Laura Sell
@laurasell.bsky.social
I promote books at Duke University Press. Reader, cat lover, messy cook and lazy gardener. Will plunge into any nearby body of water.
Reposted by Laura Sell
my takeaway from this letter is that glenn youngkin, rector sheridan and their flunkies on the board are deeply dishonest people who are engaged, with the trump administration, in a mob-style shakedown against the university of virginia
Former UVA president Jim Ryan, who resigned over the summer due to pressure from the Trump Administration, just shared this 12-page letter with the Faculty Senate, detailing his experience with the Board of Visitors and DOJ.
It's a surreal--and troubling--read.
drive.google.com/file/d/1Is6x...
It's a surreal--and troubling--read.
drive.google.com/file/d/1Is6x...
November 14, 2025 at 2:47 PM
my takeaway from this letter is that glenn youngkin, rector sheridan and their flunkies on the board are deeply dishonest people who are engaged, with the trump administration, in a mob-style shakedown against the university of virginia
Reposted by Laura Sell
A letter from former UVA President Jim Ryan recounting the circumstances of his resignation and the politicking that preceded it.
Here is the letter from Jim drive.google.com/file/d/1rgFz...
11.14.25_JER Resignation Facuty.pdf
drive.google.com
November 14, 2025 at 1:58 PM
A letter from former UVA President Jim Ryan recounting the circumstances of his resignation and the politicking that preceded it.
Yes! Fighting back! Replace the entire board.
www.insidehighered.com/news/governm...
www.insidehighered.com/news/governm...
Spanberger Calls on UVA to Pause President Search
Virginia’s Democratic governor-elect has called on the University of Virginia to wait to hire a new leader until she appoints new board members in January.
www.insidehighered.com
November 14, 2025 at 11:22 AM
Yes! Fighting back! Replace the entire board.
www.insidehighered.com/news/governm...
www.insidehighered.com/news/governm...
Reposted by Laura Sell
Once again my political enemies are smearing me by presenting evidence of my crimes
December 24, 2024 at 2:28 PM
Once again my political enemies are smearing me by presenting evidence of my crimes
Reposted by Laura Sell
The room is
almost all
elephant.
Almost none
of it isn’t.
Pretty much
solid elephant.
So there’s no
room to talk
about it.
-Kay Ryan, “The Elephant in the Room”
#everynightapoem
almost all
elephant.
Almost none
of it isn’t.
Pretty much
solid elephant.
So there’s no
room to talk
about it.
-Kay Ryan, “The Elephant in the Room”
#everynightapoem
November 13, 2025 at 12:13 AM
The room is
almost all
elephant.
Almost none
of it isn’t.
Pretty much
solid elephant.
So there’s no
room to talk
about it.
-Kay Ryan, “The Elephant in the Room”
#everynightapoem
almost all
elephant.
Almost none
of it isn’t.
Pretty much
solid elephant.
So there’s no
room to talk
about it.
-Kay Ryan, “The Elephant in the Room”
#everynightapoem
Reposted by Laura Sell
NEW: A 12-foot-tall, faux bronze statue of Trump and Jeffrey Epstein skipping and holding hands has magically reappeared in downtown D.C. this morning.
A day after Dems released bombshell emails suggesting Trump knew about Epstein's child sex trafficking ring. www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-...
A day after Dems released bombshell emails suggesting Trump knew about Epstein's child sex trafficking ring. www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-...
Trump-Epstein ‘Best Friends Forever’ Statue Reappears In DC After Bombshell Emails
Anonymous activists are back with their statue, which the Trump administration previously damaged, to satirically honor the men's "long-lasting bond."
www.huffpost.com
November 13, 2025 at 5:40 PM
NEW: A 12-foot-tall, faux bronze statue of Trump and Jeffrey Epstein skipping and holding hands has magically reappeared in downtown D.C. this morning.
A day after Dems released bombshell emails suggesting Trump knew about Epstein's child sex trafficking ring. www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-...
A day after Dems released bombshell emails suggesting Trump knew about Epstein's child sex trafficking ring. www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-...
Those 8 Democratic senators should be forced to read each post in this thread aloud in public.
My ACA current plan is going from $385/mo to $821/mo.
November 11, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Those 8 Democratic senators should be forced to read each post in this thread aloud in public.
Reposted by Laura Sell
California alone produces a third of all the food America eats. So this is a lie.
But let’s break down the food produced by the red states:
Guess what percent is harvested by people from Latin America?
But let’s break down the food produced by the red states:
Guess what percent is harvested by people from Latin America?
November 11, 2025 at 12:54 AM
California alone produces a third of all the food America eats. So this is a lie.
But let’s break down the food produced by the red states:
Guess what percent is harvested by people from Latin America?
But let’s break down the food produced by the red states:
Guess what percent is harvested by people from Latin America?
