Jen Babcock
@jlbab.bsky.social
Department of Communication Studies & Theatre, Bridgewater College, VA. New Englander. She/her
Reposted by Jen Babcock
Really important to stress that the Crown Jewels of the US higher education system were never the Ivies or elite SLACs (other countries have equivalents of these) but the well-funded, large, cheap, and excellently staffed public state university systems bringing high quality education to the masses.
One of the bragging rights that the US ed system had in the 20th century is that we didn't have education tracks. Essentially, any kid could go to a CC or state school & major in whatever they wanted to (obviously an oversimplification). I fear this aspect of the American dream is dying.
November 23, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Really important to stress that the Crown Jewels of the US higher education system were never the Ivies or elite SLACs (other countries have equivalents of these) but the well-funded, large, cheap, and excellently staffed public state university systems bringing high quality education to the masses.
Reposted by Jen Babcock
Massive shoutout out to whoever handles the Royal Canadian Air Force’s social media account. They responded to every single comment on their already very solid Trans Day of Remembrance post and they responded like this…
November 22, 2025 at 1:03 AM
Massive shoutout out to whoever handles the Royal Canadian Air Force’s social media account. They responded to every single comment on their already very solid Trans Day of Remembrance post and they responded like this…
SO TRUE
November 16, 2025 at 4:30 PM
SO TRUE
Reposted by Jen Babcock
as a two-stater now, you better believe I’m gonna be banging so many drums about this, all the way to Albany
NEW: The first two years of Massachusetts' millionaire tax has raised $3 billion more than expected.
And rather than driving the rich away, IPS researchers found that the number of millionaires has *increased.*
Tax the rich. Greg Ryan in @bloomberg.com:
And rather than driving the rich away, IPS researchers found that the number of millionaires has *increased.*
Tax the rich. Greg Ryan in @bloomberg.com:
Millionaire Tax That Inspired Mamdani Fuels $5.7 Billion Haul in Massachusetts
A millionaire levy in Massachusetts that New York City mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani holds up as a model for taxing the rich has generated $3 billion more in revenue than expected without forcing...
www.bloomberg.com
November 14, 2025 at 3:36 AM
as a two-stater now, you better believe I’m gonna be banging so many drums about this, all the way to Albany
Reposted by Jen Babcock
This is what oligarchy looks like:
If you're Elon Musk, the richest man alive, Tesla gives you a $1 trillion pay package & Trump gives you a huge tax break.
If you're a poor kid on SNAP, Trump appeals a court decision that would have prevented you from going hungry.
Obscene.
If you're Elon Musk, the richest man alive, Tesla gives you a $1 trillion pay package & Trump gives you a huge tax break.
If you're a poor kid on SNAP, Trump appeals a court decision that would have prevented you from going hungry.
Obscene.
November 7, 2025 at 12:18 AM
This is what oligarchy looks like:
If you're Elon Musk, the richest man alive, Tesla gives you a $1 trillion pay package & Trump gives you a huge tax break.
If you're a poor kid on SNAP, Trump appeals a court decision that would have prevented you from going hungry.
Obscene.
If you're Elon Musk, the richest man alive, Tesla gives you a $1 trillion pay package & Trump gives you a huge tax break.
If you're a poor kid on SNAP, Trump appeals a court decision that would have prevented you from going hungry.
Obscene.
Reposted by Jen Babcock
For streaming and updates: linktr.ee/historyteachin
October 26, 2025 at 12:45 PM
For streaming and updates: linktr.ee/historyteachin
Reposted by Jen Babcock
Our military is being paid by an anonymous donor.
Our WH East Wing was demolished for a ballroom - paid for by donors.
These aren’t acts of benevolence or patriotism.
This is the oligarchy assuming control, insidiously becoming part of how we function.
Every American should reject it.
Our WH East Wing was demolished for a ballroom - paid for by donors.
These aren’t acts of benevolence or patriotism.
This is the oligarchy assuming control, insidiously becoming part of how we function.
Every American should reject it.
October 25, 2025 at 2:21 AM
Our military is being paid by an anonymous donor.
Our WH East Wing was demolished for a ballroom - paid for by donors.
These aren’t acts of benevolence or patriotism.
This is the oligarchy assuming control, insidiously becoming part of how we function.
Every American should reject it.
Our WH East Wing was demolished for a ballroom - paid for by donors.
These aren’t acts of benevolence or patriotism.
This is the oligarchy assuming control, insidiously becoming part of how we function.
Every American should reject it.
Reposted by Jen Babcock
When Massachusetts passed a "millionaires tax" in 2023, conservatives claimed the rich would flee.
But two years later, they haven't — and MA has collected $5.7B for infrastructure and public education.
A reminder that positive change can still happen at the state level.
But two years later, they haven't — and MA has collected $5.7B for infrastructure and public education.
A reminder that positive change can still happen at the state level.
