Shannon Mattern
@shannonmattern.bsky.social
director of creative research @ the metro ny library council; recently resigned 😱 full professor of media studies, art history + anthropology
architecture, archives, 🎨, cities, 🐕, infrastructure, libraries, 🗺️, sound++
nyc + upstate
wordsinspace.net
architecture, archives, 🎨, cities, 🐕, infrastructure, libraries, 🗺️, sound++
nyc + upstate
wordsinspace.net
Reposted by Shannon Mattern
Archaeologist here. For 99.5% of human history (ca 300-400,000 years), we were peaceful (no war). There was conflict and smaller scale violence, but countless studies on the 119 known modern hunter gatherer groups show cooperation, negotiation, and peace instead of conflict. Please read books.
Revenge/physical combat was how people settled things for literally millions of years, it's normal human behavior, we're wolves not sheep, the government project trying to social engineer us and domesticate us into sheep has been unsuccessful
November 17, 2025 at 10:46 PM
Archaeologist here. For 99.5% of human history (ca 300-400,000 years), we were peaceful (no war). There was conflict and smaller scale violence, but countless studies on the 119 known modern hunter gatherer groups show cooperation, negotiation, and peace instead of conflict. Please read books.
Reposted by Shannon Mattern
What if we could work with our public libraries to create + sustain convivial infrastructures for local news, local 🎶, digital equity, and more? I wrote abt lots of communities that are doing this work, bldg networks of solidarity + resistance, modeling alternatives to extractive commercial systems.
I wrote about public libraries as spaces of civic solidarity, common knowledge, and public infrastructure — all endangered by commercial and federal saboteurs
Extralibrary Loan: Making the Civic Infrastructure We Need
Amid a war on public knowledge, libraries are pushing outward, enlarging the commons through new configurations of civic and creative life.
placesjournal.org
November 1, 2025 at 1:57 PM
What if we could work with our public libraries to create + sustain convivial infrastructures for local news, local 🎶, digital equity, and more? I wrote abt lots of communities that are doing this work, bldg networks of solidarity + resistance, modeling alternatives to extractive commercial systems.
Reposted by Shannon Mattern
It is genuinely incredible to me how much evidence there is to support investing in the public good and how much animus there is to do this simple, effective thing.
November 18, 2025 at 3:00 AM
It is genuinely incredible to me how much evidence there is to support investing in the public good and how much animus there is to do this simple, effective thing.
Reposted by Shannon Mattern
NYT: A wise and deeply moving letter to the editor from a retired history teacher Liz Zucker.
“Ignorance is not bliss. It’s just ignorance.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/17/o...
“Ignorance is not bliss. It’s just ignorance.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/17/o...
November 17, 2025 at 11:16 PM
NYT: A wise and deeply moving letter to the editor from a retired history teacher Liz Zucker.
“Ignorance is not bliss. It’s just ignorance.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/17/o...
“Ignorance is not bliss. It’s just ignorance.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/17/o...
Reposted by Shannon Mattern
Still processing that an economic advisor to multiple administrations, business leaders, and top institutions was asking a known sex trafficker of minor age girls to be his wingman for attempting to coerce his academic mentee into a sexual relationship—years after he said that women aren’t as smart
November 18, 2025 at 3:44 AM
Still processing that an economic advisor to multiple administrations, business leaders, and top institutions was asking a known sex trafficker of minor age girls to be his wingman for attempting to coerce his academic mentee into a sexual relationship—years after he said that women aren’t as smart
Reposted by Shannon Mattern
Prosecuting a federal case for the first time appears to be difficult. Or so it seems from watching Colorado's own Lindsay Halligan.
November 18, 2025 at 3:45 AM
Prosecuting a federal case for the first time appears to be difficult. Or so it seems from watching Colorado's own Lindsay Halligan.
Reposted by Shannon Mattern
Reposted by Shannon Mattern
Anyway, I especially love teaching them about Pico because the whole case was started by a bunch of high school students who demanded access to books and I want to drive home the point that they have the power to enact change, even as 18-20 year-olds.
