William Foner
@nerdypossum.bsky.social
B.A. History. Aspiring amateur historian on Early America. Focused on contact, captivity, and colonialism. Substack "Writing Streams." https://open.substack.com/pub/writingstreams . Views are my own.
Reposted by William Foner
Discussing Lynn Hunt's How Writing Leads to Thinking essay with my class tonight. This semester the sentence that jumps out at me. ⬇️ Brilliant. Gorgeous. Be clear!
September 25, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Discussing Lynn Hunt's How Writing Leads to Thinking essay with my class tonight. This semester the sentence that jumps out at me. ⬇️ Brilliant. Gorgeous. Be clear!
Reposted by William Foner
It is quite simply dishonest to describe TPUSA as a “free speech” organization and not even mention the “Professor Watchlist,” as NPR just did. Reporting on a crime does not entail adopting the victim’s views.
September 11, 2025 at 11:35 AM
It is quite simply dishonest to describe TPUSA as a “free speech” organization and not even mention the “Professor Watchlist,” as NPR just did. Reporting on a crime does not entail adopting the victim’s views.
Reposted by William Foner
Genuinely evil people over at Fox
Fox News host on mentally ill people who commit crimes: “Just kill them”
www.mediamatters.org/fox-friends/...
www.mediamatters.org/fox-friends/...
September 10, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Genuinely evil people over at Fox
Reposted by William Foner
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) on the shooting of Charlie Kirk:
"Political violence, unfortunately, has ramped up in this country ... I think there are people who are fomenting it in this country. I think the president's rhetoric often foments it."
"Political violence, unfortunately, has ramped up in this country ... I think there are people who are fomenting it in this country. I think the president's rhetoric often foments it."
September 10, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) on the shooting of Charlie Kirk:
"Political violence, unfortunately, has ramped up in this country ... I think there are people who are fomenting it in this country. I think the president's rhetoric often foments it."
"Political violence, unfortunately, has ramped up in this country ... I think there are people who are fomenting it in this country. I think the president's rhetoric often foments it."
Reposted by William Foner
v1.108 is rolling out today 🚚
Now live, at long last: Bookmarks, aka Saved Posts. For all those posts you'll definitely plan to come back to!
Update the app and give it a try. The button is right down there 👇
Now live, at long last: Bookmarks, aka Saved Posts. For all those posts you'll definitely plan to come back to!
Update the app and give it a try. The button is right down there 👇
September 8, 2025 at 6:24 PM
v1.108 is rolling out today 🚚
Now live, at long last: Bookmarks, aka Saved Posts. For all those posts you'll definitely plan to come back to!
Update the app and give it a try. The button is right down there 👇
Now live, at long last: Bookmarks, aka Saved Posts. For all those posts you'll definitely plan to come back to!
Update the app and give it a try. The button is right down there 👇
Reposted by William Foner
Reposted by William Foner
History teacher Katharina Matro on how growing up in Germany and learning about the country’s past “made me a more informed citizen, a more politically aware citizen, a more critical thinker.” #FreedomToLearn #HonestHistory
Teaching with Integrity: Confronting a Nation's Past
YouTube video by American Historical Association
www.youtube.com
August 1, 2025 at 3:38 PM
History teacher Katharina Matro on how growing up in Germany and learning about the country’s past “made me a more informed citizen, a more politically aware citizen, a more critical thinker.” #FreedomToLearn #HonestHistory
Reposted by William Foner
"WASHINGTON, D.C. (August 1, 2025) – The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) announced today that it will begin an orderly wind-down of its operations"
cpb.org/pressroom/Co...
cpb.org/pressroom/Co...
August 1, 2025 at 4:59 PM
"WASHINGTON, D.C. (August 1, 2025) – The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) announced today that it will begin an orderly wind-down of its operations"
cpb.org/pressroom/Co...
cpb.org/pressroom/Co...
Reposted by William Foner
What can we do against such reckless hate? Enjoy & share widely the solidarity with all the amazing work in my 231st #ScholarSunday thread of public scholarly writing, podcasts, new & forthcoming books from the last week. 🗃️
americanstudier.substack.com/p/scholarsun...
americanstudier.substack.com/p/scholarsun...
#ScholarSunday Thread 231
Published on June 29, 2025
americanstudier.substack.com
June 29, 2025 at 3:25 PM
What can we do against such reckless hate? Enjoy & share widely the solidarity with all the amazing work in my 231st #ScholarSunday thread of public scholarly writing, podcasts, new & forthcoming books from the last week. 🗃️
americanstudier.substack.com/p/scholarsun...
americanstudier.substack.com/p/scholarsun...
Reposted by William Foner
The Justice Department has demanded that the president of the University of Virginia resign to help resolve a civil rights investigation into the school’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.
Trump Justice Dept. Pressuring University of Virginia President to Resign
The Justice Department has demanded that James E. Ryan step down to help resolve a civil rights investigation into the school, three people familiar with the matter said.
trib.al
June 27, 2025 at 1:05 AM
The Justice Department has demanded that the president of the University of Virginia resign to help resolve a civil rights investigation into the school’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.
In a writing slump, but still working on first piece for Substack!
June 26, 2025 at 6:47 PM
In a writing slump, but still working on first piece for Substack!
