Ronit Stahl
@ronitstahl.bsky.social
Historian @ UCBerkeley | Author: Enlisting Faith http://tinyurl.com/yyh2p4tq | current project: religious hospitals & conscience rights | sometimes quilts, sometimes climbs | posts my own | she/her
Reposted by Ronit Stahl
A little bit of history worth knowing. If it’s history, they are trying to wipe it out, to make room for the absurd tales of eternal innocence that bring fascism and bloodshed closer.
1/ The US Government has quietly removed a memorial to Black soldiers who died in World War II from the Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten, South Limburg. The move follows a complaint from the right-wing Heritage Foundation to the American Battle Monuments Commission. ⬇️
November 12, 2025 at 3:12 AM
A little bit of history worth knowing. If it’s history, they are trying to wipe it out, to make room for the absurd tales of eternal innocence that bring fascism and bloodshed closer.
The “freedom” to negotiate one’s health insurance is a prize only to those who have never had to argue, after being on hold for hours or emailing for weeks or going back-and-forth for months, about who covers an “out-of-network” lab to which your dr sent a test w/o your input—or much much worse.
Trump: "I want the money to go into an account for people where they buy their own health insurance. It's so good. The insurance will be better. It'll cost less. Everybody is gonna be happy. They're gonna feel like entrepreneurs. They're actually able to go out & negotiate their own insurance"
November 11, 2025 at 2:23 PM
The “freedom” to negotiate one’s health insurance is a prize only to those who have never had to argue, after being on hold for hours or emailing for weeks or going back-and-forth for months, about who covers an “out-of-network” lab to which your dr sent a test w/o your input—or much much worse.
Reposted by Ronit Stahl
As painful as it would be, all the things need to fail. We need, to borrow a concept from @smettler.bsky.social, "unsubmerge" the state, & make folks finally, a century later, realize that it is the federal government that backstops, underwrites, & guarantees all the other institutions in society.
Unfortunately, the solution is to let it continue. Trump's still at 40%. The only way, it seems, that we're going to get a durable supermajority to fully reject the malevolent, incompetent, & lawless authoritarianism is for the horrible, inhuman, awful consequences of it to become visible to all.
November 10, 2025 at 4:08 AM
As painful as it would be, all the things need to fail. We need, to borrow a concept from @smettler.bsky.social, "unsubmerge" the state, & make folks finally, a century later, realize that it is the federal government that backstops, underwrites, & guarantees all the other institutions in society.
Reposted by Ronit Stahl
This might sound crazy, but travel disruptions at Thanksgiving would have been … good? It would have driven home why we need a functional government. Dems could have capitalized. Instead, they worried more about disrupted travel than people getting thrown off their health insurance. Unbelievable.
November 10, 2025 at 4:03 AM
This might sound crazy, but travel disruptions at Thanksgiving would have been … good? It would have driven home why we need a functional government. Dems could have capitalized. Instead, they worried more about disrupted travel than people getting thrown off their health insurance. Unbelievable.
Reposted by Ronit Stahl
Teaching about “historical events from the perspective of marginalized and oppressed groups” is just history, mainstream history, and has been for half a century.
This is a remarkable claim. I think I can speak for historians as a group when I say that even those who take a top-down approach welcome with open arms scholarship that incorporates the perspectives of marginalized groups. How in the world is it "feckless" to seek to incorporate such voices?/12
October 29, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Teaching about “historical events from the perspective of marginalized and oppressed groups” is just history, mainstream history, and has been for half a century.
A little outtake from the archives today. For no particular reason.
![A 1973 typed letter from Senator Lowell Weicker (CT) to Senator Jacob Javits (NY) thanking him for picking him to serve as one of the Republican members of the Select Committee on Watergate. The second paragraph, highlighted in yellow, reads: “I know you share with me the importance of having the American people believe once again in the absolute integrity of what is _their_ [underlined in original] political system.”](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:evkg5tazwxvogt5wgwg7tweq/bafkreiaeweues327dlyhpb7mcl2eivjp4pwv45xutyhmgaf6yxsjwbpbhi@jpeg)
October 23, 2025 at 10:01 PM
A little outtake from the archives today. For no particular reason.