November 18, 2025 at 1:29 AM
Anyway, I especially love teaching them about Pico because the whole case was started by a bunch of high school students who demanded access to books and I want to drive home the point that they have the power to enact change, even as 18-20 year-olds.
Reposted by Shannon Mattern
One girl said “it doesn’t matter if you ban a book because everyone can find that information online” and then I blew their minds by talking about how your search history can be monitored and sold to the government without your permission, but your library borrowing history requires a warrant.
November 18, 2025 at 1:26 AM
One girl said “it doesn’t matter if you ban a book because everyone can find that information online” and then I blew their minds by talking about how your search history can be monitored and sold to the government without your permission, but your library borrowing history requires a warrant.
Reposted by Shannon Mattern
2/ NPR waives fees for local radio stations for satellite service and presses ahead on suit agst WH
CPB does not concede it bent to Trump's pressure in vain hope it would avoid rescission axe; moves forward with rival contract on digital distribution and claims victory.
cpb.org/pressroom/co...
CPB does not concede it bent to Trump's pressure in vain hope it would avoid rescission axe; moves forward with rival contract on digital distribution and claims victory.
cpb.org/pressroom/co...
Corporation for Public Broadcasting Prevails in Litigation Brought by NPR
Washington, D.C. (November 17, 2025) — The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) today announced a settlement with National Public Radio (NPR) in the lawsuit NPR filed to block CPB’s award of inte...
cpb.org
November 18, 2025 at 12:47 AM
2/ NPR waives fees for local radio stations for satellite service and presses ahead on suit agst WH
CPB does not concede it bent to Trump's pressure in vain hope it would avoid rescission axe; moves forward with rival contract on digital distribution and claims victory.
cpb.org/pressroom/co...
CPB does not concede it bent to Trump's pressure in vain hope it would avoid rescission axe; moves forward with rival contract on digital distribution and claims victory.
cpb.org/pressroom/co...
Apps are open for our spring session of the Cross-Reference Coalition! We're exploring Search & Discovery! "Our journey will encompass the history of exploration + cartography, legacies of inquiry, tools of discovery, theories of curiosity, and counter-algorithmic means of 'finding things out.'"
November 18, 2025 at 12:17 AM
Apps are open for our spring session of the Cross-Reference Coalition! We're exploring Search & Discovery! "Our journey will encompass the history of exploration + cartography, legacies of inquiry, tools of discovery, theories of curiosity, and counter-algorithmic means of 'finding things out.'"
Reposted by Shannon Mattern
Antonin Scalia, the grandson of Supreme Court Justice Scalia, has worked for Peter Thiel’s Palantir. It’s still listed on his X profile. 1/
November 17, 2025 at 11:57 PM
Antonin Scalia, the grandson of Supreme Court Justice Scalia, has worked for Peter Thiel’s Palantir. It’s still listed on his X profile. 1/
Reposted by Shannon Mattern
Was thrilled to help consult for this fantastic John Oliver segment on the tragic plight of U.S. public media and why, if we hope to be a democracy, we still need public media for so many things that commercial media will never provide. Deserves a wide viewership. www.youtube.com/watch?v=yknM...
Public Media: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)
YouTube video by LastWeekTonight
www.youtube.com
November 17, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Was thrilled to help consult for this fantastic John Oliver segment on the tragic plight of U.S. public media and why, if we hope to be a democracy, we still need public media for so many things that commercial media will never provide. Deserves a wide viewership. www.youtube.com/watch?v=yknM...
Reposted by Shannon Mattern
Kind of a big deal that @hellgatenyc.com can confirm that NYC First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro used his position to cancel Kehlani's SummerStage concert in order to punish the artist for their political speech on Palestine:
hellgatenyc.com/randy-mastro...
hellgatenyc.com/randy-mastro...
How Randy Mastro Killed the Kehlani SummerStage Concert—And a Whole Lot More
With Mayor Adams thinking about his next act, the former first deputy mayor to Rudy Giuliani is now "guiding every conceivable aspect of this administration."
hellgatenyc.com
November 17, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Kind of a big deal that @hellgatenyc.com can confirm that NYC First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro used his position to cancel Kehlani's SummerStage concert in order to punish the artist for their political speech on Palestine:
hellgatenyc.com/randy-mastro...
hellgatenyc.com/randy-mastro...