Reposted by Laura Sell
American politics makes a lot more sense when you realize that the GOP is afraid of pissing off the GOP base, and the Dems are afraid of pissing off the GOP base, but neither party is afraid of pissing off the Dem base.
March 14, 2025 at 10:24 PM
American politics makes a lot more sense when you realize that the GOP is afraid of pissing off the GOP base, and the Dems are afraid of pissing off the GOP base, but neither party is afraid of pissing off the Dem base.
Solar + concrete roofs=resilience. I really wish we had pushed solar to Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria. It's the future for the Caribbean.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/08/c...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/08/c...
After Jamaica’s Disastrous Storm, Solar Power Is a Bright Spot
www.nytimes.com
November 10, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Solar + concrete roofs=resilience. I really wish we had pushed solar to Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria. It's the future for the Caribbean.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/08/c...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/08/c...
Reposted by Laura Sell
Our fall sale ends tomorrow! Shop now and save 50% on all in-stock and pre-order books and journal issues with coupon FALL25. Don't delay!
buff.ly/c9nsWVf
buff.ly/c9nsWVf
November 8, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Our fall sale ends tomorrow! Shop now and save 50% on all in-stock and pre-order books and journal issues with coupon FALL25. Don't delay!
buff.ly/c9nsWVf
buff.ly/c9nsWVf
Reposted by Laura Sell
A List of Things Said to Have Been Ruined by Women
🧵
🧵
November 6, 2025 at 8:43 PM
A List of Things Said to Have Been Ruined by Women
🧵
🧵
Reposted by Laura Sell
TurboTax makers Intuit have lobbied the government for years to block free public tax-filing.
Now Trump has terminated the free IRS Direct File program, nearly a year after Intuit gave his inauguration $1M.
Money in politics is the root of our dysfunction.
Now Trump has terminated the free IRS Direct File program, nearly a year after Intuit gave his inauguration $1M.
Money in politics is the root of our dysfunction.
November 6, 2025 at 8:30 PM
TurboTax makers Intuit have lobbied the government for years to block free public tax-filing.
Now Trump has terminated the free IRS Direct File program, nearly a year after Intuit gave his inauguration $1M.
Money in politics is the root of our dysfunction.
Now Trump has terminated the free IRS Direct File program, nearly a year after Intuit gave his inauguration $1M.
Money in politics is the root of our dysfunction.
Reposted by Laura Sell
Yet another way Trump is screwing working families: this was a FREE tool we set up so folks could file taxes directly, without paying an expensive service. So who does cancelling it benefit? The answer is not working Americans, but it sure is big corporations who profit off them.
IRS to States: Direct File Tool Is a No-Go for Next Tax Season
The IRS told its state partners this week that the Biden-era Direct File tool won’t be offered for the 2026 tax filing season.
news.bloombergtax.com
November 5, 2025 at 7:31 PM
Yet another way Trump is screwing working families: this was a FREE tool we set up so folks could file taxes directly, without paying an expensive service. So who does cancelling it benefit? The answer is not working Americans, but it sure is big corporations who profit off them.
Reposted by Laura Sell
My district is home to thousands of federal workers, and their voices should be heard in the halls of Congress during this shutdown.
It's time to end the political games. Republicans need to open the House so we can get to work. (3/3)
It's time to end the political games. Republicans need to open the House so we can get to work. (3/3)
November 5, 2025 at 6:10 PM
My district is home to thousands of federal workers, and their voices should be heard in the halls of Congress during this shutdown.
It's time to end the political games. Republicans need to open the House so we can get to work. (3/3)
It's time to end the political games. Republicans need to open the House so we can get to work. (3/3)
Reposted by Laura Sell
"Kathy is a soon-to-be-retired small animal veterinarian in the greater Des Moines area. She was once reviewed as a top veterinarian for rats on a local rat forum. In her office, she has a preserved dog heart suspended in fluid filled with heartworm."
Please Consider My Mom, Kathy, for the Next Golden Bachelorette
Kathy is a soon-to-be-retired small animal veterinarian in the greater Des Moines area. She was once reviewed as a top veterinarian for rats on a l...
buff.ly
November 5, 2025 at 4:20 PM
"Kathy is a soon-to-be-retired small animal veterinarian in the greater Des Moines area. She was once reviewed as a top veterinarian for rats on a local rat forum. In her office, she has a preserved dog heart suspended in fluid filled with heartworm."
Reposted by Laura Sell
Imagine how many food banks Bloomberg could have funded with that five mil instead of flushing it down the toilet of the Cuomo campaign.
November 5, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Imagine how many food banks Bloomberg could have funded with that five mil instead of flushing it down the toilet of the Cuomo campaign.
My colleagues are the best. Everyone works so hard and is so committed to the mission.
Just here to heap praise on @dukepress.bsky.social
One employee made a mistake with my translation rights. Once it was discovered, lots of ppl worked hard to fix it. And they did, in the most spectacular & honorable way possible.
Fabulous. If your field is among those they excel in, go with them!
One employee made a mistake with my translation rights. Once it was discovered, lots of ppl worked hard to fix it. And they did, in the most spectacular & honorable way possible.
Fabulous. If your field is among those they excel in, go with them!
November 5, 2025 at 10:58 AM
My colleagues are the best. Everyone works so hard and is so committed to the mission.
Who could have ever predicted this?
New: The FBI is quietly urging ICE agents to properly ID themselves in the field.
In a bulletin to law enforcement last month, it warned of criminals posing as ICE to rob, rape, kidnap—a problem it says now demands national coordination to confront.
By me & @carolinehaskins.bsky.social:
In a bulletin to law enforcement last month, it warned of criminals posing as ICE to rob, rape, kidnap—a problem it says now demands national coordination to confront.
By me & @carolinehaskins.bsky.social:
FBI Warns of Criminals Posing as ICE, Urges Agents to ID Themselves
In a bulletin to law enforcement agencies, the FBI said criminal impersonators are exploiting ICE’s image and urged nationwide coordination to distinguish real operations from fakes.
www.wired.com
November 4, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Who could have ever predicted this?
Reposted by Laura Sell
Please, PLEASE, I am begging you as both a parent and someone who is sick of all this THIS, go vote for your school boards. Even if you don't have kids, that's how these reactionary dipshits got their feet in, that's where the book bans and library cuts start.
November 4, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Please, PLEASE, I am begging you as both a parent and someone who is sick of all this THIS, go vote for your school boards. Even if you don't have kids, that's how these reactionary dipshits got their feet in, that's where the book bans and library cuts start.
Some really perverse incentives here for people to allow their homes to collapse into the sea rather than removing them proactively. A fix is-no surprise-stalled in the legislature.
www.theassemblync.com/environment/...
www.theassemblync.com/environment/...
An Outer Banks Village Loses More Homes to the Sea
At least five houses collapsed on Hatteras Island this week. As more homes are lost to the sea, government and homeowners reach a crossroads.
www.theassemblync.com
October 31, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Some really perverse incentives here for people to allow their homes to collapse into the sea rather than removing them proactively. A fix is-no surprise-stalled in the legislature.
www.theassemblync.com/environment/...
www.theassemblync.com/environment/...
Reposted by Laura Sell
Cost to fund SNAP and keep 42 million people from starving:
$100 billion
Cost of lost revenue due to tax cuts for the richest Americans in the top 1%:
$100 billion
One is decried as "welfare." One is not.
Why?
$100 billion
Cost of lost revenue due to tax cuts for the richest Americans in the top 1%:
$100 billion
One is decried as "welfare." One is not.
Why?
October 29, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Cost to fund SNAP and keep 42 million people from starving:
$100 billion
Cost of lost revenue due to tax cuts for the richest Americans in the top 1%:
$100 billion
One is decried as "welfare." One is not.
Why?
$100 billion
Cost of lost revenue due to tax cuts for the richest Americans in the top 1%:
$100 billion
One is decried as "welfare." One is not.
Why?
Reposted by Laura Sell
I cannot believe there are still people in my mentions arguing that boycotting an election because the candidates aren’t addressing your issue is a way to get them to pay attention.
two men are talking to each other and one of them says that 's not how it works
ALT: two men are talking to each other and one of them says that 's not how it works
media.tenor.com
October 29, 2025 at 7:41 PM
I cannot believe there are still people in my mentions arguing that boycotting an election because the candidates aren’t addressing your issue is a way to get them to pay attention.
I greatly admire these people working quietly for peace, year after year. www.theassemblync.com/place/state-...
Give Peace a Chance?
For 75 years, local pacifists have organized a “Peace Booth” at the State Fair. Is it exactly what our moment needs, or a relic of the past?
www.theassemblync.com
October 29, 2025 at 8:45 PM
I greatly admire these people working quietly for peace, year after year. www.theassemblync.com/place/state-...
Reposted by Laura Sell
This just in: "Charges were suddenly dropped Wednesday against a Tennessee man who had been jailed for more than a month for posting a Trump meme." The reversal came one day after @philinvestigates.com highlighted the case on NewsChannel 5 in Nashville. www.newschannel5.com/news/newscha...
CHARGES DROPPED! Tennessee authorities dismiss charges against man who posted Trump meme
Newly released video raises new questions about the arrest of a progressive Tennessee man for posting a Trump meme in a Facebook group
www.newschannel5.com
October 29, 2025 at 8:04 PM
This just in: "Charges were suddenly dropped Wednesday against a Tennessee man who had been jailed for more than a month for posting a Trump meme." The reversal came one day after @philinvestigates.com highlighted the case on NewsChannel 5 in Nashville. www.newschannel5.com/news/newscha...