Joanne Freeman
@jbf1755.bsky.social
Historian of early US politics & culture; howl re: democracy—a lot. Last book: The Field of Blood: Violence in Congress & the Road to Civil War. Owned by Newbie the History Bird & Rosie the Resistance Bird.
https://www.youtube.com/@joannefreeman1755
https://www.youtube.com/@joannefreeman1755
Pinned
America at 250: A History - YouTube
This one-time-only course examines U.S. history from 1776 to the present, in advance of the nation's semiquincentennial (or 250th birthday) in 2026. Taught j...
www.youtube.com
Hey folks--
I've been asked to pin this link here, so here you go.
The lectures and podcast episodes for "America at 250," the lecture course that I'm teaching with David Blight and Beverly Gage are at this link.
www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...
I've been asked to pin this link here, so here you go.
The lectures and podcast episodes for "America at 250," the lecture course that I'm teaching with David Blight and Beverly Gage are at this link.
www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...
Timeline cleanse.
I gave Rosie a new toy, and she is SO HAPPY.
Bought it a long time ago and forgot I had it.
I gave Rosie a new toy, and she is SO HAPPY.
Bought it a long time ago and forgot I had it.
November 10, 2025 at 11:17 PM
Timeline cleanse.
I gave Rosie a new toy, and she is SO HAPPY.
Bought it a long time ago and forgot I had it.
I gave Rosie a new toy, and she is SO HAPPY.
Bought it a long time ago and forgot I had it.
Just going to sit here and watch Top Chef while grinding my teeth.
Not sure my teeth will survive our current politics.
Not sure my teeth will survive our current politics.
November 10, 2025 at 11:15 PM
Just going to sit here and watch Top Chef while grinding my teeth.
Not sure my teeth will survive our current politics.
Not sure my teeth will survive our current politics.
Reposted by Joanne Freeman
“I swore an oath to the Constitution, not a person," she says. "I just really, really implore my peers and everybody outside looking in, to just think about that. Really think about that, and think about what that means. And if there are questions, ask them. Keep talking."
In an encrypted group chat, National Guard members question Trump deployments
As President Trump's call for National Guard deployments rings out across the U.S., a small contingent of Ohio guard members is quietly expressing concern in an encrypted group chat.
www.npr.org
November 10, 2025 at 7:05 PM
“I swore an oath to the Constitution, not a person," she says. "I just really, really implore my peers and everybody outside looking in, to just think about that. Really think about that, and think about what that means. And if there are questions, ask them. Keep talking."
Reposted by Joanne Freeman
CUNY is waiving its application fee from Nov. 10-21 for New York State high school seniors on pace to graduate next year. You can apply to up to six of our colleges with one application! Go to cuny.edu/apply.
November 10, 2025 at 6:00 PM
CUNY is waiving its application fee from Nov. 10-21 for New York State high school seniors on pace to graduate next year. You can apply to up to six of our colleges with one application! Go to cuny.edu/apply.
Reposted by Joanne Freeman
Judge Wolf’s own words www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
November 10, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Judge Wolf’s own words www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
Reposted by Joanne Freeman
November 10, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Reposted by Joanne Freeman
Federal Judge, Warning of ‘Existential Threat’ to Democracy, Resigns
www.nytimes.com
November 10, 2025 at 3:53 PM
This.
This.
This.
This.
This.
seems to me that those democrats inclined not to fight perceive themselves as living through a somewhat ordinary cycle of presidential overreach and backlash and not something much more significant and dangerous
November 10, 2025 at 1:34 PM
This.
This.
This.
This.
This.
It’s also an advertisement, suggesting that it’s safe to break the law for DJT.
The pardons are primarily symbolic: No one on the list has been charged with federal crimes, and Trump can't pardon those facing state charges in GA, AZ, NV and WI.
But it's another effort by Trump to recast the history of his bid to seize a second term in 2020. www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
But it's another effort by Trump to recast the history of his bid to seize a second term in 2020. www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
November 10, 2025 at 1:16 PM
It’s also an advertisement, suggesting that it’s safe to break the law for DJT.