It occurs to me that this administration has never contemplated that there exist folks for whom “special treatment” is not motivating. People who actually believe in ideals, however flawed they are in practice.
The pointed clarity with which each of the universities rejecting the compact have made this point is incredibly refreshing.
From the University of Arizona's president: president.arizona.edu/sites/defaul...
From the University of Arizona's president: president.arizona.edu/sites/defaul...
October 20, 2025 at 10:05 PM
It occurs to me that this administration has never contemplated that there exist folks for whom “special treatment” is not motivating. People who actually believe in ideals, however flawed they are in practice.
Reposted by Ronit Stahl
The Supreme Court's Republican appointees sound ready to transform the 14th and 15th Amendments into a weapon against the very racial minorities they were meant to protect—handing Republicans 15-19 additional House seats in the process. A disaster for democracy.
slate.com/news-and-pol...
slate.com/news-and-pol...
October 15, 2025 at 7:40 PM
The Supreme Court's Republican appointees sound ready to transform the 14th and 15th Amendments into a weapon against the very racial minorities they were meant to protect—handing Republicans 15-19 additional House seats in the process. A disaster for democracy.
slate.com/news-and-pol...
slate.com/news-and-pol...
Reposted by Ronit Stahl
Here's a neat trick they teach in authoritarianism school: If you purge the people who measure the effects of your policies (BLS, MMWR), you can just claim everything's great, and nobody can prove how much damage you're doing.
BREAKING: Friday night massacre underway at CDC. Doznes of "disease detectives," high-level scientists, entire Washington staff and editors of the MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report) have all been RIFed and received the following notice:
October 11, 2025 at 2:45 AM
Here's a neat trick they teach in authoritarianism school: If you purge the people who measure the effects of your policies (BLS, MMWR), you can just claim everything's great, and nobody can prove how much damage you're doing.
Reposted by Ronit Stahl
It is pretty galling that the Supreme Court spent four years telling Biden "you can't do that without Congress" then allowed Trump to seize a once-unthinkable amount of power from Congress within nine months and concentrate law-making authority almost entirely in the executive branch.
October 9, 2025 at 2:47 PM
It is pretty galling that the Supreme Court spent four years telling Biden "you can't do that without Congress" then allowed Trump to seize a once-unthinkable amount of power from Congress within nine months and concentrate law-making authority almost entirely in the executive branch.
And for those who might (for...reasons) be interested in how Hegseth's approach to religion in the military differs from how the US military has historically navigated religion, I have just the book for you!
September 30, 2025 at 9:56 PM
And for those who might (for...reasons) be interested in how Hegseth's approach to religion in the military differs from how the US military has historically navigated religion, I have just the book for you!
Somehow, according to the SCOTUS majority, perceived, possible, might-happen, could-be harms to the Trump Admin are always worse than actual harms experienced by people who lack resources or recourse.
Yet again, the GOP supermajority steps in to allow Trump to break the law.
The case will be decided on the merits later, it says, when the damage cannot be undone.
But in the meantime it is giving the Trump administration a green light to engage in impoundment.
The case will be decided on the merits later, it says, when the damage cannot be undone.
But in the meantime it is giving the Trump administration a green light to engage in impoundment.
BREAKING: Supreme Court lets Trump unilaterally freeze billions in congressionally appropriated foreign aid money
apparent 6-3 vote with liberals in dissent @courthousenews.bsky.social
apparent 6-3 vote with liberals in dissent @courthousenews.bsky.social
September 26, 2025 at 10:36 PM
Somehow, according to the SCOTUS majority, perceived, possible, might-happen, could-be harms to the Trump Admin are always worse than actual harms experienced by people who lack resources or recourse.
Reposted by Ronit Stahl
I don't give a shit about Comey, but I give several shits about the president actually and personally using the carceral state as a vehicle for his petty grievances against individuals he doesn't like. You shouldn't risk jailtime if the president finds you irksome
ballsandstrikes.org/law-politics...
ballsandstrikes.org/law-politics...