Reposted by Shannon Mattern
"The plan would reorganize the departments and their faculty members into an array of “schools,” “centers” and “institutes.” Among those that administrators have floated are the School of Human Narratives and Creative Expressions & the Institute for Complex Systems and Algorithmic Infused Societies"
"[admin]...who regard the...students of their own universities with such contempt as to be undeserving of the education that in many cases those administrators themselves, or their parents, or their children received...are an enemy of the educational enterprise"
🎁 link
www.wsj.com/opinion/mont...
🎁 link
www.wsj.com/opinion/mont...
Opinion | Montclair State’s Inhumanity to the Humanities
Goodbye, English department. Hello, Institute for Complex Systems and Algorithmic Infused Societies.
www.wsj.com
November 17, 2025 at 9:35 PM
"The plan would reorganize the departments and their faculty members into an array of “schools,” “centers” and “institutes.” Among those that administrators have floated are the School of Human Narratives and Creative Expressions & the Institute for Complex Systems and Algorithmic Infused Societies"
Reposted by Shannon Mattern
A shout out to all academic workers and students - from the UC to my comrade colleagues at The New School - fighting destruction of higher education against Trumpian fascism and craven administrators. theintercept.com/2025/11/17/u... @theintercept.com
Judge Rules Trump Can’t Cut UC Funding — but UC Leaders Are Still Negotiating a Settlement
While faculty and students won a federal ruling that Trump can’t cut UC funding, UC leaders are still negotiating a settlement.
theintercept.com
November 17, 2025 at 9:57 PM
A shout out to all academic workers and students - from the UC to my comrade colleagues at The New School - fighting destruction of higher education against Trumpian fascism and craven administrators. theintercept.com/2025/11/17/u... @theintercept.com
Reposted by Shannon Mattern
You guys realize that taxing people to pay for services isn't socialism, right? This is just how governments work.
November 17, 2025 at 2:18 PM
You guys realize that taxing people to pay for services isn't socialism, right? This is just how governments work.
Reposted by Shannon Mattern
Finally caught up on my 6-week backlog, embroidering data about the people (adults) I see every day. Got on a roll with it and stayed up until 3 AM on Saturday night to get through a month of it! #DHmakes
November 17, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Finally caught up on my 6-week backlog, embroidering data about the people (adults) I see every day. Got on a roll with it and stayed up until 3 AM on Saturday night to get through a month of it! #DHmakes
Reposted by Shannon Mattern
NEW: An Irish tourist visiting the US was jailed by ICE for 3 months after overstaying 3 days due to medical issue. Thomas agreed to be deported, but instead went to federal prison where he recounted horrific conditions + no medical care.
“Nobody's safe from the system if they get pulled into it"
“Nobody's safe from the system if they get pulled into it"
Irish tourist jailed by Ice for months after overstaying US visit by three days: ‘Nobody is safe’
Exclusive: For roughly 100 days, Thomas says he faced harsh detention conditions, despite agreeing to deportation
www.theguardian.com
July 15, 2025 at 6:41 PM
NEW: An Irish tourist visiting the US was jailed by ICE for 3 months after overstaying 3 days due to medical issue. Thomas agreed to be deported, but instead went to federal prison where he recounted horrific conditions + no medical care.
“Nobody's safe from the system if they get pulled into it"
“Nobody's safe from the system if they get pulled into it"
Reposted by Shannon Mattern
South Carolina already has one of the most restrictive abortion laws in the country, banning the procedure after a supposed embryonic “heartbeat” is detected. The new proposal would essentially equate abortion with homicide and eliminates exceptions for rape and incest entirely.
South Carolina Anti-Abortion Bill Would Also Ban Popular Contraceptives
“This is the most extreme, heinous bill restricting reproductive health care that we have faced yet,” one critic said.
truthout.org
November 17, 2025 at 9:34 PM
South Carolina already has one of the most restrictive abortion laws in the country, banning the procedure after a supposed embryonic “heartbeat” is detected. The new proposal would essentially equate abortion with homicide and eliminates exceptions for rape and incest entirely.
