from others ...
every school would pass. So why adopt AI?
sometimes: they just made things up that sounded good, were a bit racist, a bit sexist, exposed minors to inappropriate content, and blatantly stole from others ...
every school would pass. So why adopt AI?
This is a good example of the way in which Justice Thomas is himself hostile to the law of the land. Same-sex marriage is a constitutional right. The idea that it being recognized in a book in a public school is someone an insidious threat to religious liberty is ridiculous.
Incredibly, Justice Alito continues to misrepresent a book in the case, Uncle Bobby's Wedding, framing it as insidious propaganda designed to brainwash children who oppose same-sex marriage into supporting it. This is just not true, and Sotomayor refutes it. www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24p...
June 27, 2025 at 3:00 PM
This is a good example of the way in which Justice Thomas is himself hostile to the law of the land. Same-sex marriage is a constitutional right. The idea that it being recognized in a book in a public school is someone an insidious threat to religious liberty is ridiculous.
Reposted by Jason
To be really clear: The reason members of Congress can't just walk right in is because of the guns. Armed DHS personnel won't allow entry. In other words, DHS is using armed force to *break* laws.
Democrats need to wrap their minds around that. Accept that the frog is boiled.
Democrats need to wrap their minds around that. Accept that the frog is boiled.
June 19, 2025 at 8:49 PM
To be really clear: The reason members of Congress can't just walk right in is because of the guns. Armed DHS personnel won't allow entry. In other words, DHS is using armed force to *break* laws.
Democrats need to wrap their minds around that. Accept that the frog is boiled.
Democrats need to wrap their minds around that. Accept that the frog is boiled.
In a situation where the president is violating the law passed by Congress, the courts should be able to step in. But we've developed a standard of standing that assumes Impeachment is a live possibility, which would serve as a check on such blatantly unconstitutional action. So, here we are.
The Constitution says that, if the president vetos a bill, Congress gets to try to override that veto. If the presidency can veto any law on the books, passed at any time, with no possibility of override, the entire Article I lawmaking process is mute—merely a non-binding suggestion.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Trump grants TikTok yet another reprieve from being banned in the US.
June 19, 2025 at 5:15 PM
In a situation where the president is violating the law passed by Congress, the courts should be able to step in. But we've developed a standard of standing that assumes Impeachment is a live possibility, which would serve as a check on such blatantly unconstitutional action. So, here we are.
I feel like this should fall under the "you break it, you buy it" principle. If they don't want courts telling them how to "conduct foreign policy" they shouldn't illegally deport people.
Very simple: Don't break the law, then we won't have to limit your exercise of power.
Very simple: Don't break the law, then we won't have to limit your exercise of power.
"the state can just summarily imprison someone without filing charges or holding a trial" doesn't just overturn democracy it overturns 1000 years of common law, like throwing out the entire legal system entirely and saying all people in America are the state's property.
They continue to violate a court order to retrieve someone they illegally deported.
We’re now well beyond a constitutional crisis. If they’re allowed to do this, their secret police can sweep up anyone, for any reason, deport them & refuse to bring them back.
That would be the end of democracy.
We’re now well beyond a constitutional crisis. If they’re allowed to do this, their secret police can sweep up anyone, for any reason, deport them & refuse to bring them back.
That would be the end of democracy.
April 14, 2025 at 3:56 AM
I feel like this should fall under the "you break it, you buy it" principle. If they don't want courts telling them how to "conduct foreign policy" they shouldn't illegally deport people.
Very simple: Don't break the law, then we won't have to limit your exercise of power.
Very simple: Don't break the law, then we won't have to limit your exercise of power.
There are more than 10x as many people each year at the American Historical Association's conference! What if major news orgs covered that and similar events? Can you imagine how much better informed our country might be about its own history, institutions, and social structure?
Instead, this.
Instead, this.
It would appear CNN was also at the eugenics conference? Why are all these mainstream news orgs at a 200-person event where all the speakers are eugenicists and racists? www.cnn.com/2025/04/11/u...