Trump’s DOJ Plans to Indict Jim Comey For the Crime of Making Trump Upset
In the president’s mind, the primary purpose of government is punishing his enemies.
ballsandstrikes.org
September 25, 2025 at 10:59 PM
I don't give a shit about Comey, but I give several shits about the president actually and personally using the carceral state as a vehicle for his petty grievances against individuals he doesn't like. You shouldn't risk jailtime if the president finds you irksome
ballsandstrikes.org/law-politics...
ballsandstrikes.org/law-politics...
Reposted by Ronit Stahl
I'd like to commend the lawyers who wrote this complaint on behalf of the professors and employees of the University of California against the Trump administration.
It's a sober legal document with strong claims, but also, this is a fight for public opinion, and this reads like the writers know it.
It's a sober legal document with strong claims, but also, this is a fight for public opinion, and this reads like the writers know it.
AAUP-UC-Trump Lawsuit -- Uploaded by Jaweed Kaleem of the Los Angeles Times
www.documentcloud.org
September 17, 2025 at 2:27 AM
I'd like to commend the lawyers who wrote this complaint on behalf of the professors and employees of the University of California against the Trump administration.
It's a sober legal document with strong claims, but also, this is a fight for public opinion, and this reads like the writers know it.
It's a sober legal document with strong claims, but also, this is a fight for public opinion, and this reads like the writers know it.
Coates is excellent here. And the headline writer understood the assignment.
Coates is just merciless here: "There is, after all, a pervasive worry, among the political class, that college students, ensconced in their own bubbles, could use a bit of shock therapy from a man unconcerned with preferred pronouns, trigger warnings, and the humanity of Palestinians."
Charlie Kirk, Redeemed: A Political Class Finds Its Lost Cause
By ignoring the rhetoric and actions of the Turning Point USA founder, pundits and politicians are sanitizing his legacy.
www.vanityfair.com
September 16, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Coates is excellent here. And the headline writer understood the assignment.
Reposted by Ronit Stahl
The Dept of Education is now accepting comments on a proposed rule that would overhaul Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and make it too expensive for students to go into work that threatens the Trump administration
Folks have til *Sept. 17* to oppose the changes
ballsandstrikes.org/legal-cultur...
Folks have til *Sept. 17* to oppose the changes
ballsandstrikes.org/legal-cultur...
The Trump White House Is Trying to Price Law Students Out of Public Service
A proposed Department of Education rule would make borrowers ineligible for loan forgiveness if the administration doesn’t approve of their work.
ballsandstrikes.org
September 15, 2025 at 4:44 PM
The Dept of Education is now accepting comments on a proposed rule that would overhaul Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and make it too expensive for students to go into work that threatens the Trump administration
Folks have til *Sept. 17* to oppose the changes
ballsandstrikes.org/legal-cultur...
Folks have til *Sept. 17* to oppose the changes
ballsandstrikes.org/legal-cultur...
Reposted by Ronit Stahl
For the record.
My posts were not even about Kirk directly, but about America's apathy towards political violence, and the coddling of white male shooters and hate peddlers.
I was fired because I mentioned race: white men and violence-- that was my "gross misconduct."
My posts were not even about Kirk directly, but about America's apathy towards political violence, and the coddling of white male shooters and hate peddlers.
I was fired because I mentioned race: white men and violence-- that was my "gross misconduct."
September 15, 2025 at 4:48 PM
For the record.
My posts were not even about Kirk directly, but about America's apathy towards political violence, and the coddling of white male shooters and hate peddlers.
I was fired because I mentioned race: white men and violence-- that was my "gross misconduct."
My posts were not even about Kirk directly, but about America's apathy towards political violence, and the coddling of white male shooters and hate peddlers.
I was fired because I mentioned race: white men and violence-- that was my "gross misconduct."
Reposted by Ronit Stahl
Oxford University Press is introducing an AI summarisation & quizzing asst. into their law textbook ‘trove’: it took considerable effort from our Fac+Library to have them engineer in a license-level off switch (they initially refused!). They did not clock how important the skill of summarisation is.
I enjoyed it when the student said it doesn't damage her critical thinking skills, and then 2 paragraphs later says she uses it to summarise difficult topics.
Students don't know how much this is going to ruin the key skills they're paying a premium at University to develop.
Students don't know how much this is going to ruin the key skills they're paying a premium at University to develop.