Reposted by Shannon Mattern
I’m sorry to be self promoting but I a) have never been seduced by a fascist with a brain worm b) am capable of crafting a decent sentence and c) wrote a book that did not earn me a fawning profile in the newspaper but is still pretty good
bookshop.org/p/books/huma...
bookshop.org/p/books/huma...
Human Nature: Nine Ways to Feel About Our Changing Planet
Nine Ways to Feel About Our Changing Planet
bookshop.org
November 17, 2025 at 5:30 PM
I’m sorry to be self promoting but I a) have never been seduced by a fascist with a brain worm b) am capable of crafting a decent sentence and c) wrote a book that did not earn me a fawning profile in the newspaper but is still pretty good
bookshop.org/p/books/huma...
bookshop.org/p/books/huma...
Reposted by Shannon Mattern
NEW: The Trump administration's brutal removal of so many workers is projected to shrink the nation’s GDP by as much as 6.8% — a deeper hit than the one sustained during the Great Recession.
A.J. Schumann:
A.J. Schumann:
Mass Deportations Aren’t Helping Workers. They’re Tanking The Economy. - OtherWords
Trump claimed immigrants were “taking your jobs.” But during his brutal crackdown, the job market has only gotten worse.
otherwords.org
November 17, 2025 at 5:57 PM
NEW: The Trump administration's brutal removal of so many workers is projected to shrink the nation’s GDP by as much as 6.8% — a deeper hit than the one sustained during the Great Recession.
A.J. Schumann:
A.J. Schumann:
Reposted by Shannon Mattern
A female wolf has been doing something unusual on the Central Coast of British Columbia. She's learned to pull crab traps up from the water, yanking on a rope to bring it to the surface. But is it tool use? Very fun story from @phiejacobs.bsky.social for @science.org
Have wild wolves learned to use tools?
Video captures a lone female pulling crab traps out of the water, but does it count as tool use?
www.science.org
November 17, 2025 at 7:53 PM
A female wolf has been doing something unusual on the Central Coast of British Columbia. She's learned to pull crab traps up from the water, yanking on a rope to bring it to the surface. But is it tool use? Very fun story from @phiejacobs.bsky.social for @science.org
Reposted by Shannon Mattern
And while he is upturning the consensus on vaccines and eroding any remaining public trust in science, the NYT, Vanity Fair etc are laundering this man's reputation and impact as some kind of romantic figure, when he is truly dangerous.
He may not lob bombs, but his death toll will be significant.
He may not lob bombs, but his death toll will be significant.
Today RFK Jr. both suggested that aluminum adjuvants in vaccines cause peanut allergies *and* admitted there are no data to support this hypothesis, so he wants to find some.
Like if you took the scientific method, turned it backward and inside out and made it puke, you’d get RFK Jr.’s thoughts.
Like if you took the scientific method, turned it backward and inside out and made it puke, you’d get RFK Jr.’s thoughts.
November 17, 2025 at 8:25 PM
And while he is upturning the consensus on vaccines and eroding any remaining public trust in science, the NYT, Vanity Fair etc are laundering this man's reputation and impact as some kind of romantic figure, when he is truly dangerous.
He may not lob bombs, but his death toll will be significant.
He may not lob bombs, but his death toll will be significant.
Reposted by Shannon Mattern
Today RFK Jr. both suggested that aluminum adjuvants in vaccines cause peanut allergies *and* admitted there are no data to support this hypothesis, so he wants to find some.
Like if you took the scientific method, turned it backward and inside out and made it puke, you’d get RFK Jr.’s thoughts.
Like if you took the scientific method, turned it backward and inside out and made it puke, you’d get RFK Jr.’s thoughts.
November 17, 2025 at 8:22 PM
Today RFK Jr. both suggested that aluminum adjuvants in vaccines cause peanut allergies *and* admitted there are no data to support this hypothesis, so he wants to find some.
Like if you took the scientific method, turned it backward and inside out and made it puke, you’d get RFK Jr.’s thoughts.
Like if you took the scientific method, turned it backward and inside out and made it puke, you’d get RFK Jr.’s thoughts.