Reposted by Joanne Freeman
Kyle Kingsbury is not a journalist. He is not an op-ed writer.
He is a computer safety researcher.
And he has written one of the most compelling, comprehensive accounts of the ongoing hell in Chicago that you could possibly imagine.
In under 1600 words.
aphyr.com/posts/397-i-...
He is a computer safety researcher.
And he has written one of the most compelling, comprehensive accounts of the ongoing hell in Chicago that you could possibly imagine.
In under 1600 words.
aphyr.com/posts/397-i-...
November 9, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Kyle Kingsbury is not a journalist. He is not an op-ed writer.
He is a computer safety researcher.
And he has written one of the most compelling, comprehensive accounts of the ongoing hell in Chicago that you could possibly imagine.
In under 1600 words.
aphyr.com/posts/397-i-...
He is a computer safety researcher.
And he has written one of the most compelling, comprehensive accounts of the ongoing hell in Chicago that you could possibly imagine.
In under 1600 words.
aphyr.com/posts/397-i-...
Tuesday’s elections were NOT about the Democratic Party.
They were about candidates focusing on the wants and needs of their constituents; about new leaders prepared to fight; about representation in every sense of the word.
Party leaders haven’t absorbed this yet.
They were about candidates focusing on the wants and needs of their constituents; about new leaders prepared to fight; about representation in every sense of the word.
Party leaders haven’t absorbed this yet.
November 10, 2025 at 3:23 AM
Tuesday’s elections were NOT about the Democratic Party.
They were about candidates focusing on the wants and needs of their constituents; about new leaders prepared to fight; about representation in every sense of the word.
Party leaders haven’t absorbed this yet.
They were about candidates focusing on the wants and needs of their constituents; about new leaders prepared to fight; about representation in every sense of the word.
Party leaders haven’t absorbed this yet.
Reposted by Joanne Freeman
That’s why I say keep calling.
I recognize this is, to some extent, cope/bargaining, but
this is the the first of several votes necessary to end the shutdown, right? so even the present unfathomable fecklessness doesn't mean it's over over, and there are multiple potential blockage points ahead to reject a no-concessions 'deal'?
this is the the first of several votes necessary to end the shutdown, right? so even the present unfathomable fecklessness doesn't mean it's over over, and there are multiple potential blockage points ahead to reject a no-concessions 'deal'?
November 10, 2025 at 3:02 AM
That’s why I say keep calling.
Reposted by Joanne Freeman
Chris Murphy: "There will be pretty substantial damage to a Dem brand that has been rehabilitated if on the heels of an election in which the people told us to keep fighting, we immediately stop... if we surrender without having gotten anything, I worry it'll be hard to get them back up off the mat"
November 7, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Chris Murphy: "There will be pretty substantial damage to a Dem brand that has been rehabilitated if on the heels of an election in which the people told us to keep fighting, we immediately stop... if we surrender without having gotten anything, I worry it'll be hard to get them back up off the mat"
Reposted by Joanne Freeman
This is a lie. All 31 Moms for Liberty candidates in contested races lost their 2025 elections. The only "wins" were in uncontested races. Apparently, being hypocritical, book-banning scolds isn't so popular.
November 9, 2025 at 3:51 PM
This is a lie. All 31 Moms for Liberty candidates in contested races lost their 2025 elections. The only "wins" were in uncontested races. Apparently, being hypocritical, book-banning scolds isn't so popular.
Call your senators.
NOW.
NOW.
Sounds like the squishes in the senate caucus are ready to pull the plug with no ACA changes. This is real. If you want to register your opinion you shld call yr senator in the next hour. They not only want to reopen w/nothing. They want cover from their colleagues who still want to hold out.
November 9, 2025 at 10:32 PM
Call your senators.
NOW.
NOW.