April 12, 2025 at 5:57 PM
There are more than 10x as many people each year at the American Historical Association's conference! What if major news orgs covered that and similar events? Can you imagine how much better informed our country might be about its own history, institutions, and social structure?
Instead, this.
Instead, this.
The language at the end of the paragraph here is so crucial. No "public interest" is served by unlawfulness, while there is a significant "public interest" in *the rule of law.* Trump is not the embodiment of the public, certainly not more than laws duly authorized by Congress.
JUST IN: A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to restore funds for programs that provides legal services to unaccompanied minors children in immigration proceedings.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
April 2, 2025 at 5:08 AM
The language at the end of the paragraph here is so crucial. No "public interest" is served by unlawfulness, while there is a significant "public interest" in *the rule of law.* Trump is not the embodiment of the public, certainly not more than laws duly authorized by Congress.
He's on the wrong side of all of this and his payouts are illegal.
But our whole system of government should not hinge on such points. We should have a democratic system so robust that it's not decided by gerrymandering. That does not come down to a handful of votes in a handful of states.
But our whole system of government should not hinge on such points. We should have a democratic system so robust that it's not decided by gerrymandering. That does not come down to a handful of votes in a handful of states.
Musk on Tuesday’s election in Wisconsin: l feel like it's is one of those things that may not seem like it will affect the entire destiny of humanity, but I think it will
March 31, 2025 at 2:51 AM
He's on the wrong side of all of this and his payouts are illegal.
But our whole system of government should not hinge on such points. We should have a democratic system so robust that it's not decided by gerrymandering. That does not come down to a handful of votes in a handful of states.
But our whole system of government should not hinge on such points. We should have a democratic system so robust that it's not decided by gerrymandering. That does not come down to a handful of votes in a handful of states.
So far, the president claims he can ignore the Constitutional actions of Congress (appropriations), judges (legal rulings on immigration), and presidents (Biden's pardons).
Will someone point to the parts of the Constitution that do still apply?
Will someone point to the parts of the Constitution that do still apply?
March 18, 2025 at 12:38 AM
So far, the president claims he can ignore the Constitutional actions of Congress (appropriations), judges (legal rulings on immigration), and presidents (Biden's pardons).
Will someone point to the parts of the Constitution that do still apply?
Will someone point to the parts of the Constitution that do still apply?
@pomonacollege.bsky.social: I hope you will appropriately resist this. If they have a specific case, let them make it in court and cooperate. Otherwise, fight this illegitimate pressure on academic freedom.
First, pull funding from Columbia and start to lock up its students. Second, threaten other universities with the same.
All 60 schools on this list need to join together to fight this assault on academic freedom.
All 60 schools on this list need to join together to fight this assault on academic freedom.
The Ed. Department's Office for Civil Rights sent letters to 60 additional institutions "warning them of potential enforcement actions" for "violations relating to antisemitic harassment and discrimination" including Harvard, Brown, Stanford, Princeton, UNC, and several UC's
March 11, 2025 at 5:40 AM
@pomonacollege.bsky.social: I hope you will appropriately resist this. If they have a specific case, let them make it in court and cooperate. Otherwise, fight this illegitimate pressure on academic freedom.
We have a president who fundamentally does not care about people. Not one bit. He sees a humanitarian crisis, thinks "What if all those people were just gone?", and then salivates over the development opportunity, with himself at the center.
Lacking all human empathy.
Lacking all human empathy.
Complete batshit lunacy on the president's Truth Social account. Yes, he really posted this.
February 26, 2025 at 5:35 AM
We have a president who fundamentally does not care about people. Not one bit. He sees a humanitarian crisis, thinks "What if all those people were just gone?", and then salivates over the development opportunity, with himself at the center.
Lacking all human empathy.
Lacking all human empathy.
Happy Birthday to W.E.B. Du Bois.
He'd be 157 today, which means that his long life (95.5 years!) was still longer than the time since he died (61.5 years ago).