October 24, 2025 at 10:01 PM
When Massachusetts passed a "millionaires tax" in 2023, conservatives claimed the rich would flee.
But two years later, they haven't — and MA has collected $5.7B for infrastructure and public education.
A reminder that positive change can still happen at the state level.
But two years later, they haven't — and MA has collected $5.7B for infrastructure and public education.
A reminder that positive change can still happen at the state level.
Reposted by Jen Babcock
The EPA says cutting a pollution reporting program will save the oil and gas industry millions. Some companies are pushing back, saying they need it
Why Big Oil Is Asking EPA Not to Cut its Polluter Reporting Program
The oil and gas industry says it needs the program’s data to conduct business.
bloom.bg
October 23, 2025 at 4:30 PM
The EPA says cutting a pollution reporting program will save the oil and gas industry millions. Some companies are pushing back, saying they need it
Reposted by Jen Babcock
“The Trump administration is making the park service inept intentionally, in order to privatize more of its functions… ‘You can’t just pull a billion dollars out of that and expect the park to operate. So the premise is, you’re setting the parks up to fail.’”
October 23, 2025 at 3:58 PM
“The Trump administration is making the park service inept intentionally, in order to privatize more of its functions… ‘You can’t just pull a billion dollars out of that and expect the park to operate. So the premise is, you’re setting the parks up to fail.’”
Reposted by Jen Babcock
i hope that a governor spanberger and a democratic general assembly uses its authority to discipline the university for its capitulation and to remove these BOV members who have decided that they work for donald trump and not the people of the commonwealth
October 22, 2025 at 11:56 PM
i hope that a governor spanberger and a democratic general assembly uses its authority to discipline the university for its capitulation and to remove these BOV members who have decided that they work for donald trump and not the people of the commonwealth
Reposted by Jen Babcock
Billionaires are using a loophole to avoid Medicare taxes. Closing it — and eliminating other ways around the tax for wealthy business owners — could raise more than $250 billion over 10 years for the program.
(Published Dec. 2024)
(Published Dec. 2024)
How a Decades-Old Loophole Lets Billionaires Avoid Medicare Taxes
Some of Wall Street’s richest and most powerful figures are using a legal loophole to avoid paying millions of dollars in taxes earmarked for health care, a ProPublica investigation found.
www.propublica.org
October 23, 2025 at 1:40 AM
Billionaires are using a loophole to avoid Medicare taxes. Closing it — and eliminating other ways around the tax for wealthy business owners — could raise more than $250 billion over 10 years for the program.
(Published Dec. 2024)
(Published Dec. 2024)
Reposted by Jen Babcock
Democrats should be drawing up legislation right now, this very minute, to bar Trump from helping himself to $230 million in taxpayer funds from DOJ. Challenge Republicans to hold a vote on it. Push this so hard in the media that every GOP Senate and House candidate is pressed to comment on it.
October 21, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Democrats should be drawing up legislation right now, this very minute, to bar Trump from helping himself to $230 million in taxpayer funds from DOJ. Challenge Republicans to hold a vote on it. Push this so hard in the media that every GOP Senate and House candidate is pressed to comment on it.
Reposted by Jen Babcock
Moskowitz: We need $30 billion to extend, obviously, these healthcare subsidies, which allow Americans—Americans, not illegal—Americans, citizens, to afford healthcare.
And the president’s like, “We don’t have $30 billion, but I am going to send $40 billion to my dear friend in Argentina.”
And the president’s like, “We don’t have $30 billion, but I am going to send $40 billion to my dear friend in Argentina.”
October 20, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Moskowitz: We need $30 billion to extend, obviously, these healthcare subsidies, which allow Americans—Americans, not illegal—Americans, citizens, to afford healthcare.
And the president’s like, “We don’t have $30 billion, but I am going to send $40 billion to my dear friend in Argentina.”
And the president’s like, “We don’t have $30 billion, but I am going to send $40 billion to my dear friend in Argentina.”
Reposted by Jen Babcock
I’d say this is damn good reason for Democrats to hold fast to the shutdown until Republicans agree to protect ACA credits.
Just receieved this today from Florida Blue. This is for a Bronze plan. Our monthly premiums are going from $333 (2025) to $2300 in 2026.
October 20, 2025 at 5:46 PM
I’d say this is damn good reason for Democrats to hold fast to the shutdown until Republicans agree to protect ACA credits.
Reposted by Jen Babcock
The wildest part about the largest protest in American history is that the president’s response was to post a video literally proving the point of the protest.
Trump posts AI video showing him literally dumping shit on America
October 19, 2025 at 3:32 AM
The wildest part about the largest protest in American history is that the president’s response was to post a video literally proving the point of the protest.
A patriotic afternoon with good friends at Staunton’s No Kings rally
October 18, 2025 at 6:13 PM
A patriotic afternoon with good friends at Staunton’s No Kings rally
Reposted by Jen Babcock
If you think that professors exist as repositories of knowledge that students ask for answers, you’re missing the entire point of a college education.
We’re here to teach students how to do research, how to analyze and argue, how to think for themselves — how to find the answers on their own.
We’re here to teach students how to do research, how to analyze and argue, how to think for themselves — how to find the answers on their own.
Wow. Just wow.
"Students pay premium prices for information that AI now delivers instantly and for free. A business student can ask ChatGPT to explain supply chain optimization or generate market analysis in seconds. The traditional lecture-and-test model faces its Blockbuster moment."
"Students pay premium prices for information that AI now delivers instantly and for free. A business student can ask ChatGPT to explain supply chain optimization or generate market analysis in seconds. The traditional lecture-and-test model faces its Blockbuster moment."
When Knowledge is Free, What are Professors For?
Higher Education Must Stop Competing with AI on Information and Start Teaching What Machines Can’t Do
www.forbes.com
October 16, 2025 at 1:45 PM
If you think that professors exist as repositories of knowledge that students ask for answers, you’re missing the entire point of a college education.
We’re here to teach students how to do research, how to analyze and argue, how to think for themselves — how to find the answers on their own.
We’re here to teach students how to do research, how to analyze and argue, how to think for themselves — how to find the answers on their own.
Reposted by Jen Babcock
The 400 richest Americans are now worth a record $6.6 trillion.
The entire bottom 50% of America is worth just $4.2 trillion.
Read that back.
When 400 people control more wealth than half a country’s population, we have a very serious problem.
The entire bottom 50% of America is worth just $4.2 trillion.
Read that back.
When 400 people control more wealth than half a country’s population, we have a very serious problem.
October 12, 2025 at 11:30 PM
The 400 richest Americans are now worth a record $6.6 trillion.
The entire bottom 50% of America is worth just $4.2 trillion.
Read that back.
When 400 people control more wealth than half a country’s population, we have a very serious problem.
The entire bottom 50% of America is worth just $4.2 trillion.
Read that back.
When 400 people control more wealth than half a country’s population, we have a very serious problem.
Reposted by Jen Babcock
The Daily’s credulous/willfully ignorant/deliberately misleading portrait of Vought matters because it is indicative of a much broader tendency to normalize the assault on the constitutional order - to sanitize those who are responsible for it and the extremist ideas that are animating them.
October 12, 2025 at 1:41 PM
The Daily’s credulous/willfully ignorant/deliberately misleading portrait of Vought matters because it is indicative of a much broader tendency to normalize the assault on the constitutional order - to sanitize those who are responsible for it and the extremist ideas that are animating them.
Reposted by Jen Babcock
Robert De Niro: “Now we have a would-be king — King Donald the First. Fuck that. I’m Robert De Niro and I’m asking you to stand up and be counted in the nationwide No Kings protest on October 18th”
👉👉 nokings.org
👉👉 nokings.org
October 11, 2025 at 9:21 PM
Robert De Niro: “Now we have a would-be king — King Donald the First. Fuck that. I’m Robert De Niro and I’m asking you to stand up and be counted in the nationwide No Kings protest on October 18th”
👉👉 nokings.org
👉👉 nokings.org
Reposted by Jen Babcock
More moral and message clarity from another genuine leader within the Democratic Party.
@sanders.senate.gov: "No, Speaker Johnson, the #NoKings Rally on October 18th is not a 'hate America' rally. ... It’s a rally of millions of people who believe in American freedom and are not going to allow you and President Trump to turn us into an authoritarian country."
October 11, 2025 at 3:32 PM
More moral and message clarity from another genuine leader within the Democratic Party.
Reposted by Jen Babcock
It feels brave in this moment. A gauntlet laid down. But with no bravado. Just sleeves rolled up.
October 11, 2025 at 3:38 PM
It feels brave in this moment. A gauntlet laid down. But with no bravado. Just sleeves rolled up.
Reposted by Jen Babcock
It's clearer by the day that Columbia making a deal with Trump in July was a catastrophe for higher education as a whole. It gave terrible people a bottomless appetite for extortion. The other eight universities must follow MIT's lead.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/10/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/10/u...
M.I.T. Rejects a White House Offer for Special Funding Treatment
www.nytimes.com
October 11, 2025 at 3:44 PM
It's clearer by the day that Columbia making a deal with Trump in July was a catastrophe for higher education as a whole. It gave terrible people a bottomless appetite for extortion. The other eight universities must follow MIT's lead.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/10/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/10/u...
Mamdani showing it’s not that hard to treat everyone with humanity
I wrote a little about some of the little details you might have missed in this video and why it hit me so hard as a trans person this morning:
www.burnsnotice.com/you-have-to-...
www.burnsnotice.com/you-have-to-...
October 11, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Mamdani showing it’s not that hard to treat everyone with humanity