Yesterday at the farmer’s market I saw a vendor quietly give food to someone whose EBT (SNAP) card didn’t have enough money on it.
People helping people because the president and his administration refuse to.
Even when court-ordered.
People helping people because the president and his administration refuse to.
Even when court-ordered.
November 9, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Yesterday at the farmer’s market I saw a vendor quietly give food to someone whose EBT (SNAP) card didn’t have enough money on it.
People helping people because the president and his administration refuse to.
Even when court-ordered.
People helping people because the president and his administration refuse to.
Even when court-ordered.
Reposted by Joanne Freeman
I’ve never seen an American elected official fight so hard to starve people.
November 8, 2025 at 12:23 AM
I’ve never seen an American elected official fight so hard to starve people.
Reposted by Joanne Freeman
This. @hcrichardson.bsky.social and @jbf1755.bsky.social do in a podcast what 20 years of Sunday morning shows have failed to do: discuss current events in an informed historic context and proposed actionable ways forward.
Well worth listening to.
And thank you, Professors.
Well worth listening to.
And thank you, Professors.
What the Heck Just Happened?
YouTube video by Heather Cox Richardson
www.youtube.com
November 9, 2025 at 4:47 PM
This. @hcrichardson.bsky.social and @jbf1755.bsky.social do in a podcast what 20 years of Sunday morning shows have failed to do: discuss current events in an informed historic context and proposed actionable ways forward.
Well worth listening to.
And thank you, Professors.
Well worth listening to.
And thank you, Professors.
Reposted by Joanne Freeman
I'm struck by how many Chicagoans have seemingly felt compelled to write and share reflections on "this is what it feels like in Chicago right now". We know we're going through something awful together and we want the world to understand it.
Threading several of these pieces below.
Threading several of these pieces below.
November 9, 2025 at 1:15 AM
I'm struck by how many Chicagoans have seemingly felt compelled to write and share reflections on "this is what it feels like in Chicago right now". We know we're going through something awful together and we want the world to understand it.
Threading several of these pieces below.
Threading several of these pieces below.
Reposted by Joanne Freeman
I've been waiting to comment publicly on this until the university made its announcement, but the Department of History at Princeton is devastated by the recent death of our wonderful colleague Alison Isenberg.
Alison Isenberg, distinguished urban historian and co-founder of Princeton-Mellon Initiative in Architecture, Urbanism and the Humanities, dies
A public memorial and celebration of Isenberg’s life will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, at the University Chapel.
www.princeton.edu
November 7, 2025 at 8:44 PM
I've been waiting to comment publicly on this until the university made its announcement, but the Department of History at Princeton is devastated by the recent death of our wonderful colleague Alison Isenberg.
I keep thinking:
“Abi Normal”
“Abi Normal”
Watching the new Frankenstein.
Too early to know what I think…
Too early to know what I think…
November 9, 2025 at 12:02 AM
I keep thinking:
“Abi Normal”
“Abi Normal”
Watching the new Frankenstein.
Too early to know what I think…
Too early to know what I think…
November 8, 2025 at 11:54 PM
Watching the new Frankenstein.
Too early to know what I think…
Too early to know what I think…
On this day, I ruined the workplace.
November 8, 2025 at 10:48 PM
On this day, I ruined the workplace.
Reposted by Joanne Freeman
Elections are a challenge to power. That’s their point. And if you think you should be in power for ever, you will not be a friend to free and fair elections.”
—Joanne Freeman, with Heather Cox Richardson,
“What the Heck Just Happened” 11/8/2025.
—Joanne Freeman, with Heather Cox Richardson,
“What the Heck Just Happened” 11/8/2025.
November 8, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Elections are a challenge to power. That’s their point. And if you think you should be in power for ever, you will not be a friend to free and fair elections.”
—Joanne Freeman, with Heather Cox Richardson,
“What the Heck Just Happened” 11/8/2025.
—Joanne Freeman, with Heather Cox Richardson,
“What the Heck Just Happened” 11/8/2025.