He continues to inspire me in my historical work and political understanding.
He'd be 157 today, which means that his long life (95.5 years!) was still longer than the time since he died (61.5 years ago).
He continues to inspire me in my historical work and political understanding.
February 23, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Happy Birthday to W.E.B. Du Bois.
He'd be 157 today, which means that his long life (95.5 years!) was still longer than the time since he died (61.5 years ago).
He continues to inspire me in my historical work and political understanding.
He'd be 157 today, which means that his long life (95.5 years!) was still longer than the time since he died (61.5 years ago).
He continues to inspire me in my historical work and political understanding.
This seems useful right now. That 1/5 figure is astounding to think of. What happens to your local school funding if the state suddenly has 1/5 of it's budget frozen? School lunch for your kid? Salary for your teacher? Maintenance on the buildings?
usafacts.org/articles/whi...
usafacts.org/articles/whi...
Which states rely the most on federal aid? | USAFacts
A fifth of state and local government revenues come from federal funding.
usafacts.org
January 28, 2025 at 3:58 AM
This seems useful right now. That 1/5 figure is astounding to think of. What happens to your local school funding if the state suddenly has 1/5 of it's budget frozen? School lunch for your kid? Salary for your teacher? Maintenance on the buildings?
usafacts.org/articles/whi...
usafacts.org/articles/whi...
Some Republicans have been talking for decades about destroying the federal government. It appears that they've finally found a president willing to pull down the house around him. Tomorrow they take a step toward unilaterally cutting up to $3T, subordinating it to their own political principles.
January 28, 2025 at 3:46 AM
Some Republicans have been talking for decades about destroying the federal government. It appears that they've finally found a president willing to pull down the house around him. Tomorrow they take a step toward unilaterally cutting up to $3T, subordinating it to their own political principles.
"The time is always ripe to do right. Now is the time to make real the promise of democracy and transform our pending national elegy into a creative psalm of brotherhood. Now is the time to lift our national policy from the quicksand of racial injustice to the solid rock of human dignity." - MLK
January 20, 2025 at 4:22 AM
"The time is always ripe to do right. Now is the time to make real the promise of democracy and transform our pending national elegy into a creative psalm of brotherhood. Now is the time to lift our national policy from the quicksand of racial injustice to the solid rock of human dignity." - MLK
If nothing else, studying history should help you learn not to look like a fool. I'm no Jefferson expert and I would know enough to be suspicious of this prayer. A quick google search would then clear the matter up.
In his opening speech, Speaker Mike Johnson just recited a long prayer attributed to Thomas Jefferson.
As @jackjenkins.me and others have pointed out, Jefferson never said any of this: www.monticello.org/research-edu...
As @jackjenkins.me and others have pointed out, Jefferson never said any of this: www.monticello.org/research-edu...
January 4, 2025 at 2:30 AM
If nothing else, studying history should help you learn not to look like a fool. I'm no Jefferson expert and I would know enough to be suspicious of this prayer. A quick google search would then clear the matter up.
This is fantastic.
Transgender trailblazer Sarah McBride heads to her debut in Congress, hoping for a touch of grace
U.S. Rep.-elect Sarah McBride will be sworn in as the first openly transgender member of Congress on Jan. 3.
apnews.com
December 31, 2024 at 6:44 PM
This is fantastic.
A Trump loss may have spelled the end of the GOP as a stable, majority party. What if a Trump win spells the end of the Dems, with a new opposition party emerging? Like the Whigs who buckled against the Dems when it came to slavery, maybe we're ready for a new populist anti-authoritatian party?
December 23, 2024 at 6:38 AM
A Trump loss may have spelled the end of the GOP as a stable, majority party. What if a Trump win spells the end of the Dems, with a new opposition party emerging? Like the Whigs who buckled against the Dems when it came to slavery, maybe we're ready for a new populist anti-authoritatian party?
An Onion headline that lives in my head rent-free.
December 2, 2024 at 6:52 AM
An Onion headline that lives in my head rent-free.