Vacuous, generic and scattershot advice for incoming 1st years on the use of AI at university. Especially liking 'Chin recommends giving it class notes and asking it to generate practice exam questions.' Surely we can't be the only programme that supplies students with past & practice exams?
September 14, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Oxford University Press is introducing an AI summarisation & quizzing asst. into their law textbook ‘trove’: it took considerable effort from our Fac+Library to have them engineer in a license-level off switch (they initially refused!). They did not clock how important the skill of summarisation is.
Reposted by Ronit Stahl
This has been the Supreme Court in a nutshell: where clear and immediate harm has been done by Trump to others, they delay and prevaricate, siding with Trump. Even if later deemed to be illegal, the damage is already done and Trump gets his way.
Indeed it was illegal. But we can thank SCOTUS for making full relief impossible.
September 14, 2025 at 3:50 PM
This has been the Supreme Court in a nutshell: where clear and immediate harm has been done by Trump to others, they delay and prevaricate, siding with Trump. Even if later deemed to be illegal, the damage is already done and Trump gets his way.
Reposted by Ronit Stahl
"Harvard can't use race as a factor in admissions, but ICE can use race as a factor in detentions" is a retrenchment essentially to a pre-Civil War understanding of the Constitution. It's vanishingly few steps removed from "Latinos have no rights which the white man is bound to respect."
September 9, 2025 at 4:44 PM
"Harvard can't use race as a factor in admissions, but ICE can use race as a factor in detentions" is a retrenchment essentially to a pre-Civil War understanding of the Constitution. It's vanishingly few steps removed from "Latinos have no rights which the white man is bound to respect."
Reposted by Ronit Stahl
Sotomayor on the impact: "The Government, and now the concurrence, has all but declared that all Latinos, U. S. citizens or not, who work low wage jobs are fair game to be seized at any time, taken away from work, and held until they provide proof of their legal status to the agents’ satisfaction."
September 8, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Sotomayor on the impact: "The Government, and now the concurrence, has all but declared that all Latinos, U. S. citizens or not, who work low wage jobs are fair game to be seized at any time, taken away from work, and held until they provide proof of their legal status to the agents’ satisfaction."
Reposted by Ronit Stahl
"Fueling Jewish studies on the fumes of the Trump administration’s attack on higher education is not a win. It’s a trap, and one we fear will bring ill consequences to our field, our universities, and American Jews." Me, @ronitstahl.bsky.social, and Kate Rosenblatt. www.chronicle.com/article/jewi...
Jewish-Studies Scholars, Beware: Trump’s Deal Will Corrupt You
We must all resist being turned into court Jews.
www.chronicle.com
September 5, 2025 at 7:59 PM
"Fueling Jewish studies on the fumes of the Trump administration’s attack on higher education is not a win. It’s a trap, and one we fear will bring ill consequences to our field, our universities, and American Jews." Me, @ronitstahl.bsky.social, and Kate Rosenblatt. www.chronicle.com/article/jewi...
"But fueling Jewish studies on the fumes of the Trump administration’s attack on higher education is not a win. It’s a trap, and one we fear will bring ill consequences to our field, our universities, and American Jews." From @lilacb.bsky.social, Kate Rosenblatt, and me.
Jewish-Studies Scholars, Beware: Trump’s Deal Will Corrupt You
We must all resist being turned into court Jews.
www.chronicle.com
September 5, 2025 at 6:37 PM
"But fueling Jewish studies on the fumes of the Trump administration’s attack on higher education is not a win. It’s a trap, and one we fear will bring ill consequences to our field, our universities, and American Jews." From @lilacb.bsky.social, Kate Rosenblatt, and me.
Reposted by Ronit Stahl
Amazing, unusually direct rebuke to Gorsuch and Kavanaugh from Judge Burroughs. She is, of course, entirely correct.
This is polite judge-speak for "yo Neil get over yourself"
September 3, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Amazing, unusually direct rebuke to Gorsuch and Kavanaugh from Judge Burroughs. She is, of course, entirely correct.
Reposted by Ronit Stahl
The conclusion reached by Judge Burroughs:
September 3, 2025 at 10:27 PM
The conclusion reached by Judge Burroughs: