Sam Wesner 𓃰
@sswesner.bsky.social
Postdoctoral researcher (no longer NEH-funded) at the Science History Institute. Previously at U of Toronto. 18th-century revolutions. Electricity. Interested in nearly everything.
Reposted by Sam Wesner 𓃰
JD Vance owns a company that buys American real estate and sells it to foreign investors. They specifically target Americans in crisis to buy their property for less than it is worth.
JD Vance: "A lot of young people are saying housing is way too expensive. Why is that? Because we flooded the country with 30 million illegal immigrants who were taking houses that ought by right go to American citizens."
November 13, 2025 at 10:54 PM
JD Vance owns a company that buys American real estate and sells it to foreign investors. They specifically target Americans in crisis to buy their property for less than it is worth.
Reposted by Sam Wesner 𓃰
I have to tell you what really happened to the plums...
Elise New seems to have offered them to Woody Allen in exchange for his involvement with her edX MOOC.
One creepy slimey scammy thing after another in those files.
(via splendorous-chaja-f79791.netlify.app)
Elise New seems to have offered them to Woody Allen in exchange for his involvement with her edX MOOC.
One creepy slimey scammy thing after another in those files.
(via splendorous-chaja-f79791.netlify.app)
November 13, 2025 at 3:42 AM
I have to tell you what really happened to the plums...
Elise New seems to have offered them to Woody Allen in exchange for his involvement with her edX MOOC.
One creepy slimey scammy thing after another in those files.
(via splendorous-chaja-f79791.netlify.app)
Elise New seems to have offered them to Woody Allen in exchange for his involvement with her edX MOOC.
One creepy slimey scammy thing after another in those files.
(via splendorous-chaja-f79791.netlify.app)
A bit of poignant news! The Penny Dies at 232 www.nytimes.com/2025/11/12/b...
The Penny Dies at 232
www.nytimes.com
November 13, 2025 at 4:36 AM
A bit of poignant news! The Penny Dies at 232 www.nytimes.com/2025/11/12/b...
Reposted by Sam Wesner 𓃰
This is far worse than anyone expected.
Trump's HUD plan would cut *two-thirds* of permanent housing and push as many as 170,000 formerly homeless people back onto the street—redirecting funds to work mandates, forced treatment, and encampment sweeps.
All as mass internment camps are being built.
Trump's HUD plan would cut *two-thirds* of permanent housing and push as many as 170,000 formerly homeless people back onto the street—redirecting funds to work mandates, forced treatment, and encampment sweeps.
All as mass internment camps are being built.
Trump Administration to Drastically Cut Housing Grants
www.nytimes.com
November 13, 2025 at 3:21 AM
This is far worse than anyone expected.
Trump's HUD plan would cut *two-thirds* of permanent housing and push as many as 170,000 formerly homeless people back onto the street—redirecting funds to work mandates, forced treatment, and encampment sweeps.
All as mass internment camps are being built.
Trump's HUD plan would cut *two-thirds* of permanent housing and push as many as 170,000 formerly homeless people back onto the street—redirecting funds to work mandates, forced treatment, and encampment sweeps.
All as mass internment camps are being built.
Reposted by Sam Wesner 𓃰
Why does Clarissa, the largest Penguin, not simply eat the other Penguins?
November 12, 2025 at 11:09 PM
Why does Clarissa, the largest Penguin, not simply eat the other Penguins?
Just finished @adambunch.bsky.social ‘s beautiful and densely researched book Toronto Book of Love, after savoring one chapter per night for months. This book is an absolute blessing, thank you Adam!
October 22, 2025 at 12:26 AM
Just finished @adambunch.bsky.social ‘s beautiful and densely researched book Toronto Book of Love, after savoring one chapter per night for months. This book is an absolute blessing, thank you Adam!
Reposted by Sam Wesner 𓃰
PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD!!
The University of Texas-Austin is beginning a process to eliminate the Black Studies, Latino Studies, and Gender Studies departments in the College of Liberal Arts. This is a grave threat to the educational liberty of students, faculty, staff, and the people of Texas. 1/
The University of Texas-Austin is beginning a process to eliminate the Black Studies, Latino Studies, and Gender Studies departments in the College of Liberal Arts. This is a grave threat to the educational liberty of students, faculty, staff, and the people of Texas. 1/
October 13, 2025 at 4:37 PM
PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD!!
The University of Texas-Austin is beginning a process to eliminate the Black Studies, Latino Studies, and Gender Studies departments in the College of Liberal Arts. This is a grave threat to the educational liberty of students, faculty, staff, and the people of Texas. 1/
The University of Texas-Austin is beginning a process to eliminate the Black Studies, Latino Studies, and Gender Studies departments in the College of Liberal Arts. This is a grave threat to the educational liberty of students, faculty, staff, and the people of Texas. 1/
Reposted by Sam Wesner 𓃰
this is wild: while Stephen Miller's guy was in Minnesota for his uncle's funeral, somebody was able to see his entire phone and take pictures of his Signal group chats talking about military deployments to Portland, and brought them to the Strib (gift link: www.startribune.com/trump-offici...)
October 4, 2025 at 1:12 AM
this is wild: while Stephen Miller's guy was in Minnesota for his uncle's funeral, somebody was able to see his entire phone and take pictures of his Signal group chats talking about military deployments to Portland, and brought them to the Strib (gift link: www.startribune.com/trump-offici...)
Reposted by Sam Wesner 𓃰
if i had the opportunity to ask a question of anyone in the administration, given this "war in chicago" messaging, i would ask them how many americans the president intends to kill in his war
September 6, 2025 at 4:55 PM
if i had the opportunity to ask a question of anyone in the administration, given this "war in chicago" messaging, i would ask them how many americans the president intends to kill in his war
Eagles game last night with the “city special,” hamm and cheese on rye
September 5, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Eagles game last night with the “city special,” hamm and cheese on rye
Reposted by Sam Wesner 𓃰
Dogs are getting vaccinated less and rabies rates are rising, in part because 37% of Americans think vaccines will give their dogs... pawtism.
www.nbcnews.com/health/healt...
www.nbcnews.com/health/healt...
September 3, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Dogs are getting vaccinated less and rabies rates are rising, in part because 37% of Americans think vaccines will give their dogs... pawtism.
www.nbcnews.com/health/healt...
www.nbcnews.com/health/healt...
Reposted by Sam Wesner 𓃰
AI-assisted design hits another one out of the park
August 29, 2025 at 5:55 PM
AI-assisted design hits another one out of the park
Need a political theory line of Dove chocolates. I want a wrapper that says “the logic of representation can never absolve itself of its own ultimate groundlessness”
August 29, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Need a political theory line of Dove chocolates. I want a wrapper that says “the logic of representation can never absolve itself of its own ultimate groundlessness”
MS word autocorrect is fighting me as I transcribe bits of this brilliant, flowery academese book written in the 90s
August 28, 2025 at 4:36 PM
MS word autocorrect is fighting me as I transcribe bits of this brilliant, flowery academese book written in the 90s
Reposted by Sam Wesner 𓃰
Here are the moments when we in Baltimore got to hear Kilmar Abrego Garcia speak in his own words—and when we learned form his attorney that Kilmar had once again been taken by ICE and separated from his family after reporting for his mandatory check-in at 8AM Monday. @therealnews.com
August 26, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Here are the moments when we in Baltimore got to hear Kilmar Abrego Garcia speak in his own words—and when we learned form his attorney that Kilmar had once again been taken by ICE and separated from his family after reporting for his mandatory check-in at 8AM Monday. @therealnews.com
Was unaware that Bose was also a controversial early plant electrobiologist! From his book Plant Autographs and their Revelations (1927): "I have been able to make the dumb plant the most eloquent chronicler of its inner life and experiences..."
www.sciencehistory.org/stories/maga...
www.sciencehistory.org/stories/maga...
The Thinking Plant’s Man
Jagadish Chandra Bose and the long, contentious search for plant intelligence.
www.sciencehistory.org
August 26, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Was unaware that Bose was also a controversial early plant electrobiologist! From his book Plant Autographs and their Revelations (1927): "I have been able to make the dumb plant the most eloquent chronicler of its inner life and experiences..."
www.sciencehistory.org/stories/maga...
www.sciencehistory.org/stories/maga...
Reposted by Sam Wesner 𓃰
Rock Looked Way Cooler Wet
August 25, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Rock Looked Way Cooler Wet
Reposted by Sam Wesner 𓃰
this iconic advertising copywriter named Kathy Hepinstall Parks died over the weekend and I wanted to share something from her website I thought Bluesky would like
August 22, 2025 at 2:20 PM
this iconic advertising copywriter named Kathy Hepinstall Parks died over the weekend and I wanted to share something from her website I thought Bluesky would like
Reposted by Sam Wesner 𓃰
Updated 1:30 PM CST, August 20, 2025
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Sixteen critically endangered western Santa Cruz tortoises born to some very old parents got a slow walk and the red carpet treatment Wednesday at a Philadelphia Zoo event to show off the highly prized hatchlings.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Sixteen critically endangered western Santa Cruz tortoises born to some very old parents got a slow walk and the red carpet treatment Wednesday at a Philadelphia Zoo event to show off the highly prized hatchlings.
Tortoise hatchlings born of century-old parents come out of their shells at Philadelphia Zoo
The Philadelphia Zoo is showing off 16 critically endangered western Santa Cruz tortoise hatchlings.
apnews.com
August 20, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Updated 1:30 PM CST, August 20, 2025
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Sixteen critically endangered western Santa Cruz tortoises born to some very old parents got a slow walk and the red carpet treatment Wednesday at a Philadelphia Zoo event to show off the highly prized hatchlings.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Sixteen critically endangered western Santa Cruz tortoises born to some very old parents got a slow walk and the red carpet treatment Wednesday at a Philadelphia Zoo event to show off the highly prized hatchlings.
Reposted by Sam Wesner 𓃰
The AHA has signed on to the @acls1919.bsky.social’s Statement Regarding the White House Review of Smithsonian Institution Museums. The review “supersedes the oversight of professional scholars and makes the museums tools of the presidential administration.” 🗃️
ACLS Statement Regarding the White House Review of Smithsonian Institution Museums
ACLS stands in firm opposition to the latest directive by the White House forcing Smithsonian Institution museums to subject their presentation of American history to government review.
www.acls.org
August 21, 2025 at 8:29 PM
The AHA has signed on to the @acls1919.bsky.social’s Statement Regarding the White House Review of Smithsonian Institution Museums. The review “supersedes the oversight of professional scholars and makes the museums tools of the presidential administration.” 🗃️
I hope SEPTA is saved. I’ve been lucky enough to experience a few months of septa’s glory days and it’s truly a great transit system for a North American city. Especially the trollies
August 18, 2025 at 10:12 PM
I hope SEPTA is saved. I’ve been lucky enough to experience a few months of septa’s glory days and it’s truly a great transit system for a North American city. Especially the trollies
Reposted by Sam Wesner 𓃰
I’m teaching a grad seminar on American religion this semester, and am really excited to introduce my students to these phenomenal books.
August 18, 2025 at 6:02 PM
I’m teaching a grad seminar on American religion this semester, and am really excited to introduce my students to these phenomenal books.
Reposted by Sam Wesner 𓃰
Why do I think there’s value in researching & teaching the history of art? For the same reason I decided to study it when I was 18: doing so made me think in new ways about my world, learning to question that which was handed to me as a given. It was my route to expanding how I act in the world.
August 18, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Why do I think there’s value in researching & teaching the history of art? For the same reason I decided to study it when I was 18: doing so made me think in new ways about my world, learning to question that which was handed to me as a given. It was my route to expanding how I act in the world.