Reposted by William Foner
fellow historians, any rec's on short and accessible reflections on the importance and practice of citation? For my methods class I would love some reading for a "why we cite" discussion beyond mechanics. 🗃️
June 26, 2025 at 5:38 PM
fellow historians, any rec's on short and accessible reflections on the importance and practice of citation? For my methods class I would love some reading for a "why we cite" discussion beyond mechanics. 🗃️
Reposted by William Foner
The AHA recognizes that our colleagues in the federal government are facing unprecedented workforce reductions & has compiled resources in support, & are offering one year of free membership in the AHA to former employees of the federal govt. who have been terminated or resigned since January 20. 🗃️
Resources for Federal Historians - AHA
The American Historical Association supports historians employed by the federal government. We appreciate the important work they do every day to preserve, chronicle, and interpret American history. T...
www.historians.org
June 26, 2025 at 6:36 PM
The AHA recognizes that our colleagues in the federal government are facing unprecedented workforce reductions & has compiled resources in support, & are offering one year of free membership in the AHA to former employees of the federal govt. who have been terminated or resigned since January 20. 🗃️
Reposted by William Foner
Got to spend a couple hours this morning at the Newberry Library reading through sections of Vol. 3 of Ramusio’s “Navigationi et Viaggi” that were sources for Thevet’s “Singularitez” beyond Brazil. Good information for my translation project & several papers I’m working on. #earlymodern
June 18, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Got to spend a couple hours this morning at the Newberry Library reading through sections of Vol. 3 of Ramusio’s “Navigationi et Viaggi” that were sources for Thevet’s “Singularitez” beyond Brazil. Good information for my translation project & several papers I’m working on. #earlymodern
Reposted by William Foner
Major decision out of the Northern District of California. AI training on copyrighted material is fair use under the copyright act. This will have major implications for the AI industry and artists having their work stolen by AI companies.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
June 24, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Major decision out of the Northern District of California. AI training on copyrighted material is fair use under the copyright act. This will have major implications for the AI industry and artists having their work stolen by AI companies.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Reposted by William Foner
Please take a moment & read this piece by @alistairkitchen.bsky.social describing his ideological exclusion/expulsion from the US for his expressions/views.⬇️
In "Threat of Dissent," I wrote about the long history of ideological exclusions/deportations in the US & about all the challenges to them. 🗃️
In "Threat of Dissent," I wrote about the long history of ideological exclusions/deportations in the US & about all the challenges to them. 🗃️
I was deported by the U.S. for reporting on the Columbia University student protests.
www.newyorker.com/news/the-led...
www.newyorker.com/news/the-led...
How My Reporting on the Columbia Protests Led to My Deportation
As an Australian who wrote about the demonstrations while on campus, I gave my phone a superficial clean before flying to the U.S. I underestimated what I was up against.
www.newyorker.com
June 19, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Please take a moment & read this piece by @alistairkitchen.bsky.social describing his ideological exclusion/expulsion from the US for his expressions/views.⬇️
In "Threat of Dissent," I wrote about the long history of ideological exclusions/deportations in the US & about all the challenges to them. 🗃️
In "Threat of Dissent," I wrote about the long history of ideological exclusions/deportations in the US & about all the challenges to them. 🗃️
Reposted by William Foner
"Freedom finally came on June 19, 1865, when some 2,000 Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas. The army announced that the more than 250,000 enslaved Black people in the state were free by executive decree." Happy #Juneteenth ❤️🖤💚! 🗃️ nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stor...
The Historical Legacy of Juneteenth
Juneteenth is an often overlooked event in our nation’s history. On June 19, 1865, Union troops freed enslaved African Americans in Galveston Bay and across Texas some two and a half years after Presi...
nmaahc.si.edu
June 19, 2025 at 12:31 PM
"Freedom finally came on June 19, 1865, when some 2,000 Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas. The army announced that the more than 250,000 enslaved Black people in the state were free by executive decree." Happy #Juneteenth ❤️🖤💚! 🗃️ nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stor...
Reposted by William Foner
An interesting article in the NY Times this weekend about AI and History writing. #Skystorians www.nytimes.com/2025/06/16/m...
A.I. Is Poised to Rewrite History. Literally.
www.nytimes.com
June 17, 2025 at 1:34 PM
An interesting article in the NY Times this weekend about AI and History writing. #Skystorians www.nytimes.com/2025/06/16/m...
Reposted by William Foner
The AHA has updated our Guide for Contending with Online Harassment, offering recs to support members who are targets of online harassment. "Historians have the right to expect that discussion of their historical work will be conducted in a civil manner, free from harassment and intimidation." 🗃️
Guide for Contending with Online Harassment - AHA
Guidelines to AHA members and historians who fear that they may become or have become targets of online harassment.
www.historians.org
June 16, 2025 at 6:39 PM
The AHA has updated our Guide for Contending with Online Harassment, offering recs to support members who are targets of online harassment. "Historians have the right to expect that discussion of their historical work will be conducted in a civil manner, free from harassment and intimidation." 🗃️
Reposted by William Foner
i honestly think that a lot of "AI safety" worries are overblown but this is, uh, really bad www.nytimes.com/2025/06/13/t...
June 15, 2025 at 7:19 PM
i honestly think that a lot of "AI safety" worries are overblown but this is, uh, really bad www.nytimes.com/2025/06/13/t...
Reposted by William Foner
Incredible turn out for #NoKingsDay. Thank you to everyone speaking up and taking action. Dissent is patriotic!
June 15, 2025 at 1:00 AM
Incredible turn out for #NoKingsDay. Thank you to everyone speaking up and taking action. Dissent is patriotic!
Incredibly disturbing and frightening what is taking place across the country.
June 12, 2025 at 11:48 PM
Incredibly disturbing and frightening what is taking place across the country.
Reposted by William Foner
Sen. Alex Padilla: "If this is how this DHS responds to a senator with a question, I can only imagine what they're doing to farmers, to cooks, to day laborers out in the Los Angeles community and throughout California and throughout the country. We will hold this administration accountable."
June 12, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Sen. Alex Padilla: "If this is how this DHS responds to a senator with a question, I can only imagine what they're doing to farmers, to cooks, to day laborers out in the Los Angeles community and throughout California and throughout the country. We will hold this administration accountable."